Servitude

[Underbard]

Chapter 1:  Servitude                                                                                                                                              
  What exactly is servitude?  Servitude, simply put, is the act of serving another, or others.  We all serve in some capacity every day of our lives.  Be it a simple slave serving his master, a priest serving his God, or a member of the Militia keeping society safe, thus serving us all.  A man who takes pride in his work and provides for his family is probably the best example of servitude.
  A smith, for example, serves us all by providing a service.  Because he takes pride in his work, he offers top notch wares to the community.  His work commands a better price, therefore, a better living for his family, thus serving them better as well.  At the end of a long, hard day of work, he walks home with his head held high, knowing he has done his best.
  But what can you do to serve?  You have no job, no income, no means to support your family.  Do you beg on the street, head hung low looking at your toes through your worn out shoes?  Do you look for  opportunities to steal food for your family?  What options do you have?

  Chapter 2:
A starting point

  Thankfully, there is a way to rise from being a beggar to becoming a productive citizen.  Servitude.  In order to improve our status in society, we must realize that most of us do not start a the top.  How far we go depends on how well we serve, how hard we work, and how faithful we are.  We must also realize that results cannot be expected overnight.  Our successful smith I spoke of earlier, more than likely worked through a long, hard apprenticeship for little more than room, board, and the training necessary to become successful.  If this same smith was trained while he was a slave, he would have earned the same room, board, and skills.  Though some in society might look down on this practice, the results are undeniably the same.
  Sounds good, but how do I begin, you ask?  There are many Patricians in the Dominion, allf whom have the right to own slaves.  You need a place to stay, a meal perhaps?  They have needs as well.  Of course, you can't expect anyone to just walk up to you and offer to take you off the street.  You need to offer yourself.  Show your willingness to work.  Show you have something to offer.  After all, slavery is really no different than an apprenticeship.

Chapter 3:
Rising

  So, now that you are a servant, what do you do?  A quite simple answer to this is "Do your best".  Take to any task with zeal, no matter what it might be.  Take pride in your work.  Even a simpleton can see when one man is working much harder than another.  Be that one man working hardest among many and prove your worth.  Soon, you will reap the benefits of labor.  A better room, better clothing, and most important, the self confidence gained from knowing you are earning your keep.  Others will also take note in your now purposeful stride and determination to see a task through.  Having gained all this, don't be surprised if one day you wake to the words,  "You have served well, and in doing so, earned your freedom".  Now, you find yourself with the confidence to look a man in the eyes and tell him you would be the best man for tb, whatever it might be.  You have a sense of pride, and the knowledge that you can succeed in whatever you do.


About the author,
  For the record, I served as a slave myself, under the guiding hand of Lord Vrintak, who granted me freedom for worthy service.  While this writing is not an autobiography, it does reflect real life experience.