Saturday October 22, 2022, I sat my vigil and was elevated to Laurelate in the SCA. That was nearly 10 weeks since the Writ. I talked about the liminal space and that apparently was well-received. Now, that space is closed. Formality or no, I am now a Laurel.
I don’t have photos from the vigil. I was busy and I didn’t task anyone to do that. I should have. I transformed the space as best I could into Swann Manor. Here is the fiction I was using for the day.
The only photo I have is for Froderick’s vigil
I was thrilled that people wanted to do this. The comments of “Oh! I have to remember to bring a friend for Froderick’s vigil” were very touching. I am glad you all want to play with this. Strawberry even made him a fly! Froderick even got a limerick from Lucia.
There once was a froggie named Froderick
Who hung out with Oswyn – his sidekick
While Oswyn’s revered
So here’s his concil’ia’t’ry limerick
Pretty much from 9:30 on, I had a steady stream of guests. I had a few moments, literally only minutes, of time when I didn’t have a guest. Judging by the box of non-pareils, I had ~ 60 guests. Given I think there were ~ 100 people at the event, that is pretty darn good.
For the most part, the advice I was given was the standard advice that goes around. And some of it contradictory. “Wait a year before taking an apprentice” “Take an apprentice when you are good and ready” I think some of the best advice was “you have the best perspective right now. You know how people act when the Laurels aren’t around and you know what people think about the Laurels. That voice is very much needed.” Most of my guests just wanted to talk and wish me well. And that is great. At least two people had never attended a vigil before.
Several people told me how I inspired them. This was very humbling. People I look up to. People whom I think their level of art is vastly superior to mine are inspired by me? What did I do? I ruined good wine. I am not so humble that I don’t recognize what I did. As one of my guest reminded me, I built a persona and a “play” on what I made. I made a place where people could interact with that. It is what happened at Pennsic. I made an medieval experience for people. I get it. It doesn’t hurt that it is pretty good vinegar too 🙂
I had some good conversations too. Can service be taught? (I will post about that later). How do you break through the frustration people feel? Did you know you could use a chisel to make buttonholes?
I loved that I wide variety of people visited. I always felt a little weird at first when I would go to someone’s vigil as a new person. I am glad I did so. And I am glad these newer people did so. It is a celebration and even new people have insight on how a Peer might behave. After going to some, I started thinking about the advice I would give and how to offer something others did not. But I got shire-mates, friends, royalty, fellow Peers, and a small number of people I didn’t know, or at least didn’t know well.
Okay, gifts. I did get some nice gifts.
I loved the time and attention given to each. The apple necklace will end up in the Apple Tunic set. I have hyped that thing so much. I have a lot of skills I need to learn to pull that off 🙂
The space had couches so Gertie held court over there and from what I could hear, she always had company. That is what I wanted; I wanted company and companionship at this. I was surrounded by voices all day.
Then came time for the elevation. I needed some new clothes and alterations. Laurel Guenin and some help from Sofya made the outfit work.
Then the actual ceremony itself. Several of my speakers could not attend and some of my procession could not attend. But we made it happen. For the procession, I wanted to include newer, and up and coming people. I wanted to give them a chance to be in something really cool. And it worked. I needed several items for the procession as well.
While we processed, Alzbeta spoke the words written by the Sternfeld Battle Bards, especially Mistress Lucia
A Processional Sonnet for Oswyn Swann, on the Occasion of his Elevation to the Order of the Laurel:
Wine cheers the spirit, cider cheers the soul, And vinegar doth cheer the cooking dish. So Oswyn takes stout barrels for a stroll, Makes gifts of each to tankard, sauce and fish.//
His tavern at the Blue Swan Inn has grown With music, friends and laughter edge-to-edge. Now Gunnar begs a boon of Dragon throne. Would chancellor now take the Laurel’s pledge?//
From lim’nal space reflecting well on deeds Of teaching, service, artful things well wrought, And wand’ring roads one’s path to peerage leads//
Sage friend dawns forth from nights of sober thought. Apollo’s favor sets this antiphon with Laurel leaves on Master Oswyn Swann
And then my speakers.
Your Majesties, thank you for allowing my words to be read into your court, so that the populace here assembled can know that Oswyn Swann possesses the Courtesy of a Peer of the Realm.
Peers are called upon to treat everyone with the same respect and courtesy without bias or prejudice. This courtesy maintains and supplies the magic that enriches and sustains us all.
The Coronet of a Royal Peer does not come with an endless font of sparkle. We as Royal Peers sometimes need to be recipients of that noble largesse.
When I met Oswyn Swan, I overheard him say to someone else “Here’s the Rum that I said I would bring you.” As a reflex, I inserted myself into the conversation by asking “where’s the rum you brought for me?” I wasn’t wearing regalia, he didn’t know who I was.
But at the next event, he brought me rum. I still have it. There hasn’t been any occasion worthy of such a small but wondrous gift of magic and glitter. Y
our Majesties, I can attest to this candidate’s courtesy with the guests and residents of the Midrealm. Oswyn treats people with the courtesy expected of a Peer without fear or favor.
He is doing the work expected of a Peer.
Be it your will to welcome him into the Order of the Laurel, I, Marquesa Violante do Porto do hereby affix my name and my words and thus commend him to you.
Marquesa Violante do Porto – spoken by Her Grace Runa
Your Majesties, Thank you for allowing my words to be read in your Court at Crystal Ball.
I Count Seto, a member of your Order of the Chivalry would like to speak about the candidate Oswyn’s Perseverance.
My Liege Lords, as you both know to sit on the Dragon throne takes determination, moxie, and stick-to-itiveness!
Ah but, to become a Laurel, I dare say it takes slightly different type of dedication!
Hear me out, one must study various texts and archives to gain the knowledge to be skilled in an art or science! Oswyn has toiled to learn said level of mastery in not one but many fields!
His glass work is breathtaking and elegant! I can only imagine how many times he has bled in pursuit of perfection!
To Perform miracles such as turning wine into vinegar! We talk about things being an exact science, however, if it was that simple then everyone would be good at it! This man had the pluck to figure out such procedures, teach them to others, and then have the guts to enter his creations in numerous tournaments of arts! Tournaments where you don’t get to actually hit people!?! Or attempt to physical bend them to your will?! Instead you must use reason and research to align them to your cause…
This is true tenacity, simply amazing! Osywn is truly my peer and will make a spectacular addition to the realm & the Society!
Somewhere in Scotland, Count Seto of Shattered Crystal
Count Seto spoken by Morgana
My oath to the kingdom invokes courage and honor, and what I know of Oswyn is this: he brings ferocious courage to the kitchens where he begins his craft and abundant honor to every table and counter and wheelbarrow where he shares the fruits of that labor.
Oswyn has a kind heart and a strong mind, born to experiment and born to teach. We are lucky to have him among us. And he is truly already my Peer and most ready to be recognized as such by Your hand this day.
Master Adam Comyn, MOD
The Oath sworn by Pelicans requires that we “labor for the Common Good, to enrich the Kingdom and the Society, so that they may flourish and grow”.
I will say that Oswyn became Chancellor of Your Royal University just before the Great Plague brought all that we do to a virtual halt. It was not the job for which he signed on, nor the job he wanted to do, but eRUM was the JOB, and Oswyn and his staff delivered hundreds of classes, taught by scores of teachers, to thousands of students over months of time and effort. The eRUM became a model upon which Kingdoms beyond Your Borders built their own programs.
Oswyn has served his home group as Officer and Event Steward. He has welcomed, guided, encouraged, subsidized and transported newcomers so that they can more readily find a place in the SCA. He has created and gifted the works of his hand and his heart, whether glasswork tokens and heraldic plates, or cordials and shrubs served forth at tavern and feast, or his current passion, vinegar, with a generous and unstinting heart.
Your Kingdom is enriched by this man, my Peer, and by my honor, my hand, and my heart I commend him most highly unto Your Majesties.
Master Wilhelm Michalik, OP
[Forthcoming: Baroness Verena Entenwirth]
Regalia was presented.
I can not stress enough how blessed I am to be honored with such noble friends. Thank you for a very special day.
