[ Customs ]

Style is the manner by which a person is addressed, based upon their rank and social position. It is used to confer respect to each according to their position.

Just as calling someone Bert when their name is Susan, addressing someone by the wrong style indicates a disinterest in the person and is considered to be quite rude. This is true even if using a “higher” style.

More seriously, some mistakes in style can even be interpreted as a challenge to the position a person has achieved. For example, addressing a commoner woman who recently married a Baron as “Miss” is equivalent to saying they don't deserve their new title. As such, it is very important to use the correct style, lest someone be insulted.

In case of kindred, the highest title held during life is used, unless the kindred qualifies for a higher title as a kindred, in which case that one takes precedence.

The table below lists the styles used by Kindred royalty. It does not include kine royalty who were turned as these are always a special case (the prince usually wants some influence) or regular kine royalty, who PCs are more likely to avoid.

The table below lists the styles used by nobles and as a result most kindred in Clan Angliae. Close family members use just the first names instead, but this is not common.

• Titled nobility can also be addressed by their title. For example, Lord Grantham is an Earl, and can be referred to politely as “Earl”. Likewise, Lady Grantham can be referred to politely as “Countess”.
• A man who marries a woman with a title does not become Lord, but Sir, and does not get referred to by the title of his wife
• A widow who held a title by virtue of marriage (rather than inheriting it herself) keeps the title after the death of her husband, but since the title itself is passed on, she becomes a Dowager, for example, the Dowager Countess of Grantham ¹⁾ used to be married to the Earl of Grantham, but now her son holds that title, since the death of her husband.
• Kindred do not become Dowager unless they either became kindred while already being a Dowager as kine, or if their husband was a Kindred, who held a Kindred title, and then met the final death.
• Primogen (the position comes with a title) always rank first. Dukes rank above Marquesses, who rank above Earls, who rank above Viscounts, who rank above Barons. A dowager ranks at the same level as her old title, but below anyone with that title.
• Within the style of Sir, knighthood ranks above, and marriage ranks below, so someone who was born a nobleman ranks above a commoner who married a noblewoman.
• A woman who is knighted is called Dame, which ranks above Lady (the lower one), and below Sir. This is very rare and they are almost always notable figures.

The table below lists the styles used by commoners, such as servants, shopkeepers, and workers, as well as the middle classes, such as engineers and doctors. They are listed from most important to least important.

Except where noted explicitly, all styles are used with the last name of the person. For announcements, signing letters and to clarify when there are multiple people by the same name, the first and last name are used.

In certain cases, the regular rules for addressing are altered.

Kindred are not active in the armies and navies of the world (and are in fact strictly forbidden from serving as such). However, Kindred society assigns a similar distinction to those who take up a peacekeeping role within kindred society. As such, certain positions confer a military rank on their (male) holder, which comes with its own style.

In most circumstances, the military rank plus the last name will be used to address a person, but if they also hold a noble title, that title takes precedence (i.e. if the Duke of Wellington is a Colonel, he will still be called “Your Grace”, not “Colonel”).

Naturally Kindred do not actively participate in the Anglican or Roman Catholic Church, but they still have spiritual needs and most believe in God, as they did in life.

The confessor and spiritual advisor of the Prince is ranked Arch-Bishop. Most clans also have at least one spiritual leader, and may have one or two other spiritual figures. The spiritual leaders of the upper class clans are styles Bishop of <Clan> for all Christian denominations, while secondary spiritual figures and spiritual leaders of the lower clans are styled as Father Lastname (Catholic), Reverend Mr. (Or Sir, as the case may be) Lastname (Anglican), or Reverend Lastname (without another title) for non-Anglican protestant clergy, based on their personal preference.

In the order of precedence, Arch-Bishops ranks directly after the Prince and his family. Bishops rank directly above the titled nobility, with the exception of the Primogen, who ranks above them. Priests rank above the regular, but below the titled nobility.