Greetings, Noble Populace.
As you may now be aware, our Kingdom is in Regency. As Regents, our duty is to see to the selection of the Sovereigns of Æthelmearc. The Kingdom is in need of both Royals and Heirs. Therefore, we will hold two Crown tournaments on the same day – the first tournament will decide the Royals who will sit the thrones of Æthelmearc for the remainder of this Summer reign. The second tournament will determine the Heirs who will rule Æthelmearc over the following Winter.
Both tournaments will be held during our Crown Tourney event on May 3rd. The Crown list for the Heirs Tournament is already published, and will continue as planned starting at approximately noon that day. However, an additional tournament must be held FIRST (1) to determine who sits the throne of Æthelmearc starting immediately. We shall relinquish our Regency between the two tournaments, so that the new Royals can be crowned and then oversee the tournament to choose their Heirs.
Therefore, we are calling for Letters of Intent for the Royal Tournament, which will start at 10am. The Royal Tournament is open to any eligible combatant and consort pair who would normally be eligible for Crown Tournament, including those planning to participate in the Heirs Tournament in the second half of the event.(2)
Letters will be accepted in the attached form (https://aeforms.aethelmearc.org/view.php?id=79608) or via email at royalty@aethelmearc.org through Thursday May 1st at 10am, which is 48 hours prior to the tournament.(3)
We realize this is a huge responsibility, with little time to prepare. The winners of the first tournament will immediately step up to the thrones of Æthelmearc and be responsible for the Kingdom through the remainder of the Summer Reign. Included in those duties will be the Endless Hills Investiture (the following weekend, May 10, at Melee Madness), selecting the initial members of the Order of the Mark, and of course the Pennsic War. Please consider carefully whether you will be able to perform these duties on such short notice.
Feel free to contact any of us with questions.
In Service to Glorious Æthelmearc,
Thomas Byron of Haverford, King Regent
Ariella of Thornbury, Queen Regent
Padraig O’Branduibh, Kingdom Seneschal
Notes:
(1) The sequence is important. The winner of the first tournament will become the Sovereigns immediately. If we were to run the Heirs Tournament first, then the winners would immediately become the royalty, per Kingdom Law.
(2) The victors of the Royal Tournament will be immediately crowned, and thus will not be eligible to participate in the Heirs Tournament.
(3) We have been granted a variance by Society to shorten the time frame, which usually closes the submission window 30 days before the event.