Aemark Honorific Conventions

Welcome to Aemark: Enshrining Birthright Into Names (or Socially Acceptable Denigration)

Names in the Aemark Kingdom typically consist of the individual's given name and their family or clan name (and followed by any generational suffixes). In rare cases, the person's name may be followed by their place of birth to differentiate among those identically named, such as Shikya Enelladalcol Aeleat ov Conclave. Among the lower classes, there is little need for any additional modifiers or names, but for individuals of higher classes, it becomes a matter of great import. Aemark honorifics are modifiers placed on a family name that describe the relative social, political, and economic status of a person. When assembled, they swiftly dispense with any cultural or customary confusion between two acquaintances and set the tone for most interactions in the upper echelons of society.

Anatomy and Usage of Honorifics

Honorifics apply only to a family or clan name; never to a given name. The relative usage of honorifics increases with higher status, but those of equal status typically refer to each other using their given name as a sign of respect. When a lower class is speaking to a higher class, they should use their full honorific family name rather than their given name. In the reverse case, higher classes can use either given or family names, with or without honorifics. Ostensibly, using a lower-class's honorifics gives respect to their profession or status. In practice, honorifics are used as a means to exhibit leverage over the lower-class individual rather than as a form of respect.
Honorifics are structured in a specific order, but do not necessarily need to be used in full. Depending on the nature of the conversation, some portions of a honorific may be dropped, often for convenience or to emphasize the difference in status in a particular area. A full honorific name is structured thusly:

(Political)+(Citizenship)+(At-Birth Citizenship)+(Economic)+(Magical)+(Family Name)

Usually, each portion of an honorific is a single syllable, but exceptions do exist when additional stratification between status levels is desired. Loosely speaking, the order of honorific portions are arranged from most important to least important. For example, the current King is Markus Ae'eldcal the Sixth, signifying his political rank ('Ae'), citizenship ('Eld'), and wealth ('Cal').

Political Honorifics

The political portion of an honorific is most frequently dropped because few individuals have political titles at all. They are most frequently used within Council discussions and in formal laws, agreements, and negotiations among Lords. Individuals without a title always use this portion when speaking with a politically titled person.

• 'Ae' - King
• 'Vae' - High Council
• 'Kae' - Council
• 'Ven' - Lord
• 'Ken' - Ser
• 'Sen' - Knight
• 'En' - No Title

Citizenship Honorifics

Within the Aemark Kingdom, whether an individual has citizenship is one of the most significant factors in a person's overall welfare. Citizenship affords a person full rights within the Kingdom, including the right to property, land, and a host of services, such as the ability to defend themselves in court (or combat). While there are different ranks among citizens, the biggest division is between any type of citizenship at all and not having any rank. The vast majority of people living in the Kingdom have citizenship, even those within conquered lands, but the promise of gaining citizenship has been used as a motivator for newly conquered lands (and losing it as a deterrent).

• 'Eld' - True Citizen (having royal blood)
• 'Ald' - True Citizen by Covenant
• 'Elt' - First Citizen (by blood, typically from council members, or by deed)
• 'Alt' - First Citizen by Covenant
• 'Eln' - Second Citizen (provided great service to the Kingdom)
• 'Aln' - Second Citizen by Covenant
• 'Elna' - Second Citizen Descendant
• 'El' - Ordinary Citizen (by blood, deed, or treaty)
• 'Al' - No Citizenship

At-Birth Citizenship Honorifics

The 'at-birth' honorific portion is rarely used except as a means to denigrate someone that a person feels doesn't belong. There are few portions within this category and they refer to whether the individual has gained, or lost, citizenship status and in what way. For those who have not gained or lost citizenship, it is simply ignored as an honorific portion. Most individuals that do have this portion prefer to avoid using this portion of their name because neither moving up in status or moving down in status is taken well by those in their newly acquired rank. High-class citizens scoff at those that have risen up and low-class citizens are wary of those that have fallen. Most specifically, the 'La' portion (that is, having gained ordinary citizenship by treaty) is looked down upon by upper-class citizens who feel that they should have been slaves instead.

• 'Lae' - Gained Rank by Deed
• 'Dae' - Lost Rank by Deed
• 'Mae' - Gained Rank by Covenant
• 'Nae' - Gained Rank by Blood (that is, adoption)
• 'La' - Gained Rank by Treaty

Economic Honorifics

These portions of an honorific are almost exclusively used by merchants and business owners. They refer, loosely, to the income and relative wealth of the family, based on either land holdings or on currency. As they tend to follow the level of political power or citizenship rank, economic honorific portions rarely offer extra information, but when a difference exists, it is notable and commands a level of respect.

• 'Cal' - Holdings in excess of 10,000 arable acres or 10,000,000 Marks per year
• 'Val' - Holdings in excess of 5,000 arable acres or 1,000,000 Marks per year
• 'Hal' - Holdings in excess of 1,000 arable acres or 500,000 Marks per year
• 'Sal' - Holdings in excess of 100 arable acres or 100,000 Marks per year
• 'Mal' - Holdings in excess of one arable acre or 10,000 Marks per year
• 'Dal' - Having any permanent property or 1,000 Marks per year
• 'Mi' - Less than 'Dal'

Magical Honorifics

Individuals with magical aptitude are given their own honorific portion relating to the prestige they have attained within the magical community. Though a portion exists for those that practice magic but do not attend an Academy, it is rarely used. This is most often because they do not have any practical way to apply their magic. Magical prestige can be a way to move up citizenship ranks by military accomplishments or climb the economic status ladder via sale of magical goods.

• 'Tol' - Grandmaster of an Academy or Military Division
• 'Tal' - Master of Multidisciplinary Magic
• 'Tel' - Master of Magic, with Distinction (frequently military accomplishment)
• 'Yol' - Master of Magic
• 'Yal' - Graduate of an Academy, Enlisted in the Military
• 'Yel' - Graduate of an Academy
• 'Col' - Student of an Academy
• 'Cal' - Having magical aptitude

Nona's Notaries

Catering to new citizens since 931 PoA, Nona's Notaries provides custom services for proper citizenship documentation. ('La'-striking services available in select locations.)
There really isn't a point in striking the 'La' from your name. The strike is recorded in the record anyway (and it costs a fortune).