Order of the Argent Bear
Falcon's Quest - Directions

>>> This page is pretty complicated and is still under construction <<<
So it may have some problems

Introduction
The Lady by the Tree
The Bridge Keeper
The Guard
The Court of Arthur
The Ending
Victory and Scoring
Notes for the Combatants
Notes for the Company
Notes for the Organizer

Quest for the Falcon

An SCA Tourney

Based on a story from The Art of Courtly Love, Andreas Capellanus, late 12th C.
Adapted for SCA use by Alfonso d'Strada and Cedrin Etainnighean
with the help of many good gentles in the Barony of Eskalya

Many many years ago, a young knight set out to prove his love for his lady. Undertaking the quest she had given him, he set out for the court of Arthur, King of Britan and leader of many fine Knights. But before he came near that worthy court, he came upon a lovely maiden who could tell him of what lay ahead. And what lay ahead included tests of his courage, his prowess, and his composure. That and some really tough knights.

This tournament is based on a story found towards the end of Andreas Capellanus' The Art of Courtly Love, written in the late 12th century. The story tells how The Rules of Love came to be known and is one of two myth-style tales found in the book.

The tourney involves five stages, three of them fighting. The following pages have the information needed for each stage, including major participants, necessary props, and story line. Most importantly, there is a selection from The Art of Courtly Love which represents the episode at hand. The selection has been rewritten and modified from the original to suit the tournament. Anyone running this tournament is strongly encouraged to read the original itself. At the end are some notes to share with the Company, the Gallery, the Combatants, and finally, some notes for the organizer.

There is also a helper page for the participants, which gives an intentionally vague outline of the tournament. This is to help any fighters who are feeling lost or distinctly uncomfortable with the uncertain and unusual nature of this tournament.

Participants:
Narrator/Organizer	Lady by the Tree	Combatants
Assistant/Record Keeper	Bridge Keeper	Gallery
	Guard
	Knight of Arthur

The Lady by the Tree

Participants	Props:
The Lady	A Tree
The Combatants	Someplace for the Lady to sit

Notes:

To minimize repetition, this encounter can be done once, as a group, at the start of the tournament. There will be less disruption to the period feel of the tournament if the standard marshal's speech (game-plan, conventions, mundane details, etc) is given before this stage.

Guidelines for the Lady:

There is very little interaction in this stage. For the most part you may safely read your lines as you see fit. One combatant or another actor may be chosen to act as a 'foil', reading the part of the young knight in the story above. That won't really change your part except for adding some pauses while he speaks.

Your demeanor should be noble, kind and reserved. This is not your lord that you are speaking to, but you do hope that he succeeds in his worthwhile quest. If you're reading it straight through, you should say something like this:

Good nobles, I know of your quest. When you asked for the love of a certain lady, she told you that you could never obtain it unless you first brought back that wondrous falcon which is on a perch of rare wood in Arthur's Court. But no matter how hard you try you can not succeed in this quest without my advice.

For I know that you can't get the falcon that you are seeking unless you prove by combat in Arthur's palace that you enjoy the love of a more beautiful lady than any man at Arthur's court has; you can't even handle the falcon unless you have the falcon's gauntlet; and you can't get this gauntlet except by overcoming two mighty knights in combat.

The bridge just beyond these trees is guarded by a truly ill-tempered knight and the gauntlet itself in kept by a powerful knight encamped on the other side of the river. But bear in mind that after you gain victory over the knight who defends the gauntlet, you must not accept it from his hand, but must take it up yourself, otherwise you can not prevail at Arthur's court.

If your heart is so stout that you are not afraid to meet the challenges I have spoken of, then you must go forward without any fear and oppose with great courage any who try to stop you. And that is all I can tell you, so I bid you good fortune on your quest...

The Bridge Keeper

Participants: Props:

The Bridge Keeper A 'Bridge'

The Combatant

Notes:

The theme of this combat is single weapon - restricted area. The 'bridge' should limit the range of the combat, the Bridge Keeper should use a spear or a single sword or mace (not a great weapon, that comes next round). The combatant, of course, is not required to match weapons form.

The option of walking backwards is unlikely to be accepted by anyone and is a 'bad thing' that will prevent a Combatant from achieving the Falcon. And running past the bridge keeper is embarrassing and a 'very bad thing'.

Notes for the Bridge Keeper

If defeated, the you should fall 'dead'. If you lose both arms, you should, of course, try to kick the Combatant. Threats to bite off knee caps are optional.

You should have some fun with the taunts. It is important to insult the combatant, so that he has good reason to refuse the option to 'walk backwards as a sign of respect'. Remember, you are ill-tempered and rude (but not crude - please).

You can also vary the 'Way Out' by asking the combatant to hop/skip across or asking him to extol your lady as the most beautiful, or what not. Just don't make it completely unreasonable.

The general game plan is:

1) Question Him: Little man, what are you seeking? -or- Why do you think you're going?

- let him answer -

2) Insult Him or His Land: Then you are seeking death, for I bar this bridge and no one from your land has ever been victorious here. -or- I bar this bridge and I can tell from your size/armor/____ that you will never defeat me in combat. - or- Go back to your land where you might be thought strong by those who are weak, you are no warrior here. - etc

3) Offer the Way Out: But if you will walk backwards as a sign of respect to me, I will take pity on your youth/weakness/folly/_____ and permit you to pass.

- let him answer, allow him to walk backwards if he wants (you can laugh at him for doing it though)

4) Start the Fight: Young man, you have come here in an evil hour, since you shall die here in the wilderness, far away from home and friends. -or- Woe to you, for finding the place of your death, all at the whim of a woman!

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The Guard

Participants: Props:

The Guard A Pavilion

The Combatant A Fine Glove

Notes:

The theme of this combat is powerful blows. The Guard should be armed with a halberd, poleax, great sword or similar weapon. The Combatant should have the chance to match weapons or not.

It was proper knightly behavior to grant mercy to any who asked, and anyone who kills the Guard will not be able to find the Glove. Accepting the glove from the Guard's hand is also a bad thing, as the Lady warned, and will prevent the Combatant from achieving the Falcon.

Notes for the Guard:

This is the most complicated and subtle part. There is the discussion before the combat, the request for mercy and the attempt at trickery after the combat. The guard is something of a boastful bully and he should talk about how strong/mighty/successful he is.

If defeated, do not fall 'dead' but instead, fall to the ground (kneeling, sitting or whatnot) and ask for mercy. Note the change in tone in the story, from boastful to pleading.

In general you have 5 things to say/do:

1) Complain and Ask why he has disturbed you:

a How dare you disturb my meal/rest -or- intrude upon my glade/field -or- annoy me with your presence.

b Return to your own lands -or- Go back to where you came from

c or tell me why you have come here an-asked for/unwelcome/unneeded -or- or tell me why you have disturbed me so boldly/rudely/____

2) When he asks for the Gauntlet call him a Fool and Boast:

a Are you mad/a fool/a simpleton/Spanish/French/Italian/_____? You could more easily die and come back to life ten times over than do what you say! -or- You and you kin will sooner fly than gain the gauntlet! -or- You will sooner gain the grail itself than my gauntlet!

b I have felled a thousand knights as easily as trees! -or- Many before you have tried and all have failed! -or- I have felled a score of knights with a single blow, you can not succeed here! -or- Armies have fallen before me, what hope have you?

- fight it out -

3) If he defeats you ask for Mercy and promise him the Gauntlet:

Mercy/Enough pray thee!

Are you the one dishonorable/discourteous/wretched warrior that your sweet/fine/noble land has produced? -or- Will you dishonor your fair/noble/renowned name/land/people by slaying me? -or- Grant me mercy and you can achieve your goal. -or- Grant me mercy and the Falcon can yet be yours.

4) If he grants you mercy, Offer to Get the Gauntlet for him.

Then wait here just a moment and I will get the Gauntlet for you. -or- You have earned the gauntlet by your skill and mercy, let me bring it to you. -or- Good, I'll be right back.

5) If he lets you, Hand it to him, otherwise show him where it is, or put it down beside him.

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The Court of Arthur

Participants: Props:

The Knight of Arthur some Chairs or Benches for the Court

The Combatant A Perch

Additional Knights of Arthur A Falcon

The Rules of Love

Notes:

The theme of this stage is 'best display of prowess and style'. The knight and combatant should generally each chose their preferred weapons.

If the Combatant attempts to take the Falcon without claiming his lady the most beautiful, he should be stopped, and the someone should tell him that none may handle the Falcon unless their lady is more beautiful than any in Arthur's Court. That should be clue enough.

However, it is possible that someone could fight the knight and never make the claim. After any combat has started, it is too late to state that the combat is about the claim. If it comes to this, a combatant will not be allowed to start over at the court and seek a second combat. Instead, he will be ejected from the court for rudely starting a fight.

Notes for the Knights of the Court:

The collection of knights is optional, and the other combatants may want to act this part while standing around. The knights (plural) job is to provide background and to grumble when the combatant makes his claim.

Notes for the Knight:

When the combatant claims that his lady is the most beautiful, or words to that effect, the fighting knight should say something like:

You will have to fight to prove that claim! or

No one may make that claim and go unchallenged! or

Many have made such a claim, but few have proved it! or

I accept!

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The Ending

Participants: Props:

The Lady of the Court The Falcon and Perch

The Combatant The Rules of Love

Notes:

There are several events which will prevent a combatant from achieving the Falcon:

- walking across the bridge backwards

- killing the Gauntlet's Guard

- accepting the Glove directly from the Guard's hand

- failing to claim one's own lady as the most beautiful

- being defeated in combat by one or more of the opponents

If the Combatant has defeated all his opponents, and not made any of the other mistakes noted above, he is allowed to pick up the Falcon and gains the Rules of Love.

This is a fine time for huzzahs and congratulations. This is also an excellent time for the gallery to bestow ribbons on the combatant for his honor and skill.

Afterwards, The Falcon goes back to the pedestal. The copy of the Rules are kept.

Notes for the Lady of the Court:

The narrator should help the Lady of the Court determine if the Combatant will be able to take the Falcon. And, after this stage is done, it is the narrator who should quietly explain why any combatant was denied the falcon, if any explanation is needed. But it should be the Lady who welcomes or refuses the Combatant.

If the Combatant can not take the Falcon the Lady should say something like:

Good noble, while you have not gained the Falcon on this day, your honor and skill has more than earned a place for you here at Arthur's Court. Will you join us?

or

Good noble, while the Falcon is denied to you, your deeds have brought honor to your lady and earned a place for you here at Arthur's Court. Will you join us?

If the Combatant can take the Falcon, she should say something like:

Welcome good noble, with great prowess you have earned the right to this Falcon. Pray thee claim it and also, if you will, join the good company of those who guard the falcon.

or

The Falcon is yours by right of your honor and prowess. Also yours is a place amoung the worthy company of warriors who guard the Falcon, will you join them?

After the Combatant has grasped the Falcon, the Lady of the Court should hand him the Rules of Love saying:

This is the parchment on which are written the rules of love which the King of Love himself set forth. You should take it with you and make these rules known to all.

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Victory and Scoring

It was common in period for the winner to be selected by the gallery or by the other combatants. There are also period examples of scoring based on 'lances' with a different number of lances gained for various blows and lances lost for mistakes.

Scoring for this tourney is based on ribbons gained. These ribbons are gained for victories, are given by the company, and are given by the gallery. Since the knight and gallery ribbons can be given regardless of a fighter's victories, it is likely that the winning fighter will have fought not only skillfully, but also with style and honor.

Various color ribbons (not white, red, or blue) are given by members of the gallery as each person sees fit. Enough ribbons should be given to allow people to be generous with giving a ribbon, without having so many that a single ribbon becomes meaningless. We have done well with five to seven ribbons for each gallery member in tourneys with ten or so combatants.

White ribbons are given by Chivalric members of the company as they see fit. Blue ribbons are given by nonknight company members. In general, 0-3 ribbons is a good range. Company members should note that the combatants already receive red ribbons for victory and so company ribbons should be given more for honor and chivalry rather than for victory.

Red ribbons are given for simple victory in the combats. The number of ribbons should be based on the prowess or station of the company member. We gave 5 ribbons for defeating a Chivalric or Royal Peer and 3 ribbons for victory otherwise.

Notes on Likely Scores

Assuming:

- multi-colored ribbons to the gallery given as each sees fit (1-10 ribbons might be received)

- red ribbons for victories (5 for a knight/royal peer, 3 otherwise) that's 0-15 ribbons

- white/blue ribbons from the company for noble combat (0-3 each) that's 0 to 9 ribbons

Then overall ribbons might be:

0 unlikely

10 possible low average, no wins, 5 ribbons from the company, 5 from the gallery

17 possible high average, 1 win, 5 ribbons from the company, 7 from the gallery

19 very nobly fought (0 wins, 9 ribbons from the company, 10 from the gallery)

25 very good day (2 chivalric wins, 7 ribbons from the company, 8 from the gallery)

34 max possible (all chivalric wins, 9 ribbons from company, 10 from gallery)

Victory

Anyone who achieves the falcon should be considered to have won. Of course, anyone who competed with honor and courage won, but you know what I mean.

The victor is the person with the most ribbons received - that might not be the person with the most wins. At feast or court, this person should be called forward to be recognized. At that time the victor should deliver copies of the Rules of Love to be distributed to the populous (that was part of the story).

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Notes for the Combatants

Victory is decided by the number of ribbons rather than simply by the number of wins. If you 'lose' at any stage, you will simply advance to the next stage - you do not get eliminated. While three fights does not sound like a lot, note that in a double elimination tournament, fully half of the combatants get only two fights.

At some point after your turn, you should approach the Record Keeper and tell them the number of ribbons you have gained.

At each stage you may either match weapons with your opponent or keep your current weapons.

There is not a whole lot that you must say and you can say it rather plainly. If you do think of anything fun to say, have at it! If you're really nervous, let someone else go first and just pay attention to what they do, that should help out.

Here is (more or less) the advice given by the Lady by the Tree:

Good noble, I know of your quest. When you asked for the love of a certain lady, she told you that you could never obtain it unless you first brought back that victorious falcon which, men say, is on a perch of rare wood in Arthur's Court. But no matter how hard you try you can not succeed in this quest without my help.

For I know that you can't get the falcon that you are seeking unless you prove by combat in Arthur's palace that you enjoy the love of a more beautiful lady than any man at Arthur's court has; you can't even handle the falcon unless you have the falcon's gauntlet; and you can't get this gauntlet except by overcoming two mighty knights in combat.

The bridge just beyond these trees is guarded by a truly ill-tempered knight and the gauntlet itself in kept by an powerful knight encamped on the other side of the river. But bear in mind that after you gain victory over the knight who defends the gauntlet, you must not accept it from his hand, but must take it up yourself, otherwise you can not prevail at Arthur's court.

If your heart is so stout that you are not afraid to carry out those things of which I have spoken, then you must go forward without any fear and oppose with the highest courage all those who will try to stop you. And that is all I can tell you, so I bid good fortune to you on your quest...

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Notes for the Company

There is the potential for the tourney to become monotonous. Some variety in your lines will help keep things interesting. Mostly just have fun with you part.

The Lady by the Tree, the Knight in Arthur's Court, and the Lady of the Court don't have a lot of room to vary their lines, but if you think of something new - go ahead and do it.

The Bridge Keeper and the Gauntlet's Guard have lots of room to change their lines. Be a trouble maker. Or if you think of a different spin to give your part, go for it.

You should note that the combatants already receive red ribbons for victory and so company ribbons should be given more for honor and style rather than for victory.

When some one loses in combat, they are not eliminated, but are allowed to pass by reason of their honor and courtesy. If you really feel that they have not shown honor or courtesy then you may decide to forbid them passage - but that is a big, bad thing and should not actually happen.

You should, however, be somewhat grudging in your permission - you have been commanded (by Arthur or your Lady or whoever) to allow those who fight with honor, bravery and courtesy to pass. You should say something like:

Well, you have shown (great) courage/honor/bravery/skill/stamina/wit/_____ today. I am commanded/compelled/pleased to permit you passage onward by reason of that virtue.

or

You have fought with honor and skill/courage and skill/_____. By reason of those virtues, you have right to continue your quest.

or

I am permitted to oppose all who come my way, but I am not allowed to restrain those who fight with honor and courage/bravery/etc. You may continue on your quest.

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Notes for the Organizer

Basic Game Plan

Marshals Speech - what's up, what the conventions are, the stuff in the Notes for the Combatants

Narrators Speech - stuff in the Notes for the Gallery

Stage 1 (Lady) - as a group

Stages 2(Bridge), 3(Guard),4(Court), 5(End) - one fighter at a time, huzzahs and Ribbons at end

Count up ribbons

Design Notes

Quite a number of changes from the story were made to accommodate our particular circumstances. I encourage anyone running this tourney to read the original story itself and consider re-adapting the tournament to more closely match the book.

Some changes and reasons are:

- Some of the rewriting was done to allow the combatants to fight all three stages, even if they failed in a previous stage. That is why there are no palace guards at Arthur's Court as there are in the story. If that part was kept, then no one who has not gained the Gauntlet could even enter the court. If you want to run it as an elimination tourney (which puts more focus on winning and less on style/honor) then you could keep the story line closer to the original.

- Some detail rewrites were done to accommodate the supplies on hand. While it's a hawk in the book, it's a falcon in the tourney because I happen to have a very nice stuffed-animal Peregrine Falcon which was given to me by my lady. A perch of 'rare wood' was easier to obtain than a perch of gold. And the whole part about the castle and feast in the Gauntlet/Door Keeper section of the original was pulled out in order to simplify the props.

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Comments or questions should be mailed to truffa@alaska.net , please include the words 'Argent Bear' in the subject line.