Noblemen, offices of state and officers

And so, my lord, it is needful both in this regard and others that you should know who they are who you should hold for gentlemen, who for nobles, and who for non-nobles.
The Gentleman is he who from old springs from gentlemen and gentlewomen, and such men and their posterity by marriage are gentle.
And with regard to nobility, which is the beginning of gentility, it is acquired firstly by those who hold great office under the prince, and by this means they are ennobled and their posterity after them. And the heirs of such, who come after, may, by maintaining the free condition and leading the honorable life of the nobleman, call themselves gentlemen.
Thirdly, when the servant of the prince of any other has led an honorable existence, and the prince has made him a knight, he thus ennobles him and his posterity.
Fourthly, to follow the profession of arms in the rank of man-at-arms and to serve the prince valorously and long at war, this ennobles a man. And fifthly, when a prince wishes to ennoble a man, he may do so and may give him letters to make him noble, for his good or his virtuous living, or for his riches. And although it is true that to be ennobled by letters patent is the least well authorized manner of ennoblement, yet it is apparent enough that ancient nobility comes from ancient riches. And he is the happier, and is to be the more esteemed, who commences his nobility in virtue, than he who brings his to an end in vice.
—Oliver de la Marche (1425–1502), Castellan of Court

RANKS OF KNIGHTHOOD

All knights share certain duties and traits. However, not all knights are equal in rank, and there exist several grades of knighthood. The difference between these is determined primarily by the source of income for the knight.

KNIGHT MERCENARY

Knights without a lord are the lowest class of knights. They are called mercenary because they must seek to sustain themselves through work for money. Since knights are fighting men, they generally make their living by seeking mercenary soldier employment, and differ from ordinary mercenary cavalry (sergeants) only in that they have taken the oath of knighthood before a lord.

BACHELOR KNIGHT

The dignity of Knight Bachelor is the basic and lowest rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised orders of chivalry. Bachelor Knights may obtain special honors from their lord(s). Simple gifts are common, usually as horses, better armor and weapons, and so on.
Knights bachelor derive their income directly from their lord, either through direct maintenance or by cash payments. (The word bachelor derives from bas chevalier, or “low knight.” It has come to be associated with unmarried men because bachelor knights were generally not rich enough to support a wife.) Knights bachelor are also called “household knights” because they live in their lord’s household, not on their own land. They are his bodyguard and standing army, and travel wherever their lord takes them. Their loyalty is crucial to the lord’s success, perhaps even to his survival, so they are usually treated well and receive great honor.
A knight bachelor may bear a pennocelle (a small pennant) upon his lance to distinguish his rank from mercenary knights and commoners, who wear no decoration.

VASSAL KNIGHT

Knights may obtain special honors from their lord(s). Simple gifts are common, usually as horses, better armor and weapons, and so on. The most prestigious honor is to receive a fief — a manor - which raises a bachelor knight to the status of vassal knight. Knights who own their own land are knight vassals. They have their own manor and lands, and are thus substantial landlords capable of equipping themselves for war.
First-time player knights normally receive this great honor upon being knighted, immediately after starting the game. The Gamemaster may wish to have player knights created subsequently in his campaign begin as household knights, not vassal knights, in which case gaining a fiefdom becomes an ambition of great importance.
The land received by a vassal knight may be either a gift or a grant . Player knights hold their land as a grant unless the Gamemaster chooses to have it otherwise.
A vassal knight holds at least one manor and its land. This gives him enough income to provide his own food and equipment, and supports him as an Ordinary knight in terms of economic quality. He usually lives on his land, which has a nice (but not extravagant) hall, when he is not serving his share of castle garrison duty, serving summer active duty time, or visiting court to offer his advice.
REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES
To be a vassal knight, a character must inherit land, gain land (as a grant or a gift) from a lord, or conquer new lands. The duties of a vassal knight are the same as those of any knight — to serve and protect his lord. As a knight given a special honor by his lord, though, it is expected that a vassal knight perform his duties with consummate skill and energy.
A knight is obliged to a senior to:

1. Once a year, without salary, set off on a war campaign with a fixed number of warriors (usually it is a train [knight + 2 men-at-arms] from each manor). The senior must be the one to pay for longer campaigns.
2. As many times as the senior demands, without salary, go on not longer than one week raids with an above mentioned number of men-at-arms.
3. To supply the senior with one man-at-arms for supervising his castle (the senior usually asks for the scout Rgr2, who he uses in his Road Wardens unit).
4. Deliver information with the help of a signaling device and supply horses to the couriers of a senior.
5. Defend the senior from all possible harm to his body, property and honour and serve with counsel on demand; take part in court events and missions.

The knight, in return:

1. Gets a manor for himself and his descendants, together with a right for settling peasants there and getting rent from them (the contract between the peasant and the knight is called commendation)
2. He increases the rank of his nobility together with that of his close family, which gives him a privileged position in the eye of the law (he can be judged only by a person with a higher rank and gets lower sentences for committing the same offences as a peasant.
3. He gets the right to judge peasants in the area of his fief. He is allowed to pass sentences in categories I and II ‘ VII: The Penal code.
4. He can count on support in difficult times (with being admitted to the baron’s knights guards in the case of losing his fief unintentionally), being defended from trespassing and more powerful enemies ‘ III, 1, Military assumption and support in courts.
5. He can count on having his teenage children educated in the baron’s court (this accounts for the presence of squires and ladies-in-waiting there).

BENEFITS
• Eligibility. A vassal knight usually receives a wife (if he does not already have one) soon after gaining his holdings, completely at the will of his lord. The woman may be the heiress of other lands, or simply be provided to maintain stewardship.
• Glory. A vassal knight receives 50 Glory upon receiving his title (once only). He receives annual Glory for his land equal to the income generated by the fifief, usually 6 points, but perhaps more. If he maintains himself at higher than Ordinary quality (i.e., Rich or Superlative) during any given year, he receives annual Glory based on the grade maintained that year.
• Income. A vassal knight’s manor provides enough annual revenue for him to maintain an appropriate (usually Ordinary) life style.
• Influence. His land gives him rank and prestige, and raises him in the hierarchy of knighthood over all landless knights.
• Safety. A vassal knight has a higher price for ransom than bachelor knights, and is thus more likely to be spared in a fifight.
• Security. A vassal knight’s economic future is secure beyond his life. A knight with a land grant receives the knowledge that his heirs, should he have any, can inherit his property and status after he dies.

BANNERET KNIGHT

The lowest rank of lord knight, and that rank most accessible to the player knights, is that of banneret. A knight banneret holds several manors and estates. He must have at least three vassal knights of his own holding land from him, but typically has seven or eight. He also has a hall much nicer than that of a vassal knight, but usually not a fortified estate or castle. Knights are sometimes lords over other knights, and are thus called knight lords. Knight lords are the upperrank noblemen, the lords of the land. In this book, a “lord” means any knight who has taken on other knights as followers. The lowest grade of lord is a banneret knight. The highest is the High King.
REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES
Like a vassal knight, a banneret must inherit land, gain land (as a grant or a gift) from a lord, or conquer new lands. Because he has enfeoffed other knights, the banneret’s responsibility as a leader (both in peaces and war) is greater than that of a vassal knight. When summoned to battle, the banneret must bring his knights as well.
BENEFITS
A knight banneret has all the benefits of a vassal knight, with the following additions or addendums:
• Army. A banneret knight has a private army pledged to obey him, composed of perhaps a handful of household knights and sergeants, plus 3 or more vassal knights and their own followers.
• Eligibility. The Gamemaster must ensure that a banneret’s wife is more individualized and wealthier than the wives of mere vassal knights.
• Glory. A banneret receives 100 Glory during the Winter Phase of the year in which he is first entitled. This Glory is added during the Winter Phase that concludes that year. The banneret gets annual Glory thereafter equal to the total income of his estate (in libra) for as long as he holds it. This is at least 30 points, often much more.
• Income. A banneret knight receives an income to maintain his appropriate lifestyle as a Rich knight, as long as famine or raids do not interfere; when he travels, he can go with a full retinue, and he usually has disposable income.
• Influence. A lord knight has increased rank and prestige, and is raised in the hierarchy of knighthood over all land￾less and vassal knights. He is always seated higher at table, enters the room later, and is served before lesser knights.

BARON

This title is used for anyone who holds land directly from his king. Baron means “a royal landholding vassal,” and theoretically all recipients of small holdings directly from their king are barons, even if only bannerets. Thus, in AD&D, there are barons of Arthur and barons of other fief
nights is based on his persona
The term “baron” usually means the Great Barons who hold rich and widespread estates, and who command large armies of knights. All earls and dukes are technically barons as well, but if a baron holds another more prestigious title he will use it.
On average, a baron has about 25 vassal knights, and holds 30 to 40 manors from either the High King or one of the many other kings in the land. When traveling, a baron has a retinue typically of 25 people or more, including his wife, another knight, three or more squires, two maids-in-waiting, four pages, a cook, a groom, a herald, and other menials.
Duties:

• Presides, judges
• takes part in the knight’s investiture
• commands stewards or knights
• takes part in auctions of the manor
• settles wastelands
• organizes the guilds
• renovates the castle
• in the legation or on secret missions, at the senior’s castle, at a tournament
• trains warriors
• visits his vassals, the manors, quarry, mine, stud, lighthouse or grub

REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES
Barons must spend at least £26 per year to support themselves and their retainers adequately — any less than this, and the baron is not showing the proper appurtenance of his estate. The baron himself lives as a Rich knight at least.
A baron must provide military aid and counsel, in matters both personal and social, to his lord. He must provide for the wellbeing of his vassals and household knights, and must also maintain the health and prosperity of his holding. He is also (at least punitively) responsible for making sure his vassals meet their own responsibilities as landlords.
Player Responsibilities: The player of a baron must take on the role of Gamemaster for a hunt (or a similar excursion) when asked by his Gamemaster, and he must also run a Neighborhood Tournament at least once annually. He must also make certain command decisions when required by the campaign in addition to playing the character in role as needed.
BENEFITS
A baron has all the benefits of a knight banneret, with the following additions and addendum's:
• Army. A baron has at least 15 knights under his command, plus their own followers.
• Glory. Barons receive yearly Glory equal to their landholding, up to 100 points annually. (Thus, they usually receive 100 Glory per year.)
• High Office. A baron may wear a crown with eight large pearls as a sign of office. Barons and their sons are addressed as “Lord,” and their wives and daughters as “Lady.”
• Influence. A baron is raised in the hierarchy of knighthood over all lesser knights.

EARL/COUNT

“Earl,” like “Count,” is a title that implies rule over a large region called a county or an earldom. Saxons use the term ealdorman, later shortened to earl. Frenchmen use the term count, which is roughly equivalent. To illustrate the degree to which these terms are interchangeable, in England the wife of an earl has always been called a countess. Commonly, an earl holds most of the land in his county and lesser lands in other counties. Earldoms are sometimes named after the chief seat or after the county itself. An earl has received his lands and title when he has had the “Sword of the County” belted onto him during the proper investiture ceremony.
On average, an earl controls 75 knights and has about 100 manors. An earl’s retinue while traveling typically numbers approximately 50 people, including the countess, eight additional knights, twelve or more squires, five maids-in-waiting, at least eight pages, two messengers, a herald, two grooms, a cook and two assistant cooks, a clerk, a priest, a dog boy, a hawk keeper, and perhaps five miscellaneous varlets.
REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES
Earls must support themselves, their families, and their retainers in the proper style and manner, costing at least £84 annually. The earl himself must live as a Superlative knight.
Otherwise, aside from the increased breadth of responsibility, an earl’s duties are much like those of a baron. Player Responsibilities: As the player of a baron, but he must gamemaster a hunt and a feast (or other such diversions) and also a Local Tournament at least once annually.
BENEFITS
An earl has all the benefits of a baron, with the following additions or addendum's:
• Army. An earl has at least 50 knights under his command, plus their own followers.
• Castles. A county always has at least one medium castle and typically 1 to 3 small castles.

DUKE

The title of “Duke” denotes the highest rank possible other than those given to royalty. Dukes are invariably rich and powerful. They hold the equivalent of several counties and have lesser holdings throughout several kingdoms. Dukes almost always hold lands of the Pendragon, who usually grants these titles for military purposes. (Thus we can understand how there are both a King and a Duke of Cornwall.)
A Duke usually commands 100 to 200 knights from across his domains, and holds 150 or more manors and other sources of income. Ducal retinues are typically 80 to 100 people, including 15 to 20 knights plus other servants.
REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES
Dukes must support themselves, their families, and their retainers in the proper style and manner, costing at least £164 per annum. The duke himself must live as a Superlative knight. Otherwise, aside from the increased military responsibility, a duke’s duties are much like those of an earl.
Player Responsibilities: As the player of a baron, but the duke’s player must take on the role of Gamemaster for a hunt, a feast, a session of court, and a Regional Tournament at least once annually.
BENEFITS
A duke has all the benefits of an earl, with the following additions or addendum's:
• Army. A duke has at least 100 knights under his command, plus their own followers. In addition, dukes are often given leadership over large portions of their king’s armies during times of war.
• Castles. Ducal holdings usually have at least one large castle as a primary residence, 1 to 3 medium castles, and 2 to 6 small castles. Due to the military nature of the office, many more castles and watchtowers are likely under the duke’s command.
• High Office. A duke is addressed with the honorific “Your Grace” and is styled “Most Noble”; his wife is “Duchess,” also referred to as “Your Grace.” The eldest son of a duke takes his father’s second title (likely Earl), and the other sons are addressed as “Lord,” and the daughters as “Lady.”

KING

Kingship is the highest rank of nobility. A king normally owes no vassalage, but feels responsibility to whatever personal ideals he swears by. Thus he might owe ultimate allegiance to his people, to ancient Roman law, to the divine right of kings, or to some act of history which made him king. All the powerful kings of England eventually submit and pay homage to Arthur Pendragon, who thereby becomes the High King of all Britain.
Many kings in the various literary sources do not seem to meet these requirements for kingship. In Pendragon, these rulers are classified as pennaths (see below), even though their contemporaries might call them “king.” (The title does not define usage, but class and status.)
To qualify as king, a landholder must be politically independent or owe allegiance only to the Pendragon, and be liege to 100 or more knights. If a player assumes the role of a king, he controls a kingdom.
Royal retinues are typically 100 or more people, including 15 to 25 knights as escort, and appropriate servants and auxiliaries.
REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES

A king must support himself and his family, and must provide for the well-being of his vassals and maintain the health and prosperity of his kingdom. The king himself must live as a Superlative knight. A king has no lord, and thus owes duty to no one, or else owes fealty to Arthur Pendragon.
Player Responsibilities: As the player of a baron, but the king’s player must take on the role of Gamemaster for a hunt, a feast, and a session of court when asked, and must hold a Regional or Regal Tournament at least once annually.
BENEFITS
A king has all the benefits of a duke, with the following additions or addendums:
• Army. A king effectively commands all the forces of all of his vassals.
• Castles. Royal domains have at least one large castle, 2 to 5 medium castles, and 3 to 8 small castles.
• High Office. A king is addressed with the honor-ifific “Your Highness” and is styled “His Majesty”; his wife is “Queen,” and is also referred to as “Your Highness.” The eldest son is the Royal Prince, and the other sons and daughters are princes and princesses.

OFFICERS

Some estates are so large that they require the attention of more than one knight and his wife. These estates have officers, as listed below. Smaller estates have fewer officers of course, who may each perform several of these tasks at once.
When a person is appointed to be an officer, the job is usually treated as neither a gift nor a grant, but a temporary office held at the pleasure of the liege lord, who may remove the holder for any or no reason whatsoever.
The attention required to the duties involved in these positions generally does not allow much time to go adventuring, except on the lord’s most important business. Thus it is possible for a player character to retire into one of these positions when he stops active play.
Given below are listings of common tasks, plus the name of the man who holds that job for King Arthur. Note that the definitions given here are feudal, and many of these titles have changed in meaning, sometimes drastically, since the Middle Ages — if they are still in common usage, that is.

CASTELLAN

A castellan is an officer in charge of a castle for his lord; he is responsible for both its maintenance and defense. Unlike most other offices, this office is often filled as the result of a grant or a gift. The castellan is usually an ex-adventurer, ex-mercenary captain, a veteran, often a disinherited noble’s child. During the war he commands a company. If there is noble blood in his veins and he makes his mark as a strategist, he can, in the future, become a count’s marshal – a leader of several thousands soldiers.
The baron pays the castellan 120gp a month, provides him with common upkeep, a chamber in the castle, a maid, an orderly (Ftr4), knight status, and equipment for about 5000gp, the healing skills and care of a Clr6.
Duties:

• protects the baron, his family and/or guests
• commands the guards and squires, is responsible for the well functioning of the court
• trains the warriors
• arranges the supplies to the army and castle

CHANCELLOR

The chancellor is in many ways the second most powerful man in the kingdom, the holder of the Royal Seal that must mark all official documents. Generally, only kings have a chancellor. Sir Constantine, son of Cador, comes to hold this post for Arthur.

JOURNEYMAN MAGE (BARON’S COURT MAGE)

Journeyman mage (baron’s court mage) is usually a Mage’s Guild graduate, often a disinherited child / nephew of the baron himself. Service in the town is his most likely first occupation. After gaining some experience and the senior’s trust, he has the distinct opportunity to become a master mage (count’s court mage) and gain the possibility to use rituals (a.k.a. king spells). Being the lowest in the hierarchy of mages, the baron’s court mage is the only wizard in the barony (20.000 souls) and he is the most mysterious and feared creature in all the populace (apprentices and academy students are not eligible in this context).
The baron pays his court mage 120gp monthly, provides him with the common upkeep, a chamber in the castle, a maid, a bodyguard (Ftr4), knight’s status, equipment for about 5000gp, the healing skills and care of a Clr6, and provision with financial help in buying the majority of components.
Duties:

• checks with his spells to see if there aren’t any illusions, charms or shape-changers in the baron’s environs
• checks via detect poison spell the meals of the baron, and his family and warriors
• supports the baron’s judgment by charm person and detect thoughts spells
• takes part in the noble’s ceremonies
• takes part in the work of the legation or secret missions
• casts continual flame spell on the signaling devices, lighthouse or buildings
• marks the donjon’s inhabitants or the vassals’ signet rings with arcane mark spell
• supports the guardians or prison wardens by detect magic and detect undead spells
• supports the militia in investigations with locate object spell

BUTLER

A butler is responsible for his lord’s food, especially the procurement and storage of goods. He is in charge of many workers, carters, servants, etc. Sir Lucan the Butler fulfills these tasks for Arthur.

SENESCHAL

This is the man in charge of feeding the court, especially the part of the process between the storage cellars and the plate. He commands all the cooks, servers, and so on. Sir Kay, son of Ector, holds this position for King Arthur.

STEWARD, LAND-STEWARD

Steward, Land-steward – representative chosen by peasants to speak with the lord, usually the richest and most skilled farmer. He manages the manor in the name of the lord for some gold.
Knowledge (stewardship) skill facilitates a reduction in the costs of the maintenance of the land, fortifications, the court and the upkeep of the army. In other words, the costs can lessen but not the standards. A ruler with Stewardship can get everything cheaper, organize better, modernize, and decrease wastage. Stewardship skill reduces maintenance costs

CHAMBERLAIN

This officer is the keeper of the King’s Chamber, including all things in it. Since the king’s chambers are the most protected part of a castle, the most valuable things are often kept there as well, such as the treasure. Thus, the chamberlain is both chief body servant to the king, commanding other servants such as tailors and laundresses, and also his treasurer.

VOGT (TOWN TRADER, TOWN SPEAKER)

The vogt is the owner of the merchants’ guild / cabotage merchants’ guild, the wealthiest (after the baron) town inhabitant and most skilled craftsman (Exp11). He is chosen by the townsfolk as commander of the militia, he is the judge in town, and a representative of the local community to the baron. The merchant has an exclusive privilege to trade in the harvest in the barony and to use the castle granaries which are the only safe (and vast) places for storing several tons of food. He is the chief figure in the barony’s economy, because over a half of the ruler’s income comes from his taxes and he is the main source of credit for the ruler. That makes him important enough (although from a lower social class, and, in theory, not an official of the baron) to have access to the prester and court mage’s spells. Furthermore, if the number of his militiamen is not enough, he can summon more baron’s soldiers for protection.
Duties:

• is prominent in the market
• buys harvest from knights
• judges arguments in the town
• organizes loading in the docks
• trains militiamen
• attends negotiations with the count’s guilder

CONSTABLE

The constable jurisdiction is the town. This person is responsible for the order and comfort of the court, performing tasks such as arranging lodgings for the king and commanding messengers, watchmen, musicians, sergeants, huntsmen, horn blowers, and so on. Sir Baudwin of Britain is Arthur’s constable.

MARSHAL

The Marshal is the commander of his lord’s forces during war, and is also responsible for the protection of the household. Sir Brastias, Warden of the Northern Marches, commands the forces for Arthur at fifirst, and later Sir Griflflet takes the post.

JUSTICIAR

The individual responsible for making sure that justice is delivered in the High King’s courts, this offificer is also overseer of his lord’s sheriffs. He may also sit in as judge for cases presented before the High King himself. King Arthur himself oversees this post during his reign.

SHERIFF - REEVE

The Sheriff's jurisdiction if the shire. A shire is a county-sized division of land, and the reeve is the person in charge of making sure that the king’s justice is properly delivered in the county courts held there. He (or his appointed representative) circulates through the shire and is one of the two judges of the shire court (the other is the local Earl). Typically the jail would be in the manor lords dungeon or a makeshift jailcell at the guardhouse or even a hole in the ground.mUntil a judge came out in 4 to 6 weeks to hear their case. The bailiff is in charge of the jury.

HERALDS

Announcements are often made at court. Ordinarily a knight banneret simply has his sergeant-at-arms bawl out proclamations, but higher-ranking nobles employ professional heralds specifically for that duty. Heralds have several duties. In court, heralds announce visitors by name and by their distinctive titles as they enter. On judgment days, they proclaim all the cases to be discussed, state the judgments rendered, and also record all the pertinent facts for later reference. (While this can add flavor to the game, Game￾masters should be wary of boring the players with too much idle verbiage.)
Heralds generally read and write well. They read public proclamations from scrolls, and they record the attendance of every nobleman and knight at a feast or tournament. Scrolls are made of parchment (usually scraped lambskin) and, in royal circles, are calligraphic, illuminated, and decorated with gold or silver leaf and pasted-on jewels. Fanfares blown on long trumpets announce the entrance and exit of important personages. The definition of important is left up to the nobleman. (Here is an excellent opportunity to offend or insult someone, whether intentionally or not.) Fanfares are also used to announce major decrees and to punctuate ceremonial functions such as sworn homages and the naming of officers, champions, and others.

PRESTER

The prester is usually a graduate of theology from the university, DUCHY, often a disinherited child / nephew of a baron himself. During years of work as a manor’s deacon he made his mark and the temple chapter (see sidebar “Concordat”) has chosen him as their representative. The prester is most likely a cleric of the dominant church. Together with two acolytes, he serves in the town’s temple – the parish of four manors of baron’s demesne and the town itself. The prester’s income from the tithe is 3200gp annually. Every year he also visits 100 subordinate deacons, form where he collects half of the tithe (20.000gp a year), stores it in the baron’s treasury and gives it to bishop via count’s court mage’s teleport spell.

ROAD WARDENS’ / Huntmaster CAPTAIN

The road wardens’ captain is usually an ex-adventurer, ex-mercenary captain, a veteran, often an elf.
Duties:

• protects the baron, his family and/or guests
• commands an unit of road wardens, and couriers, he’s responsible for communication
• trains the warriors
• take care for the studs
• trains falcons, dogs, horses or wild beasts (bears, tigers, hellhounds)
• is on a mission to arrest some troublemakers in the town
• goes with relief to a vassal
• organizes a hunt, supervises people who collect honey

RETINUES

Wealthy nobles are always accompanied by a retinue, whose size depends only upon the relative wealth of the noble. Even the traveling entourage of a single fully accoutered knight is quite something.
To start, many horses are present. Every Ordinary knight has his warhorse for combat. Yet no one would ride such a magnificent steed while traveling: The creature would be too tired when a fight came up; also, due to the complex military saddle born by the warhorse, it is most comfortable to ride a simple rouncy or palfrey, and then switch to the charger for battle.
In most cases, a knight doesn’t ride around the countryside fully armed and armored, due to the discomfort caused by weight and heat, so a pack horse is needed as well. Note that a warhorse cannot be used as a pack horse and vice versa — the equipment and saddles are so different that either steed would soon have serious saddle sores if used for the other purpose. More importantly, a warhorse is a noble beast, and it is plain wrong to burden it with baggage.

Lord's Homage
Laws of the Viscounty
Demesne (a.k.a. reserve of the lord) – part of the feud controlled immediately by the lord and exploited directly for the benefit of his household.
A villein is, in the feudal system, a member of the class of serfs tied to the land, distinguished from those in actual slavery, but restricted by law from exercising the rights of a free man.
Enfranchised peasant – peasant, who is the owner of his farm.
Vassal – a noble lower in the feudal pyramid than senior.
Senior – a noble higher in the feudal pyramid than vassal.
Villein – peasant, who has no land and works on a lord’s land.
Fief – land granted to a vassal by a senior in the act of investiture.
Investiture – granting a fief to a vassal.
Reserve of the lord – part of a fief, which belongs directly to the lord.
Tithe – 10% of fief income, which is paid to the Church by the noble.

Ceremony of investiture

The ceremony of investiture is held by the baron’s cleric (a Prester), who, at the same time, unites the knight with a Deacon from his hamlet. The knight commits himself to the payment of tithes, to support the cleric with equipment (armor and a horse) and provide him with a room in a donjon. The cleric swears to support the knight with potions, scrolls and spells (once a year check magically every man-at-arms of the knight etc.) and, of course, support with ministrations (church weddings, funerals, ceremonies etc.).

THE CLERICAL CLASS

The clergy includes all members of the accepted Church, a powerful institution which owns considerable lands and has many rights of its own. Churchmen are exempt from most ordinary laws and claim loyalty to a accepted by the nobility God, a higher authority than the king — a claim which is a source of great conflict between clergy and royalty.
The clergy, supposed to be chaste, can hardly be expected to reproduce itself, so it draws members from both the nobility and the commoners. It is not unusual for younger sons of the nobility to join the clergy rather than be landless knights, seeking whatever opportunity the Church can give them. For bright and ambitious commoners, the Church provides the best opportunity for advancement.

REGALIA

Regalia includes: the right to mint coins, create market places (places where trade routes lead) and of banks, impose taxes, proclaim courts of law, profit from the monopoly of mining gold, platinum, mithral, adamantine, jewels, profit from trading in silk and magical items. The distribution of the regalia is accessible only to one who does not have a senior above him – the sovereign. Usually he keeps them to himself, but part of it can be bestown upon the vassals. Regalia are as the king’s might barometer: any ruler who cannot stop them being taken over, is considered weak.

Concordat

In the majority of campaigns settings the realms have prescribed alignment and a state religion or dominant faith; the rest is easy to set according to the descriptions of rulers’ character and the clerics. There is an assumption that the churches which are complacent in their ethos cooperate with each other and with the government. The temples are protected by law and the rulers’ armies. In exchange they inveigle into the population ideas good for gods and for government alike. Together they defend themselves from religions of a contrary ethos. The hierarchy of churches with a complacent type ethos is chosen by elections by the temple chapter, made up of the highest-ranking clerics devoted to each of the deities the temples serve.

THE COMMON CLASS

Everyone who is not of the nobility or clergy is a commoner. Commoners are the basis for society, and make up 95% of the population. They are the ordinary people who provide the food and goods that allow noblemen and clergy to pursue their specialized functions. Commoners are mostly farmers, whether poor serfs without any freedom or rich landholders who maintain the right to change lords at will. However, the artisans who populate cities and make their wares are also commoners, as are the merchants who act as middlemen and brokers for trade across Britain.
Members of the nobility can become commoners. A squire’s sons are considered commoners, though of good status within the broad spectrum of commoners.
Commoners can sometimes enter the ranks of knighthood, as well. Anyone who can acquire weapons and employment in the ranks of mercenaries might rise from soldier or sergeant to squire or knight through recognition by his leader. Commoners who perform outstandingly, even off the battlefield, can be raised to the status of squires or even knights by their grateful lords. Sometimes lords desperate for money sell knighthood to rich men. More often, though, lords’ daughters marry wealthy commoners, who thus share their wealth with the lord in return for the chance for their own children to become noble.

The Penal code

Knights are sheriff, judge, and jury for all matters of Low Justice on their own domains (see below for the three types of temporal justice). If a character has land, then it is his responsibility to maintain justice within it. Likewise, on their lord’s land, knights must act on their lord’s behalf, either delivering justice then and there or else taking the wrongdoer to the lord’s court.
Knights who break the law are subject to justice in the courts of whoever was offended. If the lawbreaking takes place in a knight’s own domain, then his own lord makes judgment. The only exception to this is when a knight breaks a rule of his lord, in which case the other knights of the court stand to deliver a judgment. Appeal to a higher court can be made, but the higher lord’s court can always decide whether or not to hear the petition.
Knights accused of wrongdoing at any time may claim trial by combat instead of normal court justice.