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The Code

The Way of the kensmen

The rank of kensmen is a title regarding combat and warfare. All kensmen meet certain requirements for combat skill, tactics, leadership, melee ability, battlefield awareness, stealth and endurance. All Kinsmen conduct themselves according to the Way of the Kinsmen at all times, one of honor and of traditions known only to them.

The warrior, be he male or female, wishing to earn the title of kensmen, must first become a Swordbrother to a sanctioned kensmen. To become a SwordBrother, the warrior must first petition a sanctioned kensmen to be accepted for training. If the warrior is accepted, he/she shall be known as SwordBrother until such time as they have earned the rank of kensmen.

This training shall last a minimum of two years, often considerably longer, (exceptions maybe made for veterans with ten or more years of fighting experience). A SwordBrother’s training shall be considered complete when they have mastered the following skills and proficiencies:

I: The SwordBrother must master (be considered exceptional with) three weapons styles, to be determined by the kensmen and SwordBrother.

II: The SwordBrother must prove themselves proficient (competent) in all common weapons styles

III. The Swordbrother must then learn basic combat tactics, and develop a strong personal presence on the battlefield. He/she must be able to lead the unit into battle, and to have earned the faith of the unit to the point that they will follow him/her as they would the other Kinsmen. This is a requirement. The Swordbrother must also learn leadership methods and responsibilities, melee principles, skirmishing technique, stealth abilities, flanking, etc…

IV: The SwordBrother must master three non-fighting period arts. These can be any number of skills such as bardic (story telling, singing, musical instrument, etc…), cooking, leather, iron, or wood working, as approved by your kensmen. These skills are often proven either by showing a body of work (as in leather armor, carved wooden items, jewelry, etc) or by entertaining with the use of bardic skills at an event or campout, cooking at several feasts, etc…

V: The SwordBrother must learn to craft his own passable (local and national events) weapons and garb (Dag/Bele minimal garb requirements). By the Time a SwordBrother is ready to attain the rank of kensmen, he/she should have crafted a Historic (based on a historical period in time) of Heroic ( based mostly on historical places/dates, with the addition of fantasticle creatures/beings {dragons, elves, orcs, ogres. etc}) personna. He/She should have garb and weapons that reflect that personna as much as is possible. A good example would be a Norseman wearing chain maille, armed with bearded axe and round shield, or a Gael, wearing plaid pants, painted in wode, armed with leaf bladed sword, and tall oval scutum. Kinsmen are epected to be an example to others on the field, as well as off.

VI: The SwordBrother must learn to build and maintain a campfire. The manner and conditions under which this is to be done (friction, flint & steel, matches, etc…) is to be decided by the kensmen.

VII: The SwordBrother must be able to show a working knowledge of local flora and fauna. They must be able to identify common trees and their uses, available edible and medicinal plants, as well as tracks and spore of local wildlife. Additional tasks may be required by the kensmen (build wilderness shelter, low impact hiking/camping, etc…, as they see fit.

VIII: The SwordBrother must learn to read and write in FUTHARK, fluently. A SwordBrother should be able to translate into and out of FUTHARK easily.

IX: A SwordBrother must learn and commit to memory his lineage back to Iskandar the Grimm, AllFather of the Kinsmen, as it was taught to him/her.

X: A SwordBrother must prove themselves able to teach, as well as learn. If a kensmen is unable to pass on his/her knowledge to the next generation, we shall have stagnation. If the Kinsmen are to continue to grow, we must be able to teach, or our lineage shall pass away.

Upon attainment of these skills the Swordbrother must also show that he/she is portable, i.e., that they can transport themselves to a battle and armor and accouter themselves appropriately and quickly.

The SwordBrother is then called before the assembled Kinsmen and asked to recite his/her lineage back to Iskandar the Grim. In doing this we make sure the SwordBrother knows from whence he/she and whence the title comes. Also the SwordBrother must know the history of his House, and Unit. In this we honor our past and we learn wisdom from those who are our ancestors. The SwordBrother is then questioned further, to the satisfaction of all the Kinsmen of the Council.

After the training period is completed, and the SwordBrother has shown all of the traits and accomplishments listed above, the Council of Kinsmen shall be held and upon their approval shall the SwordBrother be allowed to ascend to the rank of kensmen.

Here we give unto you the meaning of the "Two Years of Hell", a term first used by kensmen Ragnar of House Red. Not only is this time devoted to training, but also to learning the history of the Kingdom, the meaning of what it is to be a kensmen, to understanding the rights and privileges of stated rank, and the laws of the kingdom, the rules by which we live and the roles that are expected of the Kinsmen. We do not want stupid people that just follow orders we want fighting men and women with the power of thought and the ability to understand what is transpiring around them. Note here that this does not excuse a SwordBrother or kensmen from following orders but enables them to interpret orders that are give to them.

Much has been said of the title of kensmen over the past twenty years since its inception. Over all, the kensmen is a fighting machine. They are leaders, flankers, skirmishers and the most important element of our shock troops. They move fast and wear little armor. As individuals they are a force to be reasoned and feared on the field, as commanders they are decisive in battle, and as leaders they are examples to be followed. Kisnmen hold themselves to a higher standard than the rank and file of the battlefield, never forget this. This is what draws promising warriors to us, looking for training and guidance, and it is through them that we shall continue…

kensmen Council

I. The Dagorhir/Belegarth/SCA Kinsmen Council is held at least once a year, usually at a large event such as Rag or Arm.

II. The Grand kensmen shall be the oldest of the Kinsmen, he/she shall be the oldest of their line that is living of all the Kinsmen.

III. To attend either, you must have achieved the rank of kensmen. Knights may be invited to attend a Council to give advice on what they may hear or know, however they have no voting capacity on the Council. This type of invitation may also be extended to Kinsmen from Knight's Councils.

IV. All Kinsmen in attendance at an event where a Kinsmen Council is called are expected to attend.

Making of Swordbrothers and kensmen:

I. A kensmen must inform the Council that he/she is taking a SwordBrother. Once this has been done the council may give its approval. In this there is no vote only the kensmen decides this future and takes responsibility for the training of this new SwordBrother. Once accepted, the entire kensmen council has the responsibility to make sure that the Swordbrother is trained in the ways described above. Overall, the Kinsmen are a family, and should be thought as such at all times. We are brothers in all we do, our strength is in this one true fact. Face off against one you face us all.

II. When a kensmen comes forward to announce that his SwordBrother is in fact ready to attain the rank of kensmen the Council must take a vote. This vote must be unanimous, if but one kensmen says no then the Swordbrother may not attain the rank of kensmen at that time. A no vote requires an explanation, and requirements to gain the acceptance of the vetoing kensmen. When the presenting kensmen and their Swordbrother feel that the requirements have been met, they again petition the Council for acceptance into their ranks.
III. When a Swordbrother is confirmed by the Council to become a kensmen (a swordbrother may be confirmed by the approval of three Kinsmen), their name and accomplishments are recorded in the book of the Kinsmen at that time. The ceremony is to take place as soon as the Council sees fit. Kinsmen in other units may or may not seek the blessings of their Leader or Regent as they see fit.