My name is Genevieve O’Connor, and I have been asked to take charge of coordinating Hospitality at the Æthelmearc Royal Encampment for Pennsic XLVIIII.
For those not in the know, Hospitality is in charge of the Populace Pavilion at the Æ Royal Encampment where we provide anyone who would like a place to sit, cool/dry off, hydrate, and socialize. We make sure people get answers to their questions, are directed to wherever they need to go in the Royal Encampment, have messages taken, and we accept gifts to the Crown.
In light of how popular they were at precious Wars, we will be offering recharging stations for small electronics. These are open to anyone who is in the Populace Pavilion, in a meeting or other business in the encampment, guarding the gate, or working Hospitality. You are, of course, responsible for your own devices.
I am looking for volunteers to fill shifts throughout the War. We like to have two people manning the desk during open hours. We always make sure to schedule at least one experienced person in a shift, so if you are new to hospitality feel free to sign up and we’ll get you up to speed in no time.
The first day of Hospitality is on Sunday, July 31 from 2 to 6 pm, during which time we will finish setup. Peace week shifts are from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday, August 1 through Friday, August 5.
War week shifts are from 9 am to 7 pm, Saturday, August 6 through Thursday, July 11. We have two shifts in the morning of August 12 to pack up prior to tearing down the Encampment.
Shifts are two hours long. Hospitality will be closed during Kingdom Court, and adjustments will be made for other activities taking place in the Royal Encampment or as demand requires it.
If possible, please sign up in advance! We have a total of 108 shifts to fill throughout Pennsic to provide the level of hospitality and service we have become known for.
I can be reached at this email address. If you can’t commit yet to a time, the Hospitality schedule book will be at the Hospitality desk to sign up in once you get to Pennsic. Of course, early choice means the best times are available.
If you are at Pennsic, stop by Æthelmearc Royal to admire the lovely new sheet walls and gate entry to the public part of the encampment.
The shorter walls are easier for gentles to raise and lower, while the wider entryway is easier for gentles in scooters or wheelchairs to access, not to mention gentles pulling handcarts.
While you are there… please consider signing up for a shift at Hospitality, that entryway you are admiring. Many slots are unfilled at this point in the War.
New walls for AEthelmearc Royal. Photo by Baroness Katja
Volunteers working Hospitality:
sit in the shade
sit in front of an electric fan
can charge up their phones or devices
Hospitality is an easy two-hour volunteer job — it’s most often greeting gentles, directing them to the scribal or meeting tents, verifying whether the Royalty are inside or seeing visitors, taking messages, handing out bingo sheets, and welcoming gentles to rest, drink water, or charge their devices. There is always an experienced volunteer with each shift, so even if you’ve never done it before or don’t know how to answer a question..
Sign-up is in the schedule binder at Hospitality Table. Shifts are two hours long.
The Watch at Pennsic. Photo by Baroness Ekaterina Volkova
Pennsic 48 needs you!
Did you know that the Pennsic War runs on volunteers alone? Well, it does and it needs many more.
Want to help? Stop by any department that interests you and offer to help out. They will probably grin and welcome you eagerly. Just about every department needs help right now and through the War.
Not sure where you can help and need an introduction? Come to the Watch and ask for Ekat. I will be happy yo make introductions for you.
Come get that sense of fulfillment, meet and make new friends, and help make the vacations of thousands happen.
Unto the Kingdom of Æthelmearc does Duchess Ilish O’Donovan send fond greetings
Their Majesties, Gareth and Juliana, have given me the honor to create a fun-filled event for youth of our fair kingdom and their families. It is Their Majesties’ wish to have an evening of merriment and games, face painting, crafts, prizes, treats, and snacks for all who attend.
The party will be held on Monday, August 5th from 5:30 to 7:30 in Æthelmearc Royal. Please feel free to come by and play a game, paint rocks to hide at Pennsic, enjoy some snacks, and share in the fun.
To ensure all who attend find much joy, I am reaching out to the kingdom for support to make the Æthelmearc Youth and Family Party a fabulous time for all.
So, what could your barony, shire, canton, household or as an individual do to help? There is a great need for volunteers to run games, crafts and face painters. There is also a need for prizes for grab bags and pre-packaged snacks.
Donations toward the party help support and defray the costs and help create an evening of fun!
Ideas for donations:
Prizes for games: foam swords, necklaces, glow sticks, items you may find at a carnival. Such items can often be found at Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Oriental Trading Company.
Food ideas: Pre-packaged, gummies, fish crackers, cookies, candies etc…
Volunteers are needed to help run games, crafts, and entertainment for youth and their families.
These are just a few quick ideas. There are so many ways to help make the Æthelmearc Youth and Family Party Youth and Family Party a success. If you have any questions or are willing to make a donation or offer help, please feel free to contact me. Donations can also be dropped off at hospitality in AE Royal.
As our summer events season launches into full swing, I’m sure most of us are thinking of Pennsic. I have an easy, fantastic volunteer opportunity for those interested in helping newcomers to Pennsic and/or the SCA navigate their way around that amazing place.
Æthelmearc will be sponsoring a day at Newcomer’s Point this year. Our day is Monday August 5th. I am hoping to get enough Æthelmearc volunteers to cover the entire day (10:00 am- 6:00 pm). Shifts are 1 hour long. You do not need to be a chatelaine to pick up a shift at Newcomer’s Point. Anyone who is knowledgeable about Pennsic and/or the SCA, or who can think on their toes, will have a lot of fun volunteering there.
Shifts are super easy and all the information you need to answer questions is kept at Newcomer’s Point. Maps, class schedules, battle schedules, directions to Royal Encampments, etc… are all there, and much more.
If this sounds like something you would be interested in doing, please click on the link below, select August 5th (or any day that fits into your schedule) and follow the directions.
Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account)
Sign up! Choose your spots (shifts) – you will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!
Note: SignUp does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact me and I can sign you up manually.
Greetings from Æthelmearc’s Hospitality Coordinators, Lady Lasairfhiona inghean Aindrias and Lady Dubheasa inghen Dubgaill:
Do you enjoy the magic of Pennsic?
Would you like to be a part of that magic?
Pennsic runs on the strength and dedication of volunteers. We would love for you to experience the joy and wonder of volunteering. Æthelmearc Hospitality at the Kingdom Royal Encampment is looking for people to relax in the shade and greet people. While doing so, you can charge your electronic and have something cold to drink.
Each shift is two hours.
Hospitality is open Monday of Peace Week through Thursday of War Week.
Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope discusses the ins and outs of running a Kingdom event.
Perhaps you’ve seen the announcements. “The Kingdom Seneschal is looking for a bid for this Kingdom event to be held in Region [number].” Or even “The Kingdom Seneschal hasn’t received any bids for [xyz] Kingdom event and so is opening it to other regions.”
Why are so few people willing to bid on Kingdom events?
Are you an experienced autocrat but intimidated by the idea of running a Kingdom event?
Don’t be!
Here’s a guide to the different types of events run by or for the Kingdom, and what the autocrat’s responsibilities are. You may be surprised to find out how easy running a Kingdom event can be. Keep in mind that it’s perfectly fine for smaller shires to ask nearby groups to contribute staff members, or for multiple shires and baronies to collaborate on a bid. Bids generally go to the Kingdom Seneschal and the Crown, but check below for exceptions. There’s a form to fill out when submitting event bids, located on the Seneschal’s page of the Kingdom website here. Bids are generally due about 6 months ahead of the event date, so plan ahead!
For more information about running a Kingdom event, read article VIII-100 of Kingdom Law, also available at the link above.
Note: for the purpose of this article, we’ll discuss both “official” Kingdom events and events that are not officially Kingdom events but are often thought of that way. Also, different autocrats may have different opinions on how events should be run. There’s no one right way, and this is not meant as an exhaustive article on how to run events in general.
CROWN TOURNAMENT
Believe it or not, Crown Tourney is one of the simplest Kingdom events you can run. That’s because almost all of the activities are run by the Kingdom officers. Traditional dates are in October and May. It rotates among the regions so look for announcements when it’s your region’s turn, but if there are no bids from the desired region by a specified date, it may be thrown open to bids from groups in other regions.
Likely attendance: 150-250
Your responsibilities:
A site that can accommodate a tournament with four lists about 20-25 ft square each, plus surrounding pavilions. Call it a total of about 100’ x 100’ space, though you can also have a rectangle with four lists strung out longitudinally. Outdoors is ok, indoor options for fighting are nice but not required. It would be nice if there was an indoor space for non-fighters to escape to in case of inclement weather as well as for court, but some Crowns have been fought at campsites with just pavilions. Showers will make the fighters Very Happy, but they’re not required.
List ropes and posts. Check with the Crown in case they choose to bring the Kingdom list fence, but most royalty don’t have the cargo space for it.
Cooks to provide a sideboard. If you want to hold a feast too, that’s great, but it’s not required and the vast majority of attendees won’t stay for it. Expect everyone for lunch, but maybe 50-75 for a feast.
Space for court. This can be outdoors, but you run the risk of being rained out or, if the tourney runs long, losing the light.
Someone to handle reservations and troll.
Setup and cleanup crews.
Tables, chairs, and a canopy for the MOLs.
Optionally your responsibility, i.e., you could provide these but are not necessarily expected to do so unless requested by the incoming Royalty:
Someone to run an A&S display
Someone to organize children’s activities
Someone to run dancing
Musicians for processionals
NOT your responsibility:
Running the tourney. The Kingdom provides the MOLs, marshals, and heralds, though your local officers may wish to assist.
Any other activities. Our recent fall Crown was an exception because it was AEthelmearc’s 20th Anniversary, but generally, there are no other activities at Crown besides the tourney. People may ask to have A&S things, or the Kingdom Historian might want to put up a display, but even those aren’t typical.
Potential pitfalls:
If the weather is bad and you have no indoor fighting space, people will be cranky. At one Crown it rained so much the list field became a quagmire. There was even discussion of moving the remainder of the tourney to an indoor site 40 miles away (!) but eventually House Arindale offered its very large pavilion, and the last few rounds were fought inside the pavilion.
The lunch sideboard should be served on the tourney field, if possible, or in a building adjacent to the field. Make sure most or all of the offerings are finger food that fighters and their consorts can grab and dash without needing feast gear. As a courtesy, provide platters of food delivered directly to the Crown, MOLs, Marshals, and Heralds since they may not have time to leave their posts.
Appoint someone to take reservations for pavilions to be placed around the list field. Have them collect sizes and make a map so the pavilions don’t end up blocking access to the field or set up so close to the list that there’s no room for spectators.
Augustus Tindal crowns Byron as King of Æthelmearc. Photo by Master Fridrikr Tomasson.
CORONATION
Coronations are more work that Crowns, but still not a huge time investment compared to a local event. The focus is mostly on the two courts – the Last Court of the outgoing monarchs, usually in the morning, followed immediately by the Coronation ceremony, and then the First Court of the new monarchs, usually in the afternoon or evening. Depending on the incoming King and Queen’s desires, there could be other activities. Tournaments and A&S displays/competitions are typical, along with Kingdom History displays. Traditional dates are in April and September.
Likely attendance: 150-300 depending on location and the popularity of the incoming monarchs.
Your responsibilities:
A large site, preferably with a pretty or grand hall for court. Medieval-style churches with big sanctuaries are great for this. School auditoriums can work but basketball hoops aren’t great for ambiance so you might need to put more time and resources into decorating the hall if its aesthetics are lacking. At the recent Coronation of Gareth and Juliana, the Shire of Ballachlagan put up banners, wall hangings, and faux stone sheets to improve the looks of the gym where court was held.
If the royalty want to hold a tournament (or two, or more), then you need indoor or outdoor space for the lists. Especially at spring Coronations, when the weather is more likely to be an issue, an indoor fighting option is desirable.
Cooks to provide a sideboard and a feast. While it’s likely that fewer than half of the attendees will stay for the feast, it should be a somewhat grand feast with multiple removes.
Someone to handle reservations and troll.
Setup and cleanup crews.
Tables, chairs, and a canopy for the MOLs if there are martial activities.
Space for any other activities the Crown requests.
Optionally your responsibility, i.e., you could provide these but are not necessarily expected to do so unless requested by the incoming Royalty:
Someone to run an A&S display/competition
Someone to organize children’s activities
Someone to run dancing
Musicians for processionals
Marshals and MOLs for tourneys – you may be asked to provide these, but it’s more likely the Earl Marshal or the Kingdom marshals in charge of various areas, along with the Kingdom MOL, will handle them
NOT your responsibility:
Heralds for court, though your local herald may wish to participate as a second.
Potential pitfalls:
Incoming royalty usually want their Coronation close to home, so groups nearest them are likely to be preferred.
The incoming royalty choose their Coronation site soon after winning Crown, which means you have a very brief window in which to assemble a bid.
Make sure to provide separate royalty rooms for the outgoing and incoming monarchs. One won’t be big enough to accommodate all of them and their retinues. Unlike other events with both the Crown and Heirs in attendance, the Prince and Princess will have a significant entourage and need space to sign scrolls just like the King and Queen.
If possible, find a site with multiple rooms. A hall that has nothing but one big room will make it difficult to run multiple activities, hard to walk around, and noisy to the point of overwhelming for some people.
Attendance can be highly variable for multiple reasons. Make sure your lunch cooks have a menu that can stretch and a backup plan for getting more food if more people than expected show up.
KINGDOM ARTS & SCIENCES CHAMPS
Another relatively easy event to run, this requires only indoor space and tables for the artisans to display their entries. The artisans bring their entries and documentation and sit with them during the day while the judges rotate through the entrants and discuss their entries face-to-face. A “wet” site is preferred to allow for brewing entries. This event is often on the smaller side so the site doesn’t need to be huge. Contact the Kingdom Minister of Arts & Sciences for more information. Traditional dates are in the spring and fall.
Likely attendance: 75-125 depending on location.
Your responsibility:
A large room or multiple rooms with plenty of tables and chairs. Expect 15-30 entrants. The Kingdom A&S Minister also needs a table for registration and scoring.
A lunch sideboard. A feast is nice not but required.
Space for court. This could be a separate hall in the site or the same room as the competition, but with the tables put away.
Someone to handle reservations and troll.
Setup and cleanup crews
Tables, chairs, and a canopy for the MOLs if there are martial activities.
Optionally your responsibility:
If you have the ability to host martial activities as well as the A&S competition, that’s nice, but not required or expected. Remember that the focus should stay on the A&S entries.
Children’s activities.
Outdoor space for A&S activities that might be dangerous or dirty; e.g. metalcasting, forging, dying, etc.
NOT your responsibility:
Judges, scoresheets, etc. are all provided by the Kingdom A&S Minister.
Herald for court, though your local herald may wish to assist
Potential pitfalls:
The A&S Champs event is relatively new in the Kingdom rotation, so the format and needs could change in the future.
ÆTHELMEARC ÆCADEMY
The Æthelmearc Æcademy can seem like a daunting event to run because it has so much going on, but it’s another one that is run almost entirely by the Kingdom. The Chancellor of the Æcademy solicits teachers and schedules the classes, and then monitors the classes during the day. You can learn more at the Æcademy website. Traditional dates are in the late spring and late fall. It rotates among the regions so look for announcements when it’s your region’s turn, but if there are no bids from the desired region by a specified date, it may be thrown open to bids from groups in other regions.
Your responsibilities:
A site with multiple rooms for classes. Some Æcademies have had as many as a dozen classes running at a time, though 8-10 is a more typical number.
Outdoor space for War College classes, which can include any of the martial activities, but especially fighting and fencing. Pavilions or canopies in case of inclement weather are a good idea. Some of the martial classes might also want tables and chairs. Work with the Dean of the War College to determine what is needed.
A site booklet with a map of the rooms, and clear labeling of the classroom doors by number or letter so people can find them easily.
A lunch sideboard. Work with the Chancellor of the Æcademy to determine whether there will be a specifically-timed lunch break or an all-day sideboard.
Ideally, at least one classroom should have a sink or easy access to a bathroom or janitor’s closet for cleanup after messy arts like painting, woodblock printing, cooking, etc.
Space for court.
Someone to handle reservations and troll.
Setup and cleanup crews
Optionally your responsibility:
A feast is nice not but required.
If there’s room in the kitchen, or the site has more than one kitchen, making kitchen space available for cooking classes is always appreciated.
NOT your responsibility:
Soliciting teachers and scheduling the classes. These are all done by the Chancellor.
Heralds for court, though your local herald may wish to assist.
Potential pitfalls:
Attendance can be quite variable, and there’s no easy way to tell how many people to cook lunch for, though the Chancellor will probably be able to give you an estimate based on past Æcademy sessions. Your cooks should have a backup plan for getting more food if attendance is higher than expected.
If there is no designated lunch break, it’s important to keep food flowing to the sideboard on a constant basis as people will be grabbing something to eat between one class and the next. Attendees will be grumpy if the sideboard is bare in the 5 minutes they have to get lunch. Finger food is ideal since they may be taking the food to with them to the classrooms. If a particular classroom should NOT have food in it, make sure that’s clearly posted.
If all the martial activities are outdoors and the weather is bad, then people will be unhappy. Indoor space for fighting/fencing is highly desirable.
12th NIGHT
12th Night is probably the most challenging Kingdom-level event to host. Other than food and court, it has no built-in activities that are run by officers, though you can call on Kingdom officers for help. It can be boring if the group autocratting it doesn’t arrange for fun pursuits. It also carries the most risk because it’s held in the dead of winter, so a snowstorm can reduce expected attendance significantly, potentially causing the event to lose money – but the Kingdom will usually cover losses as long as you stuck to your planned budget. Traditional date is the first weekend in January. It rotates among the regions so look for announcements when it’s your region’s turn, but if there are no bids from the desired region by a specified date, it may be thrown open to bids from groups in other regions.
Likely attendance: 150-300 depending on location and weather.
Your responsibilities:
A large site, preferably with a pretty or grand hall for court. Medieval-style churches with big sanctuaries are great for this.
Cooks to provide a sideboard and a feast. This event typically has the highest percentage of attendees staying for the feast. It should be a grand one with multiple removes.
Someone to handle reservations and troll.
Setup and cleanup crews.
Space for any other activities the Crown requests.
Optionally your responsibility:
Games of various sorts, including board games, but also silly ones like a pillow fight tourney or a scavenger hunt/quest. An excellent resource for period games (some of them physical games that can be done indoors or outdoors, as well as board games) is the book Medieval Games by Master Salamallah the Corpulent of the East Kingdom.
Lord and Lady of Misrule. This is a very medieval custom where a cake has two tokens baked into it, and then pieces are distributed to the populace. The people who find the tokens become the lord and/or lady of misrule (gender not necessarily being relevant). You may need to discuss with the Crown whether they are willing to be temporarily displaced by the Lord and Lady of Misrule for court or the feast. It helps to have someone with a good sense of humor prearranged as an advisor to the Misrule couple, to suggest benign but amusing edicts they can make (all of the chivalry present are required to perform a dance, certain people are requested to come up with a skit or musical performance on short notice, new silly titles are bestowed on individuals, etc.).
Classes. If your site has enough small rooms, you might consider soliciting teachers for short classes. The Kingdom A&S Minister can help with this.
Competitions, like bardic, cookie baking, or A&S. You could also have an A&S Display. Sometimes the Crown holds Their Kingdom Bard competition at 12th Night, in which case all you need is a performance area as They will do the judging.
A display of Kingdom History. Contact the Kingdom Historian.
Fundraisers for the Kingdom, like a silent auction for which you solicit goods from artisans.
Rooms for meetings if the Crown or Orders request them.
NOT your responsibility:
Heralds for court, though your local herald may wish to participate as a second.
Potential pitfalls:
Try to find a site with multiple rooms. A hall that has nothing but one big room will make it difficult to run multiple activities, hard to walk around, and noisy to the point of overwhelming for some people.
If possible, have your cooks hold off on buying/making most of the food until the last few days before the event. Keep an eye on the weather and adjust quantities of food up or down depending on what travel conditions will be.
Greetings from the Pennsic Newcomers’ Point Coordinator,
This year, we are coordinating the return of the Newcomers Point, which will be part of the Pennsic Event Resources.
Our goal is to have a place that is open and available to newcomers, where they can feel comfortable and learn more about the event and the SCA in general. Newcomers’ Point will be a set place where Newcomers can come to ask questions or get information about the SCA and/or Pennsic. We will also be able to help Newcomers get involved with their local group after Pennsic.
The Pointe will be will be located under the same tent as the Pennsic Watch (seated at the table, in the shade, with electricity!), and we will need your help staffing the tent. Already Æthelmearc has chosen to sponsor a day, and the Midrealm has too.
Most shifts are still open, and we especially need people during Peace Week. Please email me to volunteer for a shift and help make this a huge success.
Sunday, July 30, 2017: 11am – 3pm
Monday, July 31, 2017: 11am – 3pm
Tuesday, August 1, 2017: 11am – 3pm
Wednesday, August 2, 2017: 11am – 3pm
Thursday, August 3, 2017: 11am – 3pm
Friday, August 4, 2017: 10am – 6pm
Saturday, August 5, 2017: 10am – 6pm – Sponsored by Æthelmearc
Sunday, August 6, 2017: 10am – 6pm – Sponsored by the Midrealm
Monday, August 7, 2017: 10am – 6pm
Tuesday, August 8, 2017: 11am – 4pm
Wednesday, August 9, 2017: 11am – 4pm
Thursday, August 10, 2017: 11am – 4pm
In Service to the Dream,
Baroness Desiderata Drake, OP
Newcomer Point Coordinator, Pennsic 46
Æthelmearc Royal encampment, a few years past. Photo by Aoife
Greetings unto the populace of Æthelmearc!
Our names are Dubheasa inghean Dubgaill and Lasairfhiona inghean Aindriasa, and we have been asked by Their Royal Majesties to take charge of coordinating hospitality at the Æthelmearc Royal encampment for Pennsic XLV.
For those not in the know, hospitality is in charge of the populace pavilion at the AE Royal Encampment where we provide anyone who would like a place to sit, cool/dry off, hydrate, and socialize. We make sure people get answers to their questions, are directed to wherever they need to go in the Royal Encampment, have messages taken, and we accept gifts to the crown.
Due to the popularity, we will be able to recharge small electronics. These are open to anyone who is in the populace pavilion, in a meeting or other business in the encampment, guarding the gate, or working hospitality. You are, of course, responsible for your own devices.
We are looking for volunteers to fill shifts throughout the war. We like to have two people manning the desk during open hours. We always make sure to schedule at least one experienced person in a shift, so if you’re new to hospitality, feel free to sign up, and we’ll get you up to speed in no time.The first day of hospitality is on Sunday, July 30 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., during which time we will finish setup.
Peace Week shifts are from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday, July 31 through Friday, August 4.
War Week shifts are from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, August 5 through Thursday, August 10. We have two shifts in the morning of August 11 to pack up prior to tearing down the royal encampment.Shifts are two hours long.
Hospitality will be closed during Kingdom Court, and adjustments will be made for other activities taking place in the royal encampment or as demand requires it.
If possible, please sign up in advance! We have a total of 108 slots to fill throughout Pennsic to provide the level of hospitality and service we have become known for.
If you can’t commit yet to a time, the hospitality schedule book will be at the hospitality desk to sign up in once you get to Pennsic. Of course, early choice means the best times are available.
Thank you very much!
Lady Dubheasa inghean Dubgaill
Lady Lasairfhiona inghean Aindriasa
Hospitality Coordinators
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.
he Encampment.
Greetings Æthelmearc,
