The Outremer Society is an academically based
study and living history group. Our area of interest
are the crusader states, known as the Outremer
(said Oo'Trem-eer.)

      Our most dynamic aspect is our living history
activities. This is a mix of Historical Reenactment
(Re'enacting historical events), and Recreationism
(Recreating historical times.)

      With our group unlike most Medievalist groups
in the West is the realistic combination of real
medieval conflicts between church and state and an
often hostile native population. The Crusader
states offer more opportunities for interesting and
valid interactions between the Eastern and Western
medieval cultures than those of other groups by far.

      The Outremer Society allows for no favoritism
in the status game as well.Other groups have "old
boy's clubs" that does not encourage accademic's or
true reenactors to participate in their groups. We
unlike others base our society on TRUE medieval models
and realistic medieval events. Awards are not just
given but indeed are truely earned and hold a true and
tangible effect on their role within the society.

Members earn tokens (coins),our coins called "besants"
through works and study for the society. We have one
standard so NO ONE gets left out due to popularity or
other reasons.

      Besants can "buy" land, ships and buildings..
even castles.These resources increase ones status
by showing period assets as well as the mundane
fact that any purchase means you've put in the
work to the group and your fellow members.

      How much work? Not much but the best things
take time..See our Besant system page for more on
this topic.We feel it's the most fair,legitimate
and realistic system ever created.

By concentrating on a fixed location we get away
from poorly reenacted"kings" and the brass crowns.
Major awards are awarded by merit and never as a
personal favor, our only politics are medieval ones.

      Our society also reenacts the Church, and the
many sects and native religions of the middle east
as it was under Christiandoms dominion. This is one
area that we feel makes us the "Gold Standard" of reenactment as we
have TRUE medieval feel with REAL tensions reenacted in our group.
You won't find bellydancers in the hall of a general event, unless the
event is based out of a bandits tent perhaps.Also you will notice the
Church and the State and other powers of the city vying to control the
assets of the city.

      The Church is to be portrayed by those with common sense who can
play the persona with both dignity and respect to their position.
Since the Outremer society is reenacting a specific place TORTOSA, it
recreates the Bishopric of Tortosa. This was a rare instance where a
monastic prior outranked a bishop locally, but not in precedence.  See
our Clergy pages for more info.

      Another unique aspect of our society is that we reenact a
specific era (1190's-1291) and place, the city of Tortosa (or Tartus)
between Antioch and Tripoli on the Syrian coast. The concise and united
reenactment of one place, with a Harbormaster and a Mayor, a Templar
Prior and a Bishop. We have Guildmasters and guildsmen, a captain of
the guards and his men. A Prioress runs a small priory of Nuns and
pilgrims walk our "streets" lined with shops and their keepers.

      We avoid using "generic" locations or "medieval fantasy" based
shires and the like instead humble Tortosa is the main focus location
with real local places of history based around this real city. We don't
reenact specific people of history but base our personas in the city
upon realistic examples and well thought out creations based on other
medieval cities to further the enjoyment and create a wide array of
medieval reenactment and events.

      Personas can be members of gentry or those of lower classes but
may not start out as nobles.Nobility is earned through the collection
of lands, vassals and the bounds of fealty.Nobility is not the focus
of this group and often not desired as many options for your persona in
greater status churchmen and more powerful guildmasters, Merchant princes
and local Saracen persona avenues exist with this society.

Best of all the feel is medieval, you won't have Vikings and Tudor nobles
fencing with Samurai  .We dislike the haphazard approach of medieval groups
of the anachronistic past and want reenacters and recreationists and other
medievalists to be part of something worthwhile and satisfying like other
valid aspects of reenactment (such as Civil/revolutionary/WWII reenactment)

So Lets get on to the types of Personas that are available to the Outremer Society!
INTRODUCTION PART 2 PERSONAS