Archival reconstruction
Basic Roles in a Household
The Estate’s chess-piece model maps six household archetypes by authority, scope, intimacy, specialization, and style of service.
The Estate’s chess-piece archetypes for authority and service within a household.
The Chessboard as a Model
The practice of using chess pieces to represent the different broad categories of service is as old as The Estate itself. It is a fast, intuitive, and practical method.
It has been our experience that every household has the majority of the pieces represented, even if they are embodied in one submissive. Larger households can generally afford the luxury of multiple submissives specializing in the areas and types of service assigned to them.
The more specifically training can be concentrated on excelling in one of these broad categories, the greater the chance of achieving excellence. The owner must balance this desire with the need for utility.
It would rarely make sense, for example, to train a highly skilled Rook in a specific skill, such as chauffeur service, if that submissive will be the only servitor in the household. Rather, one would expect such a household to possess a skilled Pawn or Queen who could fill in as needed as a driver.
As you read the definitions of the pieces, remember that this system is useful for its flexibility. It is not a series of absolute pigeonholes.
| Piece | Core household archetype |
|---|---|
| King | The dominant and source of household authority |
| Queen | A flexible representative who can act powerfully at a distance |
| Bishop | A close advisor, personal assistant, companion, and confidant |
| Rook | A direct, service-oriented specialist |
| Knight | A subtle, unobtrusive specialist |
| Pawn | A broadly capable generalist who can fill whatever role is needed |
For our purposes, we can divide the population into four primary groups. As it is inevitable that the language of this discussion will be prejudicial if someone wishes to misunderstand it or take it out of context, I will make no attempt to pretty it up. Instead, I am going to embrace those terms as much for their ancient connotations as for the definitions I will bestow upon them.
King
Source of household authorityMany people have asked why The Estate does not train submissives for the position of King. The reason is simple: the King is the dominant of the chessboard and the castle. The Estate specializes in the training of submissives.
Queen
Flexible representativeAs in the game, the Queen is a flexible piece, and its actual purpose depends on how it is played. Characterized most strongly by the ability to act powerfully at a distance, the Queen will often act as the representative or agent of their owner.
In larger households, it often falls to the Queen to oversee the affairs of the house while leaving the details to another, allowing the Queen to focus on outside or business concerns.
Bishop
Close advisor and companionTraditionally, the Bishop was a religious leader, friend, and confidant. We at The Estate have expanded this ideal to include personal assistant, companion, and ambient partner.
By the very definition of the role, in large households the Bishop is often the piece with the most intimate access to the owner’s thoughts and feelings. There are no religious requirements inherent in the position.
- Related concepts
- Personal assistant, confessor, advisor, minister.
Rook
Direct specialistOriginally, the Rook represented the castle, a stronghold thought impenetrable. Within The Estate, this position is ideal for the straightforward, service-oriented submissive who wishes to specialize in a skill.
The Rook can typically perform many of the Knight’s tasks when speed of result is more important than a subtler approach.
- Related concepts
- Bodyguard, chauffeur, “party” slave, pleasure slave, cook.
Knight
Subtle specialistThe Knight is a subtle chess piece and an unobtrusive submissive. Most trainees who wish to specialize in a specific skill will train for either Knight or Rook.
Often, the same tasks can be accomplished by the subtlety of the Knight or the straightforward action of the Rook. It remains the owner’s decision which kind of statement they wish to make.
- Related concepts
- Quiet seduction, discretion, arbitrator, ambassador, informant, spy.
Pawn
Broadly capable generalistThe Pawn, usually seen as the least valuable piece on the chessboard, is actually one of the most difficult positions to master.
The specialty of the high-ranking Pawn is that it has no specialty. The Pawn stands ready to step into any capacity needed and provide temporary, competent service. To do this, the accomplished Pawn must possess the skills and grace of all the vocations.
More commonly, it is the Pawn that most classically matches the definition of a “general-use” submissive. The service of the Pawn is the most obviously selfless, asking little in return for the services rendered.
- Related concepts
- O, The Marketplace, Renaissance man, “furniture” slave.