Editing Samsara:Settings (section)

===Station ===
Zakhara is also a place of explicit and real social standing. All characters also possess an ability called “Station”. Station -5 represents the most desperate sort of beggar, Station 0 represents a commoner; Station +5 is reserved for the Grand Caliph. Station frequently acts as an additional modifier in Social contests: people listen to emirs and tend to ignore humble nomads. It is important to note that Station is a real attribute in Zakharan terms: Caliphs have a regal quality that frequently betrays them if they try to pas themselves off as commoners. By the same token, a lucky barber-surgeon might find himself in possession of much cash and buy nice clothes, servants, and lodgings; but his true Station will tend to out. 

Station has two quirks. First, in certain circumstances, the modifier for Station is reversed. In counter-cultures, such beggarly, outlaw, or barbarian societies, negative Station acts as a positive modifier while positive acts as a negative. Negative station also aids beggars when begging, so that the most pathetic beggars are most liable to succeed (remember this is a fantasy world). 

Secondly, Station impacts attempts to disguise itself. The absolute distance between an actor’s true Station and the Station of his disguise acts as a negative modifier. Thus, if a Station +2 merchant-rogue attempts to disguise himself as a Station -3 beggar, he has a -5 penalty to the attempt. This means that both filthy beggars and wondrous caliphs find it difficult to disguise themselves as anything other than what they are; their true character shines out. Of course, competent beggars may possess enough skill at disguise to overcome this somewhat.