Barovian nobility

[Zwickelfaust]

I was wondering, is there a title for standard Barovian nobility? Like a Dame, or duke, or Dutchess?

[DM Vinculum]

For the most part the closest thing to true nobility in terms of function and status in Barovia would be the Burgomeisters. With few exceptions (such as the Wachter and von Zarovich) Barovia lacks the functioning caste system one finds in other domains. Strahd owns everything and his authority is absolute albeit usually absentee. Instead it has a number of well off, untitled aristocratic families such as the Romulich.

[Exordium]

Burgomasters and Boyars are the titles for the caste underneath Strahd. As Vinculum says, they are full subjects of Strahd. Typically Strahd doesn't interface in daily matters though, so most of the time they are practically autonomous in regards of ruling their appointed lands.

Burgomasters (mayors) are typically the titles for rulers of towns while boyars (akin to barons I suppose) tend to rule castles, forts or otherwise very rural regions. They are simply called "Burgomasters" or "Boyars".

Likely due to the low population count, there's no real layer of rulership under Burgomasters/Boyars - such would simply not be necessary. There are some minor nobles, but they have no real power nor any special rights associated with their titles. If a PC wanted to play a minor Barovian noble, it could be say, the daughter of an orchard owner whose grand-cousin is a boyar of some remote region, but there'd be no legal nor much cultural entitlement associated with the inheritance.

[EO]

Here's what the Gaz has to say about this:

The following centuries were characterized by growing despotism, as Strahd's heirs (more thoughts on these so-called "heirs" later) seized authority from the nobles and concentrated it in their own hands.

True nobles are vanishing creatures in Barovia, and none of Barovia's ancient families but the von Zaroviches still hold land. The Count is the master of all, and the modern aristocracy consists of his duly appointed burgomasters and boyars. Though they occasionally serve in these roles, the old families - the Buchvolds, Ivilskovas, Katskys, Petrovnas, Romuliches, Trikskys, Velikovnas, Wachters, and innumerable others - are slowly dying out. Their glories have faded, their gold has dwindled, and their sons and daughters have scattered to the corners of the world. The exception is, of course, the Dilisnyas, who through twists of cuckoldry and treachery managed to establish their own realm in Borca.

There are no private academies for even the wealthiest nobles or merchants, who provide their children with tutors or send them to schools in Borca or Richemulot.

While Strahd must marry a noblewoman to carry on his lineage, few women of station remain in Barovia, and no foreign brides have evidently yet met with his approval. Of course, it is rumored that the Count, like his "predecessors," harbors an unquenchable lust for commoner women; young peasant beauties tremble with fear whenever Strahd's name is mentioned.

[Exordium]

Additionally what goes to titles, if your character did want to show particular respect towards someone with perceived difference of status or wealth, I imagine it'd be by such niceties as "dumneata" ("thy lordship") which has historically been used in Romania. See: T-V distinction in Romanian.

Any simple, non-noble-sounding English addressing terms, such as "Holder" for an orchard keeper, may also work. I imagine that most of the time Barovians wouldn't be very big on these, though.

[APorg]

I was wondering, is there a title for standard Barovian nobility? Like a Dame, or duke, or Dutchess?

Keep in mind that Duke is technically higher than Count, so someone claiming Dukedom in Barovia is claiming to be higher than the Count 0.0

In a normal realm you'd have an ecology of nobles below the Count rank -- Barons, Baronets, that sort of thing -- but as others have said, in Barovia this has essentially been purged by Strahd (since traditionally all threats to the aristocracy come from the aristocrats beneath them) and replaced by Boyars and Burgomasters, who are essentially appointed bureaucrats rather than proper titled nobility.

But then, remember that Barovia is very small compared to "proper" feudal realms.

[TheGrinningHound]

Baron, Baronet, Knight, Patrician, Esquire. Junker, maybe.

If you think in terms of how you acquired the nobility, you'll be better off for determining what the title would be (With Count being a limit, of course). For instance, was it hereditary? Does the noble possess or look-over land holdings? Was it an honorary or awarded title? Consider also that there are other esteemed roles that circle around nobility-- such as councilmen, courtiers, stewards, squires, chancellors, seneschal, and heralds.

If you're worried about taking a noble position due to the size and 'rank' cap in Barovia, you might enjoy considering the honorary, courtly positions too.

[Arawn]

If you're worried about taking a noble position due to the size and 'rank' cap in Barovia, you might enjoy considering the honorary, courtly positions too.

The only issue with this is that representing your character as possessing allegiances, resources, or allies that are not bestowed by a DM would be cheesing, and a relationship which would thus depend on an off-screen NPC falls under this rule.

[Zwickelfaust]

Well, it's an AMPC. I just was curious for the sake of adding flavor.

[HellsPanda]

You can not be a noble, that has been determined before. The closest thing could be part of a failed/weak merchant family

[herkles]

Couldn't you be from a noble family from before the nobles were wiped out/Lost power?

[MAB77]

Couldn't you be from a noble family from before the nobles were wiped out/Lost power?

It would require your noble to be a couple centuries old. That being said, maybe you could work out something with the DMs for a character being a distant relative of the Ionelus or Wachter families. You start as broke and title-less as any other bloke, but acquiring a position of respect within one of those households and some sort of title may be the goal of the character.

[herkles]

Couldn't you be from a noble family from before the nobles were wiped out/Lost power?

It would require your noble to be a couple centuries old. That being said, maybe you could work out something with the DMs for a character being a distant relative of the Ionelus or Wachter families. You start as broke and title-less as any other bloke, but acquiring a position of respect within one of those households and some sort of title may be the goal of the character.

yes, but this is for an aMPC wight or vampire if I am not mistaken for NCE

[MAB77]

Well then you're knocking on the wrong door. Fill an application form and see what the CC tells you.

[Zwickelfaust]

Well, She has no idea what her name was, or her family ties. Only that she is wealthy and was once nobility. She carries herself like she still has power, but she has none of the resources and political pull. I'm not going into more detail, I don't want to spoil anything. The whole point of the query was for the title alone, not the power that comes with it. She has no power at all, nor will she.

[Geiger]

Well then you're knocking on the wrong door. Fill an application form and see what the CC tells you.

The CC does not do this.

We only vote on applications for subrace and prestige class.

[DM Vinculum]

We do not allow players to create a Barovian character with a noble background. AMPC, it's not impossible but not likely...you can submit an application and see what happens.

[Zwickelfaust]

   She has no idea who she was though. What her name one was, will never be known. The only thing suggesting that she was once noble is her personality and looks. She's more or less just wealthy and not a "True" noble in the sense. Only her personality and appearance suggests who she was.

[MAB77]

Well then you're knocking on the wrong door. Fill an application form and see what the CC tells you.

The CC does not do this.

We only vote on applications for subrace and prestige class.

My mistake I meant the DMs, sorry.