For centuries, the assorted areas of Wyrlde have operated and been governed under a somewhat feudal system of leadership, rendered complex by tradition, by laws and Powers, and by custom of the Houses that emerged as the foundations that built the broader world came into being following The Bitter Road.

Of note is that Nobility is a role, not a birthright, and there is no divine right of rule. The survivors of the Bleak Journey had organized themselves into several great Houses, and chief among them was the House of Usher. That House has managed to rule over Sibola for most of the last several hundred years, but not wholly.

Nobles have duties and responsibilities and operate on a system of Liege laws that are only applicable to them – the Liege that they serve varying and being able to be changed as politics and possibility permit, but the basic obligations still in place.

Nobles are responsible for an area – typically a settlement or an area of one, and they are responsible for the defense of, preservation of, security of, and well-being of that area and all those within it.

They are also obligated to host those above them, to provide accounting for their deeds and acts, to collect taxes and send them through, ensure that laws are followed and made fairly, and generally supervise the area to ensure that the peace and prosperity of the realm is ensured.

They are widely respected, for they often have skills that only nobility can attain in terms of organization and command and leadership, and the best of them strive to ensure that the obligations they have are met and exceeded.

Nobility Titles and Roles

An additional aspect of the Convocation is the equivalencing of titles. This is key since the official status of the Empire is one of barely recognized existence.

Officially, the Emperor or Empressa have formal say over the realms of Sibola, Akadia, Durango, and Lyonese, while Aztlan, Dorado, and Qivira are distinct, separate from the Empire but only thinly and due mostly to differences in how the government is run. In practice, since the Emperor is effectively confined to Zefir and practically powerless outside the Convocations, the titles enable the rest to understand the role of whom they are dealing with. The following titles are used among Nobility and assorted leadership on Wyrlde.

It is worth noting that the Emperor is the Liege Lord for Akadia, Sibola, Durango, Lyonese, and Dorado, with Aztlan only having an agreement in principle and Qivira having only traditional effort, with no oath having taken place under the Shaganate. A different Emperor might have an issue with that, but none live today who think that he could get Aztlan to bow or bend. They won the last war, after all.

This was set up so to be a regular and orderly form and function, and that regardless of where one comes from one could be effectively titled. Antilia, the youngest city and not a part of the Empire, has a strange idea that is somewhat like Dorado but is likely to collapse from a lack of stability and strong leadership.

Becoming Nobility

It should be noted that not all noble people have a title – titles are only granted to those who have an active aspect in rulership and Liege Lords pledged to them. While many members of the Nobility may have roles and functions in government according to the locale, they are not titled and cannot be unless they end up with the role.

Titles are passed to the chosen successor of the Noble with the title. If that person is not related to the family, they become such upon that point. This is inviolate, and all nobles have a succession chain they have determined that may or may not include their own household.

It is rare, but it can happen that a Writ is given, called a Writ of Grant, allowing the establishment of a new territory, in exchange for allegiance to the lord granting the writ. Only the highest-ranking noble can grant a writ without limit – all others require permission from those above them. Thus, a Marke seeking to establish a new Steading would need to gain permission from his Count, his Count would need to gain permission from his Baron, the Baron would need permission from his Duke, and the Duke would need permission from the Emperor.

Grants can only be given for those roles beneath the Noble, and only those persons in whom the writ is invested can be nobles for they are sworn by Oath.

All Nobles select their heir from among those they feel are worthy that they know of and approve of in the broadest sense. Once selected and accepted, an Heir must also take the Oath of Fealty. Nobility is often hereditary, but not exclusively.

A typical Grant, given under Writ, provides a means of support for the Noble, including a way to keep a staff, provide for travel, and support the troops that are inevitably needed.

Oath of Fealty

The Oath of Fealty is a ritual performed by Noble courts. It is conducted in a room called the Octagon or more commonly just The Chamber. At least seven witnesses from existing Nobility are required, and seven more from among the Noble staff. Often, Envoys, Mystics, and Reeves will be invited to witness, and it is not uncommon for Agents to be present.

The floor will be marked – usually stone inlaid with the pattern required – and in the center of the room sits a throne and a stool before it (kneeling stool), separated by a yard. The current Liege will sit in the throne, the supplicant will kneel on the stool before them. The Oath is recited.

The Oath is to uphold the Charter, uphold the Laws of the Liege, to come to the aid of each in times of peril, to ensure the well-being of the residents, to tithe and tax responsibly, to provide the Liege with certain things and the Subject with certain items (usually agreed to long before, but variable by location – trade agreements are common), to protect the Liege, to ensure patrols are undertaken and the safety of their grant is ensured, and to repel invaders and preserve the Empire.

Oaths are usually florid, long, repetitive, officious, formalized things that work to invoke the Oath of Fealty.

Allegiance is not a formality. It is a binding oath, and there is more than a little magic that passes, tying that person to those they swear fealty to. The Oath of Fealty is a hard thing on all parties and means that one can tell when one is about to be betrayed by the other. The limits are that it is strictly on the basis of that individual – the Duke can betray a Baron only if he himself does or plans to do harm directly – the involvement of third parties is a separate and uninvolved thing. This is why murder of the Liege is such a rare act to be done by a Noble – the knowledge that they will do it is always given to those above them, even if it is between two people below them.

This is also why Envoys are employed so openly and widely – they are not bound by those same oaths and can act in the place of the noble as needed – but they must be wary of other Envoys who seek to prevent or to do the same thing.

The Death of a Sworn Noble without tan heir is a complicated affair and full of politics and schemes. The death of a sitting Noble is cause for high honors and related fanfare, with a notable point that the following oath is not taken until the originating Noble arrives, and never sooner than seven days. Noles must act within 28 days of a death, however.

Among the problems of breaking an oath are not merely the suffering that happens, it is also the pursuit by and the punishment of the Agency.

Titles also convey that those with them oversee a specific settlement – the highest is for those overseeing many, proceeding down to those overseeing a steading, usually those the locals turn to in times of crisis.

Noble Purpose

Everything about Nobility is ultimately structured for a simple purpose: to provide for the poorest, defend all, establish justice, and ensure taxes are paid so they can do those things. Nobility set the taxes in their region and pass a portion of their taxes up. Nobility are Liege based, in that they also owe those above them who grant them titles loyalty and a set number of days of service every year, as well as have the requirement to provide soldiers. Lastly, Nobility are the judges, the final appeal, even if they set up a structure for justice. Nobles decide who is a judge in their region.

Coming from nobility and not having a title means that while one may be in line for a hereditary seat, they are not actually of any great importance unless they are declared heirs. Many people who come from nobility can be found in everyday walks of life or may have one of those appointments to some position that allows an area to function. They may be in line to inherit, but without an income, they must live off what their family brings in, and men and ambition are not cheap, and people have a low order of value for those who merely take up space.

There is one place that many a lesser noble – or Patron – often find a path for themselves that doesn’t require quite as much work. That is in the very important and essential field that keeps many of them in the circles of power and helps to settle problems and improve communication.