A question for the masters about the Masters.

[DuchessPariah]

Sort of.

The scenario:
Master Harper and Journeyman Smith wish to marry. They *will* marry at the Journeyman Smith's family home... or close to it.

The question:
What officials would be needed to officiate?

[Mausey]

I think it's part of a harper's duties to record marriages, so a harper would most likely officiate. And it would probably be a master harper, considering the rank of the two getting married.

[DuchessPariah]

Thank you. :) Anyone else disagree?

[Hans]

I agree with Mausey. The person officiating (if both the Master Harper and the Journeyman smith (who'se the female?) are agreeable) should be the Harper of the Hold or Hall where the Journeyman smith hails from/lives.

But, having said that, there are no strict rules I suppose.

[DuchessPariah]

Master Harper Faela (female) and Journeyman Smith Xander (male).

The same still applies?

[Hans]

Yup, no influence, just curiosity, although if fandom is concerned the "viability"of a female Master Harper depends on which time in Pern's history this takes place :)

[DuchessPariah]

Nearly forty years into the Ninth Pass. *grins*

The information is for role-play, because my friend (Smith) and I (Harper) are trying to organize the little details required before everything is put into action. :)

Can you explain, perchance, why it would be less feasible for a female Master Harper than a male during certain Passes?

[Hans]

Menolly was the first female Master Harper of the Ninth Pass around that time. There will have been, maybe a few more after here but certainly not many.
In fact Menolly was probably still the only female Master Harper around 2552 (start of Skies of Pern) and that's 44 Turns into the Ninth Pass.

But don't let it bother you too much. I am not active in fandom and reference only to the Pern we know from the books :)

[DuchessPariah]

Thank you. :)

*bows to the Fount of all Pern knowledge* :bow:

[ChrisG]

Menolly was the first female Master Harper of the Ninth Pass around that time. There will have been, maybe a few more after here but certainly not many.
In fact Menolly was probably still the only female Master Harper around 2552 (start of Skies of Pern) and that's 44 Turns into the Ninth Pass.

But don't let it bother you too much. I am not active in fandom and reference only to the Pern we know from the books :) Dunno about that one, Hans. Apprentice Harper Hally is mentioned in DoP, due to walk the tables in nine or ten months, and Harper Elimona is mentioned in AtWoP, both before the twenty-first Turn. I suppose both could have stopped at Journeyman rank, but...

As to the question of who needs to officiate; When Journeyman Robinton married Kasia, Lord Melongel seemed to be leading the ceremony, while Master Minnarden was only there as a witness.

[Greenrider Tresa]

And...was Jancis demoted back to Journeyman then? <G>

Maybe it depends on the Hold or something. I'd still go with the harper officiating to simplify matters.

OT: I don't worry too much about when there should or should not be female Masters in my clubs, only two of which are currently pre-9th Pass. I'm picky about some things, though.



Tresa

[DuchessPariah]

Thanks, everyone. Your help is *GREATLY* appreciated. :) :bow:

[Hans]

As far as Masters go, we were talking Harper Masters and Chris, I understand your point and it is valid, but there's still no other Master Harper mentioned anywhere, right? :)

Good point, too, about Melongel officiating but that might be explained as a special favour to Robinton? Might be that officiating was done by Lord Holders more often, it is clear that the Harpers were the "recorders of espousels" :) except in the Weyr, where the Weyrwoman was the one who "kept the records" (but hardly any regular marriages there).

[ChrisG]

I thought about that, too, since Kasia was a relative and it was a marriage between bloodlines (Robinton could claim some Telgar Blood). But, Robinton and Kasia were the first of six couples to be wed. I will, however, grant you that it's unlikely that the Lord Holder oversees every marriage in his holding, as his time is almost certainly too valuable, so perhaps it was a special honor just for Gathers. A craftmaster's marriage would probably warrant some special honor, as well.

It might also depend on where they got married, whether it's in a Hold, a Hall, or a Weyr. If Journeyman Smith Xander's family home is connected to the crafthall, then there's no need to involve a holder.

This is all guesswork, Duchess, write it in whatever way makes for a good story.

[Weyrwoman Kalina]

I agree that it would be a Harper who would oversee the wedding.. and like someone said before most likely a Master.

Just my :2cent:

:D

[DuchessPariah]

:bow: You people are awesome.

[Vyon]

:redfruit: I'm going to disagree with the lot of you. From my reading it would be the head of the hold or cothold, probably during a gather, and that the Harper would only be recording not officiating. :redfruit: If either of the couple were under age, or of rank, then the parents' permission would be needed as well.