There are many examples of freemen, even adventurers from other worlds, rising in status to become thanes or even warlords. Some remember the career of Dram Ampde (4598-4677?), a Known Worlds Engineer who piloted a cache of Second Republic weapons into Vuldrok space to escape Decados pursuers. Eventually arriving at Wolf's Lament, he swiftly carved out a territory for himself with his advanced weaponry, eventualy becoming warlord. Known as Dramvis the Mindwise, he ruled with just laws. Enough technology now flows toward the Culdrok worlds that it is doubtful his exploits can be repeated on such a scale. However, in remote locations where tech is low, an enterprising individual with some followers could set up a similar powerbase. (Star Crusade p.90-91).
I still wonder what "Dram Ampde" means, or the nickname "Dramvis the Mindwise...
