Tuesday 29 April 2014

History of Bastille du Lac

Seeds can sleep many years before a humble bud becomes a true oak but when it does, the result enriches the forest. The vagaries of history would do the same for the small group of settlers that founded Bastille du Lac.

The low lands surrounding the great bay of the inland sea of Ealdormere always looked promising. The rich earth of the peninsula welcomed vines and orchard,   the sheltered bay offered calm water for ships taking refuge from the wrath of the sea and the region is a natural crossroad connecting the inland sea and the sea-lane to the great sea to the east but perhaps critical to the newcomers, it is also ideally defined as a natural frontier and a bulwark against invaders from all direction. Acumen in seeing these qualities might have brought the early settlers to this region but perseverance built the character of the land and destiny created the reputation of its people.

Many seasons passed between the day the ship landed on the Northen shore and the day the trillium of Ealdormere finally flowered into a kingdom. The fledgling populous of the area longed for a place of their own but were torn between their allegiance to Septentria in the west and their friendship with Skraeling Atlhing in the east. Faced with the valor of arms yet gentle disposition of the people of the area, the true wisdom of the Baron of Septentria appeared in fostering the identity of the people of Bastille. In the thirty-third year following the birth of the society and a year after the Northen throne became true, Septentria stood up and gave lands, goods, money and the strength of its populous over many years, to helped build and shape the fragile fortress on the bay and created lasting bonds of friendship with their new neighbour. 

To the east, Skraeling Atlhing could not stay idle at such ideals and never shied away at helping the young Shire, promoting its strength and tending to its place in the Kingdom; and soon the small shire became a natural meeting place for weary traveler and themselves, willing to travel far and wide to help friends.

Growth and acceptance was not to come easy and the fancy of human nature dictated that 14 years would be needed for the heraldic Elders of all Kingdoms to agree and welcome the name of Bastille du Lac on the long list of distinguished landmark of the knowne world.

So it came to be, on a winter day as cold as to frost mead, that King Roak the Fifth escorted by the faithful Barons of the kingdom of Ealdormere came and visit the fort on the bay. With a swift stroke of the quill and a blessing from his sword he gave the gentles of the Shire the pride of wearing their name openly and freely.

Today, the small Shire guards the entrance to the ancient sea washing the shore of Ealdormere. Bastille du Lac now takes proudly its place in serving the Crown by answering the call whenever and wherever it is needed.


Lady Jehanne de Bretagne

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