{"id":47,"date":"2014-01-02T23:43:03","date_gmt":"2014-01-03T05:43:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dishonoronyourcow.com\/?p=47"},"modified":"2014-01-03T23:25:08","modified_gmt":"2014-01-04T05:25:08","slug":"sca-court-primer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dishonoronyourcow.com\/?p=47","title":{"rendered":"SCA Court Primer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Courtly Graces (Calontir Edition, Online Expanded Version!)<\/b><\/p>\n

\n

Or, Funny Hats For the Win<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Saito Takauji (Uji) January A.S. 48<\/b><\/p>\n

Note: While there are a lot of generally applicable things in this article, it is primarily designed for use in the Kingdom of Calontir–because purple is awesome, and also I’m teaching it as a class. \u00a0I will be making an SCA-wide one that is less specific.<\/em><\/p>\n

Introduction: What is court?<\/b><\/p>\n

Court is a chance for the Crown to address the populace, make official announcements, have some fun with \u201cschtick\u201d, and give out awards.\u00a0 Court is NOT where someone finds out they are in real trouble, where you will get yelled at, or something to be intimidated by.<\/b><\/p>\n

Who runs court?<\/b><\/p>\n

Right now?\u00a0 These guys: \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0In a couple of weeks, these guys:<\/p>\n

\"DamienIssi\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"MartinoAriel\"<\/a><\/p>\n

King Damien MacGavin \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Crown Prince Martino Venneri<\/p>\n

Queen Issabell St. Charles \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Crown Princess Ariel of Glastonbury Tor<\/p>\n

Note: Pictures good for January 2014 through the end of Martino and Arriel’s reign. \u00a0Pictures may be kept updated, maybe not; when in doubt check www.calontir.org<\/em><\/p>\n

They are the King and Queen, and Prince and Princess, of Calontir.\u00a0 There can also be courts run by Barons and Baronesses, of which Lonely Tower has a set.\u00a0 But there are a number of them in the Kingdom, and ink is expensive, so we\u2019ll be pointing them out rather than listing them all here.\u00a0 A King and Queen are addressed as \u201cYour Majesty,\u201d a Prince and Princess are addressed as \u201cYour Highness\u201d, a Baron and Baroness as \u201cYour Excellency\u201d, and an Uji is addressed as \u201cHey, Uji.\u201d<\/p>\n

So everyone with a shiny hat is a King, Prince, or Baron?<\/b><\/p>\n

Well no.\u00a0 That would be too easy.\u00a0 We also have Dukes\/Duchesses, and Counts and Countesses who each get their own hats.\u00a0 A Duke or Duchess is addressed as \u201cYour Grace,\u201d and a Count or Countess as \u201cYour Excellency.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ducal\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

Ducal Coronet (Strawberry Leaves)<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\"County\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

County Coronet (Embattlements)\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\"Baronial\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Baronial Coronet (Pearls)<\/p>\n

Their coronets will look roughly as above.\u00a0 Only Counts and Countesses have embattled coronets, only Dukes and Duchesses have Strawberry leaves.\u00a0 Someone with pearls, embattlements, and strawberry leaves was a Baron who kept getting promoted but didn\u2019t want to buy a new hat.\u00a0\u00a0 Also note that \u201cpearls\u201d can be any round or spheroid protrusion.<\/p>\n

Also, want an easy way to identify a Landed Baron (one who runs a group) versus one who has an award letting them be a Baron without the pesky land (Court Baron)? \u00a0Landed Barons have gold colored coronets, while Court Barons have silver ones–this is by Calontir law. \u00a0The Vatavian Secret Police (which do not exist) enforce it.<\/p>\n

If in doubt, call someone with a shiny hat \u201cYour Excellency.\u201d<\/b>\u00a0 It covers most of the common titles, and anyone who is a Grace, Highness, or Majesty is also entitled to be or will soon be entitled to be an Excellency.<\/p>\n

Ok, so what do I do if I get called up there, besides feel like fainting and\/or running?<\/b><\/p>\n

First, don\u2019t faint or run.\u00a0 Court is fun, it\u2019s a good time, and you\u2019re probably up there for something good.\u00a0 First, approach until you\u2019re about ten feet away and then bow or curtsy.\u00a0 Royalty has a \u201cbubble\u201d around them by courtesy of about ten feet, so if you\u2019re going to be in it you bow\/curtsy.\u00a0 If there is an obvious point at which to do this, like the end of the first row of chairs, that works too.\u00a0 Then come up to them, bow, and kneel.\u00a0 Note: KNEEL ON THE CUSHION<\/b>.\u00a0 Your knees will thank you, and that is what they are there for.\u00a0 Then listen to what they say.\u00a0 Then you do it in reverse, stand and bow\/curtsy, back away to ten feet and bow\/curtsy, and then go back to your seat.\u00a0 It\u2019s that easy.\u00a0 If they\u2019re up on a stage, don\u2019t back down the stairs; the Crown will not be offended if you choose to not fall down.<\/p>\n

Ok, but what if there are lots of shiny hat wearing people up there?<\/b><\/p>\n

This can be a little bit trickier, but not really.\u00a0 Come up to ten feet, and either make lots of little bows\/curtsies or one big all-encompassing bow\/curtsy.\u00a0 Do it with style!\u00a0 Take your hat off!\u00a0 Find a hat, put it on, then take it off!<\/p>\n

Ok, so my hat is now off, I\u2019ve successfully gone through being called up, and you\u2019re my hero.\u00a0 How did those people get there?\u00a0 Can I get there, and have people find hats to take off at me?<\/b><\/p>\n

Aw shucks, I\u2019m no hero.\u00a0 They got there through one of two ways.\u00a0 The King and Queen and Prince and Princess got there through an armored combat tournament called \u201cCrown Tournament\u201d, or just \u201cCrown.\u201d\u00a0 When you win Crown you serve as P+P for three months, then K+Q as six.\u00a0 Then you get made a Count\/ess if it was your first time as King\/Queen, and a Duke\/Duchess if it was your second.\u00a0 The Baron and Baroness are chosen by the Crown with input from the group they will lead every 2-5 years roughly.<\/p>\n

I’ve seen some people disarming themselves before they go up to court; do I need to do that? \u00a0I mean…I’m not gonna lie, I like knives. \u00a0Like…a lot.<\/strong><\/p>\n

First…calm down, and don’t hug me because I don’t want to get cut. \u00a0Secondly, it depends. \u00a0In some Kingdoms you would have to disarm, in others not, and in others disarm unless you have an Award of Arms. \u00a0No, that’s not what an AoA really means, but…it takes all kinds. \u00a0Bless their hearts. \u00a0You know what I mean.<\/p>\n

In Calontir we take a pragmatic view of it. \u00a0You do not have to disarm if you are in fealty to the Crown, because you have sworn on your honor that you are their man\/woman\/Canadian. \u00a0I actually really like this, because it gives a tangible ritual to fealty. \u00a0Since I am in fealty, the Crown trusts me to bear arms since I have sworn to defend them.<\/p>\n

FInally…seriously, they have support groups. \u00a0The first start is admitting that if you have so many knives you are terrified of sneezing yourself into meat confetti, then you might have too many.<\/p>\n

Why do people keep getting scrolls?<\/b><\/p>\n

Because scrolls are amazing, that\u2019s why.\u00a0 Each of those scrolls represents an award of the Kingdom of Calontir.\u00a0 Awards are recognitions by the Crown or Baronage that someone has done a series of awesome things, often in a specific area.\u00a0 A rundown of awards can be found online, and spoken in this class.\u00a0 So pay attention!\u00a0 Did you miss it?\u00a0 Scrolls in Calontir for AoA level awards are printed out and hand painted in, while scrolls for Grants of Arms and above are individually drawn, written, and calligraphied.<\/p>\n

Ok, so I can tell a Count from a Duke…but why do they keep calling that person Master Sir? \u00a0Why does Her Royal Highness Ariel wear a belt and two medallions?<\/b><\/p>\n

They call that person Master Sir because they are terrible people who do a terrible crime called title stacking, which should be outlawed in the civilized world. \u00a0Peers, as opposed to Royal Peers, come in three flavors: Knight, Laurel, and Pelican. \u00a0A knight wears a white belt and spurs and an unadorned chain, a laurel a medallion of a wreath, and a pelican a medallion of a pelican. \u00a0Knights are called Sir, and Pelicans and Laurels Master or Mistress. \u00a0If someone has more than one, then you pick one of the titles and go with it. \u00a0You can pick whichever one seems most appropriate to the moment (i.e. on the field Sir, in the Kitchen Master), or go by whichever one you know they prefer (if they were a Mistress first then they might be more used to that). \u00a0And of course the Crown Princess is Her Highness, then she will be Her Majesty; and when she is done with her time as Queen will be Her Grace, Duchess Ariel, since Count\/ess and Duke\/Duchess have higher precedence.<\/p>\n

Never title stack, it’s tacky.<\/p>\n

The only exception is Master Master Sir Hilary of Serendip, and only because she can revoke your birth certificate.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve heard the following myth, is it true?<\/b><\/p>\n

Probably not.\u00a0 In my time in the SCA I\u2019ve heard some doozies, as have most other people.\u00a0 So a rundown of the most common or crazy is:<\/p>\n

Can you wear purple? Yes you can wear purple. \u00a0Especially because we’re in Calontir; it is our thing.<\/p>\n

Can you wear shoes before you have an AoA? \u00a0Yes you can wear shoes before you get an AoA (although it isn’t a requirement afterword, depending on the site).<\/p>\n

Yes you can be earlier than 600 (but not later than 1600), yes you can wear blue belts (we don\u2019t protect other groups\u2019 regalia), yes you can use part of your real name, yes you can talk to Peers or the Crown.\u00a0 No you do not have to be a peasant until you have an AoA, no your garb doesn\u2019t have to be perfect to come to an event, no you don\u2019t have to choose a name or persona for your first (or tenth, or hundredth) event or even stick with the name you pick when you do pick one.<\/p>\n

The Nitty-Gritty Distinctions, Or: Uji, you didn’t teach me that in the class, you magnificent bastard<\/del> lovable\u00a0rogue!<\/b><\/p>\n

Ok, so everything above this was pretty much my overview for the sake of my class, at Twelfth Night (and maybe elsewhere by now)–either it was in the handout, or we talked about it. \u00a0I didn’t want to overload newcomers with too much information, especially for things that we don’t encounter in Calontir that much. \u00a0Everything \/after\/ here is additional information that will help you know more about the SCA, but isn’t something you will have to encounter much in Calontir.<\/p>\n

When an Embattled Coronet isn’t a Count<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is another rank of Royal Peer, because of course there is–this couldn’t be easy! \u00a0A Principality is ruled by a Prince and Princess, as opposed to a Crown Prince and Crown Princess who will be King and Queen. \u00a0When a ruling Prince and Princess step down the first time, they are made a Viscount and Viscountess. \u00a0The Coronet for one of these is less standard than others. \u00a0In Calontir it is a silver embattled coronet for Viscounts as opposed to a gold embattled coronet for Counts. \u00a0In some it is the height of the coronet, or how much decoration it has.<\/p>\n

Why is he wearing his belt around his chest?<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are two parts to the Order of Chivalry, both alike in dignity in fair Verona where we…wait, crap. \u00a0Wrong thing. \u00a0But there are two halves of the Order of Chivalry, Knights and Masters of Arms. \u00a0The difference comes down to the early days of the Society, where some for persona or personal or religious reasons did not want to swear fealty as it was decided a Knight had to–but were still superior fighters and gentlemen. \u00a0And so they created the Masters of Arms, who were equal members of the Chivalry but did not have to swear fealty. \u00a0They wear a white baldric (diagonal sash\/belt over the chest) instead of a white belt around the waist.<\/p>\n

(Note: Images of Damien and Issabell, and Martino and Ariel, from Calontir.org, images of coronets from\u00a0http:\/\/housethreesheets.wordpress.com\/sca-primers\/sca-newbie-primer\/<\/a>\u00a0. \u00a0All images used for educational purposes without permission, and I will be happy to change them if needed).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Courtly Graces (Calontir Edition, Online Expanded Version!) Or, Funny Hats For the Win Saito Takauji (Uji) January A.S. 48 Note: While there are a lot of generally applicable things in this article, it is primarily designed for use in the Kingdom of Calontir–because purple is awesome, and also I’m teaching it as a class. \u00a0I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-47","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-explanations","category-sca"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dishonoronyourcow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dishonoronyourcow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dishonoronyourcow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dishonoronyourcow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dishonoronyourcow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=47"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/dishonoronyourcow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63,"href":"https:\/\/dishonoronyourcow.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47\/revisions\/63"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dishonoronyourcow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=47"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dishonoronyourcow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=47"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dishonoronyourcow.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=47"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}