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Every fantasy world has a social hierarchy similar to ours. Every person’s position in society dictates where he lives. Kings and nobles reside in large, expansive estates whereas the middle-class lives in nice, affordable homes. Unfortunately this also applies to those on the lower levels of society. Many lower class fantasy homes don’t have any of the luxuries found in other homes.
The lower class homes are where those living in poverty reside. They’re generally kept in bad condition since their residents can’t afford the upkeep and are working just to make ends meet. They have difficulties just being able to put food on the table; if they can’t afford food, they’re likely to starve.
Sadly, there are different kinds of lower class fantasy homes that only those with pocket change can afford. Some examples are apartments or slum homes and their landlords don’t care about maintaining them which means if there’s an issue, the tenant must either try to fix it himself or wait a long time for the landlord to get around to taking care of it.
With how bad of a shape these dwellings are in, it’s not surprise that they’re located in the ‘bad spots’ of the city. These spots are riddled with crime and rodents and many people avoid traveling through them for fear something bad might befall them should they step foot in such an area.
Despite all these unfortunate things, lower class fantasy homes contribute to the world in a meaningful way. While there are some bad people, the majority of people living in these places are good citizens who are working hard to give a better future for their children so that they don’t have to live in the same place they grew up in. They serve as inspiration that no matter what happens to you, you have to keep going on.
This is article number twelve in the fantasy buildings series. If you want to see what others we have, you can find them on our blog page.
Since they can’t afford to live out in the countryside, lower-class people have no choice but to live in the city. And they have few, if any, choices to choose from when deciding where to live for the city is split into distinct areas, each with its own identity. They can only afford to live in the impoverished parts of the city.
The poor part of town is awash with a myriad of buildings, one of which is apartments. While there are nicer apartments for people who have money, the apartments in this area are rundown and infested with mice and other rodents. They have a poor color scheme that doesn’t generate enthusiasm.
Small houses are another kind of lower class fantasy homes. While many are just one floor, there are some that have two. The rooms within these dwellings tend to be small with only a few pieces of shoddy furniture and one or two bedrooms. Moreover, the few windows on their walls makes it hard for them to be bathed in warm light.
Perhaps the one most associated with the lower class is what’s called the slum homes. This term encompasses many different types of lower class fantasy homes but the one thing they have in common is that they’re squalid buildings that are falling to ruin. In severe cases, they’re structurally unsound which means it’s just a matter of time before they fall apart, potentially hurting many people and their landlords don’t care a whit about fixing them.
Stone houses are another type of home where people with not much money can live. Sadly, these homes were built with the leftover stone that was used to build those for the rich, which means these stones aren’t necessarily the best quality. This particular type is a bit more pricey compared to the others but not by much.
Much like the real world, cities have distinct areas where certain classes of people reside. The nicest areas are where the wealthy call home and the opposite is true for those who live either at or below the poverty line. These parts are known as the ‘bad areas’ of town and many well-to-do people shy away from entering them.
Where can you find these areas in fantasy? In some cases, they can be the oldest neighborhoods that have long since fallen to ruin due to a combination of factors. Perhaps the wealthy or those could afford it moved out or the city’s borders expanded over time, causing people to flock to the newest areas.
Lower class fantasy homes are associated with crime which is why you see their streets running rampant with criminals. These streets form the ‘bad areas’ of town. You have pickpockets and scammers among others and there is little to no law enforcement in these areas. Essentially it’s every man for himself.
Some stories in fantasy have small, shanty towns that were hastily assembled in order to have a cheap workforce when working on a big project like building a castle or extracting a specific ore from deep within a mine. The powers that be typically conscripted their workers, giving them little or no pay and these people were powerless to stop them.
Sometimes lower class people don’t live in homes; they live in places like caves or any other natural formation that provides protection from the elements. The people who call these places home tend to be outcasts from society, choosing instead to live life the way they want without any social encumbrances. While they may not necessarily be wealthy in terms of money, they’re nevertheless rich in happiness and contentment.
You might be wondering how exactly do lower class homes play a role in the world? Just like those where the upper classes live, they contribute to the world in several important ways. At their core, they’re just places where people live, eat, and sleep but they’re much more than that.
The most important way is that besides serving as a place where children grow up, their parents are working as hard as they can to provide as much as they can for them. Many children grow up never doubting their parents’ love for them. What they’re learning from their parents is never to give up and to keep going on, which is a powerful message, one they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.
Another way lower class fantasy homes play a role is to showcase the difference in social classes and how they live. Mirroring our own world, they’re filled with people who have their own lives, their own dreams and aspirations. They may not have much money but many of these families make up for it by filling their homes with love which contrasts sharply with many wealthy people who have plenty of money and not as much love.
Despite their social position, the lower class are members of society which means they have duties and responsibilities to uphold. Though they may not host parties or gatherings where they live, they must attend important events and ceremonies and their homes are where they get ready to either go to work to dress up for these momentous occasions.
Though these homes may have a criminal element associated with them, they’re a rich source for information, especially since they hear things other people don’t. Since many people don’t pay attention to the people who live in these places, they’re more likely to drop tantalizing secrets or other juicy tidbits of info in their presence. The people who happen to hear them either sell them for a fee or send word to the ones they work for so that they know, for a price of course.
Lower class fantasy homes are an invaluable part of constructing a fictional world from scratch. Including them in yours adds a realistic dimension since not everyone can afford to live in an expansive estate full of servants. Rather, they’re where hardy folk live.
Not all lower class homes are the same. Some are caves whereas others are small, dingy apartments that have the stench of decay all around them. And yet people live in these places, not because they want to, but because they cannot afford anything else. Despite that, they do their best to make it as nice of a home as possible for themselves and their family.
Where can you find such homes? Some exist in the ‘bad part’ of town or streets that are awash in crime. Others are in the slum part of town. One thing is for sure, no matter where they’re located, they don’t receive much traffic from those who don’t live there.
These homes are part of the world. Even though the people who live in these places don’t have a whole lot of money, they don’t let that stop them from trying to live their best life and working for a better tomorrow. Many of these homes are full of kind people who would give the clothes off their back to help someone who needed it.
Will you include lower class fantasy homes in your world? Who knows, inspiration might strike and you just might create a character from one such place that becomes a hit with your readers!
Let me know what you think in the comments below. (Note: this is an account-exclusive feature).
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Thanks for reading this and until the next time,
Sunfire
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