The System of Bondage and Servitude
Origins of the Practice
Bonded servitude predates modern guilds. When the Labyrinths first reshaped the world, survival demanded unity, but desperation bred exploitation. Early warlords used crude magical brands to force captives into dungeon labor. These practices nearly collapsed several regions until the Guild Compact legalized and standardized the system—transforming raw slavery into regulated arcane servitude.
The modern system exists not because it is kind, but because it is controlled.
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Arcane Slave Crests
At the heart of the system lies the Arcane Crest, a magical sigil bound to the soul rather than the flesh.
Functions of a Crest:
Enforces obedience to direct orders
Prevents intentional harm toward the holder
Allows the holder to issue binding commands
Stabilizes the bearer’s mana, increasing survivability in Labyrinths
Crests are visible marks, usually placed on the neck, shoulder, or chest, and cannot be removed without specialized magic or contractual fulfillment.
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Acquisition and Markets
Bonded individuals are acquired through:
Criminal sentencing
Inherited debt
Voluntary submission for protection or opportunity
Prisoner exchange following conflicts
Slave markets are heavily regulated by guild law. Unauthorized crests are illegal, and rogue slavers are hunted relentlessly—not out of mercy, but to maintain economic stability.
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Roles Within Adventuring Parties
In dungeon-focused societies, bonded individuals are commonly trained for survival roles:
Frontline combatants
Porters and scouts
Crafters specializing in monster materials
Magical support bound to protect a party
Experienced bonded delvers are often more valuable than free novices, leading to paradoxical hierarchies within parties.
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Benefits and Incentives
Though brutal, the system offers grim advantages:
Guaranteed food and shelter
Protection under guild law
Access to training otherwise unavailable to the poor
Legal paths toward emancipation
Some bonded individuals accumulate wealth faster than free citizens—though freedom remains uncertain.
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Emancipation and Release
Freedom can be achieved through:
Contract buyout
Completion of service terms
Guild-sanctioned merit release
Divine or Labyrinth-based intervention
Former slaves carry legal stigma, but skilled delvers often overcome it through reputation.
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Cultural Perception
Most citizens view servitude as unpleasant but necessary. Philosophers debate it endlessly, while Labyrinths continue to claim lives regardless of ethics.
Among delvers, trust matters more than status. Bonds forged under magical compulsion often evolve into genuine loyalty—or quiet rebellion.
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A Dangerous Truth
Some scholars fear the Crests were not invented by mortals at all, but copied from Labyrinth runes found deep below.
I
f true, then bondage is not merely a social system…
…but another way the Labyrinths bind the world to their design.