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Group Requirements - All Levels
All ranks must have an eating spoon, bowl/plate and cup or horn.
A simple bag to hide modern day bits and pieces in is also advised.
All new members are usually expected to start off in basic Viking Kit.
As your character develops it is up to you to provide historical evidence of weapons, clothing, shields for your specific tribe before your character is given approval.
Most new members will enter the group at Thrall rank. To move up from this you must have either passed your minimum weapons training or have evidence of a trade or craft. In addition all members must provide Fenris and Skalligrim with a history of their character. This will be written up on a page in our illuminated manuscript.
New members with previous re-enactment experience will undertake basic training during an evaluation period and will then be given rank commensurate with experience and status.
Information on shows, practises, discussions etc are on Facebook.
There will be a cost towards insurance of approx. £15 per person per year, due in May.
Group Requirements - Starter Kit
Starter Kit should include:
Male
Undertunic – long sleeved, mid thigh length, off white, brown, cream, greens etc.
Overtunic – half or three quarter length sleeves
Trousers - loose legged, puttees needed as well
Belt – Leather, long, authentic buckle of brass, bronze or bone
Scram – not sharp, wooden or simple antler handle
Examples of mens kit can be found here.
Female
Underdress - long sleeved, full length
Apron dress or hangerok – both are acceptable, however the apron dress as shown, is rapidly becoming the accepted version.
Head Scarf – triangular, must be worn by Viking females at all times
Belt - Leather, long, authentic buckle of brass, bronze or bone
Scram – not sharp, wooden or simple antler handle
Head scarf – the faldr style should be worn by Christian women. Pagans can wear a head scarf or not as they like.
Examples of womens kit can be found here.
Advised for male and female:
Belt pouch – leather, hide or fabric, drawstring or toggle type
Footwear – leather or sheepskin, slipper type acceptable
Cloak – hooded or rectangular acceptable, separate hoods or hats in leather or cloth, undecorated or very simple decoration.
Starter kit should be in muted colours and patterns, simple or undecorated edges. A basic scram is available from our BlackSmith, Jason Green, at Wieland Forge for about £35. Please be aware there may a long waiting list! Our starter kit package for group members only will come out at approx £10 per item of clothing, otherwise the basic patterns are available from Fenris, or the internet, for you to make your own.
Belt leather is available for you to make your own belt. We have thread, awls, punches and stamps for simple decoration if you want to try your hand at this at a practise session. We also have soft leather for pouches and you can make some thonging for it! Costs will be only for the materials and should come out at about £5 for a belt and £3 for a pouch.
Group Requirements - Warriors
All members of the Group over the age of 18 may participate in battle displays as long they have passed the minimum training and kit requirements for shows. Please note, some groups we fight with specify the use of helms on the field. We recommend but do not insist on their use. We have a couple of group helms, rank wins out here! So it is advised that you purchase a leather or steel helm or skull cap.
Under 14’s only in staged pieces during Bifrost shows.
Over 14’s only in Bifrost shows until the age of 16 when they may be allowed to fight in multi group displays, or, until they have passed proficiency tests for other groups with the recommendation of the Traders and Commander.
SHARPS MUST NOT BE CARRIED ONTO THE FIELD AT ANY TIME.
THRALL: slave uses scram or unbearded axe only. Is allowed a helm and shield for safety, no chain, leather or padded armour. May have simple footwear or go barefoot.
FREEMAN: a THRALL that has been given his freedom. A free man is allowed to carry a main weapon of a bearded axe or spear, secondary weapon scram, could not afford chainmail. May have some padded fabric protection or simple leather jack. Could fight with farmers weapons such as pitchfork, bill hook etc. under special training. If a hunter or scout must have passed archery test and can then use the bow. Should have helm and footwear.
HUSKARL: Middle rank warrior: axe, spear, scram, javelin, bow. Some silver jewellery, can use chainmail or plated arm and leg guards, should have a cloak, good quality, decorated clothing with braid and embroidery. Must have helm and sturdy footwear.NOTE: if you wear chainmail then you should be wearing a canvas or leather gambeson or hauberk under it, chainmail will stop a cut but not a crushing blow.
HIGH KARL: high rank usually a Rus Viking, bodyguard status may be given. Weapons include bearded axe, javelin, scram, dane axe, sword, long spear, bow. Must show wealth and have full chainmail or laminar armour, arm and leg guards, long boots, helm and personal shield. Fabric colours must be appropriate and richly decorated with either braid or embroidery or both. Cloaks, hats and a large amount of bling are expected of this rank. It is not expected that you step into this rank with all the kit in one go.
Group Requirements - Crafts
APPRENTICE
New members will be Apprenticed to a craft or trade.
This means that they will be expected to listen and learn about their area of expertise. If wanted an Apprentice can move around the camp learning from a variety of crafts until they find one they like and wish to develop. The group does have some general tools and kit for use in many areas to get an Apprentice started.
An Apprentice does not need to move on from their level to remain in the group – But please note the following.
Being an Apprentice does not allow you to demonstrate to members of the public unless you have been directly asked by your Master. If asked questions about the craft please ask people to wait until your Master or a Journeyman can be found to explain. Apprentice clothing should be basic kit, possibly barefoot, limited embroidery or decoration such as whipcording or trollen braid.
JOURNEY MAN
This level is expected for promotion into the Crafts, but there is no requirement to move on to Master Craftman. You will be expected to provide your own kit for this level and meet the requirements for a minimum skill level before being promoted. Your clothing should reflect your status with some jewellery, embroidery, limited tablet weave, footwear etc.
MASTER CRAFTSMAN
This is a limited place level and does require a commitment in terms of getting your own tools and equipment. You are also expected to take on at least one Apprentice for training to Journeyman level. Clothing and jewellery should reflect your status with a good amount of jewellery, rich clothing, cloaks, etc. A commitment to turning up regularly to shows to demonstrate and run your Apprentices and Journey Men is also expected.
Group Requirements – Camp
All members of the Group should participate in setting up and running the camp. Everyone over the age of 18 should take a turn on a rota in watching the camp if others wish to go around stalls and markets.
THE CAMP MUST NOT BE LEFT UNATTENDED AT ANY TIME.
FOOD: the group usually cooks for everyone, if you have particular requirements please ask or if you prefer to cook for yourself just inform us. We like to have a central kitchen area and folks are expected to assist with food prep, cleaning up, getting water, wood etc.
CHILDREN: are always welcome and add a further dimension to the camp. Electronic toys, phones etc. are not banned, but if played with must be inside a closed tent. Children must be supervised at all times and are not allowed near the cooking area unattended.
TENTS: plastic tents are usually positioned well away from the authentic camps and until children are put to bed people usually stay around the authentic camp for socialising and eating. If socialising is going to carry over into the late evening please set yourselves up away from tents where people are sleeping! Authentic tents are A frame Viking or Geteld /Saxon style tents. The group does have a large Saxon tent which can be shared by members who do not have an authentic tent. All non authentic kit must be put away in bags when the public are around.
CRAFTS: if you have crafts to sell we would ask that they are as authentic as possible inside our time line. We don’t usually make a charge towards stalls but would request that if you have a really good day you make a contribution towards group funds for new weapons etc. If we are supporting other groups we may not be able to set up stalls for selling – however, if you have items on display and people ask about purchasing things independently, that is up to individuals to negotiate quietly or to take orders.
DRINK: We all like a drink! Particularly mead please! However, be aware that if you get very drunk and it would be irresponsible to allow you to participate in displays the day after, you will be put in the brig as Thrall for the day! This will probably involve water fetching and veg peeling duty and anything else we can think of that no-one particularly wants to do. Please also be aware that some folks do need their beauty sleep, in particular Fenris who is very grumpy if she does not get her 8 hours a night.
ANIMALS: Dogs and other animals are the responsibility of the owner unless arranged with others, and must be under supervision at all times. Damage caused by dogs to property or people is the responsibility of the owner and not the group. Dogs should be on ropes at all times and should be audience friendly. If not, they should be caged inside a closed tent during show times whenever not on leads with their owners.