Marriage and Love

The society of the Free Cities is deeply rooted in the Caste and House systems that control the majority of the life and resources within the Trident. Marriage, therefore, is rarely a matter of romantic attraction, but rather a tool of alliance and diplomacy between rival houses of the same caste. The caste laws prohibit intermarriage between the castes, and such a thing is widely considered a cultural taboo.

Conversly, romantic relations between members of different castes are often celebrated in song, poem, and stories. Epic ballads usually portray such romances as wildly passionate, bold, exciting, and dangerous. In practice, romance between members of different castes is tacitly endorsed, so long as it is discreet. Important ties between houses of different castes are sometimes formed in the bedroom, and friendship between houses of different castes is often a matter of life and death.