Titles and Court Offices
The two Northland Maan People Maan The most numerous people of Elshore and the baseline cultural reference of the age. states, the Maaniskaar Kingdom at Fivebrook and the Maan Empire at Goldenhold, are governed through deep ladders of titled office, from the sovereign down through palatines, dukes, marchwardens, treasurers, heralds, and cupbearers. Titles are the bones on which society stretches its flesh, and each office carries its own holder, duty, and place in a fixed order of precedence.
Key traits
- Supreme styles of address range from Emperor and King down through Excellency, High Dignitary, Gracious Lord, and the religious Eminency.
- In the Maaniskaar Kingdom, King Brimald Vissor rules with the Palatine Sir Arvid Barett as his deputy and commander of the royal guard.
- The Maaniskaar court also turns on the Lord Justice Ertel Tristin, the High Marshal Sir Peul Alken, the High Treasurer Silger Evrat, and the High Herald Kizferd Terius.
- In the Maan Empire, King Theodelf Vissor rules with the Second Duke Sir Mika Panoh as his deputy and arbiter.
- The Imperial court turns on the Lord Justice Ilmar Yarn, the Protector of the Faith Joriin Tynig, the High General Sir Krisel Ivorit, and the High Treasurer Armal Esert.
- In both states a High Cupbearer (Austien Atmund at Fivebrook, Pert Martos at Goldenhold) serves as a confidential courtier and gatherer of informal intelligence.
- Each realm keeps a strict order of precedence, placing the sovereign and his deputy above the archdukes and grand dukes, the courts, the nobility, the religious Eminencies, and the knights and commons below.
Both Northland Maan realms govern through titled office rather than through any single bureaucracy, and the names of those offices carry the weight of ancient blood. At the summit sit the styles of address themselves, from Emperor and King down through Excellency and High Dignitary to the Gracious Lords of old lineage and the Eminencies of the Church, each form of greeting a marker of exact rank.
The Maaniskaar Kingdom, seated at Fivebrook, is ruled by King Brimald Vissor. His Palatine, Sir Arvid Barett, stands as deputy of the King, commander of the royal guard, and overseer of supply, elected by the Royal Council and appointed by the Crown Place The Crown A newer foundry like a wide crown, a ring of tall pale spires flaring around a central stepped tower of lit decks, the broadest of the network.. Beneath them the Lord Justice Ertel Tristin heads the permanent court, the High Marshal Sir Peul Alken commands the armies, the High Treasurer Silger Evrat keeps the revenues and the mint, and a chain of marchwardens, governors, heralds, chamberlains, and the rumour-gathering High Cupbearer Austien Atmund carry the daily work of rule.
The Maan Empire at Goldenhold mirrors that shape under King Theodelf Vissor, with the Second Duke Sir Mika Panoh as his deputy and arbiter. Here the Lord Justice Ilmar Yarn interprets the laws, the Protector of the Faith Joriin Tynig leads the Church of Randenism Faith Randenism The Flame Doctrine, dominant faith of the Maan and state religion of the Maan Empire., the High General Sir Krisel Ivorit commands all forces, and the High Treasurer Armal Esert holds the purse, while the High Cupbearer Pert Martos keeps the same confidential ear. Each court fixes its own order of precedence, so that every officer, from grand duke to knight, knows precisely where he stands when the whole realm is gathered in one hall.