Invictus Titles

OK, so we can avoid unintentional faux pas', I thought we should dedicate a thread to this.

First, Invictus titles are used with Invictus, not others.

Formal address is the Title of Esteem or Tribute + Title of Function with the last name.

Informal (but not familiar) address is the Title of Esteem or Tribute only with the last name..

Familiar address is the same as Informal with the first name.

Intimate address is the first name only.

*** BE CAREFUL WITH FAMILIAR AND INTIMATE FORMS ***

There is some confusion about Titles of Esteem and Tribute. They are NOT combined. As per page 42, a Title of Esteem is used if the person has no title of Tribute.

Examples:

• Formal address:

The Right Honorable Alder Fangs McBat, The Marquis of Sacramento and Judex

• Informal address:

Alder Judex Fangs McBat

• Familiar:

Alder Fangs

• Intimate:

Fangs

The Title of Function, Judex, supercedes his City position of Prince, within the Invictus. Outside of the Invictus, or in mixed company, he is referred to by his City position, Prince Clarke.

If any of you have questions about your titles, post them here, and I'll has them out.

IMPORTANT: If you have a question about what form of address you think you should be using, ask OOC instead of making a terrible mistake IC.

Titles of Esteem

Master / Miss

Master is given to Invictus paiges who have yet to go through Manumission. Miss is the feminine version.

Mister / Madam

Mister is given to accepted members of the Invictus covenant who have not yet reached the level of Alder. Madam is the female counterpart.

Alder

Alder is given to a Kindred who is considered an Elder in the Invictus.

Titles of Tribute

Lord / Lady

Lord (Lady for a female) is bestowed upon a vampire for honorable service to the Invictus, normally marking an achievement of some merit. The measure of merit differs from city to city, and has a lot to do with the power level enjoyed by the covenant in the domain, as well as the standing and relations of the Kindred in question. Some vampires earn the title merely by being the inoffensive childer of an extremely prestigious sire, while less fortunate vampires spend decades fighting tooth and claw to climb so high.

Baron / Baroness

Baron is bestowed upon a Lord or Lady vampire who has distinguished himself or herself on several occasions, with honor and valor above and beyond the call of duty. Unlike Lord and Lady, this title is never given purely based on lineage, and is considered (by the haughtier members of the covenant) the lowest true title of tribute.

Viscount / Viscountess

Viscount is bestowed upon a vampire who is given permanent domain within the territories of the Invictus. The vampire so titled appends the name of his domain to the title (for example, The Viscount of Soho). If the vampire loses control of the domain in question for any reason, he remains a Viscount, but the domain is no longer acknowledged in the name. The Good precedes the Viscount’s name in introductions. No more than one vampire may hold this title for a domain at a time. Only Final Death or a declaration of the Inner Circle can free the title to be conferred upon another.

Earl

Earl is bestowed upon a vampire who conquers a domain, adding it to the territories of the Invictus and earning the right to rule it (as determined by the Inner Circle). The vampire so titled appends the name of her domain to the title (for example, The Earl of Montmartre). As with a Viscount, an who loses control of her domain must remove it from her title. The Honorable precedes the Earl’s name in introductions. No more than one vampire may hold this title for a domain at a time. Only Final Death or a declaration of the Inner Circle can free the title to be conferred upon another.

Marquis / Marquise

Marquis is bestowed upon a vampire who is given permanent place on the Inner Circle of a city. This is an extremely high honor, suggesting that no fault or mishap could ever diminish the influence this vampire has within the Invictus. This title is normally given to one who has clearly altered the course of history within the city to the covenant’s advantage, and without whom (it is acknowledged), all would have been lost. The name of the city in question is appended to the title (for example, The Marquis of Florence). No more than one vampire may hold this title in a city at a time. Traditionally, only Final Death or permanent exile can free the title to be conferred upon another. The Right Honorable precedes the name of a Marquis or Marquise in introduction.

Duke / Duchess

Duke is bestowed upon a vampire who is held responsible for conquering a city and establishing a strong base of power for lasting rule by the Invictus. A Duke is customarily given a permanent place in the Inner Circle of the city he or she has secured, as well as permanent personal rule over a domain within the city. The name of the city in question is appended to the title (for example, The Duke of Richmond). No more than one Invictus vampire may traditionally hold this title in a city’s history. Even Final Death does not free the title for conferring upon another, though in modern nights this practice is relaxed somewhat if the Invictus are forced to re-conquer a city following a prolonged period of absence. Thus, a few cities hold Kindred with titles such as “the Second Duke of Glasgow.” His Grace or Her Grace precedes the name of a Duke or Duchess in introduction.

Titles of Function

Advisor

Advisor is an Invictus member of the Primogen.

Advocate

A specialist in public relations or activism to promote the interests of the covenant. Advocates may be called upon to make public speeches at city gatherings to help sway the general opinion of local vampires to favor the Invictus or to recruit outsiders to the covenant.

Almoner

Almoner is a vampire who makes it a profession to care for the less fortunate, either in Kindred or mortal society, or both

Archon

Archon is the Invictus Hound.

Au Pair

Au Pair is given to a specialist in elementary training for neonates: basic vampire survival and etiquette, Discipline use and Masquerade preservation skills.

Commissioner

Commissioner is given to a vampire trained in the judicious distribution of resources. Generally, a Commissioner is called upon to administer plans that require the co-ordination of several vampires’ material goods or contacts.

Councilor

Councilor is given to a member of the Inner Circle. This title supersedes any other Title of Function the vampire may possess except, of course, Prince.

Groom

Groom is given to a vampire whose duty is to maintain the herds, animals, and stables.

Interpreter

Interpreter is given to a translator and specialist in matters of subterfuge. An Interpreter must be able to interpret the motives of his subject as well as the language spoken.

Judex

Judex is given to a professional judge and settler of disputes within the Invictus covenant.

Knight

Knight is given to an oathsworn Soldier. A Knight is distinguished from a Soldier by membership in an established Order of Knighthood, with its own traditions and oaths of conduct. Membership in the Order of Knighthood replaces titles of esteem with Sir or Dame, for male and female Knights, respectively. The formal address is Sir Knight, or Dame Knight.

Librettist

Librettist is given to a professional connoisseur of arts and entertainments.

Meister

Meister is for an acknowledged expert and instructor in any field of study, who oversees a Guild. The formal mode of address is simply Meister for both male and female vampires. The title of esteem is not used if this is the only title of function the vampire possesses.

An officially recognized professional expert; the leader of a Guild. (archaic; also: master)

Minister

Minister is given to Invictus Heralds.

Notary

Notary is given to a professional witness to declarations and recitations of Blood Oaths.

Player

Player is given to a professional artist or performer.

Prince

Given to an Invictus Prince.

Priscus

The eldest (or most respected - though the Invictus will argue people down for nights about this very point) members of each clan stand as the domain’s Prisci. No Kindred without appropriate Status can serve as a Priscus.

The Prisci have no impetus to agree or cooperate and are fully within their right to build up (or strip) a member of their clan in the city of their standing within the clan. Generally, Priscus' are pulled in to handle debates or to see if the Priscus wishes to defend the clan member in question on his behalf.

This is a position conferred by right of age, and requires no training.

Reeve

Reeve is given to an Invictus Sheriff.

Secretary

Secretary is given to the governor of Guilds in a city.

Senator

Senator is given to a professional philosopher and advisor. This person may be called upon to give counsel on spiritual matters or interpret occult occurences.

Seneschal

The handles the day-to-day details of running the city for the Prince. While it is the Prince's job to make the important decisions, to paint the broad strokes, and to make and enforce the city's laws, it is the Seneschal's job to handle the details, the minor issues that don't need to reach the Prince's desk (since they would, more than likely, only end up annoying the Prince). In effect, the Seneschal is a combination deputy-mayor and secretary. He is charged with whatever duties the Prince leaves to him, often times consisting of settling small disputes, arranging audience with the Prince, managing his correspondence and scheduling Court agendas.

Generally, it is assumed that the Seneschal's will reflects the will of the Prince (though wise Kindred know this is not always the case), and as such the Seneschal is empowered to mete out justice through the Prince's agents. If the Prince doesn't have an "open door" policy, the Seneschal is probably the closest most Kindred will ever come to dealing with the Prince of the city outside of Court. It would be foolish in this instance for any Kindred to believe that the Seneschal is a mere secretary; the Seneschal is likely the second most powerful Kindred in the city, if not one of the most powerful.

For those Princes who do keep a relatively public life, the Seneschal often finds himself relegated mostly to a glorified secretarial position consisting of arranging meetings, taking phone calls and handling the duties the Prince does not want to find himself bothered with.

In the Invictus, Seneschal is a Title of Function for the city position of Seneschal. If one takes this position, the title of Seneschal supersedes one’s previous title of function until the title of Seneschal is relinquished.

Soldier

Soldier is given to a professional warrior who is not sworn to an Order of Knights. Since Soldiers are not bound by the detailed Oaths of Knighthood, many become mercenary warriors and assassins.

Speaker

Speaker is given to a specialist in matters of Etiquette and Diplomacy. Speakers can expect to be called upon to handle delicate negotiations with members of other covenants.

Steward

In the Invictus, Steward is given to a preserver of valuable artifacts. A Steward may also be an individual who has taken responsibility for an elder vampire in torpor, ensuring that all arrangements are made to welcome him back when he wakes, and caring for him, if necessary.

Technologist

Technologist is given to an expert in the study and application of Disciplines, including the experimental development of new Devotions, categorization of bloodline-specific powers, and observations of other "foreign" abilities (such as Theban Sorcery or Crúac).

Whip

Whip is given to vampires who are charged with motivating the lower Kindred.

Forms of Address

These are discussed at full length on pages 42 & 43 of Invictus. What follows is a brief primer. For the example we will use an Invictus named Robert Lance. He is an Alder, a Knight, a Duke (of Jamaica), and a Notary.

• Submissive: "Most" + Ingratiating Term + Title of Tribute + Name (if title of tribute is not unique). Example: The Most Gracious Duke of Jamaica.
• Formal: Title of Esteem + Title of Function (the one most pertinent to the situation). Example: Alder Notary or Alder Knight.
  • Alternative: The last name can be used to differentiate people or substituted for the title of function when there isn't one.
• Familiar: Title of Esteem + First Name. Example: Alder Robert.
• Intimate: First Name. Example: Robert.
• Disparaging: "My" + Title of Tribute + Name (if title of tribute is not unique). Example: My Duke or My Duke Lance.

Introductions

Introduction form is used not when addressing an individual, but when introducing one Invictus to another. Introductions are tricky in that the canon material gives us little to go on. We have two examples^[1][2], and also the way in which Titles of Tribute modify introductions^[3]. From these sources we decipher the following formula:

• Introduction: Tribute Modifier + Title of Esteem + Name + , + Full Title of Tribute + Titles of Function.

Tribute Modifiers

Tribute Modifiers are also provided^[4]:

• Lord/Lady: no tribute modifier
• Baron/Baroness: no tribute modifier
• Viscount/Viscountess: The Good
• Earl/Countess: The Honorable
• Marquis/Marquise: The Right Honorable
• Duke/Duchess: His/Her Grace

Examples

• His Grace Alder Franklin Moss, Duke of Lesotho, Prince and Steward
• Alder Grace Tapping, Lady and Interpreter
• The Honorable Madam Francesca Farthing, Earl of Lisbon, Almoner
• Master Rudy Thompson
• Alder Pilar Rodriguez, Baroness, Groom, Minster, and Player