I think this is a complex issue. All activities, arts,
sciences, and martial activities, are going to tend to
wax and wane depending on the people involved and the
general cycle of interest. On the other hand, I think
Carolingia does need to consciously support its
martial activities, if only because, since we are a
relatively urban barony, it can be difficult to find
places to hold these martial activities at events or
even for practice.
<p>
I think that Champions were instituted to attempt to
bring martial prowess into focus in the barony, but it
is my impression that there is something of a burden
in sustaining the Champions we already have and
reliably producing a successor.
<p>
I had a discussion with Jehan on this issue and he had
the idea of establishing a guard made up of the
different martial arts forms chosen by consultation.
(And I definitely give credit to him for this guard
idea.) This guard could have representatives of each
of the martial forms practiced in the barony and
essentially be a modification of the CRC that
represents all the martial arts instead of one.
Certainly all the candidates for the baronial coronet
that I have spoken with have mentioned pageantry as
one of their goals, and a guard certainly adds
pageantry.
<p>
It's possible Carolingia could support both Champions
and a guard. In any case, I think the issue of martial
support is going to require some reevaluation by the
incoming baronial coronet. The barony has demonstrated
that particular martial activities benefit from the
attention of the baronial coronet, but, if that
attention is focused only in one area, then other
martial activities suffer. I recognize the problem,
but do not have a solution at this time. I think it is
a problem that cannot be solved by the baronial
coronet alone.
<p>
I do think it is important to recognize and encourage
those of the barony who participate in and support our
martial activities.
