msmemory_archive (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
msmemory_archive) wrote2006-10-19 03:08 pm
msmemory_archive) wrote2006-10-19 03:08 pm
Crown
I love this kingdom, I really do. But sometimes I do get wry amusement from it.
About 10 days ago, which was early, I received my spreadsheet with the roster of Crown List entrants, so that I can prepare my Order of Precedence march of combattants. It was 29 lines, which was 30 fighters (one combattant couple, as usual). Looking it over, I discovered that half a dozen of the "usual suspects" weren't there, so I created entries for them, figuring I can toss out the extra cards if the Crown doesn't opt those fighters in at the last minute.
Just now, someone leaked a list of the entrants on a household list, forwarded from one of the shire lists. 43 names. Including some but not all of my "missing" fellows, and a couple of people I'd heard through the grapevine had submitted letters of intent but had not confirmed. Snicker. I'll bet that list is slightly longer yet before the day.
Now, personally, I'd be all in favor of doing as several (most?) of the other kingdoms do, and posting the list of entrants a week or two before the tournament. Surprise only goes so far - and a posted roster would cut down on the nudging and whispers. Then it could be all corrected and updated before the tournament day, too. I know the secrecy thing hearkens back to the First Tournament years, when a fighter did not have to announce his inspiration's identity until his victory, and I'm enough of a traditionalist to respect that, but I think there is also much to be said for proclaiming as a joyous announcement who the contestants will be, both combattants and consorts.
About 10 days ago, which was early, I received my spreadsheet with the roster of Crown List entrants, so that I can prepare my Order of Precedence march of combattants. It was 29 lines, which was 30 fighters (one combattant couple, as usual). Looking it over, I discovered that half a dozen of the "usual suspects" weren't there, so I created entries for them, figuring I can toss out the extra cards if the Crown doesn't opt those fighters in at the last minute.
Just now, someone leaked a list of the entrants on a household list, forwarded from one of the shire lists. 43 names. Including some but not all of my "missing" fellows, and a couple of people I'd heard through the grapevine had submitted letters of intent but had not confirmed. Snicker. I'll bet that list is slightly longer yet before the day.
Now, personally, I'd be all in favor of doing as several (most?) of the other kingdoms do, and posting the list of entrants a week or two before the tournament. Surprise only goes so far - and a posted roster would cut down on the nudging and whispers. Then it could be all corrected and updated before the tournament day, too. I know the secrecy thing hearkens back to the First Tournament years, when a fighter did not have to announce his inspiration's identity until his victory, and I'm enough of a traditionalist to respect that, but I think there is also much to be said for proclaiming as a joyous announcement who the contestants will be, both combattants and consorts.
Precedence
I seem to remember hearing (back around 1993) that the Southwestern Kingdoms (and, yeah, I'm probably overgeneralizing here) tended to have Grand Processions, in which everybody at a feast would line up in order of precedence. Was that true in An Tir? I imagine such a custom would fix everyone's precedence in their own minds quite effectively.
The context I heard this in makes a good story. I was living in Ponte Alto, Atlantia, and someone...call her Romana...was telling us about her trip to...I think it was the Outlands. She was going to be going to their Twelfth Night, I think it was. Another Atlantian she knew...call him Fred...had arranged with the King of Atlantia to carry his greetings to the King of the Outlands...which, in Fred's mind, made him an Ambassador. (Ominous music here.) When Fred heard she was going to be there, too, he said something like, "Oh, nice, we can both be Ambassadors!" Romana made polite noises, but apparently he took it seriously.
So, at the event, when the locals were lining up for the Grand Procession, Fred came along and grabbed Romana to join him...at the front of the line, since, as Ambassadors, they represented the Crown of Atlantia, and therefore ranked ahead of everybody except the King. (I suppose an Ambassador could even claim that he ranked ahead of a King from a younger Kingdom; but, fortunately, Fred didn't have the opportunity.) So there they were, not dressed up all that much (hard to fit an Elizabethan gown in carryon luggage), standing in front of all the Dukes and Duchesses of the Outlands, who were looking at them and asking what they thought they were doing. Why, they weren't even wearing circlets!
Romana was not happy with Fred. I gather, though, that he was too oblivious to notice, and thought he'd given her a wonderful treat.
Re: Precedence