[MR] Peerage questions

[colin-g]

"OR it could be effectively an "oh oh Mr. Kotter, Mr. Kotter" look-at-me statement by someone vying for a title.  Especially when compared to the first individual.  While we would all like to lock onto the more favorable light provided by some of those explanations, you can not flatly rule out the possibility that the person is campaigning and just aiming for the award, rather than vying to be deserving of the award.  It is not wrong to believe that people can, and do, seek awards for the wrong reasons sometimes because they are out there and we've all seen one or two of them.  There will always be a few rotten apples around and we can only hope they lose their worms and freshen up with time or with discouragement from others." - Bianca    

If I may borrow from the above and tell a similar story. When I was a young squire fighting in the "money" tournaments and doing 'okay' I had a knight come up to me and pull me aside. His message could best be summed up as follows. 

"What are you doing? You are winning too fast, no one sees it, and thus you fail to gain any renown for your fights. Take a moment and find a way to make people WANT to watch what you are doing. Give a great fight and win or lose...you win".

It was an interesting point that made me think on the concept of renown. It's not about gaining 'rewards' but 'renown' (interestingly enough I had the 'bestest' fight with Duke Havorc later in that day; ended with a double kill then a defeat but MAN it was great...but I digress). Yes Proteges, apprentices, and squires get a certain amount of renown just for their affiliation. I don't think it's an unfair advantage though  as it is an outward sign by at least one peer saying "this person is worth watching/helping." 

So I ask the question, if you perform service, teach an art, defeat a tough opponent (rapier or heavy field) and no one sees/knows it does that person gain renown? If you don't take a peer, you don't self promote (in an appropriate fashion), and/or you don't have those magic moments "on stage" should you have any expectation that your journey will be a quick one? If no one knows your name, no one can poll favorably for you.

Thanks for those who've engaged in this topic. It has indeed been an interesting one.

Colin