#sca pelicans

[thejoyofseax]

Taking on a Protégée

I have now been a Pelican for slightly over a year. Apart from the polling on who else should be elevated, pretty much everything about being a peer is a matter of tradition and local expectation - very little is set down in writing. But one of the things that most peers do (and which I feel is most of if not the whole point of peerages) is take on specific students. For Pelicans, these are conventionally called protégé(e)s.

On November 18, AS 58 (2023 CE), at Ilchomórtas Coróineád Insulae Draconis, the Principality Crown Tourney, I took on Gabrielle of Dun in Mara as a dependent. We had a ceremony between court and feast, which was well attended by noble witnesses.

The image above shows the text of her indenture, which is derived directly from my own indenture with Genevieve la flechiere. The hand is my own pseudo-calligraphic scrawl, based on the cló gaelach - it's not authentically medieval, but for a working document in English which represents the Irish persona, it'll do. This was cut in two along a jagged line in the gap in the middle, and we each have one part. The seals on it already are marked with the House of Green ivy, and we'll add some Pelican seals in due course. The ceremony also included a reading of the lineage, which stretches back several generations to Merowald Sylveaston, knighted in AS VI.

Gabrielle and myself listening gravely to Master Agnes reading the lineage.

And the actual homage bit.

Gabrielle now has the yellow belt I wore for years, and once she has settled on her own arms, she'll add those above mine, Genevieve's, and the chequey pattern that represents Brand, Genevieve's pelican. I'm still not used to wearing a different belt, so seeing her now wearing "mine" is a bit strange. I reckon it'll settle in after a bit, though.

Gabrielle has already stepped up as Chatelaine for Dun in Mara, so her career is off to a good start. I'm extremely pleased with her.

[echodreamer]

So I know most folks arnt here for this but I was damn proud of this one. A scroll done for an award in the sca, based off of a manuscript loosely known as the black hours. I did all the art, The words themselves by my roommate and caligraphy by a friend. Now that it's been handed out I can finally post it! All gouache on black paper.

[heraldrydiculous]

389 Vulture-Pelican

[malyssmakneile]

Introducing Baby's First Whole Scroll™

Duchess Meagan was surprise-elevated on Sunday this week and I volunteered to do the scroll. (Didn't do the words tho)

Round One: two weeks (not hurrying tho), got splashed with paint

Round Two: one week, had epic gilding failures

Round Three: I had a week to go before the due date and I did the whole thing in five days and diapered every blasted inch I could get my hands on

I guess I can do quick turnaround scrolls???? 😅

[strangewayes]

So! Updates for House Strangewayes!

We gots new Peers back in March, and everyone was GORGEOUS and it was a lovely day. Simona is now a Pelican and Keziah is our newest Laurel.

Bianca received the Consort’s Order of Courtesy.

Katla received her Maunche.

We remain busy bees.

[mandywondering]

only surprised it's not biting the cop car

when a pelican bites you there's no malice in their eyes. they aren't upset at you. they are just hungry and want to see if you fit in their mouths. and if you don't then it's no problem and everything is fine. and if you do then well i guess your fate is sealed but that's ok it's a beautiful animal

[somediyprojects]

Camelot Sampler stitched by Heidi Clarissa Wright. Pattern ($6.99) designed by Teresa Wentzler.

“I modified the Camelot Sampler into an award scroll for a friend in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism). I changed the colors of one jouster to match my friend's. Arthur and Guinevere were modified by adding a beard to him and making her a brunette. The central area I used for the award. The castle medallion at the bottom I turned into the symbol of the award, a pelican in her piety. Small areas around the edges I used for symbols significant to the SCA. I also e-mailed TW about changing her design. She was fine with it as long as I wasn-t selling the new design.”

[sca-nerd]

I have a question you have probably answered before, how come you are a man at arms and not a knight?

Ooooo, this is a fun question to answer! There is a TL;DR at the end of this if you want to skip all of the exposition, but I have a bad habit of explaining things.

So, in the SCA there are Peerages that you can be elevated to. They are the highest awards that can be bestowed on someone by the Crown/Coronet of the Kingdom you reside. The thing about the Peerages is that no one APPOINTS you (at least no one who wants to remain in the Populace's good graces) - you have to be voted on and recommended by people who are already in that Peerage.

The Order of Chivalry consists of the Knights and the Masters of Arms. Members are recognized for their great skill at arms in combat, as well as for qualities of courtesy and grace.

The Order of the Laurel are recognized for their great skill in the Arts or Sciences, for their willingness to teach others, and for using their abilities to benefit their kingdom.

The Order of the Pelican are recognized for great service to their kingdom or to the Society as a whole, usually for many years and without thought of reward.

The Order of Defense are recognized for their great skill at rapier and/or cut-and-thrust combat, as well as for qualities of courtesy and grace, for their willingness to teach others, and for service to the kingdom.

Some people choose a path to a Peerage. Their intention is to, hopefully, earn their place amid whatever Order they feel drawn to. This path is achieved in different ways, but like with any social club, there are Traditions on how to do it. For those who wish to be Knighted and join the Order of the Chivalry, the first step for that is to Squire to a Knight.

You will note that I am not, in fact, a Squire: I am a Man-at-Arms. This is a title that different Knights use for different positions in their Households. There are some Knights who use the title as a "pre-Squire" position. It's an informal arrangement between a Knight and a fighter for a certain amount of time to work together and see if they're good fit before formalizing with a Squiring (or not Squiring if they decide it's not a good fit).

My Knight doesn't do this. Instead, a Man-at-Arms in his Household is a fighter is not pursuing the Order of the Chivalry, but still wishes to fight and train under his command and colors.

I love to fight - it's a LOT of fun, and I really enjoy being a part of a team and training together and knowing that my brothers have my back. I also have absolutely NO interest in being a Knight. None at all. It's just not for me. Fighting in the SCA is fun, but it's not a passion. So, I won't Squire. But I am still a member of his Household and a member of his army as a Man-at-Arms fighting both combat archery and sword and shield. He still owes me a pony, though, because Man-at-Arms is traditionally a mounted position, and I feel like that's the LEAST he can do.

TL;DR - I'm a Man-at-Arms and not a Knight because I have no interest in being a Knight. The opportunity to become a Knight takes a long time (talking Y E A R S), and that's not where my heart is at. It's at the hospitality table eating the savory toasted cheese.

[thepeacefulavenger]

In the SCA (society of creative anachronism) (medival renactment group) the knightly order for people who have really given back to the community are the pelicans with this as their heraldry, because they have given so much of themselves to the community

'would you marry your blorbo?' crazy question, evidence of an unstable mind. I would feed him from my own breast like the pelican

[echodreamer]

again more sca awards, a pelican. I seem to get tapped for a lot of those.

[felislapis]

This pelican is now home! I loved making it, and I hope the person enjoys it for a long time to come!

[malyssmakneile]

Made a tunic for a friend's elevation to Pelican this last weekend. Every inch handsewn and it fits like a dream. It's got gold embroidery and dark orange tablet woven trim (courtesy of someone else) and I'm really proud of it because it is extravagant for him but not over the top. It's the perfect level of Lots.

I was going for an early period leine based on what we see in the book of Kells, and I think I managed it.

[heraldrydiculous]

208 Tower of High Heraldry

[jaraxles]

Pelican cloak I made for a good friend's elevation to that Order this weekend at Birka

[that-awkward-fae-nerd]

I love this bit of lore! I’ve included it in some of my creative writing, but I learned it from the SCA. We have an award called the Pelican that is given to someone giving a lot of time, effort, and service to the Society as a whole. It’s actually a title in the SCA, like knight or master. There’s also laurel, for the arts and sciences. Fencers have white scarves.

I demand that you curse me with your wisdom

in medieval times it was believed a Pelican mother would gouge her breast with her beak to feed her blood to her chicks. i don’t even know