User manual ADRIAN EMPIRE SAMPLE CEREMONIES AND OATHS

[. . . ] The Adrian Empire, Inc. CEREMONIES and OATHS of the Adrian Empire as compiled by the Church of Adria September 2002 © 2002 The Adrian Empire Inc. , all rights reserved. Anyone is welcome to point out any error or omission that they may find. Church of Adria churchof adria@adrianempire. org Empress empress@adrianempire. org Emperor emperor@adrianempire. org Handbook of Ceremonies: Table of Contents September 2002 Page 2 of 21 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [. . . ] So say I , <name>. D. SAMPLE DOMAIN FORMATION (ESPERANCE) NOTE: The formation of a domain is an Imperial prerogative. This ceremony, however, can be adjusted for use in the creation of a guild or other order. Vassal: Here do I swear, by mouth and hand, To pledge my honor, and efforts, my faith and fidelity, to my brethren in <domain name>: To give freely of my knowledge and skills: To give obedience to my lords, succor to my peers, and support to those beneath me: To act with honor in all things and do nothing to tarnish the name of <domain name>. Chieftain: For our part, we do swear that the Domain shall make you one of our own: To make your causes ours, to protect you against all enemies: To provide training, succor, and support in all your efforts: To be vigilant in our duties to you, the Guild and the Empire: To act with honor in all things, To be ever vigilant, relentless and merciless in protecting the Domain, Its vassals and the causes of Chivalry, Domain and Empire. KNIGHTING CEREMONIES A knighting ceremony is an intensely personal ceremony for the knight candidate. Every effort should be made to accommodate their wishes, without sacrificing the barest minimum as given below. Some scripts of past knighting ceremonies are provided in a separate document (due to their size). A. SECOND-LEVEL OR THIRD-LEVEL KNIGHTS The vows of a second- or third-level knight does not need to be as formal as that of a first-level knight. They may simply re-affirm the vows they have already sworn ­ they are already members of the Order of Chivalry. The creation of a third-level knight is also the creation of an Imperial Peer. Every effort should be made to have this ceremony performed by an Imperial Crown, or their representative. This should also be done in Opening Court, rather than during Audience. Since this creation brings with it a permanent vote on the Imperial Estates, there should be double diligence in verifying the qualifications of the knight candidate. B. TRADITIONS Blue Belt: The blue belt is the universal Adrian symbol of a knight. Spurs: Spurs are a symbol that a knight may ride unhindered throughout the lands of Adria. © Adrian Empire, Inc. all rights reserved http://www. adrianempire. org Handbook of Ceremonies: IV. Knighting Ceremonies September 2002 Page 11 of 21 Sword: Many knight combatants accept a sword as a symbol of their particular path to knighthood. Last Blow: As part of the ceremony, the knight candidate is dealt the last blow he will ever receive unanswered. (As a knight, he is expected to answer the blows). For a knight combatant, this is usually a coulee from another knight combatant. For a knight minister, this could be a slash across their hand with a pen. The last blow can be made personal to the knight, and the path the knighthood was achieved. Challenges: After a knight is elevated, they will usually accept challenges. These should come from other knights in the same path, of the same rank or higher. If the schedule is crowded, these may take place after the ceremony. [. . . ] Crown (to the Steward): Are these individuals before you currently holders of Memberships in the Adrian Empire, as set forth in Articles III and IV of the Bylaws of the Adrian Empire, Inc. ?Steward: must answer YES or the ceremony shall end at this point Herald (to the house reprentatives: Who has been selected to represent this <subdivision> as its head?House representative identifies himself. Herald calls upon the local Chancellor to come forward. [. . . ]