Vauth
The Vauth (vaʊð) are the slave caste of Danaij society, and this caste is not entirely Danaij. It often includes humans, mixed-race individuals, Danaij'vai, kuzo, and individuals of other races purchased through intercontinental slave trade. Vauth are chattel in Danaij society, but they can have any wide number of origins and some have an expiration date on their servitude.
War Capture
In the conflicts that arise between Vana houses, any belonging to a losing house may be taken as slaves. This includes Vana themselves, Rothet working their land, and members of Shan houses sworn to the opposing house. Vauth already in service to these higher castes are also absorbed into the war captures.
Vana who are taken as slaves are more highly valued for their bloodlines, and are not typically sold or traded as others would be. Often, the Vana taken as slaves are put into concubinage in other houses (to avoid revenge on their captors). Children born through unions with these Vauth are considered free and potentially viable members of the Vana castes. Vauth from the Vana castes may also be freed by their masters after ten years, sometimes even marrying into the house.
Rothet captured in these conflicts may only be temporarily held as Vauth and then released to return to their land under new lords, or they can be sold as Vauth and traded elsewhere until freed.
Kuzo Vauth
In the Forsaken Land there are essentially domesticated kuzo and feral kuzo. After the War of the Gods, all survivors on the side of Darkness were left to fend for themselves. Many kuzo went into the wilderness of the Forsaken Land to become feral, but others remained under the control of Danaij masters--or were recaptured at some point. Those still in Danaij hands became the first of the slave caste. They are given some of the most labor intensive and undesirable work in Danaij society and kept out of sight. Only the most cowardly and docile are kept while more brazen kuzo that could potentially lead are culled. Kuzo slaves are kept apart from Danaij and human slaves for the most part, and these kuzo tend to be far more malleable than their feral counterparts.
Indentured
Indentured servitude is another part of the Vauth caste, and a temporary part. Individuals who owe debt that they cannot readily repay can be put into slavery to those whom they owe, or they can substitute another member of their family in their place. A span of time is agreed upon for service, but not exceeding fifty years, and after which, the Vauth is freed to return to their former position.
Concubinage
There are two sides to concubines--there are willing concubines who are taken into the harems of more powerful members of society. They are essentially still free, but bound by their relationship to their superior. The other side is through the Vauth. Attractive and desirable Vauth who are put on the market are readily bought to fill the harems of the Vana.
Birth
Children born to the Vauth can have wildly different lives, depending on their heritage and parentage. As mentioned, Vana who are put into the Vauth often find themselves in the harems of other Vana, and the children born of such unions are born free, though they may not be legitimate members of a house, they still have marriage potential between Vana houses.
Those born to others in the Vauth are often raised by their Vauth parent, unless a higher class parent takes a liking to them, but as they near adulthood, all Danaij Vauth can be tested for adoption into the Shan or acceptance into the Shuri. If they have the affection of a higher-class parent, they may be able to marry out of the Vauth or be traded in concubinage to a worthy Vana. They may also be freed to enter the Rothet if they do not meet the expectations of the Shan or Shuri.
Vauth born between Vauth, or those without the affection of a higher class parent can be sold as they reach adulthood if they have no potential for Shan or Shuri.
