Whilst reading an explaination posted on one of the few mailing lists I’m still on, a thought occured to me which I must admit I have yet to research. I have oft heard complaint that “The Crown is only open to tournement fighters” from non combatants and combat archers, and this thought if put into action would stop that being an issue at all.
This is not a formal proposal for anything but an open discussion, and I believe those who know me well enough, know that I am always promoting discussion of any kind. So this is just really sticking it out there to see what bounces.
So, the idea? What, (apart from current society law) would restrict a couple from appointing a Champion to fight Crown on their behalf? Realistically at the moment it is not possible, but would it be worth concidering a proposal to make this change? After all, to take on this monumental task this Champion would need to have total faith in the couple, believing that the couple are worth fighting for, and believing that they are worth putting their own reputation on the line for. The Crown would still need to accept this Champion as well as the Couple they fight for as a valid entry into The Crown Tourney, as I believe currently takes place.
If you really think about this, there are already so many checks in place to ensure that The Crown are capable of completeing their reign that I can see nothing but benefits for this suggestion. Was this not a valid period practice? Would this also not be quite honourable and chivalrous, as I believe it would be on the fighters honour as well as those they stand for to forfill the honour of the fighter?
Personally looking at the laws, though very breifly, I believe this would be a very simple change that would not only allow for a much more exciting Crown Tourney, as well as opening up the potential for some amasing new Crown couples who were previously denied entry simply due to lack of fighting ability (Can you imagine Rowan as Queen? I can, as this would make that possible).
Anyway.. As previously stated, this is really just putting forth an idea… I believe it’s a good one, I believe there is more potential good in it than the potential harm it could do. However I am also aware that 40 odd years of tradition is one hell of a big boulder moving downhill hill at incredible pace. Luckily for us, the right brains on side, some thought, and with some of the right type of muscle it is possible to divert that big a boulder.
I’m not trying to change the way it’s currently done, I just believe that this could be a better way.
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This was one of the ideas that was thought about when the laws of Lochac were being developed prior to going Kingdom. the other suggested method was to fight crown as a war instead of a tourney.
I thought at the time it had merit
Personally I would love to see this opted for… And looking over the laws since, I see that your point about it being a Law of Lochac, and not a society wide law even improves it’s chances.. I have emails the crown about reopening discussions on it, if you or anyone would like to lend support.
Obviously as it has been discussed before, there would be reasons it wasn’t adopted, I would also be interested in hearing the against argument. ;)
Can I point out that Rowan has in fact been Princess twice?
And the Crown is open to people who do the other things martial – they just need to get a consort who practices heavy fighting. Yes I am being deliberately annoying there, I know that you were meaning the entire couple were non-heavies, and whilst our method of choosing K&Q is not entirely period (though very close to the Irish system in some ways), it is quite close when you consider that the people who were rulers in period were rulers because a distant ancestor was the one who could thump people better than any body else.
I also have this niggling thought in the back of my head, that the whole champion thing (as seen in Ivanhoe) is actually not that common within period, if not entirely Victorian romantic medieval rubbish.
A war one would be interesting – An Tir a couple of years ago did a war crown: the finalists were decided by tourney and that evening gathered their forces and then the war was fought the next day, the winner being the new CP.