Nobility

The nobility are the ruling class of the Fairweather Vale.

Ranks

Holding	Male Title	Ungendered Title	Female Title	Form of Address
Grand Duchy	Grand Duke	Grand Dux	Grand Duchess	Your Eminence
Duchy	Duke	Dux	Duchess	Your Grace
Marquisate	Marquess	Marquise	Marchioness	Your Grace
Lordship	Lord	Laird	Lady	Your [Lord]ship
County	Count	Comte	Countess	Your
Visounty	Viscount	Viscomte	Viscountess	Your
Barony	Baron	Baronet	Baroness	Your

Children

Direct issue (including adoption) of the nobility are called as childes and afforded the courtesy style of “The Honorable [Name] of [Holding]” and addressed as “Your Honor”. As childe is a generic term, the more specific titles of “Young, Maid, or Page of [Holding]” may be used, but the courtesy style and address remain the same.

If their parent ceases to be a landed noble, they retain the courtesy style of “The Honorable [Name]” but the name of the holding is dropped. The children (and on) of a childe are known as childes-minor, and retain the courtesy style as long as their parent does.

Childes or childes-minor born after a title is renounced may take the courtesy styling also, but their respective issue are not given the courtesy styling.

Inheritance

The succession of a title is chosen by the title-holder themself. While typically it is one of their issue, in the case of a lack of issue or lack of interest by that issue (or simply by choice), a successor may be appointed. Inheritance is rarely contested, because doing so involves the Grand Duchy (who oversees the transition anyway) and is a laborious process. If the inheritor is not related, they cannot currently hold another title; however, one individual can be named as successor to multiple titles (although, should they ascend, they must designate separate successors for each title they hold).

Heir

If the designated inheritor is a childe, they may use the title “heir” (although it is not incorrect to refer to them as childe).

Tanist

If it is an appointee unrelated by blood, they may take the title “tanist”, as well as the courtesy style and address of a childe, if they do not already have a styling. If their appointment is ended, they may no longer use “tanist” or the courtesy styling and address.

Ex-Nobles

The courtesy title “ser” may be used by the following groups:

• a noble who has renounced their title an remains living,
• the grandchildren of a noble who are not childes-minor themselves (i.e. born after their noble grandparent passes along the title),
• the later descendants of a noble, for up to 4 generations.