The Nobility
The Noble Houses of Halruaal are the executive and quasi legislative authority of the Halruaalan government. Every noble is a wizard, or at least capable of casting spells. They wield both political and magical power that could crumble nations, raise the dead, or enchant millions to their cause. Because of the Feudal nature in Halruaal, the land is carved into separate regions, governed by three separate levels of Wizards Houses. The first level is typically seen as the most powerful wizards in their respective regions and royalty. They are dubbed the Great Houses. Under them are the Major Houses, given power as Dukes and Counts in the Duchies and Counties of the Great Houses' region. Below them are the lesser houses, wizards of noble statuses, but houses that either don't have the power, or favour to reach to higher levels of governance.
The Great Houses
The heads of seven of the Great Houses are the Archons - or the Pharaohs (if you are talking about House Kamose) - they are essentially Princes and Princesses of the Empire. They are powerful, not just through the notion of having armies, but by personal magical power that can alter the very existence of reality and thought. Through both of these means, they enforce the laws they lay down on the country. Above them is the First Archon, head of House Udaku in the Heartlands. The First Archon is treated as King or Queen of the Empire.
House specialties
Each of the Houses focuses in a particular field of magical study. For example, House Aetius specialty is Abjuration; House Petrov has mastered Conjuration; for House Romanos it's Divination; House Udaku corners Enchantment; House Odinson deals in Evocation; Clan Oni crafts Illusion; House Kamose uses Necromancy; and House Hanover warps with Transmutation.
Major Houses
Under each Great House is a web of vassal Houses who govern particular cities and towns while the Archons oversee from their citadels. These vassal Houses answer to their Archons - and in theory to those in positions of power from within the eight Houses - but hold power in their own right. A Major House who govern one of the major cities and influence the local region are granted the title of Duke or Duchess. They are governors for their cities and their Duchies. A politically powerful Duke or Duchess can control their city's senate so that they only answers to either their Archon, or (in theory) the First Archon.
Below them are Houses that have keeps (and other places of power) and are in charge of regional townships. These nobles are Counts or Countess and while not as considerably politically powerful as Dukes and Archons, they are skilled or wealthy enough to gain a title. More often than not, they also hold estates in the larger cities or even in the citadels of the Archons.
Lesser houses
Under the Count are a series of Barons or Baronesses, they might help advise the Counts of the multiple villages and outlying regions while the Count focuses on more township related issues. Still they don't have much actual power or standing. The however, same might not be said for those that fall outside of rulership in the nobility. They're might not really in charge of governing, but only a fool would underestimate wizards who hold the title of Lord or Lady. Lords and Ladies make up the generic and background statuses of nobles and are cunning and conniving enough to seek to elevate themselves. Some may have achieved noble status due to their skill as wizards or in knowledge/command of arcane magic. As such they can be a threat to those of higher status while not having the distractions of responsibility.
Sub houses
The greatest title a non-wizard (and the lowest a wizard) could achieve is the title of knight. They are those who act as enforcers and watch over individual villages, or command troops. Knights are typically of lesser stock or favored courtiers. They aren't exactly from wealthy or from prestigious families, but can be particularly skillful individuals who have gained favor (or employment) with higher ranked nobility.
Advancement and demotion
It's important to remember that a noble's title is not static. While you could be born into it, due to the current feudal nature of the Empire, it can be given or taken away. Normally advancement could follow the standard chain: a Baron could dub someone a knight; a Count could christen a Baron or dub a knight. But only the First Archon or a regional an Archon could elevate someone to the position of Count or higher. However, only the First Archon, the regional Archon, or a Duke can remove someone's title from them, and only within their regional jurisdiction. So a Baron of House Odinson needn't fear losing their title to the Archon of Petrov. However, that's not to say they couldn't find themselves on the pointy end of an assassin's dagger should they become to irksome.
Military Elites
Serving the nobility are a select class of elite warriors known as the Knights Maji. The Maji is an order that has been established since before the Age of Ascension and while not a title in and of itself, is a rank awarded to good fighters. The Knights Maji are more martially minded wizards and fighters who use magic and force of arms to fight or defend the country. Universally, a Maji is regarded with the full respect as a man-at-arms of whichever House controls the region they were knighted. In this way, they function as a both a military official and a courtier depending on the circumstances.
The Knights Maji should not be confused as someone with the rank of Knight though. Any ranking noble could be a member of the Knights Maji. Therefore if a noble *is* a Maji, they are still addressed by the honors of their title. Even a "Small folk" could become a Maji, if they are skilled enough in battle and magic. Small folk that are made Maji and are particularly lucky could even be granted a title.
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