(11-09-2016, 08:54 AM)Lucius Ignatius Wrote: Interesting... what would one of a noble house have as a middle-rank then? Or would it fall to what the characters profession is in combat or trade, perhaps? Sorry if its a silly question. @-@
The Imperial titles seems to have more to do with with one's function in the empire rather than any for of heredity. Nael was a legatus and of House Darnus, hence Nael van Darnus. Cid's father was a highly regarded and important magitek engineer. The exception here is the imperial family, but even this makes sense to a degree. Zos for the emperor, Yae effectively means something like crown prince, and Wir is for imperial family not in direct line of succession.Â
A similar fictional system exists in ASOIAF with the Targaryens. All Targaryens are princes, but only some Targaryens are in line for the throne. A primary example there would be Prince Aemon the Dragon Knight. Aemon is a Targaryen prince, but unable to be in line for the throne due to his status as a knight of the Kingsguard.Â
We can safely speculate that a similar situation exists here, if somewhat modified. Particularly with the reveal that Zelos yae Galvus is the replacement governor of Ala Mhigo. They are both of the imperial family and in the line of succession for the throne. They are also the legatus of a legion, but I am guessing that whole "crowned prince" status overwrites the van title. Incidentally, the fact that this dude IS a crowned imperial prince and we are supposed to deal with them to free Ala Mhigo just SCREAMS trap to me. Like super big, we are about to be invaded trap.
