House Volant. Victoria Omnimodo Victory at all Costs. Copyright 2017 by House Volant, Inc. All rights reserved, except as specified below:

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1 House Volant Victoria Omnimodo Victory at all Costs Copyright 2017 by House Volant, Inc. All rights reserved, except as specified below: Members of House Volant or those interested in joining House Volant may reproduce this Handbook for their personal use and for recruiting purposes only.

2 2 House Volant Contents About the House... 4 Getting Started... 4 The Sigil... 4 House Words... 5 Our Ideals... 5 Confidence... 5 Intelligence... 5 Courage... 5 Strength... 5 Membership to Multiple Units... 5 Uniforms, Equipment, and Gear... 5 Mithril Blades... 6 Structure of House Volant... 6 The Council... 6 Joining the House... 6 Recruit... 6 Induction to the House... 7 Consorts... 7 Description of Ranks... 7 Recruit... 7 Member... 7 Squire... 7 Gryphon Knight... 7 Lord Volant... 8 Requirements to Attain each Rank... 8 Recruit... 8 Member... 8 Squire... 8 Gryphon Knight... 8 The Rights, Privileges, and Expectations Associated with each Rank... 9 Recruit... 9

3 House Volant 3 Member... 9 Squire... 9 Gryphon Knight Lord Volant Non-Combatants Other Titles and Awards Titles Awards... 11

4 4 House Volant About the House House Volant is a cross-gaming unit dedicated to winning. Put simply, we are a bunch of stickjocks who like to win, and who happen to also enjoy cool looking garb. The House is a selective unit, though not exclusive. We tend to recruit fighters who are skilled at fighting or who possess the raw talent that we can shape into proper skill. We are not a heavy roleplay unit, though roleplaying is not discouraged (so long as it doesn t present a severe disadvantage to the unit in combat). We are not based on any medieval or fantasy group, but are fiction of our own. We encourage creative minds to add to the background of House Volant, but it is by no means an expectation. Fighters with no desire to roleplay are just as welcome as those who do. What matters most to us is enshrined in our house words: victory at all costs. We like to win. Getting Started So, you have heard of House Volant, perhaps through a friend or online, and you re intrigued. What next? You should read through this handbook to get a better feel for the way the House operates. Then you should seek out one of our members and express interest. They will introduce you to the rest of the unit, and you will be encouraged to hang out with us at our campfire and fight with us on the field. After a few fights and some cold drinks, you should have a much better understanding of our culture and ideals, and then can make a better decision regarding our unit. If you like to win and you are dedicated to improving your personal abilities as well as your teamwork, you should consider House Volant. However, if you are looking for a roleplay-heavy unit or a very casual unit, you should probably keep looking, as our focus is not in that direction. If you feel that House Volant would be a good fit for you, let us know and we will help you on your path to joining the House. The Sigil One of the most important aspects of any unit is its sigil. This is how others recognize the unit you fight for. The sigil of House Volant is a white gryphon with its wings spread. The full heraldry of the House is an oxblood colored shield emblazoned with the white gryphon and decorated with oxblood wings and gold filigree (see the cover page). The gryphon symbolizes the unification of the ideals of the eagle and the lion: confidence, intelligence, courage, and strength. We wear the gryphon with pride.

5 House Volant 5 Our Ideals The four meanings of the sigil are also representative of our ideals. House Volant stands for these four above all else: confidence, intelligence, courage, and strength. Confidence We of House Volant are proud of our unit as well as our personal accomplishments. We know that others respect our skill, and because of this we are confident in all that we do. Intelligence House Volant is dedicated to the constant improvement of our abilities both as an individual and as a unit. This means that we are continually looking for new ways to have an advantage on the battlefield, be it through new fighting techniques, different formations, or better gear. Courage We do not back down, no matter the odds. Others will look to us as bastions of defense and as paragons of battle. If we falter, we fail. Strength We value strength above all else. Strength is found in our numbers, in our teamwork, and in our individual prowess. Our strength is how we win, and winning is everything. House Words Victoria Omnimodo Victory at all Costs Our house words are about as self-explanatory as it gets: we like to win. We do our best to win. We give everything we have in every battle to secure victory. We look for any and every advantage we might gain over our enemies to vanquish them, but we always do so within the rules and boundaries set forth for the scenario. We never cheat, because victory without honor is not a victory at all, but we do all that we can within the boundaries of the rules in order to win. Membership to Multiple Units This is not allowed. Either you are with us or you are against us. Uniforms, Equipment, and Gear The primary colors of House Volant are Oxblood (#800020), Ivory (#fffff0), and Gold (#f1b82d), though the white gryphon can also be portrayed as pure white (#ffffff). There is no uniform requirement in House Volant other than that your garb must be recognizably belonging to House Volant and you

6 6 House Volant must display the sigil on some part of your garb (even if it s just a belt flag). Members are encouraged to have garb that is visually appealing and would fit in a medieval fantasy movie (such as The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones). Members of the House often fight with a medium-sized strap or punch shield and an ultralight sword supplemented with a javelin or one-handed spear. Other weapon sets are acceptable and encouraged, especially spears, glaives, and bows. Fighters in House Volant may use whatever weapon set they wish, though they are encouraged to remember that we are here to win, and that mindset should be applied to each fighter s choice in gear. Mithril Blades Most fighters of House Volant use some form of what we call a mithril sword. Essentially, these weapons are min-maxed weapons and we call them mithril to appease the rabble-rousers who hate on ultralight weaponry. To learn how to craft your own mithril blade, speak with your Knight or get into contact with the Lord Volant and they will share their secrets. Alternatively, throughout the year the House will sometimes mass-produce weapons (typically right before events) to make sure we are all geared up properly. Structure of House Volant House Volant is an emulation of medieval feudalism. At its head is the Lord Volant, to whom all members of House Volant owe their allegiance. Beneath the lord are the Gryphon Knights, and beneath them are other members of the House. The Council The Council consists of all the Gryphon Knights in House Volant. The purpose of the Council is to provide advice to the Lord Volant. The Council has no real power and may not affect any real changes. Their sole purpose is advisory. The Lord Volant has the final say in all matters regarding the House. Joining the House Recruit To join House Volant, a prospective member must be sponsored by a Gryphon Knight, during which time the prospective member is considered a recruit. Recruits are encouraged to spend as much time as possible with House Volant to ensure they are a proper fit in the House and that the House is a proper fit with them. Recruits are welcome to wear House colors and a House belt flag, but recruits should abstain from applying the House sigil or heraldry to their gear permanently. Eventually, the Lord Volant or the sponsoring Gryphon Knight will either extend an invitation to the recruit to join the House or kindly suggest that the recruit find a different unit. Sometimes the Lord Volant or Gryphon Knight will make requirements of a recruit (such as attending a certain event or acquiring more garb or gear) before inviting them to become full members, though this is performed on a case-by-case basis.

7 House Volant 7 Induction to the House Once a recruit has been extended an invitation to join the House, they will be required to swear a public oath of fealty to the Lord and his House, either directly or through the sponsoring Gryphon Knight. Upon swearing this oath, the petitioner becomes a full member of the House and should be treated with familial respect. (Note: the oath is an in-character oath, though individuals who have a religious or other sound reason to abstain from making the oath can have this requirement waived by the Lord Volant.) Consorts Spouses and partners of Volant members (henceforth consorts ) are considered full members of the House so long as their relationship remains intact. Should a divorce or separation occur, the consort will no longer be a member of the House. An exception to this rule is if the spouse or partner belongs to another unit already or joins one at any point. Description of Ranks Within House Volant there are a series of ranks that can be obtained. Each rank comes with it a variety of duties and responsibilities as well as rights and rewards. The ranks are described below. Recruit A recruit is a tentative member of the House who is encouraged to spend as much time with other House members as possible to determine if House Volant is the best fit for the recruit. Member A full member of House Volant (sometimes referred to as a Volant ) has gone through the recruitment process and been inducted by the Lord Volant or a Gryphon Knight (or is a consort to a Volant). Volant members are expected to dress predominately in House colors on the battlefield and to wear the sigil whenever possible. Squire Whenever a Volant wishes to advance on the path of Knighthood, he or she should voice this desire to the Lord Volant or a Gryphon Knight. The best path to Knighthood is to begin training under another Gryphon Knight as a squire, learning everything the knight can offer. A squire is expected to own his own gear and his own garb, and it should be at the very least decent on both accounts many Knights understand that this is a difficult task, and some will often subsidize their squires. A Squire should be able to hold his own in a fight and should be a positive factor in battle. The squire is expected to continue helping his Knight in any way the knight asks (within the limits set forth later in this document), and the squire will continue receiving training in return. Typically, an apprenticeship will last anywhere from one to five years, depending upon the natural prowess and advancement of the squire. Only the squire s master may decide when he is ready for the Knight s Trial. Gryphon Knight A Gryphon Knight is the ideal member of the House. His gear is well made and well designed, befitting his role on the battlefield. He is an outstanding field fighter and duelist. He always represents

8 8 House Volant the House in a positive light. He has proven his loyalty time and time again both on the battlefield and off. He is humble and always willing to serve the other members of the House. As symbol of his rank and accomplishment, a Gryphon may wear the wings (i.e., he may have symbolic wings appliqued or painted to the backs of his tabards or cloaks). This is what gave arise the term, Earn your wings. While a Gryphon Knight is not required to take apprentices, he is strongly encouraged to take one to train, as that is how House Volant grows in power. He may sit upon the Council and advise the Lord Volant. Lord Volant There is only one Lord Volant and he is the leader and ruler of the house. He cannot be replaced, and he is the sole decider of the unit. While some members may choose to refer to him as the Lord Volant, it is by no means required. Requirements to Attain each Rank Recruit 1. Voice interest in the House to the Lord Volant or a Gryphon Knight Member 2. Attend at least one event with House Volant 3. Accept the invitation to join the House 4. Swear fealty to House Volant and its Lord 5. Acquire the House sigil Squire 1. Apprentice to a Gryphon knight 2. Acquire gear Gryphon Knight 1. Proficiency in multiple weapon sets 2. Prove exceptional skill in battle 3. Prove exceptional skill in duels 4. Spend considerable amounts of time apprenticed to a Gryphon (suggested time: 1-5 years) 5. May acquire garb with the Gryphon Wings applied to the back (such as on a tabard). Note: this cannot be worn until the applicant has actually earned the rank of Gryphon Knight. 6. Complete a Knight s Trial. During this trial, the applicant must fight 1-on-1 duels consecutively against every present member of House Volant until he has defeated each opponent. Other fighters wishing to join the trial may do so. Anyone may wear armor, but the applicant may not. This trial must last at least 30 minutes, even if that requires the applicant to fight the same opponent multiple times. The final fight is against the Gryphon to whom he was apprenticed. Once he has defeated his master, then the trial is complete. 7. Complete the Accolade (a knighting ceremony). During the ceremony, the following must occur: a. Swear the Knight s Oath

9 House Volant 9 b. Be presented with a piece of gear (armor, garb, weaponry, etc.) made or purchased by the squire s Knight c. Be presented with a Knight s Belt by the Lord Volant d. Eat, drink, and be merry The Rights, Privileges, and Expectations Associated with each Rank Recruit Rights and Privileges: o May wear the House colors o May fight with House Volant at events o May camp with House Volant at events Expectations: o Represent oneself well o Help the House with camp duties o Aid the House on the battlefield o Build rapport with House members o Follow the battlefield commands of the Lord Volant and of all Knights Member Rights and Privileges: o May wear the House Sigil o May wear the House colors o May advertise as a member of House Volant Squire Expectations: o Wear the House colors and sigil at all times upon the battlefield o Continually search to improve your fighting ability o Do your best to impress the Gryphons who might take you on as an apprentice o Learn to craft your own gear or strive to obtain it through other means (i.e., purchase or trade) o Represent the House in a good light o Represent the House on the battlefield (i.e., House Colors and Sigil) o Follow the battlefield commands of the Lord Volant and of all Gryphons (your master takes precedence over all but the Lord Volant) Rights and Privileges: o Same as a member Expectations: o Wear the House colors and sigil at all times upon the battlefield o Follow the directives of your master o Strive to excel at fighting

10 10 House Volant o o o This means sparring anyone and everyone you can, as often as you can This also means developing technique with your master or with others Strive to obtain gear befitting a Gryphon Knight Represent the House in a good light and on the battlefield Follow the battlefield commands of the Lord Volant and of all Gryphons (your master takes precedence over all but the Lord Volant) Gryphon Knight Rights and Privileges: o Same as a member o May have Gryphon wings adorn the backside of their garb (e.g., on a tabard, tunic, or cloak) o May take one apprentice as a Squire o May participate on the Council Expectations: o Wear the House colors and sigil at all times upon the battlefield o Follow the battlefield commands of the Lord Volant o Represent the House in a good light and on the battlefield o Ever strive to be a better fighter and to improve the fighting capabilities of House Volant o Treat apprentices with respect The apprenticeship process is not a hazing A Gryphon will never, under any circumstance, require an apprentice to perform any act that would bring shame or discomfort upon himself or the unit (this includes any illegal act, any dishonorable act, or any sexual act. This list is not exhaustive). The Gryphon Knight will strive always to further the advancement of his apprentice The Gryphon Knight may not take more than one apprentice at a time, though he may dismiss an existing apprenticeship with the approval of the Lord Volant Lord Volant Rights and Privileges: o Leader of the unit on and off the battlefield o Sole decider of the unit o May wear a crown o Awards Squires with Knighthood and presents them with a Knight s Belt Expectations: o Be awesome o Lead the unit

11 House Volant 11 Non-Combatants Typically referred to as noncoms, non-combatants are any members of a medieval combat society that does not participate in the combat. Unlike many other units, House Volant encourages noncoms to join its ranks. We understand that fighting is not for everyone, and we look to encourage the other aspects of medieval culture such as the arts & sciences (building weaponry, sewing garb, blazonry, music, etc.). Any noncom interested in joining the House must still go through the same recruitment process as a combatant. Noncoms should make their intention clear, however, that they do not intend to fight, and should demonstrate other ways in which they can contribute to the unit. After all, the House is a symbiotic relationship; it only works when members put into it at least as much as they take out. Other Titles and Awards Titles Members of House Volant are encouraged to create other titles with which they can award one another. In general, these titles should be snarky, sarcastic, irritating, or otherwise degrading. For example, it is fully acceptable to refer to the Lord Volant as Captain Dickhead, because if you ve met him, you ll know that to be true. The only rule is that you cannot give yourself a title. That is dumb. (With the exception of the Lord Volant, because you should know by now that he does not follow his own rules.) Awards Awards are sort of like titles except that they can only be granted by the Lord Volant. These will usually be presented at a formal ceremony (like a knighting ceremony) or some other award ceremony. Awards are only given to those members who have truly shown their worth to the unit. Unlike ranks, awards are often focused on achievements off of the battlefield, such as exceptional service to the unit.