12th night--more details
Jan. 12th, 2009 09:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kareinaI have been enjoying reading the various 12th Night summaries on my Friends page, with four different Kingdoms listed (at least). There is quite a bit of variety in the Known World as to how this event is done.
I've been in the SCA since the early/mid 1980's, but this is the first time I've attended a camping event for 12th Night. But then again, it is also the first time I've attended 12th Night in the summer, so no surprises that none of the others were camping events. This particular "camping" event was held at a scout camp, so there were bunk houses available, with preference for bunk space given to those who travelled here from out of state. (As it should be--there are only two ways to get here--by air or by sea, and by air is (usually) considerably cheaper and faster, but doesn't permit much in the way of luggage.)
So I booked camping space, and hoped I could bring my pavilion, but wasn't certain if I'd be able to, given how small our car is. It *is* possible to transport the pavilion in the car, but not much else, and one can't take a passenger, as the poles have to go diagonally from the front window on the passenger side to the back of the car on the left hand side, and they only just fit. This is only possible if the back seat is down, thus eliminating any legal way to transport people too. But the lovely![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
glass_violet had room in her car to bring the poles up early the week before for me, so all I had to squeeze into the car was the pavilion fabric, our clothes, feast gear, bedding, a small roll-up table, my computer, some sewing projects, and some socks, toiletries, etc. I wanted to bring my hammer dulcimer, but it wouldn't fit, so I let the guy who made it bring it to the instrument display at Cygnet Folk Festival instead. He tells me it had a good time there without me.
Another way Lochac 12th Night differs from all of the others I have read about is that it is a fully catered event. There is a feast, and other regular meals provided. This makes for a rather expensive event, but, fortunately, off-board options were available for people like me, who prefer to bring their own food to camping events. As usually happens, I nibbled on my food off an on during the early part of the day, and was done eating about the time the feast started being served. I did a bit of the serving, and spent time visiting with people at various tables during the feast. It is odd the way I lose interest in food in the evenings--even though it all smelled delicious, I simply wasn't interested in eating. (a large part of why I go off board--no point in paying for food I'm not going to eat, nor for them to count me as eating when I'm not going to--that path leads to too much food being wasted--much better that they shop for only the folk who will actually eat.
The thing which most surprised me about the event was the way they did the Coronation Court. I guess I expected that Lochac, as a descendant of the West, would follow the tradition of the outgoing King placing the Crown on the head of his heir. Instead they set up a story, which was well enough played out to provide entertainment for the populace.
During the final court of Siridean and Siban his Majesty announced that he was going away on Crusade, and he took the cross, left his Crown and his signet ring in the care of his Queen, and bid the people to care for her and obey her as they would him, and off he went, accompanied by all of his guardsmen, for the journey would be dangerous, and court was ended. Some time later Her Majesty conveyed court, attended by ladies in waiting and a single guardswoman and proceeded to present a few awards to deserving individuals. Then, abruptly, her court was interrupted by a band of noisy, armoured, sword-wielding men. Her guardswoman attempted to disperse them, but she was overwhelmed and carried out as the heir to the throne declared that the Kingdom had been left too long without a protector and therefore he was going to claim the Crown, as was his right. Lacking a guard, her Majesty, wisely, acknowledged his right to the Crown, and presented him with the signet ring and he crowned himself Theuderic, King of Lochac and offered up his oath of fealty to the Kingdom and her people. Her Majesty then asked if he meant to rule alone, or if there was one to stand by his side, and he called forth Engelin and Crowned her Queen and she swore her oath in turn. Then, before anything else happened they thanked Siban for her service to the Kingdom and presented her with a County that she may have a comfortable retirement.
Much later, during the evening feast, the merriment was interrupted as Siridean returned from Crusade and attempted to enter the hall, only to be stopped by a guardsman. He pushed his way in and demanded to know who dare deny him entry to his own hall, and who would try to usurp his Crown. Realizing that it was his own Heir, who pointed out that the Kingdom had stood in need of a strong leader, he started to back down from his challenges, and his Majesty then offered him an honourable retirement presenting him with a ducal rank to support him in his old age. (note: Siridean has also reigned over Calontir, which is why he's a Duke now, though he has served Lochac as King only the once).
I actually found myself enjoying the way they presented the story and played out their roles, but I am not certain that I would have, had I not been invited to be one of the ladies attending HRM during her final, solo, court. Not that I think that it is important for me to participate, but because it gave me a chance to hear in advance that they were going to let the new King crown himself, so I had the opportunity to get used to the idea before witnessing it, and so not have my sense of tradition unexpectedly flouted.
Another difference in the way things are done here, that I haven't decided if I like or not. When the Crown gives their oath of fealty back to the peers/officers/Landed Barons and Baronesses, rather than saying "so say we Theuderic and Engelin", they say "so say we, Lochac". This is good in that it underscores the fact that the Kingdom and the Crown are one, but if they say their names it helps the populace to learn and remember their names, which, I think, is also important.
For me the event was a nice, mostly relaxing, weekend. I did some stitching, some visiting with old friends, some meeting new folk, some singing, some dancing, one nice long walk to the quarry of metamorphic rock (low grade, but nicely folded schist), and even some (probably not enough) uni work.
Alas, sleep was also in the "some" category, rather than the "enough" category, resulting in my being largely useless today. I would have slept in much later than I did, but I needed to be at uni at 11:30 for a meeting. The meeting went well, and as a result I've made good progress at expanding the zircon section of chapter five. Then I took a short nap untilclovis_t was done with his meeting and returned home, where I've wiled away the afternoon getting more stuff put away and doing e-mail and other useful tasks. I sincerely hope that having had a, largely, lazy day that I'll be motivated to do much uni work tomorrow!
I've been in the SCA since the early/mid 1980's, but this is the first time I've attended a camping event for 12th Night. But then again, it is also the first time I've attended 12th Night in the summer, so no surprises that none of the others were camping events. This particular "camping" event was held at a scout camp, so there were bunk houses available, with preference for bunk space given to those who travelled here from out of state. (As it should be--there are only two ways to get here--by air or by sea, and by air is (usually) considerably cheaper and faster, but doesn't permit much in the way of luggage.)
So I booked camping space, and hoped I could bring my pavilion, but wasn't certain if I'd be able to, given how small our car is. It *is* possible to transport the pavilion in the car, but not much else, and one can't take a passenger, as the poles have to go diagonally from the front window on the passenger side to the back of the car on the left hand side, and they only just fit. This is only possible if the back seat is down, thus eliminating any legal way to transport people too. But the lovely
glass_violet had room in her car to bring the poles up early the week before for me, so all I had to squeeze into the car was the pavilion fabric, our clothes, feast gear, bedding, a small roll-up table, my computer, some sewing projects, and some socks, toiletries, etc. I wanted to bring my hammer dulcimer, but it wouldn't fit, so I let the guy who made it bring it to the instrument display at Cygnet Folk Festival instead. He tells me it had a good time there without me.Another way Lochac 12th Night differs from all of the others I have read about is that it is a fully catered event. There is a feast, and other regular meals provided. This makes for a rather expensive event, but, fortunately, off-board options were available for people like me, who prefer to bring their own food to camping events. As usually happens, I nibbled on my food off an on during the early part of the day, and was done eating about the time the feast started being served. I did a bit of the serving, and spent time visiting with people at various tables during the feast. It is odd the way I lose interest in food in the evenings--even though it all smelled delicious, I simply wasn't interested in eating. (a large part of why I go off board--no point in paying for food I'm not going to eat, nor for them to count me as eating when I'm not going to--that path leads to too much food being wasted--much better that they shop for only the folk who will actually eat.
The thing which most surprised me about the event was the way they did the Coronation Court. I guess I expected that Lochac, as a descendant of the West, would follow the tradition of the outgoing King placing the Crown on the head of his heir. Instead they set up a story, which was well enough played out to provide entertainment for the populace.
During the final court of Siridean and Siban his Majesty announced that he was going away on Crusade, and he took the cross, left his Crown and his signet ring in the care of his Queen, and bid the people to care for her and obey her as they would him, and off he went, accompanied by all of his guardsmen, for the journey would be dangerous, and court was ended. Some time later Her Majesty conveyed court, attended by ladies in waiting and a single guardswoman and proceeded to present a few awards to deserving individuals. Then, abruptly, her court was interrupted by a band of noisy, armoured, sword-wielding men. Her guardswoman attempted to disperse them, but she was overwhelmed and carried out as the heir to the throne declared that the Kingdom had been left too long without a protector and therefore he was going to claim the Crown, as was his right. Lacking a guard, her Majesty, wisely, acknowledged his right to the Crown, and presented him with the signet ring and he crowned himself Theuderic, King of Lochac and offered up his oath of fealty to the Kingdom and her people. Her Majesty then asked if he meant to rule alone, or if there was one to stand by his side, and he called forth Engelin and Crowned her Queen and she swore her oath in turn. Then, before anything else happened they thanked Siban for her service to the Kingdom and presented her with a County that she may have a comfortable retirement.
Much later, during the evening feast, the merriment was interrupted as Siridean returned from Crusade and attempted to enter the hall, only to be stopped by a guardsman. He pushed his way in and demanded to know who dare deny him entry to his own hall, and who would try to usurp his Crown. Realizing that it was his own Heir, who pointed out that the Kingdom had stood in need of a strong leader, he started to back down from his challenges, and his Majesty then offered him an honourable retirement presenting him with a ducal rank to support him in his old age. (note: Siridean has also reigned over Calontir, which is why he's a Duke now, though he has served Lochac as King only the once).
I actually found myself enjoying the way they presented the story and played out their roles, but I am not certain that I would have, had I not been invited to be one of the ladies attending HRM during her final, solo, court. Not that I think that it is important for me to participate, but because it gave me a chance to hear in advance that they were going to let the new King crown himself, so I had the opportunity to get used to the idea before witnessing it, and so not have my sense of tradition unexpectedly flouted.
Another difference in the way things are done here, that I haven't decided if I like or not. When the Crown gives their oath of fealty back to the peers/officers/Landed Barons and Baronesses, rather than saying "so say we Theuderic and Engelin", they say "so say we, Lochac". This is good in that it underscores the fact that the Kingdom and the Crown are one, but if they say their names it helps the populace to learn and remember their names, which, I think, is also important.
For me the event was a nice, mostly relaxing, weekend. I did some stitching, some visiting with old friends, some meeting new folk, some singing, some dancing, one nice long walk to the quarry of metamorphic rock (low grade, but nicely folded schist), and even some (probably not enough) uni work.
Alas, sleep was also in the "some" category, rather than the "enough" category, resulting in my being largely useless today. I would have slept in much later than I did, but I needed to be at uni at 11:30 for a meeting. The meeting went well, and as a result I've made good progress at expanding the zircon section of chapter five. Then I took a short nap until
clovis_t was done with his meeting and returned home, where I've wiled away the afternoon getting more stuff put away and doing e-mail and other useful tasks. I sincerely hope that having had a, largely, lazy day that I'll be motivated to do much uni work tomorrow!
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(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-12 11:51 am (UTC)With regard to your feasting policy, I think it's a good idea to bring your own food if you generally don't eat. At some of the groups who know about those of us with dodgy tummies, the Feast Steward will arrange a slightly lower rate because they know we generally can't eat everything, particularly dessert. It's something I'm going to try to work out in feasts I run - even if 60 people are going, 60 people aren't going to eat every dish, and when dessert rolls around, most people aren't hungry anyway, so only cater for 40.
Oooh. That last sentence was very long. Good thing I'm not writing academic papers.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-13 12:30 am (UTC)When I was young I used to try to eat feasts--they were often scheduled to being around 5pm, but, more typically, didn't come out till 7pm. In those days I didn't bring food of my own, and was *starving* by the time the first few dishes were served, and I'd eat quickly as a result, filling up, and then wouldn't be interested in the second round of food. Once I realized that it isn't just feasts, but that my body is happier eating frequent small "meals" during the morning and afternoon but abstaining from food in the evening and at night, I was much happier.
Fortunately, in most Kingdoms in which I've lived, feasts are the only events at which food is provided, and they are a small fraction of the total number of events available, so *usually*, I am expected to bring my own food, and don't have to ask the steward for a special rate.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-12 02:42 pm (UTC)Not the game I'm playing and I'm glad nobody tried it here.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-12 11:27 pm (UTC)This is the second time that a Crown of Lochac has changed hands using a bit of court shtick. The circumstances of both were completely different.
Usually the tradition of the west is followed.
A for thinly veiled contempt.... That sure sounds period to me!
To question your position.
In period, as a denizen of the court. Would you have questioned the right of The Heir to The Crown, to claim it in the absence/death of The King? If so, how long would it have taken you to come to a conclusion to act? If The Queen had abdicated before you did, would you act once the new king had taken his throne? Would that be worse for the populace and the Kingdom?
Your comment about the game component is correct though. This is simply where Lochac tends to honour periodicity over the Victorian Ideals, which are in most Kingdoms regarded as the basis of the game.
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-12 11:54 pm (UTC)In period I'd have been obliged to cope with whatever monarch stole the throne by whatever underhanded methods he used. That is one of those things in period that I do not think our game would be improved by including. However, in period I'd also have had a strong belief that rightful kings were chosen by God. I'm awful fond of His Current Majesty Occidentalis but at no point have I ever considered him to be divinely selected.
As a Christian woman now, I recognize that Jade of Starfall is a swell guy and a brilliant athlete. As a Christian woman then, I'd have recognized him as being the man selected by God to rule my homeland. In our game if he behaves in a matter I find to be abhorrent I will pick up the phone and call him and tell him about it- he's good about listening to dissent. In period... well, if I strongly believed a king to be acting against divine will, yes, I'd probably be honor bound to do something drastic. If we were talking about a conflict between God and King and I was certain within my hypothetical period self that the King had truly lost God's favor, Period-Elsa would feel obligated to help overthrow the ungodly king.
Ultimately, within our game I want my King to behave like a gentleman. Or at least a good guy who occasionally puts his elbows on the table. I don't want him even pretending to be a bully who stole a throne. It harshes my vibe. ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2009-01-13 12:18 am (UTC)As to your question "were there no knights?". There were four on site. One, the outgoing King, was on crusade, and I think at least one was on the incoming King's guard. I don't recall off hand where the other two were or if they had roles in either side of the show. There were also only four Laurels on site. The total number of people in attendance at the event were somewhere in the 60 to 100 range, I think, but that is just a guess. My role as a lady in waiting was to step forward and be ready to do whatever I could to protect the Queen when the guardswoman was subdued, and I did not step back until she acknowledged her heir. I might not have been able to do them any harm, unarmed as I was, but they would have had to take me down to get to her if they intended any harm!