[Ravensfort] The Ansteorran 30th year celebration (The Raven's Fort Encampment)

[James Northfolke]

Very well written Excellency!  I would swear to be reading Froissart!

j


John Reuter wrote:
>
>  After finely unpacking the last of my wagon and placing the last of 
> the Baronial regalia back in to storage with the tents in their 
> place, I can take a break and tell you all about the wonderful 30th 
> year celebration our kingdom held this weekend.  
>  
> Ansteorra is deep in history and its historians love to show it off. 
> The fighters of Raven's Fort had many fields to take and test their 
> metal on and lots of volunteer opportunities were available.
>  
> Don Charles and M'lord JC were the vanguard of the Raven's Fort 
> contingency and arrived on Thursday to claim our land and to insure 
> that it was a good location and of solid ground with water for the 
> rest of the barony when we arrived. The Seneschal Lady Giovanna and 
> her Lord husband Pace arrived to help give direction and organization 
> to the encampment. As the day drew to an end more members of our 
> populace arrived and placed their tent around the length of tents 
> creating a long house of sorts with dwellings facing inward and tall 
> pavilions with tables in the center. Lady Runa provided cool mist of 
> air with her fanning machines that were well received and just the 
> answer to the ansteorran heat. The nights were full of merriment and 
> mirth as bards and story tellers worked their arts in the the night. 
> it cooled just enough to call it pleasant. Friday was another day of 
> fighting and the Grand Hall was full of activities. The Historians 
> Display was a large exhibit to behold. Children and adults alike cam 
> and went through out the hall talking, sharing, shopping and laughing. 
> Kingdom officers were organizing among themselves and the occasional 
> fighter came in out of the heat to cool down for a spell. Archers and 
> fighters were all over the country side signing up on lists and 
> loosing their arrows to long distant target. As the day grew to a 
> close and the sun sat in the west the Ravens of the fort came back 
> home to roost. Earlier that day Baron Brian and Baroness Fionna 
> arrived. Looking at the land and how it was organized, they felt happy 
> to see their populace busy and enjoying themselves with the days 
> activities. As the shadows of the afternoon grew longer it was soon 
> time to fire up the roasting pit and and populace gathered to share a 
> feast in the camp. Lamb, chicken, beef and boar were cooked over hot 
> coals a wonderful and succulent perfection. salad, vegetables and cool 
> beverages were shared by all. Many members of the populace were at the 
> camp by now and even a few guests. All were sharing tales and visiting 
> camps that night while others cooled off and just relaxed in the dark 
> with out the heat of the sun on their faces. Saturday morning was no 
> different with the fighting lists being heralded to the crowd again. 
> Raven's Fort had a few fighters in the Rapier lists again that day and 
> M'lord JC distinguished himself quite well. In one list he progressed 
> to the 5th round. I personally watched him fight the Queens personal 
> champion and our current rapier champion Don Peiter Rauch. After the 
> fight Don Peiter spoke with him and commented on his style and form. 
> After watching M'lord JC do as well as he did that day he was 
> recognized for his efforts on the field with a gift of a Byzantine 
> style cross from Baroness Fionna and I. I believe that this was the 
> most he had fought in any tourney or event since he picked up a 
> Rapier. If I am not mistaken, I believe I did spy a heavy rapier in 
> his hand in one round. That same day Lady Ayla did shoot at the 
> archery range. She really enjoys loosing arrows and is quite good at 
> it. Did you know that she is a past Bowman of the Fort? She said she 
> had a good day but did not shoot for score. A few of us went shopping 
> that afternoon and we looked at a few of the merchants. Lady Tirasia, 
> lady Runa, Lady Ayla and I went looking for things we needed. Of 
> course we don't need any thing but looking is half the fun. I did buy 
> two shuttles for our looms to learn form Lord Anias just how to warp 
> and weave on them. We all got separated and went back to camp. 
> Baroness Fionna had to leave unexpectedly due to a family matter that 
> could not go UN attended. She and Ivan were sorely missed the rest of 
> the weekend. Latter that afternoon we were all cleaned up, dressed and 
> primped and proper. With the help of Baron David St. David Lord 
> Detlif, Lady Elki, Lord Devin and other populace members running here 
> and there to get the last minute items ready we were ready for Grand 
> Court. Lord Alaric has a natural calming effect on my for some reason. 
> After he spoke with me for a bit I felt like nothing could go 
> wrong. Lord Detlif Heralded us in to TRM Court. His works were the 
> most eloquent and profound that i have ever heard. He placed the 
> others to shame! I can not do it justice but he said that " Ansteorra 
> was made a kingdom in 1979th year of our lord being the 14th year of 
> our society and after the 7th barony was made it made Raven's Fort the 
> 8th barony on its 10th year of being a kingdom. There was much more 
> than that but like I said I do it no justice trying to repeat his 
> words. I do wish Fionna was there to witness it. Court was Lonely with 
> out her to talk to.  The Barony gave a gift of a ring with an 
> ansteorran yellow stone set in it to the Queen. As a gift of love to 
> our Queen since we will miss her at our fall event.  It was announced 
> in the opening of TRM Court that Raven's Fort would be hosting 
> the Winter Crown Tournament in January.   Don Robert McFarlaine was 
> made a Lion of Ansteorra and Baroness Druin of Elfsea was made a 
> Pelican that same night. She looked smashing! Many AOA went out 
> and one fine lord proposed to his lady in court. She said yes.......I 
> think. I was drinking a nice cool Shiner during court and as the court 
> progressed my mug never went dry! Well I will tell you I felt pretty 
> good by the time court was over. After many other awards and a 
> few Kingdom officers changing hands court was finely over. We packed 
> up and went back to camp. The  walk did me some good. After we all 
> settled down and we all were gathered I recognized some of our 
> populace members for their actions. Lord Anias for his work before our 
> last event and all he has been doing in the A&S field. Baroness 
> Kitsune for her work in the cooking guild and feeding the masses and 
> her back stage help with the Raven's Guild. I also recognized Lord 
> Michel FitzRamond of Twin Cedars for his constant reminder of " how it 
> was" and to keep up the good work in telling us of how much better we 
> have it and how much more fun it was back then. The days of freon tank 
> helmets and foils.
> He was absent at the time but we all gathered around him in camp the 
> morning, when he arrived and gave him a small token of appreciation 
> for being who he was and sharing the history of our kingdom with us. 
> After the big group hug and refreshing our lips with more beverages 
> we went to the Hafla near the list field. I sat and drummed with our 
> Armored Champion Sir Evets, Lord Pace and M'lord Aaron. Aaron's lady 
> Jessica and their lovely daughter danced in the circle with the middle 
> eastern dancers. We drummed for about an hour or so and my hand grew 
> numb from lack of good drumming for so long. Some of us retired to the 
> Raven's Fort camp and what did we find.......? Music, singing and 
> bards everywhere. DSD was playing, Alaric was playing and 
> a well voiced bard who I can not remember was singing in our camp. We 
> had guests and friends singing and giving requests. The camp was in 
> full swing and revelment. I was just amazed lost in the magic of the 
> moment. Mistress Nerrak of the Dark Horde was one of our guests and 
> She was feeling pretty good too. we spoke of Ansteorran history and I 
> listened to her story's of Sir Starhelm. Mistress Jalalhi was having a 
> good time too. It was truly a magical moment for all to be in.
>  
> Soon later I retired to my lodging and slumbered with the memories of 
> what I had experienced the last few days.
>  
> The days we sweat preparing for our events are truly long
> but they are always tempered by lyrics of a good bardic song.
> Together we toil, work and make ready our lands
> for our kingdom to see what we do with our hands.
> We brew our beer and ready our lysts for those to come,
> in hopes that our brothers and sisters always feel welcome.
> So make ready the banners and set deep the tent stakes
> and lets show them now that we have what it takes.
>  
> YIS
>  
> Baron Brian du Val
>  
>  
>  
>
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