War Plan Against the Orc Pantheon

"Her Majesty Ayesha, continuation of the noble bloodline of the ancient Shaan Dynasty, Empress of all Calimshan and Tethyr, Empress of the great Sword Coast Empire—and her daughter, Imperial Heir and First Princess, Her Highness Princess Annie, have arrived!"

As the attendant announced that string of titles in a clear, ringing voice, the young mother and daughter, both dressed in splendid attire, slowly entered under the gaze of countless eyes.

Whether they were the Empire's chief ministers, great nobles, and high-ranking officials wielding real power, or invited wealthy merchants, envoys from other nations and city-states, and representatives of major temples, every one of them bowed in greeting.

Clearly, according to Faerûn's long-standing traditions, when two vast nations like the Sword Coast Empire were united through marriage, the husband and wife should hold equal status and share power.

Take Ayesha as an example. Besides being the Empire's Empress, she was also the Empress of Calimshan's Shaan Dynasty. That title would not vanish because of marriage and would eventually be passed down to her children.

Many times, Faerûn's vast array of noble titles and ranks were less simple symbols of status than representations of property.

Soros's full title, for example, was Emperor of the Sword Coast Empire, Sovereign of Amn, Conqueror of Luskan, Grand Duke of Baldur's Gate, Lord of Dragonspear Castle, Liberator of the Western Heartlands and Dragon Coast, Protector of the Northland, Master of Alaor Province and the Nelanther Isles, and so on.

To modern eyes, all those messy titles could easily have been summed up with the first one: Emperor of the Sword Coast Empire.

But in the eyes of Faerûn's people, not a single one could be omitted.

Because every title corresponded to a piece of land. Without it, one would lose the legitimate claim and right to