Gersvinda's Ceremony

SOME NOTES! 

This is a CUSTOM work, and while we'd love if you see it as inspiration, please don't take chunks of it. Go sift through Beowulf yourself!  Feel free to contact us if you'd like to use the entire thing! 

That being said, the poetry spoken while the candidate processes in is unique to the humans it was written for. These are descriptions of SPECIFIC people, and is not something that should be re-used.  Those words were a gift to the individuals present that day. 

There are LOTS of reasons this ceremony is so awesome, and you should bother Gersvinda about the details, but to cover a FEW

It is woman centered

It is based on extensive research (the reading list for this one is LONG, like...LONG)

It is wholly new

The action happening is the Queen choosing to change the social rank of someone by serving them "out of order". Everyone in the hall is served mead, in rank order, and someone served "before their rank" BECOMES that new rank!

so, ON TO THE CEREMONY!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IN GENERAL.

·         There are no pauses in this, even while “action” is happening, the lines are spoken over it. 

·         Stage directions are on the RIGHT side in bold, italics, and underlined.

·         Who is speaking is on the LEFT side, followed by their color-coordinated lines (Pink = Queen, Blue = King, Red = Procession Herald, Yellow = Court Herald, Green = Person being elevated)

·         The King and Queen ONLY speak in poetry. The Herald and Candidate ONLY speak in prose.

Roles, you’ll need: King, Queen, Court Herald, Dias Peer (non-Laurel), Floor Peers (min 2, non-Laurels), Candidate, Procession Herald, 3 worthies of the order of the Laurel, and whoever has the candidate’s ceremonial items. (if using this for a different order ceremony, obvs just switch out the Peerages). In this case, that was: Duke Christian and Duchess Helene, Marya, Viscountess Nadezhda V., Mistresses Ula and Rhi, Gersvinda, Sir Fiach, Duke James, Duchess Verena, Jarl Ulfred, Kennaris Kada and Mathilde.

Items needed: 3 pitchers (minimum). One cup per person seated on the dais. Printed out lines for TRM (we made small flip books). A LOT OF MEAD.

Stuff Candidate gets: medallion, hat, oath-ring, scroll.

LAURELS have ONE line and TWO stage directions. The line is to say “YES” when asked if we want Gersvinda to join the order. The stage directions are to come forward when called, and to drink your mead. YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN CUP!!! Small cups are encouraged.

OUTLINE of speech and actions.

Queen speaks opening paragraph.

             Dias-Peer hands Queen pitcher and cup, she pours a cup.

Queen praises King

             Queen hands King cup, he drinks.

Queen praises others on dias

             With help from Dias-Peer, Queen serves all on dias. WHILE this is happening:

King calls Order of the Laurel to come forward

             Laurels come forward, 3 worthies kneel in front of others

Queen praises worthies

             Queen pours for worthies, Floor-Peers start serving rest of the Laurels WHILE:

King calls the Candidate

Procession Leader praises Crown and Candidate WHILE

             Procession approaches, Candidate kneels

King asks Order if they accept Candidate, they affirm

Herald speaks Laurel Oath, Candidate affirms

             Retinue bring forward orb and Queen takes off Crown

Herald starts Fealty Oath, Candidate swears on Crown

King AND Queen affirm Fealty Oath

             Queen puts Crown back on, hands orb back to retinue  

             Dias-Peer hands cup and pitcher back to Queen

Queen praises Candidate

Queen pours cup, hands to candidate, candidate drinks, queen hands cup and pitcher back to Dias-Peer

Herald asks for medallion

             Peer-of-Candidate hands King the medallion

Peer-of-Candidate speaks of medallion

King speaks of medallion

             King puts medallion on Candidate

Herald asks for hat

             Peer-of-Candidate hands Queen hat

Peer-of-Candidate speaks of hat

Queen speaks of hat

             Queen puts hat on Candidate

Herald calls for oath-ring

             Dias-Peer hands King the oath-ring

King speaks of oath-ring

             King puts oath-ring on Candidate

Herald reads the scroll

Queen speaks closing

             Order (etc) leaves

[PREP BEFORE IT STARTS]

[Dias Peer: needs to be standing within arms reach of the Crowns, hands both their book of lines]

QUEEN:

Sit now at the feast, your intents unto heroes

Wielder of glory with world-honor be blessed,

The people of An Tir then together assemble,

Proud in their bearing, strong and stalwart

In the mead-hall blithesome, the benches made ready

[Dias Peer: HANDS PITCHER AND ONE CUP TO QUEEN]

[Queen: POUR CUP FOR KING]

QUEEN: (to the King)

Take this cup, my liege-lord, giver of treasure.

Be of glad heart, generous friend of all.

Speak to your people with words of kindness. So should one do. 

Joyance attend you, gold-friend of heroes, anear and afar, now peace you enjoy.

[Queen: HAND CUP TO KING]

QUEEN: (IF guest royals)

Cousins, Glorious leaders of far-lands. 

You have traveled here to favor us at our feast. 

Relish now the triumph of heroes to your heart's content

[Dias Peer: follows Queen with tray of cups]

[Queen: POURS INTO GUESTS CUPS]

QUEEN: (to others seated on Dias)

Our kinsmen here at our high-seat sit. 

Our homeland’s guardian this hall-company keeps.

Gleaming-drink now we pour, the hoard-seat of heroes fast is held.

[POURS IN CUPS OF THOSE SEATED ON THE DIAS (In OP Order)]

(Start next section with no pause, Her Majesty keeps pouring till finished)

KING:  

Great are An Tir’s sworn artists, teachers, and wisdom-finders;

Now to the mead-vessel, as promised, to those I gave rings

Beloved Laurels, come to our honored benches

[ORDER COMES FORWARD]

(Wait for Order to assemble, once the chosen ones are settled and most are nearly ready, continue)

The “chosen” of the Order are: Duke James, Duchess Verena, Jarl Ulfred

QUEEN:

Friends shall gladden each other with skill and great works,

As each for themselves can see;

Gift-givers' friendships are longest found,

And fair their fates may be.

A measure of wisdom each one shall have,

Shun not the mead, but drink in kinship.

[QUEEN POURS FOR CHOSEN 3 of the order, then hands pitcher to Dias-Peer]

[2 floor-Peers start pouring into cups the Order BRINGS WITH THEM]

(Pouring continues with help as long as needed while ceremony moves forward

All should be served before the candidate is offered the cup (that is awhile from here).)

KING:

Who will give words, for a guest is come,

Where shall this stranger sit?

Speak swiftly, this candidates skills

So we know their worth well won

A better burden may no one bear

For wanderings wide than wisdom; 

Happy the one who wins for themself

Favor and praises fair; 

If renown they would get, and again be greeted,

Wisely and well must they act.

[Procession Herald (Fiach) starts entry speech, NO PAUSE]

GERSVINDA PROCESSES IN WHILE THE ENTRY SPEECH IS SPOKEN,

SHE’LL BE KNEELING AT THE FRONT WHEN IT IS DONE

FIACH:

Greetings, Crowns!, and listen great Lion’s Hall

To word-praise, of land-warder. Be

Witnesses, of well-sworn oaths

So, clear called, before you we come

Gold-crowned, sit sable lions

Strawberries, swiftly seized from

Swords clashing, ash of the shield-din

Hall’s-host, well won of the world tree

Skilled quill-Queen, spear shower quells

Wise her words, walking under

A gleaming golden diadem

Foremost of sweet sap forest

Here summoned by these strong rulers

We, oath-bound, bring forth she to be

Appareled in leaves lovely, a

Bench fellow of brave wreath wearers

Regard her mind, as shields’-roar maiden

Wealth as the wise one’s riddle-foe

Elm, adorned, breaks assumptions

Fell ring-hoard crumb-path finder

Wrought with what the wolf devoured

Spindles skein, earth of silk ribbons

Famed ferments and feather-shift’s grace

Gosling’s gift of mill-dis’ greatness

Stalwart spoke, and proud kith brought spears

Snow swan’s peak, sea-fire of dwarf’s craft

Gersvinda kneels here, ready to give

Binding vows and take blind-eye’s drink

[Gersvinda is now kneeling before the thrones]

KING:   (to the Laurels)  

Now answer us Laurels, the question We ask

For now the truth would We know

Do you hold as kin the one here before you?

That their oaths we might hear this day?

LAURELS: YES

Court Herald:  Gersvinda Gaeslingr, well pleased with your skill and your continued service to this Our Kingdom, and right mindful of the desires of your peers, We are minded to create you a Companion of the Order of the Laurel, Will you accept from Us this honor, and swear to uphold the rights and responsibilities of the Order?

Gersvinda: I will

Court Herald: Do you, Gersvinda Gaeslingr, swear to continue to fulfill the requirements set for the governance of this order, as you most surely have until now, to increase your labors nobly, to nourish your talents as befits a noble, and to seek to disseminate your talents and abilities throughout the Kingdoms of the Known World, as far as is within your powers?

Gersvinda: I so swear

Court Herald: And will you now swear fealty to the Crown?

Gersvinda: I will

[Retinue brings out the ORB, and Queen takes off CROWN]

Gersvinda swears: (She will speak this from memory, on the Orb and Queen’s Crown)

Here do I swear fealty and service to the Crown of An Tir, Christian and Helene, I will obey Their lawful commands in all matters that concern this realm. I swear to speak and to be silent, to do and to let be, to come and to go, in need or in plenty, in peace or in war, in living or in dying, from this hour henceforth, till death take me, or the world end.

TRM:

And We for our part, do swear to protect and defend you and your household with all Our power, till death take us, the world end, and so long as We remain Sovereigns of An Tir.

[Queen puts CROWN back on, hands ORB back to retinue]

QUEEN:

Take now this drink, oath-sworn you are bound;

Raise up the cup, and share with these assembled

Duly and gently discourse with them, be open-hearted, happy and fond.

[Dias-Peer hands cup and pitcher back to Queen]

[Queen GIVES CUP TO CANDIDATE, ALL LAURELS and Gersvinda DRINK]

[Kada/Mathilde will have medallion and hat. Oath ring is with Nadezhda V.]

Court Herald: Bring forth the medallion, and speak of it

[Kada stands, hands medallion to the King]

Kada: This medallion was made by my hand, new for this day

KING:  

A token of esteem we tender to you.

Be acclaimed for skill, and for kindly guidance

This labor of glory most gladly achieved

Hold you close henceforth this new kinship

[King puts MEDALLION on Gersvinda]

Court Herald: Bring forth the hat and speak of it

[Mathilde stands and hands hat to Queen]

Mathilde: This hat was made by my hand, new for this day

QUEEN:

The favors of wisdom, seek we to give

To our followers gifts we gladly bestow.

Triumph to these, and treasure to them,

Who with wisdom and skill do great deeds,

Fair winds to them, and joy in their art

You shall We honor, and this shall We ask,

That this favor true, may you ever find.

 [Queen puts HAT on Gersvinda]

Court Herald: Bring forth the oath-ring

[Nadezhda hands the Oath-ring to King]

KING:

On both sides now sworn, the fast-binding compact;

Openly and solemnly these oaths are here said.

This wrought-ring now to your keeping is given.

 [King puts BRACELET on Gersvinda]

Herald: That all those of this land might read and understand the law speaking done here this day, it has   been written in the language of An Tir, as is the custom of this Kingdom.

[HERALD READS WORDING OF WRIT]

QUEEN:

Take these symbols with joy, worthy Laurel.

Tokens of your Order, and thrive well.

Give proof by your deeds and be friendly in giving council to all.

In this your bounty will be sure.

You have brought it to pass that far and near,

Forever and ever all shall do you honor.  

Even so widely as ocean surrounds the blustering bluffs.

I wish you most truly a lifetime’s luck and blessings to enjoy this treasure. 

Live in joyance.

Here each companion is true to the other, loyal to lord, loving in spirit.

The Laurels are of one purpose, the Order is ready:

having drunk and pledged, go hence with Joy.

[EVERYONE not on the dias retreats, the ceremony has ended]