Ranks and Titles

These are the basic and special positions and ranks within the Draconian Empire.

Emperor: Chief administrator; all decisions eventually go to him. Maintains guild cohesion. Can veto a decision of the High Council. Assigns new knights to leige-lords. Leads the empire in battle and example. Addressed as "His Imperial Majesty"

Chancellor: Is the right hand of the Emperor, and deals with less important things that do not require the imperial ear. In a time of crisis, and in absense of an Emperor, can take control of the Empire. Addressed as "His Highness"

Praetor: Presides during High Council sessions and maintains order within the council, sets council dates, presides as a magistrate and inquisitor if necessary. Addressed as "His Emminence"

Duke: The highest a noble can attain to without being elected by the people. Their duties involve maintainance of ties with knights, testing squires, Bloodknight leadership, and Tournaments. Addressed as "His Grace"

ElderA retired member of the High Council. This person may rule a city if he or she chooses, and can have powers similar to a baron (they would then be called an "Eldaberon"), but most elders would retire completely, and so have very little real power, save their voice of reason.

Baron: ruler of a settlement, does the bulk of recruiting. Addressed as "The Lord..."

Knight-captain: a distinguished knight, but landless. Addressed as "Sir...". A knight-captain can command a squadron of knights in the name of his baron. These squadrons can be named, and can gain honour as a group. "Honour and courage are a warrior's right and left hands..."

Knight: lowest rank of a full member; few responsibilities, few privileges. Must be sponsered by a baron. Addressed as "Sir..."

squire: an unofficial guild member. Any new member is automatically a squire until he is interviewed by a guardian, or a duke ranked noble or higher

The Druids will be dealt with on a separate page, as they aren't a part of the Draconian Empire as subjects. "Gird thyself with the weapons of knowledge and the armor of wisdom. Victory is won as much through strength of mind and will as through brawn and steel.

Procedure for promotion

All promotions will be based on recommendation, and on service to the Empire. Anyone can recruit a peasant. Indeed, it is the primary responsibility of knights to find peasants for the Empire. A baron my promote a peasant to a knight, or may promote a knight to a knight-captain if the knight in question has recruited many knights. A duke may promote a knight to a baron. And the High Council, through much debate, can choose a baron to be promoted to duke. Note that there can be but six dukes at any time.

Elected Postions

The postions of Emperor, Chancellor, and Praetor are to be elected by the entire guild from the ranks of the dukes. An election can be called whenever the majority of the population desires one, and can only be settled by majority vote.

Special Titles

Grand Champion: the most powerful legit member of the Draconian Empire
"Pierce me with steel, rend me with claw and fang. As I die a legend is born for another generation to follow..."

Lord Ambassador: The chief of Foreign Affairs, usually, but not always, at least a duke. He reports directly to the Emperor, and represents the Emperors' interests always, in talk, and in manner. Addressed as "His Most Excellent", unless superseded by another title. This role has been amalgamated into that of the Chancellor, but still exists as part of his duties.

Emissary: A representative of the Empire to other guilds, both friend and foe. Must be at least a baron, and reports directly to the Lord Ambassador. Addressed as "His Excellency". "Any Master of battle should always take stock of his friends as well as his enemies. Knowing both can, in time, be profitable"

Keeper of the Ancients: Is the guardian of the last few dragons in Draconia. This is not a title per say, but rather the other name of an ancient sorceror that lived hundreds of years ago in a tower in the Northern Reaches, and but recently disappeared

Herald: is the lifter of spirits, and brightener of days. A Bard is much the same. They write poetry and/or songs to make the Empire a better place.

Artisan: a noncombatant builder of the Empire; usually a website editor

Guardian: is the person in charge of new recruits, who makes sure that they are who they claim they are. The Guardians are extremely important to the Empire, as it is their word alone that determines if a squire is deemed worthy enough to be admitted into the ranks of the Knights of the Draconian Empire. They must be Knights themselves, at least, though most are Barons.

Bloodknight: the duel-masters of the guild; each is the personal bodyguard of the upper nobility (only seven allowed, one for each noble). They are the epitome of the knight, and the example against which all the others are measured. The Bloodknights are chosen by their respective sponsers, and may be demoted just as easily. It is customary to choose a bloodknight from the ranks of the knights. They are allowed to PK, but not in surprise; All conditions for a duel must be met, including giving a ritual challenge for combat (more on that later). Let it be known that Bloodknights, though the closest thing in the empire to it, are not true PKs, in that they do not kill for the pleasure of it... they kill for necessity, and only in honourable combat. At the moment, the Bloodknights are an inactive group, with no members at all. This is because the Order of the Bloodknights was created during the darkest days of the Draconian Revolution, when nobles rarely lived for long without some form of protection. In this new age of enlightenment, where not only the evils of society, but also the evils of the underworld, have been defeated, there is no longer need for unstoppable warriors such as these.

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