Who Made That?! (Kingdom A&S, Oct 19, 2002)

By THLaird Colyne Stewart 

(TankArdVersion)

Thorfinna and I set out for Burford, in the Barony of Ben Dunfirth on yet another drizzly day. The autumn was wet in Ealdormere this year, the leaves soaked in rain. We traveled in good company, in the cart of Berend and Mahault van der Eych, with Teah and Rhiannon in the back. The drive to Burford was longer than we had anticipated, but arrive we finally did. As we drove down the street we passed Qadanchin Bayar, better known as Iolanda, resplendent in her Mongolian garb.

We had brought cloaks with us, which served us well, as a chill wind blew from the north. We entered the hall and were soon lost in a sea of arts and sciences displays. Flabbergasted we walked about and gazed at the many talents of Ealdormereans, many of whom hailed from Septentria. Among these were: Corwyn and Domhnail Galbraith, who displayed horn carving, wood carving, the kerric made for Garraed and various other items; Graem deListe de Cherbourg, Japanese calligraphy, British royal geneaology, Italian cooking; Ceridwen of Vest Yorvic, illumination and portrature; Wencenedl of Vest Yorvic; wood carving, pewter casting. Ardchreag only had two displays, but they were good one: Kennric Manning’s metal bowl work and Iolanda de Albornoz’s knuckle bones. Iolanda’s judge, Lord Gerrard Carpentarius (known as the toy maker) was full of praise for her work, and someone left her a ring as token of her skill. I know there were likely others, and likely more shown by the people I have mentioned, but in such a plethora of skill it is hard now to keep them all straight. Other displays of note included Viscount Sir Edward the Red and Viscountess Rylyn Buchanon with their slat bed and sundry goods (such as a skillet) and Baron Sir Menken Brechen, who was trying his hand at pewter casting.

Count Sir Brannos O'Iongardail, from the Middle Kingdom, had come far to teach a class on fighting. Though Thorfinna and I had not brought our armour (we were unaware the class was happening) we watched most of it and learned much. Sir Berus Wolfsson, Their Majesties Roak and Arlette, Lord Wulfgang Donnerfaust, Lord Vlad Blahuciak, Baron Siegfried Brandbeorn, THL Aelwyn of Longwood, Master Konrad Matthias Jaeger, and Lady Isotta Gianfigliazzi were among those taking the class.

The hardy dancers of the Kingdom, many from Eoforwic, braved the chill and danced in the only available open space—the gravel parking lot.

We could not stay for feast, which is unfortunate from all accounts as it sounds like it was excellent. We left the event feeling tired (it had been a long day) but also burning with a desire to make and create. Truly Ealdormere is the home of many skilled artisans, and I am proud to be their kinsman.

(Ursus Version)

Thorfinna and I set out for Burford, in the Barony of Ben Dunfirth on yet another drizzly day. The autumn was wet in Ealdormere this year, the leaves soaked in rain. We traveled in good company, in the cart of Berend and Mahault van der Eych, with Teah and Rhiannon in the back. The drive to Burford was longer than we had anticipated, but arrive we finally did. As we drove down the street we passed Qadanchin Bayar, better known as Iolanda, resplendent in her Mongolian garb.

We had brought cloaks with us, which served us well, as a chill wind blew from the north. We entered the hall and were soon lost in a sea of arts and sciences displays. Flabbergasted we walked about and gazed at the many talents of Ealdormereans, many of whom hailed from Septentria. Among these were: Corwyn and Domhnail Galbraith, who displayed horn carving, wood carving, the kerric made for Garraed and various other items; Graem deListe de Cherbourg, Japanese calligraphy, British royal geneaology, Italian cooking; Ceridwen of Vest Yorvic, illumination and portrature; Wencenedl of Vest Yorvic; wood carving, pewter casting. Ardchreag only had two displays, but they were good one: Kennric Manning’s metal bowl work and Iolanda de Albornoz’s knuckle bones. Iolanda’s judge, Lord Gerrard Carpentarius (known as the toy maker) was full of praise for her work, and someone left her a ring as token of her skill. I know there were likely others, and likely more shown by the people I have mentioned, but in such a plethora of skill it is hard now to keep them all straight. Other displays of note included Viscount Sir Edward the Red and Viscountess Rylyn Buchanon with their slat bed and sundry goods (such as a skillet) and Baron Sir Menken Brechen, who was trying his hand at pewter casting.

            

Count Sir Brannos O'Iongardail, from the Middle Kingdom, had come far to teach a class on fighting. Though Thorfinna and I had not brought our armour (we were unaware the class was happening) we watched most of it and learned much. Sir Berus Wolfsson, Their Majesties Roak and Arlette, Lord Wulfgang Donnerfaust, Lord Vlad Blahuciak, Baron Siegfried Brandbeorn, THL Aelwyn of Longwood, Master Konrad Matthias Jaeger, and Lady Isotta Gianfigliazzi were among those taking the class.

            

The hardy dancers of the Kingdom, many from Eoforwic, braved the chill and danced in the only available open space—the gravel parking lot.

            

We could not stay for feast, which is unfortunate from all accounts as it sounds like it was excellent. We left the event feeling tired (it had been a long day) but also burning with a desire to make and create. Truly Ealdormere, and its heart Septentria, is the home of many skilled artisans, and I am proud to be their kinsman.

Cynred Takes His Yearly Bath (Pikeman’s Pleasure, June 1, 2002)

(written for the Ursus)

By THLaird Colyne Stewart

It was a fine sunny day in Petrea Thule, though the wind did guts harshly at times. We had come from across the Kingdom to celebrate the Pleasure’s of the Pikemen and, as usual, this was done by having many bridge battles. For those who have never been lucky enough to go to a Pikeman’s, a small river runs through the event site, which goes over a small water fall, swirls through a pond and then splits into two shallow channels to run around a lozenge-shaped island. From the shore to the island is a small bridge, and it is upon this bridge that the fighters battle.

This year the teams were led by Earl Sir David and Sir Evander after each won at the Warlord Tourney. The two groups met amid a flash of pikes, the darting of swords, the clang of shields and the call of “Havoc!” as Dusty tore through the ranks and died gloriously to allow his pikemen free shots at his attackers.

When all the fighting was over and done it was discovered that His Excellency Thegn Cynred Broccan, our exalted Baron of Septentria, had not fallen into the water. For years past he has done this, earning the shallows the name of Cynred’s Bath. This even with Tiberius and Roak giving him the occasional good-natured prod from behind. And so, not being one to break tradition lightly, Cynred walked up to the falls and threw himself in. Streonwald Wulfesbanna of Caer Draeth, and Septentrian Herald, not being one to let his Baron face a challenge alone, likewise plunged intro the water. Both were still in full armour.

There was much laughing and cat calling as the two sodden warriors pulled themselves from the murk. Eirik Andersen, Seneschal of Ardchreag, could be heard muttering, “Think of all those poor fish.”

And so our Baron is squeaky clean…for another year at least.