(02-03-2017, 05:23 PM)Solenne Wrote: If you want to play an Ishgardian noble, your choices are vicount or baron. There are also counts in Ishgard, but only four of them, and we already know who they are. The higher real-world French ranks of marquis and duke don't exist in Ishgard, or anywhere else in Eorzea, seemingly.
(02-03-2017, 06:34 PM)Amnesic Wrote: The "Isles" are not exactly really anything but flavor with a little bit homage to how he obtained his fortune; the title of Duke and Marquis are entirely made up by him and serve only to enhance his appearance to the public.
Your story, even down to the name of your Duke, actually reminds me of an actual existing npc and his story from the 1.0 version of the game. It gave me a good laugh the first time I read through this. Allow me to introduce to you, Ishgard's Duke Brett V:
Dream a Little Bream Wrote:As he does once every moon, Ishgardian noble Duke Brett V will soon be arriving in Limsa Lominsa to conduct a routine inspection of the many export and import warehouses he maintains in the thalassocracy. And, as always, he has requested the Bismarck to prepare three servings of his favorite dish, braised bream with aurelia cream sauce, for each day of his one-week stay. To prepare for this unorthodox order, the Culinarians' Guild is seeking adventurers to travel to Bloodshore and procure several of the extra plump Bianaq bream that the duke craves.
Corvinoobus Wrote:Before this speculation continues further, I must share with you certain developments regarding the man once known as "Duke Brett V."
The structure of Ishgardian nobility is not widely known, especially in lands so distant as Limsa Lominsa. Moreover, given the nature of Lominsan society, even well-to-do merchants may know little of such things. So it was that a lowborn Ishgardian, who through a series of events fortuitous and fantastic had built a profitable import and export concern, affected the trappings of nobility and convinced his peers in Limsa Lominsa that he was the esteemed "Duke Brett V."
Why he felt the need to adopt such a guise is anyone's guess, as his numerous eccentricities were met with widespread bemusement. Indeed, it was his penchant for ordering the same unusual dish every moon at the Bismarck that proved his undoing, as during one such visit he was confronted by traveling scholar, who declared with authority, "There's no such thing as an Ishgardian duke!"
The "Duke" has since grown rather reclusive, as one might expect, and his tale is now largely forgotten. Yet on occasion, in certain corners of Limsa Lominsa, in response to a dubious claim, some locals are heard to exclaim, "Hah! And I'm an Ishgardian duke!"
My personal pet theory is that the reclusive resident of The Hermit's Hovel in outer La Noscea is the selfsame "Duke" Brett V. No evidence of course, but I think it'd be a fantastic throwback if they ever did implement a quest for it. Most people miss it, but there's actually a subtle nod to our good Duke Brett in the 3.0 Hildibrand questline wherein our expressive investigator knocks over a priceless antique vase that reportedly once graced the house of an Ishgardian "Duke."
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(02-03-2017, 05:23 PM)Solenne Wrote: Note also that Ishgard is the only city-state we know of that has a true nobility. Gridania seems to have a class of important people who get their own little part of the city to live in (I refer to them as the gentry for lack of a better term), but the city is governed by the Seedseers. Ul'dah is a sultanate, but the wealthy and powerful people there are the monetarists. Limsa Lominsa is led by an Admiral, so the closest thing to a noble class there would be naval officers, I suspect.
Beastmen are considered subhuman by most Eorzeans. And note also that we don't have any idea whether these tribes even have written languages.
(02-03-2017, 06:34 PM)Amnesic Wrote: On the terms of beastmen languages, I know that at least Amaljic language is written because I remember there being a step of a quest where you have to get someone to translate for you. In the meantime, I need to find myself some information on the various aristocracies.
A few things. Ishgard has(had) a more traditional version of nobility, but it was far from the only place which had nobles. Ul'dah, for example, has nobility by royal bloodlines and merchant empires who gain nobility through affluence. Gridania possesses a gentry, or psuedo nobility, but beyond the Padjal and exceptional individuals it's not immediately clear who this gentry includes. Limsa Lominsa has self-styled Pirate Kings, but no true nobility as the people firmly believe in personal freedoms and that no one person's blood runs redder than the rest.
As for the beastmen languages, we do actually have solid evidence that at least three (Amalj'aa, Sahagin, Moogles) have their own written language, with lore which strongly suggests that the Ixal and Vanu also have their own written languages also. As for how Eorzeans view the beast tribes, that depends greatly on where they're from and which beast tribe. For example, Lominsans are friendly and accepting with most beastmen (Qiqirn, Goblins, Mamool Ja, and kobolds at one point) and are only bent towards war with the Sahagin. Ul'dah, on the other hand, has a sultanate decree banning all beastmen from the city-state. Whereas Gridania is somewhere between. They have amicable relations with the Sylphs and Goblins, but so much as treating a wounded Ixal is grounds for exile from the sylvan city-state.
In any case, here's a few links that answer the above in greater detail:
-Bellworks FC's Ishgardian Nobility and Title Lore Compilation
-Lore Overview on Eorzean Nobility
-Languages of Hydaelyn Lore Compilation
Hope this helps! ^^
