[Banestorm] Why is the Cardien Council of Lords full of barons and vicounts? - Page 2

Sam Baughn · 05-16-2021, 06:45 PM

I've been reading up on southern Ytarria for a campaign set in Tredoy, which I've never really gamed in before. I noticed something strange in the description of the Council of Lords, it says they are 'the seven greatest Cardien nobles' and lists them as:

Prince Anthemius Crivelli (Duke of Hadaton)
Baron Saywell of Alimar
Count Faramon of Alimar
Baron Caius of Minder
Baron Vincent of Calder
Viscount Guillaume of Tredroy
Baron Amalric of Ten-Tiri

That's four barons, one viscount, one count, and two dukes.
In a kingdom of several million people, I'd expect there to be something like (order of magnitude):

Ten thousand barons
One thousand viscounts
One hundred counts or earls
Ten dukes

So either there is a weird shortage of high-ranking nobles, Cardiens titles don't follow the same progression as Megalan (or European) ones, or Cardiel's titles no longer bear much relation to the bearer's actual power.
In GURPS Fantasy: Tredoy, it specifically notes that viscount Guillaume and the baron of Dorilis resent being vassals of baron Bowvrey because of his low title, which kind of suggests that there is still a pretty firm feudal pecking order and barons aren't high on it.

05-16-2021, 06:45 PM	#1
Sam Baughn Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and some other bits.	[Banestorm] Why is the Cardien Council of Lords full of barons and vicounts? I've been reading up on southern Ytarria for a campaign set in Tredoy, which I've never really gamed in before. I noticed something strange in the description of the Council of Lords, it says they are 'the seven greatest Cardien nobles' and lists them as: Prince Anthemius Crivelli (Duke of Hadaton) Baron Saywell of Alimar Count Faramon of Alimar Baron Caius of Minder Baron Vincent of Calder Viscount Guillaume of Tredroy Baron Amalric of Ten-Tiri That's four barons, one viscount, one count, and two dukes. In a kingdom of several million people, I'd expect there to be something like (order of magnitude): Ten thousand barons One thousand viscounts One hundred counts or earls Ten dukes So either there is a weird shortage of high-ranking nobles, Cardiens titles don't follow the same progression as Megalan (or European) ones, or Cardiel's titles no longer bear much relation to the bearer's actual power. In GURPS Fantasy: Tredoy, it specifically notes that viscount Guillaume and the baron of Dorilis resent being vassals of baron Bowvrey because of his low title, which kind of suggests that there is still a pretty firm feudal pecking order and barons aren't high on it. __________________ My blog.