Kadree a Koff

Kadree a Koff - A social currency system practiced within the caste and strata that is fiercely meritocratic in its structure of mores and rules.  By this system a truly astonishing, hard-working or driven common laborer or slave might be adopted into better and better houses until they are themselves nobles or part of the Emir’s family.

Kadree - is the positive social currency.  Among the Kosh reputation is everything, and nothing demonstrates one’s standing quite like the public display of Disha jewelry.  Receiving a Disha’hal or Disha chain, bracelet, anklet, ring, nose ring or earring from someone of higher Disha is great Kadree.  A day laborer or field hand might well be seen with one or multiple copper, bronze, iron, steel, silver, mithril, Disha’hal chains, wristlets, bracelets or the like.

Koff - is bad form, breaking societal strata norms, Koffah are outsiders, foreigners and strangers.  They are literally, “those outside of koff,” which to some holds a connotation that they are so deeply entrenched in Koff as to be almost lesser beings.  To most Kosh, it simply means that they are like small children, untrained in the finer arts of Kadree.  Many see it as an amusing project, or a way to attain Kadree, to teach Koffah the Kadree.

Common Kadree a Koff Rules:

* A House is not the same as a biological family.  In most cases there is heavy overlap, however a person of merit may be given the house’s name as an honor by that house’s Mali.  However, if a new house is offered but refused it is Koff on that Mali and house for having offered a new name.  Strict care and protocols are followed to insure good adoptions and marriages.

* A new marriage must be approved by the Mali of the family that the couple will join or the new spouse will bear their old house name while being in the new house which will bring Koff to the old house and the new spouse, but Kadree to the new house for maintaining order.  All Kadree of the new spouse will belong to the new house, all Koff to the old house.  In this way, while disapproved marriages are allowed they are socially stigmatized, or at minimum might be used by a clever parent to give their child their desired spouse while blacking the eye of the new spouse’s old house.

* Breaking a business agreement is more Koff than committing an act of murder.  Murder is a crime in Kotesh, but breaking credit in business carries a far greater shame culturally.  One who breaks trust by incompetence may be forgiven.  One who does so by malice or does so often may lose their business, be enslaved, jailed, cast out as “classless” or may even be formally executed.

* Lying is seen as a Koff act, a known liar may lose their business and be cast from their House to become “classless.”

* Slavery is allowed in Kotesh as an indenturehood to pay unpayable debts.  It is considered great Kadree for a debtor or borrower to submit themselves as Koosh (indentured) to another rather than become a default or agreement breaker.  Koosh are well protected under Koteshen law and custom.  Sums of the Koosh’s income considered fair are adjudicated to the master by a Kan Haakin.  Prostitutes may be Koosh, but it is considered a gross taboo of incredible Koff to have sex with one’s Koosh, contemporary writings on the matter consider it as disgusting, noting, “For a baker does not leave his seed in his bread, nor does a fisher woman mate her fish - for allowing the customer to devour such is unclean and a faulty product.”

* Any master who raises a hand against a Koosh is seen as having received all debts as, “paid in full, in flesh.”  Actual assault in such an act is dealt with through formal crimes as well as a severe Koff for waste and damaging of “goods.”  If they should injure them in such a way as to render them unable to work they are required to pay all costs of life determined by a Kan Haakin for protracted terms that might well bankrupt a House.  Conversely, an Inham is a formalized slap across the cheek of a master toward their Koosh to immediately cancel all debt.  This is done publicly and has a certain legalized protocol to it that grants public formality and makes the act legal.  It is an incredible Kadree to show one’s success by dismissing a Koosh as “unneeded.”

* Theft is Koff by all professional classes, however, it is seen as Kadree by the “classless,” if a beggar manages to steal from a merchant then that merchant is seen as a foolish person and the beggar is seen as having gained Kadree, and may well be cheered by a watching crowd.  Koffah do not gain Kadree by committing theft, they are outsiders and are treated merely as criminals.

* If a smith or coker rubs the sooty blackness of his or her hands upon a person, this is seen as great Kadree, a mark or respect. If they hand a product to a person with the soot of their work on their hands, with a rag to protect the product this too is Kadree.  If they hand a person the product letting the soot touch it, this is Koff on the smith or maker, because they’ve given fault to the product by smudging it.

* Houses that have risen to nobility from being smiths or cokers may lacquer their nails and stain or tattoo their hands and forearms black as a remembrance of where they came from, and this is Kadree.  Taking such marks without having come from such trades is shocking Koff, those that do such are called thieves or “Shit arms.”

* Making faulty goods or using false balances is Koff, and will be treated as a mistake the first time, bringing shame.  A person who is known to have committed this Koff multiple times is a criminal and could be executed.

* Rudeness to merchants is viewed as a Koff act, however, rudeness to craftspeople and nobles is viewed as an even greater Koff. Rudeness to priests is viewed still more as a Koff act, for the priest takes the raw material of the soul and crafts fitting receptacles to set before the gods.

* Smiths make the Disha jewelry, or Disha’hal.  Only the House Mali may order the crafting of such symbols of their House.  False Disha wear is considered an abhorrent lie and is only matched in Koff by malicious business trust breaking.  Those who make forged Disha’hal are promptly executed.  The first to attack a forger of such is considered to have the highest Kadree.  A false Disha’hal forger might well be nearly dismembered and disemboweled before they can even be dragged before the Kan Haakin or Satraps for justice.

* Those Kosh who wear false and forged Disha’hal will at best be cast from their House.  Most likely they can expect to have the finger, hand, ear, nose or foot upon which such a forgery hangs brutally removed to the applause of any who views it.

* Koffah who wear Disha’hal will likely be dragged before Kan Haakin to explain themselves.  If they were given the Disha’hal as a Kadree, the Haakin might even reward them with coin for bringing foreign honor into Kotesh.  If they are found to have stolen it or are wearing forged goods they will likely be killed, cut down on the spot by every able bodied Koshee including the Haakin or Satrap themselves.