Dunan Burns, also known as Captain Monster, is a dear old friend, and he was Knighted in September of 2026. I was fortunate to be asked to write his scroll texts. His elevation scroll was unique, in that there was a large text putting him on vigil, which is not common in the MidRealm; however because Duncan’s persona is that of a Scottish Reiver, there were specific things he wanted to happen.
Duncan’s persona story includes having a warrant out for his arrest by the Royalty; in the late 1400s, James III of Scotland needed to have a strong force of men loyal to his command, so he issued a number of pardons, or Letters of Remittance, which then forced the criminals he’d pardoned to become his personal police force in the area.
Duncan’s vigil scroll text is such a letter of remittance, based on a Letter from King James III pardoning several scots reivers in the summer1487, from the National Register of Archives, Scotland 1500/Bundle 15, Item 3 [19 July 1487], Forbes-Irvine Family of Drum, Aberdeenshire. (https://books.lib.uoguelph.ca/networksandnetworking/chapter/lo-i-am-in-the-kingis-grace-the-language-of-royal-mercy-in-late-medieval-scotland/#footnote-56-2)
GREETINGS FROM LOUIS AND SADB, by the grace of the Dragon, Sovereigns of the mighty Midrealm, to all worthy gentles of Their realm whom these present letters shall come!
LET IT SO BE KNOWN that by Our especial grace, We have remitted unto Duncan Burns, known as Monster, Wall-Leaper, Scourge of the Debatable Lands, and Mad Dog of the MidRealm Army, Our rancour of spirit, the royal suit, and all action that We conceived, have, or may in future have against him, to wit: war crimes such as leaping over castle walls and fighting with a broken arm, and for extremely aggressive love of his fellow Dragon citizens, done out of forethought felony in the Middle Kingdom as well as the Kingdoms of Trimaris Meridies and AEthelmarc.
OTHER CRIMES INCLUDE: attempting to use trebuchets in delusions of airborne warfare, attempted piracy and occupation of a ship of Trimaris with Midrealm soldiers strong without a letter of Marque, and having the audacity to fall out of war and into love with his wife on the Pennsic battlefield! He faces the noose in the Barony of the Debatable Lands, accused of training mercenaries and snooping around the livestock of his neighbors, and while he lives in Constellation, he is a Midlander through and through.
ADDITIONALLY FOR ALL OTHER acts done or in any way perpetrated by the above-written person committed down to the day of the writing of this letter of clemency, including calling those from the region of Pentamere “Hand People”, slobbering all over Bards of his close acquaintance, and being a cause for the PAX on the junk, howsoever done, provided that he makes sufficient amends and satisfaction to the kindred and friends of all he has offended and other complaining parties that We may henceforth hear no lawful complaint concerning the same.
FURTHER, WE FIRMLY prohibit anyone bothered or offended by reason of these said crimes from presuming to inflict upon the said person, now under OUR IMMEDIATE PEACE AND PROTECTION, any kind of harm, annoyance,or grievance, under threat of Our full forfeiture and severe scolding! In testimony of this act, We have made PATENT under Our great Seal this Our Letter of Remission and Clemency, to remain valid for the duration of the lifetime of the aforementioned person.
THEREFORE DO WE Louis and Sadb, mighty Dragon Sovereigns hereby request, encourage, instruct, and demand the aforesaid person to stand his vigil to contemplate this moment and then present himself unto Their Majesties this evening to answer this most sacred question that has been put unto him.
DUNCAN BURNS! Give you now thanks and praise, for LO, ARE YOU GRANTED THEIR MAJESTIES’ LOVE AND MAY NOW ENDURE IN THEIR MAJESTIES’ GRACE! Thus are you designated VIGILANT for the Order of Chivalry at Morning Court in the Barony of Illiton, on the twenty-sixth day of September, in the sixty-first year of this great Society, twenty twenty six in the year gregorian, and the one-hundred and forty-eighth day, being the last day, of Our reign.
Louis Rex Sadb Regina
When it came time for Duncan to be knighted, later that afternoon, he wanted a boast. There is a concept called Manrent, which was implemented at the time. It was a document from a formal process of alliance and obligation from his time period. He signed it, and presented it to Their Majesties when he arrived before the thrones. (From https://scottishcharters.lib.uoguelph.ca/items/show/9)
At Illiton on the twenty-sixth day of the month of September in the year of the Society sixty one.
On this day the honourable Captain Duncan Burns, son of the Dragon, has bound and pledged to the Midrealm for his lifetime. That is to say, the aforesaid Duncan has pledged for manrent and the Dragon Sovereigns for maintenance that each other should always take the other’s part both in peace and war in all honorable and lawful actions and causes and especially for the defense, keeping, using and enjoying of all and sundry of the lands of the MidRealm and the woods and forests of the same. Duncan shall also give his rulers the best counsel he can, and they shall be absolute and true to either one at all times.
And for fulfilling, obeying and keeping of all and sundry points mentioned above, both the said Duncan and the Sovereigns will bind and pledge to each other by the faith and certitude in their bodies in the sure form of obligation that can only be fulfilled with the devoirs of fealty.
Duncan Burns
Finally came the elevation scroll itself. This was a Letter of Justicary, for which there are no real online sources. It can be found in the Scotland. Privy Seal. The Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland: Registrum Secreti Sigilli Regum Scotorum. Vol. 2, A.D. 1529–1542. Edited by David Hay Fleming. Edinburgh: H.M. General Register House, 1921.
SEE, HEAR, AND KNOW, Oh MidRealm, of Duncan Burns, Knight of the Society!
RADAGAISUS, KING by His own hand of Dragons, and CEINWEN, esteemed Drake QUEEN, to all whom it concerns. Know here and now that We have made, constituted, and elevated Our beloved DUNCAN BURNS a KNIGHT, within the limits of the Midlands, Pentamere, Constellation, North and South Oaken, and indeed, We thus proclaim, the whole of Our Society.
HE HATH ACQUITTED HIMSELF WELL upon the field of battle, for his skill in the art of melee is spoken of across the known world, as is his work to support and teach all who would earn a life in harness. Further, We command all to know that he is of good virtue, and has shown himself to be possessed of prowess, courteousness, generosity, loyalty, bravery, nobility, and of great valor.
BECAUSE HE IS BOUND BY MANRENT AND FEALTY to Our service, We do most happily give and grant to Our said Knight the power and mandate to love and defend this Kingdom, to face his foes, to dispose his heart to goodness, and above all to be a stalwart shield of the weak, holding this full and sacred trust within the aforesaid bounds; and now do We direct Our Knight to confront all malefactors: to offer them justice according to the tenor of the law or pursue them with fire and sword to their utter destruction!
IN RETURN FOR THIS SERVICE, HE IS NOW RECOGNIZED therefrom unto Us with the knightly burden of chain and spurs of gold, and shall he be about his body bound with belt and cloth of white, as befits one of his new station, and such provisions, estates, holdings, banners,
horses and hawks as may have been provided to any Knight of the Society, and a grand hunting horn that shall continue to call the hallmark of his presence
where e’er he may go, announcing his arrival before him.
SIR DUNCAN BURNS! Give you now thanks and praise, for LO, YOU ARE GRANTED THEIR MAJESTIES’ LOVE AND MAY NOW ENDURE IN THEIR MAJESTIES’ GRACE! Thus are you designated COMPANION of the Order of Chivalry. In witness whereof, We have ordered Our Privy Seal to be affixed to these presents, at Illiton, done this twenty-sixth day of September, in the sixty-first year of this great Society, twenty twenty six in the year gregorian, and the first day, of Our reign.
Radagaisus Rex, Ceinwen Regina