Serim
The Serim (/ʃə.riəm/ singular Sar, Rashimic ⰔⰑⰋⰓ sour /soir/, pl. ⰔⰊⰓⰉⰅⰏ sĭriem /ʃri:m/) are a class of minor nobility traditionally present in the Rashimic-speaking societies of Outer Joriscia and, by extension, in other societies which came under particularly great Rashimic influence. The Serim are largely descended from the priestly and noble classes of the early Rashimic-speaking migrants into the Tirfatsevid Empire; the word traditionally signified a minor warlord or military leader.
In the early Tirfatsevid period, the Serim were generally tribal or community leaders responsible for raising and leading the menfolk of their particular grouping; as the tribal system disintegrated, the Serim became more important as local landowners who assisted in the maintenance of order. In the Neritsovid period, they were accorded a number of privileges, including exemption from certain taxes and, later in the imperial period, the right to own horses (although certain breeds remained restricted to the kunentsy class); they also acquired new means of social nobility through the School system, which Serim dominated. During the empire's period of conquest, many of the new territories were seeded with large numbers of Serim, along with other military settlers; in many cases it was the Serim and their native counterparts who would come to dominate these polities.
In the post-Neritsovid period, the Serim became increasingly important. In Azophin, they were repressed in favour of the High Nobility; this was a major source of turmoil within Azophin and was only brought to an end with the Serim's victory following the Long War. In Terophan, the distinction between Serim and kunentsy was effectively eliminated, creating a powerful new social mobility which broke the grip of the old Secote families on all authority. In Lacre, Rashimic-speaking Serim enjoyed a certain commonality of interest with the Pseudolacreans who held a dominant position, but they were largely pushed aside during the civil war there (1739–54), with the rise of neo-Chotarianism forcing the emigration of many Rashimics from the country.