Order of the Rainbow's Gold

 There is a checklist available for those interested in putting themselves forward as candidates for the Rainbow's Gold. There is also a mailing list available for this Order and its candidates. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RainbowsGold/

Charter

1. Combat
   1. In order to accomplish this section, the candidate will demonstrate various skills at arms. There are three ways to accomplish this, the candidate must choose one of the three.
      1. The first alternative is to fight in a heavy weapons tourney. This must be an official tourney.
      2. The second alternative will call upon the candidate to complete the following:
         1. Find a suitable member of the Order that is commonly accepted as an accomplished heavy weapons fighter.
         2. The candidate should pledge to this individual for a period of time to serve as a retainer. In return the candidate will learn to wield a weapon and hold a shield.
         3. The candidate will then, before three (3) members of the Order, proceed to don a suit of armor and demonstrate the uses of armor, sword and shield against an armored opponent who will not strike back.
      3. If the candidate is physically unable to complete either of the above, the candidate must be able to identify pieces of armor and weapons, and tell which blows are being used when seeing these blows performed by a fighter.
   2. All candidates will identify the various machines of war.
   3. All candidates will elaborate on the fortifications of the period. This will be accomplished by designing a fortification on land, on terrain which has been designated by one of the members of the Order.
   4. All candidates will demonstrate knowledge of Society weapons, combat, armor, and rules of combat. 

2. Heraldry
   To demonstrate a knowledge of heraldry, the candidate must:
   1. Blazon his own device and have it painted on a shield (if a fighter) or worked into a banner. The device must have been submitted to the heralds for registration.
   2. The candidate must be able to identify at least three out of five of the arms of the prominent Peers of the Barony.
   3. The candidate will be able to answer about basic heraldry: What are:
      1. Tinctures, metals and furs
      2. Basic field divisions and charges based on those divisions. 

3. Dancing
   To demonstrate the candidate's dancing ability, the candidate shall be required to perform five dances, each of which is from a different, Western European court style that is appropriate to our period of research (i.e. Pavan, Bransle, Alman, English Country, 15^th Century Italian, 16^th Century Italian, Galliard, and the like).

4. Games
   To demonstrate the candidate's ability with games, the candidate must demonstrate a knowledge of Chess or Backgammon. The candidate must also be able to name five (5) other games of the Middle Ages and play one of the seven (7). 

5. Calligraphy
   Candidates for this Order must submit a scriven petition requesting membership to this Order. The petition will be written in a medieval hand and illuminated to the best of the ability of the candidate; and shall be presented to the candidate upon completion of all the requirements, by the hand of the Baron/ess.

6. For the Pleasure of Others
   To demonstrate the candidate's knowledge of music and literature, the candidate will submit two (2) of the following:
   1. Write a fable, poem, morality play, or story of chivalry. Language should approximate courtly speech (no slang) and entries be typed or scriven. You may recite your entry before the populace or present it for recitation by a minstrel.
   2. Write a ballad, round, or simple song in the spirit and style of the Middle Ages. Entries must be presented in a ready-to-perform format or must be performed by the candidate.
   3. Perform a piece of period music and supply written documentation for same, at time of performance.
   4. Recite from memory a period poem, fable, story, or play (the latter in consort with others) for the pleasure of the populace.
   5. To research, document, and exhibit a period art or craft. 

7. Courtly Behavior
   Each candidate shall, in a timely manor, choose a mentor who is already a Member of the Order of the Rainbow’s Gold to aid in the instruction of the candidate in courtly behavior and SCA customs. If a candidate does not choose a mentor within 3 months, a companion of the Order will be assigned. The candidate will also be observed by members of the Order during the time he/she is working to complete the other requirements of the Order. 

8. Know Thyself
   To demonstrate the candidate's knowledge of the Middle Ages, the candidate will be questioned by a panel with respect to persona. The candidate will need to know such things as: What period of time s/he is living in, where, activities of daily life, politics, religion, clothes, food, etc. 

9. Service To Others
   The candidate will act as either an officer or a deputy for a period of six months beginning from the time they declare themselves as a candidate, or they shall act as a autocrat or co-autocrat or shall instruct three classes on different subjects at some time during the period they are working for the Order.