Etiquette with Rulers Content . Because the rules are so complex and the stakes are so high , many people blanche at the thought of speaking with a noble with a title . For starters , it is important to address them correctly , for just as no one likes to be misnamed , no one likes to be mistitled . The problem is that in High Rock , traditions of the peerage differ slightly from region to region . The base rules follow : There are eight kingdoms in High Rock in the following regions : Northpoint , Daggerfall , Shornhelm , Camlorn , Farrun , Evermore , Wayrest , and Jehanna . If a woman is ruling one of these areas , she is called the Queen . The husband of a Queen and the wife of a King is not necessarily of equal rank - - they may not be Kings and Queens themselves . Their children are Princes and Princesses . Their grandchildren are also Princes and Princesses . If a male ruler dies , his wife takes the title Dowager Queen , providing there is not a Dowager Queen already . Like all rules , there are exceptions . One noted exception took place recently in Daggerfall , when King Lysandus died . In most regions , his wife Mynisera would not have become Dowager Queen of Daggerfall , because Lysandus ' mother , the widow Nulfaga , still lived . In Daggerfall , however , it is permissable for there to be two persons with the same title . Thus , both Nulfaga and Mynisera have the title Dowager Queen . If a female ruler , who does not share rank with her husband , dies , there is no male equivalent to the word Dowager . Widowers of Queens usually take another title , either a lesser family title or one given by their children . There have been a few men in the history of High Rock who have fallen from being addressed as King to being addressed as Mister at the death of their wife . Other regions are ruled by Dukes and Duchesses , Marquises ( or Marquesses ) and Marquises ( or Marchionesses ) , Counts and Countesses , Viscounts or Viscountesses , Barons or Baronesses , and Lords or Ladies . This list is theoretically listed from highest to lowest rank , but the ruler of a territory outranks all other nobles , regardless of title . Dwynnen , for example , is a Barony , and the Baron or Baroness of Dwynnen outrank any other noble in that territory , even Dukes and Counts . In theory , ( again , this may not be the case according to local custom ) the eldest son or daughter of a noble takes their parents highest family title below their parents . Thus , the Duke of Northmoor , who is also the Marquis of Calder , had a daughter who became the Marchioness of Calder . Kings and Queens are always addressed as " Your Majesty " in conversation ; Dukes and Duchesses , " Your Grace . " All other rulers may be addressed with their title and name , or Lord or Lady and their name . A few hints may be needed to determine exactly who rules a territory . You may rely on people on the streets to make reference to their ruler , but that may not be enough . After all , if the gossip involved Lord Bemmish and Viscountess Byrd , neither or both could be the ruler of the territory . I have found that a more predictable method is to pay some attention to the names of taverns and shops in a region . By tradition , many of these are called " The Duke ' s Fox " or " The Lady ' s Provisions . " This , more often than not , is the name of the ruler . If the shop ' s name is " Lady Annisa ' s Provisions " or " Lord Boxworth ' s Fox , " that is probably the name of a local titled merchant , not the ruler . A store with an unnamed ruler ' s title has probably been around for some time , and does not bother to change its name with the new name of the ruler . In speaking with any person , a ruler or not , it is best to know what sort of a person they are first . Rulers tend to stand on ceremony , and prefer that people addressing them speak politely and deferentially . There are , of course , acceptions to this , particularly among younger rulers , or rulers new to their positions . They may prefer a bolder , slangy style . If you are unsure , or unsure of your ability to adopt the vocubulary of either an aristocrat or a criminal , choose to speak as plainly and directly as possible . You will seldom charm someone by plain talk , but you will also not alienate by mangled politesse or dated slang . Alienating a ruler , I need not tell you , can be the last mistake one can make .