Hiberan Color Laws
The Hiberan Color Laws are a historical document that created the color-based caste system implemented in both Old Hibera and New Hibera.
The original documentation can be found among the private journals of William Aengus, as noted below, and is the core of the revision published in the official legal code.
Full Text of the First Draft of the Hiberan Color Laws
From the Old Hiberan Royal Library. Also, copied verbatim in the New Hiberan Royal Library. Private Journal. William Aengus, first king of Hibera, author. Original date 1 January 150 Aengus Reckoning.
My personal physician warned me two weeks past that I might have, at that time, but two months to live. He refuses to speak on the cause of my illness, though I leave the throne to my child, Richard Scott Aengus, on my passing. I expect he will rule with the same strength his father has. I also expect that his child, should he be blessed with one in the future, will do the same, and his after him, and so forth. None will come between the Aengus line's pink blood and the throne. None will see to our demise.
From this day forth, these current caste boundaries are forevermore in place.
Red-wings shall be the lowest of our actual accepted society. They, and their orange-winged cousins, will be deemed unfit for work beyond that of menial labor, id est care of sanitation, construction, demolition, and waiting on others.
Orange-wings are merely a flit of the wings above the red. They possess a faint spark of intellect that the generally slothful red-wings appear to lack. They are to be considered superiors--in only minimal fashion--to their red-winged cousins.
Yellow-wings are a problem to consider. The majority of Hiberan stock is yellow by nature. Thus, it is, and will be 'til the Great Fae descends in judgment, to be considered of appropriately middling status--and secure in that. There will be no advancement beyond, but there will be no descent below, either. They will be provided for by the Crown if circumstanes--id est drought, destruction, famine, or similar natural ravages--are required, although at other times they will be able to live in at least reasonable comfort.
Green-wings have unofficially been my personal guard in this palace for the last sixty-five years. It is only fitting that they be established as such permanently and formally. The Hiberan Royal Guard shall serve as military conquering force outside of Hibera if necessary, although its primary role is to defend Hibera and her inhabitants. The Guard shall be trained in all conceivable manners of combat--both bigling style with feet on the ground and fae style on the wing--and their weapon will be primarily the spear. At anywhere from one-third to one-half our own length, the spear is the perfect weapon for dealing with our natural predators, and it can be sufficiently coated with The Dust to incapacitate larger targets.
Blue-wings will be scribes and businessmen of all kinds. They will serve as historians, linguists, and merchants of nonessential goods. They will serve, as many of them do now, as the priesthood of the Great Fae as well. Those of the inferior, lighter blue "tainted" wings will not be permissible this final honor; in its stead, they may serve other fairies as butlers, servants, or maids. They will be paid adequately and treated well. Slavery of any fairy is not permissible.
The white-wings will remain the upper-classed elite, the rich, the wealthy. They will comprise Hibera's moneychangers, doctors (such as my own physician is now), legal advisors, and merchants of superior goods and essential goods from food to water to clothing. They are to receive the utmost in respect from all. As they possess the purest and strongest connection to our natural magics, they will be the only ones to be trusted as mages, and they will thus take a vow upon assuming such duties to use their powers only in defense of Hibera, just as their green-winged fellows with their spears.
The pink-wings will be very few and far between. Partially due to actions of my own over the last twenty-four years, the Aengus family is the only family line still containing pink blood. It shall be kept that way, and with this law, we shall be allowed to remain in power. Though our guidance might seem as benevolence, one must rest assured that this is meant to be a monarchical dynasty. No lower classes can handle such importance. No upper classes must be permitted to think themselves above their stations. Any fae that wishes to marry an Aengus must first be changed into a pink-wing through magic. This is to be done only in the extreme circumstance of finding a suitable wife.
The rumored black-wings are to be exterminated on sight. Their blood holds even more a taint than the pale blue-wings. The twins who lived more than a few hours grew sick and died with the coming of the dawn. This is not a good omen.
Richard Scott Aengus will do well, as well as I have. I have trained him in all my ways and instructed him in all my talents. His head is firmly on his shoulders, and the young fae is quite the strategist. I am quite sure that whoever succeeds him as the third king of Hibera will be just as cunning and competent as both his father and grandfather.
