A system of minor reward for the top cabal and a bit of help for the lesser cabal. Something like...

Respect/Fear of the powerful.
Sympathy for the underdog.

The help would be minor in both cases, but could be something like a discount at shops for the powerful, and a chance for the underdog to gain an extra item. (If you're the underdog, you could go to a store that would possibly have sympathy for your cause and there's a chance they might give you two return potions instead of one). Or maybe your cabal shop would charge you less. I don't know. Would add something interesting to the mix without making the powerful more powerful.