The tournament encampment is open to the audience. Part of the show will take place at the camp. Otherwise the camp is meant to present the life of the noble lords and their retinues. This requires that the re-enactors should maintain their “character”. This does not mean that they are required to provide acting performances as such, rather that everything done in the camp during the daylight should be work suitable for the character and depicted social class. A retainer is effectively the servant of their lord. However, people are allowed to (in secrecy from the audience) change roles as they change their gear to match different jobs.
Roles in the show
- Knights (Tenans): Knights and equally well armed squires will attack and conquer the “fortress of love” from the defending men-at-arms. After winning the tournament they will surrender themselves to the ladies inside the fort. Knights and equally well armed squires may also take part to the “tournament on the foot”.
- Men-at-arms (Venans): They will act as champions for the ladies and defend the “fortress of love” from the attacking nobles. They are meant to lose the battle.
- Ladies: Noble women watching the show from the safety of the fortress. Will act as judges during the foot tournament.
- Banner bearers: Bears the banners of their units
- Team captain/referee: Will observe the good conduct and obedience of the rules during the show.
- Bowmen/crossbowmen: Will take part to the tournament by shooting the knights with blunted arrows or in a separate archery demonstration. Will not take part to the hand-to-hand combat.
- Master gunner: Will be the leader of the gun crew and the handgunners.
- Hand gunners/gunners: Takes part to the show by performing firearms demonstration prior to the main tournament battle.
- Water carrier: Will supply the fighters and ladies with water after the show.
- Herald: (Part filled already)
Roles in the camp
Even though the purpose of both the camp and the show is to present the hierarchical nature of medieval society, this does not mean the re-enactors need to form any hierarchy between each others. Rather, each and every one should do what they like, as long as it is within the limits of the time period and the social role, their clothes, and other apparel convey. As such, the roles are a mere presentation.
- Knight/Lord: Head of the entire retinue. Everybody else in the camp are subjects to him either by family relationship or by employment.
- Squire: Noblemen related to the lord. Will work as bodyguards of their lord and help their lord to dress his armour.
- Ladies: Noble women who are relatives of the lord. They are present in the camp to show off prestige of the noble family. In the camp they may supervise the work of the servants or take part in activities suitable for their class such as embroidery.
- Scribe: right hand of his lord.
- Priest/chaplain: Takes care of the souls of his lords household.
- Head mistress: Head of the servants. Takes care of organizing domestic duties in the camp.
- Master gunner: Leader of the gunners. Although commoner by birth, highly appreciated professional. Does not take part in domestic work in the camp. May hold demonstrations of his equipment for the public.
- Gunners/handgunners:
- Bowmen/crossbowmen: Hired mercenaries. Commoners by birth. While armed will perform guard duty. Otherwise will take care of everyday work in the camp.
- Blacksmiths/armourers/bowyers: Will perform their crafts.
- Men-at-arms: Hired mercenaries. Commoners by birth. While armed will perform guard duty. Otherwise will take care of everyday work in the camp.
- Servant: Performs domestic duties under the head mistress.
- Maid: Performs domestic duties under the head mistress.