I want to give a big nod to Jurai-Knight who thought up the idea for
Quantum Destinies.  I've been following the story closely and I'll admit
thought too much on it.  Below is the result of some of my ruminations.
Jurai-Knight has given my blessings o this, I hope that if you're a QD
fan, you'll enjoy the information.

Mike Allen

****

A Brief Overview of the Hierarchy of the Imperial Nipponese Social
Structure

   The social strata of the Nipponese Empire is for the most part very
rigid.  However, as in any living system, there are methods available
for both promotion and demotion.  This paper will describe what the
various divisions are, the various responsibilities within a division,
and the perquisites that go with each.

The Castes:

1. Imperial Bloodline � This caste is the highest caste.  The rankings
within it are based on the percentage of a member's ancestry that can be
legitimately traced to the first Emperor of the current ruling house.
Over time, the inbreeding that can be caused by this is offset by the
frequency of successful usurpation.  Historically, the Imperial
Bloodline has either died out or been overthrown roughly every four
hundred years.  The duties expected from this caste are few, and, other
than the Emperor himself, their duties are ceremonial. They are allowed
to marry only with the Emperor's approval.  However, there is no limit
on how many spouses anyone may have.  The limit is solely with the
Emperor.  In the more turbulent past, there have been times when the
then Emperor allowed none of his relatives to marry and thus restricted
the legitimate heirs to his progeny alone.  Unless engaged in a duel of
honor, it is illegal to strike any member of the Imperial blood.  No one
may promote themselves into this caste legally.  Marriage into the
family only assures that ones children will be considered of the "True
Blood."  The Emperor can, at his discretion, demote any person of the
"True Blood" by declaring that they have become impure.  This usually
results in the offender's execution and his or her family's demotion to
the lower nobility.  The formal term used for people in this caste is
either "insert their family name of the Blood True" or less formally,
"True Blood personal name."

   The current Imperial line has been in power for almost four hundred
years, and is both the most successful and the most vigorous seen.  This
line is derived from the Great Unifier, Oda Nobunaga, who, after evading
assasins in his youth, conquered all of his opponents in the Unification
War.  Impressed with him, the then Emperor strengthened his line by
marrying his heirs to the sons and daughters of Nobunaga. Thus was born
the current bloodline.  Only a generation later, the Nobunaga Family
essentially became the Imperial Line, and the expansion of a unified
Japan really began.  Within three generations, the power of the
Shogunates was reabsorbed into the Emperor's hands.  This is the pattern
of rule that has continued through to the current day.

2. High Nobles � This is the class that contains the descendants of the
pre-Imperial "Shogunate" nobility.  From this group, all of the Imperial
Councilors and "homeland" rulers are from.  Additionally, the younger
sons and daughters from these clans often make up the general staffs of
the armed services.   When the Empire was still expanding, many new
clans were formed when the younger children of these houses were sent to
become the governors of newly conquered lands.  Again, a member of this
strata may take as many spouses as they wish.  Unlike those of the
Imperial Blood, they do not need Imperial permission to wed.  The
members of this class are taught from birth that they are the ones
responsible for the smooth running of the Empire and truly believe in
Noblesse Oblige.  A low noble may marry into this class.  The marriage
then bestows the title, privileges, and responsibilities of this social
level.  However, a divorce can only be initiated by the true "High
Noble."  If a spouse displeases his or her spouse enough to warrant a
divorce, the offender is usually volunteered into the Imperial Service
Corps.  The members of this corps are considered the property of the
Emperor and thus have no connections to anyone else.  They serve the
rest of their life at the Emperor's discretion.  The formal term used
for members of this caste is "Lord" or "Lady".

   Recently, a trend has developed.  This is the trend of the leaders of
the various corporate empires marrying into the High Nobility.  The
older lines often sneer at them as the "Noveau Noblesse".  However, the
money and power brought together by these marriages are seen as very
formidable.   The Kashuoh family is such a family.


3. Low Nobles � This group was originally made up of the Samurai caste.
As time went on, the power of the samurai waned as the power of the
merchants and other professionals waxed.  A shift occurred and there are
now three distinct varieties of the lower nobility.  The first is that
of the "Blood of the Empire".  These are the remnants of the Samurai.
For the most part, they serve within the Imperial Army and the Security
Service.  They hold onto the concepts of honor and sacrifice more
strongly than most.  The second branch was added three hundred years ago
in response to the pressure from the European Merchant Companies.  These
people make up the ownership of the corporate body of the Empire.  They
control the flow of goods within the Empire and their reach has become
truly global.  While maintaining control of their corporations, their
younger children make up the majority of the Imperial Diplomatic Corps
and also work in the Security Service.  The last group of nobility was
created a hundred and fifty years ago in response to the technological
superiority that the European monarchies held over the people of
Nippon.  These are the Technologists.  While they were the latest in
gaining noble status, they get the most respect from the populace at
large.  They are the ones who are seen as having given the Empire its
technological lead over the rest of the world.  A Citizen may be raised
at any time to the lower nobility.  However, any children he or she has
had prior to being raised are still considered to be Citizens, the
children they have afterwards are considered to be of their parents new
class.  The wife of a raised Citizen is considered to still be a
Citizen, whereas the husband automatically garners his wife's new
status.  Males of the lower nobility are encouraged to take many spouses
and mistresses.  It is considered paramount for the best minds and
bodies of the Empire to have many offspring and thus strengthen the
Empire that much more.  Women of this social strata are allowed only one
spouse and that spouse must be of their level or above.  In most cases,
the men and women of this level marry each other and stay in a
monogamous relationship with each other.  This is easily the easiest
caste to be thrown out of.  If by the graduation of High School, a male
child is deemed unfit for any "noble" service to the Empire, he is
forcibly enlisted into the Imperial Armed Services and serves as a
Citizen within it.  Upon the end of his term, he may settle anywhere
outside the bounds of the home islands as a full Citizen.  Women can
only be demoted to Citizen upon proof of adultery with a Citizen or
below.  The formal designation for one of this caste would be "Sir" or
"Lady."

   There is a hidden class of low nobles.  These are the ninja clans.
Recognizing the worth of the ninja clans during the time of his rule.
He was saved from assassination by one of the Kuonji clan, Nobunaga
raised the leaders of the clans to the low nobility.  Most of them live
rustic lives, in order to maintain the strength of their 'shadow arts',
but a few clans came into the capitol to play the 'Game of Empire'.
Those clans have lost the ways of honor, something maintained by the
other clans living their quiet lives and they have been infected by
greed and a lust for power.

4. Citizen � The vast majority of the populace of the home islands are
Citizens.  There are also Citizens scattered throughout the rest of the
Imperium.  To become a Citizen, one either must be borne to a Citizen or
raised as one.  To become a Citizen, one must enlist and serve honorably
within an Imperial service for either eight years, civilians and freemen
only, or fifteen years.  The services to which one may apply are any of
the Armed Services, the Security (and Intelligence) Service, the
Scientific Service, or the Diplomatic Service.  There is one other way
of gaining Citizenship.  If one wins the Arena Championship, he or she
will then be released from the Arena and granted full Citizenship.  A
male Citizen may marry one person, but he may take as many lovers as he
wants to.  However, only the children from the marriage are considered
legitimate Citizens.  A female Citizen can also take many lovers, but
rarely does.  The duty of a Citizen is to support the Empire and their
duly appointed leaders.  They may work in any occupation.  A Citizen may
lose their caste only by bankruptcy or by being convicted of a capital
crime.  Only a Citizen or above may actually own land.   On a side note,
there are several villages within both Korea and China that have large
populations of Citizens descended from Arena Champions.

   The most proper form of address to one of this caste is "Citizen
family name."  Due to a slight relaxing of the forms of address in
recent decades, even a low noble may be referenced in this way, for
example, "Citizen Saotome."

5. Civilian � A civilian is a member of the class that are fully
Nipponese, yet have lost their Citizenship in one way or another.  These
are encouraged to immigrate to one of the Protectorates of the Empire by
the granting of Citizenship of any willing to go.  These are the least
educated and trained people on the home islands.  They typically work as
maids or servants to citizens or rarely the lower nobility.  This is the
lowest caste available for any who have ever been granted Citizenship or
are Nipponese by descent.

6. Freeman � Sometimes called the "Noble Peasants."  The euphemistic
phrase used for those that are either half-Nipponese or their country is
considered to be closely tied to Nippon.  The Koreans fall into this
category.  They are afforded full travel rights within the Empire and
are looked upon favorably by the Empire itself.  They may become
Citizens through eight years of service to a designated service.  They
may marry one other.  Lastly, this caste is the lowest caste which may
own weapons.  Anyone found with a weapon that belongs to a lower caste
can be summarily executed.

7. Peasant � Any of the conquered peoples of the Empire.  They are given
full educations and are encouraged to strive for Citizenship.

8. Barbarian � Anyone from any part of the world not under the
enlightened rule of the Emperor.  Depending upon which empire they come
from, they are granted either Civilian or Freeman status while they
journey within the empire.  If they wish to settle, this status is
usually confirmed.

9. The Religious Orders � These are persons who have become religious
leaders in their chosen religion.  By decree, all are treated as lower
nobles and must remain celibate.  If they leave their calling, for
whatever purpose, their original caste is restored to them. Anyone can
become a priest or nun, if accepted by a temple.  However, the spaces
are limited and usually only those of noble birth can gain entry.