While etiquette plays a large role in dealing with nobility in Eisen (or any nation in Terranon) - there are some societal norms surrounding the noble upper class that may not be as familiar to our player base.
| Rank Level |
Noble Title |
Other social roles of rough equivalent social standing* (See below notes) |
| Highest |
Duke/Duchess/Dux |
|
|
Count/Countess/Countex |
Guildmaster |
|
Baron/Baroness/Baronex |
Master in a guild, Ankre/Ankress |
| Lowest |
Lord/Lady/Ser/Etc. |
|
The highest rank in Eisen is a Duke - these dukes form a council that are the heads of houses and make decisions for parliament. Parliament is also comprised of other, lower nobles (usually counts) who advise, debate, and make policy for the dukes to approve.
The large bulk of nobles in Terranon are lords, ladies, and knights. These are by and large the children of those of higher rank or the extended families of those of higher rank. While they certainly have some power, it pales in comparison to what the counts and dukes hold. The ability to wield their power vastly depends on the situation and who they are dealing with.
Pro-tip reminder: In any scene you can make a history roll to find out who a noble is and their general history (obviously the higher the roll the more info you get). You can also do insight checks to determine how someone is disposed to you (friendly, afraid, etc). The storytellers recommend you USE these rolls to help guide your RP.
Nobles interacting with nobles of higher rank:
In general, the lower ranked noble will give way to the higher ranked noble in terms of etiquette and sway. There are obvious exceptions to this - higher nobles who are on good terms with a particular lesser, situations in which feedback is invited, etc. But as a general rule of thumb, most of the lords and ladies of Eisen give way to those of higher rank.
This can include general social interaction but also includes political events. For example:
Matters of parliament are usually reserved for barons and higher - lords and ladies are rarely involved unless explicitly invited.. While you may be playing a noble character, you might not be quite “noble enough” to throw your weight around in a given situation. This can also change depending on your “social credit.” A noble who has been very good about gaining allies and a good reputation may have some more sway when working with others. Again, this is where history and insight checks can be invaluable to your RP.
Nobles interacting with nobles of the same rank:
Interacting with nobles of the same rank puts you on more equal footing socially and politically. However, some caveats still apply. Not all houses get along well ideologically and that can change an interaction substantially. Also - even with house rivalries - most houses are loathe to get into house-wide spats and fights. While individual members may hold grudges, it’s unlikely an entire house will follow suit unless the nobles in question are very highly placed or very influential.
Example: Lord Esch and Sir Orsei may have a spat but it’s unlikely House Tressard and House Bremen are going to get involved as a whole.
Example: Baron Windemere was able to stonewall Cardinal for a number of months in House Arden because he is a higher ranked noble but also had a lot of social “cache” to spend.
An exception to this may occur if a lower ranked noble is specifically representing the interests of their higher ranked lord. That noble would then be treated with the same deference -for that matter-. This can be a powerful boon - but also backfire as insulting others in this role reflects back on the person you are representing.
Example, if Lady Orsei is explicitly representing Count Calder at an event, she would be treated with the same manner reserved for him in terms of that singular matter but the rest of the evening would not accord her the respect of a countess politically.
Example: Working directly for Gisela at the Adventurer's Guild, under her authority, can give you weight if you drop her name - but it WILL get back to her that you did that, and she may be upset with you about it.
Nobles interacting with nobles of lower rank (and commoners)
In general, one is expected to maintain decorum over those of lower rank but it is possible to throw your noble weight around with those of lower rank and, generally, expect a relatively positive outcome or at least acquiescence. Keep in mind that this doesn’t always hold true and there may be non-poltical reactions. Telling the burly orc barkeep to bugger off is still likely to get you removed from the inn or mugged in the alley.
Special Circumstances: Rooks
Rooks report directly to the Dukes of Eisen via their Grandmaster. While they are almost -all- nobles (there are exceptions but those are rare) and all of noble families, they generally do not assume those roles and titles while serving in their rook duties. It’s unusual to hear a rook chatter about their noble lineage and if they do it’s a sign of respect rather than an invitation to politic. This separation allows the rooks to stay out of house squabbles and lets them remain as impartial as they can in the matter of Eisen politics (or at least that is the theory).
Special Circumstances: Masters of Guilds and Church leaders
While not technically noble, the heavy presence of the guilds accords the masters, guild masters, and ankres of the churches something akin to noble respect. If push came to shove, the noble would still likely win, but because of the long years of work and levels of accomplishment masters and church leaders attain, they are often accorded similar rights to lower ranked nobility. The Guild Master leaders of the guilds themselves are accorded even more respect as without the guilds, a great deal of Eisen culture falls apart. It is thus common for nobles to invite Masters to social functions accordingly as if they were lords or ladies - but masters also walk a careful line of spending their social credit carefully.
Special Circumstances: Other Nations
While your rank will not be ignored in other nations, particularly lower ranked nobility does need to keep in mind that noble titles may not be fully accordered or recognized in another nation. Avalonian nobles may accept you because they readily approve of nobility over commoners, but that does not mean they consider you equal to their own nobility, as an example.
Extenuating Circumstances:
Social standing isn’t just a matter of your title - though that’s a large part of it. Your actions can endear you - or not - to various people you meet. Conservative houses are more inclined to honor conservative values and actions. Progressive houses, the opposite. Grand adventurers may get some sway in some situations but not necessarily others. Again, the storytelling staff suggests you use those history and insight rolls - or just check in - if you’re uncertain and aiming for a particular outcome.
