NR - Our Traditions, Our Sword

[Burke McCrory]

This was posted to the southern list and is reposted with permission of Sir
Pendaran

Sir Burke


> 	Greetings All,
> 
> 	For those good Ansteorrans who were unable to attend the
> coronation of TRM Barn and Catriona this last weekend, I set forth to
> tell the tale of how Ansteorra came by its new sword of state, and how
> it was chosen by a king, then passed to another. I witnessed these
> deeds
> and pray to God and all the saints that I set forth my words faithful
> and true to the events that passed. 
> 
> 	Long ago, the Ebon Blade that was presented to King Sigmund by
> the Lions of Ansteorra. Last winter, this most sacred emblem of our
> dear
> kingdom  was stolen by brazen thieves. There was a great deal of worry
> and
> consternation concerning how the next sword of state should be chosen.
> Many harsh words were spoken and many felt that a suitable sword may
> never 
> be chosen. In the interim, Duke Sigmund the Wingfooted cared enough to
> loan the kingdom his sword until a suitable replacement could be
> found.
> Until that time, the kingdom would bear the scar of  the theft of its
> blade.
> 
> 	Many years ago, Sir Riccardo di Pisa, knight and Lion of
> Ansteorra, crafted a sword. It was a blade stout and strong, and it
> was
> forged to be carried into battle, the weapon of a hero. Through
> tournament and war, Riccardo fought like the lion he was, always at
> the
> fore, always seeking honor for his lady and glory for his kingdom.
> Throughout these years, Riccardo was the bane of any who would stand
> against him, and the enemies of Ansteorra trembled when he strode the
> field; and always at his side, Riccardo carried the sword that he had
> forged. 
> 
> 	Inevitably, time, that thief of youth and strength, robbed
> Riccardo of the strength that had wielded that sword so well. However,
> time could not take from Riccardo his lion heart, nor the kingdom who
> knew Riccardo, of the memories that he had given it. Earlier this
> year,
> Riccardo passed from the world of men, leaving Ansteorra poorer for
> having lost him, but richer for having known him. 
> 
> 	During his sickness, Riccardo gave his sword to his squire,
> Cynric of Bedwin, and bade him to keep it safe. Cynric was moved by
> this
> gesture from his dying knight and swore a solemn oath that no harm
> would
> come to his knight's sword. After Riccardo's passing, Cynric thought
> upon the his oath and upon the order of the Lion, of which Riccardo
> was
> amongst the greatest. Cynric did not feel that he could carry the
> sword,
> has it bore the emblem of that noble order. If only a Lion could bear
> the sword, Cynric felt that perhaps a Lion should keep the sword:
> certainly no one would look to the sword's safety better than the
> Lions.
> Therefore, Cynric offered Riccardo's sword to the order, asking that
> the
> Lions guard the blade and honor it as they would honor their dead
> brother. 
> 
> 	When this offer was made, the Lions were greatly honored.
> However, feeling greatly the loss of the Ebon Blade, the Lions saw
> that
> they had before them a suitable sword for Ansteorra. The Lions
> therefore
> went before their king, and asked Him to accept this sword, crafted
> and

> wielded by Riccardo, as the kingdom's sword. The king, Rischard, was
> wise and sought counsel, He spoke to His advisors and to His heir,
> Prince Barn. All who heard the Lions' request knew Riccardo and his
> feats and knew his hero's heart. No one could think of a sword with a
> greater heart and more glorious history than Riccardo's blade. No one
> could think of a better sword for Ansteorra.
> 
> 	Therefore, at His final court, Rischard, king of Ansteorra,
> called forth the Lions, who bore Riccardo's blade. The Lions offered
> to
> their king the sword, and the king did accept it. Holding the sword
> aloft, the king proclaimed that Riccardo's sword had become the
> kingdom's sword, and the kingdom rejoiced at His proclamation. 
> 
> 	As is the tradition in the kingdom of Ansteorra, before the old
> king steps down, He gives to the Lions the sword of state, that they
> should hold and guard the blade until His heir should come forth and
> claim it. Thus did Rischard do, giving the Lions the new sword of
> state.
> When Barn, the new king came forth to claim His throne and crown His
> Queen, He called forth the Lions into His court. This was unusual, for
> the Lions do usually come unbidden into the new king's court, the only
> order with the permission to do so. However, the new king wished to do
> honor unto the Lions, and they were called forth one by one. Those
> that
> were present answered the king's call, as well as answering the call
> for
> those Lions who were not were not present. 
> 
> 	The Lions carried with them the sword of state, and the first
> one to speak held it aloft saying that the sword had come from the
> hand
> of Riccardo di Pisa, that it was "A sword crafted by a hero, wielded
> by
> a hero, given to a kingdom of heroes!". With that, the sword was
> passed
> from one Lion to another, so that all of the Lions could hold the
> sword
> and share in the king's proclamation that it is the true sword of
> state.
> The last Lion to hold the sword was the first Lion to be made in the
> Kingdom of Ansteorra, Orm Skjolbidig, who presented unto the king the
> sword of state. 
> 
> 	Thus was the new sword chosen, a gift from a squire to the
> Lions, from the Lions to the king. And thus was the old tradition
> upheld: the sword was passed from king to king, through the order of
> the
> Lions. And thus was a wound upon the kingdom healed.
> 
> 	Upon my belt and chain as a knight, I swear that these deeds
> were true as I witnessed them,
> 	Pendaran Glamorgan, Lion of Ansteorra
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