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23. Nobility in a particular region(s) have a very defined tradition of appropriate procedure in handling silverware; i.e., a soup spoon may not be handled until the knife has been used, when setting down a knife it is rude to point the blade away from your dish, etc.
23a. Nobles use these systems to covertly convey expressions of intent or allegiance when at table, possibly even challenges (real or imagined) to duels.
24. When children are born to nobles, a fortune-teller reads meaning into birthmarks, freckles, and amount of hair on the infant; this fortune (or a trumped-up fortune) is proclaimed to the noble's vassals and may be one of weal or woe. These children often live in the shadow of these fortunes, eager to cause or prevent what they have been raised to believe is their destiny.
25. A lord is judged be his society in how long is his longest winning streak in single combat, a lady by the most rabbits she has taken through falconry in a single month.
26. Calligraphy, penmanship, and the ability to mimic others' handwriting is a particularly esteemed skill in one culture and nobles vie to patronize the most renowned scribes and penmasters as much as they develop their own writing skills. Books are not judged only by their content, but by how pleasing it is to look at and the difficulty of the font it is written in. Learning disorders in offspring can spell doom for a noble house's reputation, and lords go to extreme and extravagant measures to address these disorders.
27. Wielding a weapon outside of training is considered shameful if it does not result in bloodletting. Duels are only to the death, and bows are only used to hunt if the noble feels assured that game will be taken.
27a. Cleaning blood from a weapon or arrow's effective section (sword/axe blade, mace head, arrowtip, etc.) is seen as remorse for the kill; many weapons are hung as trophies because they have become too dull or otherwise unusable, but to discard them is to nullify proof of one's skill in battle. Enchanted weapons that do not lose sharpness are prized as functional heirlooms, and often have an associated song or text that details how it has been used to win honor for a family.
27b. Weapons and instruments used to exact capital punishment are sanctified and always cleaned to signify that justice exists apart from personal glory.
27c. Weapons and instruments used to exact capital punishment are sanctified and never cleaned to signify that justice is the glory of everyone it defends.
28. (From Bethesda's Elder Scrolls series) Nobles develop and accumulate riddles and logic puzzles to entertain guests and challenge rivals.
29. Nobles win acclaim and rank by producing or performing works of art, literature, and theatre. Botching a performance is especially deadly to one's reputation, but innovating, especially in familiar works, is highly admired.
30. The estate of the highest-ranking noble in the area becomes both the figurative and literal center of culture, administration, and common life for their vassals. Their home is expected to have physical accommodations for various sectors of infrastructure, such as post office, courtroom, records, armory for the militia, and the like. Nobles who cannot or will not provide such are considered to be of lower status or are viewed as selfish and narcissistic. Living nearer to the family's estate is considered to mean more affiliation with them (for good or ill). Living adjacent to the estate is second only to living in the building(s) in terms of local influence and social standing.
30a. The reigning noble family is dishonored, slain, or supplanted, and another noble family acquires their vassals. The new family must occupy the previous family's holdings, whether or not it is an upgrade.
30b. The reigning noble family is dishonored, slain, or supplanted, and another noble family acquires their vassals. The entire population packs up their possessions and uses their buildings for resources as they prepare to transplant themselves nearer their new lord or lady's physical dwelling.