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<DIV>In a message dated 1/20/2006 2:16:19 AM Central Standard Time, ldeerslayer@yahoo.com writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid">It's late and I've got work tommorrow so I'll keep this brief....</BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 color=#000000 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">A thousand apologies, Mistress Lorraine. Your report of Their Excellencies' investiture did inspire me to draft an account of that event as well. Many times shall this story be told by many mouths, fathers and mothers shall teach it to their children, and and in years to come the stories shall come together to take their place among the legends of Raven's Fort.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 color=#000000 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 color=#000000 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">I, too, beg indulgence from Their Excellencies for the account I give, for although I am from the country where prowess in letters and the weaving of tales is the stuff of legend itself, I am too much of a rustic to handle a pen where matter as great as this is concerned. My days are oft spent in teaching young pages how to put words together, and I bemoan the time I have lost to develop my own craft. I fear my crude and unsophisticated ways may offend, and to those who may (with good reason) take umbrage I offer countless apologies. As it is, here is my own unworthy recollection of that wonderous moment when Raven's Fort was once again blessed with a baron and baroness worthy of the title "Sable-Winged Excellencies".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 color=#000000 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 color=#000000 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">I am forever Your Excellencies' humble and grateful servant,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 color=#000000 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">Detlef</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The Eve of Saint Agnes, being the Twentieth Day of January, in the glorious fortieth year of the Society.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 color=#000000 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT lang=0 face=Arial color=#000000 size=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" PTSIZE="10">
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We have often heard the stories of the days of old, tales told of great deeds at the hands of the people of Raven’s Fort, how they pressed into the woods north of the Stargate to settle new lands for the kings and queens of Ansteorra. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">It was Inman, the great King from the high plains, and his lady the Queen Drusilla, who came down from the north to create a shire in these lands. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They called the place Raven’s Fort, after an ancestor from the days of myth and the high red walls that towered amongst the woods. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The people there performed deeds of prowess and excellence, gaining fame for themselves and their homeland across the stellar kingdom and the Knowne Worlde. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>From those days came the names Michael TwinCedars, Chrystal MacRuari, Zorcon of Lizard’s Keep and his lady Gwynn, Ceolfrid Albrichsson, Devin O’Donnabhain, Jacinth de Warwick, Aiden O’Comhraidhe, Moriel Arenvaldsdochter, Haroun ibn Khalid abd-al Rhaman, and many others whose names shall be remembered for ever in the annals of time. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">From this illustrious tribe King Patrick and Queen Julia called two noble and stalwart souls, Lord Kief av Kiersted and his lady Alix, to bear the banner of the Raven, and created them Baron and Baronness Raven’s Fort at the Stone Circle. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Their court thrived and the Barony of Raven’s Fort gained fame the world over, from the dappled shores of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">West</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Kingdom</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> to the field of honor at the Pennsic Wars in the East.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In time, Sir Kief and Lady Alix handed their beloved barony back to the hands of King Inman and Queen Athena of Ansteorra, who named <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Lord David St</st1:address></st1:Street>. David and Lady Chrystal MacRuari to be invested with the colors of red, white, and black. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They held these lands nobly, and Raven’s Fort prospered under their gracious patronage. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These in turn were followed by Lord Niklas and Lady Kezia of beloved memory, and they cared for Raven’s Fort in the name of Ansteorra until that time that they were called to leave the lands they held so dear. We celebrate the glorious memory of those days when they wore bands of silver with ravens on their heads, and loath is any lord or lady in these parts not to throw open their doors for Niklas and Kezia and set the best tables for our noble father and mother.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">When Niklas and Kezia returned the banner of the raven back to Their Majesties’ hands, there were none to succeed them, and so Sir Kief and Mistress Lorraine accepted the call from Ansteorra to tend the lands of Raven’s Fort until such time as could be found a lord and lady worthy of the sable wings. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It then fell upon Earl Jason and his Countess Saeraid to succeed to the thrones that had been in their house since the days of Jonathan and Willow—the House of Ansteorra, that royal family from whom descend such names as Lloyd and Jocelyn, Jan and Kemreth, Sigmund and Siglinde, Inman and Arrowyn—names forever on the mouths of those who tell their stories round the fires at night, teaching their sons and daughters the memory of that sable star that rose so gloriously from the sun of Atenveldt!</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Then King Jason and Queen Saeraid turned their eyes and hearts towards Raven’s Fort, and they bore well their charge to discover those noble hands into which to render the colors of red, white, and black. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Four names of stout heart were drawn from the woods north of the Stargate—Gregor and Catherine, Brian and Fionna, names stained red and black with service and honor done to the Raven.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Nobody there dared envy the King and Queen for the decision that lay upon their hands, for these four names all ring with greatness, and the people of the Fort would embrace each one and raise them on their shields, acclaiming them with the title of Raven’s Fort. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Their Majesties conferred with the advisors of their court, and with the people of the barony as well, and after many days and nights of deep thought and consideration, the King and Queen decreed that His Excellency Brian du Val and Mistress Fiona ni Chellaigh should take the charge of Raven’s Fort as their fourth baron and baroness. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN>These same were called to appear before Jason and Saeraid’s final court, before they passed the thrones of the Sable Star to Mahdi and Valeria, who still reign in these lands as King and Queen (health and life to them for ever!). <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mistress Fiona with her attendants approached their Majesties, amongst the gathering of the populace of Raven’s Fort and the barons and baronesses of the realm, but Lord Gregor, Raven’s Heart Pursuivant, ran panting into court that His Excellency had been unavoidably detained (so say the witnesses of that day).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Presently the Templars appeared in court with Baron Brian in their midst, but they released him of any obligations he had to that order so that he could do homage and service to the Crown of Ansteorra without any reservations.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Thus Baron Brian and Mistress Fiona were presented to the court.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>King Jason and Queen Saeraid administered the oaths of homage to them to serve the Crown as baron and baroness, swearing as they did with hands upon the Great Sword of State, the king and queen promising in their turn (and on behalf of their successors) to nurture and defend the honor of Raven’s Fort.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Oft His Majesty did misspeak and promise to Their Excellencies the Barony Bordermarch, but Their Excellencies did bear themselves graciously and defended the right to that title that their noble cousins to the east do bear.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Their Majesties’ Herald Modius acclaimed the new baron and baroness, the populace giving their assent with shouts of “Vivat! <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Vivat!<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Vivat!”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The people of Raven’s Fort then retired to their places in the Great Hall, and when the time came for Jason and Saeraid to leave Ansteorra into the hands of their successors (health and life to them for ever!), their newly-invested Excellencies Raven’s Fort joined the barons and baronesses of the realm as our beloved king and queen released them from their oaths to the Crown until that time when new brows should bear the weight of the sable star upon bands of gold. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>These noble men and women quickly swore their life and lands to the next King and Queen, and to this day Their Excellencies Brian and Fionna, Baron and Baroness of Raven’s Fort, do hold these lands of the Crown of Ansteorra. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Long may the Raven’s Banners fly over their noble and glorious heads, and long may the people of Raven’s Fort live and thrive under the lordship of our most excellent Baron and Baroness!</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">VIVAT BARON!</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">VIVAT BARONISSA!</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">VIVAT RAVEN’S FORT!</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">VIVAT REX!</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">VIVAT <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">REGINA</st1:place></st1:City>!</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><FONT face=Arial size=2>VIVAT ANSTEORRA!</FONT></P></FONT></DIV></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>