These pages have been prepared for those who are striving to improve themselves in exterior polish, and to add to their stock of information concerning the subjects upon which it treats. It has not been written for those who have been trained in the best usages of society from their infancy; nor for those who learned politeness at the same time that they mastered the alphabet; but for the less favoured of both sexes, and of those born off-world, who are desirous of obtaining a knowledge of the etiquette which governs social intercourse, and are desirous of cultivating both politeness and good-breeding.
As a much condensed publication it has been necessary to avoid any lengthy discussion, and so the material herein is written in a plain and simple style without adornment. Where it has been suitable to do so, short lists of rules for conduct have been supplied in preference to long discourse.
When dealing with ladies or gentlemen near one’s own station, the manner in which greetings are made is of considerable importance. We are often enjoined not to “judge a book by its cover,” knowing that even the best-favoured lady or gentleman may hide the taint of heresy in their soul; but it is still desirable to make a good first impression, and to show respect to one’s rightful masters and one’s peers.
The greetings of “Good morning”, “Good afternoon”, or “Good evening”, as appropriate, are suitable for meeting with persons of any degree of acquaintance and of most ranks. If you are on a planet with an unusual rotation, there may be a local variant, and you should consult with a person knowledgeable about the matter before you arrive. “How are you?” and the usual response of “Very well, thank you” should generally be reserved for close acquaintances.
When introducing a lady, it is expected to mention her name first, for instance “Ms. A, permit me to present to you Mr. B.” One gentleman can be introduced to another with less ceremony, for instance, “Mr. C, Mr. D.”
Traditionally, a gentleman should be introduced to a lady only with her permission, though this is not strictly observed even within the Great Houses, and it is in any case usual for a host or hostess of a formal occasion to make it their prerogative to present guests to one another. It is however inadmissible to make an introduction of any kind unless one is certain of the desirability of the acquaintance to be made.
A proper meal has often been likened to a battle against the foes of the Emperor: it requires discipline, reverence, co-ordination, and careful marshalling of equipment and resources.
At any meal, whether formal or informal, certain basic rules should be observed:
At formal meals, the following should also be borne in mind:
Additional rules apply when drinks are served:
Due reverence may be shown by saying grace before, and in some cases after, the meal. It is a mark of respect and station to do so in High Gothic, though the vernacular is usually acceptable. Some examples are presented here.
The Loyal Toast may be given immediately after closing grace. This is simply: “The Emperor”.
Other toasts may follow. Before any toast, the person proposing the toast should say “I gave you the toast of–” (except for the Loyal Toast), and the toastmaster may say “Pray silence for–”.
Communication is one of our greatest treasures as a race and is but one of the myriad ways in which we prove ourselves superior to the xenos and other lower life-forms of the universe. Humanity possesses the capacity for honesty, memory, and courtesy that is lacking in every alien species, and of which we should be justly proud. All of these exalt us from the level of anarchy to our present status as the greatest power the galaxy has yet seen. It is therefore fitting that we should make the best use of our words, using them to the glory of humanity and the Immortal Emperor, rather than squandering them on frivolities, let alone evil and seditious mutterings.
Lying is one of the gravest ills that can be perpetrated by words alone. In doing so, one sullies the tongue and the soul, whether they are misrepresenting the character of one of their acquaintances, or concealing their rightful debts and obligations of tithing to the Administratum. It is clear to any thinking person that lying inevitably leads to corruption and treason against the Emperor Himself, besides which it lowers the image of polite conversation (the chief employment in society) and leads to a neglect for proper courtesy.
Exaggeration, it should not be forgotten, is also a type of lying. Consider the example of a small skirmish against xenos in which a battallion of one thousand is obliterated: casting such a mishap as a “disaster” is a treasonable falsehood, as it will damage the morale of many thousands more in the division, and lead to a loss of combat effectiveness at best and to mutinous inclination at worst.
Knowledge is a matter to be addressed with great delicacy in conversation. While people in a favoured position within the service of the Imperium may be made aware of many matters beyond the experience of the ordinary citizen, they must take pains not to allow them to spread to the unworthy. On a more commonplace note, it is best as a rule to limit one’s inquiries and interests, and to be modest about them: familiarity with such virtuous subjects as the deeds of the Saints and the writings of the classical authors is laudable, but one should refer to them sparingly at most, rather than peppering conversation with (for instance) quotations from Caetullus or Lord Macharius.
A pernicious issue on many worlds, not noted – on Merewald at least – in earlier and less debased times, is that of slang words and phrases. Ladies and gentlemen of quality should avoid the use of these as much as possible, lest they be confused for such wretches as the barbarians of primitive worlds, or the scum of hive-bottoms. For the sake of decency we will not repeat common slang here, but merely allude to the practice of encumbering phrases with vacuous words that serve no meaning whatsoever.
Merewald is unusual in certain respects as a planet where contact was lost with the Imperium but where the Cult Imperial was retained as the guiding influence of the culture. In the absence of commands from the Emperor’s servants, ordered society was sustained on the basis of family, custom, and due respect. Since contact was re-established in the last millennium, the old order has changed somewhat, and obedient service to the Imperium is embraced by noble and commoner; however, many unique and laudable traditions of society have been retained, and it is the intention of this appendix to promote familiarity with such amongst those persons born off-world.
The lower classes are generally permitted tea during sanctioned work breaks; it is regrettable, but necessary, for ladies and gentlemen to do likewise when in the service of the Emperor, for instance when on deployment in the Imperial Navy or Guard.
A great many varieties and blends of tea and other infusions and tisanes are produced on Merewald. This allows the discerning drinker a tremendous range of gustatory experiences, but can also lead to confusion. Some teas are best served with milk (which should be added after pouring) and occasionally sugar, some with lemon, and some with other additions, or none at all. Ensure that you do not, under any circumstances, add milk or lemon to the wrong tea; it is far better to omit additions to your tea than to use the wrong one.
+++ Publication approved +++ +++ Imperial Planetary Chancery of Merewald +++ +++ Castle Ab Visick +++ +++ M41.246 +++
+++ Administratum document ident: BRNC-QOPPA-233S-QZ9J +++
+++ Thought for the day: The truly heroic trust in blind faith +++