Chau
The Chau (tʃaʊ) caste of the Danaij is upper-middle class. Chau are businessmen/women, and have their fingers in all areas of the Danaij markets. Families have built fortunes peddling necessities to the higher castes. The Chau caste rose from Rothet by their own power and secured their position as an intermediary caste for trade and labor between the Vana and the Rothet.
Each Chau house has a business specialty upon which they have built their wealth. The Chau are largely responsible for vineyards and distilleries, fashion and textiles, slaves, mining operations, and even maritime mercantile. The labor they rely on comes from either free Rothet laborers who are paid for their efforts, Vauth owned by the Chau, or both. For example, distillers of liquors may purchase the raw ingredients and materials from Rothet farmers and craftsmen, while within the distillery, they rely on Vauth laborers to do work. Most Chau, regardless of the need for labor, tend to own at least a few Vauth as household servants.
Chau have established prestigious family lines, but they do not allow their heirs to grow soft and complacent—all potential heirs to the family business must prove their worth or risk being disowned or replaced by a more competent relative—or even a reliable worker that shows more promise than they do. Occasionally, Rothet and even Vauth can rise to the rank of Chau through ambition, hard work, and the right connections. Disowned Chau often find themselves caste down to the rank of Rothet—but some families may be so disappointed that their own child could be demoted to Vauth and sold as a slave. As such, bloodlines are not highly important amongst the Chau, nor is magic or martial ability. Instead, individuals are valued for their intellect and acumen.
When it comes to marriage, the Chau choose their spouses either for power or love. In mimicry of the Vana, Chau houses often exchange brides or grooms to build alliances with other businesses that are corollary to their own. Otherwise, Chau may marry Chau for love, or marry from the lower classes, or occasionally into the Shan. It is not uncommon for a Chau to free a Vauth slave for marriage either.
Appearance and Traits
The Chau are very close in traits with the Rothet, as many originally rose from the Rothet. They typically have red-black and green-black skin colors, though blue-black and violet-black occur sometimes as well. Eye color has broader ranges, including not only the original red, but also gold/yellow, blue, green, and violet. While many have human heritages, more recent generations have shunned marrying or adopting in individuals with significant human heritages as they are intent on maintaining Danaij superiority.
Chau lifespans are comparable with the Rothet with an average of 500 years.
