A Tale of Kings
December 07, 2003
a very Drachenwaldian Legend
Once upon a time, in the early days of the principality of Drachenwald, there was a big event being held on a castle in Sweden. Though this event was big, the castle was far bigger, and while the SCAdians occupied one part, some heraldic symphosium or the other occupied the rest.
At the event was the usual mixture of early-Drachenwald SCAdians: a lot of Swedes, a few English, some American SCA officials from Germany, and maybe some Finnish or German or Irish folks, too.
Now, up comes this man, middle-aged, wearing something that is not really in period but can pass for it, followed by an entourage of seven, including a standard bearer. A senior SCA herald, watching the colourful display, recognizes the coat of arms and thinks: "Argh. Better do something quickly," and so he walks up to the middle-aged man.
"Excuse me, my lord," our herald says, "but you cannot bear this device."
The man looks at him, slightly perplexed. "So, why, in your opinion, can't I?"
"Because it's the device of the Earl of Bath."
The man looks slightly impressed. "That's alright, son. I am the Earl of Bath."
Argh! thinks the herald. Darn newbies, not knowing what is proper. "Now, see, you can't be the Earl of Bath!"
Again the man asks: "Why can't I?"
"Because," our herald explains, "you can't choose a real historical person for your persona!"
The exchange gets interrupted by a younger man in mundane clothes who addresses the herald.
"Excuse me, but this gentleman really is the Earl of Bath."
The herald turns around and looks over the new arrival. Great, another one of those. "And who are you?" he asks.
The mundanely-clad man smiles. "I am the king."
Our herald is a patient and courteous man, but that is too much. The king is safely away in the mainland of the East Kingdom, meaning: an ocean away, but that does not mean that any newbie or mundane can go running around claiming to be king, of all things! "Now listen, man," he says, "I know the king -- and you're not him."
The man smiles again and says: "I am the King of Sweden. This is my castle."
Author's Notes & Documentation
This Story is probably apocryph, but it is so very Drachenwald...
(told at Bards' Night IV in Birmingham, I do not remember by whom)
Transcribed from memory by Ingeborg Thorulfsdottir.