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Ranks and Titles of the Carcosian Rite
The Protocol of Ranks and Titles within the Carcosian Rite
There are four (4) distinct forms or types of titles used within the Carcosian Rite: The public title, the informal title, the formal (or cipher) title, and the false title.
Public Ranks and Titles
Unlike the Wallachian Rite, the Carcosian Rite does allow for the public revelation of one's Covenant affiliations. However, it does not allow for the use of either formal or informal titles to be used in public where other non-Dragons are present. As such, the use of public titles is intended to allow other members of the Dragon to announce to each other their relative or approximate rank or standing within the Ordo Dracul without getting into any specifics. It is never intended to for use in Private and to do so is against Protocol. The public title can be used as a prefix to one's name or as a stand-alone apellation.
| Public Title | Coils Known or Definition |
| Novice | None |
| Assistant | One to Two Coils Known |
| Instructor | Three to Four Coils Known |
| Assistant Professor* | Five to Six Coils Known |
| Associate Professor* | Seven to Eight Coils Known |
| Distinguished Professor* | Eight to Nine Coils Known |
| Professor Emeritus* | Eleven or more Coils Known |
| Dean | denotes a high-ranking Member the Academy, such as a high-ranking Member of the Sworn, the Grand Wyrm, or Kogaion |
(*) It is fully permitted for any Dragon with 'Professor' in their public title may just use 'Professor', instead of the full form; in order to further publically obfuscate their ranking. In addition, it is completely acceptable for one with the Rank of 'Dean' to use their lesser form, for the same reason.
Informal Ranks and Titles
Ranking
The Carcosian Rite utilizes the 'standard' Ordo Dracul standards as laid out within the Coils of the Dragon, as an informal Rank and Title system for more casual use. It is a very versatile system of titles based, amongst other things, on the number of Coils of which the titled Kindred has learned. For each number of ranks in the coils, there is a corresponding noun which forms the backbone of that kindred's title, and, except for changes to the hierarchy imposed by special situation, or by some of the kindred being Sworn of the Dragon, it is this part of the title which determines two Dragons' relative ranks. When addressing another Dragon both privately and casually, it is usually the only form used, with the "domain" dropped.
| Rank | Coils Known |
| Slave | None |
| Supplicant | One |
| Scribe | Two |
| Scholar | Three |
| Initiate | Four |
| Adept | Five |
| Master | Six |
| Philosopher | Seven |
| Illuminus | Eight |
| Architect | Nine |
| Visionary | Ten |
| Immortal | Eleven or more |
Domain
Following standard Ordo Dracul Procol, the Carosian Rite utilizes “domain” as part of their 'infomal' title, alond with one's Rank. It indicates the Coil in which he is most advanced. The association of a Dragon’s knowledge with the traditional term for Kindred territory is intentional: this is the character’s area of authority. A Dragon with the same level of advancement in two or more Coils should pick the territory that best describes his ambitions, philosophies or area of focus. If all of a Dragon’s Coils are equally advanced, she may choose the domain “…of Equilibrium.” If all of the Dragon's Secondary Coils are equal, she may use the domain prefix "Balanced..."
| Coil | Primary (Suffix) | Secondary (Prefix) |
| Banes | of the Curse | Burning or Fiery |
| Beast | of Terror | Untamed or Wild |
| Blood | of Hunger | Sanguine or Bloody |
| Flesh | of Pain | Carnal or Vital |
| Soul | of the Void | Rarefied or Elysian |
Decoration
The third and final component is the Decoration, which is added to the Title + Domain formula as the Dragon wishes, either to convey additional information about the Dragon and his accomplishments within the Ordo Dracul, or simply to appear more impressive to others. Decorations are usually placed before the Title + Domain section. While a Decoration is acceptable when used as in an Informal Title, overuse can be considered 'showboating'. It is, however, quite acceptable to use in the Formal form.
| Decoration | Description |
| Dedicated | Has studied only one Coil |
| Studious | Has studied three different Coils |
| Learned | Has studied four different Coils |
| Preeminent | Has studied five or more different Coils |
| Penultimate | Has studied the four Tier of any specific Coil |
| Experimental | Has studied an experimental or unconfirmed Coil |
| Questing or Tested | Knows the rituals or oaths of another Covenant |
| Alchemical or Venomous | Knows Spoiling |
As an example, a Dragon who has Soul 4, Banes 3, Beast 1, Flesh 1, & Blood 1 could list his Title as 'Preeminent Visionary of Penultimate Void', which would tell any other Dragon that he has a total of 10 Coils, knows all four tiers of the Coil of the Soul, and has at least one tier in five Coils.
Formal Ranks and Titles
A Formal Title is an expanded version of the Informal Title. Whereas the Informal Title, merely shows one's Rank in the Order and personal progress in the Great Work; the Formal Title also includes such things as Position, Honours Earned, one's Clan, and other vital information.
Honour Titles
Position Titles
There are two separate types of Position Titles: the first relates to positions within the Ordo Dracul; the latter refers to 'public' positions within the city (such has Prince, Keeper of the Elysia, Lord of a Domain). Because the Great Work shall always take precedence, such 'public' titles are almost always at the end of one's Formal Title - almost as an afterthought.
Ordo Dracul Position Titles can be displayed within the Formal Title in one of two ways. The first is to use the Position itself as a title itself, such as 'Grand Wyrm of Carcosa'. This is the most common usage. However, in cases where a Dragon holds more than one position, it is common to use a discriptor for the second position. For example, 'Tempered Grand Wyrm of Carcosa' would be used if the Grand Wyrm were also Sworn of the Axe. Another way to write that very same title would be 'Sworn of the Axe and Eldest of Carcosa'. In essence they mean the same thing and is merely a matter of the Dragon's personal preference.
| Position | Position Descriptor |
| Grand Wyrm | Eldest |
| Kogaion | Revered |
| Cartographer | Wandering |
| Castellian | ??? |
| Gaurdian | ??? |
| Butler | ??? |
| Librarian | ??? |
| Antiquarian | ??? |
| Convenor | ??? |
| Watcher | ??? |
| Notary | ??? |
| Courier | ??? |
| Ambassador | ??? |
| Armorer | ??? |
| Houndsman | ??? |
| Scryer | ??? |
| Position | Position Descriptor |
| Sworn of the Axe | Tempered |
| Companion of the Axe | ??? |
| Dragon Knight | ??? |
| Rising Dragon | ??? |
| Rampant Dragon or Grandmaster | ??? |
| Commander | ??? |
| Vigilant Dragon | ??? |
| Warden | ??? |
| Position | Position Descriptor |
| Sworn of the Dying Light | ??? |
| Apprentice of the Dying Light | ??? |
| Journeyman | ??? |
| Master | ??? |
| Twilight Judge | ??? |
| Provost | ??? |
| Galliard | ??? |
| Position | Position Descriptor |
| Sworn of Mysteries | ??? |
| Seer | ??? |
| Oracle | ??? |
| Parlimentarian | ??? |
| Navigator | ??? |
Clan Titles
In using Clan Titles within a formal title, it is usually placed in front of the either the Rank + Domain portion of the formal title ("Savage Adept of the Wild Void") or in front of some positional titles ("Hidden Cartographer"); although other combonations may be acceptable.
| Clan | Clan Title |
| Daeva | Artistic or Majestic |
| Gangrel | Savage |
| Mekhet | Hidden or Shadow |
| Nosferatu | Haunting or Ghost |
| Ventrue | Compelling |
| Founder of a Bloodline | Primus Vitae di ('Bloodline') |
| Membership in a Bloodline | Vitae di ('Bloodline') |
Cipher-Titles
The standard titles of the Ordo Dracul were set forth in Rites of the Dragon, and most members of the covenant learn to use and recognize them very quickly. Over the centuries, however, additional layers of meaning have been added to the titles in use in some domains. Secret titles serve as a kind of “house cipher,” conveying sensitive information or hidden messages through dummy decorations used only among the knowledgeable.
| Decoration | Meaning |
| Sublime, Transcendent or Dreadful | I'm showing off for the audience. |
| Terrible | I am here against my own will. |
| Forgotten or Withered | I am lying or disguised. |
| Subtle | Outsiders are listening. |
| Invincible | Enemies are listening. |
| Esoteric | I need immediate aid. |
| Sterling or Omnipotent | We are in immediate danger. |
| Renewed or Remarkable | I am favored or I am to be protected. |
| ...of the Fourth Darkness | My master wants you to destroy me. |
False Titles
Because the titles of the Ordo Dracul are so rigidly structured, some titles are obviously impossible or nonsensical to an informed listener, such as “Supplicant of the Bloody Terror” or “Adept of Sanguine Hunger.” These sorts of titles may still see use, however, as a means of bluffing would-be infiltrators. (“I’m sorry, only Adepts of Sanguine Hunger are permitted in this area. You’re not one, are you?”)