Nobility

Nobility in Innworld is a matter of having the right Classes.

Overview

[Nobles] ([Noblewomen] and [Noblemen]) are usally not called by that generic term but by their actual classes (which correspond to their title).

This article deals with the "lower" nobility - for higher classes like [Queens] see Royalty. According to royal knowledge, there is a substantial difference in the power level between "mere" nobles and royals: [Princesses] or [Princes] get more powerful levels than mere [Lords], and a level 30 [King] would equal a level 60 [Major] (which is not a noble class at all).

Nobility may apparently be gained by:

• inheritance (being the child of another noble - these probably gain the class either at birth or during their childhood depending on lifestyle and education. Exact details still unknown.)
• nobilitation (being elevated into nobility by another (higher ranking) noble - exact details still unknown.)
• self-proclamation (so far only observed in case of Laken Godart - this is probably only possible in lands that are not under someone else's rule or government. Exact details still unknown.)

Legitimate nobles have some sway over the classes of other people and may appoint special classes to worthy individuals that are better than the base class. Classes like [Steward] or [Royal Guardian] may be the result. This is, like nobilitation, an act of will of the legitimate [Noble] themselves, and usually done only sparingly and with great delibaration.

Ranking

There are various ranks in Nobility, and the system varies between the continents. [Nobles] may fulfill different roles which can be distinguished for example like following: Some are more or less permanent retainers to a higher-positioned liege (so called "court nobility"). Others are governing in their own feudal estates (so called "landed nobility") or are in some cases [Rulers] in their own right and may not even answer to a feudal lord.

Terandrian System

In Terandria, there is a not-yet disclosed ranking system, or possibly even several of them. If that system follows Earth's (European) nobility orders, then the ranks go up from [Baron], [Viscount], [Earl], [Marquis] towards the [Duke] (the latter was confirmed to be the highest male noble rank below a [King]). [Baroness], [Viscountess], [Countess], [Marchioness] and [Duchess] are their female counterparts.

Humans of Terandrian nobility base their lineages on the purity of their descent, which they call ichorial descendancy. This is different from lineal descendancy (the child of the current ruler has first claim to rule): instead, the most pure scion of any house gets to make that claim. This concept of purity may also reflect in the ranking of nobles, and guide unconventional decisions, like a [Princess] from a vaunted royal bloodline eloping a mere [Baron], although that case may also be based on political power or another ranking system than that of Earth.

The role of [Lords] within the Terandrian system is not clear yet, seeing how [Lord] Belchaus apparently governs a powerful state (by himself?). However, the heirs of a family's title are simply called [Lord] and [Lady]. Also unclear is whether [Knighthood] comes with a noble title ([Knights] are adressed as "Ser", "Sir" or "Lady"), or if these two concepts are distinct.

Izril System

Northern Izril is ruled simply by [Lords] and [Ladies] who are rather ranked by their achievements, family lines and position within the family. Derived from some utterances of Lady Magnolia it may be speculated that there was a dispute between the Nobility of Izril and the Royalty of Terandria: If that was about systematic benefits of classes, or about political matters of power, or something else, was not yet revealed.

Unless the holdings of each family are split up between inheritors equally, noble families in Izril answer to a Matriarch or Patriarch who holds the power over all estates of that family and may designate their successor freely from within the family - this is the case in the Five Families at least. All members of a family are called Lady or Lord, although some in fact are [Lordlings] until they come into inheritance.

The Drakes of Southern Izril have their own system of nobility which varies wildly in their different polities. The most traditional Drakes system is that of a neptocracy of "Wall Lords" and "Wall Ladies" who govern their polity together, like in Salazsar. Other Drake polities have shifted to a meritocratic system of appointed "Wall Lords/Ladies" (Manus), and still others have overthrown their traditional nobility and installed a democratic government system - however, the Pallassian Wall Lords are still wealthy through their inheritance.

Other continents

The Blighted Kingdom's current aproach seems to be based on individual merit: The Blighted King has appointed Named Adventurers and other worthy individuals, like [Marchioness] Xersia (of court nobility) and [Lord] Hayvon (of landed nobility), the latter having inherited his rank from his father.

Chandrar has various disparate systems. In Germina, there is the [Highborn] class, which is essentially the local nobility below the ruling [Quarass] (the ruling monarch). In Jecrass, the local nobility below the [King] are the "River Wardens", which is the title of the nobility while their actual class is not yet revealed. Other Kingdoms and Empires have different systems: Reim has apparently not a single [Noble], but accepts the subjugated [Lords]. Other Chandrarian nations may have different systems again - Nerrhavia has a caste system headed by a [Monarch] but no lesser nobility has so far surfaced, the Empires of Tiqr and Sands had similarly no apparent court of nobles and may be absolutistic regimes.

In Baleros, there has been neither nobility nor royalty in evidence. Even less is known of Drath and Minos.

Classes

Some classes are rather generic while others are highly specialized. Some observations are as follows:

Ladies and Lords

The class of [Ladies] conveys a mystical component that shows similarities to that of [Witches], but is apparently connected to their property, like their estates or lands. Whether a [Lady] has to study to become proficient in that mystical knowledge, or if that knowledge is granted by the base [Lady] class or requires some further specialization, is still unclear. To become a proper [Lady] that takes full advantage of the "feminine" component of the class, one needs to be educated by [Tutors] and ideally another [Lady]. With that knowledge, special Skills may be attained, like [Deft Hand] that has so far only been observed with [Ladies]. Less proper [Ladies] may still become proficient in governance or warfare.

There are so far no indications of a corresponding "masculine" skillset among [Lords], but as [Rulers], they have a similar connection towards their holdings like [Ladies] do.

• specializations for commerce:
  • [Merchant Lord] Erill Fienst also dabbles in underworld activities
  • [Ship Lord] is a common specialization in the Wellfar Family
  • [Slave Lord] Yazdil Achakhei is the richest [Lord] of the world
  • note: [Landlords] and [Landladies] are actually not [Nobles] and just listed here for completeness

• specialization for courtly activities:
  • [Lady] Wuvren has the class of [Eternal Beauty], possibly derived from her [Noble] class
  • the [Lord of the Dance] has exactly that class

• specialization in magic and mystical arts:
  • [Magelord] and [Mage Lady] is a common specialization for the Terland Family
  • [Serpent Lady] is a noble class facilitating assassinations

• specializations for combat:
  • [Lord of Battle] is one of the most common [Lord] specializations; Venith Crusand is one.
  • [Lady of Thorns] is the (probably rare) specialization of Bethal Walchaís who owns her own [Knight] Force
  • [Spectral Scoutlord] (details unknown)
  • [Warlord] / [War Lady] (details unknown)

• specializations related to [Beast Tamers]:
  • [Beastlords] were common in the Veltras Family once.
  • [Dog Lord] is the class of Gralton Radivaek, who specialized in breeding all kinds of dogs for war, hunting and other occasions

• specializations for crime (listed here for completeness, as they are not legitimate nobility):
  • [Bandit Lord] is a gender-neutral class, held for example by Maresar Crusand who stated that "Bandit Ladies" don't exist.
  • [Bandit Lady] is a female-only class, held for example by Urele. There are several [Bandit Ladies] in Savere, whose [Bandit Queen] apparently rediscovered the class
  • [Crime Lord] (details unknown)
  • [Pirate Lord] was the title that Gailenwright assumed
  • [Stormlord Captain] is the self-styled title that Imor Seagrass assumed

Ranks

• [Baron]
• [Baroness]
• Duchess
• [Duke]
• [Earl]
• [Emir]
• [Marchioness]
• [Marquis]
• [Sheikh]
• [Sultan] and [Sultana]

Known Nobles

The following names are short versions akin to commoner names that take no respect to the pretense of the nobility, which formally spells out the names like "Magnolia of House Reinhart".

of Izril

• Ali ?, [Lady]
• Andres (from Lelk), [Lord]
• Avi ?, [Lady]
• Bein Terland, [Lord]
• Bethal Walchaís, [Lady of Thorns]
• Bevia Veniford, [Lady]
• Cimeca Tellis, [Lady]
• Dealia Zolde, [Lady]
• Deilan El, [Lord]
• Desinee El, [Lady]
• Eliasor Melissar, [Lady]
• Ellia Cantras, [Lady]
• Erill Fienst, [Merchant Lord]
• Fel ?, [Lady]
• Fulviolo El, [Lord]
• Gilliad ?
• Haviet Meliope
• Havilet ?
• Hetassana Wellfar, [Lady]
• Ieka Imarris, [Mage Lady]
• Iminel El, Lord
• Irisa El, Lady
• Magnolia Reinhart, [Lady]
• Maviola El, [Lady]
• Melbore ?, [Lord]
• Patricia Melissar, [Lady]
• Pattin from Vaunt, [Lord]
• Petria Terland, [Lady]
• Pryde Ulta, [Lady]
• Qiam Zolde, [Lord]
• Oswalt ?
• Rael Veniford
• Regis Reinhart
• Rie Valerund
• Salienn Reinhart
• Tourant ?
• Tyrion Veltras, [Lord]
• Ulva Terland, [Lady]
• Wuvren ?, Lady
• Zanthia ?, Lady
• Zeci El, Lady

of Terandria

• Bedil Havrington, [Lord]
• Belchaus Meron, [Lord of the Dance]
• Cassicel Havrington, [Lady]
• Delicha Kallinad, [Lady]
• Greina Noelictus, [Duchess]
• Talia Kallinad, [Lady]
• Wil Kallinad, [Lord]

of Rhir

• Hayvon Operland, [Lord]
• Xersia, [Marchioness]
• Yebior, [Lord]

of Chandrar

• Balimar Wulten, [Duke]
• Sandel Chandrar, [Emir]
• Vaitsha Zectiou, [Highborn]
• Venith Crusand, [Lord of Battle]
• Yazdil Achakhei, [Slave Lord]