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<DIV><FONT size=4>A very good rendering of Raven's Fort's participation of the
celebration.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>I learned a lot from speaking with members of our
Barony. History that I did not know.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>It was a very relaxed atmosphere and conductive to learning
and enjoyment.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Lady Runa</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sher Montgomery & The Thundering Herd<BR><A
href="http://runa-herd.livejournal.com">http://runa-herd.livejournal.com</A><BR><A
href="http://www.bedlambazaar.com">www.bedlambazaar.com</A> <BR><A
href="http://thethunderingherd.net">http://thethunderingherd.net</A> <BR><A
href="http://bedlambazaar.blogspot.com">http://bedlambazaar.blogspot.com</A>
</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; 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 style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=ravensfort@lists.ansteorra.org
href="mailto:ravensfort@lists.ansteorra.org">ravensfort</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, July 14, 2009 9:45
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Ravensfort] The Ansteorran 30th
year celebration (The Raven's FortEncampment)</DIV>
<DIV><BR></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>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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