herveus: (Default)
[personal profile] herveus
What an interesting weekend (an mostly in the good sense)!

Saturday was my big day. I was inducted into the Order of the Laurel. For those of you who don't do the SCA thing, that's on a par with making Eagle Scout, in terms of what's expected of you and in the prestige that comes with it.



My father and his wife came to their first SCA event. My best man (who hasn't done medieval stuff in ages) came down for the event. A number of folks came down from the East kingdom to see me. A certain Finn and his Finn symp showed up. Without trying hard, I identified a dozen people who almost certainly would not have been there otherwise. Way cool!

Sean and Elizabeth, outgoing Baron and Baroness of Storvik, asked me to herald their final court. This time, there were not items of business on their docket, known or unknown to me, that involved me. That's a change! :)

Having escaped to the rear with them on their departure, I marshalled my retinue. [livejournal.com profile] pedro_padrao led the way, followed by Lady Brienna bearing a brand new banner she arranged to have made. My dear wife, Megan accompanied me next, followed by [livejournal.com profile] killerbunnie007 bearing the upgraded cloak. I presented my maniple to their majesties for inspection. They found my work to be satisfactory. The Laurels having been summoned, people spoke of me, on what made me worthy of the honor. Sir Volodya spoke on behalf of the Order of Chivalry, noting my persistence as a salient virtue. Duchess Simone spoke for the Order of the Rose, noting that she could not praise my courtesy, noting my bluntness, but made it all sound good (I paraphrase heavily here). Mistress Alisoun spoke of my service on behalf of the Order of the Pelican. Next came words from afar. [livejournal.com profile] amykb read words from Mistress Phiala that noted my "original research" and discernment of details that some of the giants in the field of tablet weaving had not discerned (or at least had not shared their discernment of). Does that make me a giant now? Finally, Mistress Adriana of Hawkwood spoke for the Order of the Laurel on her behalf and then read words from Mistress Thora that also pronounced me well qualified for the honor. I need to reread the words when I am better able to retain the particulars.

As an aside, I realized that everyone who spoke on my behalf was a member of the Order of the Laurel in addition the the order that they were speaking for. That's a bit unusual, but it just worked out that way.

The cloak was displayed for all to see. When I was made a Pelican eleven years ago, I was presented with a cloak with a muckin' great pelican on the back. [livejournal.com profile] janinas_nest added a laurel wreath to it, in a very pettable fuzzy gold furry fabric. People made ooo-aahh noises. The cloak was placed on my shoulders, and my wife passed along the medallion she had been given at her elevation to the order.

The herald read my scroll. First he tried reading the Latin text, but stumbled a bit and reverted to the English translation before it was taken from him. Tristan Alexander had called dibs on doing my scroll, and I am very happy with the result.

Finally comes "greeting the order" also known as "hugs all around". My wife got the first hug, but then the King interrupted with a request that each member of the order introduce themself, that all may get a chance to put names to faces, himself included. Once that was completed, I proceeded to get on with the hugs.

While hugging was going on, they then called Eadric the Potter up and took him off to vigil, while I finished up the round of hugs.

Meanwhile, before this we had been setting up stuff over at the vigil site. Eadric's friends were setting up a spread of food for his vigil, and mine were setting up one on my behalf for a reception. [livejournal.com profile] cariola did a bang-up job of organizing. Robert provided me with my own plate of smoked salmon along with two varieties of fish-eggs! I received people informally for a while. Much schmoozing occurred.

Eventually, it was time to break it down and get ready for afternoon court. Business was transacted and awards were given, ending with Eadric being inducted into the Order of the Laurel.

My wife and I were invited to sit at the high table, and I asked if my parents could join us there. This was done. Food was, overall, quite good. The fish would have been better had it not been lukewarm. Fish is always tricky at an SCA feast. Aside from that (and I pretty much liked the fish anyway), the feast was excellent. I was full at the end, but not before, and I didn't have to be extra-careful to eat lightly to get there.

Several carloads of folks made their way to our place for some post-revel action. It turned into a "watch House" thang for many folks, with a fire in the fireplace. I think most of us were kind of spent.

Some of you may recall my adventure at Great Northeastern War over the summer, involving a nosebleed and a ride in an ambulance. My nose decided to cut loose when I got in the car to head home from the site (which, thank goodness, I wasn't driving). I got it under control in fifteen minutes without a particular mess, but it let go again when I went to lie down in bed. That one took over an hour to get under control, to the point that I had gotten myself dressed (with one hand) and was about to roust someone to take me to the ER when it finally stopped. Bleaugh.

Sunday was very low energy, but Monday is being better. The roads were not noticably bad, and the idiot-quotient on the highways was amazingly low. Now to get ready for Birka next weekend.

I am very grateful to all my friends who helped make Saturday a very special day.

My wife made me some new clothes that came out very nice. There is still more trim work to do, and I might take in the linen undertunic a bit, but that's fiddling.

Akiyo wrangled a splendid spread for the reception, with contributions from a number of folks. Riocard (my son) cooked up a pork roast and a lamb roast. Robert and Roswitha brought smoked salmon. Blaise and Nostasia, Gwenllian, Alisoun, James of Rutland all brought food, I think. Brienna baked bread, and Gunther made a stand for the new banner. I'm sure I'm leaving out names of folks who contributed. Raven, Alys and Evan, Wulfric and Sabine, Patricia...the list goes on.
EDIT: and how could I forget Pedro and Devora? I plead overload?

It was nice to see Istvan, Olwen, Juergen, Sarah, Jadwiga, Ana and Anarra all come down from the East. Mavi and Lecelin came up from Caer Mear. I don't know who else came in from afar to see me, but thank you all for coming.

I need to thank Denis de Dijon personally for the banner. It's wonderful, and I won't be at all put out if he makes unhappy noises about "vair". We need to burn-test the fabric, but the old banner may get burnt respectfully if it's not got plastic in it. I suspect, however, that it does.

Wow. It's real. I'm officially a Laurel now.

Date: 2007-01-22 03:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] aryanhwy.livejournal.com
Sounds like a wonderful day! If I could've been there, I definitely would've been there. Many congratulations.

Date: 2007-01-22 04:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] herveus.livejournal.com
Thank you. Drachenwald *was* represented by a Finn and his symp. :)

Date: 2007-01-22 03:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ladyaelfwynn.livejournal.com
Yay! I'm sorry I missed it but so glad that it finally got done! It sounds truly delightful!

Date: 2007-01-22 04:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] herveus.livejournal.com
If I were a more demonstrative person, there would have been much in the way of happy tears flowing...

Date: 2007-01-22 03:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] 3fgburner.livejournal.com
Many felicitations! As they say, a peerage isn't "making" you a peer. It's recognition that you ARE one.

Date: 2007-01-22 04:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] herveus.livejournal.com
Thank you!

Date: 2007-01-22 03:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] melaniesuzanne.livejournal.com
Congratulations again and again!

Date: 2007-01-22 04:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] herveus.livejournal.com
Thank you. It was wonderful to see you. I'm sorry hubbyfink was ill. That suck.

Date: 2007-01-22 04:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] alphaggek.livejournal.com
I wish I could have made it down as well, but I had other obligations up here.

Congrats!

Date: 2007-01-22 04:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] herveus.livejournal.com
I know how that goes. Thanks!

Date: 2007-01-22 04:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] weatherman2111.livejournal.com
Equivalent to Eagle Scout, wow.

Congradulations!

Date: 2007-01-22 04:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] herveus.livejournal.com
More or less. It's the highest award you can earn, and it carries considerable prestige. It presupposes that you are a Good Person as well as skilled and practiced at your area of specialty. I figure that most people will grasp the stature of "Eagle Scout".

And its about time!

Date: 2007-01-22 04:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] feymaker.livejournal.com
Wow. It's real. I'm officially a Laurel now.

Congratulations. I'm glad I actually made it to Court to see you elevated. I hope your parents had a good time!

Re: And its about time!

Date: 2007-01-22 04:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] herveus.livejournal.com
Thanks. I think George and Dana enjoyed themselves. George was helping with the teardown along with everyone else. That's no surprise to me. They have enough activities that I don't know if they will get involved in the SCA, but they may come to other events on occasion.

They found a costumer nearby who was able to educate them on SCA clothing and rented them suitable clothes for the day.

Date: 2007-01-22 06:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dragonazure.livejournal.com
Congratulations! And welcome to the Order!

Date: 2007-01-22 06:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] herveus.livejournal.com
Thanks. One more nest of hornets to poke at... :)

Date: 2007-01-22 06:55 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dragonazure.livejournal.com
Bryce can manage that just fine without your assistance....8^)

Date: 2007-01-22 06:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] janinas-nest.livejournal.com
It truly was a great and wonderful day. I will be grabbing the cloak to finish up the embroidery ASAP, so that the group assembled can determine the proper length and get it re-hemmed. I just wish I could have done more.

Mucho hugs!

Date: 2007-01-22 06:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] herveus.livejournal.com
OK. I'm not sure if I can adequately express how grateful I am to you for what you did manage to do in your copious spare time.

Hugs back at you!

Date: 2007-01-22 06:26 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] martelvonc.livejournal.com
Wow, great memory! I'm sorry I could not be there but Aelfwynns college insists on being paid so I must work.

I'm so glad the day was wonderful for you. All you friends have beend giddy as all get out preparing it for you! :-)

Date: 2007-01-22 06:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] herveus.livejournal.com
Well, it's your turn in the barrel!

Thanks.

Date: 2007-01-22 06:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] martelvonc.livejournal.com
And what a barrel it is!

I may even learn how to type but probably not untill spring when my fingers warm up!

Date: 2007-01-22 07:16 pm (UTC)
kellan_the_tabby: Fieldless, a scallop shell per pale gules and azure. (badge)
From: [personal profile] kellan_the_tabby
I'm so pleased it all went well - I only wish I could have been there to _see_ it. Congratulations and well-deserved. :)

Date: 2007-01-22 07:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] silme.livejournal.com
Congrats!!! I had told the Finn symp that I couldn't believe you weren't already a Laurel! :)

When I received my Pelican, everyone speaking for me was a Pelican. Okay, so that kingdom didn't have anyone from the Order of the Rose speaking for peers at the time, but the Master at Arms (can you tell I'm not originally from Drachenwald? ;) and the Laurel who spoke for me were also Pelicans. I remember thinking how unusual it was that all three speakers were Pelicans! :)

Date: 2007-01-23 06:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dr-zrfq.livejournal.com
When I got my Pelican, not everyone who spoke for me was a Pelican... but within two years, they all were.

Date: 2007-01-22 11:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cfram.livejournal.com
We didn't speak two words but I was there to wish you and Eadric well. :)

Date: 2007-01-23 12:56 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] vikingsparrow.livejournal.com
Congratulations! You are most deserving. :-)

Date: 2007-01-23 02:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] suba-al-hadid.livejournal.com
Congrats! I missed it so I'm extra delighted to have been able to read the details :)

Date: 2007-01-23 05:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] amykb.livejournal.com
I was thrilled to be there, and very honored that you asked me to participate.

Congratulations!!!

Date: 2007-01-23 04:04 pm (UTC)
northernwalker: (Default)
From: [personal profile] northernwalker
*wild applause for the Eagle Scout*

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