The Bead Challenge creates an opportunity for Men of Iron members to create friendly competitions and the gathering of “honor”.
Upon becoming an active member of Men of Iron, 15 beads are issued to each member as a part of the annual membership. For each level of advancement there is a different color of bead for that person. The color of beads indicates the level of rank of the individual member as outlined below.
What are these beads for? The idea is very simple. Any member of Men of Iron may challenge another member to a competition in a wide variety of events. Upon acceptance of the challenge the competition is held and is witnessed by another member of Men of Iron. Normally this will be the household marshal or the head of the household but could be any member who has equal or greater rank than the highest ranking challenger.
The member that has been challenged has the right to choose the competition that will take place. This can be as simple as a rock throwing contest or a sword duel with combat swords.
Whatever the challenge it should be in line with the theme of Men of Iron.
How the bead challenge works
- To participate in the bead challenge, you must be an active member of Men of Iron and have at least one challenge bead to forfeit. The person that is challenged must have the same.
- Any member of any rank may challenge any other member of any rank.
- The member challenged is given the choice of selecting the challenge event from any Men of Iron event.
- Any reasonable type of medieval event can be selected. The challenge must be safe and present no harm or potential harm to members, spectators or property. Foolish dares or stunts are strictly prohibited and are not allowed. If there is any question about a challenge, it must be presented to the head of the household or the household marshal for approval.
- If the challenger refuses to accept the event selected by the challenged, the challenger must forfeit one of his beads.
- If the challenged does not wish to compete against the challenger in any way, he forfeits one of his beads.
- The date, time and location should be agreed upon. Should either the challenger or the challenged not show, that person forfeits a bead that will be collected by the household marshal and give to the other who did appear.
- Challenges must be conducted during a regularly scheduled Men of Iron meeting or event.
- Once a person has been challenged, he may not be challenged again by anyone until that challenge is complete.
Rules
A member of equal or greater rank will act as the judge of the competition.
The exact competition and what constitutes a victory will be agreed upon in advance.
The judge will have complete authority to begin and stop the event at any time. He will also oversee the exchange of beads.
Any ruling by the judge may be appealed to the Marshal, but his ruling is final.
Challenge Beads are worn on a lanyard or leather strip alongside the members Quest Cross. The lanyard is 24” long tied with a larks head knot on the belt. The members beads are worn on the right side and the beads won are worn on the left. At the end of the year a new set of beads will be issued to each renewing member and the previous years beads, both challenge beads left and beads won will be retired. This will start everyone on a clean slate for the new year.
Men of Iron Challenge Bead Colors and Ranks:
- Member- Orange
- Page- Light Blue
- Squire- Green
- Knight- Black
- Knight Baronet- Blue
- Guildmaster- Red
- Baron- Yellow
- Viscount- White
- Earl- Copper
- Duke- Silver
- Archduke- Gold
- Crown Prince- Gold Oval
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