The Baron and Baroness of another SCA barony here in Lochac have designed a programme of challenges and events based on the Camino del Noble pilgrimage. Although I will not be able to attend the events, I plan to take part in the challenge by setting myself goals based around the Noble Virtues to improve my experience of the game. I am working on a list of ideas on what I would like to achieve.
Here is a brief guide to what the Pilgrimage will entail. I have paraphrased and quoted Duchess Constanzia Moralez y de Zamora's words; many thanks to Her.
Image source: http://static.flickr.com/53/135020530_d9df441dbd_o.jpg
Prowess - Red Tassel.
Prowess is skill or expertise in a particular activity or field.
The objective of this tassel is to develop a new skill or show improvement on a skill. It could be to increase your ability to sew or embroider, or paint, or to improve your skill at fighting. The list of what you could possibly do is endless.
Franchise - Purple Tassel
Franchise is the possession of noble bearing, which is being true to your station and to yourself. Given that we are all assumed to be of noble birth, there are a great range of things that you could do is to ensure that you are adequately equipped to be a Lord or Lady within the Society. Here are some ideas
Equipping yourself to your Station
Registering your name and device
If you are a combatant, having a painted shield, surcoat
Ensuring that you have a banner, banner pole, portable hole
Looking to equip yourself with whatever you need to attend an event - such as feasting gear, period seating, etc.
Being able to speak as a noble
Being able to introduce yourself or your consort to the Crown or the Baron and Baroness
Being able to list your achievements in a way that is pleasing to the crowd if in a passe dármes
Dressing to your station
Making sure you have your own garb, that you dress to the best of your ability to your means.
Piety - White Tassel
Piety has been chosen to demonstrate service to the Society as there are some members of the SCA who are very devoted. Without this devotion, and this service we would not be able to have events and it is important that each one of us contributes. This is tassel is to celebrate service.
Here is a list of ideas:
Assisting with set up or break down at events and making sure that the area is cleaner than what we found it
Assisting the person at the gate to take money and indemnities, or being the person responsible.
Marshalling, or being the Marshall in Charge
Running a list
Heralding
Stewarding an event
Ensuring that there is always water available for the fighters
Looking after the Baron and Baroness/Crown so that they can better focus on their duties.
Offering your services as a first aid officer if you are qualified and the need arises.
Cooking or being the head cook
Serving or being the head server
Organising the performers, or performing
Organising and teaching dance
Teaching classes to groups,
Building equipment needed to improve events
Being a bookings officer
Taking on an administrative office such as chronicler
Maintaining the website.
Largess - Gold Tassel
Largess is the act of sharing or generosity with individuals
There are so many ways that you can demonstrate generosity within the SCA.
Teaching individuals skills
Looking after new people at events
Sharing your worldly goods - such as left over fabric, old garments to newcomers, lending equipment
Welcoming people at events or at your home
Assisting people with transport
Making items for people as gifts
Prudence - Blue Tassel
Prudence is the act of good judgement through wisdom or knowledge.
In order to achieve this, each pilgrim must have an understanding of the foundations of the rules that we play by, as well as having some sort of idea of what life was like in period times.
In order to achieve this tassel everyone will be expected to read a minimum of three things:
1. The Known World Handbook
2. An SCA Governing Document (choose one or more if you like)
Corpora http://www.sca.org/docs/pdf/govdocs.pdf
The Lochac Laws: http://lochac.sca.org/laws
Any of the officer handbooks
Policies from the incorporated body in relation to your country - Australia SCAA http://sca.org.au/board/documents/policy or New Zealand SCANZ http://www.sca.org.nz/documents
3. A Period Text
There are so many to choose from suitable for all ages. You can choose to read some poetry, or a period recipe or some period texts. If you have suggestions please let us know and we shall add them to the list.
Courtesy - Green Tassel
Courtesy is the act of showing respect and kindness to others, and showing that you value others and the game.
Ways that you could possibly show courtesy to others is through:
How you speak to people
It is important to be generally polite, however the next step from that is to look around and say thank you. At the same time it is necessary learn how to be thanked and to be able to receive complements with grace. Saying thank you when you have received a complement means that you value the person's feedback and the time that they have taken to tell you how they feel.
How you treat people
Treating people with kindness and making them feel welcome is a key aspect of Courtesy. This could be from saying hello, through acts of assistance by opening doors or helping to carry items to those who need it. It could be to getting someone a chair to make them feel like they can join the group to chat.
Etiquette
The SCA is an interesting game where we make believe that we are all lords and ladies. So part of that fun is participating in that aspect which means learning about etiquette and using it. This involves learning about titles and how to use them as well as when to curtsey or bow to those who may be of rank (such as the Crown or the Baron and Baroness).
Enhancing the Game, and showing respect to all who play it.
This is about respecting everyone who is attending the event by ensuring that you are adding to the game and not detracting from it. Little things like: turning your mobile to silent; pour your water/coke into a period vessel rather than drinking from the plastic bottle; and covering any mundane items.
Image source: http://imgc.allpostersimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/65/6501/M7K6100Z/posters/english-pilgrim-with-a-dog-woodcut.jpg
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