The Court's Ranks
The King, even though may refer to his Servants as a whole as “Court” has no interest in playing real court. The Silent King simply is, that is its name, and does not even demand to be referred to via noble titles from his people. Most do, including The Archivist herself, so newcomers usually follow their example. The King frankly, does not care, and never corrects anyone. A simple “Sir” to him is more than enough.
These ranks exist out of convenience much more than they do as genuine ranks, at least the ones you’d see in a typical monarchy; they do not even function as titles, all in exception of The Archivist. The Overseers, who are besides her, by all means, the figures of authority in the Realm, will usually just call themselves whatever they wish.
What determines your rank is much more closely tied to how consistently and how long you’ve served the Aberrant God, being a Steward not meaning you are more powerful in a fight than a Villein, and vice versa. The Overseers however, do hold, for the most part, freakishly insane power and have been here for centuries, if not multiple millenia.
The line of command is simple. All those bound to the King must obey him. After him comes The Archivist, who’s word comes second to the King’s. Then there are the Overseers, who respond to Vanessa and the King. Then Stewards and Villeins alike must heed all three, but give priority to those in higher standing. If an Overseer gives a Villein an order, but The Archivist contradicts it, it is The Archivist who must be obeyed. Neither Stewards or Villeins have commanding power, even if technically Stewards rank higher.
0. The Silent King
Article Version: The Silent King
1. The Archivist
Article Version: The Archivist
The right hand of the King, having control over its trove of millions upon millions of years of knowledge, and The King's Realm itself. Vanessa Yovranna handles almost everything regarding “His Majesty’s” servants and even business partners; and of course, the archiving of newly acquired information, items, etc. Most people will rarely ever talk to the King himself but a few times, as really, it is Vanessa who keeps everything running, becoming his spokesperson; most jobs, quests, and orders it gives are communicated through her unless he finds it personally meaningful or necessary to do so himself. Always stretched thin, overworked and always on the edge of losing her grip; The Archivist is an aberrant, millennial creature, and handles levels of work that would make almost any mortal die of exhaustion within a span of hours.
Even if her skills, and the trust she’s earned are undeniable, as she is essentially the voice of his will, and the one in closest contact to them; there are things that even she is never to know or touch, and remain the King’s and his alone. There is also plenty she is barred from sharing, for her master has deemed it so.
Current Archivist
Lorehounds
Article Version: Lorehounds
Born from the very magic of the realm, seeping from the words in the thousands of books the Silent King creates, these creatures are by technicality higher in rank than the Overseers; even if they are bound to the service of whoever brought them forth. Due to this technicality, they cannot be commanded by the Overseers unless tied to one. When the King himself calls upon them they are usually a swarm of shadow, acid, and eldritch death, resembling himself; though he uses them much more for show, or to assert his presence, than anything else.
But when others do, their appearances are much more… Unique. Only three Beasts of this nature exist at the moment; Bouncer, Vanessa Yovranna’s self-explanatory guardian dog; and Dragon & Tower, who serve Rainfall. The latter two are known to accompany her in her missions outside of the realm, but much like Vanessa, Bouncer seems bound to the Realm. Or at least, he’s never tried to leave her side, nor has she sent him away.
Current Lorehounds
2. Overseers
Article Version: Overseers
The Overseers are, after The King and Archivist, the most powerful creatures in the Realm; and so few they always lie in the single digits. Besides raw skill, magic, or strength alone, anyone who’s bound by contract to their Aberrant ruler, and below them in rank, must obey their command. Thus, they are overseers, so by their nature, they can watch and control all of the Servants beneath them.
However… The Overseers are as bizarre, distinct, and unique as the Realm itself; a thousand times more than most of the Realm's residents. Incredibly individualistic, most of them rarely ever bother to give orders, or lead in any way, preferring to work alone or keep to themselves… If they are even present, for their mighty skill usually has them disappear on missions for months at a time. Some are not even capable of speech or thought.
Even if an Overseer may be a rare sight in the Realm, their power is undeniable to any Servant unfortunate enough to cross them. They may not be true commanders, but they stand far above mortal limits, and for most, trying to fight them would be a death sentence. But… Each Overseer is a world of their own, and not all specialized or even fond of combat. Much like a Vampire, a Lich, or even a God… They could meet an end.
They just haven’t yet.
Current Overseers
- High General Ghaadlan Hel'tylass
- Atalayi
- Rainfall
- Overseer Tracho
- Commander Leonidas (Vassal/PC)
3. Stewards
Article Version: Stewards
Stewards lie nowhere close to the Overseers; The divide between them is insurmountable. Both in raw power and in command, most Stewards are mere mortals… Servants.
What places them apart from Villeins is usually their role in the Realm, and the length and consistency of their work for the King. Most of them usually stay within the King’s plane, serving some kind of role that aids the other people who work for him; like a medic. Villeins can also do these roles, but Stewards generally have done so much longer, having proved themselves over decades, if not centuries. This is not a rule of thumb, but rather, a consistent pattern.
Not all Stewards take a role that stays within the Realm, going out on missions just as often as most Servants do; but whatever work they do, or usefulness, has been constant enough to earn them a greater rank. Ultimately, this is the factor that determines your rank, time or power coming second.
Stewards are given commanding power sometimes, but this is rather rare, and if it occurs, it tends to be temporary or situational, like a specific mission or quest.
Current Stewards
- Nithe
- Heartfelt (Vassal) (Construct Companion. Olive Tree "Ollie")
- Otis Caravaggio
- “Ñamo”
- (DUO) Dr. Herrton Bu’dday & Reverend Geizgott Liedino
- Penny (PC)
4. Villeins
Article Version: Villeins
Villeins are the everyday man in the King’s Court. Some may stay for as little as months, as far as centuries on end, but most are… Passerbies. Their services, contracts, or what have you make them useful, but unlike Stewards, they aren’t cogs in the machine, more so a means to an end. They have a goal, or they serve one of the King’s, and will leave after it's done. This makes them by far the rank that shifts the most in the whole Realm. They are ones that stay the least, most of them being bound a few years at most, owe less to the “community” as it were, and their services usually have a clear end. Thus, they hold the least power.
This is of course, not a rule of thumb, especially when it comes to contracts, as what is useful or long-lasting varies wildly to the King and the reason you’ve interested in it, but it's very much a pattern.
Current Villeins
- The Mech-Commisiarat Zognash Hanta Urdrun Haldezz
- Ser Garnet of River Dee
- Bradol "Glasshorn"
- Michael H. Terrell
- Lannaki "Lanna" Gon'diva
- Russolam "Russo" Gon'diva (Vassal)
- Zalika the Reckless (Devil Companion/Patron. Tif)
- Marion Baudelaire
- Bitsy
- Zephyr Venstessa (Vassal/PC)
- Neela (PC)
Vassals
Article Version: Vassals
"Guests" of the King, they are not bound by magic, contract, or duty. But receive his aid or welcome into his realm for one reason or another, sometimes for what’s perceived as none, making his other servants question the reasons for its… “Altruism”. Vassals are usually equal in rank as a Steward or Villein, but on rare occasions may be given the commanding role of an Overseer. Their gifts, access to the realms secrets, or even control over other of the King’s Servants is highly variable; and very much is determined from case to case.
Current Vassals
- Heartfelt (Steward)
- Russolam "Russo" Gon'diva (Villein)
- Commander Leonidas (Overseer/PC)
- Zephyr Venstessa (Villein/PC)
- Turner & Arcoiris (...?/PC)
The King's Collection
Article Version: The King's Collection
Millions of years of knowledge all in one eldritch, arcane fueled plane, which can take the form of almost anything; usually books or scrolls, but other shapes aren’t unheard of, ranging from items to eerily realistic illusions of some being.
However, real, living things like plants, on rare occasions animals or monsters, and even rarer individuals, are usually not part of it. The Silent King is someone who prefers to watch something in its natural habitat rather than interfere, if he can help it, so he is not usually one for prisoners, at least not as part of his “collection”. If he finds it necessary, he will go to extreme lengths so that any plant or beast brought for his studies will be essentially in a replica of its natural habitat, which usually means a pocket dimension between his plane, and always under the best of cares.
Any creature that is part of The King's Collection is by technicality the lowest rank in the Realm; even if they do not respond to anyone's order's but the King's and Vanessa's.
For people, it is highly dependable on the reason he’s taken them, but usually these tend to be mutated individuals, anomalies, aberrations… Victims of his own kind, or some other strange phenomena, with many of his objects of study having lost all mental faculties or lost themselves in some way. If he will aid them, for the sake of his studies, or genuinely just study them, varies greatly as well. He is not careless and will not aim to kill or hurt them needlessly; finding no value in data acquired from unnecessary suffering. Being just as “caring” as with any beast he captures.
Death within The King's Realm is extremely rare, as the King keeps those under its servitude alive beyond their natural lifespans if it requires so; and can take centuries to be satisfied with a study, if not more. If they don’t die before he releases them, he will more often than not do just that. Let them go. Their memories modified to forget about him, but free nonetheless.
If those captured individuals have recovered their free will however (in case they lacked it, some always kept it) he is open to conversation, and will accept them in his ranks if they request so. However, he never seeks or asks for the servitude of those he’s captured and studied; not even suggesting it. It is only if they ask.
This is another matter that makes one question, if this out of some sense of morality; or as a creature of deals, he finds that they’ve done more than enough for him, thus owe him no further. If asked, the King rarely provides an answer, much less a consistent one.
Current Creature(s) in the King's Collection
- The Silent King
- The Archivist
- Lorehounds (By Technicality)
- Overseers
- Stewards
- Villeins
- The King's Collection (By Technicality)
