#knighthoods

[thepastisalreadywritten]

[shakespearenews]

A love of Shakespeare is one reason to accept an honour. What’s everyone else’s excuse? | Catherine Bennett

Actors aside, only the foolhardy can now say yes to a gong in the debased era of Liz Truss and Boris Johnson

Charles has long surpassed his own family’s historic notion of itself as spiritually related to Shakespeare. On his accession, after a lifetime’s bardolatry, he quoted Hamlet. During the 2016 commemorations of Shakespeare’s death, he went so far as to appear on stage, sharing hints on performing “to be or not to be”. Once, he delivered a lengthy Shakespeare lecture, ostensibly a humorous rebuke to unwilling teachers, actually revealing that he finds fairly worrying characters relatable. “Time and again in Shakespeare’s characters we recognise elements of ourselves,” he told fellow specialists. “Othello’s jealousy, Hamlet’s indecision, Macbeth’s ambition are all horribly familiar.” Serial murder: we’ve all been there! Maybe nobody liked to argue with him.

[aberfaeth]

emmy for lou wilson and his double window shatter bird flock. emmy for emily axford and her nat 20 cigar chop.

[we-are-a-dragon]

DM: Next to be called onstage is Godric.

Adam (playing Billie): Oh god, how is he going to knight a fairy? With a toothpick??

Tati (playing Seraph): There are fairy-sized swords, you know.

DM: Emperor Cherish uses the ceremonial sword, but brushes it near to Godric's shoulders without touching.

Marijn (playing Godric): I feel my life pass before my eyes.

DM: He announces, "Sir Godric, the Powerful."

Marijn: Oh my god, yes! That's exactly what I wanted it to be! Take that, Rodric!!

[we-are-a-dragon]

DM: Seraph, you're called out to the stage next. Emperor Cherish knights you and presents you to the crowd as, "Sir Seraph, the Magical."

Tati (playing Seraph): 'The Magical Girl'?

DM: Just 'the Magical'.

Tati: There's a secret 'Girl' tacked on the end.

DM: Next is Thaddeus. Cherish knights you and says, "I give you Sir Thaddeus, the Selfless."

Hamish (playing Thaddeus): That sounds about right.

[we-are-a-dragon]

DM: Vikavar asks you to arrive at 10am tomorrow.

Tati (playing Seraph): What time is the ceremony?

DM: 1pm.

Tati: Oh wow. Are they doing professional hair and makeup or something?

DM: Yes, actually.

Hamish (playing Thaddeus): Most of the time is for me. It takes a long time to brush a khajiit.

DM: Adventurers often get distracted or waylaid. They want you where they can see you well ahead of time. No getting attacked by dragons while you're supposed to be getting knighted.

Hamish: We could still be attacked by dragons.

Tati: Yeah, you're just bringing the trouble to your house.

[we-are-a-dragon]

DM: At the time period you're playing in, knighthoods are a lot more ceremonial.

Hamish (playing Thaddeus): In the past it came with land and servants.

Tati (playing Seraph): And the expectation to fight and die.

Hamish: True. But also a good set of armour so you live long enough to enjoy the boons. It's a balance.

Tati: Plus you get a nice horse with a fancy coat.

Hamish: The horse helps you survive too.

Tati: Unless you're against anti-cavalry units.

DM: That's why you send in your infantry first, to take out the pikemen.

Marijn (playing Godric): Or use a catapult.

Tati: Good idea, just catapult the whole knight past the pikes.

Marijn: *chokes*

Adam (playing Billie): Horse and all.

Marijn: Ideal.