[Ansteorra] Artisans of Ansteorra

[Gilyan Clonmacnoise]

A few short months ago, I sat upon the Ansteorran thrones on a chilly
evening at Gulf Wars. I looked out upon a sea of tired, yet happy faces and
knew all was good with the world. As I gazed upon the populace, our herald
called upon one whom wished to speak. As Mistress Melisende, our Minister
of Arts and Sciences, strode up the aisle, her face was tired, but not
happy. I felt a disturbance in the force.

She broke the news to our populace that Ansteorra had lost the A&S war
point by the slimmest of margins. I could see and feel the happy faces all
turn sad.

What happened next, I will never forget.  Sister Melisende began to preach.
She honored the efforts of our artisans given, but she challenged all
present to ask themselves why she and they had not done just a slight bit
more.  She spoke of the preparations of artists and called upon them to
remember this margin of loss and to give just a slight bit more.  She spoke
to an enraptured populace and told them that resting on a personal past
success was no longer acceptable and she demanded that every artist reach
into themselves and find and prepare and deliver that slight bit more.  She
called on the artists who have never competed and in a fiery speech she
summoned them and their art to war, to rise up and march their art where
they have never taken it before.

She told the populace that she would not be a part of such a close loss
again, that she would do everything in her power to help the artisans of
Ansteorra throughout the year.  As she challenged the populace and artists,
she challenged herself before one and all.  And, she declared that at the
next Gulf War, Trimaris and her allies would have no chance of winning. It
was a glorious sermon and the populace was roused to action. The faces were
now tired, happy, and determined.

This past weekend, not only did I feel a disturbance in the force, but I
*saw* a disturbance in the force. I witnessed the response to that initial
sermon, so many months ago. There were so many artisans, with so much
amazing work displayed.  It took several hours for me to just see
everything. As I walked into each room, the overwhelming sight was
breathtaking. So many orderly rows of tables, draped with colorful cloths
and piled high with amazing works of art. As I walked amongst the tables,
everywhere I looked I saw beauty and creativity, imagination and
inspiration.

Sister Melisende made the call. I believe we had 50% better turnout in
artists than the average of the past several LPTs.  Not a slight bit more,
but 50% more.  And not just numbers but quality. Presenters this weekend
woke up nobles, and Laurels, and the royal family with their efforts to
give and present "just that slight bit more."  But I know this past weekend
is only the beginning of its answer.   The call has gone out and forces
train and prepare for war!  I can't wait to see the competition, the
muster, at Kingdom Arts & Sciences in February.  Let the foundations of the
Earth shake as our artists, OUR ARTISTS, march to war.

Awaiting the muster,
Duchess Gilyan Clonmacnoise, OP


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