By THLaird Colyne Stewart
On a pleasant sunny day, Thorfinna and I drove from our new
keep in Greenhithe territory to the Disputed Border where the Ealdormerean army
had so recently met before marching south to War. There the members of
Greenhithe were having a feast to celebrate the completion of the harvest and
to celebrate life before the cold snows come.
We set up our shade where two months earlier we had camped
and were soon joined b y others from
the Cliffs: Eirik Andersen , Berend,
Mahault, Rhiannon and Teah van der Eych, Brandy das Lederwerker, Raffe
Scholemaystre, Fursto de Robnye, Ivanna the Oblivious, Siegfried
Brandbeorn, Qadanchin Bayar and newcomer Louis Reyes. To our left was the
fencing field, to our right Vest Yorvik. In front of us was laid out the List
field, and across from it was the Eoforwic
contingent. Our glorious Baroness this day sat with Vest Yorvik and it was in
their presence that a small Baronial
Court was later held.
The fighters that day numbered six, being Brandt, Lady Isotta , Lady Dwynen, Lord Aldred Ravenshagh, Lord
Tormod of Kirk Andreas and Berend. They were split into two teams, and were
moved on a playing board b y Gaerwen
and Mistress Kaellyn. When two pieces met they had to battle, the loosing piece
removing itself from the board. Many games of this were played until the
Baronesses considered themselves satisfied. At the end of the day Brandt was
given a drinking horn as fighter of the day, and Tormod had authorized in great
sword.
A call had gone forth that this day would see a fencing
tournament to decide the Fencing Champion for Septentria. Four good gentles met
on the field and fought long and hard. Lord Gareth of Eoforwic ,
that Royal City’s Sheriff, did win the tourney, though the winner of
Septentrian Championship Tournies are not always those selected to actually be
the Champion. When court was called all four fencers were called forth and
Gaerwen delayed the announcement of her choice while the fencers fidgeted and b obbed on their feet and pleaded with her to name
her choice. Finally, Gaerwen announced that Gareth, winner of the tourney,
would indeed b e the Champion. He was
given a gorgeous cape of office to wear to proclaim his station. Wassail!
Thrown weapons were also in evidence that day thanks to Lord
Gunnar Truthsinger of Skeldergate .
When it was time to eat, and for court, it was very hard to pull the thrown
weapon enthusiast away, especially Gunnar and Thorfinna.
Those who did not fight, fence or throw spent the afternoon
in pleasant conversation, sharing drinks and wandering from one shade to
another. A haggling contest, an Arts and Sciences table and merchants also
helped pass the time.
Many personal baronial tokens were awarded during court. At
courts end, Serion d’Ivri was sworn as the newest member of the Isengesitha.
Master Hector arrived at a fortuitous time, just as the call
went out that it was time to eat! The main coarse was a pig roasted on a spit,
which had b een turned all day by
various attendees and event staff. In honour of our friends in Ben Dunfirth the
boar was called Brand, though I cannot seem to recall just who made that
suggestion. With the pork there was stuffing, roast potatoes and corn on the
cob. It was truly a grand feast with none going away hungry. Lemon water was
served to drink and for dessert pears in a raisin-rhubarb sauce was served to
many cries of joy.
When the foodstuffs had b een
cleared away Eirik lit a fire (this time not lighting himself in the process)
and those good gentles who still remained sat down for one of the most intimate
and enjoyable bardic circles I have yet been to. As Ursine Bard I opened the
circle with my poem ‘Septentria at War’, for which Isotta
presented me with a ring that had b een
given to her by THL Aeneas Oakhammer in recognition of her own bardic talents.
This ring is now in my trust until such time as I see another whose talents
inspire me. Other performers included Master Hector (of course), Thorfinna,
Brian Goodheart, Isotta , William the
Younger, Ivanna the Oblivious and Gunnar Truthsinger. Even Raffe got up and
told a tale. Brian engaged us in one bardic art that is not oft performed in
the SCA: that of the riddle.
During the circle we were treated to a true display of
nature’s beauty as the northern lights blazed across the night sky. It was a
remarkable event and I could not help but think that the spirits were looking
down on us in approval of all the words of praise that flowed from the bards
that night. Words of praise for Septentria, and for those that call it home.
I Coulda Used Some Apple Sauce, When I Had Brand for Dinner
Event Report: A Day in the Country II (Ursus version)
Colyne Stewart, Sep AS XXXVII
On a pleasant sunny day, Thorfinna and I drove from our new
keep in Greenhithe territory to the Disputed Border where the Ealdormerean army
had so recently met before marching south to War. There the members of
Greenhithe were having a feast to celebrate the completion of the harvest and
to celebrate life before the cold snows come.
We set up
our shade where two months earlier we had camped and were soon joined b y others from the Cliffs of Ardchreag. To our
left was the fencing field, to our right Vest Yorvik. In front of us was laid
out the List field, and across from it was the Eoforwic
contingent. Our glorious Baroness this day sat with Vest Yorvik and it was in
their presence that a small Baronial
Court was later held.
The
fighters that day numbered six, being Lord Brandt das Lederwerker, Lady Isotta , Lady Dwynen, Lord Aldred Ravenshagh, Lord
Tormod of Kirk Andreas and Lord Berend van der Eych. They were split into two
teams, and were moved on a playing board b y
Gaerwen and Mistress Kaellyn. When two pieces met they had to battle, the
loosing piece removing itself from the board. Many games of this were played
until the Baronesses considered themselves satisfied. At the end of the day
Brandt was given a drinking horn as fighter of the day, and Tormod had authorized
in great sword.
A call had
gone forth that this day would see a fencing tournament to decide the Fencing
Champion for Septentria. Four good gentles met on the field and fought long and
hard. These were: Lord Gareth of Eoforwic ,
that Royal City ’s Sheriff; Lord Albrecht Stamfer;
Lady Yvonne of Eoforwic , the City’s
Mayor; and Lord Geoffrey Guiscard. Gareth did win the tourney, though the
winner of Septentrian Championship Tournies are not always those selected to
actually be the Champion. When court was called all four fencers were called
forth and Gaerwen delayed the announcement of her choice while the fencers
fidgeted and b obbed on their feet
and pleaded with her to name her choice. Finally, Gaerwen announced that
Gareth, winner of the tourney, would indeed b e
the Champion. He was given a gorgeous cape of office to wear to proclaim his
station. Wassail!
Thrown
weapons were also in evidence that day thanks to Lord Gunnar Truthsinger of Skeldergate . When it was time to eat, and for court,
it was very hard to pull the thrown weapon enthusiast away, especially Gunnar
and Lady Thorfinna gra’feldr.
Those who
did not fight, fence or throw spent the afternoon in pleasant conversation,
sharing drinks and wandering from one shade to another. A haggling contest, an
Arts and Sciences table and merchants also helped pass the time.
Many
personal baronial tokens were awarded during court. At courts end, Serion
d’Ivri was sworn as the newest member of the Isengesitha.
Master
Hector arrived at a fortuitous time, just as the call went out that it was time
to eat! The main coarse was a pig roasted on a spit, which had b een turned all day by various attendees and event
staff. In honour of our friends in Ben Dunfirth the boar was called Brand,
though I cannot seem to recall just who made that suggestion. With the pork
there was stuffing, roast potatoes and corn on the cob. It was truly a grand
feast with none going away hungry. Lemon water was served to drink and for
dessert pears in a raisin-rhubarb sauce was served to many cries of joy.
When the
foodstuffs had b een cleared away
Lord Eirik Andersen lit a fire (this
time not lighting himself in the process) and those good gentles who still
remained sat down for one of the most intimate and enjoyable bardic circles I
have yet been to. As Ursine Bard I opened the circle with my poem ‘Septentria
at War’, for which Isotta presented
me with a ring that had b een given
to her by THL Aeneas Oakhammer in recognition of her own bardic talents. This
ring is now in my trust until such time as I see another whose talents inspire
me. Other performers included Master Hector (of course), Thorfinna, Brian
Goodheart, Isotta , William the
Younger, Lady Ivanna the Oblivious and Gunnar Truthsinger. Even Lord Raffe
Scholemaystre got up and told a tale. Brian engaged us in one bardic art that
is not oft performed in the SCA: that of the riddle.
During the
circle we were treated to a true display of nature’s beauty as the northern
lights blazed across the night sky. It was a remarkable event and I could not
help but think that the spirits were looking down on us in approval of all the
words of praise that flowed from the bards that night. Words of praise for
Septentria, and for those that call it home.
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