>Look, you're saying "B is like A therefore to doubt B >has all properties of A requires proof." I'm saying, "That's silly." No, I'm saying that Occam's Razor was invented for a reason. Doubting or, more correctly, speculating about the possible differences is perfectly okay. The only problem I ever had,if you go back and look, is that you're constantly talking about your theories and calling them evidence. You even told me I was incorrect and referred back to them when I requested textev (i.e., evidence from the stories). Theories are fine. Thought experiments involving populations of Easterners gaining titles and the results? Great! Good to consider! In the end, though, it's all just speculation. Maybe you haven't actually lost sight of that but a few of your replies give the impression that you're already taking it as a given that your theories are correct and proven and any reasonable person would believe likewise. The books, which are the authoritative evidence, don't support any such conclusions. There are no indications at all about the nature of titles sold to Easterners. Working strictly from the texts of the stories, there is absolutely no reason at all to presume that Vlad's title is any different than Morrolan's. They're both landed gentry in a noble house. The only difference is that Vlad was allowed in by right of commerce while Morollan got his by right of birth and conquest. Are Easterners different from Dragaerans? Bloody right! Does that have anything at all to do with a title of nobility, especially one as inherently meaningless as a Jhereg title? No, at least not until Steve writes a story about it.