A Bordevarian Realmic Title.
Duke
High Nobles of Bordevar, Dukes and Duchesses are heads of noble households that rule over vast swathes of land and people on behalf of the absent King of Bordevar. Dukes hold positions of great cultural significance, being the foremost nobles in their lands, but also leadership, controlling sizeable households and weaving the future of their duchies.
Election
Dukes are elected at the Summit as determined by their Duchy. Unless their Duchy has a differing tradition, each Duke is elected through a vote of nobles who reside within their Duchy. Only Bordevarian nobles who reside within the Duchy in question may stand for Duke.
Term
2 Years. There is no term limit and individuals may immediately stand for re-election.
Powers and Responsibilities
Foremost - Dukes are the foremost nobles within their Duchies, responsible for leading that land on behalf of the crown. Dukes are responsible for setting Trials of Noble Virtue for those who would attempt them from their Duchy. Dukes are responsible for mediating disputes between nobles within their Duchy. Dukes are responsible for overseeing Noble Councils within their Duchy, should they be called for. Dukes can also be held responsible for the actions of their nobles in certain circumstances. In exchange, they are to afforded extreme respect by both Nobles and Commonfolk, with the appropriate title being ‘Your Grace’.
Membership – Dukes are granted a voice and vote to the Dukal Council of their Region (made up of Dukes, Sheriffs, Senators and Deed Holders from the region) and on the Royal Council of Companions (made up of the King and all Dukes of the Realm).
Command – Dukes control large households as well as investments across the Duchy. Each year the Duke may command their household pursue a particular project of their own definition. Such projects include research into a particular subject, pursuit of criminals, local construction and espionage.
Seat – Each Duchy has its ancestral home, a location where the Dukes of the past have lead from. This takes the form of an Investment which is offered up to the Dukes to occupy during their time in the seat. They are not required to adopt the investment, but if they do their old investment will be returned to them when their time in the Dukal position is over.
Mandate – Dukes are presented with a number of mandates by the Wise Council. These mandates outline the Councils requirements from the Duchy over the next two years and may be varied. If a Duke fails more than one of their mandates they will be considered in breach of their duty, stripped of their title, the Nobility and all those within their household with be stripped of their nobility as well.
History
The Bordevarian tradition of Dukes is inherited from its Drummondite roots, where Dukes ruled the greatest noble houses and acted with the authority of the King. It was these same Dukes that refused Prince Artourious his crown in ‘The Dukes Betrayal’. Since then a Dukal Council has ruled Drummond, for better or worse.
In Bordevar, King Artourious named his closest Companions his ‘Dukes in Blood’. However he took from them the inheritance of Dukal title (as well as noble title) that is found in Bordevar. A reasonable protection against Dukes forming a cabal against their liege, but a decision that would prove costly.
After the death of King Artourious, the few remaining Dukes and Duchesses became fewer and fewer, as age and the rigors of trying to hold the Kingdom together took their toll. With no King to name new Dukal houses, the titles fell to Wise Council, appointed to oversee the Crowns affairs while in pursuit of a rightful inheritor. Over time all the Dukal seats returned to the Wise Council and soon enough they were acting more so as absentee landlords than in pursuit of a new King.
This bureaucratic burden crushed the Wise Council and sapped its time and expertise. The land was administered to poorly and the Realm was no closer to a new King. With the signing of The Concord in 221 and the growth towards a new Bordevar that followed, the Wise Council made the tumultuous decision to begin reissuing Dukal Seats, to better administer the lands of Bordevar (that were left) and to free them up for their true goal.
The first Duchy released was Heartsgrave, far in the South and West of Weiland. The Wise Council has stated that they will continue to release Duchies as the heroes of Bordevar are returning to the fold.
Duchies and Dukes
Everguarde
The Dukal Seat of Everguarde is a humble estate on Caedom’s Dale, a naturally-occurring valley of crystalline gorse shrubs. The Everguarde Duchy is elected in Autumn
Caedom's Dale Estate is a Tier 3 Leyline Investment
| Historic Dukes | |
|---|---|
| Name | Date |
| Lady Winnifred Eldermere | Autumn 226 - Incumbent |
Heartsgrave
The South Western Duchy of Weiland, Heartsgrave controls all lands South and West of Weiland township, including the Weiland township itself, The Manor and the Wolfden Woods. The Dukal Seat of Heartsgrave is the Red Oak Lodge, a vast manor in the Wolfden Woods known for its grand hunts. The Heartsgrave Duchy is elected in Spring.
The Red Oak Lodge is a Tier 3 Farm Investment diversified to produce Beastbone. It's standard production is 4 Locks 15 Keys and 4 Beastbone.
| Historic Dukes | |
| Name | Date |
| Lord Archmund Draeyn | Spring 226 - Incumbent |
| Lady Koré Vespera, of House Thorne | Summer 224 - Spring 226 |
| Lord Aylan Portless | Summer 222 - Summer 224 |
Starscar
The Eastern Duchy of Weiland, Starscar maintains all the lands of the Lenscaster hills that run from Vassertal in the north and the Steinvaults in the south. It also includes the lands directly around the township of Arbington and some lands within the Wolfden Woods south of the town. The Dukal Seat is the Vaulderin Armoury, a repository of weapons and armour east of Arbington. The Starscar Duchy is elected in the Spring.
The Vaulderin Armoury is a Tier 3 Military Investment.
| Historic Dukes | |
|---|---|
| Name | Date |
| Lord Darcy Oaken Wynters | Spring 225 - Incumbent |
| Lord Sigismund Silverguarde | Summer 223 - Summer 225 |