Baronial
Local Titles:Baron and Baroness (Landed) - Representing the lands for the Crown of the West
Address as "Baron", "Baron [name]" or "Baroness" or "Baroness [name]", or "Your Excellency".
Captain of Winter's Gate - Chosen by tournament twice a year, who will lead the forces of the Barony at need.
Heart of Winter's Gate - Inspiration for the Captain
Baronial Awards List:
Order of the Estoille, given for long-term service to the Barony.
Order of the Silver Swan, for Arts and Sciences.
Friends of the Barony (fka Order of the Stout Heart), friends who visit from other groups and support us.
Companions of the Bear Claw, Displaying ferocity on the field. Can be bestowed multiple times.
The Gilded Lily - given for exceptional deaths on the field. Can be bestowed multiple times.
Baroness' Recognition, a thank you from the Baroness for whatever she wishes, however many times.
The Silver Star, Award for Children's achievements in Chivalry, Arts/Sciences and Service.
Silver Skillet, For skills in Cooking.
Companions of the Polar Bear - Served as Captain of Winter's Gate
Companions of the Snow Drop - Served as the Heart of Winter's Gate
Please take the time to write His or Her Excellency with Recommendations for Awards.
Awards
Taken from "The Gatekeeper", October/November 1996
OP, GA, OLM, ORL, AA, OSO, CDW, OE
Have
you ever wondered what all those initials
mean following someone's name, like above?
Commonly called Alphabet Soup, they indicate
which awards someone has received. Awards
can be given by Kings and Queens, Princes
and Princesses, and landed Barons and Baronesses
(which is what I am). One usually starts
out being recognized at their local level,
and gradually work up (from barony to principality
to kingdom).
The
Barony of Winter's Gate has a handful of awards
that are given by me (in my capacity as Baroness)
when appropriate at baronial courts, usually at
May and Harvest Captaincy events (although they
can be given at any official event). The most
prestigious is the Order
of the Estoille, given
for long-term service to the Barony. People receiving
this award have usually been members of the barony
for several years, have held one or more offices,
are often instrumental in keeping the baronial
activities on track, and are examples for all
to follow. For excellence in the arts and sciences,
there is the Order of the
Silver Swan, given not
only to those who produce arts and sciences that
clothe us, feed us, armor us, and entertain us,
but also to the historians who research, teach
and publish.
The
Order of the Stout Heart is given to those hardy
souls who, although not members of the Barony,
have traveled frequently to our isolated lands,
have aided, encouraged (and sometimes incited)
us in war and peace, and have generally been our
friends, especially back in ancient times when
it was not politically wise to be such a friend.
The
Companions of the Bear Claw are those who have
displayed ferocity on the field of combat or war.
Another fighting award is the Gilded Lily, given
for exceptional deaths on the field. The Lily
and Bear Claw were designed to be awarded as often
as deserved, and recipients are entitled to display
a gold lily or a bear paw somewhere on his or
her armor (on the helm was the practice in early
baronial history). Neither has been given for
some time, but I would certainly like to see these
qualities displayed on the field so they could
be acknowledged.
Created
to be given when deemed appropriate, and as often
as earned, is the Baroness'
Recognition, which
I started to thank people for work done in the
last six months or so, that I might have had had
to do if they hadn't been there. How do people
receive them, you ask? First, I keep an eye on
the members of the Barony, watching who does what.
I also confer with previous recipients of the
awards to get their opinions on my suggestions
and to find out what they might have observed
that I missed. And anyone can recommend someone
for any of those awards. You can either speak
with me at events or meetings, call me, or put
your recommendations in writing. I am always glad
to talk to people about the awards, and to have
people recommended. It's one of the more pleasurable
aspects of being Baroness: being able to recognize
the activities of people!
