Vassals

A group of vassals following their Marshall.

A vassal is a servant of a ruler, and are usually lords of castles and villages. There are many vassals in the game, each one aligned to a certain faction. The player can become a vassal by swearing an oath to a king or by marrying into the family of one of his vassals.

When swearing an oath to a king, the king will bestow upon the vassal a fief, which will be the current poorest village in the faction's territory. You will also be given the option to choose a Banner, if you don't already have one.

Breaking your oath will result in a large drop of honor and relation, as well as making enemies with all of your previous faction. They can be restored if you want to be friends with them again by allying with another faction, however your honor will stay the same.

In Warband, the player can create their own kingdom and give vassalage to their companions, thus allowing them to have their own army.

Titles

All vassals held the title of "Lord" in classic Mount&Blade, however Warband gave the various factions different titles.

Faction	Title	Placement	Meaning
Khergit Khanate	Noyan	After name	Mongolian: Commander/Gentleman
Kingdom of Nords	Jarl	Before name	Old Norse-derived: Chieftain
Kingdom of Rhodoks	Count	Before name	A particular high-ranking European noble title
Kingdom of Swadia	Count	Before name	A particular high-ranking European noble title
Sarranid Sultanate	Emir	Before name	Arabic: Commander/Prince/High-ranking Sheikh
Kingdom of Vaegirs	Boyar	Before name	Russian/Ukrainian/Romanian/Bulgarian: Commander/aristocrat
Player kingdom	Lord	Before name	A person of authority

With Fire & Sword expanded on titles, giving various titles even within the same Nation.

Nation	Title	Placement	Meaning
Crimean Khanate	Bey	After name	Turkic: Chieftain
Crimean Khanate	Khan	After name	Turkic: Military ruler
Crimean Khanate	Mirza	Before name	Turkic: Prince
Crimean Khanate	Pasha	After name	Turkic: Lord
Cossack Hetmanate	Army Chief	Before name	-
Cossack Hetmanate	Colonel	Before name	Senior military officer below general
Cossack Hetmanate	Company Commander	Before name	Commanding officer of a "company"
Kingdom of Sweden	Baron	Before name	Title of nobility
Kingdom of Sweden	Elector	Before name	Member of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire
Kingdom of Sweden	General	Before name	High-ranking officer
Kingdom of Sweden	Governor	Before name	An executive official
Kingdom of Sweden	Governor-General	Before name	An official representing the monarch in an independent territory
Kingdom of Sweden	Ratsherr	Before name	German: Councilor
Muscovite Tsardom	Chief	Before name	Supreme military commander (Ataman)
Muscovite Tsardom	Prince	Before name	A hereditary title of nobility
Muscovite Tsardom	Noble	Before name	A person of nobility
Muscovite Tsardom	Warlord	Before name	A person with civil and military control over an area
Polish Commonwealth	Colonel	Before name	Senior military officer below general
Polish Commonwealth	Cornet	Before name	Cavalry officer
Polish Commonwealth	Hetman	Before name	Polish: General
Polish Commonwealth	Prince	Before name	A hereditary title of nobility
Polish Commonwealth	Warlord	Before name	A person with civil and military control over an area

Houses of vassals

Some vassals are in a family of others (Warband only). If you intend to make a syndicate of vassals, it is highly recommended to find the oldest vassal and set him as standard, as he will have many sons, nephews, and sons-in-law who are vassals too.

Note that certain members of family are randomized at the beginning of a new game. Only the younger vassals' parents and siblings, and the older vassals' spouse and children are not randomized.

Vassals in the same family will...

• Not try to denounce, indict, or attack each other.
• Ask players for help when one of them is captured.
• Pressure or support romance of player and a lady, if the lady is member of that family.
• Try to denounce other families aggressively.

Romance of vassals

You are not the only person dealing with courtships. Unmarried vassals will meet with ladies and occasionally marry them.

If you have a contender in romance and you don't want to lose, you can:

• Duel with him.
• Damage his renown, or indict treason.
• Gain more renown and become a more competent groom.

Note that above ways will damage your relationship with that vassal, resulting in damage to your kingdom.

Realigning

Sometimes, a vassal will change their alignment if:

• Their kingdom is defeated and they have nowhere to go.
• They think the kingdom is hopeless.
• The player persuades them to realign.

Note that while most vassals think realigning is a dishonorable act, many of them will do so with every month or so. Especially when Syndicating of that kingdom is serious.

Also, if you managed to persuade a lord that is in a faction you are in war with to become one of your faction's vassal, his title will be changed to that specific faction. For example, if you persuade a Swadian Count to join the Kingdom of Nords, his title will be changed to Jarl. However, you have to successfully persuade them, or their title remains the same, and they will stay in that faction. Success requires very high charisma and persuasion around 8-10, though you can decrease these requirements by increasing your relations before you are at war with that faction.

Personalities

All vassals have different values and personalities, ranging from peaceful inland patrol to restless warmongers.

• Regarding release

If defeated in battle by the player, some lords take being released as honorable act. Others, however, will take it as an offense, stating that "You would rather see me free and humiliated than in chains." You gain relationship bonuses after you release them, and you get your chance to beg them to let you go in the next battle (with a big cost of relationship points). However as mentioned before, some take being released as dishonorable, resulting in a relationship penalty on your next meeting. The best way to find out who hates being released is by releasing every caught lord and keeping track. Also, when capturing a lord, he will make a certain statement such as "grant me the honors of war" or "I yield, call off your dogs". Usually when this remark is "honorable" they will like being released. When they offend you they are likely to hate you for it.

• Regarding war

Some lords hate wars. They stick themselves inside the kingdom, battle with bandits, and do nothing else. If that lord becomes marshall of the kingdom, the campaigns will often be touch-and-go without any progress every time. With aggressive lords, it's the exact opposite. Lords do tend to support their friends, if a lord has many friends within his faction, then his friends will attempt to help defend his fiefs, whereas if a lord is hated, they will not defend him by their own choice.

• Regarding foreigners

The player is always of foreign birth, and this attracts hate from some xenophobic lords. If you try to marry a lady, some lords will say you're foreigner and have no rights to do so. The result is nearly -10 relationship penalty.

Personalities table

Personality	Introduction (low Renown)	Introduction (high Renown)	Introduction (Noble)	Philosophy	Capture	Rumor
Upstanding	Peace to you, and always remember to temper your valor with mercy, your courage with honor.	I know your name. They say you are a most valiant warrior. I can only hope that your honour and mercy matches your valor.	I see that you carry a nobleman's banner, but I do not recognize the device. No doubt you have come to Calradia in search of wealth and glory. If this indeed is the case, then I only ask that you show mercy to those poor souls caught in the path of war.	Kingship and lordship have been instituted to keep the peace and prevent the war of all against all, yet that must not blind us to the possibility of injustice.	I yield! Do yourself credit, and grant me the honors of war, as befitting my rank!	People say that it is good to be in the service of <name>. He is good to his followers, and rewards them if they work well.
Martial	Perhaps you are not of gentle birth, but even a commoner, be he of sufficient valor, may make something of himself some day.	Your fame runs before you! Perhaps we shall test each other's valor in a tournament or on the battlefield!	I see that you carry a nobleman's banner, but I do not recognize the device. No matter -- a brave {man's/warrior's} home is all the world, or so they say!	My sword is at the disposal of my rightful liege, so long as he upholds his duty to me.	I yield! I yield! Stop! I yield	They say that <name> loves nothing more than war.
Good-Natured	Well, you look like a good enough sort.	I've heard of you! It's very good to finally make your acquaintance.	I see that you carry a nobleman's banner, but I do not recognize the device. Forgive my ignorance, {sir/my lady}! It is good to make your acquaintance	Well, you should keep faith with your promises, and not do injustice to others. Sometimes it's hard to balance those. Stick with people you trust, I think, and it's hard to go far wrong.	Congratulations on your victory, {Sir/Madam}. Accept my sword, I yield to you.	They say that <name> is a good man and treats people living in his lands decently. That is more than what can be said for most of the nobles.
Quarrelsome	Speak quickly, if you have anything to say, for I have no time to be bandying words with common soldiers of fortune.	I've heard of you. Well, I'm not one for bandying words, so if you have anything to say, out with it.	I don't recognize the device on your banner. No doubt another foreigner come to our lands, as if we didn't have so many here already.	Bah. They're all a bunch of bastards. I try to make sure that the ones who wrong me learn to regret it.	Enough of this! You win today! Ach, the shame of it!	They say that <name> almost came to blows with another lord lately, because the man made a joke about his nose.
Calculating	Well... I have not heard of you, but you have the look of a man who might make something of himself, some day	Ah, yes. At last we meet. You sound like a good man to know. Let us speak together, from time to time	I see that you carry a nobleman's banner, but I do not recognize the device. Still, it is always worthwhile to make the acquaintance of {men/women} who may one day prove themselves to be great warriors.	Well, it's a harsh world, and it is our lot to face harsh choices. Sometimes one must serve a tyrant to keep the peace, but sometimes a bit of rebellion keeps the kings honest. Circumstance is all.	Hold! Stop! I yield to you!	They say that <name> is a cunning opponent.
Pitiless	You have the look of a mercenary, another vulture come to grow fat on the misery of the land.	I know your name. It strikes fear in men's hearts. That is good. Perhaps we should speak together, some time.	I see that you carry a nobleman's banner, but I do not recognize the device. Another vulture come to grow fat on the leftovers of war, no doubt!	Men will always try to cheat others of their rightful due. In this faithless world, each must remain vigilant of his own rights.	I yield! You have won. Cursed be this day!	I heard that <name> has a squire executed because the unfortunate man killed a deer in his forest.
Debauched	Normally I cut the throats of impudent commoners who barge into my presence uninvited, but I am in a good mood today.	I know your name -- and from what I hear, I'll warrant that many a grieving widow knows too. But that is no concern of mine.	I see that you carry a nobleman's banner, but I do not recognize the device. Perhaps you are the bastard {son/daughter} of a puffed-up cattle thief? Or perhaps you stole it?	My philosophy is simple: it is better to be the wolf than the lamb	I give up! I give up! Call off your dogs! I yield!	They say that <name> likes to torture his enemies. I wouldn't want to get on the bad side of that man.