arontius | A Thought On Sargeantry.

.....This is mainly to put thought to proverbial paper for future retention. But feed-back would be appreciated as well.

.....There is so much to think about when preparing for the Coronets. I probably should learn to stop over-sharing, to be honest. :-) But I like talking things out with people.

.....One of the programs that TBT wanted to concentrate on re-building was the Sargeantry Program. What we have in mind is definitely different than has been in place in the past. So that might make it a challenge from the start. Then there is the fact that we want to approach this with a wider viewpoint than as a Baroness' Guard. So the fact that the Baron would be as much a focus as the Baroness may be a strangeness that will not be tolerated either. We'll see. We intend to build the framework first and present it at a Baronial Town Hall Meeting and see how it goes over. Then it will either progress, go back for re-write, or be shelved all together.

.....All you can do it try something.

.....One of the things that always caused us paused whenever Their Current Excellencies discussed the concept was, what do Sargeants do once they earn the title? No one was ever enamored with the concept of Sargeantry as serving staff or Baronial Labor Pool. Being a Teacher or Leader is expected from anyone who has been playing for a number of years in the branch, so that was not something that really would set a Sargeantry apart. So we had to think of something different.

.....Something that I've been musing over for a while now falls in line with my Arthurian Romance stylistic musings. My thought was that when a Sargeant (or Yoeman or Lancer or Courtier or Gallant or...) is named their final act of the Trials would be to name their 'Quest' for the upcoming year. This Quest would be something that they would work on throughout the year. It should be something that was achievable. But still something that was a challenge to achieve. For a Sargeant this might mean that they fight thirty knights over the course of the year and gain their feed-back and insight. If they are a Gallant, maybe the Quest would be to learn and demonstrate a new and distinct style of weaponry. For a Courtier the Quest might be to research and demonstrate an entire new artistry.

.....Then after a year's time all the members of the Baronial Sargeantry would meet around a proverbial round table and discuss the Quest they performed over the past year. This includes their successes and failures. And how they grew within their discipline by undertaking this Quest. Others witnessing this Quest and listening to them speak at the round table might be inspired to greatness themselves.

.....Then, when all the stories have been spoke. The members all declare their Quest for the upcoming year and what they intend to do to achieve it.

.....This is rather simplistic in explanation and seems more self-centered rather than community building (which is what I would want to do as a member of the Sargeantry). But it is a starting point. My hope is to pull together a group of people to debate this to the nth degree and see what we could do to strain it into something purer.

.....TBT has been receptive, but there is still a lot of debate to happen and thoughts that need to get put down in black-and-white. :-)

.....Aaron / Arontius.