Order of the Pelican
 | |
| A pelican in her piety. | |
| Award Level | Peerage Order |
|---|---|
| Award Type | Service |
| Chartered On | {{{chartered}}} |
| Reign | {{{reign}}} |
| White Stag | {{{herald}}} |
| Number of Recipients | 196 |
| Precedence | Equal to other Peerage Orders |
| Entitles Use of | Post-nominal letters OP |
Overview
The Order of the Pelican is one of the Peerage Orders of the Society for Creative Anachronism, recognized throughout the Known World, including the Kingdom of the Outlands. This Order honors those who have shown exceptional, long-term, and selfless service to their kingdom or to the Society at large. Members of the Order are addressed as Master or Mistress.
The regalia associated with the Order includes the symbol of a pelican in her piety—a pelican vulning itself to nourish its young—and the Cap of Maintenance (red, trimmed with ermine, or red trimmed with white/red drops).
Purpose and Recognition
Membership in the Order is given to individuals whose service is far above and beyond what is normally expected of participants in the Society. Service may be at the local, kingdom, or Society-wide level. Members are considered Peers and are expected to embody the ideals of courtesy, honor, respect, and leadership.
Members of the Order may choose, but are not required, to swear fealty.
Peers of this Order are entitled to use the post-nominal letters OP.
Corpora Requirements
According to the governing documents of the Society:
Members may choose to swear fealty, but are not required.
Candidates must meet the standard of service expected of the Order’s members.
Duties of members include:
- Setting an example of courtesy and chivalry.
- Respecting and upholding the Crown and the Laws of the kingdom and Corpora.
- Supporting the Crown, if sworn in fealty.
- Enriching the kingdom by sharing knowledge and skills.
- Advising the Crown on candidates for the Order.
Outlands Culture
While the Order of the Pelican shares common symbols and customs throughout the Known World, the Outlands has developed several regional traditions that give the Order a distinct local character.
Regalia and Insignia
In many kingdoms, the Cap of Maintenance is a common element of Pelican regalia. Within the Outlands, however, the cap has never been especially popular. Many Outlands Pelicans instead choose alternative forms of visible regalia that incorporate the badge or its components—most often the blood drops or a single pelican in her piety. These variations frequently include cloaks, hoods, or more stylized headwear inspired by (but not identical to) the Cap of Maintenance. The result is a broad range of regalia styles that reflect both individual taste and regional aesthetic.
“Banding” Tradition (c. 2012)
Around 2012, a brief but memorable tradition emerged within the kingdom through the household Legio Borialis. As a lighthearted play on modern bird-banding, the household began “banding” Pelicans. Each band consisted of a leather strip approximately half an inch wide and twelve inches long, stamped with:
- The letters ‘‘OP’’
- The recipient’s sequential Pelican number in the Outlands (e.g., 001, 002, etc.)
- The number repeated in Roman numerals
The tradition appears to have lapsed and is not known to be practiced today, but it remains a unique footnote in the cultural history of the Outlands Pelicans.