Vǫrðrskípti

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Vǫrðrskípti means "changing of the guards" in the Froyalanish and Wintergleamish languages. It is the formal ceremony in which sentries of the Fleur de Lys-Longships Guard providing ceremonial guard duties at the various Royal Residences in the Flower of the North are relieved at 13.00h in the afternoon by a new batch of (wo)men-at-arms.

Description

The ceremony includes a horse-back ride mimicking the Wild Hunt between the Royal Residence and the barracks of the Fleur de Lys-Longships Guard in which the mounted sentries gallop through the streets of the locality concerned.

Types

There are three types of Vǫrðrskípti:

  • Konungsvagt (King's Watch - this type of guard change takes place when the King of Elwynn is in residence; it is accompanied by a full Fleur de Lys-Longships Guard music band.
  • Landstjórisvagt (Steward's Watch) - this type of Vǫrðrskípti transpires during a period of stewardship in the event that the Steward of Elwynn is the senior member of the Royal Family in residence; it is only accompanied by flutes and drums.
  • Höfuðbólsvagt (Manor Watch) - this type of guard change occurs when a member of the Royal Family who is not the King of Elwynn or the Steward of Elwynn during a period of stewardship is the senior member of the Royal Family in residence, and in the event that the Royal Residence is uninhabited - the sentries move through the city without musical accompaniment.

History

The Vǫrðrskípti was instituted by the Storjarl Hallbjörn Haraldsson of the Houses of Ayreon-Kalirion and of the Descendants of Freyja during his period of Ruling Stewardship. It was one of the several measures taken by the aforesaid Steward of Elwynn to increase the level of pomp and pageantry surrounding the Royal Family of Elwynn.

Trivia

The changing of the guards was to the Prince Audun Joel Ayreon-Kalirion one of the favourite parts of his service in the part of the Fleur de Lys-Longships Guard which is known as the Royal Guard. He has even composed a couple of Vǫrðrskípti marches.