For the Hellenic style reign of Alfar III and Angharat I in AS48-49 (2014), Epikrates Attikos rewrote Lochac’s ceremonies to match. These ceremonies are being generously shared by Epikrates under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license.
Photo by Bastian, March 2014
Award Ceremonies
Award of Arms
NAME; by your hand you have brought honour to this land, and it has been made greater and better by your efforts.
In the sight of Gods and men we accord you the rights of a Citizen of Lochac,
To take up sacred arms so that all may know your name.
We charge you to duly respect the rulers of Lochac and the existing ordinances and all others which may be established in the future,
And to never abandon your comrade wherever you shall be stationed.
So far as you are able by yourself, and with the help of all.
From this hour, the xxth day of yy, in the Era of Alfar Anax and Angharat Anassa
Fealty Oath
In the sight of Gods and men, will you serve the Kingdom faithfully:
To obey the Crown of Lochac and submit to all those established laws, and others which the people may harmoniously enact.
To make this land greater and better than when you came to it,
Never to bring reproach upon your hallowed arms, or to desert the comrade at whose side you stand.
Will you come to the defence of the Kingdom, either single-handed or supported by many, if anyone tries to overthrow it?
With the populace of Lochac as witnesses to this oath, Will you so swear?
Cross of Lochac
Sometimes, those who come from across the seas in hollow ships from foreign lands make ours greater and better by their efforts. Angharat anassa and Alfar anax recognise this service with membership in the order of the Cross of Lochac.
Pride of Lochac
The first labour of powerful Herakles was to defeat the Nemean lion, a creature whose fur was impervious to all weapons. The kingdom is made resilient when its people work together to succeed at labours that are beyond the ability of each citizen alone, and so we recognise those groups whose achievements stand as a pillar raised by many hands, and grant them membershp in the Company of the Pride of Lochac.
Shining Helm
Ares, the god of war, grants his divine favour on those who glorify the martial arts. Alfar anax and Angharat anassa signify those who serve as exemplars for how warriors array themselves for battle, and grant them entry into the order named for Ares’ Shining Helm.
Rowan
Tales tell of how lovely-haired Hebe the goddess of youth, dispensed rejuvenating ambrosia to the gods from her magical chalice. When, through carelessness, she lost this cup to demons, the gods sent an eagle to recover the cup. The feathers and drops of blood which the eagle shed in the ensuing fight with the demons fell to earth, where each of them turned into a rowan tree. It is grace and courtesy which keeps our hearts light and our spirits young, and so we bestow the Rowan on those who bring these qualities to our circle of friendship.
Taillefer
Those who fill the long nights with song, juggling, and the telling of tales do much to civilize our society. Angharat Anassa and Alfar Anax hold such skills in high regard, and grant entertainers of skill membership in the order of Taillefer.
Barony (Court)
Alfar Anax and Angharat Anassa gather to their court citizens whose contribution to society are held to be exemplary. They mark this favour by granting these subjects Their permission to wear a suitable coronet, and the bestowal of the title of Baron/ess.
Golden Tear
Tales tell the story of young Phaethon, son of Apollo Helios, sun-god. He was teased by his playmates and so he begged of his father that he might drive the sun-chariot to prove his lineage. The boy was too small to control of the chariot, and the horses ran wild, scorching the earth and burning crops and men. Wide-seeing Zeus struck Phaethon dead with lightning, thereby saving all the earth.
Phaethon’s sisters, the Electrides, vowed to stay at the grave of their dead brother, and wept day and night refusing all meat and drink. Their wasting bodies transformed into trees but their tears continued to flow, and as the drops hardened in the sun, turned to amber.
Lochac remembers the sacrifice of Phaethon by bestowing these Golden Tears on citizens whose service saves it from extinction.
Hasta Belli/Golden Sword/Rapier
Even in times of peace/war, our citizenry must exercise its skills in the martial arts used in times of war/peace. Alfar anax and Angharat anassa recognise those who maintain and share these skills and grant them membership in the Order of the [Hasta Belli: the Spear of War / Golden Sword / Rapier].
Nock
In times of war, the bow and the javelin allow our warriors to make a strong first strike on our enemies. This requires great skill, and Alfar anax and Angharat anassa recognise those who maintain and share these skills and grant them membership in the order of the Nock.
Miles Regni
War drains the lifeblood of our land, and those who sacrifice and serve with their efforts and skill deserve our thanks. Angharat anassa and Alfar anax express this thanks with membership in the order of the Miles Regni
Hector
In the history of the lands of Troy, Prince Hector; son of Priam, was named Tamer of horses. In this day, we recognise those among us whose skill in the equestrian arts is exemplary, and grant them membership into the Order of Hector.
Lochac Order of Grace
The poet tells us that laughter-loving Aphrodite has in her retinue three daughters of mighty Zeus: Aglaea for Splendour, Euphrosyne for Mirth amd Thalia for Good Cheer. Together these sisters were named the Three Graces.
So too, life in Lochac is made sweeter by the presence of the Graces as they walk amongst our people, spreading joy. We recognise them with the Lochac Order of Grace, and ask that they bear the insignia of a leaping fawn beneath a constellation of these three sisters.
Prometheus
The titan Prometheus stole the secret of fire from the gods, and taught it to mankind setting them on the path to civilization. For this action he suffered greatly, being chained to a rock where every evening eagles would rip out his liver and consume it. Overnight it would regrow, and his torture repeated for days without end.
So too we recognise the unending task that is undertaken by all who teach their skills, and we grant them membership into the Order of Prometheus
Star and Lily
Back in the land of the Hellenes, the Lily, or Leirion in the old tongue, covers the hillsides by day with its beautiful blossoms of purest white. By night, the stars in the heavens shine their white light down upon the land.
So too does Lochac celebrate those who by their artistry make our land beautiful, and bestow upon them the Star and Lily
Red Wyvern
The poet tells us that in the wars against Troy,
mighty Agamemnon King of Argos wore on his breast and sword-belt the emblem of the wyvern.
He performed many heroic deeds on the field, and in memory of these deeds and of warriors that performed great deeds likewise,
Lochac bestows the Red Wyvern to those famed hoplite warriors whose exceptional prowess is exceeded only by their courtesy, honour and chivalry.
Silver Pegasus
The instant that Perseus son of Zeus beheaded the gorgon Medusa, forth from her blood sprang the wing-ed stallion Pegasus.
From blood and Pain white-winged Pegasus flew to Olympus, where he fetched lightning and thunder for Zeus, father of gods and men.
To remember this obeisance, Lochac bestows the Silver Pegasus to those faithful citizens whose exceptional service is exceeded only by their courtesy, honour and chivalry.
Cockatrice (Basilisk)
The Cockatrice bears also the name basilisk, or “king of beasts”, for the crown that it wears. Thrice-wise Hermes wrote that its ashes can be used to convert silver into gold. Likewise the artists and artisans of Lochac turn the mundane into the glorious, and to celebrate their skill and efforts Lochac bestows the Cockatrice to those whose exceptional artistry is exceeded only by their courtesy, honour and chivalry.
Lochac Company of Archers
Those who practice and teach the arts of missile combat extend the reach of the power of our land far beyond that which can be won with the bright spear and the sharp sword. Alfar anax and Angharat anassa recognise exemplars of this field, and grant membership in the Lochac Company of Archers to those faithful citizens whose exceptional skill is exceeded only by their courtesy, honour and chivalry.
White Scarf
In the 36th year of our reckoning, there was a time of peace enjoyed by all the civilized world, and our citizens could conduct their business without the threat of violence from across the seas. All lands knew that peace would not last, and that skills in the martial arts must be maintained, and so was created the Treaty of the White Scarf, to encourage those who practice and teach the arts of combat outside the strong greaves and glinting helmets. Angharat anassa and Alfar anax recognise exemplars of this field, and grant membership in the Order of the White Scarf of Lochac to those faithful citizens whose exceptional skill is exceeded only by their courtesy, honour and chivalry.
Guard Oath
Th Guard Oath was re-written by Duke Sir Alfar of Attica, modified for Lochac from a 5th century BC Athenian oath.
I will never bring reproach upon my hallowed arms,
nor will I desert the comrade at whose side I stand,
but I will defend the kingdom, single-handed or supported by many.
My native land I will not leave diminished,
but greater and better than when I came to it.
I will obey the Crown of Lochac
and submit to the established laws
and all others which the people shall harmoniously enact.
If anyone trys to overthrow this kingdom
or disobeys it, I will not permit them,
but will come to its defense single-handed or with the support of all.
I will honour the laws of this kingdom and the word of the Crown
Let the populace of Lochac be my witnesses.
So say I…