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Slavery
To most Valgarins, the idea of slavery isn't a topic, when they hear someone
has been taken a slave the usual reaction is that the person must truly be weak
or unable to fend for oneself, possibly even calling them a coward for not being
brave enough to die by the sword of the enemy, and that anyone who becomes a
slave is a victim of the aforementioned flaws. Slavery in Valgard is a byproduct
of war, between clans as well as against other races and due to this slaves are
not as common in this part of the world as some others.
When someone is taken as a slave they are treated as family, however in the
Valgarin system of family there is a chain of command. Everything exists in a
certain way due to the harsh environment. The husband and wife being equal; thus
reflecting multiple sides to Yrsa, the stronger one in the argument is right.
Under the husband and wife is any family that happens to live in the household.
Under them would be the children of the house; the reasoning is that the
children do not have the life experience that the relatives do in this harsh
world. Lastly would be the slave. The slave answers to everyone, including the
children. Slaves are given a bed in the house as well as chores in the
household. This is not to be mistaken with an adoption, as some slaves can be
subject to punishment or even death if not obedient to their master.
Slaves are important to this culture, however not usually sold or traded for
items. Due to the length of the winter and the short time in which to plant the
crops, more hands planting and harvesting means more food in the long, cold
months. During the cold months it means more animals are taken care of in the
short time there might be for upkeep. It means that there is another working in
the house while some of the family goes to hunt food.
Slaves may eventually earn their freedom through pleasing their master to the
point he does not wish to hold them any longer, eventually becoming adopted or
married into the clan, saved by members of their own clan, or through gaining
items of their own in trade for their freedom. It is also known that if a clan
wars another during the time that there are slaves, all slaves may return home
in peace if the clan they serve is defeated.
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