Titles of the Court (Lore 3)

by Anselm the White

It is my hope, as has always been, that the young men and women of the realm aspire to great heights. Such it is that I have done, having risen from the son of a pig herder to the scribe of our realm's most illustrious king - a position that I have held for thirty years. It is thus my wish to educate those people of good grooming and education, so that they might aspire to benefit us, as have their predecessors, by seeking to achieve positions through which they can do good to the realm - and to their house.

## The Lords

**King**

Our current sovereign is King Rhobar, blessed ruler of all Vengard, to which all of us living in his kingdom answer. This is no position to aspire to, as our lord has been given the divine right to rule by the Fire Lord - thus, only he and his descendants can rule.

**Duke**

Those who rule large grants of land on behalf of the king. They are currently Duke Conrad of Faring, known for his prosperous rule, and Duke Lothar "the Wolf," famed for being an outstanding general, first having made himself known during the Orog War. The duchies of Faring and of the Gray Keep have several more nobles underneath, such as the barons.

**Baron**

The lowest of the landed titles. There used to be six baronies in the kingdom, yet now there are only five, one of them having been forgotten. The villages of Moor and May Grove are the most large out of all of them, being ruled by Count Terry and Countess Aldith respectively. Onford is ruled by Baron Everard, Wald by Baron Hugh, and Holden by Baron Andre. The sixth, Arden, has been abandoned for many years - as no one has a claim on it - and so it will remain, until the King grants a charter to who is worthy.

**Knight**

A knight is a noble that has trained in the art of chivalry under the tutelage of a master. Many say this is the first true step towards prestige. They own small estates granted to them by their superiors and work in their favor, often through military exploits.

**Reeve**

The chief administrator of a town or a village. Also called a mayor. They oversee the development of the land which they have been entrusted with and act out the obligations the Barons have towards the Dukes - to keep the kingdom's roads patrolled and in good condition, to repair bridges and to construct new ones, to keep the royal forests in good condition, to make sure the harvests are on time, and many more.

## The Clergy

**Paladin**

A warrior-scholar that has been directly blessed by the Fire Lord with the power to stamp out evil and corruption from within the kingdom. They answer directly to the Avatar of the Fire Lord - King Rhobar himself - and act as his hands. Most often they are members of the nobility as well.

**Fire Mage**

Magicians of the Order of Fire have judicial rights over the citizens of the kingdom and are widely respected for their skills in the magical arts and the many domains of knowledge one can discover. The Assembly in Vengard is the only other body that can act as a judge. The Fire Mages, otherwise, act as wandering magistrates.

**Water Mage**

The Water Mages are the eyes and ears of the king. They collect intelligence and seek to control the stability of the kingdom. They also maintain the precarious balance between light and dark - between the Fire Lord and the Dark God, through the cool nature of the Water Lady. They often act as mediators.