Oseudan Imperial Peerage

The practice of Oseudan Imperial Peerage refers to a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the Oseuda Empire, which constitute the ranks of Oseudan nobility. The term is used both collectively to refer to the entire body of noble titles (or a subdivision thereof), and individually to refer to a specific title (and generally has an initial capital in the former case and not the latter). The holder of a peerage is termed a peer.

The Empress is considered the origin of honor, and as "the holder of the Divine Writ of Empire cannot herself hold a peerage." If an individual is neither the Empress nor a peer, they are a commoner. Members of a peer's family who are not themselves peers are also commoners.

Titles
The highest echelon of peer is represented by their physical proximity to the Empress herself, and are permitted to stand within her aura for brief periods of time without reprisal. Members of this peerage are styled Lady Uchigama or Lord Uchigama, followed by their last name.

Privileges and Responsibilities
Lords and Ladies Uchigawa do not directly hold land, but are accorded the respect of the Empress as ototte dai ichi or 'first among lessers'. As ototte dai ichi, members of the lesser Courts swear direct fealty to Lords or Ladies Uchigawa, who in turn swear fealty to the Empress and her family.

Lords and Ladies Uchigawa are expected to attend all formal Court functions without exception. In cases of great personal distress or discomfort, a proxy may be appointed and dispatched in their stead, though this results in moderate loss of honor each time it is done. Failure to appear and to dispatch a proxy results in immediate forfeiture of titles and privileges and may also result in additional penalties if done intentionally.

Lords and Ladies Uchigawa are permitted to wear the paired blades of daisho, a katana and a wakizashi. Those who do, however, are expected to respond to matters of Court defense as well as matters of personal honor (i.e. challenges to honor duels).

Lords and Ladies Uchigawa are permitted to approach within the aura of the Empress and remain therein for an indefinite period of time, so long as conversation remains topical to the matter being discussed.

Lords and Ladies Uchigawa are allowed to meet the gaze of the Empress for a span of six heartbeats no more than once per Court appearance. They may also meet and hold the gaze of members of the Imperial family for an indefinite period of time, or as long as may be considered personally polite while engaging the individual in conversation.

Tokoro Ni - The Outer Court
The second highest echelon - tokoro ni, 'literally out of sight' - of peerage is represented by their absence from the daily functions of court.