“Let reason prevail with me more than popular opinion.”
— Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 BC – 43 BC), Tusculanae Disputationes, Book 1
My name is Sean Richey. I have been involved in historical combat and reenactment for over forty years. I am a homeowner, a federal professional since 1996 with an active Public Trust clearance, and a husband and father with an unblemished personal record. I lead a fifty-strong Roman unit (Rome) that has competed across SCA, Markland, and Dagorhir for decades. I remain in good standing with the SCA and Markland today.
I was also a longtime member of Dagorhir, which I promoted and supported for years, including serving as a board member of Ragnarok LLC, the organization’s flagship annual event that grew to nearly 1,900 participants. Dagorhir permanently banned me in 2022 on fabricated charges of harassment and bullying. The ban came from a politically motivated arbitration; there was no underlying act of violence, harassment, or genuine misconduct.
Two Dagorhir members stood to gain by killing Ragnarok to benefit a rival event. During the pandemic, they worked to blame me for organizational problems I had no hand in. When a contentious board meeting led to the Ragnarok Treasurer’s resignation (a meeting I recorded, legally, in a one-party consent state), that Treasurer filed a complaint against me, claiming I had bullied and intimidated him during a remote Zoom meeting. The arbiter was a friend and customer of one of my accusers and should have recused himself. He disregarded my recording and the testimony of fellow board members. The ban came with no prior warnings, no police report, and no credible evidence that any Code of Conduct provision had been violated. Dagorhir does not discuss the terms of bans, and people have speculated in the absence of facts.
I ask that you weigh that history against forty years of clean conduct in every organization I have belonged to: no legitimate complaints, no Code of Conduct violations anywhere. I can offer references from respected figures across multiple organizations, and they will say the same.
I bring genuine value to every group that will have me. My unit is cohesive, experienced, and committed to good sportsmanship. I have run a prominent Roman history and reenactment website that has successfully promoted organizations and events. I have the time, resources, and enthusiasm to contribute.
Medievalism is a privilege I do not take for granted. I know how to be a gracious guest in someone else’s house. Thank you for your time and consideration. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you directly.