…Further illustrating the segmented and structured nature of Vestige are its Houses, which are organized into distinct hierarchical tiers, with individuals within these Houses ascending through the tiers based on various criteria. Listed below are those ranks as well as the cultivation realms needed to achieve them, though, of course, there are always exceptions to every rule.
House Hierarchy (as derived from the Five Great Houses):
Outer Disciple (Sign): The starting point for many aspiring cultivators. Outer disciples are the novices learning the foundational arts and skills of their respective Houses. They make up the bulk of the Houses’ cultivators.
Outer Elder (Sign/Sigil): These are individuals who have distinguished themselves from among the outer disciples and have now gained enough age and experience to be counted as outer elders, contributing to House activities and guiding the newer disciples. They mainly consist of older individuals who have failed to advance their cultivation and are often uncharitably viewed as failed cultivators in the larger, more powerful Houses.
Inner Disciple (Sigil): Achieving a deeper understanding of their House's arts, inner disciples represent a higher echelon within the cultivation hierarchy and in the more powerful Houses consist of cultivators who have crafted a soulblade, possess a unique Title and/or have managed to synergise an art. This is the rank at which a cultivator is said to be talented.
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Inner Elder (Sigil/Icon): Seasoned cultivators who have amassed experience and demonstrated significant contributions to their House can become inner elders, guiding and overseeing the younger generation.
Core Disciple (Icon): The most skilled and advanced disciples, these are rare and are not often seen in public. Some Houses also make it a point to hide their identities or even their very existence. These cultivators are the most precious of a House's members and consist of those widely believed to have the best chance of ascending to Legend.
Core Elder (Icon/Legend): Those elders who have dedicated decades to their House, serving as pillars of wisdom and leadership. Core elders guide and mentor the entire House, ensuring its prosperity. They are often considered the backbone of the House and hold significant responsibilities in both cultivation and House matters.
House Patriarch/Matriarch (Legend): The paramount position within the House, reserved for the most powerful cultivator. If a House is lucky enough to have more than one Legend, they must either compete for the position or come to an agreement. The stronger cultivator may eliminate their counterpart and seize the role, one of them may leave the planet through Ascension, or the younger of the two may become a Core Elder within the House.
Advancement:
Disciples: Advancement for disciples is achieved through a combination of prowess in cultivation, successful completion of House missions, and mastering the House's unique arts. Each House has its own specific criteria for disciples to advance, fostering competition and growth among members.
Elders: Elders advance primarily through age, experience, and exceptional contributions to the House. Acts of valour, successful leadership, or completing monumental tasks that benefit the House can accelerate an elder's rise to a higher rank.
— Vestige Revealed: A Multiversal Explorer's Report.