Tyger Queen Diary from a Year Ago today

Dear Tyger Queen Diaries,

This weekend His Majesty Ôzurr and I jetted off to the Sigtuna Market in Ruantallan (Nova Scotia). It was a trip made possible financially by the generosity of all of you through Our fundraiser, and logistically by Baron Guthfrith Yrlingson and Baroness Isobel Mowbray (including a drive to the airport this morning at 4:30am which I think we can all agree is above and beyond - even if you *are*in fealty to Us)

If you, like Us, have never visited Ruantallan I heartily endorse going. We had amazing event with wonderful hospitality, great competitions, amazing people, and delicious food. I regret nothing about this trip except for how short is has been. 

The Barony here is so clearly growing and thriving. I talked with multiple people about their targeted demos at local gaming conventions, and how they then work hard on retention. It shows. 

In fact, the last 3 events I've been to: Otter's Welcome, Panteria, and now Sigtuna we have either run out or nearly run out of Newcomers tokens. (No one's fault but my underestimating while packing!)

Otter's Welcome had *30* newcomers! Panteria had close to 20. This event had likely 15! (I must admit I stopped counting)

My glorious East Kingdom, you cannot know how proud I am to have this dilemma. I apologize that I ever underestimated you in welcoming newcomers into the Society. Clearly we are doing something right, and need to continue reaching out and also, like Ruantallan, making sure new members are supported while they find their place. Offer rides, offer encouragement, help folks with garb and feast gear, help pair people up with mentors, be open to answering questions, and be open to their perspective. 

One of the newer members I met came up and asked His Majesty and I what Our favorite parts of the SCA are. He said that people kept asking him and he decided to learn more about folks by asking the same question in return. It was a really good dialogue and both sides learned something. 

We later got to have drinks at a local pub as an informal post revel. We should have more of these for our day events. They bring the community together in a way events sometimes cannot because of how much is going on. It gives us a chance to stop and just *be* with each other. 

And if you are going through your spring cleaning and find a mug or two that could use a new home, I'm sure Lord Alexander Clarke would be willing to take them off your hands for the Newcomer Mug Initiative. 

So, again, a huge THANK YOU to Ruantallan for a wonderful visit and for setting an example for the East. 

And now, my wonderful Tygers, I'm going to take a brief nap and hopefully wake back up only when we land in Carolingia. 

Love and Gilded Kisses,

Queen Fortune

The backstory on this adventure was I was running a training in Syracuse NY (which is in Aethelmearc) and that Friday drove down to Newark NJ to meet up with Ozurr and we flew to Nova Scotia. Our flight got delayed a couple times, and we later learned from our doubt attendant that there was a pretty good chance we would have been diverted to Bangor because the fog makes it too hard to land. 

We were in Canada for about 24 hours and then I took a flight back to Boston and Ozurr got one back to Newark. 

I landed at 10am, got a rental at noon in Worcester, and drove back to Syracuse. 

The glamorous life of SCA Royalty! 

Researching Oaths

His Highness and I are working with Master Malcolm Bowman on oaths for Coronation based upon the "Promission Ducal" sworn by the Doge of Venice at his Inauguration, specifically the Promission of Enrico Dandolo (1192-1205):

* To govern righteously according to justice

* To increase the prestige of Venice

* To readily do justice to everyone

* Apply the laws impartially

* Do justice to false documents

* Keep the secret of what was discussed in the councils

* Do not collect or appropriate assets or revenues due to the Municipality

* Do not grant anyone the seal of the Duchy

* To arm at least ten ships at the expense of the Municipality

* Not to influence the election of the Bishops and the Patriarch

* Do not send personal letters to the Pontiff, the Emperor or the Kings

 

* Not to appoint judges and notaries arbitrarily

* To respect collegiality in the management of power

So, despite being from 1192 many of the promises are surprisingly timeless (you do wonder if a couple of these have names on them, I'm looking at you - "do not send personal letters").

Although, with the great job Settmour Swamp did on our new *wooden* chests, I bet they could outfit 10 ships... 😉

Tyger Princess Diary: Damn Fine Toybox Runner

From a year ago today:

Dear Princess Diaries,

As I said this weekend at Black Rose Ball: I feel it's my job as Princess to make sure wishes come true. 

Thankfully, Talen is still talking to me and he did provide the most energetic and longest Toy Box run I have seen since Her Then Majesty of the West Ariah Hume. 

You see, a week before Talen had told me about his experience *not* running the toy box for the veloci-... I mean children of the East. Instead, he got to run it from the B-blocks to the battlefield and then to EK Royal. Then running behind B as he ran the toy box.

And I could just tell, in the way a Princess can tell, that this really, really, disappointed him. 

So, when on Saturday I had the opportunity to make his wish come true I took that chance and called him up to the front of Court. As His Majesty handed him the chest he made eye contact with me and I could tell from the look in his eye and the tight smile he made that he would remember this experience for a long time, and knew it was because of me. 

The fire in those eyes warmed my heart.

So Talen, thank you for running Saturday and bringing joy to our kingdom's future. And thank you for someday forgiving me. 

Love & Gilded Kisses,

Princess Fortune

Princess Diary from a year ago

Dear Princess Diaries,

So, I'm going to let you in on a secret: this Royalty gig comes with a lot of "stuff". Crown boxes, and thrones, and largesse, and regalia, and and and...

But, even with all this new stuff, it turns out I still have this Chatelaine Soapbox kicking around here.

You see, I was the Chatelaine for my local group, the beautiful Shire of Quintavia, for several years. I resigned when we won. In fact, I resigned by text at 2am to my wonderful (and long suffering) Seneschal Sir Matthias Grunwald with the following message:

"Dear Matthias, I quit. Love, Princess Fortune"

But let me tell you, I firmly believe that each and every member of the SCA is a Chatelaine. 

And while recruitment is very important, I also don't want us to forget about retention. Those friends we had at events for years who had an attack of life and haven't been able to play, have you reached out to them lately? Even just a "Hey friend, thinking about you and it made me smile". Letting them know they are welcome back. 

Or have you reached out to the new person in your group who moved here from another kingdom and invited them out for a coffee (your Princess's favorite beverage) and to hear their stories of their home group. Letting them share their experiences before telling them what our local customs are.

Or have you reached out to the parents of toddlers who would love to go to an event but the task seems gargantuan when they think about wrangling their kid solo while one partner goes to the Thrown Weapons Range and who will help them if one kid starts crying while another wants to run toward the shiny swords!?!? Have you offered to help co-parent? Or offered to help them set up a tent area for the kids so you can sit and chat next to it and catch up? 

Or have you just talked to someone new at an event for a few minutes? Maybe they aren't a newcomer but they are a new face. Ask them about their cool belt pouch, or where they got that awesome hat? Are they having a fun event? Did they try *insert awesome Dayboard item here*? Talk to the arts person who has displayed incredibly intricate embroidery, and the fighter who just won the tournament, and the fencer who... Ok maybe not them. 😉. (I love my fencers, I also love teasing the fencers)

But cross pollinate, talk to folks outside your circle and make connections. It makes us a stronger Kingdom and a stronger Society. 

And with that, dear Princess Diary, I'm going to tuck the Chatelaine Soapbox away for a bit and try to organize more "Princess Stuff" getting ready for April 6th. I hear Mom and Dad have big news for Ôzurr and I. (I hope it's a kitten!)

Love and Gilded Kisses,

Princess Fortune

Another Tyger Princess Diary Entry from Estrella

Dear Princess Diaries,

I once thought my SCA family was pretty big. I knew people up and down the kingdom and even a few folks in other Kingdoms. But it's always expanding.

Last Fall I went out to Great Western War and was adopted into the Weastie family without whom we could not have survived this Estrella War. I will thank them all in a separate post as they deserve it, (and Ariah Hume deserves sainthood).

Then we became Prince and Princess and suddenly all of Zack Karabin s SCA family was mine as well. (Including actual family in the case of Jaymee)

And they have been such a gift!

It was killing me to be torn between the coasts and SCA friends this weekend. We both really wanted to be at Yevgeniya Pechenaya s Laureling, ESPECIALLY because of the ENGAGEMENT!!! His Highness and I sent her a "virtual vigil" message before we headed to site Saturday. (#MillenialReign)

Lada and Suuder have consistently been amazing assets to us, between arranging for retainers at Ôzurr's first solo event as Prince, to always checking in to make sure we don't need anything, to making us the most delightful Prince and Princess regalia coozies. Lada is so talented that even unconventional mediums like, say, puff paint become willing tools to her artistry.

Congratulations to my favorite Vicereine, Mistress Lada! You are a shining example of your Order! 💛

We raised a toast to your elevation last night with our favorite beverages.

All my love from the muddy lands of Atenveldt and Gilded Kisses,

Princess Fortune

Tyger Princess Diary 1 year ago today

Dear Princess Diaries,

I may be a princess, I may very much want to be a Disney Princess, but that Disney princess is most certainly not Ariel. 

You see, I wanna be where the people are (warm).

I wanna see, wanna see dry land again. 

Walkin' around on those... What do you call 'em? Oh. Pallets!

Sloshin' 'round in boots you don't get too far

Mud's too deep so we are jumpin', slidin'

Strollin' along down a (What's that word again?) river!

Mud where you walk

Mud where you run

Mud everywhere in this Kingdom of the Sun!

The water view's free

But wish I could be, back on dry land!

Soggy Love and Gilded Kisses,

Princess Fortune

P.S. Yes, His Highness and I (and most of our camp mates) are safe at a hotel.

Tyger Princess Diary Entry 11

January 16, 2019

Well Princess Diary, this is what I get for stepping foot in Carolingia.

I'm stopped on the Pike for the past hour in Framingham while they deal with a truck fire. 

All I wanted was to drop off a nice present to go to our Cousins in Northshield. 

Instead. I'm stuck between a Lucky Star bus and an 18-wheeler trying to catch Pokemon in this wasteland. 

Effingham, you're on notice. You may lose that "Favorite Baron" title for this. 

Send kittens, Starbucks DoubleShots, and at least ONE Grimer! 

Idling Love and Gilded Kisses,

Princess Fortune