When a member of Antharian nobility is born, they are provided with a personal butler, known as a Nain. This Nain is usually many years older than their master, and have been educated in a wide variety of subjects, including diplomacy, etiquette, cooking, book keeping, accounting, language, geography, poetry, and even camping. It is the Nain's responsibility to act as a butler, confident, spy, and even friend to the Noble, with the overriding goal of seeing to their absolute success in the convoluted Antharian Noble Courts, and the world beyond.
Depending upon the success and status of the Noble, the Nain may "purchase" the services of other servants, known as the Nainis. The Nainis are never acknowledged by the Noble Master, and it is up the the head Nain to manage them. Most Nain were once Nainis, and earned their higher status through hard work, loyalty, and sometimes deceit. The Nain is free to punish the Nainis any way that he sees fit, as long as it is out of the eyes of the Master. The Master needn't be reminded about the challenges of the real world.
Since most Nobility wouldn't soil themselves with such trivial things as money, it is the Nain's responsibility to manage their personal household. In the greater Noble Houses, this responsibility is left to a group of specialized Nainis, who are in essence, accountants, leaving the Nain to see to the complete happiness of their ward.
Traditionally, Nain are not educated in any form of martial arts or battlecraft. This is due in part, to a historic event when Lord Rykal was stabbed in the back of his neck by his own Nainis. Coarse roles such as bodyguard and warrior are left to other members of Antharian society, such as Vosir and Duskmen. Also, it is very unlikely that a Nain or Nainis would have any time left in the day to practice and become skilled with weapons of any sort.
Role in Society
Nain actually have a very high status in society, the lowest level of Nobility, just under Vosir. Also, a Nain's personal status is directly attached to her Master, so the higher the Master's status, the higher the Nain's. This results in Nain often attaining a status in the courts that is much higher than the other Nobles.
A typical day
Nain Aysaw, Head servant to Vosir Mish Ashi Dekken
4:00 am - Wake up, restart fire 4:09 am - Gaze lovingly at the Master 4:10 am - Tidy up: Sponge bath, change clothes, powder face, and eat a quick meal of cold seasoned rice 4:26 am - Begin quietly cooking a 3 course breakfast 4:49 am - Set up meal cushions, and ceremonial eating platform 4:56 am - Set table with eating blades, napkins, cups, and spices 5:08 am - Check on the cooking, begin other dishes 5:37 am - Set up parasol over the Master, so that the brightening sky will not wake him 5:40 am - Set out the Master's clothing for the morning 5:51 am - Put finishing touches on breakfast 5:55 am - Brew Mish Ashi's favorite breakfast tea 5:59 am - Throw spices into the fire to create a pleasing aroma 6:00 am - Quietly play a wakeup song on the viola 6:09 am - Gently whisper to the Master that it is time to wake up 6:10 am - Bring Master his tea; season with honey in front of the master 6:12 am - Perform the breakfast ceremony; Dish breakfast 6:13 am - Watch Master eat, while looking distastefully at the other members of the party waking up 6:26 am - Clear the first coarse, serve second coarse, and begin doing dishes 6:38 am - Clear the 2nd coarse, serve third coarse, continue dishes 6:48 am - Clear table, set up screen for Master to change clothes 6:50 am - Finish drying dishes, and pack them 6:58 am - Pack up screens, bedding, and personal belongings 7:08 am - Brush haugrym 7:14 am - Saddle haugrym, and add packs 7:00 am - Nearly ready to travel 7:01 am - Make entry into ledger about supplies used 7:04 am - Make entry into Dekken House Journal about current position and plans 7:10 am - Help the Master find his lost poetry journal 7:12 am - Give the Master his poetry journal. (Found beneath Shemra's bedroll.) 7:14 am - Fetch the Master a travel wine 7:18 am - Water & grain the haugrym 7:20 am - Provide back so that Master can step upon it to mount haugrym 7:25 am - We're off. Follow behind Master's steed, 7 paces. Carrying the Master's Blade Case 8:29 am - Remind Master to re-powder his face; sunburn is risky! 8:58 am - Read the morning poetry of Kadir aloud, to entertain the Master on this mind numbing trip 9:20 am - Redbone savages attack! Kneel, slam open case, and suggest Aelan blade #6 by offering it first 9:22 am - Hide, while still being near the master. 9:32 am - Use case as shield 9:42 am - Battle is over. Take Aelan blade from the Master. 9:43 am - Offer the Master a clean towel 9:45 am - Clean the Aelan 9:48 am - Travel again. Note to finish cleaning blade later 9:50 am - Begin repairing case, while on the road 10:04 am - Attempt to read more of Kalir's fine poetry; quickly interrupted by the dirty, wild hillman Shemra 10:35 am - Pour the Master more travel wine; ignore Shemra 11:40 am - Suggest that it might be time for the Master's next meal 11:46 am - Pout. The Master's need for nourishment outweighs the needs of the group. Travel continues 12:30 pm - More mindless travel. 12:46 pm - Recount the lineage of the Master, trying to remember all of the extended family 1:45 pm - Read aloud Act 5, from the Shaei Tragedy, a 64 Act play 2:28 pm - Suggest that the Master drink some water. 2:30 pm - Drink some water, wipe face with towel. 2:48 pm - Fetch parasol for Master. Get parasol for self. Dreaded sun is hot. 3:36 pm - Chased by massive Redbone tribe. Master allows me to ride on haugrym for a time. 3:40 pm - Sleep while being chased by Redbone 4:25 pm - Awake, somewhat refreshed, and return to walking on foot 5:34 pm - Travel stops 5:35 pm - Dismount Master 5:40 pm - Set up rest cushions; invite Master to rest 5:45 pm - Get snacks and wine for the Master 5:49 pm - Fetch bug salve for Master 5:50 pm - Unsaddle the nasty haugrym, and brush it 6:00 pm - Unpack needed supplies 6:04 pm - Wash, and then start fire 6:18 pm - Begin preparing meal 6:26 pm - Begin quietly cooking a 3 course supper 6:49 pm - Set up meal cushions, and ceremonial eating platform 6:56 pm - Set table with eating blades, napkins, cups, and spices 7:00 pm - Fetch Master's personal poetry journal, quills and inks 7:14 pm - Clear platform, serve first course 7:15 pm - Set up bedding for the night 7:25 pm - Serve second course, begin dishes 7:35 pm - Serve third course, continue dishes 7:38 pm - Serve dessert, finish dishes 7:40 pm - Sneer at the others that travel with the Master. ("Why do the question him so?! He's the MASTER!") 7:55 pm - Pack dishes, ready preparations for breakfast 8:05 pm - Set up tents and wash basin 8:27 pm - Oil blades, finish repairing case 9:35 pm - Set out Master's night robes, and his travel journal 9:38 pm - Brush the Master's hair 9:40 pm - Wish the Master a good nights rest 9:46 pm - Clean Master's ceremonial carapace armor 10:18 pm - Update ledger and House travel journal 10:36 pm - Drink 3 glasses of the Master's finest wine 10:48 pm - Reflect upon the honor of serving the Master, while repairing his cape 10:55 pm - Update todo list 11:03 pm - Sleep
