Duke/Duchess

A Duke (or Duchess, when the title bearer is a woman), in the context of the Kingdom of Crendameth, is any given individual that has been authorized by the Crown of Crendameth to administer a specific extension of land, known as a Duchy, wherein their authority comes only second to the ruling monarch, be them a king, a queen or both.
For the majority of the title's existence, it was inherited by the title holder's firstborn child, regardless of their sex (though preferring males over females). With it, they would inherit the land, wealth, influence and responsibility their parents held. However, the Empty Lord, upon successfully invading the Kingdom, would personally place people they determined to be worthy in these positions, which became the norm for all subsequent rulers during what is now known as the Age of the Sunseekers.

This trend was broken by Elmeyon Crendameth, who rewarded the surviving fifteen people that followed him through his rebellion with a Duchy of their own, with the option of dismissing the prize entirely, with not a one refusing. The fifteen titles of Dukes and Duchesses are, to this day, held by the same people who helped Elmeyon claim his birthright.

Qualifications

As of the present day, the only qualification needed to obtain the title is to have participated in Elmeyon's Rebellion as one of the fifteen followers who survived the entire ordeal. However, these Dukes and Duchesses expect their successors to be competent in the fields of economics, administration, military tactics and logistics and have an understanding of what the title entails besides this, along with details exclusive to the region's economic or cultural necessities.

Requirements

Formerly, one needed a certain pedigree in order to inherit the title. Said requirement has since then been removed, implying that most anyone can be considered for the title, as long as the current Duke or Duchess considers them to be an optimal candidate.

Appointment

Under current rule, a new Duke or Duchess is to be appointed, ideally, by an individual that is leaving the title behind. The people of the Duchy would then be summoned to its capital so that they could bear witness to the new ruler's appointment, where their name is proclaimed sixteen times by the onlooking crowd as the sun sets, after which the Duke or Duchess will vow to keep the people in their Duchy safe and to guide them justly. It is said that the first star to be seen by the newly appointed ruler is to be their guiding light though their Duchy's tribulations.

Although the ceremony has been rehearsed several times over the course of Elmeyon's reign, there has never been the need to perform it.

Duties

First and foremost, a Duke or Duchess serves the Crown, defending the country's interests and integrity in the face of adversity. By extension, they serve the Duchy and the people that live therein, vowing to keep the people safe and to lead them well throughout the years.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities that a Duke or Duchess has can be largely summed up as administrative work, ensuring that the citizens of the Kingdom pay their taxes, seeing to the just enforcement of the law and specific, regional obligations that fall under the zone's particular needs or the Duke or Duchess' own agenda. An example of this last point would be hunting laws or taxes, tithes that must be paid to the main faith or restrictions on the amount of ice that can be shipped to the rest of the Kingdom.

It is also expected that a Duke or Duchess will be part of the armed forces when defending against an invading enemy or some force that threatens to harm the citizens, not because they are forced or commanded to, but because they feel the need to protect the people that follow their rule.

Benefits

The main benefit that comes from this profession comes in the form of the residence. Dukes and Duchesses live in their capital city's palace or castle, vestiges of the previous Kingdom's golden ages and the Empire's occupation. These are normally spacious, well furnished and superbly decorated lodgings where they can perform their obligations to the Duchy or the Crown and find some leisure activities to perform as they rest.

Another advantage gained from this position comes in the form of wealth. A percentage of all taxes serves as a Duke's or Duchess' salary, while the rest is stored in the treasury or destined to be used in public works, such as building renovations or road maintenance. Because of the average number of people that live in every Duchy, this percentage constitutes a handsome amount of gold pieces to the person receiving it.

Accoutrements & Equipment

There is a formal regalia for each Duke and Duchess, which includes scepters of different makes and sizes, a crown made from the same material as said scepter with jewels representative of his or her Duchy and a set of robes that are tailor-made following Crendamite traditions and customized for each title holder. However, most of the Dukes and Duchesses avoid wearing these accouterments unless it is absolutely necessary, and even then some might not wear them, citing them to be overly cumbersome or gaudy.

Grounds for Removal/Dismissal

There are few recorded instances of Dukes or Duchesses being removed from their official position throughout the Kingdom's existence. Historically, only the ruling monarch could strip a person from their title, this being done for any umber of reasons, including whims. Nowadays, the main reason as to why a Duke or Duchess could be dismissed from their office would be unsatisfactory or incompetent resource administration, as well as a failure to properly uphold their vows to vie for their citizen's safety.

There is no established, formal procedure to be followed in the case of someone's removal from office, happening at the monarch's discretion rather than through protocols. However, should there be an overwhelming number of people expressing their discontent for their Duke or Duchess, and said mass repeatedly requests audiences with the King, an intervention is likely to happen, resulting in the limitation of the Duke's or Duchess' powers or their outright removal.

History

The most important piece of recent history associated with the title of Duke or Duchess was the fact that the current holders of said titles were an integral part of Elmeyon Crendameth's battling force, taking strategic points from the Voidlord and ultimately delivering the capital city of the Kingdom, Solaris, to Crendameth before his final confrontation with the Voidlord.

However, other individuals in profession have been responsible for important historical landmarks throughout the Kingdom's existence. While some, particularly those during the first years of the Kingdom, were lost during the Empty Lord's invasion, those that have survived tell of a wealth of accomplishments that were achieved through the collective might, effort and will of the earliest Dukes and Duchesses. Such feats as repelling the invaders from the Western Shores during the War of Discovery, or how the city of Lightbank was protected from the attacks made by Mardrath Ruby - Eyed. Though history might not remember their names, their legacy lives on.

Cultural Significance

For the people of the Kingdom, the title of Duke or Duchess has generally been associated with stability, order and protection, though dissidents and remaining loyalists to the Sunseeker Empire disagree vehemently. For the most part, people treat their rulers with the respect their rank entitles them to, making note of their date of birth and celebrating it if their Duke or Duchess has been kind, fair and just with them, though this is not something that was ever put to decree.

Notable Holders

The most famous Dukes and Duchesses are, undoubtedly, the current ones, hailed as the heroes of the realm after freeing the Kingdom from the Voidlord's reign. These are, in no particular order:

• Zaimina Theros of Aeromoglth, Duchess of Odykos;
• Syndil Hollowelm, Duchess of Nissius;
• Leo Zigler, Duke of Adeah;
• Vylthana Windriver, Duchess of Hafeld;
• Vonlir Vil Vexinor, Duke of Estus;
• Noumos Gahalmath, Duke of Aris;
• Hagren Tol’Direl, Duke of Aricus;
• Zanna Shadowstepper, Duke of Ithiabun;
• Philomena Sureaim, Duchess of Elis;
• Kriv Mystan, Duke of Rhine;
• Ulfgar Silveraxe, Duke of Adyma;
• Astar Uthel, Duke of Ashur;
• Ægethia Stormwrestler, Duchess of Araket;
• Mellow Wind, Duke of Caerno;
• Show spoiler

  ---, Duke of A Thousand Masks

Type

Nobility, Non-hereditary

Status

The title has been reinstated as of Elemyon Crendameth's ascension to the throne.

Creation

The title of Duke or Duchess was created during Andor of Cren's rule by the First King himself, after the Age of the Blade ended. It has been in force for around eight hundred years.

Form of Address

My Lord/Lady, My Duke/Duchess

Alternative Naming

• Administrator the the Duchy

• Traitor

• Member of the Council of Fifteen

Equates to

A Duke of the Kingdom is roughly equivalent to the Prince in Al Raamahwil, or the First Fireworker in Yōken.

Source of Authority

The King of Crendameth

Length of Term

Until removed from office by the king, the people or death. Abdication is possible, but has yet to happen.

Related Organizations

• The Kingdom of Crendameth