Backing
Backing is a relatively straightforward Background representing rank and authority within a specific organization. The following is a list of examples for Backing dots as seen in various institutions.
Backing 5 – General, Fleet Admiral; Strategos (Imperial Legions); Chumyo (Lookshy); Archinavarchos (Imperial Navy). Commands an army of 5000-6250 troops plus auxiliaries and extensive support sections, or a large fleet of naval vessels and supporting supply chains. Minister of a major ministry in the Thousand Scales (badge of the Scarlet crane).
Backing 4 – Colonel, Admiral; Dragonlord (Imperial Legions); Kazei (Lookshy); Navarch (Imperial Navy). Commands a formation of 500-1250 troops or a small squadron of naval vessels. Minister of a minor ministry or vice-minister of a major ministry in the Thousand Scales (badge of the peacock). Satrap of a major satrapy.
Backing 3 – Major; Winglord (Imperial Legions); Shozei (Lookshy); Trierarch (Imperial Navy). Commands a formation of 250-625 troops or a naval vessel. Vice-minister of a minor ministry or other middle management posts in the Thousand Scales (badge of the wild goose). Satrap of a minor satrapy.
Backing 2 - Captain; Talonlord (Imperial Legions); Taizei (Lookshy); Kubernetes (Imperial Navy). Commands a formation of 125 troops or a small naval vessel. All-Seeing Eye section chief, managing operations in a specific satrapy or Realm township. Chief of a satrapy department or a regional desk in the Thousand Scales (badge of the silver pheasant).
Backing 1 - Captain; Scalelord (Imperial Legions); Chuzei (Lookshy); Hypoploiarchos (Imperial Navy). Commands a formation of 25 troops, serves as a subaltern to a commanding officer, or as 2nd officer aboard a naval vessel. All-Seeing Eye handler (perhaps managing a small network of informants). Bureaucrat of authority (tax collector, jade assessor, satrapy analyst, etc) in the Thousand Scales (badge of the mandarin duck).
Backing 0 – No significant rank from a political perspective, though could range from private/rating to sergeant/fanglord/boatswain in military terms or a Thousand Scales scribe to junior collector (badge of the oriole or quail).