From: owner-scribes@castle.org (scribes digest) To: scribes-digest@castle.org Subject: scribes digest V5 #91 Reply-To: Sender: owner-scribes@castle.org Errors-To: owner-scribes@castle.org Precedence: bulk scribes digest Sunday, March 18 2001 Volume 05 : Number 091 ======================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to with unsubscribe scribes-digets in the body of the message. Leave the subject line blank. Do not include any additional text. [scribes]: Scribal Treatment Continued. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 09:43:44 -0500 From: "Helen Schultz" Subject: [scribes]: Scribal Treatment Continued. Greetings all: Just thought I'd pop in with my side of some of this part of the discussion. I did spend about a year and a half in the office of Dragon Signet (that is the Midrealm Signet to those outside our kingdom ) a few years ago... and things do change, but not always. I only wish I were as organized as Duchess Katherine of the East is -- and she was one of my Apprentice Sisters . It would be nice if all the kingdoms were this organized (at least the ones who do original scrolls for each event), but reality is that most of us are not . The reason Midrealm scribes usually only get a week to do their scrolls is not to be laid on the doorstep of the Dragon Signet (at least not all the time). Because Royalty want to give as many people as possible recognition, they often wait until the last minute to contact the Signet with the list... I had a fairly good relationship with the Royalty of the time, and would get the lists faxed to me at MIDNIGHT just barely 2 weeks before an event (that was during Catherine & Jafar's reign), and called to me about a week and a half before the event during the other two Royalty's reigns (I'll leave their names out of this, thank ou). -- Let me say, I was partial to Catherine and Jafar, as they elevated me . Also, during one of the other reigns, that particular set of Royalty was well known for adding another 10 to 20 awards to their court AT THE EVENT. So, Saradwen, it is not usually the fault of the kingdom Signet, but more a case of any particular set of Royalty (and I am not totally blaming them, as the populace often does not make their recommendations in a TIMELY MANNER, either) not giving their Signet enough lead time... for whatever reason. And, Saradwen, I don't think any scribe is FORCED to spend time in the scribes room!! This is a personal choice. However, I do agree that peer pressure is sometimes the hardest to resist. I know that there were many times I ended up spending an entire event in that "back room" to do a quick calligraphy job or to finish painting a piece I had brought from home for the event. But, I soon learned that I, too, was missing many events. Like you, I don't bring my stuff often to events any more. But, I am beginning to bring some stuff more often, as it usually ends up that one of my Apprentices runs these rooms and I get a hefty case of guilt when I don't help out (peer pressure again . As much as I don't like it, the best answer for the Midrealm is to encourage our illuminators to "crank out" as many blanks as possible so that the calligraphers can quickly do the wording. I know that if I had several nice blanks hanging around my house, I could do the calligraphy up in about an hour or two before an event. I am one of those people who takes forever to select "just the right" border for the person and then "just the right" calligraphy, with "just the right" wording. This takes me several days to figure out... then the actual work ends up taking me longer than I anticipate, and I end up with half finished scrolls. But, this is ME. I know my weakness, and have yet to figure out how to FIX it completely. (One of my Apprentices and a Student are trying their hardest to help me do this fix, by the way. Thanks A'isha and Timothy!! I am trying very hard to live up to their expectations.> I always bring scribal stuff to Pennsic, though, as you never know when there is someone who either can teach you (this is the collective "you") something or something you can teach someone else. We all have areas we are very good at -- so sharing is very important. Think about that aspect of working on scrolls at Pennsic, would you?? Did you know that Royalty for Pennsic rarely give the Dragon Signet the court list more than 2 weeks before the actual event?? I don't mean 2 weeks before Land Grab, I mean probably the day before Land Grab. Ever try to get in touch with Regional Signets the day before they are leaving for a 2-week party??? That is why many scrolls are done there, at the event. Believe me, I know this from experience. And, if the Royalty is particularly stressed prior to the event, they often give out garbled info to the Signet Office. This happened to me when I was Dragon Signet, and I was sorely embarrassed that a scroll was done for someone for the wrong thing. Nice illuminations, too. But, life happens, folks. This is a sort of a game and we need to be VERY flexible. Yes, Midrealm scribes are getting fed up and with just cause. But, just think of the ramifications if we all stopped doing what we all love so much -- NO ONE WOULD GET AN ORIGINAL SCROLL AT AN EVENT AGAIN!! I don't even want to think of that option. Meisterin Katarina Helene von Schoenborn, OL Shire of Narrental (Peru, Indiana) Middle Kingdom =================================================================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to with a blank Subject: line and unsubscribe scribes in the body of the message. Do not include any additional text in the body. ------------------------------ End of scribes digest V5 #91 ****************************