ANST - FW: Orm & Megan's Letters (Pendaran Responds)
Pug Bainter
pug at pug.net
Tue Apr 7 16:04:40 PDT 1998
Unto the good subjects of Ansteorra,
As I no longer subscribe to the Ansteorran list due to heavy traffic,
I had this letter forwarded to me by a friend. She felt that as I am a
Lion of Ansteorra, I should read Megan's words. I have now read my
sister Lion's words, and I feel that I must comment upon them.
<Some background information snipped>
The following points 1 - 8 are, as far as I know, undisputed.
The FACTS, unaltered and as complete memory allows are:
1. Megan conceived of, found, arranged for the purchase of, and the
presentation of the Sword of State that has been our symbol for almost
18 years.
2. Megan, Baron Orm, and all the crew of the ship Raven assisted in
its purchase.
3. Orm reforged it, to make it a worthy weapon, as well as a
fitting symbol.
4. Orm, with the crew of the Raven, presented the sword to Lloyd I with
these words form Orm: "This I give you to hold for the populace of
Ansteorra while you are king. It belongs to the kingdom, and is yours to
wield and guard for THEM!"
5. Orm requested and it was granted that upon its retirement that sword
would be returned to our hands.
6. During the reign of Sigmund I, Megan, 3rd Lion of Ansteorra, arranged
for the Lions of Ansteorra to become stewards of the sword. Prior to that,
it had no connection with the Lions, save that the first 3 Lions were also
Raven crew, from whom the sword came.
7. Orm, Ivar and Megan asked for and received from Sigmund, mid reign, a
pledge that the Sword of State should be the especial charge of the Lions
of Ansteorra, and that when the time came that a new sword was needed (i.e.,
if that one were lost, broken or retired), all the Lions together would
CHOOSE __and __ BRING FORTH TOGETHER unto the King a new sword.
8. At the end of Sigmund's first reign, Orm, Ivar and Megan, of their own
will and without "permission", went to the king and redeemed from him the
Sword of State. Thus they established the tradition of the Lions taking the
Sword from the king. They then, again of their own accord, brought it forth
to Finn, and charged him as Orm had charged Lloyd, that the sword was his to
hold for his people. They reestablished with Finn the covenant between the
Lions and the Crown, and so it went for many years. At some point, while
Megan was out ill, the Lions began to fail to explain the Covenant to the
crown and new Lions. It was explained sporadically, but not well, until
Megan and Orm resumed play.
[Martin, Brian]
I have some issue with the following points.
9. Upon the loss of the Great Sword of State at the hands of Kien, he
expressed to Megan and Orm that he did not intend to uphold the covenant
between the Lions and the Crown, and that he and Inman had decided that
Inman would bring forth the new sword.
[Martin, Brian] I'm sorry but I feel that this is somewhat
misleading. Kein first attempted to contact Orm and Megan but could
not locate a contact number for them. Looking for guidance, Kein then
turned to another friend, Duke Inman. Inman has been king many times
and is a Lion and Kein figured that Inman could advise him on what to
do. Inman offered to make a new sword and Kein accepted. Kein was
distraught over the loss of the sword and unsure of what to do. He and
Inman were trying to fix the problem but they were not trying to
intentionally break a covenant with the Lions.
Let me just say that I personally wish that all of the Lions that
could have been reached had been called and consulted. However, as I
mentioned, Kein was distraught and wasn't sure what to do. He was
searching for a solution. A triple peer and Lion of Ansteorra offered
to make a sword and Kein accepted. Like or hate the decision as is
your right. But please do not cast dispersions upon Kein's and Inman's
nature or intentions.
10. Megan, Orm, and many other Lions called Kien, upset and distressed, to
make sure he was well informed as to the Pledge, and the ramifications of
breaking it.
[Martin, Brian] This is quite true. I was one of the Lions who called
Kein. Kein told me at the time what had happened when he had tried to
call Orm and Megan and called Inman. He also told me that he was
willing to talk to the Lions about what had transpired. and give us a
chance to come to an agreement over what was to be done.
11. Not only did Kien, full knowing, elect to break the pledge; he at one
time told Orm and Megan that he wanted to handle an exchange of swords very
quietly at coronation, thus, sweeping the matter under the rug. He
indicated clearly to Megan and Orm that it was more important to him to get
ANY sword into the hand of his heir than to keep faith with the Lions of
Ansteorra.
[Martin, Brian] Please do not mistake a pressure packed, emotionally
wracked decision with intentional deception. This was a matter of a
man who was at his wits' end and afraid that the kingdom he dearly
loves was going to forever hate him because the sword was stolen while
in his charge. I, for one, can not begin to understand how Kein must
have felt. I know that I would have wanted the Earth to swallow me up
so that I wouldn't have to face the kingdom. However, Kein faced all
manner of criticism from all directions and never once denied or
shirked his responsibility.
12. A meeting was held that was to have been between only the Lions and the
Crown, but which some members of the royal family insisted the royal family
must attend. At the meeting, many of the royal family, some knowing the
full extent of the Pledge, and some ignorant of it, urged the Crown Prince
(not the Crown, not the Lions) to make a choice of where the next sword
would come from--before he could be informed fully about the Pledge, and
before he could hear discussion on other options from the Lions. In fact,
Megan had brought 2 candidates to the meeting for consideration, offered by
1) a barony, and 2) a gentleman of the realm, but they were spurned without
being seen, all while the king and queen sat mute.
[Martin, Brian] I was at that meeting. I remember that everyone there
had the opportunity to speak. I spoke. Many Lions who were not members
of the royal family spoke. Yes, the Crown Prince was asked who He
thought should deliver the next sword and He said Inman should. Inman
said that he would make the next sword if the Lions helped and
supported him. All of the Lions present said that they would and many
of us began to make offers of how we would help. All of us did have a
chance to speak.
13. The end result of the meeting was that the Lions as a body WERE NOT
ALLOWED TO CHOOSE a new Sword of State, though we will participate in
bringing it forth together, subject to some terms that not all of us agree
with. Only half of the pledge was honored, and that, subject to restrictions.
[Martin, Brian] I reiterate: all of the Lions, in fact, everyone in
that meeting had the opportunity to speak their minds. No one objected
to Inman's proposal. I walked away from that meeting happy with what
took place. I was under the impression that all of the Lions were
happy with it. No one voiced any objections. If they had any
objections, that meeting was the time and place to state them. That is
a fact.
****************
Having stated the facts, we will now note what deeply troubles us
about them.
Some Lions have expressed deep frustration and distress over this incident;
some have not spoken, and not having known of the Pledge may not care. But
principles of integrity and honor were violated by the crown, and these
principles the Lions are called on to guard.
[Martin, Brian] I do not feel that the Crown violated the principles
of integrity and honor.
As this selection process stands, the sword of state that is being made
represents a broken pledge; it does not represent unity. It also represents
the intervention of most of the then present Royal Family in a contract
between the Lions and the Sovereign. This sword is the convenient and
expedient answer to a problem that would require wisdom, honor,
responsibility and time to sufficiently solve, in order to fulfill the oath
that has stood for 17 years. If these words upset those who have urged
these choices, we hope you will reconsider what you hoped to achieve from
this pledgebreaking.
[Martin, Brian] While I agree that the sword of state should remain
within the stewardship of the Lions and the Lions should bring forth
the new sword, I feel that this message is in great part unfair to
Duke Kein and will result in further division.
Of late we have seen Virtue and Principle put aside for the sake of
convenience and expedience. In our minds, in the matter of the replacement
of the sword, it's the symbol of the very virtues that the crown is supposed
to uphold and protect that has been dishonored __by__ the crown.
HOW IS IT CHIVALROUS TO BREAK A PLEDGE?
[Martin, Brian] If you felt that the pledge was broken, why wasn't
something said at the meeting? I know that Kein and Alisha walked out
of that meeting feeling that people were pleased with the agreement.
They weren't trying to deceive people or break pledges. Kein and
Alisha are tow of the most honorable people that I have had the
privilege of knowing. They would NEVER do something as vile as they
have just been accused of.
Sweeping these things under the rug is a form of condonement. Anywhere a
code of silence is preserved at the expense of the values a group purports
to uphold, the group is diminished. As long as we continue to turn our
heads just because the subject is uncomfortable, we will allow these things
to happen again and again.
[Martin, Brian] I agree. However, I stated my objections in the
proper forum: at two meetings that were held at Steppes 12th Night. I
spoke to people with whom I agreed and with whom I disagreed and I
walked away feeling happy with what had transpired. No, not everything
turned out as I would have wished it. However, compromise is a part of
life. Taking into account what could have happened and how others felt
about things, I was content with the outcome of the meetings.
And just so everyone fully understands how I felt about things, I
fully supported Orm and Megan in the meetings at Twelfth Night.
Granted, there are some, royal family, Lions, and populace alike who do not
know or cannot comprehend that only half of this matter has even been
addressed. We are remedying that now.
[Martin, Brian] I disagree. I feel that the issue is now being
improperly aired and that Kein has been unjustly attacked.
The important thing is, the king and queen did know, and broke the pledge
anyway. Just as the king would not consult a single knight and deem that he
had consulted the order, so too, going to one of the Lions for a solution is
not a substitute for involving all of us, as the pledge required. We have
written Kien, and though the kingdom seneschal officially requested to him
that he respond to us, he has not. (Anyone wishing a copy of that letter,
please let us know--it is germane to the present discussion.)
[Martin, Brian] Did I mention that there was a big meeting and that
everyone got a chance to speak their opinions? If not, there was one.
Really. It happened at Steppes Twelfth Night. I'm sure that I was
there and didn't dream that meeting. In fact, that meeting was just as
real as the belted circle that was held the same night. The belted
circle in which I got to share my opinions with the Crown in the exact
same manner that they were shared in the meeting with the Lions and
royal family. I have also read the letter that was sent to Kein. It
was an attack on him that was blistering and insulting. Alisha was
furious and I don't blame her. Not answering the letter was probably
the most civil thing that Kein could have done.
The Lions of Ansteorra, are named to defend The Dream. What are the
elements of that dream? The value of one's given word is one, at
least
[Martin, Brian] Again, so that everyone understands my relationship
with everyone involved, let me state it clearly. I am friends with Orm
and Megan. I like them and enjoy their company. I respect both of them
as peers and particularly as Lions. I backed these good folks when the
whole story about the sword became known to the Lions and supported
their efforts to get the Lions involved in the creation of the new
sword.
I am also close friends with Kein and Alisha. I consider Kein to be
my closest and dearest friend in this world. I may, therefore, be
somewhat protective of and biased towards him. That friendship,
however, did not prevent me from telling Kein what I honestly felt
about the situation before and after the meeting at Steppes. In fact,
it was our close friendship that allowed me to fully state my mind
knowing that Kein would understand and not resent my honest feelings
so long as they were honest and not tempered with anger.
Megan, I know that you are hurt by the loss of the sword more deeply
than any of us. I know that the sword meant something different to you
than it did to any of the rest of us, Lion or not. However, I must
disagree with you on what I see as an attack on Kein and Alisha. I am
sorry and bear you no malice for this. But I felt the need as a peer,
as a noble, as a friend and as a Lion to publicly rebut your
statements.
I apologize to everyone for all of this being aired in public. I
apologize most sincerely that something so long and tedious was sent
to this list by someone who no longer subscribes to it. However, I
hope that you understand my need to state what I have said.
Yours with Respect and Sincerity,
Pendaran Glamorgan
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