Asphodel Pagan Militia

The Asphodel Pagan Militia is a volunteer group that meets at our major festivals. They engage in competitive martial games (like the sort done by the ancient Celts and Greeks), and have a fourteenth-century-style pike drill. The militia gives people who would not normally have the chance to experience a few minutes of the camaraderie of a military group ... one that is egalitarian, nonpatriarchal, and doesn't work with shaming or beating people down. It gives people who might not come within twenty feet of any modern military (for physical, political, or psychological reasons) a chance to indulge their warrior spirit twice a year. Medals and ranks are awarded liberally.

It is often referred to as Beer-And-Spear. In the old days, some peasant militia were hired with a flitch of bacon and a keg of beer, and their term lasted until the bacon and beer ran out. Bella, the Queen General, has reclaimed this practice by personally paying the militia in beer or cider. She has been learning to brew for just this purpose. The Queen General sincerely hopes to gloriously lead the militia in a parade someday.

The militia is open to anyone of any skill level, gender, or age who attends one of our festivals. (Militiamen under 18 must have parental permission, and militiamen under 21 will be paid in snack foods or non-alcoholic beverages.) Militiamen must only be able-bodied enough to carry a spear (or agricultural implement), march in a roughly straight line, and shamble to some species of attention.

Open Letter from the Queen General:

As your Warrior Queen, I espouse the warrior virtues of courage, truth, honor and patience. I have been inspired by a vision of a rite to praise these virtues and instill them within the hearts of Asphodelian warrior citizenry. It is the Militia Sword Rite, available on this website.

This rite is first to be performed for the volunteer levy of Asphodel, but your gracious Queen offers up this rite for any Warrior-Dreamer of Asphodel who bears a sword (or axe), that they may through it engender lives filled with virtue.

The muster of Asphodel's loyal folk at Beltane will be assisted by Prince Corwin as Drill Sergeant pro tem. This year's formation goal is to be a moving mini-schiltron, and loyal militiamen who wish to look smart in formation are requested to bring a forest green shirt of ones choice to wear at militia muster. It is the Queen's sincere desire to get her act together and brew the beer with her own (carefully sanitized) hands for the traditional recruitment bonus. As always, militiafolk are also encouraged to bring their own favorite polearm for drill. Kingdom Arsenal polearms will as ever be issued (with beer) to volunteers who stand with the militia but own no such instrument.

Strength & Honor to All,
Your Queen, Bella Regina, 2006