ARCH - What If

[Wilim Penbras]

Well, Lord Timothy is going to be upset at me for sending out another perfectly good Scroll article as an e-mail but maybe he'll still clean it up a bit and print it.

The question has been raised in Archery Circles as to what the Crown can do for us as a community.  It's been proposed that more recognition would be a good thing.  The level of Recognition we deserve is still a sticking point for most people.  I'm going to offer an opinion or two on that particular topic as well as some observations.

There are 3 areas involved in Archery that could be deserving of recognition.  Service, Craftsmanship, and Ability.

I received my 'Portculis' this year.  It's not a big award with all kinds of Titles and regalia.  It's not even AoA level, just a basic Baronial Service award.  I'm still Wilim Penbras.  But not quite,  I'm Wilim, the guy in Elfsea you talk to if you want to talk archery.  My work in the Barony trying to further the goals of the archery community were specifically mentioned by her excellency.  That's not all I do in the lines of service but it was recognized and I appreciate it.  The next day we had 4 more people pick up bows and most of them got hooked.

I can hear you saying that it would be better if it had held an AoA or been an Archery Specific award.  Well there is an AOA level baronial service award but I'm not even going to try deluding myself into thinking I'm on a par with the Keystones of Elfsea.  When it comes down to it if it had been archery specific I wouldn't have joined as big a fellowship as I did.  I'm a holder of the Portculis of Elfsea.  Here Elfsea, here Ansteorra,  is a good gentle who has been recognized for his contribution and his contribution is as important as everyone elses.

I sincerly believe that had our barony had an Archery specific award I could and would have earned it.  What would that have accomplished?  I would still have an award recognizing my contribution as being important but the award I got clearly puts me and my contribution on a level equal to the rest of the people contributing to the growth and happiness in our barony.


I make arrows,  and the time will come when I make my own bow.  I carry a rough quiver that I made myself.  Someday perhaps I will earn  a Thistle or better for my craftsmanship.  Not today or even tomorrow but eventually.


Ability,  It's true there are few awards in the kingdom that are awarded for ability in archery.  Does a heavy fighter get an award when he reaches a certain number of kills?  When he learns his last weapon style?  When he masters a single weapon style?  No,  if he's lucky he gets a red belt and someone that'll help them keep working to a grant or peerage.  Most if not all of the awards that a heavy fighter can get that are less than grant level are open to Combat archers.  

Ah but what about the target archers?  Let me ask you a question archery community.  We have a ranking system,  has anyone even come close the the highest rank we have set?   Our Dons and Centurians can go anywhere in the Known World and compete with the best any kingdom has.  Are we there yet?  Are we even close?

If someone could just give me a list of people deserving recognition and that no award we currently have fits then I'd think maybe we need a new award.  Until then, tell me,  what awards have you recommended your friendly local archer for?


In Service,
     Wilim Penbras
     Bowman
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