The Crew of the Bleek Paard is the group created around Rytsar Varakii Varenko Idanovich and his wife Baroness Pesha of Little Egypt. Although the oathbound affiliations are fighting related (between Rytsar Varenko and his squires), the crew contains many talented artists and engages in service as well.
That the Crew of the Bleek Paard is a crew not a household is an important distinction for its members. The use of the term crew speaks to the group labour involved in sailing a ship. Everyone works together, and everyone is needed. Varenko has always made it clear that he doesn't want to be an authoritative figure for the group.
The squires of the Bleek Paard are not given spurs, as spurs would damage the deck of a boat. Instead, they are given 11.5' oars as part of their squire's regalia. They mostly carry the oars at camping events, though they are also brought out at important occasions for the crew. Personalization of the oars is encouraged.
The Crew of the Bleek Paard does not have an official creation date. When Varenko was knighted in AS 49, Gwendolyn was already his student, and the Crew was formed as Varenko contemplated what he wanted his affiliation with his dependents to look like. The fact that Varenko is a sailor was a component of this choice.
The Bleek Paard is a Dutch Hoy ship. She is the persona of the modern sloop owned by Varenko and Pesha; the historical Hoy has similar rigging to the sloop. The name Bleek Paard means “Pale Horse” in Dutch, and is a reference to Binky, the name of the sloop.
Most members of the Crew live in Skraeling Althing, but a couple much-loved members live in Ramshaven.
The Crew of the Bleek Paard has family ties to House Maclachlan, the household headed by Varenko's former knight Count Evander.
The knights and squires of Rytsar Varenko's lineage are listed in the Line of Evander.
Adults
The Next Generation