The tiral holds the first rank of hereditary nobility and thereby stands higher than the liran, by virtue of having an hereditary title, but in other ways the two ranks are considered equal: neither has more authority. A tiral is addressed as "sir." All the hereditary titles are considered to belong to the family, the lineage, rather than any one individual who may be acting as the head of the family at that time. The behavior expected of a tiral is the same as that expected of a liran (which see). Should any person holding the rank of tiral behave in the manner described as unsuitable under the description of the liran, that person will be removed from the title and barred from resuming it, but the family will retain the honor of the title and must select some other, more suitable, member to uphold it. Although it is possible for a commoner to be elevated directly to the rank of tiral, it is much more likely for her/him to pass through the stage of liran first; a foreigner of rank who has become a citizen of the Empire might be granted the title of tiral without the preliminary stage of being a liran. The same people who can create a liran may bestow the title of tiral (and remove an unfit person from the position), with the exception of High Generals.

A tiral family usually has some land, although seldom very much--a forty-acre estate in the interior of the Empire is about the usual to be granted along with the title. (A new-made tiral who is willing to set up on the disputed western border is likely to be granted more land.) The lands which come with the grant of nobility are called the "title-lands" and may never be sold, traded, or given away; they are a part of the noble title and are sometimes described as the noble's "seat" or "estate." A tiral or his/her family may have other land, but that is an entirely separate matter.

Additionally, the tiral has the privilege of raising troops for provincial defense. A tiral may raise and equip ten men and maintain them (at his own expense, of course) as a "standing" force, i.e., battle-ready professionals, to distinguish them from the militia. This is not required, but the tiral may do it if s/he wishes to. In most cases where the tiral has raised troops, they are joined to those of some higher-ranking lord. A tiral is considered to have the equivalent rank of lieutenant in such a case. In an area where there are no higher-ranking nobles available who are willing to incur the expense of maintaining troops in return for the honor of commanding them, several tirals may band together with their troops and elect one from their own numbers to lead them; he would then be called the "lord lieutenant," but only in the military context.