[Ansteorra] New Bard of the Steppes

[Snorri Hallsson]

Greetings to all from Snorri Hallsson, former Bard of the Steppes:

 

On Sunday evening, Their Excellencies al-Sheik Abd al-Mahdi and Baronessa
Valeria and I as their outgoing Bard hosted a wonderful competition to
determine the next Bard of the Steppes.  Once the fire was lit, however, the
skies followed suit and for safety's sake we retired to one of the permanent
shelters on the site.  It turned out to be just in time, as the rains came
just as we got most everyone under cover.  At no time were we threatened
with anything but dampness, and the shower passed within thirty minutes or
so.  Though I know Their Excellencies were as disappointed as I was at the
loss of ambience, we were all pleased that the usual quality of the
competition did not suffer for it.

 

There were fourteen competitors and two who chose to perform without being
considered for the title.  We were inspired.  We laughed.  We cried.  We
held our loved ones' hands.  We sang and hummed along and stomped our feet
in time.  We were spellbound by stories that seemed to move the very heavens
themselves, and we said farewell but not goodbye.  We heard stories of
things which time had made legend, and poems of things to be legends in
time.  We were entertained by young and old alike.  And we were moved by the
skill of experience and the courage and beauty of a first-time competitor.
There was song and story and poem and musical accompaniment alike.  In
short, there was a little of everything, for everyone.

 

I wish to give special wordfame to Lady Droen O'Roarke from the Barony of
Wiesenfeuer.  Lady Droen chose to make this competition her first, and to
further challenge herself, she opened this competition, having never
attended a Steppes Bardic Championship before!  Her courage inspired us all
and she was given largess and wordfame, as well as a belt favor woven on my
personal commission by HL Saqra al-Kudsi.  (In addition to her
determination, she wowed us with a most beautiful voice!)

 

In the end, however, there could be only one to take on the position of Bard
of the Steppes, so without further ado, I wish to give wordfame and
congratulations to the Honorable Lady Annes Clotilde von Bamburg, of the
Shire of Gate's Edge.  She performed a poem inspired by the newest Steppes
Champion and the Queen of Grace and Beauty, Don Aeron Harper and Countess
Allyson Karlsdottir, and their adventures in court that very evening.  Her
piece was a magnificent example of oral history, both comedic and inspiring,
and all present were delighted and moved by her presentation.

 

Vivat the newest Bard of the Steppes, HL Annes Clotilde von Bamburg!

 

 

Health and fortune,

HL Snorri Hallsson