Peerage in Paraphilia

> *This article is about the social hierarchy in Paraphilia. For the strategy-based card game, see Peerage (game).*
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**Peerage** is the collection of titles and ranks used in royal and noble hierarchy. As a rule, most titles are hereditary, but some are awarded or elected, dependent upon the title's origin. Some titles are bestowed for services to the Crown, or other ruling nobility with the Crown's blessing. To be created a title (ex. created a baron) is to be elevated to that rank by an authority.

The Crown--referring to the King and Queen of Paraphilia--reserves the right to create or dissolve any rank at Their will.

## Hierarchy

Paraphilia is traditionally ruled by the **King** and **Queen**, collectively referred to as the Crown. This rulership, while traditionally equal, is usually headed by the King, with the Queen reserving the right to interpret or otherwise influence his choices. In the King's absence, whether through illness or death, the Queen rules in his place.

Despite the claimed equality of this rulership, the oldest son is always **Crown Prince**, no matter how many children the Crown produces, and in which order. The only time this does not apply is when the Crown produces no male heir. Once crowned King, the Prince's siblings become the **dukes** or **duchesses** of the Capitol cities.

Paraphilia is comprised of more than a dozen provinces, divided into Counties and Provinces.

The innermost provinces, called Counties, located closest to the Capitol, are each administered by a **count** or **countess**. Traditionally the companions of the Crown, Counts rule the more powerful cities, and provide the majority of **knights** to the Paraphilian Military.

The outermost provinces are each overseen by a **viscount**, or rarely, a **viscountess**. The viscount is high judge of the province, maintaining order in the outer reaches. Each Viscount has beneath his pall a dozen or so **barons**, freeholders with personal armies headed by a handful of lords, called **bannermen**. Each baron holds power over a village or city, collecting taxes, keeping order and paying dues to the viscount, who thereby pays dues to the Crown.

Bannermen were traditionally the standing generals over the baron's or viscount's army. Though still generals in some houses, the title of bannerman is usually an inherited title that grants a nobleman subordinate to a baron a measure of power and right. (ex. House Prince to House Domine.)

## Law and Order

Barons are charged with keeping the peace in their holdings, often appointing a city guard peopled by his own soldiers or hopefuls in search of a place in the military. The baron's **marshal** heads the guard and acts as sheriff, addressing greater dangers and taking measures to ensure the populace's safety. Civil cases are tried before a **magistrate**, who passes judgment and decides punishment, and brings the greater issues to the baron's attention. Situations affecting multiple settlements go before the viscount for mediation.

The viscount is high judge in his province, passing laws and presiding over issues involving the province as a whole, and disputes between the barons or their lords. The final word in all judicial proceedings rests with him. Annual meetings called summits are held to propose changes to procedure and address ongoing issues for his consideration. The viscount's marshal and his men patrols the whole of the province to control banditry and assist the local powers.

While the viscount holds the power to pass and enforce laws in his province, great changes to be made to the laws or practices of a particular province, or of Paraphilia itself, must be presented to the Bound Council.

The Crown oversees the Bound Council, the house of higher lords, which decides laws and actions of state. Anyone ranking lower than viscount must petition for the right to appear, as lower lords are limited to spectating the proceedings.

## Styles, Titles and Address

Styles are honorifics, proper references to an office or rank of a person of power. These references are used in correspondence, introduction, and conversation as a sign of respect to nobles and royals. Paraphilia uses similar styles to the modern and medieval worlds, with small variations to denote the power-play involved in the added "fetish" aspect of the culture.

### General Reference

The standard reference for anyone of noble rank or higher currently in office is "my lord" or "my lady". The title extends to partners usually, but it often reserved for ruling head of house, from bannerman to count. This is considered the bare minimum of decorum, and is used even in casual conversation with nobles.

The use of master is more flexible, but also of higher distinction. "Master" or "mistress" is used toward higher ranking nobles by those well beneath them. No name is included, just the title. In a political setting, a baron may be expected to refer to the ruling viscount as master, *especially* in the presence of his peers. This shows due deference to the one who "holds his leash."

Similarly, the Crown requires the reference of either "royal majesty" or "royal master" in all exchanges, lord being too low to refer to royalty. Majesty is considered more casual but still respectful, with master again being the public form of address.

### Titles by Office

King and Queen of Paraphilia:

* His/Her Majesty [Rank and Full Name], Royal Master/Mistress of Paraphilia; properly addressed as "Royal Master/Royal Mistress" (traditional); or "Your Majesty(ies)" (contemporary)

> ex. His Majesty King Keyan Yvelle, Royal Master of Paraphilia
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Crown Prince

* His Royal Highness Prince [first name], Duke of [Capitol]

> ex. His Royal Highness Prince Veriabli, Duke of Erotica;
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Viscount:

* Lord [Surname], or Viscount [Province Name]; properly addressed as "your honor" or "my lord"; "your grace" is traditionally applied to women.

> ex. Lord (Whiltheld) Sei'Dist, Viscount (of) Sadistique (formal); Viscount Sei'Dist (moderate); Lord Whiltheld (personal)
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Baron:

* Lord [Surname], or Baron [City Name]; sometimes Baron [Surname]; properly addressed as 'my lord'

> ex(1). Lord (Reginald) Du Con, Baron Libertine (formal); Baron Du Con (moderate); Lord Reginald (personal)
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> ex(2). Lord Domine (Aeon), Baron Mastri (formal); Baron Domine (moderate); Lord Aeon (personal)
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Heirs and Children:

For an heir-apparent to a name, "young master" is the proper form of address. An heir is not referred to by "lord" until they take office. When addressing by name, "master" is affixed to the first name in the same way "lord" or "lady" would be to their parents' names. The city their family rules chiefly is used in their name, even in the case of provincial lords' children, as each provincial lord has a main city attached to their house.

* Master [Full Name] of [City]

> ex(1). Master Vischias Sei'Dist of Cantrole
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> ex(2). Master Alfred Du Con of Libertine
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Non-heir children to a family name are simply identified by their full name and city.

> ex. Helvah Sei'Dist of Cantrole
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Bannermen:

* Lord [Surname] of [Resident City], Bannerman of [Loyal House]; usually just limited to Lord [Surname]. Additional titles add to or change the full reference. Those with military ranks (such as inquisitor) tend to use that casually instead of the title of lord.

> ex. Lord/Lord Inquisitor Prince (Hyppoliti) of Mastri, Bannerman of House Domine; Lord Prince *or* Inquisitor Prince
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Bannermen's siblings and children are referred to by their name and the city their family is bound to ([Full Name] of [Resident City], sometimes with the Bannerman reference). Sometimes the honorary title of "sir" is used in place of "lord" to denote non-ruling family members. Recognized heirs share the honorary title of 'master' at the start of their name, but not in their full title, as they are lower ranked than ruling noble children.

> ex (1). Prince Charming of Mastri, Bannerman of House Domine; Sir Charming
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> ex (2). Prince Everleigh Charming of Mastri; Master Everleigh
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Former Heads:
Prior heads of house that survive retain the honorary title of "lord", with the addition of "former" to the style. They hold no official political power, but the reference denotes their remaining influence in the region. The prior forms of address are still used with them, unless in the presence of the current head of household. (ex. Cruelle could be called "your honor" *unless* Whil is present, at which point he retains "my lord.")

> ex (1). Lord (Cruelle) Sei'Dist, Former Viscount of Sadistique (Note: Cruelle does not use this format, he gifted himself a different title out of pride.)
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Once the bannerman head of house has been superseded, they return to the honorary standard reference of "sir". Any other titles they held *along with* their office can still be used for as long as they remain valid.

> ex (2). High Inquisitor Prince Leigh of Mastri, Bannerman of House Domine (only valid until Pol replaces him, which is after his death); Sir Leigh *or* High Inquisitor Prince
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