NK - Mead Bee Wars (long)

Ceridwen of Wizard's Keep auntdwen at peakonline.com
Wed Feb 23 22:07:10 PST 2000


Unto Ld. Ian Dun Gillan, and All Who Read This Missive, does Baroness
Ceridwen give Good Greetings,

Well, here's my two cents worth:

    Perhaps my younger brother would have been better advised to share his
thoughts with the entire Northern region, and perhaps he could also have
addressed specific concerns directly.  I leave that to you to discuss with
one another.  I would, however, like to directly address a couple of
concerns in Ld. Ian's post.

Ld. Ian said:

> >From: herring at viagrafix.net (Jerry Herring)
> >To: <Northkeep at ansteorra.org>
> >CC: <derrykcarr at hotmail.com>
> >Subject: RE: NK - Mead Bee Wars (long)
> >Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2000 22:34:29 -0600
(snip)
> >I must admit that declaring it a war does ring of a political event to
> >begin
> >with. Since wars are in general fought between Kingdoms with-in the SCA.
> >Proclaiming the event was a war between two groups in two separate
kingdoms
> >that are trying to be at peace would suggest that those involved are not
> >for
> >that peace. So maybe the name of the event mislead some individuals.
> >Perhaps
> >it should be called something else?
(snip)
I remember from this fall that members of the Wolfstar band were commenting
> >that there was some threat of a Mongolian invasion involved with this
Mead
> >Bee War. I also know that the Khan of the Great Dark Horde (The largest
and
> >oldest Mongolian household in the SCA),who just happens to also currently
> >live in this region, was not please to hear that Wolfstar was claiming
> >loudly and publicly at many events that there was this mounting threat of
> >Mongolian invasion from Vatavia.


    No one ever said anything one way or another about Keigan Khan or her
Great Dark Horde (who are a lot of fun to play with).  The Baron of Va'tavia
is a Mongol.  They've recently even had an event--Mongols 2k--which I know
many Ansteorrans attended with His Majesty.  The "War" was between Baron
Khulan and House Wolfstar.  Not Vatavia vs. Wiesenfeuer, not Ansteorra vs.
Calontir, and not in defiance of any peace treaties.  This all began over a
year ago and in great friendship between Vatavia, Wolfstar and
Wiesenfeuer--actually His Majesty Barn Silveraxe I of Blessed Memory who was
on the throne at the time.

    When he began the Mead Bee theme in the Royal Court at Wiesenfeuer
Baronial year before last, my Lord Johann said, "It'll be so
ridiculous--bees and dragonflies--no one can possibly take that seriously.
It should avoid confusion and bad feelings."  Hmmm.  Maybe not.  I feel
sometimes like we're playing that game from gradeschool--Telephone--where a
message is passed around the circle just to see what a jumbled mess will
come out the other end.  I hope to clear up a small corner of that mess.

    Anyone who can't see the inherent joke of accusing a baron to the north
of sending his swarm of Nasty Dragonflies to slay the noble Bees who provide
Ansteorra with her Honey and of course Mead must not have much experience
with the silly things which can justify getting together for a good fight.
I reference Calontir's Mustache War and Cookie Dough wars for your
enlightenment.  Not understanding this, I can only suppose, was what
inspired a gentle from N. Keep telling me that he couldn't attend the event
"on moral grounds."  I was somewhat confused by the remark at the time, and
frankly remain so.

    One part of the "politics" of the situation comes back to the issue of
whether or not a group has the ability to create an event which it would
like to sponsor.  It is my understanding that the Barony of Wiesenfeuer was
interested in holding a war college the weekend following Northern Regional
Tribute.  Based on the desires of their populace they had, in fact, secured
the date at Camp Cimarron *prior to* the scheduling of NRT with this
intention.  A deposit had already been paid.  However, a "war college" was
'out' per the previous Crown due to concerns about it cutting in to NRT.
(Cut to) House Wolfstar, bored and in need of a change, has been pursuing a
friendly skirmish with a baron to the north for over a year.  Many of us who
live in the N. Reg. remember Interkingdom and the fun we had with our
friends from Calontir.  There are also a number of us who attend Lilies War
each year and love to play with these folks.  Can everyone tell where this
is going?  In Sept. Wolfstar and Wiesenfeuer agreed to hold Mead Bees at the
time already reserved by the Barony.

    The date of the event was not optimal, but a matter of a site already
rented and open weekends being extremely limited.  There was not an effort
to sabotage the Vatavians by scheduling it across from when the majority of
their fighters--and a number of our own--were at Estrella.  This concern was
generously addressed by Hersir Thorgrim who sent members of his Guard to
assist the Vatavians in making an honorable showing.  It was unfortunate
timing, but have you looked at the schedules of both Kingdoms lately and
tried to plan something?  Their Excellencies Vatavia and Wiesenfeuer are
already planning next year's event, Mead Bees II, with Estrella in mind and
in an effort to increase the number of folks attending.  We still had over
30 fighters on the armored field.  There was good participation in all the
other activities offered.

    I will echo Ld. Aldric's words by saying that last weekend was one of
the most FUN and relaxed events to which I've gone in a long time.  The
folks that were there all wanted to be.  I make no assumptions about the
choices others make--whether a matter of taste, time or whatever.  Perhaps
it is unfair (certainly to Sir Asoph, whose knighting occurred when the
stars were vexed), but in contrast with the previous weekend where a good
Baron and Baroness are driven from their posts and all the sequele that came
and went with that--including His Majesty's well-worded butt chewing for the
Whole of the N. Reg.--this event felt a-political and thoroughly enjoyable.

    My opinions are definitely my own, and as apt as anyone's to be full of
mistakes.  I look forward to all the excrement this will no doubt stir,
praise Eris, for from Chaos comes order.  Please feel free to address me
personally or on the N. Reg. or Wolfstar list.  I have posted to N. Keep for
consistency's sake, but do not subscribe myself.

Bright Blessings,

Baroness Ceridwen Tir Gwastraff
House Wizard's Keep
Shire of the Wastelands of Ansteorra




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