A test of courage and valor . . .

[Arne]

Ummm, I noticed that knights usually shell out a fair wad of money to host a feast and/or wedding.  We pretty well have squat for cash.  And I have no idea what kind of lodgings we're expected to have arranged for potential guests of high station.  We could be looking at two knights and their wives, Merlin, and possibly the earl's representative. 

[GM Craig]

The feast held by a noble can be sumptuous. I think Sir Cedwyn spent several ? (Libra) on his feast, but that is high-end food. A common feast can be had for much less money.

http://pendragon.altarka.org/smf/index.php?topic=127.msg1753#msg1753

You have something like 100 or 150 northmen, right? So you could feed them all a fairly rich common meal (equivalent to a whole day's food) for 6 denarii. Go up from there if you wish.

[Arne]

Not bad!  Still, Arne might have to borrow from his bride since he doesn't have any cash on his character sheet.   

I'll delve a little more once I get home.  And wait for Valka's input, of course.   

[Arne]

Sorry, I've been getting extremely sidetracked here.

Now, is it customary at a wedding to give invited guests with some sort of gift?  I don't want to inadvertently slight anyone . . . especially anyone we invite from outside the Nord community.  Should there be some sort of entertainment and/or music for the feast?  Although I imagine that Valka's more than up to that task.   


Also, when Arne/Valka sends invitations out for the wedding/feast, what would be the proper titles to use for:

Sir Rodric and Lady Habren
Sir Cedwyn and Lady Ysbail
Earl Roderick
Merlin

[GM Craig]

It's customary for the guests to bring gifts. Gifts are only provided to the guests if the host is of higher social status, and are used as a means of gaining glory (conspicuous consumption).

[Arne]

Ummm, my apologies for this.  I've been getting sidetracked, and I let myself forget how we wanted to set this up.  Now, hopefully, I'm back on track.


Wedding and feast:  For both the wedding and the feast, we'll invite Sir Rodric and Lady Habren, as well as Merlin - as originally planned.

Wedding:  I would like to send an invitation to Sir Cedwyn and Lady Ysbail as well - just in case there's the possibility of them feeling slighted by not inviting them - but as I mentioned before, the invitation would come with a separate letter to inform them of the pagan rites surrounding the wedding, and a reassurance that we would not be offended if they chose to decline.

Feast:  Invitations to Sir Cedwyn and Lady Ysbail, as well as Earl Roderick.


Timing of marriage and feast: As Holmg?r?r suggested, we should have the marriage and rites separate from the actual feast.  We can have the feast a day or two after the marriage and rites.

Expenses:  Beyond the food and drink, what else should be be looking at?  Singers?  Jongleurs?  Lutists?  What about places to stay for the non-Nord guests that we invite?  I was thinking that one of the two lodges could be spruced up some more . . .

[Geoffrey]

Rodric and Habren would be open to having the guests stay with them if it made things easier.

[GM Craig]

That would be expected anyway - nobles enjoy the right of hospitality.

[Geoffrey]

From the guest list, wouldn't that only apply to the Earl, or whoever he sends in his place?

[GM Craig]

And Sir Cedwyn. Any knight is entitled to hospitality.

[Arne]

Just nailing down some last bits and bobbles here . . .

So when exactly is this feast supposed to be?  The priestess mentioned having it around Pentecost time, but I thought that Pentecost was in May?

[GM Craig]

Pentacost is 50 days after Easter. There is a big feast at Pentacost, so somewhere between Christmas and Pentacost would be good.

[Arne]

Okay, that works.  Let's see . . . at least with the Vikings, they preferred to hold marriages on Fridays to honor the goddess of marriage (Frigga), so perhaps Friday, March 20 for the wedding, and the next day for the feast.  Hopefully the weather by then should be okay, and the date won't interfere with Easter (which would be March 29).

Another thing I should ask . . . would Valka have had her girl before or after this time?

[GM Craig]

No, she'd be 7 months along.

[Geoffrey]

And Sir Cedwyn. Any knight is entitled to hospitality.

Meh, there's a perfectly good stable out back.