ANST - The Sword of State (long)
Shane B.
shaneb at icubed.net
Wed Jan 7 22:13:57 PST 1998
Ahhh I remember when Lord Bethan used to tote this iconicle around.
[sigh]
Alastair
Paul Mitchell wrote:
>
> Galen of Bristol here...
>
> Viscountess Megan Andoniel of Glengalen, Mistress
> of the Pelican and Lion of Ansteorra, has asked
> me to post the following, so that people may
> understand the significance of the theft of
> the Great Sword of State of Ansteorra from Their
> Majesties' truck. Following this history is a
> sonnet which I have written about the loss of the
> sword.
>
> **********
> Ansteorra, then being a principality of Atenveldt,
> yielded to its neighbor principality Megan of Namron
> to be their Princess, and at that time Orm went to
> the King of Atenveldt, who was Jonathan DeLaufyson,
> saying that he desired to be wed to a princess of the
> realm. The king said if you do these deeds for me I
> shall promise you the hand of this princess: First,
> go to Al Barran. There is a rock in an abbey there
> which is the same rock that the kings of Atenveldt
> stand upon at coronation, and the monks withhold it,
> for I have made them subject. Bring me the rock.
> Second, go to the Outlands and guard the princess
> all the days that she is there. And if I shall go
> to war, bring to my aid military force. And this
> Orm swore he would do, giving the king a ring to
> show his intent. And it came to pass that through
> great hardship, danger and trial, each of these
> things were done, and Orm returned from the Outlands
> three times bringing the rock, aid in war, then the
> princess, when her reign was accomplished.
>
> HOW THE RAVEN CAME TO SAIL
>
> In the time of their reign in Atenveldt, Willow,
> Queen, gave to her foster sons, Frea and Ivar of
> Namron, a ship, worthy of kings sons, and they
> called it the Raven, and found hardy warriors to
> man her oars. Later, on returning from the Outlands
> Orm, being seasoned in battle, was called by the
> Raven captains to man her steer board. Many months
> after, Megan was called to pull an oar, being less
> seasoned, but hardy, quick with spear, and tenacious;
> and Megan and Cyf were the only women ever to row or
> fight on the ship Raven.
>
> CREATION OF THE LIONS AND HOW ORM WAS MADE PREMIER
>
> As Megan returned from the Outlands, Ansteorra became
> a kingdom. Jonathan and Willow, who had been king and
> queen of Atenveldt ruled first on the throne of Ansteorra.
> Many deeds they did that strengthened our kingdom, and
> became part of our oldest traditions, yet deeds were
> done, too, by royalty and nobility alike, that brought
> harm. The kingdom was torn by strife. Now sad times
> befell the new kingdom, and actions were taken by many
> that all regretted later. Ansteorra learned to her sorrow
> that strength lay in unity, as outsiders came to impose
> their will upon the kingdom.
>
> In this time, as Jonathan and Willow made ready to leave
> the thrones to their heirs, they created an order to
> embody the Spirit of values cherished, that others in the
> kingdom might rally and follow their lead, and this order
> they called the Lions of Ansteorra, Defenders of the Dream.
> For the first of this order they chose Orm Skjoldbidig,
> known as the Red. They retired, whereon Lloyd and Jocelyn
> ascended the throne.
>
> HOW MEGAN FOUND THE SWORD, THE RAVENS BOUGHT IT,
> AND ORM REFORGED IT
>
> Now, Megan, returned to her lands, sought a gift for
> Ansteorra where she was born. She found a sword in
> the keeping of a man of Atenveldt and seeing that it
> was once well made by the force of hammer she asked
> its history. This man said he had only just brought
> it from the desert of Atenveldt, and told of how it
> had seen battle. Megan thought it would be a good
> sword if it could be worked, though it had taken grievous
> harm in service.
>
> At this time the kingdom was young and there was little
> that was used by the king that was both a weapon and
> a symbol of state; and Megan thought a symbol of unity
> would be good. The sword could be had, but at a price
> in gold, so Megan went to the Ravens and told them what
> she found, and what she foresaw could be the story of
> the sword, if it but could be acquired. Megan and Orm
> pledged half the sword's price, the Raven captains Frea
> and Ivar just under a fourth each, and each of the remaining
> Ravens including Richenda, Finn, Cyf, Edward the Proud,
> Morgan the Grey, Red Malcom, and others, made up the balance.
>
> Orm then took the blade into his hands, and under the
> starlight of the realm he reforged it and made it straight.
>
> HOW ORM CLAIMED HIS BRIDE AND THE SWORD CAME TO THE KING
>
> Now Orm took thought that he would claim his bride. He
> gathered to himself the Raven captains Frea and Ivar, and
> his kin and housecarls, and came before the king who was
> on royal progress in his barony called the Steppes. Without
> leave of herald straight from ship he came, and asked the king
> for the hand of Megan, the king's kin who sat in court beside
> him. The king demanded by what reason he should deliver up the
> chieftess. Orm spoke of his tasks and Jonathan, duke, set forth
> how he had pledged to Orm. The bride price and matter of the
> bride's weapons were settled, as is told elsewhere, but Lloyd
> asked what should be given him for his part in this. At this,
> Ivar stepped forth, and drew a red cloak from his mailed fist
> in which he held a bare ebon blade, which the king drew.
>
> And Orm said "Take this oh king, as a wedding gift from me,
> and the crew of the ship Raven, unto the Kingdom of Ansteorra,
> to stand and be used as the sword of state." And to this Lloyd
> agreed.
>
> IVAR IS MADE LION
>
> Their reign came to an end, and King Lloyd called Ivar to stand
> by Orm and wear the badge of the White Lion. Lloyd left the
> sword of state with his crown upon the throne, and Jan became
> king, and took up both crown and sword.
>
> MEGAN IS MADE LION
>
> In their time Jan and Kemreth ruled fairly, and there was
> prosperity and laughter in their reign. When this was nearly
> at and end, Jan gave Megan a lion made all of silver, and
> brought her to stand by Orm and by Ivar. In this time Jan
> gave thought it would be fitting that the Sword of State be
> cared for by the Lions.
>
> THE SWORD PASSES TO THE LIONS
>
> Now at this time the Order of the Lions, Defenders of the
> Dream was very small, being only Orm, Ivar and Megan, and
> these three sailed on the ship Raven, and the sword was
> entrusted to the Raven crew for care. In the time of Sigmund
> and Sieglinde, the heirs of Jan and Kemreth, the Raven was
> sailing often abroad, and it became difficult to tend the
> sword for the king. Megan thinking on Jan's words, sought
> with the Raven crew that the sword might be given to the
> care of the Lions of Ansteorra, for all the Lions were also
> Raven at that time. To this the Ravens agreed, having seen
> their names and a place of honor made for their role in bringing
> the sword to the kingdom.
>
> THE PLEDGE
>
> Now Orm, Ivar and Megan went before Sigmund, king, and let
> it be known that the Ravens tendered stewardship of the sword
> to the Lions of Ansteorra. They pledged, as Defenders of the
> Dream, to guard the sword and the principles for which it stood,
> and received in pledge that the sword of state would remain
> their especial trust as the symbol of all that the Lions guard,
> and that when the first sword was retired, it should go to Orm
> and Megan's care, while the Lions, together, would bring forth
> a new sword, in stewardship, as before. These pledges, on both
> sides, were renewed between the Lions and Finn Kelly O'Donnell
> who followed Sigmund, and thereafter between the Lions and other
> sovereigns. However, as the order grew and became more widespread,
> this knowledge was passed on less and less, until there came a
> time when the pledge was forgotten and the kings knew not where
> the sword came from. Neither so, did many lions know.
>
> HOW THE LIONS UPHELD THEIR STEWARDSHIP
>
> Hrabia Jan was called to the company of the Lions, and at
> the end of Sigmund's reign the Lions came forth together
> and Jan took the sword from him, for the Lions to hold in
> that dangerous time when there is no king. And when the
> heir, Finn Kelly came forth, they challenged him, and were
> satisfied of his answer. So it was established that the
> Lions would guard the sword as the chivalry guard the king's
> crown, and all that the order was created to embody, the
> sword came to embody also. At times, so precious was the
> sword for what it symbolized, both the Chivalry and the Royal
> Family tried to gain its stewardship from the Lions, only to
> be reminded of the pledges of kings.
>
> Four times did the sword return to the hand of Orm and Megan,
> for renewal and care. In that time Orm fashioned a scabbard,
> and twice rewrapped the hilt; Megan etched its pommel and
> scabbard ornaments; and Orm's apprentice, Xylon, reworked
> the pommel and quillions. Each time, the ebon finish was
> restored. The sword was last cared for by all three in the
> reign of Michael IV, and was passed from him to his heirs.
>
> THIS IS THE STORY OF THE SWORD OF ANSTEORRA, ITS TRADITIONS
> UNTIL THE TIME OF ITS LOSS, THE PLEDGE OF THE LIONS AS STEWARDS,
> AND THE PLEDGE OF THE KINGS REGARDING IT.
>
> - Megan Andoniel of Glengalen
> **********
>
> THE GREAT SWORD
>
> It's gone now, but I held it in my hands
> As I stood behind Hector, and Inman,
> Behind Rowan, Kein, the Kings of these lands,
> For Mikael, Patrick, Mahadi, such men.
> My hand on its hilt, Badon was knighted.
> It touched my shoulders, giving accolade.
> On many men, and three women alighted,
> This royal emblem, by which knights were made.
> Take by foul thieves who came in the night
> A sharp sable blade, pommel bearing star.
> Not lost in battle, not taken by might;
> The King's men sought for it, both near and far.
> One day, perhaps, this great sword will return;
> But today, the tears in my eyes still burn.
>
> - Galen of Bristol, Bard of Ansteorra
>
> --
> pmitchel at flash.net \ http://www.flash.net/~pmitchel
> "The Constitution is a radical document ... it is the job
> of the Government to rein in people's rights."
> -- President Clinton, May 1994, MTV's "Enough is Enough."
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--
Shane (Alastair Lord Aylward)
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