Brevic Socio-Economic Castes

The castes of Brevoy are not rigidly defined, but generally follow these guidelines (as far as the NPC classes generally go, Commoner, Warrior = Lower, Expert, Adept = Middle, Aristocrat = Upper/Nobility):

Nobility: titled aristocracy is the top of the social food chain.

Upper: Wealthy merchants, guildmasters, important officials (without noble title), officers who are not nobles, high priests, diplomats, academy-trained swordlords

Upper-Middle: Landlords, magistrates, justices, judges, professors, most clergy, loremasters (i.e. head librarians)

Middle: Business owners, tradesmen who own the shop they work in, sheriffs, scholars (i.e. regular librarians), farmers who own enough land that they employ others to work it, sergeants, adepts (independent spellcasters outside of a clerical hierarchy)

Lower-Middle: farmers who own a small plot of land (typically a dozen acres), most apprentices, aides (such as scribes, shieldbearers, or educated servants), people who work at a business but don't own it, couriers

Lower: Peasants who live and work on land owned by others, tavern-wenches, woodsmen, fishers, common soldiers

Lower-lower: transients, migrant workers, farmhands (those who work the fields, but don't own them), beggars

Creative occupations (bards, poets, storytellers, artists, actors, dancers, etc) can be from any caste, and can rise or fall depending on their talent, skill, and popularity. It is considered sophisticated and chic for nobility to sponsor an up-and-coming creative type, providing them room and board, expensive gifts, supplies of their craft, and even sexual intimacy, as long as they remain entertaining, and create works that flatter the noble and improve their standing.

Most of the above applies to athletes as well (most athletes in Brevoy are prizefighters (including boxers, wrestlers, jousters, and - most popularly in Rostland - professional duelists), racers (both on foot and horseback), and jousters). Gambling on athletic events is a common tradition. An athlete can greatly improve his standing with a noble by dedicating an event to them (and then winning that competition).

Prostitutes, likewise, can be from most any class, with potential to move up or down the chain, depending on whom they serve.