ANST - Re: Barony- News on Crown Tourney?

[Michael Tucker]

Greetings, Noble Cousins:

In a beautiful display of courage, stamina, honor, and courtesy to one another,
many of Ansteorra's finest combatants vied for the Crown of Ansteorra. As a
surprise at the beginning of the day, Their Majesties told Timo that he needed
no knight to speak for him, because they had decided he *was* one. (You should
have seen Timo's face as the realization of this sank in!) As if to live up to
the honor shown him, Timo prevailed into the semi-final's along with Sir Alexis,
Sir Godwin and Sir Daffydd. In the end, it came down to Godwin (with his lady,
Lissa) and Daffydd (with his lady, Octavia). After a truly noble display of
prowess and chivalry, Daffydd stood alone upon the field. He and Octavia are the
Heirs to the Sable Throne.

The list was a medium-large one as such things go in Ansteorra: 36 (or was it
37?) entered the list, and included the previous Crowns Johnathon, Gerard, Kein,
and Galen. The weather was perfect for a list: a gentle but steady breaze, clear
blue skies and temperatures in the mid 70's. The fighting field was fairly
large, and the "runners" in the list had plenty of room to roam.

Based on his display of chivalry, not just in the final round but throughout the
day, His Majesty Gunthar awarded Sir Godwin the King's Blade of Honor. Godwin is
the second to receive that honor, following in the footsteps of Sir Alexis
before him. Following Gunthar's charge to "improve the blade and scabbard as you
see fit", Alexis painted the green scabbard with a beautiful white vine from
base to hilt. The "leaves" of the vine are shields bearing the sable star upon a
field of gold. Each bearer of the blade is to paint their arms over one of the
shields, as Alexis has done upon the first shield at the base of the scabbard.
There are enough shields for 15 years.

In evening court, Their Majesties elevated Ulsted the Unsteady (who is soon to
be invested with his lady Couteau as Baron and Baroness of Loch Soilleir) to the
Order of the Centurions. As if this good news weren't good enough, they then
summoned Baron Leofric into court and told him they had noticed all his hard
work. They told him he had many friends, who wanted to express their thanks for
all his hard work. Then they summoned the Order of the Pelican - and advanced
Leofric to that order, on the spot! Sir Godwin spoke for his (true life) brother
(for the Knights), as did HE Sir Pendarin and HE Sir Kief (for the Lions),
Master Avatar (for the Laurels), and Her Grace Alicia (for the Order of the
Rose). Just two months ago, Leofric gave Baroness Neassa the pelican medallion
worn by the late Baroness Cadi; he told Neassa that Cadi had wanted him to pass
it on to someone worthy. Last night amidst many tears, Neassa returned the
medallion to Leofric, telling him in her own way that surely there could be
no-one more worthy in Cadi's eyes than him.

So, Daffydd and Octavia will go to Pennsic this year as Crown of Ansteorra.
After Daffydd's display of courage and honor in the last battle of Pennsic
*last* year, I expect there will be plenty of people beside themselves to
support him *this* year! This makes a *wonderful* epilogue to that incredible
tale of chivalry!

In your service,
Michael Silverhands, Baron of Stargate
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