Report from East Kingdom Curia: December 5th, 2015

December 7, 2015 by East Kingdom Gazette

Curia met at Bergantal/Barony Beyond the Mountain Yule on December 5th, 2015, with the following results. Please remember that this report is unofficial, and none of these changes are effective until published in Pikestaff, the official newsletter of the East Kingdom. It is anticipated that they will appear in the January issue, which should be available for subscribers to download by Dec. 15.
The major order of business was a set of revisions to the Kingdom’s awards structure.
3.1. Orders of High Merit
Revisions to IX.B.1.a. to make induction into an OHM also convey a Grant of Arms
King Brennan spoke to introduce this change, discussing the Crown’s motivations. They feel that our Orders of High Merit are undervalued by people outside the East because they do not convey a Grant of Arms, as most other kingdoms have chosen to do with their own equivalent Orders. They wish to insure that our Order members are treated equally and appropriately when they travel outside the kingdom.
Prince Kenric raised the question of how this change would effect the Order of March. Brigantia deferred to members of his staff, who explained that after research and consultation with heralds from other Kingdoms, they have determined that the Order of March will be amended to specify that members of the Orders of High Merit and Grant-holders from Foreign lands would rank above gentles who hold a Court Barony with a Grant of Arms, who in turn would rank above gentles who a simple Grant of Arms.
The question was raised by a concerned member of Curia as to whether this was likely to result in the Orders raising their standards for inclusion. His Majesty replied emphatically that he charges the Orders not to do so. He believes our standards are already very high compared to those of other kingdoms, and that this change acknowledges a high bar that is already there.
Passed with the following language:

IX. Awards

B. Orders of High Merit

1. There are six Orders of High Merit in the East Kingdom, and their recipients are known as Companions of their respective Orders.

a. Induction into an Order of High Merit will be accompanied by a Grant an Award of Arms for recipients who do not already have a Grant or a Patent of Arms. [no change to remainder of section IX.B.]

3.2. Armigerous Orders
Insertion of new section IX.C. (and subsequent sections renumbered) to establish armigerous orders; also transferring current IX.C.12. to this new section so the Order of the Silver Rapier will also convey an Award of Arms.
This change occasioned the most lengthy discussion of the Curia.
His Majesty explained that the Crown feels that because Eastern standards for the Orders of High Merit are extremely high, that there is frequently a very long gap between when someone receives and Award of Arms, and then they are considered for membership in an Order. They feel this gap results in a large section of the populace who are doing good works in specific areas which the Crown would like to recognize, but cannot because of the gap in the Award structure which this set of Orders is intended to fill.
Several members of Curia spoke in favor of the proposal. The primary concerns with it were expressed by Mistress Nest verch Tangwistel, the Tyger Clerk of the Signet – namely that it would put a substantial additional burden on the scribes of the East Kingdom, as there is expected to be a backlog of people considered deserving of the new awards. His Majesty expressed his deep admiration for the hard work of the Kingdom’s scribes, and sympathized with the potentially heavier workload these awards represent, but said that he felt the problem being fixed by the new awards was so large it justified asking people to make sacrifices to address it.
Her Majesty also urged the Signet to encourage scribes to produce awards in other formats than paper scrolls, when appropriate, noting that this would allow additional artisans to help with the potential flood of new assignments. Mistress Nest appeared persuaded by the enthusiasm of Curia for the new awards, and assured all present that the scribes of the East Kingdom would rise to the occasion, whether with pen and ink, or in other media.
His Majesty was also most specific that they do not expect to see these new orders replace simple Awards of Arms. Our current Crown sees those as being an indication that the recipient is contributing to the Kingdom in some small way. The new orders are to recognize that the gentle in question is not only contributing, but is beginning to be good at an area.
A question was raised about whether there was any relationship between the proposed new Archery order, the Order of Apollo’s Arrow and the archery ranks based on Royal Round averages. His Majesty replied that there was absolutely no connection between awards conferred at the Crown’s pleasure and any guild rank, including archery scores.
The following points were clarified during the discussion:

These new awards are separate orders, and it is possible for a deserving gentle to be inducted into as many of them as are appropriate, but only once per order.
Gentles who are already companions of the Orders of High Merit are not barred from receiving the corresponding Armigerous Order, but it is anticipated that they will not be awarded them since they have already exceeded the level of skill or effort appropriate to the new Orders.

The Crown will be pleased to accept award recommendations for these new awards as soon as the law change creating them takes formal effect. It is expected that the Awards Recommendation form on the East Kingdom web page will be updated shortly to include them. Recommendations for these orders are encouraged, but as they are not polling orders, the Crown may decide spontaneously to bestow them, at their pleasure.
Mistress Alys Mackyntoich, Ogress Herald Extraordinary, has prepared badges for the new orders, which will be submitted to Laurel for approval immediately following Curia.
Passed with the following Language:

IX. Awards

C. Armigerous Orders

1. There are five Armigerous Orders in the East Kingdom, and their recipients are known as Companions of their respective Orders.

a. Induction into an Armigerous Order will be accompanied by an Award of Arms for recipients who do not already have one.

b. Companions of each Amerigerous Order will rank equally with Companions of the other Armigerous Orders in the Order of Precedence.

c. Companions of an Armigerous Order will be entitled to a scroll proclaiming their induction into the Order.

d. The Armigerous Orders are awarded solely at the discretion of the Crown. They are not Polling Orders.

2. The Order of the Silver Rapier (established August 2 A.S. 43, 2008, by Konrad and Brenwen; made armigerous December 5 A.S. 50, 2015, by Brennan II and Caoilfhionn II) The Order of the Silver Rapier may be awarded by The Crown to an individual for martial skill upon the rapier field, whether in single combat or melee combat.

3. The Order of the Silver Tyger (established December 5 A.S. 50, 2015, by Brennan II and Caoilfhionn II) The Order of the Silver Tyger may be awarded by the Crown to an individual for martial skill upon the armored combat lists, whether in single combat or melee combat.

4. The Order of the Silver Brooch (established December 5 A.S. 50, 2015, by Brennan II and Caoilfhionn II) The Order of the Silver Brooch may be awarded by the Crown to an individual for excellence in the arts or sciences, whether in a single art form or multiple art forms.

5. The Order of the Silver Wheel (established December 5 A.S. 50, 2015, by Brennan II and Caoilfhionn II) The Order of the Silver Wheel may be awarded by the Crown to an individual for dedicated service that benefits the local group, Kingdom, or Society.

6. The Order of Apollo’s Arrow (established December 5 A.S. 50, 2015, by Brennan II and Caoilfhionn II) The Order of Apollo’s Arrow may be awarded by the Crown to an individual for martial skill in the field of target archery

3.3. Orders of Honor
Renumber former section IX.C. to IX.D.; also changes to make scrolls optional except as specified.
It is hoped that a reduction of scrolls accompanying these awards will ease the burden placed on the scribes by the creation of the Armigerous Orders. In the course of discussion, it was pointed out that if a person desires a scroll or token and did not receive one, they are always free to commission one.
A member of Curia raised the question of whether the Burdened Tyger properly belongs in this section, since it’s not a true order. Orders, by definition, can only be joined once. A person can receive more than one Burdened Tyger. His Highness Prince Kenric announced his intention of addressing this matter at his Curia, and the question was tabled until that time.
Passed with the following language:

IX.Awards D. Orders of Honor

1. There are Orders of Honor in the East Kingdom, and their recipients are known as Companions of their respective Orders.

a. Companions of each Order of Honor will rank equally with Companions of the other Orders of Honor in the Order of Precedence.

b. Except as otherwise expressly stated below, scrolls for induction into Orders of Honor are optional. [no change to IX.D.2. and IX.D.3.]

4. The Order of the Tyger’s Cub (established October 14 A.S. 13, 1978, by Gyrth and Melisande; revised December 5 A.S. 50, 2015, by Brennan II and Caoilfhionn II)

a. The Order of the Tyger’s Cub may be awarded by The Crown to children under the age of eighteen in the East Kingdom who have displayed admirable virtue and decorum at events.

b. The Companions of the Order will be entitled to act as pages to the Royalty of the East Kingdom until such time as they reach the age of eighteen.

c. The Companions of this Order shall be entitled to a scroll. [no change to IX.D.5. through IX.D.11.]

3.4. Other East Kingdom Awards
Renumber former section IX.D. to IX.E.; also changes to make scrolls optional except as specified.
The Crown also changed the text of the Order of Valor to specify that the Crown may present it, from the previous language which allowed only the King to present it. His Majesty felt that the Queen should be able to recognize value on the field in her own right, if she were to be attending an Interkingdom war alone.
Passed with the following language:

IX.Awards E. Other East Kingdom Awards

1. These awards are not armigerous, they convey no standing in the Order of Precedence, and the recipients are not Companions of any Order. Scrolls are optional for these awards, except as otherwise expressly stated.

2. The Queen’s Cypher (created by Gavin and Tamera and first presented on October 18 A.S. 15, 1980; revised December 5 A.S. 50, 2015, by Brennan II and Caoilfhionn II)

a. The Queen’s Cypher is hereby established to recognize those subjects of the East Kingdom who have distinguished themselves by providing exceptional service to the Queen.

b. This Order may be awarded by the Queen to whomever She deems deserving.

c. The Queen may award no more than ten Queen’s Cyphers during any one Reign; nor will She feel required to award any at all, if none are clearly meritorious.

d. The recipients of this award will be entitled to either a scroll proclaiming their meritorious services or a personal token of the Queen bearing the Cypher, which is the Queen’s initial together with an “R”.

3. The King’s Cypher (created by Balfar II and Luna II and first presented on April 13 A.S. 30, 1996; revised December 5 A.S. 50, 2015, by Brennan II and Caoilfhionn II)

a. The King’s Cypher is hereby established to recognize those subjects of the East Kingdom who have distinguished themselves by providing exceptional service to the King.

b. This Order may be awarded by the King to whomever He deems deserving.

c. The King may award no more than ten King’s Cyphers during any one Reign; nor will He feel required to award any at all, if none are clearly meritorious.

d. The recipients of this award will be entitled to either a scroll proclaiming their meritorious services or a personal token of the King bearing the Cypher, which is the King’s initial together with an “R”.

4. The Blue Tyger Legion (established November 19 A.S. 29, 1994, by Gregor II and Christence II; revised May 31 A.S. 50, 2015, by Darius V, called Omega, and Etheldreda IV; revised December 5 A.S. 50, 2015, by Brennan II and Caoilfhionn II)

a. The Blue Tyger Legion may be awarded by The Crown to groups that have demonstrated exceptional martial prowess in the field.

b. During any one Reign, no more than one group will be inducted into the Legion.

c. The inducted group is entitled to hang from its banner a schwenkle, bendy purpure and or, charged with the initials of the inducting Monarchs.

d. A group may be recognized in this way more than once, in which case the initials of the inducting Monarchs will be added to the existing schwenkle.

5. The Queen’s Award of Esteem (established by edict October 6 A.S. 31, 1996, by Elspeth; renamed January 25 A.S. 49, 2015, by Edward III and Thyra II; revised December 5 A.S. 50, 2015, by Brennan II and Caoilfhionn II)

a. The Queen’s Award of Esteem may be awarded by the Queen, for any reason She deems worthy, in order to recognize an act, a series of acts, or general behavior that is not already properly recognized by other East Kingdom awards.

b. The token of the Queen’s Award of Esteem is not defined, but will be specified in 4 each Reign by the Queen and will be fashioned by the Queen’s hand.

c. This award will be given solely at the Queen’s discretion.

d. A gentle may receive the Queen’s Award of Esteem more than once, and no upper or lower limits on the number to be awarded per Reign will be imposed.

e. The Queen’s Award of Esteem includes all gentles who previously received the Queen’s Honour of Distinction.

6. The King’s Award of Esteem (established January 31 A.S. 44, 2010, by Konrad II and Brenwen II; renamed January 25 A.S. 49, 2015, by Edward III and Thyra II; revised December 5 A.S. 50, 2015, by Brennan II and Caoilfhionn II)

a. The King’s Award of Esteem may be awarded by the King, for any reason He deems worthy, to acknowledge special merit in an act, a series of acts, or general behavior that is not already properly recognized by other East Kingdom awards.

b. The token of the King’s Award of Esteem is not defined, but will be specified in each Reign by the King.

c. Recommendations for this honor will not be requested.

d. A gentle may receive the King’s Award of Esteem more than once, and no upper or lower limit on the number to be awarded per Reign will be imposed.

e. The King’s Award of Esteem includes all gentles who previously received the King’s Esteem of Merit.

7. The Order of Valor of the East (established September 29 A.S. 37, 2002, by Andreas II and Isabella II; renamed September 25 A.S. 40, 2005, by Darius III and Roxane III; renamed January 25 A.S.42, 2008, by Andreas III and Gabriella; renamed January 26 A.S. 48, 2014, by Kenric II and Avelina II; renamed January 25 A.S. 49, 2015, by Edward III and Thyra II; revised December 5 A.S. 50, 2015, by Brennan II and Caoilfhionn II)

a. The Order of Valor of the East may be awarded by the Crown to honor individual members of the armies of the East Kingdom who have distinguished themselves in either of the following ways.

i. By displaying extraordinary command excellence on the battlefield at an InterKingdom War.

ii. By displaying extraordinary actions of valor on the battlefield at an InterKingdom War.

b. The Order of Valor of the East may be awarded no more than three times during any one reign.

c. The Order of Valor of the East includes all gentles who were: i. Inducted into the King’s Order of the Tyger of Valor ii. Inducted into the previous Order of the Valiant Tyger iii. Inducted into the Tyger of Valor d. A scroll is optional. [no change to IX.E.8. and IX.E.9.]

10. The Company of the Pennon of the East (established June 19 A.S. 40, 2005, by Gaufred Kelson II and Geneviere II; renamed January 25 A.S. 49, 2015, by Edward III and Thyra 5 II; revised December 5 A.S. 50, 2015, by Brennan II and Caoilfhionn II)

a. The Company of the Pennon of the East may be awarded by the King and Queen to any East Kingdom gentle that has demonstrated exceptional martial prowess on the field, field support, staff, or other gentles who support the East Kingdom at events held in another Kingdom.

b. A Gentle may be inducted into the Company of the Pennon of the East more than once, and no upper or lower limits on the number of gentles to be inducted per reign will be imposed.

c. The token given will be a small pennon or streamer, able to be worn either on the person or attached to a banner, bearing the initials of the awarding Crown. The colors of such token will reflect the host Kingdom of the foreign war for which the award is given; such as the blue, gold, and/or white of Atenveldt for the Estrella War.

d. The Company of the Pennon of the East includes all gentles who previously received the Tyger of Foreign Legions.

11. The Award of Gilder (established July 18 A.S. 44, 2009, by Andreas IV and Gabriella II; renamed January 25 A.S. 49, 2015, by Edward III and Thyra II; revised December 5 A.S. 50, 2015, by Brennan II and Caoilfhionn II)

a. The Award of Gilder shall be given by the King and Queen to children of the East Kingdom under the age of 18 who display or perform works of Arts & Sciences that manifest the spirit of the East Kingdom Arts.

b. The token of the Award of Gilder shall be a coin displaying the initials of the awarding Royalty.

c. The Award of Gilder includes all gentles who previously received the Order of the Golden Kinder.

3.5. The Queen’s Guard
Revision to V.D.4. to allow the Princess to appoint as the Guard’s advisor a Companion of one of the martial peerage orders.
Her Majesty spoke of the fact that the Queen’s Guard is now composed of representatives of a wide range of martial disciplines, rather than just squires on the cusp of receiving the accolade of chivalry, and that thus it is no longer appropriate to limit their Peer advisor solely to the Chivalry.
Passed with the following language:

V. Court Appointments

D. The Queen’s Guard [no change to V.D.1. through V.D.3.]

4. Will have a Companion of one of the martial Peerage Orders, chosen by the Princess, to serve as their advisor.

3.6. Blue Tyger Legion
Revision to IX.E.4. to restrict the award to no more than one per reign.
Passed with the following language:

a. The Blue Tyger Legion may be awarded by The Crown to groups that have demonstrated exceptional martial prowess in the field.

b. During any one Reign, no more than one group will be inducted into the Legion.

c. The inducted group is entitled to hang from its banner a schwenkle, bendy purpure and or, charged with the initials of the inducting Monarchs.

d. A group may be recognized in this way more than once, in which case the initials of the inducting Monarchs will be added to the existing schwenkle.

3.7. Crown Tourneys
Revision to VIII.A.3.b. to make the preferred dates for Fall Crown Tourney the first two weeks in November.
His Majesty explained that the Crown’s motivation for this change was to make Crown Tourney more family-friendly. If the event is held on the last weekend in October, it forces participants with young children to choose between activities with their children and participating in Crown.
A comment was offered from the Curia membership that this change would also assist with locating sites, as many suitable sites are booked well in advance for Halloween-related events.
Passed with the following language:

VIII. Events

A. Kingdom Events [no change to VIII.A.1. and VIII.A.2.]

3. Crown Tourneys

a. The preferred date for Spring Crown Tourney is the first Saturday in May, with the last Saturday in April serving as an alternate date. Written bids must be sent by January 1st. The Heirs must choose from eligible bids by February 15th .

b. The preferred date for Fall Crown Tourney is the first Saturday in November, with the second Saturday in November serving as an alternate date. Written bids must be sent by July 1st. The Heirs must choose from eligible bids by August 15th . [no change to remainder of section VIII.A.3.]