• A Sponsor
  
• The Manual,
  
• The Letter of if Intent,
  
• The Heraldic Submission,
  
• Good Advice from Those Who Have Gone Before
  
• Before The Trials,
  
• A Support Group,
  
• During The Trial

• Serjeant,
  
• Yeoman,
  
• Gallant
  
• Courtier
  

• Field,
  
• Book,
  
• The Candidate's Device,
  
• Specific Knowledge
  

• Courtesy,
  
• Rank,
  
• Nobility & Forms of Address,
  
• Court of Love
  

Greetings Good Gentle,

Your interest in The Serjeantry of Blatha An Oir does me great honor. In response, I submit the following pages. You will find they contain challenge and opportunity. Examine them carefully, for they are a culmination of tradition and experience that spans more than a decade. They outline expectations already met by those who comprise The Order. As you read, consider not just The Trials, but the duties that success will entail. Passing The Trials is but a beginning. Should you, after reading all of the following, decide that becoming a member of The Serjeantry of Blatha An Oir is a thing you would strive for, then it is my pleasure to invite you to stand The Trials.

Lest we forget our heritage, I must at least outline the origin of The Order of Serjeantry for you.

Many years ago, when The Principality of An Tir was still part of The West, the heart of the Kingdom lay in The Principality of the Mists -- known modernly as the San Francisco Bay area. Because most of the Western peerage lived fifteen to twenty hours away from the An Tiran heart-land, they had little opportunity to consider those of us who had attained a peerage level in our endeavors as artist, administrator and/or combatant. Often our skills and abilities were readily apparent, but ascertaining our peer-like qualities was not so easy. Was a particular An Tiran fit company for a civilized court? Did they dance or scribe? Did they possess knowledge of period entertainments and have a basic understanding of heraldry, etc.? Did they willingly share their accomplishments with others?

In order to facilitate the advancement of An Tirans, our fighters in particular, the landed Baronesses developed a series of Trials that focused on peer-like qualities as well as things martial. Those who passed The Trials became part of an elite Baron esses' Guard. The theory being: When an An Tiran Serjeant came up in Knights Council, or any Peerage council for that matter, it would be obvious that many a pertinent question had already been answered. The Guard became a Kingdom Order that bore the t itle Serjeant, a designation borrowed from the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem where, in period, a mounted fighter, often of some means but without title or fief, swearing to the service of a noble for a specific term of service, was called a Serjeant. Thu s was born the uniquely An Tiran tradition of Serjeantry. Today a member of The Serjeantry is an accomplished fighter whos peer-like qualities make him or her welcome at any court. With the advent of missile combat and, later, of rapier combat, The Serj eantry was opened to Yeomen and Gallants, respectively.

The Invitation
Now that you have a general overview of The Order, read on. What follows are the requirements that must be met in order to be considered for membership in The Serjeantry of Blatha an Oir.

Again, let me say that the interest you express in standing one of the most definitive Trials this Kingdom has to offer does me great honor. You have both my invitation and my best wishes for your success.

Yours in Service, Isabeau du Lis Noire, OL By The Grace of The Sable Lion
Baroness of Blatha An Oir 

The Trials for The Order of Sergeantry of Blatha An Oir

The principal judges of success in these tests shall be Her Excellency, active members of The Order present, The Officers of The Barony, and such others as Her Excellency shall designate. Members of The Populace shall also be invited to express themselves regarding admission. Her Excellency shall seek the counsel of Her Sergeantry and invited judges, but the ultimate decision regarding admission to The Order rests with Her alone.
Candidates will be required to test in all areas listed below. They shall receive a "yea," "nay," or "maybe" from each judge in each general area. Applicants must receive a "yea" in all areas with one single "maybe" being permitted. A "nay" in any area re sults in disqualification, as will a "maybe" in any two areas. Any area, save that of Specialty Skills may receive a "maybe." Specialty skills must receive a "yea."
Components of The Trial
The Petition (calligraphic skills)
Specialty Skills
Heraldry (Field &;Book)
Marshallate Ability
Chivalric Behavior and Etiquette
SCA Operation, Administration and Policies
Persona Development
Geography (Period &;Societal)
Court of Love
Games
Military Sciences
Dance
Practical &;Domestic Sciences
Entertainment
The Baroness' Question
Extra Credit
Roll Call of The Serjeantry of Blatha An Oir

Active Serjeantry

HL 1st Sjt. Harold Thorgoodson von Reinhold
Master Sjt. Hroulag (Ralg) Nielsen, OP
Master Sjt. Walram von Laufenberg, OP
HL Sjt. Ulftonn Bjornsson Haakonsteddir
HL Sjt. Cairbre MacEochaid poc Airgead, Baron An Tir
HL Sjt. Edmund Graham
HL Yeo. Knut Skytja Thorgundabold
Master Yeo/ Sjt. Julian Edward Farnsworth 
First Glnt. Alon de' Leon 
HL Sjt. Lieth an Avranai dal 'Cais
HL Sjt. Edwin de Gris
HL Sjt. Iain Mac Dhugal  Cameron of Beinn Liath
Lord Yeo.Gwalchgwin ap Gryffon
Lady Glnt. Katerina Razin
Lord Glnt. Sebastian de' Caen
HL Yeo. William MacIntoiche
Lord Glnt. Robert Grylion 
Sjt. Karl von der Ostwache
Lord Sjt. Dennis MacLaren
Lady Glnt. Diana McLaughlin
HL Sjt. Leif Moonshadow Ironbarer, Baron Draknvald
Lord Glnt. Ewan MacLaren
Glnt. Anya de Chaalis

Retired Serjeantry

HL Josef de Gonneville -- Serjeant, Retired
David De Bargeneaux -- Serjeant, Retired
HL Haakon Haukarsaon, Baron AnTir -- Serjeant, Retired
HL Tichona di Caldera -- 1st Yeoman, Resigned
Lord Chikara Mochi -- Serjeant, Retired
Douglass of Kingston -- Serjeant, Resigned
HL Aliena of Ierne -- Serjeant, Retired
Master Artemis de Montessori, OP, Baron An Tir-- Gallant, Alumnus
Sir Hathawulf the Spearbreaker, KSCA  -- Serjeant, Emeritus
HL Leif Moonshadow Ironbarer, Baron Draknvald -- Serjeant, Resigned
Iain Mac Dhugal  Cameron of Beinn Liath -- Serjeatn, Resigned

Honorarium


Sir Valtorr of Oslo, KSCA-- Active Honorary Member of the Order Dame Rowan
O'Callighan, OL -- Active Patron of The Order, Founding Baroness of BAO
Gallant Friedreich Wilhelm von Falkenburg -- Deceased

Serjeant Major
1992   Master Sjt. Walram von Laufenberg, OP
1993  Sir Hathawulf the Spearbreaker, KSCA  -- Serjeant, Emeritus
1994  HL Sjt. Iain Mac Dhugal Cameron of Beinn Liath
1995  Lord Glnt. Sebastian de' Caen
1996  Srj Ralg Nilsen
1997  HL Yeo. William MacIntoiche
1998  Master Sjt Walram von Laufenberg
1999  HL Courtier Millicent DeArgent
2000  HL Glnt. Diana McLaughlin

1. -- A Sponsor
   It is custom that Candidates, who wish to, may have a member of The Serjeantry as a principal helper and advisor. This person, or sponsor, is to be a member of the speciality The Candidate wants to join, i.e., Yeomen sponsor Yeomen Candidates and so on. This sponsor will guide The Candidate through any questions or worries that arise. If a Candidate wants a sponsor, and none has volunteered, they are to request one from Her Excellency or The Sergeant Major as soon as possible.

2. -- The Manual
   A compilation of useful information is also available. Candidates wanting to use a manual must contact Her Excellency or The Sergeant Major. If one is issued, it must be returned at Invocation Court before actual trials begin.

3. -- The Letter of Intent
   A minimum of two months prior to the Trials, each Candidate is to submit to The Baroness a modern letter announcing their intentions to attempt The Trials. This letter includes any concerns or impediments The Candidate may have, such as dyslexia, a difficulty in taking written or oral tests, any physical issues that may be evident, etc.

   The Letter should also include:
   -- Any arts and sciences extra credit that might be submitted.

   -- A synopsis, consisting of four or less sentences, outlining The Candidate's persona. (As a guide, look to the author credits in Tournaments Illuminated.)

4. -- Heraldic Submission
   Heraldic devices, if not already passed, must be in submission to The Kingdom Principal Herald before the day of Trials. Time your submissions accordingly.

• Just before The Trials
  On the weekend of The Trials, arrive Friday night if possible. Set up camp, get a good meal and get some sleep. Do not worry about pulling gate duty, helping the Autocrats, or setting up tents for others. Your sole responsibility is to take care of yourself. The next day will be long and demanding. Further more, don't stay up late studying. Cramming at this point doesn't help and often only serves to confuse.

• Your Support Group
  You need a group of concerned friends. You will be incredibly busy during the next 48 hours. Someone else needs to watch the kids, the camp and the dog and see to it that you are fed and watered and rested at appropriate intervals. You will have little time for anything but The Trials. Companions should be willing and able to look after and amuse themselves. This is not a good event for you to introduce a newcomer. If you find that you have few folk available to assist you, let your sponsor, The Serjeant Major and/or The Baroness know. It may sound silly, but you will need looking after.

• Invocation Court
  The day of The Trials dawns early. It is customary to attend the invocation court in armor. There, you will present your calligraphed petition to Her Excellency and receive Her favor and best wishes. Others in the Populace may give favors at this time .

• Specialty & Marshalling
  Next comes the specialty and marshalling portions of The Trials. Fighting candidates inspect the armor and weapons of their specialty. They also inspect gear outside their specialty to determine how well rounded a Marshall they are. Courtier candidates inspect armor and weapons of all the fighting specialties. Yeoman Candidates shoot their various tests, Sergeantry, Gallant, and Courtier Candidates are put through their paces. All Candidates get a work out. Remember, for fighting candidates we are test ing how well you fight, how long you can continuously fight, and if you fight smart, which, by the way, includes taking care of yourself.

• The Rest of The Testing
  The other aspects of The Trials come in no particular order. Remember, "I don't know" is always a better answer than a bluff. Trying to pull the wool over a tester's eyes is the fastest way to fail a test.
  If, at any time, you feel you are being pushed to your limits, you probably are. It's part of the process.

• The Petition

  The petition tests your calligraphic skills. The script (or "hand") and language used should be appropriate to your persona. You need not be a Kingdom level scribe, but a little research and honest effort is expected. Petitions are often read aloud at Court, so readability and an English translation is requested if necessary.

• Specialty Skills

• General Requirements For fighting candidates, regardless of martial specialty, you must be authorized to fight with all weapons or forms you intend to use. Your armor and weapons must pass an armor inspection, and you must own the armor and weapon s you intend to take trials with. You are required to have constructed a minimum of one item of armor and one of the weapons you intend to use. Items of armor constructed by you and made from period materials are given extra merit. Plastic torso protectio n will be covered with leather, a surcoat, etc. You will fight the combats deemed necessary to gauge your skills with three weapon forms. The standard is general proficiency with two forms and a genuine challenge to fight with one. You may choose to fight with two weapons from one specialty and one from another (for example, a Gallant Candidate fighting with single blade, single blade and main gauche, and target archery). If you choose the target archery option, you will be required to shoot a Royal Round score of 40 or more.For Courtier candidates you must demonstrate skills in three areas. These areas can be of the following combinations: 2 Art/Sciences and 1 Service, or 1 Art/Science and 2 Service, or 1 Art/Science and 1 Service and 1 Combat.
  Judging of the Specialty Skills portion is done by Her Excellency, the Sergeantry present, the Baronial Marshall and any others Her Excellency deems necessary. Additionally, Candidates may be asked to critique each other's ability.

• Requirements by Specialty
  • Serjeant
    Using all of your weapon forms, you must completely attack and defend against: sword and shield, mass weapon (axe/mace) and shield, double weapon, great sword, and pole arms. You must prove ability to lead groups of fighters of varying composition (possibly including missile troops) in assaulting or defending various positions.

  • Yeoman
    Using all of your forms (save target archery), you must demonstrate your skills against stationary and moving targets in open and in obscured conditions. If you choose target archery as one of your forms, Royal Round of 40 or more will be required. You will demonstrate your ability to lead groups of combatants of various composition in both assaulting and defending various positions.

  • Gallant
    Using all of your weapon forms, you will competently attack and defend against single blade, double blade, blade and parrying device, as well as single and multiple opponents. You will prove proficiency in leading a combat group of various composition (possibly including missile troops) in assault and defense.

  • Courtier
    Your Arts/Science testing will include previously completed work with documentation, work done on site, and the ability to teach the basics of your Art/Science to a novice. Your Service testing will consist of testing over the area you have designated as your specialty. This testing can be oral, written or a combination of both. Service areas can include the following: Event Administration, Feast Administration, Greater Office Administration (specify office, lesser offices will be tested as a part of the greater office to which they report).
    If you choose Combat, the testing will be as for the fighting class but you will be required to demonstrate only one weapon form.

  • Marshallte Ability
    Marshallate Ability is judged by the Baronial Marshall or a designated substitute.
    You are required to own a copy of the An Tir Book of Combat. You will be tested on the rules of the lists and the customs of combat for An Tir. You will also be asked to marshall combats and to inspect armor and weapons to demonstrate your ability.

  • Persona Development
    Persona Development is judged by the member of Serjeantry most able to determine the extent of your knowledge.
    Your examiners are to question you at length regarding your persona. Most areas of knowledge are fair game for the questioner, and you are expected to answer to the best of your ability. Your combat style and equipment may also be examined as part of this test. This aspect of the testing is designed to examine your historical knowledge as it applies to your self-identity.

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