Becoming King: A drinking saga

Years ago the Freehold had a mighty king of famous beard and might named Mikhail. Such was his fame as king and host that all would journey to his hall in the far north at Althing. Chief among his warriors was John T Mainer, a soldier of some years and skald of some note, of proud but lesser beard, and nearly as equal with the horn as the mighty king. At Althing the mighty Freyr Mikhail had determined that his Freehold needed to take more part among the other tribes of heathenry, and had found the man to do it. Being a king of deeds and not words, it was not his way to ask or cajole, but ever to strive and test; that the deeds speak for themselves.

At the height of Althing, when the horn had passed in praise to As and Van, to fallen, to wight and kinsmen, through the long boasts and brags of deeds done and oaths made, the king strove mightily with his horn as host, that cheer be high, spirits be bright, and wits, oh poor wits, be no match for the bird of brews that he summoned. When election came, and all Witan and the Freyr yeilded their posts, that the folk choose again their leaders, Mikhail the Mighty Bearded did smile as John the second mightiest at the horn rose unsteadily but proudly to nominate Mikhail of Mighty Beard for Freyr. Mikhail smiled with the same smile Odin bore in Vafthruthnir's hall, and returned the nomination. While poor John rocked under the honour, and before his fuddled synapses could cry alarm, Mikhail asked if John accepted the nomination. Unwilling to deny his mighty king anything, he swore he would. King no more; Mikhail of Mighty beard smiled boldly and announced he did not accept his own nomination.

Thus was the Kingship of the Freehold passed from Mikhail of the Mighty Beard to John T Mainer, the second Freyr of the Freehold, and second mightiest drinker at Althing. A cautionary tale for all Heathens at risk from volunteer positions.

Congrats?

That was a few years back. It was brought up at Althing this year, as one of our new members asked why the Freehold was able to survive so long without blowing up. We explained how usually the problem was the initial transition of power between one charismatic leader capable of putting together an organization, and a successor who is also capable of holding it.

When she asked what model of transition we used, Graeme, the head of the warrior's guild solemnly replied : a drinking game. Thus I had to tell the tale for the first time. I spent all morning going through the saga for footnotes for a paper JCHT has conditionally accpeted, and began to think that our transfer of kingship would almost fit right in. So, tongue firmly in cheek, I write it down.

Ah.

Cautionary tale, but someone does need to step up to do it.