The Outlands began as a region of Atenveldt. It became a principality in A.S. XII, and was elevated to kingdom status in A.S. XXI. The arms of the kingdom are Vert, a stag argent, attired and unguled, salient from between the boughs of a laurel wreath, in chief a Saxon crown, all within a bordure embattled Or.
Many of the awards' names and badges incorporate elements of the kingdom's
arms: a leaping stag, and the colors green, silver, and gold. Outlands kingdom
law requires that anyone receiving an award must be a paid member of the SCA.
Flower of the Outlands: given to those who have demonstrated
extraordinary skill in the arts and/or sciences. Recipients of the order are
styled "Companions of the Flower". The badge of the order is:
Vert, two stags combatant argent, maintaining a
sexfoil Or, within a bordure engrailed Or.
Iron Hart of the Outlands: given to those who have demonstrated extraordinary
skill in the fighting arts of traditional SCA-style weaponry. Recipients of
the order are styled "Thegns of the Iron Hart" and are entitled to place the
initials TIH after their names. The badge of the order is:
Vert, two stags combatant argent, maintaining an axe argent hilted
Or, within a bordure engrailed Or.
Stag: given to those who have served the kingdom well and
faithfully, far and beyond the service normally expected from a citizen of the
kingdom. Companions of the Stag of the Outlands are entitled to place the
initials OSO after their name. The badge of the order is: Vert, two stags
combatant, maintaining a column argent, within a bordure engrailed Or.
Order of the White Scarf of the Outlands:
given to those who have
demonstrated excellence in the art of fence, giving freely of their expertise
in the use and artistry of this weapons form and the courtly graces which
accompany its mastery. Defenders of the White Scarf are styled "Don" or
"Dona" and are entitled to place the initials DWS after their names. The
insignia of the order is a white scarf worn under the arm and tied at the
shoulder. The order's badge is: Sable, on a pale argent between two rapiers
proper, a stag's antler vert. This award was elevated to grant-level on
November 9, 1996. Members of the order prior to this date retain their awards
at the former AoA level.
Order of Sharparrow:
given for excellence in archery. The order's badge is: Vert, on a
pale argent endorsed Or a flaming arrow sable.
Recipients are styled "Archer of the Iron Rain," and are entitled to place the
initials AIR after their names.
Order of the Stag's Heart:
given to those who demonstrate excellence in administrative abilities,
giving freely of their time and talents to serve the
kingdom. Companions of the Stag's Heart are entitled to place the initials CSH
after their name. The order's badge is: Vert, a heart Or between the attires
of a stag's head cabossed argent, attired, within a bordure embattled Or.
Order of the Trefoil: given to members of shires for their
artistic abilities,
fighting skills, or service to the shire. Recipients are entitled to place
the initials CTO after their name. The order's badge is: Vert, a trefoil
slipped argent within a bordure embattled Or.
Order of the Argent Hart: given to those who have
demonstrated excellence in
the arts and sciences, giving freely of their talents to enrich the Outlands.
Companions of the Argent Hart are entitled to place the initials CAH after
their names. The order's badge is: Vert, a stag's head, erased and affronty,
argent, collared and armed, within a bordure embattled Or.
Order of the Stag's Blood:
given to those who have demonstrated excellence in
the fighting arts, both in teaching and in the use of traditional SCA-style
weaponry. Recipients of the order are styled "Defenders of the Stag's
Blood," and are entitled to place the initials DSB after their names.
The order's badge is: Vert, in saltire, a sword inverted proper and an
axe argent, hafted Or, surmounted by a stag's head cabossed argent, armed,
within a bordure embattled, Or.
Order of the Golden Pheon:
given to those archers who have demonstrated their abilities in service
to the Kingdom. Companions of the Golden Pheon are entitled to place the
initials CGP after their names. The insignia of the order is:
Vert, a pheon inverted environed of a stag's attire, all within a
bordure embattled Or.
Order of the Silver Tynes of the Outlands: given to those
who have demonstrated excellence in the art of fence, giving
freely of their expertise in the use and artistry of this weapons
form and the courtly graces which accompany its mastery.
Order of the Silver Stirrup: given to those equestrians
who have demonstrated their abilities in service to the kingdom.
Companions of the Silver Stirrup are entitled to place the initials CSS
after their names.
Order of the Cordon Royale (BCR): given by the King to those who have rendered personal service to him during the reign. Bearers of the Cordon Royal may wear the insignia of the order, a belt bearing a stylized rendition of the King's initials.
Queen's Cypher (BQC): given by the Queen to those who have rendered personal service to her during the reign. Bearers of the Queen's Cypher may wear the insignia of the order, a stylized rendition of the Queen's initials.
Order of the Promise of the Outlands (CPO):
given to those young persons
who have demonstrated an understanding of life in the Society. The badge
of the order is: Vert, a deer's head erased argent, budded, within a bordure
embattled Or.
Order of the Walker of the Way:
given only once per reign, to that person
whose behavior best personifies the highest ideals and values of the Current
Middle Ages. Recipients are styled "Walkers of the Way," and are entitled
to place the initials CWW after their name. The badge is: Argent, a palmer,
robed, hooded and bearing a staff sable.
Venerable Guard:
given to those who have served the martial interests of
the Society for fifteen years or more. Companions of the Venerable Guard
are entitled to place the initials CVG after their name. The award's badge
is: Vert, a sheaf of three swords inverted proper surmounted by a rose, all
within a bordure embattled Or.
Legion of Gallantry: given by the Crown to those who have demonstrated courtesy and chivalry throughout the Kingdom.
An Augmentation of Arms is thought to be one of the highest honors which can be bestowed by the Crown.
King's Champion: in the past this honor fell to the second-place fighter in the Crown Lists. Currently, the recipient is personally chosen from among the entrants by the King. The King's Champion has the honor of wearing a green baldric, and a green tabard embattled in gold, depicting a white stag and fleur-de-lis, until the next King's Champion is chosen.
Queen's Champion: chosen in a tournament held twice yearly, on the weekend of Coronation. The Queen's Champion has the honor of wearing a green leather baldric, and a green tabard bordered with gold roses, depicting a white doe and fleur-de-lis. These items are returned to the Queen at the next Queen's Champion's Tournament.
Warlord of the Outlands: chosen in a tournament held at least once a year. The winner holds the title of "Warlord of the Outlands" until the next tournament.
Protector of the Queen's Heart: chosen in the Queen's Rapier Champion's Tournament, held twice yearly, on the weekend of Coronation. The Protector has the honor of wearing a green cape, bordered with gold roses, depicting a white doe. These items are returned to the Queen at the next Queen's Rapier Champion Tournament. The award's badge is: Vert, two rapiers inverted in saltire proper, overall a heart, all within a bordure embattled Or.
Royal Archer: The Royal Archer competitions are held at various events on Memorial Day Weekend. The same tournament format is run at all locations; the victor is the archer who shoots the highest score of all. All Outlands archers who are members of the SCA and are ranked Yeoman and above are eligible to compete for the title. The Royal Archer's duties vary depending upon the Crown's desires and needs. At a minimum, the Royal Archer will host or assist in the running of the next Royal Archer Tournament and stand ready in Their Majesties' Courts when needed.
Windhover Bard: (Kingdom Bard) Chosen by competition, this title was was established in honor of that most talented and formidable poetess, Mistress Kyriel of Windhover Cliff.
Queen's Bard: may be chosen by the Queen to serve throughout Her Reign. The badge of the position is: Vert, a harp argent surmounted by a rose, all within a bordure embattled Or.
King's Bard: may be chosen by the King to serve throughout His Reign. The badge of the position is: Vert, a harp Or surmounted by a trefoil slipped argent, all within a bordure embattled Or.
Queen's Shield of Chivalry: given by the Queen and Crown Princess to the entrant in the Crown Lists who conducts himself or herself the most chivalrously upon the field that day. The bearer of the Shield surrenders it to the new Queen at the next Crown Tournament. The shield itself is round, with a gold rose on a green field.
Champion of the Arts and Sciences: chosen at the Arts and Sciences Grand Competition, which may be held once per reign, at the kingdom Arts and Sciences events.
Flower of Chivalry: given by the Queen to an entrant in the Queen's Champion Tournament who has displayed honor and chivalry throughout the rounds of fighting. The holder of this honor has the right to wear a green baldric trimmed with gold, depicting a gold rose, until the next Queen's Champion's Tournament. Each local group in the Outlands may also proclaim a Flower of Chivalry at their local Champion tournaments. The baldrics vary group to group, each in the group's livery colors, and depicting a different flower. An entrant in the Queen's Rapier Tournament may also be honored as a Flower of Chivalry, and given the privilege to wear a similarly decorated baldric, and to carry a rapier which is passed on from the previous Flower.
Many awards and titles from the Outlands' years as a principality are still recognized although they are no longer awarded. Closed principality awards include:
Order of the Stag's Tynes (CST): given for service to the principality. The order's badge is: Vert, a stag's attires Or, affixed to the scalp erased proper, within a bordure embattled Or.
Order of the Leaping Stag (OLS):
given for excellence in the arts and
sciences. The order's badge is: Vert, a stag leaping between in bend sinister a
harp and an olive branch bendwise, all argent.
Order of the Grail of Grace (CGG): given for personal service to the Princess.
Order of the Princess' Cypher (BPC): given for personal service to the Princess.
Order of the Prince's Gauntlet (BPG): given for personal service
to the Prince.
| Index of SCA Kingdom Awards articles | Kingdom of the Outlands webpage |
This column was compiled from the SCA Armorial and information supplied by
Countess Kathryn of Iveragh, Alban St. Albans and Kwellend-Njal Kollskeggson. Badge illustrations provided by Regana van Kortrijk.
Mistress Jessa d'Avondale (OP,
Court Baroness,
GoA,
OSC,
OM,
OBT,
QC,
Terpsichore)
is from the fifteenth-century Italian court, where she is studying the dance
(including those peculiar ones from France and England). She resides in the
East Kingdom. Marla Lecin
(mlecin@optonline.net)
invites anyone with updates or corrections to this column to contact her.