Awards and Honors

As with all feudal societies, it is the citizenry of that society who bring together their varied prowess, skills, and artistry to ensure the security of the land and the prosperity of the people.

Thus, it is such that we, the Crown of Solara being moved by the goodness of the people in service to the Crown and their respective lands within the Kingdom do hereby put forth in writing Our will to honor and recognize such service by individuals who have proven their loyalty in their service and longevity to the Kingdom.

We therefore look to our Lords and Nobles to ensure that the citizens of the land are well rewarded for their great deeds.

1. Such awards are not given lightly but should be given to individuals who deserve such recognition by their respective Lord and/or the Crown.
2. Recipients must be a member in good standing within the lands of the Kingdom of Solara.
3. Service is considered any contribution (marshal, arts, or service) an individual makes to their Steading or to Solara.
   1. By supporting their own native lands, the people thereby support Solara and are not required to serve Solara at large to receive an award.
4. All recognition should be reported to the Crown so that we too may share in their joy.
5. The Crown shall honor all recognition of individuals within their native land.

Awards (All Levels)

1. An Award is a recognition of service that shall be known to all the people within their lands.
2. All Heads of Houses, Collegium Masters, and Lords may give awards to their people as recognition and gratitude for their hard work and contribution.
3. Awards shall not hold Noble title.
   1. Titles within the Household or Steading (ex: First Mate, Sheriff, Hearth Keeper, or other titles within the Steading) are permitted.
4. Awards should be accompanied by a proclamation of deeds and service, so that both the recipient and the citizenry may know of their merit.
5. As with all recognition, the Award should be specific to the person and the service they bring to their lands and thus, to the Kingdom.
6. The individual may wear upon their person, or augment into their arms, the symbol of the award received.

Honors (Duchy and above)

1. An Honor is a high-level recognition of service that shall be known to all the people within their lands.
2. Such Honors are given at the pleasure of the Crown.  
3. The Honor shall be written in the annuls of the Kingdom.
4. Honor should be given in a formal manner and must be accompanied by a proclamation of the deeds and service, so that both the recipient and the citizenry may know of its merit.
5. Honors may come with a title.
   1. Titles should be based upon the personae of the group.
   1. Approved titles may include Vidame, Maister/Maistress, Patrician, Prefect, Captain, Squire. Other titles must be approved if the aforementioned titles do not fit within the personae of the group.
6. Duchies and Principalities within Solara may create Peers within their borders.
   1. Knight, Master of Arts, and Maister of Service.
   1. These will be recognized by their appropriate title as a Knight, Master, and Maister of the Banner. 

Kingdom Recognition Awards

1. The Crown may bestow recognition upon the citizenry of the Kingdom to reward and encourage them. These may be given for extraordinary deeds, service, or to artisans who impress the Crown.
2. The Kingdom Recognitions are not a precedence but are specific to the individual and to the great deed for which they are recognized.
   1. Examples may include, but are not limited to, an individual who serves above and beyond as an Event Planner, a Feast Maven, an Artisan who teaches or brings beauty to the Kingdom, a fighter who impresses whether knight or knave.
   1. All recognition is based upon service and not talent or prowess, although there will be times when talent and prowess are too remarkable to go unrewarded.
   1. All recognition is given based upon the deed and not through personal association with the Crown.
   1. Recognition may be event specific as well as overall service, such as Best of the Day in any field of service.
3. All awards of the Kingdom of Solara shall be recorded by the Office of the Lord Privy Seal.
4. The award must include the deeds and the signature of the Crown. However, the recognition may be announced to the citizenry at the time of the deed with scrolls of recognition to follow signed by the Crown.
5. The Crown may also give awards that are so specific to the individual they are not repeated.

Titles of Service

1. The Crown may grant upon people other Titles of Service as the Crown deems fit for service. Such titles would include:
   1. Maven of Feasts: during the progress of a feast.
   1. Auctor: individual in charge of planning and executing an event.
   1. Constable of the Field: individuals in charge of setting up tourney lists and necessary accoutrements for war.
   1. Captain of the Field (or specific unit): individuals in charge of specific groups of warriors on the field, such as a unit of archers.
   1. Marshall of the Pitch: individuals in charge of running archery and thrown weapons competitions or a’ plaisance pitches. 
   1. Judge: individuals selected to judge tournaments.
   1. A title during a specific day or event as encouragement or reward or for a winner of a competition among the citizenry.
      1. For example, at a specific event, the winner of an Arts Contest may be known as the Artisan Solaris during the course of that event, not to exceed that event. This is for encouragement and would not be an award of permanence.

Titles of Station

1. The Crown may grant upon any citizen other Titles of Station
   1. Titles of Station may include, but not limited to:
      1. Chamberlain (head of retinue), Sargent of Arms (oversees Court), Royal Guards (protects the Crowns), Heralds (court), Chief Scribe (artisan for scrolls), Pages (younger members who may assist the Crown), Cup Bearers, Commanders and Captains of the marshal field, Champions (one per discipline including arts), Constable of the Field (in charge of coordinating marshals on the field), Marshal of the Pitch (runs archery and forward weapons), Standard Bearers (in charge of the Royal banner on the field), and Judges (for arts competitions or tournaments with a gallery style competition).
2. Accolades, Awards, Honors, and Orders are not given to place any citizen above another. They are meant in the spirit of recognition and to afford the individual the right to bear the symbol of their accomplishment to let others know to whom they can speak with to learn and grow their own talents and abilities.

Crown Grants 

1. For individuals who join the Fire Borne, the Crown may give them a grant for merits they have formerly achieved.
2. This may include decreasing the time to an induction into an Order because they are at such skill level it would warrant such induction.
3. Any individual who is a Knight, Master, or equivalent title in another discipline will be honored as such but not automatically granted the equivalent Solaran title until they proven their dedication to Solara.
4. However, we shall still call them by their merited title and respect their former accomplishments to gain such from other organizations.

Court Nobles

1. The Crown may bestow upon any citizen a non-landed title of Baronet for great service rendered unto the Crown.
2. This Patent of Arms is valid only during the duration of the seated Crown who bestowed such honor unless continued by their successor.  

Other Orders

1. Orders may be created under the approval of the Crown for the arts, marshal, and service.
2. These are sometimes referred to as collegiums or chapters which are subgroups of a discipline.
3. It allows for more recognition and growth of the Fire Borne in their chosen field(s) of study.
4. Formal titles of Knight or Master may not be given within these Orders, but they are free to create belt favors and badges to be worn to symbolize their membership within that Order.

Dishonor

1. The Crown may also become displeased and deprive or demote members of any Order or of any title or position within the Kingdom if they cease their dedication to the Kingdom and/or their Branch. The Council of Light will also be consulted on such matters.
2. All actions to deprive awards of the Kingdom of Solara shall be given at the hand of the Crown or Their Adjutant and witnessed by at least two Lords and recorded by the Office of the Lord Privy Seal.