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<DIV><FONT size=2>Galen here...</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>It's very exciting and gratifying to see so many ideas
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>for next year's Gulf War.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Let me share with you some of my thoughts.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>First, in planning assaults on the fort, expect them
to</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>have _many_ more archers next year. In the
past,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>the field has been virtually _carpeted_ with
arrows</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>after each battle. I don't know why they weren't
there;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>maybe it had something to do with timing the war</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>during our Spring Break and not theirs. While
I'm</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>at it, anything we can do to field more archers of
our</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>own would</FONT><FONT size=2> be a Good Thing, in my
opinion.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Archer platforms, for use as suppressing fire in
both</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>assaulting and defending the fort, is a Neat Idea;
but</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>easier said than done. But oh! if we _can_ do it,
it'll</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>be devastating, I think.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I like the ideas about using ramps in future,
especially</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>if we can train with them in advance. I think a few
times</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>going over ramps would have made the Arthurians
quite</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>a bit better at it. If we're making ramps, it might be
nice</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>to have them for Fall Melees.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>One of Allessandra's and my goals as Baron &
Baroness</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>is to forge closer ties to the Barony of the Steppes.
While</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Fritz & Kitrin have been _very_ receptive to this goal,
they</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>are not interested in any sort of inter-baronial war or
conflict.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>They did react positively to my suggestion of a joint
Steppes-</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Elfsea encampment at next year's war. Maybe with
even</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>more advance planning and better communication, we
can</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>actually get sufficient land of adequate quality. From
there,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>ideas of how to decorate and organize such an
encampment</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>spring enthusiastically to mind unbidden. We could have
our</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>own named paths, like Arthur Rd., Allemandus St., Oak
Path,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>or Castle Way. We could have an impressive-looking
gate</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>with heraldic decorations... But I digress.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>We have also discussed with Their Excellencies
Steppes</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>some possibilities for expanding the Arthurian Company
into</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>a Regional, or at least inter-baronial, force. Nothing
firm,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>but it seems possible. Of course membership in the
Company</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>has never been restricted by branch affiliation, and I see
no</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>reason to change this.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Allessandra and I are quickly moving toward a decision
on</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>who is to be the next Commander of the Arthurian
Company.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>This will probably be announced at Sunday morning
court</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>at SpringFaire, with the initial swearing-in of members of
the</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Company to take place as usual at the Scottish
Festival.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>However, anyone who is interested in being considered for
this</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>post should talk to me Very Soon. E-mail in the
meantime</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>would be good. It is our hope that the new Commander
will</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>quickly begin recruiting members and negotiating the hiring of
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>mercenaries. The Iron Lance folks I talked to certainly
seemed</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>to think well of the idea of working with us
again.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Too, we are very gratified that so many</FONT><FONT size=2>
who served so well in the </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>company have expressed their intent</FONT><FONT size=2> to
return, while so many </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>more are determined to join. This is</FONT><FONT size=2>
a Very Good Thing, and </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>should be much fun, as well.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Elfsea did GREAT this war. And the best part is, we can
still</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>make it even better.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>- Galen of Bristol</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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