Damaran Nobility

Damara began as a collection of regional governments who banded together under King Feldrin Bloodfeathers to better defend themselves against outside threats. While it is a Kingdom, each province (Duchy or Barony) is ruled separately. Each maintains their own armies, but must answer the King's call to arms in case of war.
At the formation of Damara, and the creation of any new province, the province itself chooses their new Duke or Baron, and the leadership of the province is passed down through family line. If a line dies out, the Council of Damara may step in and recognize a new province leader.
The difference between Duchy and Barony is minor, generally depending on the wealth, prestige and/or population of the province. Duchies tend to be the wealthier and larger of the provinces, and are usually known as the supply provinces, containing much of the natural resources of the Kingdom. The Baronies are the heart of the Kingdom and make their fortunes on manufacturing and trade. That King Gareth was able to raise Bloodstone from a Barony to a Duchy was largely dependent on the influx of people to the Bloodstone Vale and the reopening of the Bloodstone Mines.
The Dukes and Barons meet regularly with the King in the Council of Damara. The Council is the true ruler of Damara. Each province leader has a vote. The King once had a vote as representative of Heliogabalus, but Dimian Ree's control of Heliogabalus deprives Gareth Dragonsbane of this right. In case of a tie, the King's decision is law. In the case of war or a humanoid horde, the king may take true command.
Each province, whether a Duchy or Barony, is further divided into Counties, and the Counts in each province make up the bulk of the nobility of the Kingdom. Counties are generally founded around a large city or town, but can be further broken into Lordships, where a local lord may be responsible for a village, farming acreage, or other natural resource (such as oversight of a woodland). A Knight (named a "Sir" or the older "Ser") may be appointed by and answers to the landed noble.

Thus Damaran Nobility is divided into the following ranks (in order of station):

King/Queen

Province Leaders

• Duke/Duchess

• Baron/Baroness

Lesser Nobility

• Count/Countess

• Lord/Lady (landed)

• Knight, Sir (or the older term Ser) (Landless)