Bloodlines

Unity Covenant

Titles are inherited by primogeniture, regardless of gender. Occasionally this is broken, mostly when a noble names a particular descendant as their successor.

Ducal Lines

The highest rank in the Unity Covenant is the Duke. Each of these individuals rules one of the Duchies of the Covenant. They're the equivalent of state governors, and command direct control of the lands around their capital city. Siblings of a Duke (the non-inheriting ones) are given the title of Margrave. Sometimes they may also have their own Counties, or even Baronies.

Only the nobility cares about family names. Surnames and other such ilk in the lower classes are assigned based on occupation or personality; sometimes they are inherited, but just as often discarded. In the nobility, children inherit family names from their landed parent (or if no land, from the higher rank).

• Coldstone - This family line holds sway over the Duchy of Thousand Island. They supported Hither in the Unity War.
• Whitecrest - This family line holds sway over the Duchy of Providence (and is connected to Red River through the family name Isanti). They supported Yon in the Unity War.
• Heathcliff - This family line holds sway over the Duchies of Vineyard and Twin Seas. They supported Yon in the Unity War.
• Ravenglass - This family line holds sway over the Duchies of Haven and Iron Mountain. They supported Yon in the Unity War.
• Broadcloak - This family line holds sway over the Duchy of Keystone. They supported Hither in the Unity War.
• Longstreet - This family line held sway over the Duchy of Dominion, and now currently holds sway over New Dominion and Old Dominion.
• Stonewall - This family line holds say over the Duchies of Bluegrass and Yellow Hammer. Apart from the two Dominions, this is the only family that controls two neighboring Duchies. Bluegrass supported Hither in the Unity War, but a Stonewall was one of Yon's most trusted generals.
• Morningstar - This family line holds sway over the Duchies of Rally and Highland. They supported Yon in the Unity War.
• Lockhorn - This family line holds sway over the Duchy of Hazard. They supported Hither in the Unity War.
• Bloodmoon - This family line holds sway over the Duchies of Everglade and Cornucopia. They supported Yon in the Unity War.
• Isanti - Duke Sue Isanti holds sway over the Duchy of Red River. He used to be Chief Sue Isanti of the Indians, a very respected man; on condition of being made Duke of Red River, he married the widow Margravine Patch Whitecrest, and now claims the name and title Margrave Whitecrest.

Count Lines

Counts rule counties, which are subdivisions of Duchies, and owe fealty to their Dukes. The population of each county selects a representative to send to the Parliament. The 'viscount' title goes to siblings of a count that do not inherit. Viscounts may also have their own baronies. At the same rank as the Count is the Earl - of which there is only one in the Unity Covenant.

Note that, in Red River, Counts are titled "Chief" but otherwise are the same rank.

• None have been named or determined,

Baronial Lines

Beneath the counts are barons. They rule over subdivisions of a county (like Phoenix as opposed to Maricopa). They don't just control cities, though - they are in charge of a city and the surrounding area. The 'baronet' title goes to siblings of a baron that does not inherit.

• None have been named or determined.

Other

Children of Margraves, Viscounts, or Baronets do not have any special claim to a title, although they are still considered nobility.

We often see the untitled nobility heading westard to claim more land, although they're not traditionally given leave to reach above their family's station (barring marriage).

Thus it is usually a Margrave that attempts to organize new lands, attempting to claim fealty of the Counts in those areas. These Margraves are the most likely to become new Dukes.

The lowest level of nobility are Knights. Other untitled nobility are often knighted by the Dukes.

• Demark - The old tyrant Marak spread his seed around quite freely. While the current nobility resent Marak (as they rebelled against him) they do acknowledge his nobility. So, anyone with the surname Demark signifies a family line that comes from Marak. They're almost the lowest of the low, in nobility. The base rank. This family does control the Earldom of Alabaster, the city between the Virgins.

The Mixed Lands

The Mixed Lands are arranged hierarchically, with the divinity of the Theandric at the top, as a king. Below them are bishops and prelates, and then deacons. Below them are paladins, the soldiers of Procellous.

Theandric

The theandric of the Jaguar People is named Procellous. He has been around for twenty-five generations, a blend of divinity and humanity, god made flesh.

• Procellous - there is only one theandric, only one divine Lord, of the Jaguar People

Bishop

This is roughly the equivalent rank of a Duke. Their invested abilities remain undetermined.

• No bishops have yet been named.

Prelate

This is roughly the equivalent rank of a Count. Their invested abilities remain undetermined.

• No prelates have yet been named.

Deacon

This is roughly the equivalent rank of a Baron. Their invested abilities remain undetermined.

• No deacons have yet been named.