Royal Etiquette in the Spiral Empire

Each kingdom in the Spiral Empire has its own form of government and with it, a unique system of etiquette.

## Commonwealth of Dhi

Do not offer Dhi clothing unless a romantic or deeply emotional overture is intended. The exception is during medical emergencies, such as hypothermia.

### Monarch

Dhi has a weak monarchy, instituted when Kuan retook the commonwealth during the Second Spiral War. Her proper title, *silla*, is appended to the end of her name, e.g. Devasilla. Everyone is permitted to refer to Queen Deva as Devasilla in conversation or to her face. Phrases like "your majesty" or "your highness" are frowned upon as overly formal. However, at events with other leaders who are referred to respectfully by their subjects, Dhi citizens often voluntarily use honorifics instead of her name, as do her advisors. The queen's heir, Sati, is properly called Satimeva. The monarchy has no other official roles with titles and most advisors are referred to by first name.

### Local Leaders

Foreigners in Dhi may fall into a common pitfall by assuming local leaders are less high ranking than the queen, by dint of not being monarch. While they may have less power outside their realms of influence, they have hard power in their towns or villages and soft power throughout the commonwealth. When referring to local leaders, append the honorific -napa to the end of the name to indicate respect. Similarly, append -ami to the first names of healers.

While some foreigners mistake *khara* for an appended term of respect that may be given to elders or teachers, it is actually used only in the specialized relationship between master and apprentice. Foreigners should never use it to refer to a Dhi person, nor should they add it as an honorific after a name, in writing or when speaking.

## Ju Kingdom

Ju bow to one another in greeting, similar to the Seprum hand or arm clasp. Typically, inferiors bow more deeply and first to inferiors, though especially in cities, this is falling out of favor.

### Monarch and Court

In the four chiefdoms, citizens performed a traditional 3x9 kowtow: going from standing to kneeling three times, and pressing the forehead to the ground three times each time. In formal settings, this is still the proper way to greet the queen in her throne room. In most other situations, commoners speak from a kneeling position and aristocrats speak after bowing.

It is important for foreign diplomats to show their respect to the queen by visiting her before any aristocratic families. This can be difficult, especially if the queen is in the north, but visiting others first is a clear insult. This does not apply to Makkadi merchants, who are often hosted by wealthy families in Guk upon arrival in exchange for first buying privilege. Indeed, given the Ju distaste for merchants and traders, who they see as providing no service, it would be insulting for merchants to demand meetings with the queen.

### Aristocracy

The aristocratic families are always jockeying for respect, and diplomats and foreign dignitaries can cause problems by showing too much, or too little, deference to the incorrect people. Within a family, it is polite to seek out or address the matriarch first, either before eating or before speaking with others at the function. Besides politeness, this also serves a strategic purpose, as she will likely have recommendations about who to speak with next. She should be greeted by her family position, generally mother or grandmother, not by name. Some foreigners find it uncomfortable to refer to unrelated people as relatives; they may refer to her by the family name without causing great offense.

If invited to a family's manor by the matriarch, always bring a gift, something temporary like flowers or food, not something permanent that must be kept safe for years in order to avoid causing offense. Offer it to the matriarch in person. Customarily, she will refuse it the first and second time it is offered and accept it the third. This confuses Seprum diplomats on occasion, who have caused great offense by accepting the rejection at face value and giving the gift to someone else. She will likely offer a gift in return, which should be refused two times as well.

At events with multiple matriarchs, or when choosing between invitations, diplomats should rely on the queen's advice or reward more strategically important families with their presence. In cases where this cannot be done without causing offense, diplomats may claim illness or frailty without causing offense. It is best practice for important guests—emperors, the saj, rais, generals, hands, senators—to plan all events in advance.

## Kuan Empire

When interacting with Kuan citizens, avoid touching non-relatives, including clasping hands or arms in greeting. This is often the biggest culture shock to Seprum soldiers who serve alongside Kuan. During meals, pass food with the right hand only but accept it with both. Do not point at anything with a single finger; always use multiple or gesture with the whole hand.

### Visiting

Visiting nobility or other figures of importance should always add time to their trip to greet the saj if they are in Aksai. The initial meeting will likely happen in the saj's palace and involve a feast. When greeting the saj, it is customary to bow with one hand across the stomach and one at the side to between 90 and 45 degrees. The bow should be held until the saj addresses the newcomer. During the feast, do not try a dish the saj has not tried yet. If the saj expresses an opinion about the food, do not disagree and act as if the opinion is true for the rest of the meal.

### Hosting

When Kuan visit other lands, they almost always bring yurts or tents with them. Offering them hospitality is polite, but they will almost certainly refuse. If the saj or an heir are visiting, at least the first feast should be hosted in a yurt, ideally a large one constructed for that purpose. Lower-ranking Kuan can eat and celebrate indoors; they will not be impressed by the lodgings, nor do they need to be impressed.

## Makkada Sultanate

### Sultan and Court

In Makkada, citizens are all permitted to refer to bureaucrats by their title and name (e.g., VIzier Rashid). In informal environments, it is also permissible to refer to all but sultans by their first name. All but viziers bow to sultans with hands clasped and head inclined. When asking for favors or bringing bad news, beseechers traditionally kneel and clasp their hands, optionally touching their forehead to the ground, but this is falling out of favor. Because sultan is now a ten-year position and not inherited or considered to have any religious significance, etiquette is becoming far less formal. Indeed, some viziers choose to incline their heads when someone comes to them for a favor under the assumption that, as bureaucrats, they serve the people, not the other way around.

Foreign dignitaries, by dint of not being citizens, are expected to show their respect to Makkada culture and the sultanate by respecting its leaders. Traditionally, generals and rais bow to the sultan in a manner appropriate to their own cultures. When Emperor Fenix visited Makkada, he inclined his head to Sultan Dawud, which brought him a lot of good will amongst the Makkadi people.

Sultans should be referred to as "your majesty" and generally in third person, e.g., instead of asking, "what do you want to eat?" it should be, "what does the sultan want to eat?" Most sultans do not refer to themselves in third person.

### Elai

Elai, Sudhai religious leaders, deserve more explicit respect. They are addressed as elai, or Elai [name], and greeted with an inclined head. When requesting advice from elai, most citizens kneel. It is not unusual to bring offers, generally of food or money, when asking an elai for help.

## Seprum Republic

### Speaking at Court

For efficiency's sake, indentured servants are permitted to call all citizens "sir" and are expected to always do so. This is to save time on longer titles. If the emperor asks, "Has Senator Junius arrived?", he does not have time to wait for an indentured servant to say, "Begging your indulgences, my lord, commander, and emperor, but the honorable Senator Junius has not yet arrived." Simpler to just say, "No, sir." Non indentured servants should refer to those they work for as "my lord," "the lord," etc. and refer to senators, hands, and emperors in ways befitting their rank.

### Physical Deference

Non-citizens, when addressed, should bow to senators, hands, and Alleatans by kneeling, placing their forehead on the ground but without lying down entirely. Commoners kneel before greeting senators or hands. Otherwise, citizens may address one another without showing physical deference.