The Vikings society is presently expanding at such a rate that there is the need for more testers of Authenticity to ensure continuing high standards of turn out at public events. Authenticity testers tend to volunteer for the post and this guide is designed to give them some insight as to what is required of them.

There are now separate tests for Vikings, Saxons, Norman’s and so forth and for Males and Females, Warriors and Artisans in each of the racial group. A separate test is required for each.

2) Before the Appraisal
Individuals should decide what Racial type, and Gender they would like to be authenticity testers of. They should have familiarised themselves with the relevant society guides and have done other background reading. Also, since technical knowledge of costume and custom is not itself sufficient to pass the appraisal, candidates should also familiarise themselves with the protocol outlined in this document.

3) Appraisal of Authenticity Testers
There is no examination for Authenticity testers; individuals are appraised by continuous assessment. This is done by a three-part system

4) Initial appraisal
The candidate is given the chance to ‘test’ some one in costume. This some one is usually role playing a deceptive character with a few anomalies thrown in. The candidates’ strengths and weaknesses are noted and training is given in areas that are weak.

5) Further training
The candidate is given the chance to accompany two qualified testers whilst genuine Drengr Authenticity tests are carried out. Further training lasts for as long as the qualified testers feel that the candidate needs further guidance.

6) Final appraisal
Finally, through learning, training and persistence the day will arrive when the candidate feels that they are ready to be tested in the role as an official Authenticity tester. The format will be the same as for the initial appraisal and the test will be carried out by the Society Authenticity Officer and by an officer appropriate to the race, rank and gender of the costume that the candidate is being tested in. There is no pass or fail as such, the candidate will be informed simply of whether they will need further training or not. If further training is required then another final assessment will also be required.

7) Protocol of Testers
Some Authenticity testers have a very detailed knowledge of the costume of the period they are testing, but have absolutely no ability in dealing with the people they are evaluating. Common mistakes range from ‘standing the candidate to attention’ and only speaking to say "pass" or "fail"; to the equally unacceptable running down every piece of anomalous kit with the words "crap", "crap" and "crap"!

8) Role of the Authenticity Tester
In the role of official Tester it is the individuals job to help, advise and ultimately pass the individual if their costume meets the society standards. No one likes to be tested, so the occasion should be made as pleasant as possible for all parties involved.

10) At the start of the test
All tests are to be carried out by two testers; one at least must be appropriate to the racial character being tested. Start the test by introducing your self to the individual. Ask them their name, their character name and their group. Ask some clarifying questions about their character, are they a warrior? From which country are they from? And so forth. This will put the individual at ease and give you, as the tester some insight into the validity of the character that the candidate is portraying.

11) Check list
Use the checklist to evaluate each piece of the candidates’ costume. Speak to the individual and comment on each piece. Comment on any item especially if it is particularly well done, or if for some reason you do not like it. Always give them a chance to speak, they may be a specialist researcher or be privy to a new discovery. Remember that an Authenticity officer does not know every thing about the subject and probably never will! Praise will also be well received particularly as the person may have spent a long time making and researching their clothing. We want people to feel good about the test, even if they don’t quite make the grade.

12) First Impressions
An experienced tester will be able to tell within a few minutes of meeting the candidate whether they will pass them or not. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but a starting point to the test. All testers must be flexible in their approach and be willing to modify their views as the test progresses. Talking through each piece of dress with the candidate and the other Authenticity tester will enable you to get a better over view of the aspirants costume as a whole.

13) Instant Fail Items
You will eventually have to decide whether the costume matches the designated character against the society guidelines. And again you will only be able to issue a pass or fail. However there is room for manoeuvre, and a candidate should never be failed on a trivial item. There are some instant fail items however, and as a tester you should be aware of them. Certain examples are:

No helmet or gloves for a warrior.

No brooches for the costume of a high-class Viking wife.

These instant fail items are in the testers guide, and again, would-be testers should be familiar with the guides if they are going to pass the final appraisal at 3C) above.

Finally, try to avoid using the phrase: "that items banned". Most pieces of costume and kit are hand made and can therefore be modified to comply with guidelines. If however you discover a piece of costume for which there is no hope, then use the friendlier expression: "You will be looking to replace this in the near future".

14) Straight forward Tests
Every test is different with costume at a variety of standards even within the same test! As a society tester you need only be convinced that the candidate meets the minimum society standard. There are after all advanced tests that can be taken.

With such a diversity of test scenarios it is difficult to provide guidance to them all. A series of examples (all drawn from personal experience) should serve to illustrate which direction the test should progress.

15) Inconsistent standards
The candidate arrived as a Viking warrior, well dressed but with no shoes or belt. The individual felt no need for belt, and shoes were on the way!

Verdict: Fail. All such warriors would have both. The individual would not accept the need for a belt and there was no proof of the existence of shoes. In another similar tests, an individual bought a belt and returned to the testing officer with the boot maker in tow! He confirmed that the shoes would be ready by the next show. This individual was then passed.

16) Anachronisms
The Candidate arrived with fully acceptable kit, but refused to remove their glasses. Another individual had the use of a stick for a leg complaint, whilst a third had a plaster on their finger.

Verdicts: Various! Both the battlefield and the village are dangerous places and glasses should not be worn. Alternatives are contact lenses or to just manage without. An accepted exception would be someone on the PA system in kit. After all it would be pointless them holding a modern mike but having to squint through the lack of glasses!

Other aids such as sticks and wheel chairs; we should not restrict our love of re-enactment to only the sound of body! Less than able people can participate providing we both compromise. A candidate turning up for a test, probably only needs the stick whilst they are moving in and out of the village setting, the same goes for a wheel chair. The rest of the time props can be disguised and people should be admired for the extra commitment they have to put in.

Sticking plasters are medical and transitory, candidates must not be ordered to remove them! They must be hidden however, or covered with a glove (if on the hand). A facial plaster is more problematic, take a minute to think what you would do in a test situation?

Solution: Pass the individual, since there is not a lot you can do about it. All the items in this section come under the ‘political correctness banner’ and doubtless we will debate more on the subject in the future.

17) Costume is of the wrong grade
Candidates very often appear very well turned out, and see themselves as a person of high status, However the lack of jewellery and finery lets them down.

Verdict: Not a fail, as you may think. Sure, the candidate has not passed as a high status person, but their costume may fit all the criteria for a person of artisan (middle- class) or proletariat (lower class) standard. They should therefore be given the award accordingly. Remember, the idea is to send the candidate away with a pass where ever possible, (4 above)

18) Common sense exceptions
Candidates turn in very good costume. All the seams are machine sewn and you are told the under kyrtle is made of nylon.

Verdict: in these circumstances Pass. There is no point in failing machine stitching when the whole garment has been machine loomed any way. Also, the tenth century stitching that I have seen is actually indistinguishable from machine stitching. However, seam ends are always a give away. This should be hidden or finished off by hand. They are not an automatic fail, candidates should be asked to rectify them in the future.

The use of artificial fibres; these are most often in a natural/ artificial mix. There are indistinguishable from a wholly natural fibre, yet they may be under half the price! Candidates should not be penalised because their hobby becomes unaffordable when there are acceptable compromised that can be made.

I once met a candidate whose costume was made up entirely of artificial fibres. He was, he explained allergic to all natural fibres and this was the only way he could participate. The cloth was indistinguishable from cloth made from natural fibres.

It is finally worth considering that many exceptions are not thought twice about, for example the use of mild steel instead of wrought iron and the use of spring steel in sword blades. We must accept that if an item looks okay from all sides then it must be acceptable.

19) Border Line cases
The Candidates costume is fine, but there are one or two small irregularities. In most test scenarios you will come across this problem.

Verdict; There is no hard and fast rule in this situation. If the scenario is outside the boundaries of the other situations here presented then your skill and knowledge as a tester will be called into the forefront. Discuss the problem with your accompanying tester and decide whether the lack of a simple item constitutes a total fail. Do not take the easy option of awarding the pass automatically.

Ask the candidates how they feel about the situation themselves? Their attitude is often an indicator as to whether the item will be rectified or purchased in the future. Also there is a safety net for people who are given the benefit of the doubt Group gear checks are on going, and the eyes of the Authenticity Police are hopefully constantly assessing the costume of members whenever they are encountered.

At the end of each test, there is a pool of a hundred or so questions. The tester must ask a minimum of 10 questions, if a candidate gives the wrong answer, then further questions are asked till the tester is satisfied. In borderline cases, several questions can be asked, until the examiner is satisfied or until the examiner realises that the candidate has insufficient background knowledge to pass the test anyway.

20) Safety Overruling Authenticity
The candidate turns up as a warrior with a razor sharp, authentic Viking sword, axe and seax.

Verdict: Fail. Okay so I have made this rather extreme example up to prove a point. Authenticity must always be overruled by safety, and that is how it should be. Safe edges, extra padding, cheek guards, vambraces and gloves. All are tentative Authentic wise, all have a role to play in the continuing safety of are society. One further point to ponder, an Authentic well-balanced sword is safer to fight with than a lighter sword.

21) Completion of the test.
Every test will vary in length, but you should spend at least 15 minutes with each individual, Acknowledge their good points and explaining their shortfalls will ensure a coherent test. A five minute survey and the issue of a fail certificate with tell the candidate nothing of where they have gone wrong and serve only to lose confidence in both the tester and in society Authenticity as a whole.

If several candidates turn up at once, there may not be time to give them all a comprehensive test. We are hoping to offset this problem by having an afternoon/ evening surgery the day before. This is so that costume can be discussed informally, and shortfalls for the test can be highlighted. Only one society tester need officiate at the surgery. This will help boost the confidence of the candidates, weed out no- hopers and give borderline cases time to correct deficient items of kit. Further it will tie up fewer testers and help set a conducive atmosphere for the actual test.

To conclude the test the candidate should always be congratulated for coming as far as they have or for actually passing the test. Issue the individual with a pass certificate and sign the Passport when they are finally introduced. Send the participant off with a good feeling, (even if they have failed) because, after all these are the Drengrs of the future and the mainstay of our society.

22) Stock Phrases to be avoided

Lastly, some expressions that that official testers should not use: -