#LONG POST WHEEE thanks for this ask... it was fun to draw for

[broncoburro]

I'm curious about the nobility in Vestur! What-all are the different kinds of noble titles? Since the Gift is hereditary, how are illegitimate children treated? Since relics get passed down, do nobles in the same line usually conduct the same kinds of meur?

What-all are the different kinds of noble titles?

A midland illustration from the 1500s, meant to demonstrate for children that nobility is in service of the commoner. It depicts a fantastical act in which the lord conducts blue meur to forms a river, signifying ownership over the land. The viscount then nourishes the earth with green meur, so the commoner may grow food for all.

While Vestur is ahead of much the world in the realms of standard of living and technology, the social order is antiquated compared to other contemporary nations. Vestur still functions on something of a feudal system. There are only three ranks in the noble hierarchy, with little socialmobility except through marriage.

The Tri-Kingdom is an alliance of three sovereign kingdoms, each of which are headed by a Monarch: an Archduke/Archduchess, or High King/Queen if occupying the High Throne. Vestur’s Monarchs are absolute rulers, with ultimate executive, judicial, and legislative power. Of course, in the modern day such authority is wielded with a cautious hand, and a monarch will often defer to the expertise of various councils rather than rule by his own intuition alone. The High King may override the word of an archduke or archduchess in especially perilous situations, or regarding matters of the meur economy, but they are (theoretically...) considered equal on all other matters and in full control of their respective kingdoms. The son or daughter of a Monarch are referred to as Duke/Duchess, or Prince/Princess.

A Lord or Lady of the Land holds authority over a specific territory, or lordship. Lords oversee the appointment of viscounts within their province, collect taxes, and whatever other administrative tasks their land might need. They are ultimately beholden to their kingdom's Monarch, but are given the freedom to define local laws and run their own courts (so long as the offense doesn't involve another lordship or kingdom). The son or daughter of a lord/lady are referred to as Master or Mistress.

Both monarchs and lords pass their title by blood, following primogeniture-esque laws of succession. Eldest son is the preferred heir, of course, but in absence of any suitable men, a seat of power will turn to the brothers of the current monarch/lord. Technically, a daughter can claim right to succession if her family has no sons, though this is a politically risky move and she may face consequence for it should she "steal" power from a more popular relative in doing so.

The final noble title is the only one not to follow this system of succession:

Viscounts/Viscountesses are an appointed title, and culturally thought to be one you “earn.” In reality, if your mother or father holds a viscount title, it's extremely likely you will be granted one as well. Appointments are given based on a meur-related service the viscount can provide to his/her lordship. One viscount may provide green meur based soil enrichment to a specific town. Another may own the local quern, powered by a blue meur water wheel. viscountry is largely seen as the reward for fulfilling your pledge. To compare with the real world, if taking your pledge is like receiving your university degree, viscountry means you’ve established a career with that degree.

There are untitled nobles as well, but that’s... an embarrassing role to occupy socially, and one assumed to be caused by being too lazy or inept to be appointed a viscount title. In reality, there are many reasons someone might be untitled: They might not own gloves - the visual mark of nobility, and without which performing meur in public is illegal (and a grievous, heretical insult to The Architect, according to men of faith). They might be from a fallen family and unable to afford a relic. And some may, for personal reasons, choose not to use their gift at all.

Since the Gift is hereditary, how are illegitimate children treated?

Prince Lucas chose specifically to read law under and clerk for Mr. Beiric, who challenged the Crown on the eligibility of bastards to VRMA. Beiric was born to a common mother, but sired by a noble father. Though too old to attend VRMA after his landmark win, he received an honorary conductor’s pendant. (Black, signifying he is not allowed to conduct at all.)

“Half-common bastards” (as the lovely people of Vestur call them) are considered nobility, but this is a twenty year old development. The scientific “realization” that The Gift doesn’t get diluted or lessened by having only one noble parent is less than a century old. It took the courts some time to catch up.

But... the outlook of a bastard attending the Vestur Royal Military Academy isn’t great. While the school has loaner gloves, unless the noble parent or some benevolent benefactor is willing to give a pair of priceless unicorn hide gloves to the illegitimate child, they could never be able to conduct meur legally post-graduation. Most noble families guard their gloves jealously, and few would deign to waste them on a “mistake.”

Do nobles in the same line usually conduct the same kinds of meur?

It depends on the family whether or not they tend towards one kind of conduction. Some have a generational reputation to uphold, or possess a famed historic relic.

Among old white conductor families, the pressure is immense. White meur is famously the hardest pledge to take, requiring an aptitude exam and an extra two years of education after graduation from VRMA. Those who fail the aptitude exam must shamefully pick a second option. (Drawn by @lsdoiphin!)

Tradition aside, relics are expensive, even for nobility; some families conduct one color for financial reasons rather than upholding a legacy. If dad’s old hand-me-down blue relic is all you can ever hope to afford... you're going to take a blue pledge and become a blue conductor.

But no one is forced to take a specific pledge, legally speaking. Everyone is free to choose their own pledge/conduction specialty at the end of their education... so long as they can live with the consequence.

[froggiedog]

Wheee thanks for the tag @sk8intoinfinity! I haven't done tag games in so long it's fun to be able to do them again

1. Why did you choose your url?

It's changed a few times over the years, but I've settled on this finally because I like frogs, I also like dogs, and it sounds cute and rolls off the tongue easily enough. I like simple, easy-to-remember usernames.

2. any side blogs? if you have them, name them and why you have them.

I have an art inspiration sideblog where I just reblog art I'm particularly influenced by! I also have a handful of ancient rp blogs that have been abandoned and are gathering dust.

3. how long have you been on tumblr?

Since 2013 I think...? So like 7 years. Maybe 8.

4. do you have a queue tag?

Nah I ain't got time for scheduling shit, you get all my bullshit all at once

5. why did you start your blog in the first place?

This technically started out as another rp blog, never ended up using it, and then I wanted a main blog and already had this empty one set up so I turned it into a main! Now I live here and it's everyone else's problem.

6. why did you choose your icon/pfp?

It's art of an OC's pet of a previous partner of mine's, and I've had it for a very long time. I should probably change it, but I'm a bit sentimental about it. Again, I've had it for a very long time, I think I'd confuse a lot of people if I changed it.

7. why did you choose your header?

I also really need to change that, I grabbed a random photo of deer cus I like deer, and was too lazy to find something better, and it never changed. I wanna draw a cute lil' lilypad scene for it instead at some point.

8. which post of yours has the most notes?

This post I entirely forgot about 😭

9. how many mutuals do you have?

Oh dude I have NO idea. I suppose I could go count, but I'm too lazy.

10. how many followers do you have?

430

11. how many people do you follow?

435

12. have you ever made a shitpost?

Uhhhh I don't think so?

13. how often do you use tumblr?

Every day, baybee.

14. did you have a fight/argument with another blog once? who won?

Not that I recall? Nothing that's been hashed out in public all over everyone else's dashboard.

15. how do you feel about 'you need to compare this' posts?

I don't know what this is.

16. do you like tag games?

I do!

17. do you like ask games?

Yeah, but I never reblog any bc I don't expect to get any questions ;w;

18. which one of your mutuals do you think is tumblr famous?

pbtbtp I'd have no idea, probably @buzzcutseasonart?

19. do you have a crush on a mutual?

No.

20. tags: No pressure! @dragon-nauts @vampire-named-gampire @tearezicryrope @resident-of-remnant @twevara

— 𝐭𝐚𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞.

tagged by — @hyuckefi thank you <33

1. why did you choose your url?

i had just found out that the danish word for lion is løve. then out of curiosity, i looked up more lion-related words in the language and came across løvinde, which means lioness, so i just took out the i. also it’s perfect bc i’ve been associated with lions all my life. it’s basically a personality trait at this point.

2. any side blogs? if you have them, name them and why you have them.

this is my only sideblog actually. @mfsln is my main hoe. it’s more of just a personal blog with lots of scattered interests + shitposts.

3. how long have you been on tumblr?

i’ve been here on a diff acc before, but i won’t say when i made it. i decided to make a new acc (which is the one you’re currently seeing) and start anew feb of this year! tho i only started writing around this april

4. do you have a queue tag?

none as of right now, but i might eventually

5. why did you start your blog in the first place?

i was just really unhappy with my old blog

6. why did you choose your icon/pfp?

chaeyoung is one of the lomls and it fit the cottagecore theme i was going for

7. why did you choose your header?

it just went with my theme, no special reason

8. which post of yours has the most notes?

the ‘little ways nct dream show you they love you’ headcanon

9. how many mutuals do you have?

gosh i’ve got no clue 20-30 i’m guessing

10. how many followers do you have?

108 i think

11. how many people do you follow?

97 is that even a lot ?

12. have you ever made a shitpost?

i think the real question is, who hasn’t?

13. how often do you use tumblr?

three ish hours a day maybe

14. did you have a fight/argument with another blog once? who won?

nope but if i did i most definitely would’ve won ;)

15. how do you feel about 'you need to compare this’ posts?

i have no idea what those are lmao

16. do you like tag games?

so, so much

17. do you like ask games?

yes! planning to have one here soon

18. which one of your mutuals do you think is tumblr famous?

prolly @/soleilsuhh :>

19. do you have a crush on a mutual?

that’s a secret hehe but also i don’t crush on ppl easily

20. tags:

@hwiseungs @perhapsthanatos @wonciel @ikigaicoeur + whoever wants to do it as well!!