Greetings and salutations unto Sylvan Aethelmearc! On November 16th, 2019 the Dominion of Myrkfaelinn is hosting the fall A&S championship. As this is a Royal progress, retainers are need for the event. If you are available and interested in retaining for Their Majesties , please let me know, either via Facebook messenger or via email at:
Each shift is an hour long, although you are welcome to sign up for more than one shift should you wish. We also welcome additional retainers to attend Their Majesties during court, later in the day.
If you’ve not retained before, this is a great opportunity to try it! If you are new to retaining, please connect with me beforehand and I will ensure you’re familiar with what it entails.
Yours in service,
Antoinette DeLorraine
Head Retainer to Their Majesties, Timothy & Gabrielle
Each shift is an hour long, although you are welcome to sign up for more than one hour should you wish. We would also welcome a few more retainers to attend Their Majesties during court later in the day.
If you’ve not retained before, this is a great opportunity to try it! Please let me know so I can connect with you beforehand and ensure you’re familiar with what it entails.
Yours in service,
Antoinette DeLorraine
Head Retainer to Their Majesties
Timothy & Gabrielle
Each shift is an hour long, although you are welcome to sign up for more than one hour should you wish. We would also welcome a few more retainers to attend Their Majesties during court, later in the day.
If you’ve not retained before, this is a great opportunity to try it! Please let me know so I can connect with you beforehand and ensure you’re familiar with what it entails.
Their Highnesses’ Head Retainer, Freiherrin Helena Mützhasen, offers upcoming retaining opportunities for those who may be interested and able.
Greetings fair AEthelmearc! The upcoming reign could use YOUR help! Yes, you!
We are looking for a few good people to help out at upcoming events and throughout the reign. If you’re one of those people who likes to retain at Pennsic, please start now!
Planning ahead, we will need people at:
The Donnan Party (March 24 in Silva Vulcani)
Ice Dragon (April 14 in the Rhydderich Hael)
Pennsic is shortly upon us, and I am in search of gentles to help attend Their Majesties Timothy and Gabrielle. They will need retainers beginning Thursday of Peace Week and continuing through closing ceremonies on Friday of War Week.
Each shift is an hour long and every willing gentle is welcome – whether you’d like to retain for one hour on one day, or return multiple times over the course of the war. As always, new retainers are very welcome!
If you wish to sign up in advance (really encouraged!), please get in touch with me. I can be reached via Facebook message (Elena de la Palma) or via email.(elenadelapalma@gmail.com) You can also sign up by coming to Æthelmearc Royal (at the corner of Brewer’s and St. Lawrence, right next to Pennsic University) at any point during Pennsic – even after the War starts, more hands will always be needed!
And finally, we will need many hands for some of the bigger events like Opening Ceremonies, Æthelmearc Court, the Known World Party, and Closing Ceremonies. Your help will always be welcome – simply come to Æ Royal before the event and let us know you’d like to help!
Generous Æthelmearc, you have been so gracious in attending Their Majesties these past months. I am humbled with gratitude as I think ahead to Pennsic, and to the many gentles who will give of their time to ensure Their Majesties’ comfort. Truly, there is no place like home!
Want to get in touch about retaining for Their Majesties at Pennsic?
By Lady Elena de la Palma, Head Retainer to Their Majesties Timothy and Gabrielle.
Have you ever attended an event with royalty and noticed someone standing behind or beside Them? Perhaps holding a cup, perhaps taking notes? Those people are not there by accident – they are retainers, and Their Majesties Timothy and Gabrielle invite you to try something new and be one yourself.
Lady Catherine O’Herlihy demonstrates experienced retaining at Ice Dragon, balancing a cup, a snack, a basket, a bag, and the Crown of the East Kingdom. Photo by Baron Steffan Wolfgang von Ravensburg.
What is a retainer?
Retaining is an incredibly important part of The Dream. Retainers ensure that Their Majesties (and Their Highnesses) are kept comfortable and supplied with what They need so that They can keep their focus on the populace. The retainer attends to all the details: ensuring that Their Majesties are supplied with food and drink; carrying gifts and other important items; and helping Their Majesties stay on schedule during the day of the event. They may also be called on to seek out gentles with whom Their Majesties would speak, or even to maintain a perimeter of silence should Their Majesties need to have a private conversation.
Retainers wearing baldrics attend Their Highnesses during the procession at Queen’s Rapier Championships. Photo by Hersir Torvaldr.
What do retainers do during Court?
Retaining during Court is a little different from retaining during the day. The basics are the same – you ensure that Their Majesties’ cups are full and take any gifts that might be received – but the way it happens is a little different. Before Court, all of the retainers will gather with the Queen’s Guard, the Kingdom Champions, Their Majesties, and Their Herald, and process into Court with the group. Then, the retainers will take shifts standing by Their Majesties during Court. The Head Retainer coordinates the shifts, switching retainers out at regular intervals so that no one stands for more than a few minutes.
Retaining during Court is a really unique experience. You’re looking out at the populace from behind the royalty and very close to those receiving awards – not a view you usually get every day!
Retainers attending Their Majesties and Their Highnesses at Ice Dragon Court. Photo by That Guy Phil, Unsung Hero of Miscreants and Other Tourists.
But…that doesn’t seem so hard!
These duties may sound simple, and they are – but that’s the beauty of it: anyone can retain! It doesn’t matter whether you are new to the society or have been here for years. I did my first retaining shift at the first event I attended that had royalty present. I barely even knew what a King or a Queen was! I volunteered that morning, and after a few hours and a quick introduction to retaining I found myself watching a tournament with the Queen, her goblet in my hands.
The real skill of retaining comes from learning how to anticipate the needs of Their Majesties before they ask. One can retain perfectly well without this ability, but it’s one that all great retainers master.
Do I need to prepare to retain?
You don’t have to do anything, but it is very important look to your own comfort. Wear comfortable shoes and comfortable clothing that will let you move around, hold goblets, carry gifts, and otherwise move without hindrance. Make sure that you’ve eaten before your retaining shift starts. Make sure that all your own needs are taken care of so that you’re free to focus on attending to the needs of Their Majesties.
Can I try retaining?
Absolutely! Their Majesties love to meet new people, and it’ll be my pleasure to ensure that you’re completely comfortable with your duties as a retainer before your first shift. Just get in touch with me and we’ll get everything set up.
Their Majesties will need retainers at every Royal Progress event during Their Reign, starting with the A&S Faire in Nithgaard this weekend and including Pennsic and Æthelmearc War Practice. It’s very easy to dip a toe in the retaining waters – shifts are usually an hour long and cover either His Majesty or Her Majesty, not both. We’re happy to schedule you around any other commitments you might have at the event – just let us know! Even if you’re busy all day, having another retainer for Court is always lovely.
Everyone is welcome. Whether you’re a brand new retainer or an old hand, Their Majesties welcome your service and thank you for it – and they’d love to meet you!
If you’d like to learn more, contact me or find me at an event. I’d love to talk with you about retaining and answer any questions you have.
If you are planning on attending Ice Dragon on April 8, consider picking up a retaining shift or two during the day! It’s a great way to experience the event and see cool and nifty things – fighting, fencing, amazing Arts and Science projects, salons. Please contact me either via FB messenger or by email.
Duties include carrying a small basket, ensuring Their Majesties eat and drink through the day, fetching and carrying items to and from the Royalty Room, standing in court (on rotation – no one would be expected to stand the full Ice Dragon court), and being a companion. There is a lot of standing and walking, so wear comfortable shoes and dress for the site (layers are always good).
Also, please note that Their Soon-to-be-Majesties of the East will be in attendance and we could use a couple of extra hands to help out there too.
Tell your friends! Retaining is always more fun with a buddy!
Just a friendly reminder that Their Majesties will be attending The Feast of the Seven Deadly Sins next weekend, February 12, and will need retainers to help out.
There will be both a morning court and evening court as well as opportunities for regular retaining during the day. Please contact me via Facebook Messenger or email to let me know if you’re available and what times work best for you.
Please feel free to share this note with your local groups too!
The official announcement is on the kingdom webpage here.
Dearest Æthelmearc, your Queen is traveling to other Kingdoms and needs your assistance!
Her Majesty will be traveling to Market Day at Birkain the East Kingdom the weekend of January 27 to 29.. She will need retainers for the day and especially during Court. (Birka Court is historically very long, usually 2 to 3 hours. There’s lots of schtick, though, so it’s fun.)
In March, Her Majesty will travel to the Southern Kingdom of Gleann Abhann to participate in Gulf Wars. Again, she will need retainers for the duration of her stay and during Court.
For both events, if you are attending and can retain at any time, please contact me via Facebook Messenger (Sue Klinger O’Donovan) or email (sodtigger AT gmail DOT com) and include the following details:
Your SCA Name
Your Legal Name
The event you’re volunteering for
The dates and times you’re available
The best way to reach you ahead of the events
The best way to reach you during the events
Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend either event due to mundane considerations, but there will be a head retainer available for both events.
Their Majesties have asked the Gazette to share the following with the populace:
Unto the entire Kingdom do Byron and Ariella, Rex et Regina, send our Thanks. So, so many of you came out to help us set up the Kingdom camp today. And a few of you spent your entire day with Us, making sure that everything got done. We have participated in Royal setup for many years, but so many people came today that We were done by 3pm. Our thanks go to Master Janos and Mistress Mahin especially for their guidance today.
We shall be Sitting in State in AE Royal encampment on Saturday, August 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Mistress Filipia Capriotti, head gardener, shared the following:
We are in need of volunteers to cut trellis Tuesday (tomorrow). We will start bright and early. Please bring any plant contributions to the front gate of AEthelmearc Royal.
THL Elss of Augsburg and Master Alaric MacConnal, Co-Head Retainers for Their Majesties, shared the following:
Their Royal Majesties, King Byron and Queen Ariella, are asking for volunteers to retain and guard for Them while they perform Their duties at Pennsic.
As a retainer, your job is to be a personal assistant: You will walk with Them, carry things, offer water, make notes, organize Their belongings on the field, mind the clock, and do whatever tasks are required. If you hear anything being discussed, you will never repeat or remember it.
As a guard, you will carry a weapon, which you will use to protect Your Queen from any and all harm.
Here is a spreadsheet that shows when the retainers / guards are needed and what activity is occurring at the time. Please feel free to select a time or activity and sign up. Or stop by Æthelmearc Royal and review the schedule book to choose just the right time for you. Never retained before? No worries, we can tell you everything you need to know.
If you are new to the SCA or Æthelmearc , being a retainer or a guard is an
easy way to see lots of Pennsic!
Greetings and salutations unto Sylvan Æthelmearc!
