"Ser" and female Knights

[ExKage]

Are there instances in 3.0 when female knights are referred to Ser again? Why isn't Heustienne not referred to as "ser" anymore after the 50 DRG quests?

Unfading Skies level 40 DRG Job quest:
"After meeting with Ser Heustienne of Ishgard...."

Sky's the Limit level 50 DRG Job quest
"...Shortly thereafter, Ser Alberic arrives in the company of another dragoon, who introduces herself as Heustienne, one of your instructors during your trials..."

In the journal, she doesn't have Ser attached anymore. Why is that?

[WyrahFhurrst]

Couldn't really say. Perhaps because you've fully become the Azure Dragoon in that time, and now honorifics for other Dragoons are mostly meaningless? At least, that's my take on it.

[CyberForte]

I would guess that this particular case is because of the context--in the first, she appeared as one of our instructors, while in the HW quests, the role is flipped and instead she is asking us to teach her. Meanwhile, Alberic is still a mentor to us despite that he has no more actual dragoon techniques left to teach us.

[Februs]

Well, it's could be a couple of things. First might be familiarity. Honorifics tend to fade when people get close. Second could be because both you, and ser Alberic, are speaking from above her station. The WoL is an azure dragoon that was recognized by the eye, so, despite not being part of the Ishgard standing army, he is still considered at the pinnacle of the Dragoon order. Sometimes people don't use honorifics when addressing someone beneath their station. Lastly, it could be a bit of an oversight caused by plot related events.

Spoilers: In the Drgoon questline

Heustienne ends up being skyjacked by a dragon and, essentially, kidnapped. While in captivity, she is forced to drink blood of a Dragon. During this time she is considered MIA, but presumed dead, but if she was ever found out she would have been excommunicate her from the Dragoon order and likely killed by the inquisition. Knowing this, she essentially excommunicates herself.

It's possible that because of these events, she is no longer referred to as "ser," and her knighthood is revoked... though, considering the only parties involved who knew about the truth of these events were the WoL, Ser Alberic, and Heustienne's father... It seems a little extreme that they would no longer use her honorific, unless she herself discouraged them from using it. She seems to be her own worse critic, so that's also possible, but I don't recall there being any evidence of it in cutscenes...

[PArcher]

I recall other female knights being referred to as "Ser" throughout Heavensward; Heustienne is most likely just a special case due to the questline.

[Kaiser-Ace]

When she effectivly faked her death to avoid the inquisition and keep her father from getting excommunicated she also in the prosses renounced her Knighthood.

So she would no longer be refused to as Ser as she is no longer a knight.

My question is, The title for a knight IRL is "Sir" is it not? If so then why use "Ser" in game?

[Cilia]

My question is, The title for a knight IRL is "Sir" is it not? If so then why use "Ser" in game?

"Ser" is just an archaic alternate spelling of "Sir," used to sell the idea of Eorzea being old-timey just like the rest of the baroque English script.

The appropriate female equivalent would be "Dame," but lots of fictional works don't bother with that.

[Culfinrandir]

"Ser" is just an archaic alternate spelling of "Sir," used to sell the idea of Eorzea being old-timey just like the rest of the baroque English script.

The appropriate female equivalent would be "Dame," but lots of fictional works don't bother with that.

Actually Ser is not English at all, it is Italian and was used by notaries & lawyers with an equivalence to Sir in English. It would never be used in England at all. A lot of people think it is to do with gender but that's a modern Internet concept. Simply put, women could never (and technically still can never) use the Sir/Ser honorific.

[ExKage]

I recall other female knights being referred to as "Ser" throughout Heavensward; Heustienne is most likely just a special case due to the questline.

Except she loses her title as soon as you meet her again in 3.0 She's not in the process until the second half of the quests.

Edit: Even so, the item you give to the Knights of her armor refers to her as Ser Heustienne in the flavor text.

[Cilia]

Actually Ser is not English at all, it is Italian and was used by notaries & lawyers with an equivalence to Sir in English. It would never be used in England at all. A lot of people think it is to do with gender but that's a modern Internet concept. Simply put, women could never (and technically still can never) use the Sir/Ser honorific.

Took a little bit of research but you're right. My bad.