Meet the Officers: Pursuivant

The next installment of our Baronial Officer Blog posts, this one written by our spectacular Pursuivant Mistress Ekaterina Volkova, please enjoy learning about what our Pursuivant does!

Pursuivant

A Great Barony is run with precision

A Baronial Court requires nothing less!

Tradition, discipline, and rules must be the tools

Without them - Disorder! Chaos! Anarchy!

In short, we have a ghastly mess!

What is the Pursuivant?

The Pursuivant is the Baronial Herald. This is a required posting as laid down by the Laws and Policies of the Kingdom of Æthelmearc in Article Vl, Section VI-200. In the Rhydderich Hael, this position has the title of Ice Dragon Pursuivant. The Pursuivant has a drop-dead deputy, in the Hael they are the Haelstone Pusuivant.

What does the Pursuivant do?

1. The majority of the time, the Pursuivant runs Baronial Courts. This means:
   1. keeping track of the docket,
   2. coordinating with the Scribal Guild to make sure scrolls will be coming in and from whom,
   3. running Baronial court,
   4. and filling out court reports for the Silver Buccle Herald.
2. If they are available, the Pursuivant also heralds in Their Excellencies in processions at such events as the Seven Pearls Tournament, Pennsic, War Practice and Coronations (depending on the wishes of Their Majesties).
3. Sometimes folks will come to the Pursuivant for help in designing and submitting SCA names and devices. I personally have a deputy that handles this aspect of the job.
4. Quarterly, it is the responsibility of the Pursuivant to submit a report to Kingdom. This is done via an online form found on the Kingdom Herald’s website.

What is required to be Ice Dragon Pusuivant?

1. You must be a member in good standing in the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc.
2. You must submit your resume to the Seneschal of the Barony with a copy to the current Pursuivant
3. You must be voted into the office at the voting Barony meeting.
4. Other things that are a bonus:

1. Getting along with the current and potential future Baron/Baroness of the Barony,
2. the ability to keep confidences as you will know award information sometimes months ahead of time,
3. a loud and carrying voice,
4. little to no stage fright,
5. organizational skills (preferably spreadsheet and google docs abilities),
6. a comfortable pair of shoes (Ice Dragon court is LONG),
7. a sense of humor is a big bonus too.

What are the perks of being Pursuivant?

1. You get a front row seat to see people’s faces as they receive awards,
2. you get to see up close all the pretty scrolls the scribes of the Barony make,
3. you’re not straining to hear what they are saying in court