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ourtly travelers and political scholars throughout the Flanaess must make careful study of the titles, honorifics, and hierarchies of nobility used in the many royal courts and noble houses throughout. To aid those who move among such circles, or the simply curious, the following (very brief) primer on royalty, nobility, titles and honorifics is presented. Travelers are strongly encouraged to investigate local customs and regulations before addressing local officials or nobles, as mistakes can lead to embarrassment, loss of standing, or worse.

Titles are listed in descending order of importance. Where several co-equal titles are recognized, that common to the Great Kingdom and Nyrond or Furyondy will be given first, with others in parentheses thereafter. It must be noted that this precedence might be disputed in the Baklunish lands and courts, but ambassadors to various eastern realms have accepted it as true and correct protocol. Honorific address forms are shown in the final column. As most titles have distinct, additional honorifics of their own, these additional honorifics follow the form of the preeminent, with titles of the Great Kingdom , Nyrond, and/or Furyondy listed first; others, if any, are in parentheses thereafter. The listed honorifics are by no means complete and full, and are acceptable address forms only until the holder's true royal, noble, knightly, or positional title and honorifics are properly conveyed to the petitioner.

Title	Honorific
Overking, Emperor	Imperial Majesty
(Padishah, Kha-Khan)	(Royal Majesty)
King, Rhelt (Master, Sultan, Caliph, Pasha)	Majesty
Duke Palatine, Grand Duke, Prince Palatine, Theocrat, Archcleric (Beygraf, Tarkhan, Shah, Orakhon, Ilkhan)	Royal Highness
Herzog Duke, Fasstal, Prince, Count Palatine, Ambassador (Voorman, Censor, Freeholder, Prelate, Hetman, Heirarch, Ataman)	Highness
Margrave, Marquis, Earl, Count, Archbaron, Plar (Grandee Despotrix, Khan, Amir, Commandant, Altmeister)	Noble Grace (Lordly Grace)
Szek, Viscount, Baron, Lord Mayor, Magistar (Emissary)	Lordship
Knight Commander, Mayor (Chief, Laird)	Honor (Worship)
Knight (Spokesman)	Worthy Sir

eers of the realm and knights precedece and correct honorifics in the Kingdoms of Furyondy, Keoland, and the Achclericy of Veluna and Surrounding Civilized States :

Duke	Highness (or Noble Grace)
Prince	Grace
Margrave or Marquis	Nobility
Earl, Graf, Count or Plar	Eminence
Viscount	Noble Lordship
Baron	Prominence
Lord Mayor	Lordship
Knight Commander	Most Honorable Sir
Knight Banneret	Right Honorable Sir
Mayor	Honorable Worship
Knight Companion	Most Worthy Sir
Knight Bachelor	Worthy Sir
Knight	Sir
Elder	Honorable Master
Gentleman	Master
Esquire	Squire
Yeoman	Socman

There are numerous forms of knighthood in the Flanaess — types bestowed by sovereign rulers, those granted by greater and lesser nobles, and those conferred by the principal cleric's of certain states. These various degrees are not held in equal regard. Some states do not confer knighthood at all, a few bestow it on the cheap, and elsewhere it is of great repute. Thus, for example, the Knight Protectors of the Great Kingdom are exceedingly formidable, while those of Medegia are looked upon with near contempt, as it is well known that the title is offered for sale. Only the following three are true orders of knighthood, however.

The Knights of the Shield: This order is detailed in the description of the Shield Lands (q.v.).

Knights of the Watch: Certain stout soldiers from the lands of Bissel, Gran March, Geoff, and Keoland are invited to join this order, which is pledged to protect the east from incursions of the Paynims and the other Westerlings. These knights hold certain castles, keeps, and strongholds along the Ketish herder and elsewhere in the western mountains. The Watchers are a near-monastic order and very strictly disciplined. Their current Grand Commander is Hugo of Geoff. There are reported to be 5,000 in the order. The coat of arms of the Knights of the Watch is Sable, an owl displayed argent.

Order of the Hart: Far less militant in its outlook, and divided into three separate branches, the Knights of the Order of the Hart were organized to assure that the central states (Furyondy, Veluna, High Folk) retained their freedom and purpose. Because these nations are quite decentralized and none maintains any sizable standing military force, each is subject to sudden incursions and threats from neighbors. In the east and north are the humanoid hordes and the barbarian nomads. To the west are the Baklunish states and the only slightly less threatening marches and military orders between, as well as Perrenland with its aggressive trade policies and well-organized soldiery to back them up. There is little threat from the south, save for occasional pirates on the Nyr Dyv and some more-or-less bothersome raiding from humanoids. Thus, while each nobleman and lord of these nations has his own guards and men-at-arms, and each sovereign ruler maintains a small body of troops, most of the might of Furyondy, Veluna, and the High Folk takes a considerable time to muster. The Knights of the Hart are therefore sworn to be ready at an instant's notice to serve as a vanguard. They maintain certain strongholds, serve in various capacities in the associated nations, and have roving troops scouting trouble areas and hostile borders as well. The three branches of the Knights of the Order of the Hart are:

Knighthood in any branch of the Order of the Hart is bestowed only upon freemen and gentlefolk seeking the weal of the states which they are dedicated to uphold and defend. Furthermore, each candidate must be a proven fighter and have performed an act of exceptional honor, bravery, courage, and service. Knights of the Hart are hated and despised by luz, the Horned Society, and even by the folk of Dyvers, it is said. There is no love lost between them and the Watchers, the rulers of Perrenland, and certain of the Nyrondel noblesse. Considerable rivalry exists between the orders of the Hart and the Shield.