The Order of the Grey Goose Shaft (OGGS) was created in the West Kingdom as a reward to those who had contributed greatly to the target and combat archery communities. Although the West Kingdom dropped the award in favor of the Royal Company of Archers, in the Principality, and later the Kingdom of An Tir, the OGGS flourished, rising from a non-armigerous award to its current Grant-level status. Members of the OGGS wear a medallion of a goose surrounded by four arrows as in a mascle. By tradition, members of the OGGS are permitted to use the title Archos (pronounced ar-kos) before their name and wear the white bracer as a symbol of the Order.
The members of the Order of the Grey Goose Shaft submit candidate recommendations to the Crown. When considering candidates for inclusion in the Order, the members look for well-rounded individuals. These individuals should embody target skills, marshallate knowledge, war and tournament combat experience, arts and sciences abilities, teaching, leadership, and the chivalric ideals and graces of the SCA.
The membership of the OGGS includes some of the hardest working target archery and missile combat administrators in the Known World. The roll of the OGGS includes Peers, Barons, current and former Kingdom/Principality Royal Archers, current and former Kingdom Protectors, Squires, Sergeants, and Yeomen; and a former Keeper of the InterKingdom Archery Competition (IKAC).
Members of the OGGS are permitted to take students who are known singularly as an Arcuarius (Latin for archer; pronounced ar-koo-ar-EE-oos) or plurally as Arcuarii (pronounced ar-koo-AR-ee). The normal practice is for a member of the OGGS to approach prospective candidates and invite them to become an Arcuarius. Arcuarii are the only people in An Tir permitted, by custom, to wear red bracers. Traditionally the major charge of the OGGS member is emblazoned on their Arcuarius' red bracer.
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