Besides Duke Ashir’s Laurel, I was also asked to write two other texts that ended up being given out at Lilies War. I say ‘ended up’ because Sung’s was supposed to be given out at Valor, but Valor ended up being postponed. Both were fun scrolls for very deserving people, and I was thrilled and honored to be able to help them for their very special days.
Gaius Flavius Auxilius’ knighting scroll was for a drive by knighting, so I didn’t have him to approve the text–normally for Peerage scrolls I have the soon to be Peer approve the text. In this case Sir Semjaka approved the text, which is based on a Roman Military Diploma.
For Baroness Sung the text was adapted from the poetic style called Ci, which was popular in the Song Dynasty.
In both cases the scroll text is followed by the research and citations that I used in writing it, as well as any definitions.
Auxilius’ Knight Text:
Imperator Caesar Donngal Pius Felix Augustus and Imperatrix Catalina Augusta, mother of her country, hereby grant Citizenship to all those infantrymen and cavalrymen in the cohorts of Lonely Tower and Forgotten Sea, who have served for 25 years and been honorably discharged. To their subject Gaius Flavius Auxilius they further grant elevation to the Equestrian Order and the title Eques Calontirus, for his years of honorable service under the Proconsul Vaclav Semjaka.
He is given the right to wear the tunica angusticlavia and the anulus aureus of his class. He shall furthermore be given the right to sit in the seats reserved for his order at all games and public functions.
Sealed on the 9th of Junius, Ab Urbe Condita 2772, when Anton and Yseult were Consuls.
Copied and checked from the bronze tablet which is affixed in the capital upon the wall behind the temple of the deified Chepe near the shrine of Mars.
Donngal Catalina
(Text based on Roman Military diplomas, which were given to grant citizenship at the end of a term of service. This wasn’t an exact match, as it implied that Auxilius hadn’t been a citizen prior to his Knighthood; and this seemed like it would be a bad thing to imply that non-peers are also non-Citizens. But it was a basis to go off of. The title for Donngal represents a Roman Imperial title scheme during the early Dominate period—Pius Felix meaning essentially pious and lucky. Text adapted from: http://www.legionxxiv.org/diploma160ad.htm
The anulus aureus is the gold ring worn by Equestrians, and the tunica angusticlavia is the thin striped tunic of the order. Ab Urbe Condita is a traditional dating period from the alleged founding of the city of Rome, and 2772 is the current year AUC.
Anton and Yseult were included as Consuls because the original text is dated both to the term of the Emperor and the Consuls; since there are two consuls who serve a year term, two heirs who serve 9 months total seemed appropriate, especially since the Emperor and his heir would frequently be named Consuls. Hadrian, in the text above, is noted as having been consul four times.)
Sung’s Court Barony:
Should Heaven rain pearls, the cold cannot wear them as clothes;
Should Heaven rain jade, the hungry cannot use them as food.
Such a blessing is one who toils for the hungry and cold.
A Governor who does not wait for blessings,
Or to refer such things to the Son of Heaven.
Nor blame shortcomings upon nature,
Beyond the ken of man.
Delicate as the lotus blossom,
Wise as the Holy Duke of Yen,
Faithful Mistress, Sung Sai-Erh.
Let the tongues of the wicked speak not of her,
Nor the hearts of the wise dwell on any other.
Let them all confirm her rank, and know her worth.
From now until the lamp oil runs out,
The wandering geese return no more,
And the words of men fail.
Seat with seals on the 25th Day of the Fire Snake, in the year of the Earth Pig.
Dongal Catalina
Huangdi Huang
Hou
(Scroll text based on the Chinese ‘Ci’ poetic form, which reached its height during the Song Dynasty. The backbone of the form was over 800 repeating patterns based on the tones of the Mandarin Chinese language. This was adapted more specifically from the poetry of Su Shi, 1037-1101. It draws heavily on his poems ‘The Arbour to Joyful Rain’, ‘Visiting the Temple of the God of Mercy on a Rainy Day’, and the poem ‘Sorrow of Separation’ by Li Qingzhao.
The reference to the Holy Duke of Yen refers to the Duke of Yansheng, a title given to the Descendants of Confucius which lasted until the 21st Century and the 78th lineal descendant of Confucius. Huangdi is the traditional title of the Emperor of China, and Huang Hou the title most often used across the Dynasties for Empress including during the Song Dynasty.
The original date was left in to match Baron Uldin’s, even though the actual stepping down was moved due to Valor’s postponement)