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New Members' Guide--Awards

What are Awards?

As a part of the fun of being in the SCA, every Kingdom, including Calontir, has devised a system of awards. These awards often play an important role in courts and in etiquette in the SCA.

This system of giving and receiving awards adds to the medieval atmosphere we are trying to create as members of the SCA. It is also a lot of fun!

Most awards are given by the Crown (the King and/or Queen) of a kingdom to honor the recipients for their skills, talents, and/or service to the SCA. Several different levels of awards are given in every kingdom of the Known World. However, the manner in which these levels is interpreted is different for each kingdom.

What Are the Main Types of Awards?

Most awards in the Society carry rank and privilege of one type or another. In addition, many awards may be given with membership to a certain "order." Orders are groups of individuals given an award for excellence in a particular area.

Awards are generally divided into armigerous and non-armigerous awards.

Non-armigerous awards are generally used for special situations. Although they do not give the recipients the right to bear arms or use a certain title, they are often some of the most coveted and valued awards. These awards differ from kingdom to kingdom.

Armigerous awards give the recipients the right to bear arms. That means anyone with an armigerous awards can submit arms (a personal heraldic device) and use the arms on clothing, banners, armor, pavilion (tent), or other belongings. Recipients gain titles, such as Lord, Ladyship, or Knight, as they receive these awards.

These awards are the same across kingdoms, but may be given along with membership in certain orders that differ from kingdom to kingdom.

The basic groups of armigerous awards are:

Peerages:
Peerages are the highest armigerous awards in the Society. They convey membership in the same orders in every kingdom.

Grants of Arms (GOA):
Grants of arms fall in the center of the armigerous awards structure. Orders differ from kingdom to kingdom.

Awards of Arms (AOA):
Awards of arm are the lowest level of armigerous awards. Orders differ from kingdom to kingdom.

What are SCA Awards?

The bestowed peerages and simple AOAs and GOAs are Society awards, although, as mentioned above, the orders associated with these awards may differ from kingdom to kingdom.

Bestowed peerages are given for the highest possible level of achievement in service, the arts and sciences and fighting and include the following orders:

• The Order of Chivalry
  Given for achievement in fighting. Members are known as Knights and Masters of Arms; and are called Sir or Master.
• The Order of the Laurel
  Given for achievement in the arts and sciences. Members of this order are known as and called Master or Mistress.
• The Order of the Pelican
  Given for outstanding service. Members of this order are known as and called Master or Mistress.

What Are Calontir's Awards?

The Kingdom of Calontir has a number of awards specific to Calontir. You will often hear these referred to in a shortened form (Swan, Cross, or Fyrd, for example).

Calontir's non-armigerous awards are:

• Queen's Endorsement of Distinction (also known as the QED)
  Each queen can give this award a total of three times during her reign. Awards are bestowed for chivalry, courtesy and service to the ideals of the Society.
• King's Favor
  A king gives this award in recognition of personal service to himself or the Crown.
• Queen 's Chalice
  The Crown gives this award to exceptional children for service and skill.
• Sword of Calontir
  The Crown gives this award for dramatic deeds on the field of battle.
• Keeper of the Flame
  The Crown gives this award for exceptional honor and courtesy, and exemplary efforts to create a medieval aura. This award can only be given once per reign.
• Iren Ferran
  The Crown gives this award to individuals who have faithfully stood with and integrated themselves into the Calontir army.
• Heart of the Falcon
  The only Calontir award given to groups instead of to individuals. The Crown gives this award to kingdom groups that provide exceptional service to the kingdom.
• Order of the Ancient Fewmet (O.A.F.)
  The O.A.F. is not a normal award. It is a humorous award given by the Crown to those who have "lowered" themselves by particularly nutty behavior.

Calontir's AOA-bestowing awards to are:

• Iren Fyrd
  Given for skill in fighting.
• Boga Fyrd
  Given for skill in archery.
• Golden Calon Swan of Calontir
  Given for skill in the arts
• Leather Mallet
  Given for skill in the sciences
• Court Barony
  Given to territorial Barons and Baronesses when they step down from active service, or awarded on it's own for exceptional merit.

Calontir's GOA-bestowing awards are:

• Cross of Calontir
  Given for service above and beyond what is expected of citizens of the Kingdom.
• Silver Hammer
  Given for skill in a particular science, knowledge of its history, and teaching this science to others.
• Calon Lily
  Given for skill in a particular art, knowledge of its history, and teaching this art to others.
• lren Hirth
  Given for capability with all weapon systems and proficiency in two, participation in at least one Society war, and chivalry. Members are often referred to as Huscarls.
• Boga Hirth
  Given for skill in archery with similar requirements to Iren Hirth. Members are often referred to as Huscarls.

What Are the Barony of Coeur d'Ennui's Awards?

As there are awards at the Kingdom level for different achievements, there are also awards that the Baron and Baroness of Coeur d'Ennui may bestow upon the populace.

These awards are not a part of the Kingdom Order of Precedence, but they do affect the Order of Precedence within the Barony.

All of these awards are non-armigerous, because they do not carry with them the right to bear arms within the Society.

For a description of these awards, refer to the Awards page in the main Coeur d'Ennui site.

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