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<TITLE>RE: [Bards] How to improve Kingdom Eisteddfod</TITLE>
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<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The gauntlet now is thrown </FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Darius </FONT></SPAN>
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<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">----------------------------</FONT></SPAN>
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<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">And the gauntlet is retrieved</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">. I sent this today. Who else will join us?</FONT></SPAN>
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<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Unto Their Most Stellar</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Royal</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Majesties, King Aaron McGregor and Queen Britta McGregor,</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Unto Their</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Royal</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> Highnesses, Prince Romanius</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Scipio</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Vesperan</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">i</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">us and Princess Deanna</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> della Penna</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">,</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Unto Their Sable Winged Excellencies,</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Baron</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Brian du Val and</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Baron</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">ess Fionna ni Cheallaigh, to whom I am in current service,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Unto my past patrons and long-time inspirations Mushir 'Abd al-Mahdi Jamal ibn Hakim and Sir Arenvald Kief av Kiersted,</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Unto the Honorable Lady Eleanor O'Rourke, Premier Bard of Ansteorra,</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">And unto all the populous of our fair kingdom that may read the words herein,</FONT></SPAN>
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<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Do</FONT><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial"> I,</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Honorable Lady Katrina of Coventry, Member of the Order of the Ravensheart, Holder of the Sable Thistle, Holder of the Sable Crane, Companion to the Order of the Star of Merit, Companion to the Order of the Iris of Merit, past Premier Bard of Ansteorra, past Bard of the Stargate, past Bard of Loch Soilleir,</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">past Bard of Middleford,</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">past Bard of Graywood, past Bard of Torre de los Brazos,</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">past Bard of Stonebridge Keep,</FONT> <FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Member of the Company of Defenders of the Rose, and current Ravenskald,</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Offer greetings to these noble patrons of the performing arts:</FONT></SPAN>
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<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I do with this missive announce my intention of competing and vying for esteem in the Ansteorran Kingdom Eisteddfod, to be held within the Barony of the Steppes on the sixth day of January, A.S. XLI. I will compete bearing the token of my dearest lord husband, Michael of Redheugh. Know me by my pending arms, azure a pall inverted argent ermined azure between three Catherine's wheels argent.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">By your most gracious leave, I will raise my voice in song to tell the history of our illustrious kingdom, to inspire your populace with stories of chivalry and love, and to share the joy that it is to be an Ansteorran with all who would listen.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">I pray you know that should I achieve my lofty goal and end the day victorious, or should that honor be bestowed upon another worthy competitor, I will continue to perform and promote the bardic arts throughout this, your mighty kingdom, as long as my breath and your blessing allow.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Written by my hand in service to Crown and Kingdom on this 28th day of October, A.S. XLI, being 2006 by the Common Reckoning.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Katrina of Coventry,</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">known to many at Kat</FONT></SPAN>
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