You've begun asking questions about the Dark Horde. We want to answer those questions. We believe that the path we have chosen is the best path for us, and would welcome anyone who wants to follow it with us. However, we are honor bound to be sure that your knowledge of us is complete before you make such a move, and that the union is not formed under mistaken or false assumptions that may later tear us asunder. The proper time to correct a mistake is before, not after it is made. Some questions frequently asked by others may be in your mind, too.

NO! The Dark Horde has passed thru many lands (and many times) in it's many generations of wandering the continent, and in so doing has acquired many new members. The rights of the individual are sacred to us, and the traditions of many peoples and cultures have been preserved in the father to son (and mother to daughter) lines, with no stigma attached to those who are not of Mongol heritage. We are concerned about the quality not the quantity of our members, and accept members without regard to race, creed, color, sex, social class, or century of origin.

NO, on two levels: In period Medieval terms, we have long enjoyed a nomadic existence, and have no desire to take land we cannot and do not wish to hold. Most of our ancestors joined the Horde as an alternative to stagnating in one land or culture, seeking instead the freedom and adventure of eternal wandering and exploration.

On a level of the Current Middle Ages of the SCA, the Western Europeans are the mainstay of the SCA, and provide the foil against which we exercise. If all those swearing allegance to the Kingdoms either quit or joined the Horde, the entire format of the Society would be changed, not for the better, and the original Dream lost forever. More importantly, if we embarrass, demean or in any other way drag down the Kingdoms, we will in all likelihood be dragged down with them. Our goal is to elevate the existing structure by providing competition. We seek to improve, not destroy.

Just as there is another side to a coin, so there is another side to the happy, carefree-outlaw image which we project. Because of the fraternal structure of the Horde, not only do we rally to one another, but we must be careful to protect one another. In the mundane world, anyone who is "different" has a hard time. In the SCA, we are the different ones ... for more reasons than just being non-Western European.

Because we project an image of unanimity, whatever one brother does is taken to be stereotypical of the Horde as a whole. This simply means that each Hordesman must be on his best behaviour at all times; if one slips or blunders, the entire Horde is tarred with that brush....and there are those who watch us carefully, waiting for just such a slip or breach of etiquette.

Well....they both talk about honor a lot, so it can't be that.

They also talk about Brotherhood a lot, so it can't be that either.

They both have bureaucracies (pfphth!) -more and more as time goes on-, so there's no difference there.

Vague, general terms such as "honor," "brotherhood," "democracy" and the like are not very good for describing practical differences anyway, because each of us has his or her own definition of the terms, many times incompatible with many others'. So ..... we're back to the question; pragmatically speaking, "What is the difference between the Horde and the Kingdoms?

The Kingdoms are based on a generic western European medieval court situation, landbound, culturebound, not readily able (or, in far too many cases, willing) to interact with or incorporate members of outlying cultures - the Norse, the Samurai, Romani, Islam and other odds 'n' ends.

The Horde is based on an early nomadic culture which stressed independence, mobility, flexibility, and a frantic desire to keep basically incompatible clans busy killing outsiders rather than each other. Although in their own way almost as culturebound as the Europeans, they did not insist that conquered peoples adopt their culture, but allowed them to retain their own. They observed, and learned from, these cultures.

One major surface difference between us and them is the way in which our respective leaders are chosen. In each Kingdom, the reigning Monarch and his or her Consort are selected at a Crown Tourney by "right of arms" ..... in other words, whoever is the biggest, baddest sumbich in the valley that day gets to rule the Kingdom for six months or so. In the Horde, the KaKhan is selected annually by vote of the Kuraltai - where all Hordesmen have voice and vote. In this, each group pretty much follows their own historical interests and leanings.

"Know, O Seeker, that to ride with the Dark Horde is an honor and a burden ..... such a burden that even the strongest might quail on feeling its weight. Few are called ..... and fewer are chosen."