Towership

A Towership is a station granted to adventurers, or otherwise powerful individuals. It originated in Arnellia, however has since spread to most other nations of the world. Individuals granted a Towership are called Wardens. Wardens are tasked with protecting an area, and the villages within it. A typical towership covers three or four villages.

Assignment of Towerships
Though commonly associated with noble ranks, a Towership is a non-inherited station. It is instead assigned to an individual by a local governor, typically the local lord of the villages being protected. The criteria by which a Warden is chosen varies from station to station, but is typically awarded to either a local adventurer who had achieved success, or a retiring soldier who is up to the task.

Not all Towerships are assigned to a single individual. On occasion a Towership will be issued to a small group of individuals, ranging from two to four. Such Towerships are typically more remote, facing more dangerous threats.

Towership Privileges
Towerships award a number of privileges to the Warden that holds it. They receive a portion of the taxes collected from the villages they control. They also have the right to loot any monsters or bandits slain in the area. This money is intended to be used to equip themselves with magical items, or hire mercenaries as needed. Most Wardens have enough equipment when they assume the position, and don't require mercenaries for most problems, so they end up using the money to live a rather luxurious life. This practice is rarely objected to, as such Wardens typically are more effective than the ones who must spend the gold on mercenaries.

Wardens are regarded as a step above the average citizens, having more in common with nobility than anyone else. Though not actual nobility, they are granted similar exemptions from laws, and are considered acceptable marriage prospects for other nobles.

As symbol of the Towership, Wardens are given a Tower Badge. In addition to serving as proof of office, Tower Badges are enchanted to allow Wardens to teleport back to their tower. From there, each tower is equipped with a portal to the town square of each village they oversee. When a Warden is needed in a village, the Tower Badge glows and gets hot, with it's color indicating which village is in need. This allows Wardens to respond quickly to any threats that might arise.