[Ansteorra] Queen's -- One more thank you.

[James Crouchet]

It seems a lot of people really enjoyed the recent Queen Champion
tournament and I have seen a lot of praise for those who made it
happen. While I admit I had a small part on the crew I don't think
that disqualifies me from being able to say that the praise is well
deserved. I saw a lot of people -- a crew of over 100 -- work hard,
work smart and work creatively. On my own sub-crew (the web site crew)
I would like to recognize the work of my Lady, Baroness Claire Shayhan
without whom the web site would have been a poorer place. Look for her
work again on the Bryn Gwlad Baronial Champion web site as she will be
the project lead on that site.

And it was great of Duncan to allow us to borrow his lady for the day.
He really seemed to enjoy seeing his lady be the center of attention
and adoration during Her championship tournament.

The real point of this post, however, is that while I have seen praise
for many people I think there is one person who's contribution has not
really been recognized.

If the crew put in an exceptional effort, so did Queen Larissa. It
seems obvious that the Queen would be an important part of Queen's,
but Larissa's contribution was amazing. She played the persona games
with the crew and the participants from the "local herdsmen" to the
"Bedlamites" (inmates from the insane asylum)
even bribing the warden to have Gidion thrown into Bedlam. She
participated in our "local economy", spending the "gold coins" that
were a part of the persona games we were playing, keeping the money
flowing through that economy in a dozen different fun ways.

Larissa had wonderful gifts for the combatants (like the basket full
of new striped socks) and she tirelessly watched fight after fight,
often glancing back and forth to keep track of 2 or 3 fights at once.
She watched not out of politeness but with real interest, asking
questions about the combatants, sending Guilded Lilies to those whose
deaths impressed her and, at one time, even walking onto the field to
award a Queen's Rapier to a combatant. I like to watch rapier
tournaments too, but frankly, the hours she spent really concentrating
on her tournament are more than I would be able to do and I am sure
she could tell me of things that I missed.

Larissa was, of course, grand in court as well. She accepted our oaths
with grace and with real emotion. She was a regal presence for all
that she took a mischievous pleasure in her surprises. Some of you may
not know it, but Larissa had also carefully informed a few people of
some of those surprises so they could enjoy seeing their loved one's
surprise and pleasure. She showed an uncanny ability to distinguish
between those who would enjoy knowing so they could be watching and
those who would prefer to be surprised with their loved ones.

And finally, Larissa seemed to enjoy every minute of the day. The
serious moments and the funny moments were all important to her and
she left us all feeling that we mattered to her, each and every one.

Thank you, Larissa, for a truly fine Queen's Champion tournament.

Don Christian Jérôme Doré