On introductions:
In current custom, when a noble enters a public establishment, it is expected for the highest-ranked servant in their retinue to announce the arrival, unless the servant has been given orders otherwise. The announcement should be made clearly and with volume, so that all are aware of the noble's presence.

When a noble receives a guest, it is customary for the highest-ranked servant to announce the name and position of the individual who seeks audience unless a page or herald is present. When in private, this should be done openly, though the introduction can be fielded more subtly if the meeting is taking place in public. Often-times, leaning over to whisper the introduction to the noble in is sufficient.

When no servant is present to make the announcement, the noble may insert themselves into the public scene as gracefully as possible. Announcing one's own presence would be gauche, though one would be allowed, within the confines of social etiquette, to draw attention to themselves more subtly.

On invitations:
When a noble desires the company of another at his or her home or table, a servant is sent to extend the invitation. Only when no servant is available to carry out the task would a noble actually deign to announce an invitation in person. If a guest is being invited to the table, the servant should conduct the invitation discreetly, rather than publicly announcing it. A noble's business is their own and should not be made available to the general public.

On messages:
If a servant is asked to deliver a handwritten message on behalf of a noble, the errand should be dispatched quickly and discreetly. The recipient should be sought out and the missive given in private, if possible. If privacy is not feasible, it should be handed over without public show. The servant is expected to wait quietly and patiently until the recipient has read the message or they have been dismissed. Do not ask if a reply will be forthcoming. The reply is the business of the recipient, who will inform the servant if one is to be carried.

If a message is to be conveyed over the Way, and the recipient of the message is of the noble or templar class, one should always use a servant as an intercessor. Intruding on the mind of one's betters is both invasive and insulting and you should only directly contact a noble's mind if the situation is one of gravity. Any noble who wishes to do business should have a servant appointed to serve as a mental messenger for them, so as to avoid the unsettling experience of commoners poking about in one's brain. It is the responsibility of the individual noble to make certain that their business associates and friends know the name and face of their intercessor.

On serving:
When serving one's Lord or Lady in public, it is important to be inconspicuous, yet cordially subservient. Unless specifically invited to to eat at the table, a servant should relegate themself to an out of the way position and remain silent. It is a breach of good service to interrupt the noble by asking if they have need of services. If a noble has need of their servant, they will make the request. That said, it is better still to simply pre-empt the request for service by knowing the noble's tastes and anticipating the desire. A responsible noble ensures that their servants have sufficient funds to attend to their needs in public.

For example, if the servant knows of the Lady's preference for a '47 Ocotillo Dry from Lord Jacelyn Oash's private reserve, he would be wise to see a glass purchased upon entry. But it is not polite to thrust the glass forward into the Lady's face. Simply make the purchase and stand aside, waiting for the Lady to call upon you for it.

Serving a noble in the privacy of their own estate is a different matter. Within those confines, the diligent servant is in their own element and expected to have a full range of knowledge of the larders, cellars, and cabinetry of their House. Such things should be readily accessible, but the importance of pre-empting the request in private is not as high as it would be in a public forum. At home, it is more permissible for the servant to ask the noble's needs, rather than simply waiting.

When company is present, the servant should be present without being in the way. Ask the noble's needs first, but serve the guest before them. When not being directly called to service, it is customary to stand silently and wait for instruction. A servant should never be in a state of relaxation unless authorized, and certainly never in front of company.

On counsel:

Except in matters of grave emergency, a servant should never offer counsel or advice to their Lord. Trusted, long-tenured. servants may be asked for advice and are free to offer counsel on such occasions, though it would be in poor taste for the noble to ask them to do so in front of guests. It is important to note that a servant never corrects or disagrees with their employer in public.

On deferring in public:

If a servant is in attendance and a noble or Templar of higher rank enters the scene, the servant's obligation does not change. While bowing to a superior noble's entrance is expected, the servant's focus should remain on the noble they serve. Should a person of higher rank demand the servant's attendance without requesting permission from their employer, it is usually intended as deliberate insult, but reaction should be left to the insulted noble - it is not the servant's place to refuse unless their master or mistress instructs them otherwise.

On the importance of image:

It is crucial to bear in mind that a servant's image is viewed by society as a direct reflection of their House. Taste in dress, manners, choice in associates, and the type of locations a servant chooses to frequent are all of paramount importance. Service does not stop simply because no noble is present. Service to one of the great noble Houses is not so much a job, but an honorable position that few attain. It should be revered as such. As a servant of a prominent House, the livery you wear commands respect from many. While this level of social power can be exhilarating, remember the responsibility that comes with it. Abusing other commoners in your House's name is in poor taste and reflects badly on the house. Show proper respect to all other members of noble Houses, as well as servants of the Templarate. Any breach of public decorum will reflect badly on the House and your employer.