The Pen is Mightier

Most fearsome warrior, most honored counselor, source of all good order in the world, administrator of the affairs of war and of right thinking. When this exalted Imperial cipher is read aloud, be it known that Sterling de la Rosa, noble of bearing, skilled in diverse arts of the blade, faithful subject of the East, shall be named a Knight of the Society. We, Sultan Wilhelm & Sultana Vienna of the Eastern Realm, have commanded that the afore named be given all the rights befitting a knight, arms by letters patent  (arms information here) as well as the responsibility to defend the weak and helpless, and to act in the manner of a peer, with courtesy and respect for all peoples, even the enemies that stand before the East. We so command that this be accomplished forthwith, on this day 30th Day of March in the 53rd Year of our Society, at Our Divan at Mudthaw. Commentary: Sterling has a 16th Century Ottoman persona, so I researched Ottoman Court documents to try to arrive at a...

While working on a scroll text for an Ottoman persona, I discovered a lack of resource materials available in English for Ottoman legal documents.  I ended up buying a copy of Imperial Ottoman Fermans, Exhibition Catalogue, an expensive and little known resource, half in Turkish and half in English.  I had originally wanted to borrow it from the library, but the only copies listed on WorldCat.org were in Turkey and Germany, even though you can buy the book on Amazon. As a resource for the art of Ottoman legal documents, this book is AMAZING, I highly recommend getting your own copy if that is what interests you.  However, if you are buying this book as a resource for the language used in the texts, let me save you the trouble.  The book does not translate the documents.  It gives each one a full page color photo, and then it has a short explanation of what it is, one paragraph in Turkish and one in English .  Half the translated description describes the ...

Master Donovan contacted me privately and said he had a chunk of period text he wanted to turn into a peerage scroll, but he didn’t know where to start, and could I help him figure it out? He failed to mention who the scroll was for or which peerage, so I went into this one blind.  I didn’t find out until it was read in court, nor that I got partial credit for composition until that time. So if you wanted to know what I think about and how I think about it when I tackle a period text, below is an example. The Text is from the Wiktenauer translation of Capo Ferro. He wanted to use the Leoni translation, but Wiktenauer is what he had access to. It is not my intention to hold you at bay with pompous and splendid words, in the recommending to you of the profession of arms that I practice. It is extolled in the due order of its merit, for which it is greatly prized and honored, and always praised, and the greatness and valor are commended of those who worthily carry the sword at t...

This was one of those speeches that I had a framework for going into court, but it was not written down or rehearsed in advance. I knew the beginning and the end, and I had the base idea I wanted to embed in the middle of the speech, then I noodled my way into connecting the beginning to the base idea, expounding on the base idea and then moving from that exposition into to the conclusion. It works because the conclusion is strong and I can sell the speech with personal magnetism. It is remembered by others in the room as being one of the better speeches of the day for those reasons. That said, looking at it logically once it has been transpired, it is a mediocre speech with many run on sentences, and I injected myself too much. Don’t do this at home, kids. FB link to Anastasia's Vigil My piece starts at 8:05. "I am Countess Marguerite Ingean Lachlainn, (Bows to the Crown). A Lady of the Rose is supposed to speak about Courtesy, but today I am going to speak about ...

My friend Sorcha Dhocair had been given a writ for the Masters of Defense, and she was scheduled to be elevated at court at Pennsic 47. Was asked by Myrun Leifsdottir if I would do the words. She showed me the work in progress, which blew me away. We talked about potential sources and I asked about word court. Myrun said "However many you want". This... no. You do not tell that to a wordsmith. Everything goes to hell. She promised me she had a small hand. I told her I would limit myself to 250 words, and then I was bad and went to 268. Text of MoD Scroll: Hear the words of Brennan and Caoilfhionn, Basileus & Bassilissa of the glorious East Kingdom unto their servant Sorcha Dhocair upon her Elevation to the Order of Defense: Wherefore, you young branch of this noble art, unto you I do make this earnest request, that you will bestow all your idle time, which too many spend in frivolous company and in drunkenness, in giving good counsel unto such young people as do frequen...

Yeah.  I know.  This is a blog about words. That said someone said they needed access to my research on making period(oid) Mughal Indian Cholis, and putting links here is the easiest way to publish it. This research is old. Like I updated my name and title on it, but the original document said "Lady Meggie of Lochleven".  I still make cholis this way.   Note that the research on it is still not finished.  I was going to work on the pattern for the 3rd choli "sometime over the winter", and then suddenly I was princess (so that was 2009), and I ran out of time.  Someday I will get back to it. Here is the research: paper: A Trio of Cholis Here are the making up instructions for Choli #2  Enjoy.

This was a scroll text I did long enough ago that I forgot about it, and because of circumstances it turned into a backlog scroll;  Sir Osgkar received the final scroll just this weekend. The art was done by Mistress Eva .  Lucky me, I kept the notes from writing it, so I have something to publish about it. It's a Chaucerian Roundel. TEXT OF THE SCROLL: A white stag bells beneath a crescent moon. He looks not back to see if others chase but leads the hunt with courtesy and grace. At Pennsic War Our Queen was begged a boon To honor He whose kindness set the pace: a white stag bells beneath a crescent moon. He looks not back to see if others chase. A knight, in war, who leaves his foes a-strewn in parlay righteous rage has been erased, fair Kiena gifted glove and joyful face. A white stag bells beneath a crescent moon. He looks not back to see if others chase but leads the hunt with courtesy and grace. Kiena, the second of her name, Queen of Love and Beauty, ...