Ma Ngu

Ma Ngu, or Not People, refers to persons existing outside of the system of social standing (Jata) used throughout the Oseuda Empire.

Etymology
Ma Ngu, literally translated, means Ghost Who Is Not Dead. Specifically, this refers to the fact that a Ma Ngu is considered dead for all legal and social purposes.

Legal Ramifications
Ma Ngu, unlike every other rank within Jata, are not born into their station. While there are no codified processes to render a person Ma Ngu, a number of basic guidelines do exist.

As becoming Ma Ngu equates, for all intents, to one's physical death it is infrequently used in place of the following:
 * Crimes which would otherwise require execution (e.g. mass murder, blasphemy, assault of a person of higher station, etc);
 * As a means of 'exile within the Empire';
 * Forfeiture or disgrace of an honor duel;
 * Destruction of Oseudan Oral History.

As a Not Person, one may not legally:
 * Own property;
 * Hold a position within government;
 * Seek legal recompense for a crime transgressed upon them;
 * Enter into the aura of a member of the Imperial Court;
 * Meet the eyes of any person for more than the space of two heartbeats.

Cultural Ramifications
As a cultural group, the Ma Ngu exist between places on many levels. While considered lower than the barbaric Luar, the Ma Ngu are also important to Oseudan culture on a number of levels. As they are themselves considered dead, it is not untoward for them to handle dead flesh - a taboo for any other social station.

For purposes of identification, as well as to ensure proper respect for the dead, Ma Ngu are expected to always wear white facial makeup to reflect the pallor of a corpse. This tradition and its trappings have evolved considerably over the millenia, becoming nearly a badge of honor for those who have no honor. Elaborate facial painting, tattooing with shark's blood ink and other forms of facial marking have become prevalent among people of this station. In part, this appears to be a result of the expectation that the majority of persons encountering the Ma Ngu will not look at their face at all for fear of bad luck.

As Not People with limited or no legal rights to property, arms or legal representation, most Ma Ngu hire the services of at least one Bie-Bien or Luar retainer. This allows for interaction, albeit at a removed level, with members of other social stations. In this way, goods may be owned by the retainer, necessities of life purchased and the stigma of speaking to a Ma Ngu may still be avoided.