This was a really quick turnaround. My wife tapped my shoulder as soon as the pollings cleared and their Majesties decided that the responses from both orders were high enough that both should be awarded, instead of one or the other. This is definitely a milestone in the East as far as I know. Awarding TWO orders of High Merit at once.
Round about the 4th of Jan, is when I got word. The assignment was official on the 7th along with a wordsmith. Aislinn was able to get me words on the 8th, a whopping 282 words! (109 and 173) A correspondence of letters between their Majesties, each providing thoughts as to which award Anna should receive.
I had come up with plans for the layout and putting the awards in the middle of the letters, but given the format of the two letters a lot of concessions had to be made for time. I didn’t have time to figure out how to do a Cadel Y or M. Which turned out to be good that I dropped them due to the amount of space the King letter took up.
On the 14th I was able to call it done. Three evenings and the weekend. This was an extra long sprint to be sure. Two to three lines, then taking a break was the cycle. At one point over the weekend the breaks were determined by the shake in my hand.
Your Majesty, I have a request to make unto you and Our Council of the Silver Crescent., this Anno Societatis LIX.
I speak of Anna Elisabetta de Valladolid and her presence in said Order.
Her proximity in Our East hathe taken on immense labor, guiding and directing the endeavors of our enterprises.
By bringing forth her learning and honesty, for the education and betterment of Our Kingdom.
For executing her expertise and avocation in all her good works, be they small or great, henceforth shall Anna be numbered in Our Order.
Your assured Queen and partner in rule,
To my very good Eastern King, at East Kingdom 12th Night
Madame and Dearest fellow Majesty, This Lady you speak of, wherethrough her reputation and acclaim, has led Us to her as well! Indeed, she has been mentioned with great reinforcement by Our Order Maunche.
The Order has such a comfortable answers as to her pursuits she follows with excellence, so that We can set them here:
Raiment created for her entire family for attendance in Our Court, of the finest of qualities.
Knowledge and practice of the histories of the cultures and her induction of them through victuals, tales, tutelage and translations does improve Us!
The thing, Madame, is that there can be two places of the Highest Merit that is found in one gentle.
So We say, Let Anna Elisabetta de Valladolid step forward and be counted in the Order of the Maunche and the Order of the Silver Crescent by these arms: Per chevron inverted gules and azure, crossed in saltire a spoon and needle argent
Now and forever more!
As Matthew King and co ruler
From Our Shire of Anglespur
Words by Aislinn Chiabach
The day of the event was perfect. Anna was called out of the kitchen just before lunch, thinking she was going to be thanked for all the cooking that had been planned and executed so far that day. She was beside herself being hit with both awards at the same time. It’s worth noting that her kitchen garb was no less effort than what she puts on when not working the kitchen. All the detail to the time period and style, cementing how much she deserves both awards.
It was an honor to make this happen for her.
The scroll is DeAtramentis Document black ink on Perg. Cochneil, blue, and dragons blood inks were used for the coloring on the awards, along with Mica based metallic inks.
