La Maison d'Ancien

 

La Maison d'Ancien

La Maison is the first official EMP group to be formed in the Southeastern United States. It is the goal of the founders to create a vibrant and fertile platform for medievalist activities particularly within the state of Florida. To that end the following charter is written...

In the tradition of EMP and other medievalist groups, the the Maison is formed with an underlying historical framework providing inspiration and a structural model for activities and offices.

As the period we often call the “Dark Ages” neared it's close there came a rediscovery of the science, art, culture, and wisdom of ancient times, especially of Greece and Rome. A sudden obsession with ancient texts and art began to take hold in Europe which led to new humanistic ideas and eventually played a central role in the renaissance. In addition to the study of ancient scholars, there was also an interest in artistic, social, and, military practices of classical antiquity.

La Maison is a fictional group of French gentlefolk who gather together in the safety of ancestral manors to explore the intoxicating burgeoning ideas inspired by rediscovery of the classics. An eccentric mixture of thinkers, reformers, humanists, and hedonists the Maison has the formal structure of a medieval fraternity or secret society wherein the bylaws play a central role and real-life social structure competes with the formal ranks created by the society. This does not mean they are not creatures of their time. Jousts, foxhunts, courtly endeavors, and chivalric ideals are not lost.

As with most EMP groups, the above persona is intended as inspiration and entertainment and need not strictly adhered to by all members. Though it can be fun to play along, there is no penalty for embracing other times and personas so long as they fall within the appropriate context of the Empire. Though dress and activities often have mythological or fantastical themes, this is at it's core a historical group. Though we might at times dress as satyr or stage combats based on mythic tales, we do not pretend to be such things. Rather it is to be interpreted as the trivial entertainments of real historic peoples. All members of La Maison must create for themselves a medievalist name and persona based on actual history and are encouraged to study and develop said persona or personas as is fitting.

Authority rests with the Lord Magister and Lady Consort of the manor as limited by the charter. The founding lord and consort are Gaston de Vieuxchamps and Judith de Vieuxchamps who's home serves as the initial gathering place for the fraternity's activities. The base of La Maison shall be the home of the Lord Magister at the time. The office of Lord and Lady will pass to another when the present Lord and Consort, acting together as one appoint their own replacements. In the event the Lord and Lady become inactive, unavailable, or otherwise missing, a petition may be presented to the House of Lords signed by at least 60% of current citizens of the manor declaring the Lord and Lady defunct. The Lord and Lady will then have 6 months from the acceptance of the letter to show their presence and fulfill their role, after such time the positions will be considered vacant and a general election by secret ballot held to select replacements. The remaining citizens of the Maison are expected to ask the House of Lords for assistance in conducting such an election.

Alternatively the citizenry of the manor can declare a vote of “no confidence” thus removing them from office and appointing replacements. In order to do so there must be a physical meeting of at least 2/3rds of the current citizens in good standing wherein discussion must occur and a new Lord Magister and Lady Consort selected by a consensus of all citizens present excepting the current Lord and Lady.

It is the purpose of the Maison to promote the healthy growth and activities of the Empire and to that end multiple groups with differing ideas, activities and cultures are preferable. To promote a balance of cohesion and opportunity the following bylaw is written:

If at any time the Maison has at least 18 tax-paying citizens and at least 8 of them wish to form their own separate EMP group, then they will automatically be released from all pledges or obligations to the Maison with freedom to immediately pledge for their new group so long as all other requirements for level one group status as determined by the House of Lords have been met. Such members have the blessings of the Lord Magister and Lady Consort and advance the goals of the Maison and the Empire. This law does not preclude citizens from requesting release when the above criteria have not been met.

The Lord Magister and Lady Consort may create such additional rules and offices as are necessary for the function of the Maison. The Lord Magister shall have executive and judicial authority in regards to Maison activities within the limits of the bylaws and charter and is responsible for maintaining group status within the EMP and for ensuring that required events and scheduled activities occur. The Lady Consort wields joint legislative authority and inspires Maison activities as well as group and individual development. As part of this role she serves as an example of fraternal ideals and holds the primary responsibility for recognition of members through award, chronicle, and when necessary admonishment. Membership in the Maison may be revoked only by the Magister and Consort jointly.

The above charter can only be amended by unanimous consensus of Maison citizens.

What follows are the bylaws of the Maison which may be lawfully amended, deleted, or added to by the Lord and Lady acting as one, though it is preferable that they consult with the membership.

Bylaws

Section 1, Presentation

1)The arms of the Maison shall be as follows:
Sable, a torch or, enflamed gules upon a roundel argent.

2)The badge of the Consort shall be a rose stemmed with a snake wound about the stem in any colors as suits her needs.

Section 2, Activities

1)The Maison serves as an agent of learning and development. As such, members are encouraged to study the arts and sciences of the middle ages, antiquity, and beyond. Members are obliged to share their knowledge when appropriate though it is understood that some of the more esoteric truths of the ancients are not appropriate for the uninitiated. Citizens therefore must strive to improve their appearance, knowledge, skills, and possessions but are prohibited from adverse treatment of those displaying less virtues in these areas. If someone shows up in a bedsheet toga and jeans, it is not an insult to you.

2)Provincialism shall not be tolerated.

As a corollary to #1 and 2 above, citizens are encouraged to interact with other groups who share common interests, be they martial, historical, material, or philosophical. When reasonable, efforts will be made to facilitate the activities of such groups within the Maison such as making allowances for those with different martial traditions to participate though this in no way implies responsibility for injury resulting from their participation. Likewise visiting royalty from other groups is to be treated as visiting royalty and guests are to be shown respect appropriate for their efforts and achievements outside the EMP.

Section 3, Heavy fighting:
1)As with the Empire at large, the first rule of fighting within the Maison is “Don't be a jerk.” We are all here to have fun and develop ourselves and each other. The spirit of competition is encouraged but fighters are prohibited from intentionally causing harm to one another. Injuries will happen and every fighter takes that risk of his or her own free will. In the absence of malice no injured party shall hold another responsible. This means you are responsible if you get hurt, not your opponent, the host, the Lord, the Empire, or any of their officers or representatives. Participation proves consent to this law.

2)”Excessive is not a strategy” Heavy combat within the EMP is designed as a “three telling blow” system. A fighter's goal is to strike three blows of sufficient force to a legal target area. Although EMP rules also allow for “substantial” blows which end the fight immediately this is always at the discretion of the fighter who is struck and the fighter striking is prohibited from striking with more than sufficient force for the purpose of eliciting a “substantial” call. A fighter shall never be penalized or stigmatized for not calling “substantial” based purely on the force of the blow. This does not preclude other methods of obtaining a “substantial” win based on expected results of presumed weapons such as a thrust to an open-faced helm or a well-placed two-handed thrust to an unarmoured vital such as the armpit with good mechanics, independent of actual force. Likewise attempting to force an indefensible position to elicit a “substantial” call is permitted.

3)As a corollary to #2 above, blows to limbs shall generally not be considered “substantial” unless the fighter struck feels strongly to the contrary.

4) Shield edges shall not be used for striking an opponent unless measures are taken to prevent any reasonable chance of penetration through an EMP legal helm. This requirement can be fulfilled in the following ways:
a. The shield constructed with edges at least 1.25” across.
b. No strike thrown unless the attacker has sufficient control of target and position as to preclude any reasonable chance of helm penetration such as only aiming for the body away from the head, or only striking vs a closed-faced helm.
Furthermore fighters must acknowledge that shields of certain designs or materials pose a greater than usual risk of injury to the opponent when used for striking due to the shape and thickness of the edging, the weight, the stiffness, or some combination thereof. Due care shall be taken when employing such a shield offensively.

5) Striking an opponent's helm with a cuphilt of steel or metal of similar hardness is prohibited. Likewise striking the helm with steel or similarly hard metal weapon fittings such as pommels or quillions is also prohibited. Nice helmets are expensive! This does not prevent striking with plastic, leather, light aluminum, or similarly hard materials so long as they are significantly less hard than steel.

6)EMP fighting is not for everyone. It requires a level of physical and mental sturdiness which not everyone possesses. Each fighter must make their own decision whether participation is right for them. In spite of this truth, it is admirable for a gentle to don armour and fight and a fighter willing to do so shall not be stigmatized if they are not prepared for or unwilling to engage in every aspect of EMP fighting. For example such standard practices as full grappling, punching and kicking, and lower leg targeting may not be appropriate for all participants and such participants within Maison practices and events shall always have the option to forgo any such techniques by making a specific verbal request of their opponent before engagement. This applies only to single combat. There shall be no penalty for such a request and it shall not preclude participation in any single combat activity of the Maison. Such fighters must understand that certain fighting formats where multiple individual opponents are faced in rapid succession (like the Ring of Fire at Ragnaroc) make such specifications impractical. Also, citizens of the Maison understand that conventions in other EMP groups may be different and the same courtesy might not be extended and shall not expected when visiting other groups.

7)Whining is not permitted. Grousing, kvetching, moaning, and niggling are allowed.