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Report: Early Spring A+S Faire - March 2001 Updated: Mar 24, 2002

Anchoret (said ahn-ga-rod) was active here in the Barony for a number of years and is a Companion of the Order of the Red Raven. About seven years ago, she decided to focus more on her raising her growing family. Perhaps we'll be fortunate enough to see her around more often now. Iohann is well-known for his enthusiasm for dance and music, but at this Faire he also entered a research paper. I think he said that this was the first time he'd entered both a performance entry and a static entry.

Of the 20 or so judges, it was notable that eleven of them were peers - including Baron Finn Normansson, OL, who travelled here many hours from Seleone. Mistress Margala, Master Brian and Mistress Signy were also present from Bryn Madoc. The judges and the hall were both treated to treated to the superior efforts: Serena provided abundant delicacies for the judges to partake of during the day. Emma, Andrew, Rhydderch and Peryn decorated the hall with many hangings in baronial colors and a number of heraldic banners.

In the morning
The morning of the event was cool and misty, and for a while, rainy. Pavilions kept us dry, pastries kept us going. At one point, I bid that a pavilion be moved to complete a line of pavilions for more contiguous shelter, which turned out to be a good idea. Sir Saavogg's tent was at the end of the greensward, where he hosted an armor repair workshop during the day.

THL Borgar and THL Laurettia (Note: she prefers to go by Lorraine) started selling the fundraiser lunch early and the food they brought went very quickly.

M'lady Lilias Collingbourne (once known as Blanchefleur) twice led a small pack of hunters to the fabric merchant district (Lewis and Forsyth) where they were able to capture such prey as fabric and trim as would please them.

In the afternoon
The afternoon weather was more fair. Some gentlemen played bocce on the lawn and Guillaume the gamesman played chess with any would come within range. Inside, the children put on a puppet show, narrated by Lady Molli, featuring a young dragon who finally found a way to fit in at the king's castle by serving as the Royal Firestarter. Lady Molli also received assistance during the day from the ladies Lasrina and Aleruna in tending the children.

Before the feast, Chandani and Sabah of Peach Curry had an informal music practice, playing tunes from many lands near and far. Accompanying us was Master Brian's daughter, Gwynneth, on violin (and I played percussion, with her leave, on her violin case!). The feast was not without music either. Lord Uilleag from Forth Castle sang several times as this bard is well-known to do and the populace honored him by ceasing their conversations to hear his voice. The local Choristers guild sang several songs as well, later in the feast.

The feast
For this scribe, the highlights of Herr Ludwig's feast, his first, were the hashmeat pie, the cheese dumplings with game stew, and the baked fruit (sort of a mixed fruit cobbler and for the rest of the menu, see my Web page on the event). Ludwig became Mistress Constance's protege at Gulf Wars. She and members of her house (Wolf Keep) came over from Thorngil to provide invaluable assistance to turn out a rather good feast from a rather small kitchen.

Baronial Court
During Court, which essentially started after feast and unfortunately did not leave much time for the revel, the High Sheriff of Meridies, THL Rami ibn Assad, insisted that our local Constable, Lord Roger Luc Besson, had performed actions that disqualified him from holding the local office - AND that Roger turn over said office to his successor immediately. Anton de la Terra is now the local constable and Roger had brought forth the Trappings of the Office - several boxes of lost items.

If I heard correctly, Roger is also the reporting deputy for the eastern region to Rami. Roger was promoted to High Sheriff and told that one of his first duties is to find a new reporting deputy, rather than have himself reporting to - himself. (At least I think I got all that arightly.) Roger had to say it, I guess I have to report it: "There's A New Sheriff In Town." (That's High Sheriff, pardner.)

Through much of his tenure as local constable, Roger would bring back camping chairs that people had left at our events. Between finding the owners and auctions at our events, he was finally able to rid his basement of these chairs that seemed to reproduce on their own. The laugh was on him though, when Baron Conmaol "gifted" Roger for his dedication - with two camping chairs! (To Roger and Serena's relief, this was a ruse - the chairs, Borgar's, went back home with their owner.)

New local awards
Their Excellencies Conmaol and Ximena instituted an elegant system of three local awards, significantly based on traditions from their predecessors. Baroness Ximena said that she particularly enjoyed receiving so many recommendations about so many people, and the final choices were difficult.

• Argent Towers for service went to Roger and one presented jointly to Borgar and Lorraine.
• Azure Towers for contributions in the Arts and Sciences went to Peryn (for her dedication to the instruction and performance of courtly dance) and to Yves (for diverse items over time, including running scroll painting workshops, doing individual custom Red Raven scrolls for last year's Red Tower, being a key member in both the local Choristers Guild and in Peach Curry, and for, as the Baroness put it, the bringing of haute couture - in English, that's "high culture" to the Barony).
• A Sable Tower, a new award for contributions in the arts martial, went to our local marshal, Lord Michael of River's Bend. Not only does he serve the fighters of the Barony week after week, Baron Conmaol noted that he went to Gulf Wars and Michael marshalled whenever there was a need and that was quite often.

A brief personal note: something I forgot to do when I was granted Arms at Red Tower and brought up at Court Saturday night - is to give proper due to my sweet Elspeth. Much of the credit for whatever I do that you may find favorable is due to her, for I have chosen her as my inspiration and my ladywife. All of the credit cannot be hers, for then I would be without will - and if that were so, I would not be worthy of her.

More business at Court
David Chadwyck was summoned forth in Court and it was announced that he became the first authorized Youth Combat fighter in the Barony at Gulf Wars - where in the tourney for his age range, he took second place! David's interests are not limited to combat either, he also entered a written work on papermaking in the Faire.

Appointed as the new Baronial A+S Champion was THL Padraig O'Seachnasaigh. In the Faire, he entered the custom Patent of Arms scroll he did for the for Baron Carlwyn's elevation to the Order of the Pelican last year.

An impromptu auction!
Near the end of court, Mistress Constance brought out a bag of saffron wafers from feast that she said she "confiscated" - Baron Conmaol said he couldn't get enough of the wafers. The herald smoothly started an auction. He successfully managed to bring the bidding up to $20 before it was finally decided where the money was going. Constance suggested her own shire of Thorngil, which prompted Roger, in his new role as High Sheriff, to come forth and investigate. It was decided that the proceeds should benefit the kingdom A+S newsletter, Seasons.

Bidders included Mistress Irene and THL Padraig in one corner, with Lady Caitriona (visiting from Peregrine) and our own Viscount William Colquitt, in the other. David asked if the herald would take checks - which produced much amusement. The bidding was about $32 when from another corner, out of nowhere, Lord Michael sealed it at $35.

Michael walked up, handed over money, took bag of wafers, and walked to the corner were Irene and Padraig - and their families - were. He handed over the bag with a quiet smile.

Dancing
After Court, the feast gear, tables, chairs and hall decorations were all put away before dancing began. The dancing could have gone on for hours longer when, as the seasons must change, Mistress Æthelwynn, the event autocrat, advised us that there was no more time.

Event statistics
The rolls did list about 120 people, but a number who made reservations did not attend, so perhaps 100-110 were actually there. My own efforts at coordinating "crash space" did benefit four of our guests - others made their own arrangements. So, in all, perhaps twelve visitors stayed overnight away from their homes. I figure this as about one out of three; many of the people in attendance were local.

Post-revels
I have confidence that the enjoyment of our guests did not end there as our generous hosts and hostesses did make merry, and drink and tell tales until the moon was high, the wind was chill, and the hour... jumped.

Regional rapier practice on Sunday
On Sunday the regional rapier practice had twelve fencers from South Downs, Tal Mere and Iron Mountain! The Baroness of Iron Mountain, Margery of Crosgate (OL), invited all of us to the prize tourney that she would host at Black Axe in several weeks. We ended the day (after some people left) with some spiritied four-on-four melees.

Help - send me your memories of this event.

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