Lady Emmanuelle de Chenonceaux and Master Seamus Donn

Using that as a yard stick the goal I might set is to drive that merchant out of business! (or at least into different merchandise) Not by direct pressure but by creating a public image that no longer demands those sorts of goods.

In Ireland to keep on good relations with our Celtic neighbours we had wars, cattle raids, territorial disputes and even stole one of the Scottish Shire's islands at one point. I said in answer to another question "to embrace the Current Middle Ages is to embrace (good natured) conflict". The geography and people here are a bit different. What might suit the tone better would be a series of arranged marriages, hostage exchanges, and/or fosterings. Perhaps just dramatic trappings, but the echoing of period methods of reaching out does foster a more open atmosphere that the administrative side of the game can use to do their side of the work.

Autocrating, organizing the administration and running of events, and setting price points are all things that fall on the administrative side of the fence. I would offer the above as an example of how things can be done rather than an expression of how I think they should do things.

Bear with me for a short digression. In Drachenwald the most argued over law was the requirements for entry into Crown Tourney. The main issue was that Americans would come to Europe with the military, enter Crown Tourney, and win. There was a long period with no native monarchs which a major point of friction. Contrary to my normal leanings, I was actualy against making the entrance requirements stricter (mainly in terms of length of residency). Firstly it is better to use repeated "foreign" monarchs as an incentive to improve your fighting standard than to lower the bar by excluding people. Secondly, the American Military are inarguably part of Drachenwald. And to create a rule specifically that excludes them (they are normally there for 3 year rotations, and strict residency rules would prevent any of them from entering) is not fair.

So, in Carolingia we have the Boroughs. Borough folk are often here, do great service, and often leave before any gaining any award. Only to have to start over from the bottom where they go. To see these people move on without recognition has caused me no end of consternation. I would dearly like to see this changed.

Let us be clear about one thing: awards do not cost money and they make people happy. True, to give them out casually would be inappropriate and "devalue" them, however I still feel this is a very strong arugment in favour for "err early".

Sadly, the most appropriate award is the AoA which is determined at Kingdom level. The Baron only has influence, not control, of this. An alternative might be to establish a "Foreign Office" that tracks where people have gone, and ensures that "letters of reccomendation" get passed on to appropriate people in their new home. I'm already trying to do this for those gentles I have personally known. As Baron I might seek other's help.

The very first war I ever fought in (Pennsic XX) I fought under the command of the lady who had given us endless hours of help on-line and on-phone and got my Shire fighting. I died at her feet.

Watching, against all hope or expectation, Seosamh Ui Maille from Carolingia come second in Eastern Crown Tourney.

But I have been very good so far at, for example, keeping my work day to a strict 8 hours. A hard job in my industry! I think I should be successful at balancing my hobby time, although with a bit more flexability. There are many great things to do in this wonderful hobby, but the best people in it are those who don't practice it to the exclusion of all else. I think this is good to practice in the population at large. If I am seen as being successful at doing it as Baron, I would serve as an example to others.

My criteria for participation will change from what I want to do to what the Barony needs me to do. I'm more likely to go to a wider range of activities, than just the few that compose my primary interests.

The concept of Fealty is very important to me. It drives how most of things operate in the SCA. Featly is not just blind service of a retainer to a lord. It goes both ways. In the same way service is due, when asked, from the retainer to the lord, support is due from the lord to the retainer.

You can deconstruct the example of the "naked newbie" above along these lines. In return for service, I take on the responsibility for clothing the retainer and integrating them into the rest of the Barony.

It is such contract of fealty that bind the Baron and Baroness to the people. (And to the King as well.) I cannot expect them to fight on my behalf unless I am willing to take the field with them. I cannot expect them to help me when I need it unless I am willing to help them when they need it. As a retainer swearing fealty to a lord I usually have one particular phrase in my oath "To serve as I am served". Living by my own rules I would feel it my responsibiliy, as Baron, to serve the people to the greatest extent possible to fulfill my half of the fealty oath, and inspire their service in return.

As for households, primarily I am a member of my Knight's household, and the head of my own household. As Baron I would still be a friend to my Knight's household, but Carolingia would have to come first. As for my own household, it is likely that I would still take on proteges and retainers, but I would probably appoint someone else as "head" if I were to be Baron. I have recently started a third household, which a charter that has to do with improving the fairness with which awards are given out. But that is only just starting up, and I am just in an advisory role in that.

As Baron, if already introduced, I would approach them. If not I would find someone to introduce me. I would greet them, find out who they were, what their interests were. Proclaim that I need someone with just that set of interests to fulfill a position in court (cupbearer, treasury guard, messenger, spy, or whatever depending on their willingness and interests). I'd inform them, however, that court requires appropriate garb, but that all is well because I have just the person to sort them out. Then together seek out whoever is in charge of gold key and leave them in their hands. Later I would seek out someone who sews and direct them in their direction.