To be Courtly is to behave properly, with good manners and etiquette appropriate for the situation.
- In thought and word, it means knowing the right words - when to speak and when to be silent.
- In act and deed, to be carry yourself with decorum and dignity, regardless of what you are doing.
- In craft, it makes for works that are appropriate for their use, proprietous and suave.
- Combat has its own courtesies and etiquettes, and to be courtly is to know those too. Even if they don’t directly improve your ability for violence, you may find them useful in carrying out your aims.
It is not merely to be Careful or Stalwart or Subtle. Though courtliness is often about knowing when to hold back and be quiet, it is also about knowing when and how to be lively and heard. Nor is it to be Comely - manners are not just about charm.
Courtliness is most worthy of the reputations, because it is not enough to act if you cannot act in the proper ways.