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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A superb review, your Excellency. Thank you
for the refresh and the kind words.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-Alaric</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt Tahoma">
<DIV><BR></DIV>
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<DIV style="font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=brian_the_french_norman@yahoo.com
href="mailto:brian_the_french_norman@yahoo.com">John Reuter</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, July 14, 2009 9:45 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=ravensfort@lists.ansteorra.org
href="mailto:ravensfort@lists.ansteorra.org">ravensfort</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Cc:</B> <A title=gogetdan@gmail.com href="mailto:gogetdan@gmail.com">Dan
Smith Jr</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> The Ansteorran 30th year celebration (The Raven's Fort
Encampment)</DIV></DIV></DIV>
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<DIV><BR> <FONT size=4>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. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>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.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>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. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>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.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Soon later I retired to my lodging and slumbered with
the memories of what I had experienced the last few
days.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The days we sweat preparing for our events are
truly long</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>but they are always tempered by lyrics of a
good bardic song.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Together we toil, work and make ready our
lands</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>for our kingdom to see what we do with our
hands.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>We brew our beer and ready our lysts for those to
come,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>in hopes that our brothers and sisters always
feel welcome.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>So make ready the banners and set deep the tent
stakes</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>and lets show them now that we have what it
takes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>YIS</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Baron Brian du Val</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
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