| Okay, here we are in the 11th, no the 14th, no the 9th, well, in some other century Anno Domini. That's the king in the big chair; he's the king of the "Laurel Kingdom of the East". His herald, standing behind him and to the right, is about to tell one of his loyal subjects (who laughed an awful lot and seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly) to come forward and kneel. |
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| Here's one of those laughing subjects. She's not the one getting married. I think she just likes white. They gave her an award that I didn't understand, coming, as I do, from another century. They didn't seem to mind my 35mm camera -- it was like they couldn't really see it. I wonder if the 10th century AD needs any more alchemists? |
| Our family came pretty much completely dressed for the occasion. That's my father, Friar Joe, on the right. How did he get to be my father if he's a friar? Don't they take vows or something? Anyway, he looked pretty good in that habit. I'm glad he didn't have one of those long sticks they use for smoting. |
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| Left-to-right: Lady Zoe of the Kingdom of Big Shoulders, Lady Keri of the Laurel Kingdom of the East, and Lady Janice of Winnebago, land of wanderers and wizards. Uh, wait -- that's my Aunt Zoe from Chicago, my cousin-in-law Keri from New Jersey, and my mom, who lives in a Winnebago and roams the country (but that's another story!). Don't they look great? |
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| Rowen's friend and mine, Juli Wolfe, asked me to be her date for the wedding. She was Rowen's best mane (pronounced "man"). For the civil service, incidentally, I was the made of honor, since the real made of honor (also male) had some trouble making it down from the north somewhere. He showed up later and was present for the "real" ceremony (which we're getting to). There were plenty of other maids around, but I thought Juli was the prettiest. Here she is being the Pied Piper of Hamlin. |
| At some point in the proceeding, my soon-to-be cousin-in-law was elevated to the rank of 'Lady' by the king. (For those "in the know: she received an "Award of Arms", thus rising from minor nobility to "actual" nobility. [footnote]) Here she is being elevated. Until this happened, she was kneeling. That's my camera strap, making the black mark on the king. Henceforth, she's "Lady Siobhan ni Dhonnabhain". |
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| Then Rowen got to kneel and promise the king (darn that camera strap) that he'd take good care of the Lady Siobhan, who is apparently a bit above his station and a friend of the king's besides. |
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| Hmm. Everyone laughs. It's not entirely clear that the king is going to let Tzigan off the hook very easily. |
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| But eventually Tzigan gets his Award of Arms, making him Lord Tzigan, and... |
| ...I guess the happy couple is going to be allowed to marry and live happily ever after. |
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[cool medieval arrow graphic here] To the Wedding!
I emailed Rowen and Shivaun what this is all about; here's the response:
> What does that exactly mean? I mean -- what defines a "real" Lord or Lady?
When you receive your Award of Arms, which allows you to put Lord or Lady in front of your name, it is a reward for your service to the kingdom or to your local area. That's in SCA parlance.
In the Middle Ages, a Lord or Lady was minor nobility. (In the SCA, nobody wants to be a serf, so we all play at being minor nobility anyway.) So when we earn our AoAs, we've done a lot to deserve them (supposedly...it takes longer for the royalty to notice some people than others) and the King and Queen give you a title for that service, as the Medieval King and Queen would have given you the title for some support or favor. So I am Lady Siobhan ni Dhonnabhain, to show that I have done the work.
Did I answer that okay?
Shivaun
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Last Update 20 Oct 1999 jerry@ampleassociates.com