The duchies do answer to Lithmore, but it isn't and shouldn't be as simple as that. In fact, we would be pleased to see this politicking within the duchy of lithmore as well, but it is harder for staff to track and represent individual domains, so we rely on player interactions there more.
Feudalism works because it is an agreement among many different people. The dukes hold their positions through the grace of Dav and in return, they have much leeway and leadership in their own lands. In return, Dav has much power because they agree that they answer to him. Once the domain is established, he no longer has the leverage of "I just defeated you. " Instead it relies on the agreement made and the duke's willingness to continue to uphold it. As long as Lithmore keeps up its end of the deal and doesn't infringe on the duke's ability to control his own duchy, it is probably in the duchy's best interest to uphold their end of the deal - especially if all of the other duchies are still upholding their own and giving him support. Together they could easily smash the rebellious duchy, if it came to it. However, the king can't just smash the duchy at will. His power is that the other duchies still think they are better off supporting him, and it is not to their benefit that he thinks he can just get rid of any of them while they are being good.
Similarly, stripping the title of any noble is a very big deal, because if the majority of other nobles don't believe it should be done, it is a direct threat to their own positions. If the king can strip titles at will, their own is not safe. And remember, his only power comes the majority of them agreeing he has it.
Thematic Clarification
Temi and Kinaed obviously are the authorities in this issue, but I wanted to offer my two bits:
There is also the issue that (According to how I read the Help files I could be wrong) The crown can't just say, "Beatrix, you have been a naughty girl you are no longer a Duchess."
According to "help ducal authority" and "help council of three" dukes and duchesses are insulated from secular law. Now if Loran, Ianka, and Cameron all want to slap Beatrix around, they could, but then they risk being slapped around themselves if they ever get a council called on them.
On top of that you have the baronial council which also makes some recommendations and, if enough barons and counts wanted to raise a fuss they could make things get messy in a hurry.
Is it a republic? No. Nor is it a dictatorship and it is very political. Nobles have many tools at getting their way, or at least making things uncomfortable for everyone else.
There is also the issue that (According to how I read the Help files I could be wrong) The crown can't just say, "Beatrix, you have been a naughty girl you are no longer a Duchess."
According to "help ducal authority" and "help council of three" dukes and duchesses are insulated from secular law. Now if Loran, Ianka, and Cameron all want to slap Beatrix around, they could, but then they risk being slapped around themselves if they ever get a council called on them.
On top of that you have the baronial council which also makes some recommendations and, if enough barons and counts wanted to raise a fuss they could make things get messy in a hurry.
Is it a republic? No. Nor is it a dictatorship and it is very political. Nobles have many tools at getting their way, or at least making things uncomfortable for everyone else.
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Mika
I like what Kin said about power being nuanced.
Historically, trying to muscle your subjects into being happy with their subjugation does not end well for a ruler - it's like yelling at someone who's sad in order to try to make them stop crying; at best it'll make them cry harder and at worst they'll hit you or run away. Similarly, words from the crown's representatives mean little if your vassals don't trust you'll follow through, and you can't force someone to feel appeased. There's a lot of religious brainwashing, sure, but no amount of that will guarantee that a follower will stay quiet if they're malcontent, threatened, or suffering.
Historically, trying to muscle your subjects into being happy with their subjugation does not end well for a ruler - it's like yelling at someone who's sad in order to try to make them stop crying; at best it'll make them cry harder and at worst they'll hit you or run away. Similarly, words from the crown's representatives mean little if your vassals don't trust you'll follow through, and you can't force someone to feel appeased. There's a lot of religious brainwashing, sure, but no amount of that will guarantee that a follower will stay quiet if they're malcontent, threatened, or suffering.
Yep! This is part of the agreements that date back to Dav's time that I was talking about. Obviously, the King/Queen/Regent -could- do stuff regardless, but it invalidates these feudal agreements that are in place and makes their position very tenuous. People don't like to work with people who have shown not to uphold their ends of the deal.Gerolf wrote:There is also the issue that (According to how I read the Help files I could be wrong) The crown can't just say, "Beatrix, you have been a naughty girl you are no longer a Duchess."
According to "help ducal authority" and "help council of three" dukes and duchesses are insulated from secular law. Now if Loran, Ianka, and Cameron all want to slap Beatrix around, they could, but then they risk being slapped around themselves if they ever get a council called on them.
It's intended that noble politics not be all about listening to whatever the ruler says, and that's never been our intended theme, as that just isn't much fun for anyone, including said ruler!
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