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Notes for "common misconceptions/useful pointers" article


Linda

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So, we'll try to put together an article that covers some common misconceptions about the setting and provides some useful pointers to things to keep in mind. I am thinking we might divide it under a few headings:

Common misconceptions about the theme/period

Books are extremely rare, a very large library might have 100-200. Individuals often own no books or one or two books.

Painting is limited to Myrish-style miniatures and some work on wood panels. There's no canvas or large Renaissance-style paintings.

Differences from the books

No cyvasse.

No Great Sept of Baelor.

Notable differences from the Middle Ages

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In Medieval Europe/England, a woman might be permitted (or even expected!) to lead her husband's militia or forces if he can't - Westeros doesn't seem to allow that except in quite limited circumstances (the 2nd Hedge Knight story, and Lady Webber; the Mormont ladies).

Any time-relevant things: wheelhouses/carriages exist/do not exist; any notes on fashion (e.g. are we looking at full skirts with layers of lace or stiffened underskirts, or chemise/kirtle with an overgown?; the see-through Dornish ensemble) that may be different in our setting.

Ladies riding - sidesaddle does not exist in our period, it's astride in full riding skirts, or breeches (for the very risque!) if memory serves.

Notes on our weather/climate/seasons: what season are we in, with variations for things like autumnal leaves, etc?

Reminders about men-at-arms and septas/matrons for unwed women, and the difficulty - near impossibility! - of sneaking off alone (even in your quarters, there are always servants).

That's all I can think of at the moment... more will come, I'm sure.

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Okay, I think I'll do the article like this:

It'll be called something like "Remember That..." and then we can just bullet-point (in distinct groupings) the notes we need.

The biggest group would probably be listing things people often forget or misunderstand in roleplay, and then we'll have the ones I already noted, such as differences from the books and from the historical middle ages.

For the first group, probably need to cover shopping too; no stores, no ready-made items, not much direct shopping for a noblewoman (though visiting a market would be fine).

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Okay, I think I'll do the article like this:

It'll be called something like "Remember That..." and then we can just bullet-point (in distinct groupings) the notes we need.

The biggest group would probably be listing things people often forget or misunderstand in roleplay, and then we'll have the ones I already noted, such as differences from the books and from the historical middle ages.

For the first group, probably need to cover shopping too; no stores, no ready-made items, not much direct shopping for a noblewoman (though visiting a market would be fine).

Sounds good. I've actually been doing some independent medievalist stuff again, and have come across a few books that might be useful reference:

*Treasury of the City of Ladies by Christine de Pizan: proper behaviour & expectations for medieval ladies; most of it's good, minus the sections about being ready to go off and fight or having a greater role in the management of the lands

*The Courtier by Balthasar Castiglione: Similar, from a more Italian view than French, and not gender-focused (or more to men than women)

While we *definitely* don't want to draw too much on outside material, a skim through these might be useful, especially the de Pizan, because it covers things like being supervised, how even a maid might assist her mistress, the expectations a lady of the court might have in different interactions, how to compliment a man without implying she wants to slip between the sheets with him, etc.

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