Clearly we're caught between two distinct branches of thought: Mechanical Uniformity and Organic Decentralization. Both have unique merits and vulnerabilities.
It may seem innocuous but experience has shown many a veteran how titles carry meaning and intent beyond conscious design. Clever minds can and will use every tool, situation, and word at their disposal to uplift or denounce the veracity, influence, and reputation of said titles. Sometimes these clever word-games become canon; whether foreign or domestic.
For example, note the complex attitudes, widespread rumors, mythical legends, spiteful foreign propaganda, and domestic humor that resulted from the "Lich-Queen" bit about Xerarch Selenia JeVondair of Xavax. A single word, "Lich", which continues to evolve and be applied in numerous ways to both deify and slander a woman, a culture, a people, and now, one of the realms they inhabit. Its truly quite genius, and a hallmark of roleplayers' skill in propagandist wordplay. There's a reason why many modern-day intelligence agents are Dungeons & Dragons types rather than your stereotypical buff bravado-filled spy novel protag/antag. The ability to communicate complex ideas custom-tailored to the viewer's perspective is a powerful tool... Arguably the most powerful tool in the arsenal of Humankind.
In many ways our choice defines both perspective and behavior for generations to come.
Do we strive for a more orderly centralized federalist approach with uniform titles, ranks, and methodology?
Or do we purposely infuse our factions with individual flair, variable personality, and deviation from the norm?
It all depends on our long-term goals according to the vision of both the Faith/realm's Founders and the successive generations of character personalities who call it their own.
I'd love to look back at this thread a year-or-three from now and see how it all played out! Xavax was one hell of a psychological experiment and look how that turned out. JV and I used every trick in the book, and I personally spent long nights researching potential additions to the Xavax concept and its proposed off-shoot sub-realms. (which never came to be, unfortunately.) Every vital mechanism of early Xavax was discussed both publicly and privately, IC and OOC, with various individuals and factions who each presented and preferred alternate proposals of cultural, religious, and strategic identity. Despite quite a few purposeful handicaps thrown in for good measure, (because a perfect template is the opposite of entertaining!) our fun little thought-project turned into a long-standing militant theo-culture that people alternately love-hate across the continents - a tale of strife and betrayal, vision and passion, expansion and isolation, brotherhood and rivalry, and so much more. Despite starting Xavax as a sneaky way to build a multi-party storyboard for a story I was writing, it evolved into so much more than I - or likely JV - had ever dreamed.
I have absolutely no doubt that Obia'Syela will achieve such a level of infamy and complexity, if not more.
"Love us er hate us, our name's on the tip o' yer tongue... And 'at is the greatest honor you can b'stow upon our people. Thank you for thinking of us all these years. Friend or foe, we wouldn't have made it without you."
