Editing Nobility (section)

== 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]<!--/[Count]-->, [Marquis] towards the [Duke] (the latter was confirmed to be the highest male noble rank below a [King]<ref name="ITTQ">[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/11/09/interlude-the-titans-question/ Interlude: The Titan's Question]</ref>). [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 ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichor ichorial] descendancy''. This is different from ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lineal_descendant 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.<ref name="ITTQ" /> 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]<ref name="7.18M">[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/04/15/7-18-m/ Chapter 7.18 M]</ref>, 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 Meron|Belchaus]] apparently governs a powerful state (by himself?). However, the heirs of a family's title are simply called [Lord] and [Lady].<ref name="ITTQ" /> Also unclear is whether [Knighthood] comes with a noble title ([Knights] are adressed as "Ser", "Sir" or "Lady"<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2019/11/30/interlude-talia/ Interlude - Talia]</ref>), or if these two concepts are distinct.

=== Izril System ===
The [[Five Families]] and the lesser nobility of '''Northern Izril''' decided to get away from royalty (be it [Kings], [Emperors] or [Tyrants]) and rely on the [Lord] as the only class to designate [Rulers].<ref>[https://wanderinginn.com/2020/05/24/7-24/ Chapter 7.24]</ref> This desire to form a polycentric aristocracic network instead serving under absolute monarchs in their respective nations, has been expressed several times as a principal difference that makes Izril different from Terandria.

:''It is unclear what the actual, original dispute was that caused the Five Families to break away: it may have been motivated by the class system (better class benefits for [Ladies] when not subjected to [Queens]), it may have been a politically motivated power struggle of [Lords] against the overreach of [Kings], or simply being tired of wars. Given that the breakaway happened millenia ago, the Five Families might also have been rebels agains [[Half-Elves|Half-Elven]] Kings.''

As it stands, Northern [[Izril]] is ruled simply by [Lords] and [Ladies] who are rather ranked by their achievements, family lines and position within the family. This more egalitarian system even allows 'commoners' like for example [Merchant Lords] to emerge and amass power, although they are certainly not considered equal to the older, more distinguished [Lords] and [Ladies].

Depending on the rules of each family, the holdings of each family may be split up between inheritors equally, but most observed noble families in Izril ultimately answer to a Matriarch or Patriarch who holds the power over all estates of their noble house and may designate their successor freely from within the family - this is the case in three of 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.<ref name="7.18M" />

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 [[Pallass]]ian Wall Lords are still wealthy through their inheritance which they did not give up.

=== 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 Operland|Hayvon]] (of landed nobility), the latter having inherited his rank from his father. The lower nobility is called the Burnished Court.

[[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. [[Reim]] has apparently not a single [Noble], but accepts the subjugated [Lords]. [[Nerrhavia]] has a caste system headed by a [Monarch] with Emirs and Emiras under them though that may be an indicator of wealth and influence rather than governorship. The ruling Slave Lords of [[Roshal]] govern together with no monarch above them similarly to Salazsar. The Empires of [[Tiqr]] and [[Empire of Sands|Sands]] had no apparent court of nobles and may be absolutistic regimes.

In [[Baleros]], there is little information on nobility or royalty, and they likely wield little power compared to the Mercenary Companies. Even less is known of [[Drathians|Drath]] and [[House of Minos|Minos]].