Nobility Supply Network

[Spinward Scout]

I'm wondering if anyone has come up with an idea for a Nobility Supply or Support Network. This would provide supplies and things to keep the Nobility consistent across the vastness of the Imperium.

The first thing that comes to mind is Imperial Stationary. Does it just have a logo at the top of the page? Is it embossed? Holographic? Arranged in such a way so as not to be easily counterfeited?

Would a supply network be run by the X-Boat network or through Imperiallines? Or through another way of transportation?

Anyone have anything similar IYTU?

 

[Timerover51]

I'm wondering if anyone has come up with an idea for a Nobility Supply or Support Network. This would provide supplies and things to keep the Nobility consistent across the vastness of the Imperium.

The first thing that comes to mind is Imperial Stationary. Does it just have a logo at the top of the page? Is it embossed? Holographic? Arranged in such a way so as not to be easily counterfeited?

Would a supply network be run by the X-Boat network or through Imperiallines? Or through another way of transportation?

Anyone have anything similar IYTU?

I do not really have anything like this in MTU, but here are some off-the-top-of-my-head thoughts.

First, you are going to have a continuous stream of communication from planets to sub-sector dukes to sector dukes to Capitol and back as to births, deaths, problems with, declarations of heir-apparent, and marriages of the sector nobility, with the list of what might be communicated not being exhaustive. Sub-sector dukes and sector dukes will be making comments on these as well, confirming or denying declarations of heir-apparency, recommending potential new nobility or asking for confirmation of the appointment of new nobles, deaths with heir-apparent elsewhere and needing to return (think Imperial Navy officer here or a traveling dilettante among other possibilities), etc. Each year, the Holiday List and the Birthday List showing all new nobles along with changes within the nobles list will need to be sent to the sector and sub-sector dukes for review and comment.

Next, you are going to have the sub-sector and sector dukes have a sort of Inspector-General Dept. to monitor noble behavior and suitability, composed of members of the nobility itself. Within that you will likely have courts composed of nobles to try members of the peerage for crimes committed, with the level of the members of the courts being based on the nobility level of the noble charged. Some crimes may have to be referred to the Emperor for trial.

You will also need a Pursuivant of Arms to monitor and develop coats of arms or the sector/sub-sector nobles.

That is what I can come up with just giving it some though. Should keep a fair number of people busy.

 

[aramis]

Timerover is neglecting two seldom mentioned but important additional duties of the kings of arms and their pursuivants: tracking the genealogies and inheritors, and reporting on the number, types, quality, status, and insignias for household troops.

 

[Drakon]

Design and tailoring of the huscarles and staff livery.
Books on noble politics, estate running, Imperial and commerce law. Customs and protocols. Machiavelli for dummies. Intermediate Machiavelli, and Advanced Machiavelli.
Someone already mentioned heraldry services.
Family jewels, signet rings, badges of rank, sashes.
Birthmark tattoo kits for offspring.
Illustrious ancestors.
Yatchs and limos.
Family atomics? or is that pushing it?

 

[Timerover51]

Timerover is neglecting two seldom mentioned but important additional duties of the kings of arms and their pursuivants: tracking the genealogies and inheritors, and reporting on the number, types, quality, status, and insignias for household troops.

I sort of touched on those with the question of "heir-apparent", but those would be major issues as well. In another thread, I mentioned that one headache for the sub-sector duke and sector duke was going to be determining who ran things while the heir-apparent was located, notified, and returned. Allowing for communication speed and travel time, that could take a year or two.

As I said, the list was not exhaustive.

 

[aramis]

I sort of touched on those with the question of "heir-apparent", but those would be major issues as well. In another thread, I mentioned that one headache for the sub-sector duke and sector duke was going to be determining who ran things while the heir-apparent was located, notified, and returned. Allowing for communication speed and travel time, that could take a year or two.

As I said, the list was not exhaustive.

Heraldy is a particular interest.

As for who runs the See?
If there is an heir-designate, then the heir-designate, aided by the seneschal.
If no heir-designate, then the heir-presumptive, aided by the seneschal.
If no heir-presumptive, then the seneschal as regent interregnum.
If the heir is incompetent, then the seneschal as regent.

The castellans for each fief continue until the new lord is confirmed...
...at which point, all bets are off for them. They might have posthumous instructions, tho.

Given that authority within the see is limited sharply, but within the fief it is word of law, I would expect the regent or regent-heir to be unable to legislate, merely report. And the Castellans to be accountable...

But given some of the interesting collections we have seen Marc As Strephon sed out... the confirmation would reach the primary fief before notice of death reached others. Castellans could easily find themselves presented with triple notice: death of the noble, confirmation of the heir, and replacement as castellan.

 

[Chris Barlow]

Timerover is neglecting two seldom mentioned but important additional duties of the kings of arms and their pursuivants: tracking the genealogies and inheritors, and reporting on the number, types, quality, status, and insignias for household troops.

If the Third Imperium is anything like medieval Europe one major duty of the King of Arms and his/her Pursuivants will be checking that those families or individuals claiming to be members of the nobility, were actually members of the nobility. and not just rich or powerful individuals trying to boss around their neighbours. An interesting scenario would be a group of players hired to guard a Pursuivant who is investigating a suspected fake claim to nobility. Such investigations can take weeks, during which time fatal "accidents" can easily happen. Even better a subsector Duke can hire the players as temporary Pursuivants to investigate a suspects fake claim, but forgets to mention the previous Pursuivant investigating the claim to nobility, suffered a fatal accident or disappeared with trace.