Ohh… thanks for the explanation…this origin sounds interesting…
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From a manipulation standpoint why settle for being a courtier or even a stablehand when I could be the “son” and heir instead?
Particularly since by fortuitous coincidence the mc looks enough like the late heir to make the story believable with some coaching and any “memory loss” of petty childhood details could be explained away with any number of excuses.
Wow! That still means a good 60 to 80k words for you to write for the origin stories even taking into account some possible overlap on the courtier/stablehand route.
Interesting, implies that even with the mc as her heir the lady while technically holding the same title or at least being a regent for her “son/daughter” is implied to be at least somewhat less powerful here.
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Not everyone wants to be at the top of the food chain. The courtier origin allows the MC to enjoy the lavish lifestyle of nobility without having the same responsibility or target on their back that they would if they were a Viserei. If the MC is a Viserei, they’re the face of the brand, if they’re a courtier they can be the mind behind it.
The origin is indented for a stubbornly independent MC wont accept advice from the merchant or make a deal with the noble, or for an MC who wants to be nobility, but with more freedom than a Viserei. It’s for someone who might not want to lie about their identity, or someone who might want to earn their place in society rather than have success handed to them.
Story-wise, if you mean why not go to Martain with the letter, and use the MC’s resemblance to scheme with him to be the Haight heir, that’s just something Martain wouldn’t go for. He’s elitist and believes that some people are inherently better by virtue of noble blood. In his eyes, letting some orphan head the Haight household, even if that means getting back at at Lady Grimhild, goes against everything he stands for.
Yup, it’ll probably kill me. I keep having to talk myself out of new origins because that’ll just end up being way too much (though I might add a few more when I start on the second draft because I have no self-control).
The Haight family are old-blood nobility, while Lady Grimhild’s family, the Adair’s, are new-blood. The importance of bloodlines and social classism are pretty prominent in parts of Waurdaedian society, so despite her marrying into the Haight family, she’ll always be considered lesser. She can never be a Haight, but her children can.
Because of the class rigidity, it’s almost like the Haight estate is froze in time. In the eyes of society, it’s not acceptable for anyone but the Viserei to make major decisions regarding the estate (Grimhild is, however, able to take part in the Haight wine business because the Adair family owns stock).
As regent, Grimhild is afforded a salary by the crown every month to maintain the households (cleaning, repairs, staff), and to raise the heir (food, clothing, lessons), but she has no access to the full wealth or titles that her child will inherit.
Grimhild has spent her entire life trying to advance in society despite society pushing back, which is why, as much as she loved her child, she is willing to cover up their death.
Of course, all of that’s a pretty inconvenient way to run society, which is why the story is actually taking place at a time of social upheaval. People are beginning to question the purpose of inheritance and blood laws, and consider the benefits of mobility within classes.
Literally the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.
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Fair enough, though my independent and more stubbornly minded mc rather goes with the sailor to become an apprentice ship surgeon. I mean why even shackle himself to one country or region when he can instead be a citizen of all the seas of the world?
Then I have one fairly manipulative and charming, but probably less independent minded mc for whom making a “deal” with the noblewoman is far too tempting to refuse as it means food security and an actual education. The clothes are probably also a very nice perk once he gets older and has his sexual awakening. That one probably never liked being an essentially medieval farmer’s child and the backbreaking labour that involved.
That mc of mine who’s going to go for a deal to become a noble would probably prefer the lady as well, after all he’s trying to do the very same thing (rise above the station he was born to) she is and he didn’t much fancy having to become an uneducated peasant farmer even before the massacre, but he probably also despises that elitism his new “uncle” displays. He’s not above using and manipulating people but you can do that better if you’re willing to use every resource you have, including the human ones to their full potential rather than artificially restrain yourself.
In addition, the “sweet boy” comment by the merchant is probably on the mark for that mc (as opposed to the one going with the sailor who is far more outwardly ornery and cranky) as that one already knows very well you tend to catch more flies (and avoid more chores in his previous life) with honey rather than vinegar.
Lastly I have one mc who I think will go the weavers who simply wants his/a family back. And compared to being a peasant farmer being a skilled tradesman is already moving up in the world somewhat. Who knows he might eventually graduate from weaving to be an actual tailor.
On top of that the current Queen is extremely authoritarian and arguably crazy.
But then she’d hardly be the first ruler with a questionable mental state. 
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Wow, I didn’t expect anyone to have one, let alone three well-thought out MCs. I actually really appreciate the descriptions, it’s surprisingly helpful in letting me know where people want to go. I hope I’ll be able to do them justice as the story goes on!
Why your last MC went with the weavers is spot on for what I wanted with them. It’s for an MC who wants some semblance of a normal life again. I imagine they’ll be the least popular origin so it’s always good to hear that someone chose them.
Gotta have ambitions (and I may have already written a type of graduation to tailor for act 2).
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I dunno, beggar and stablehand seem far more dismal and dreary fates than being a (mostly) honest tradesman.
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