By THLaird Colyne Stewart
The forest in Vest Yorvik is
thick, the roads labyrinthine and populated with sprites and brownies who love
to misdirect travelers. So it was as we made our way to see TRMs Cennedi and
Susanna’s Crown Tournament. As we wound our way through the verdant thickets,
looking in vain for signs stolen by faeries, the rain was our constant and
incessant companion. Finally, in desperation, I threw salt about our wagon and
swung an iron bar about my head. Suddenly before us we saw the road we had been
seeking. Quickly, Thorfinna whipped the wagon’s reins and sped our horses out
of the overgrowth.
Finally upon the proper road we
soon found the great hall wherein the new Prince and Princess of Ealdormere
were to be chosen through acts of skill and might. Grateful to be indoors, we
gladly paid our entry taxes to the guards at the gate and entered the hall.
Though we were afraid that the faeries’ hi-jinks would make us late for the tournament,
it had not yet begun, though the procession of those competing was underway.
No official list of combatants
was circulated (none that I saw at any rate) but, as I recall, they were:
Sir Berus Jarl for Countess
Marion FitzWilliam
Viscount Sir Mordain Blackcloak
for Viscountess Mistress AElflaeda FitzAlain
Sir Evander MacLachlin for THLady
Melusine de la Rose
Master Trumbrand the Wanderer for
THLady Kaylah the Cheerful
Baron Phaidrig McNeil for
Mistress Etaoin O’Fearghail
Sheikh Sergeant Malik abd’ al
Rahman for Maitresse Baronne Genevieve Chastellain d’Anjou
THLady Kaylah the Cheerful for
Master Trumbrand the Wanderer
THLord Tynne Duair ap Beul for
Baroness Tabitha Dearval
Tiarna Eoin O'Beirne for THLady
Zahra bint al-Nahr al-Ishbiiliya al-Naariya
Lord Cecil des Manches Argentes
for Countess Tangwystl de Courci
Lord Kolbjorn Skatkaupandi for
Lady Wencendl inigena Jagomus of Rokesburg
Grimroth Skullhammer for Countess
Moria the Black
(If any of these names or titles
are incorrect, I humbly apologize and ask that you please send me corrections
for my files.)
Two lists were run concurrently,
in a round robin best of three format, and all those watching agreed that over
all the fighting was clean and courteous. Wassail to the honourable conduct of
Ealdormere’s fighters!
The combatants fought long and
hard and well, though in the end only two could advance to the final rounds.
These two hardy warriors were Sir Berus Jarl and Viscount Sir Mordain
Blackcloak. The finals consisted of three rounds. The first round was a best of
three in a weapon form of Sir Mordain’s choice. He chose spear and emerged the
victor of that round. The second round was in a style of Sir Berus’ choice, and
he chose sword and shield. Like Mordain, he emerged victorious in his chosen
form. The final round was likewise fought with sword and shield, and after many
great feats of arms had been preformed it was Sir Berus who was victorious.
Sir Berus and Countess Marion
were then brought before Their Majesties and were recognized as the right and
honourable heirs to the throne of Ealdormere. Wassail to Their Highnesses!
Throughout the day I wandered the
hall, seeking people to speak of about various bits of business, and was
likewise sought for the same purpose. I was free to so wander by the generous
offer of House Galbraith (especially in the person of Lord Hamish Gunn) to sell
copies of the Ursus at their table.
Court was held before feast, and
many people were honoured. Some of those so honoured were: Baroness Adrielle
Kerrec who was given a Scarlet Banner for her past efforts on the field,
Thorolfr smithr who received his Award of Arms (those watching getting much
mirth from watching Her Majesty attempt to pronounce his name), as well as Lord
Rhys ap Bledri and Lord Hereward the Far-Dweller being inducted into the Order
of Thorbjorn’s Hammer (making them both Honourable Lords). There were others,
and I apologize for not catching everyone’s names.
After court a great feast was
held, but remembering the tangled thicket through which we had to travel
through to reach our keep, we left before it was served and it is up to others
to chronicle what happened during the rest of the evening.
I here rest my pen.
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