Praeceptor Legatorum et Exercituum

PRAECEPTOR LEGATORUM ET EXERCITUUM

    By Conde Fernando Rodriguez de Falcon

    Scroll Text by Master Gerald of Ipsley

Some nine months ago, upon the Burning Sands of Estrella, Calontir fought a tremendous battle and achieved a great victory in Phaedra's Gate Sadly, Pavel was unable to fight in this battle. When I spoke to him later that day, he was very disheartened to have not been a part of this battle.

I told him that of course he had been part of the battle. We won the day using the very tactics he developed almost two decades ago. As General, I commanded, thanks to the training he had given so many of us over many years. Calontir has never credited individuals alone on the field. Our spearmen share credit with our scutum fighters for each kill. Our Soup Kitchen and Waterbearers are every bit as much a part of our army as our fighters. How could we give our trainers less credit? No. As far as I’m concerned Pavel was right there.

Sitting in his camp at the war I told this to Pavel -- but he did not really believe me. In court I told it to the Kingdom and I tried to show him. I hope he believes the truth of my words now.

As the symbol of the King’s Favor, I gave him a band for his arm with a brass belt-end I etched with a Falcon and a Cross of Calatrava. Upon the band is written "Praeceptor Legatorum et Exercituum" - which means "Teacher of Generals and Armies."

Interestingly, each of these terms fits even more closely than that rough translation:

• Praeceptor actually refers to one who teaches or trains from the very basics or from the ground up.
• Legatorum means the picked ones or leaders.
• And Exercituum means a trained army, but specifically not the elite or picked army, as everyone has their place with us.

The following text was written for me by Master Gerald after I told him in some detail just what I was looking for. After a number of revisions to try and approximate just what I felt, this was the text he crafted and that Duchess Alethea graciously put to paper for me.

Pavel‘s King's Favor
O Señores y Señoras, Hear as the hall now rings
With the judgment and the words of Fernando, Falcon King
Who with Lyriel, the Lily-Queen, holds the Calon crown
By the sword and by law is this decision handed down.

His wounds hard earned aching, service written on his limbs
The grizzled warrior was called before the Calon Crown
He bore the price of battles, speed and strength a little dimmed
The Court stood still in wonder, no one dared to make a sound.

This is the Teacher of Armies, a Campi Doctoris
Who learned from the ancients, the architect of victories.
The skill of Pavel Yosivich, stamped on Our Generals
Still is winning battles, still rules the field of honor.

Strong the walls of the Heartland, built high by master masons
Sheltered are its people, their lives enriched by many hands.
Time has left its scars on he who lived on army rations
But strong was Pavel Yosivich, for he made strong his land.

The Falcon King's Favor was bound on by Fernando's will
The Lily-Queen witnessed for the people of Calontir
The Falcon Thrones set in the Shire March of the Grimfells.
December the second, Society's thirty-fifth year.

Note: This text is in the Style of the Poema de Mio Cid. It is written in primarily in Alexandrine lines (14 syllables, in rhymed couplets).