court The Loremaster's Circle

[DogWithABanana 100]

 

DER

THE LOREMASTER’S CIRCLE

 

---

DER LEHRMEISTER-KREIS | THE LOREMASTER’S CIRCLE

Issued by Loremaster of the Heather Court

In the year of our Lord 1995

 

---

ÖHNE UND TÖCHTER VON REINMAR,

SINCE THE HEATHER COURT’S CONCEPTION, the royal prerogative of the preservation of Reinmaren culture remains strong. The court stands as a beacon of our civilization by its austere practices of long-held tradition from the times of yore, reaching back to the times of Theodric and Gelimar.

The court has upheld with persistent duty the health and prevalence of the Reinmaren way of life since its formation. These efforts are most significant for the role of the Loremaster and their circle by the direction of the Fürstin and their Seneschal. The role of Loremaster was once called the Governor/Governess. The Loremaster’s circle appreciates and records happenings of history through song and stone. The crafts of a skald and shqiptar consolidate to become an ever-evolving medium of art iconic of Reinmar.

With the vision of a surviving culture and tradition beyond the years of today and beyond, the Circle carries the mission dutifully so that all people willing may hear, heed, and learn.

HISTORY

“For when our voices die, let the stones sing for us.”
Faded Runestone, (Unknown Date; Approximately over 200 years)
 

Spoiler

Artist: Joseph Ratcliffe Skelton

A skald provides wisdom through an ancient story of battle to his Chieftain

Since and before the times of the tribes of Theodric and Gelimar, oral storytelling was a tool of survival and unity. Showcasing virtues that promote family and camaraderie, whilst also soothing grieving hearts after battle or winter.

Stories of great achievements of warriors increased the prestige of who is titular in the song, and Chieftains promoted themselves by appointing skalds to sing their praises. Skalds were chosen among the common men in these times, as most men, as hale as they were to be expected, were also expected to be orators in the gathering halls, able to sing an encouraging ditty. Men who could do so were most often adorned with the respect of their fellow warriors.

The wives and women of the tribes played an enriching and solidifying role in the tradition, singing songs of their own, playing and teaching instruments to the youngs of the tribe who would grow up in the environment. In times of war, though some women were also warriors and shieldmaidens, others would also be the last line of defense as they stayed home to care for their maternal duties, and carry on the souls and memories of their fallen through stories retold. To their own children, or to the children of their captors.

Popularly believed, women may have also begun the tradition of runecarving. A man’s voice was seen to be the more powerful and austere carrier of stories. Though when away for raids or wars, there would be less or none left to speak. Together as a tribe then, as an act of unity, young and old, women would call the tribe together for a runestone to be erected and carve stories for their warriors to come back to and be welcomed by.

Wars and conflicts were fought over stories, claiming the victors would have their stories be grander, or truer. Or to eradicate slander or to promote their stories and claim their tribes the greater and thus demand submission.

Men would also often sing and play ballads, though it must be only before his desired woman in private, to gain their affections. Promises of glory shared to her and their future children. And a woman is expected– Nay, obligated to then return their affections or scorn them with rejection, causing this event to be a rarer occurrence.

In times of peace, Skalds would compete before their Chieftains and earn the honor and privilege of carving their story immortal upon a stone’s face. When all else failed, wrestling matches would ensue. And so the tradition of storytelling carried on, as winters grew shorter and peacetimes grew longer. Skalds lay in wait with their lyre and chisel, awaiting the next great battle and song.

Skalds were points and carriers of pride for themselves, their tribes, their chieftains, and their way of life. Pride was everything and it may still be for some to this day.

MODERN ITERATIONS

Spoiler

Artist: Craig Mullens

A seneschal briefs her fellow court officers at a meeting

With our comparatively evolved civilization and introduction of Canonism into the way of Reinmaren life, the tradition of storytelling through song and stone has found a new incarnation and place in the Heather Court. 

Though the process has been refined and formalized over the generations, its soul has miraculously been preserved in the core of court proceedings. With Canonistic values and virtues outlining what’s to be more emphasized in nowadays’ stories.

A skald was realized as a full position in place of a Chieftain’s household and an apprentice was needed to carry on the talents and skills. Sometimes hereditary but oftentimes not, generations would carry the ways of storytelling and rune carving worth generations already.

Enhanced with the technology of parchment, techniques were better recorded and maintained for teaching. Qualities and understandings of the talent became more commonplace and thus standards were raised. Chieftains expected only the best skalds lest their stories be prone to ridicule or loss of credibility.

INCUMBENCIES

1968 - 1993
Gertrude Barclay
Este Lehrmeisterin | First Loremaster

 

1993 - Present
Estmund von Ehrenwald
Zweite Lehrmeister | Second Loremaster
Heidehof-Offizier

THE CIRCLE: IN-DEPTH

Spoiler

Images sourced from Crusader Kings 3 Wikipedia, edited with draw.io

 

To keep the Reinmaren cultural tradition of teaching alive, two apprentices of a Chieftain’s Skald would be undertaken. Both apprentices would start on separate sides of the practice. One would focus upon performances of stories, whilst the other would focus upon the writing of runic script upon stone and parchment.

Over time, the roles of the apprentices evolved into their own formal positions, giving the best of both fields underneath a unitary role who would be an elder-adept in both. The Loremaster learns and heeds advice from their subordinate posts of Runesinger and Runekeeper, and in turn maintains a quality of lore for there to be written and sung about.

LOREMASTER

By direction of the Fürstin and Seneschal of the Heather Court, the Loremaster applies and adheres to law surrounding education within Reinmar.

Their duty is to maintain a source and environment for learning that parents and elders may draw inspiration or knowledge from to disseminate to their children and wards.

Various facets of Reinmaren life are touched upon and cataloged by the Loremaster including but not limited to: traditional history, etiquette, and cultural practices. Additionally, techniques of shqiptars on their crafts, and the philosophies of life, death, and struggle.

In collaboration with the Court Chaplain: Reinmaren-Canonistic values are also promoted in everyday learnings. Though only members of the clergy may rightfully teach on matters of religion.

According to law set by Das Bildungsedikt | The Education Edict, the tenets of learning, as in topics and their priorities are already set with History set at the very top. On that principle, it’s the Loremaster’s responsibility to see that historical accuracy must always be struck in the most truthful light and that deliberate twistings of history must be corrected valiantly.

The Loremaster enforces other manners of  the edict by their authority on knowledge and teaching. Seeing that wards underneath the court are taught properly by also hiring specialized tutors in their fields of expertise. Still, parents hold the foremost duty and precedence in the education of their children.

Though there shall be no recognition of a curriculum as dictated by law, nor shall there be a dedicated schoolhouse, the Loremaster ensures the proper areas where education may take place. A runestone circle for learnings upon runic script, for example.

RUNESINGER

Historically, the original manifestation of the Loremaster. Tasked with utilizing their charisma and voice to spread knowledge through entertaining performances that hopefully stay within the viewers’ hearts with lasting morals derived from the story’s lessons.

They have the prerogative to organize performances at the relevant runestone. And to keep the practice of stories alive and present with their performances.

A runesinger's voice must be respected and left unobstructed as they speak of sacred history, then applauded when proper diligence is provided in the performance, moving the hearts and minds of the audience. When bodies are deemed to be moved, a runesinger dances, accompanied by supporting musicians or instruments played by the runesinger themselves including the drums for the beat and a mouth harp for its mystical sounds.

Current Runesinger:
1994 - Present
Adelmar von Kanunsberg

RUNEKEEPER

Revered with diligence and intelligence, the Runekeeper rather speaks with their chisel and quill instead of their voice. Creating inaudible music upon the face of stone with shapes and scripts achieved by an aesthetic honed by only the most refined of techniques.

They learn all parts of runic script to teach to others, all whilst practically living in the runestone circle, expanding the numbers of runestones and maintaining the ancient ones with transcriptions and copies upon plaques to be stored away.

The Runekeeper was the first apprentice to be undertaken, as it was believed that to perform a story so wholeheartedly, one must understand the script within and without fully.

 

---

WER RASTET, DER ROSTET

HIS EXCELLENCY, ESTMUND von EHRENWALD, PRINCELY HERALD,

LOREMASTER OF THE HEATHER COURT,

LAWMAN & GEEHRTE OF REINMAR

REFERENCES

1. The Formation of the Heather Court, HRH Adalfriede von Hexenwald and HRH Frederica Barclay (1968)
2. Officers of the Heather Court, HRH Adalfriede von Hexenwald and HRH Frederica Barclay (1968)
3. The Education Edict, HRH Adalfriede von Hexenwald and HRH Frederica Barclay (1975)
4. The Grand Kanun of Reinmar, HE Robert Stroheim (1988)
5. The Reinmaren Woman, HRH Adalfriede von Hexenwald (1974)

[Le_Psit 405]

Spoiler

Crusader Kings 3 icons used, +1