Baronial
Investiture
of Their Excellencies
Lord
Santiago & Lady Elisabeth,
Sixth Baron and Baroness in Barony Bordermarch
at the BorderKeep, April 26-27- 28, 2007
Anno Sociatus XLI
The XXXth (Pearl)
Anniversary of Bordermarch as a Barony was celebrated within the Royal presence
of Romanius Rex and Deanna Regina, beside the shadow of the BorderKeep tall
towers, in the cooling shade of the gargantuan (recovering) split oak, at the
Investiture of the 6th Landed Nobles, Their Excellencies Lord
Santiago & Lady Elisabeth, and their Champion Tourneys.
“The Pearly Gate” … Each of
some 280 attendees entered at gate where the ambience of the “
Their Excellencies retiring
after five-and-a-half years as Baron and Baroness of Bordermarch, Don Armand
& Lady Caitrin De Lacy, descended into the populace with new titles and new
head wear, those of “Baron/ess of the Court of Ansteorra,” wearing circlets
made at the hand of Countess Kat, delivered from the North to these lands and
contributed by the formidable hands of Wolf Star, long allied with Bordermarch.
Their Excellencies’ leadership and service have been lengthy, longer than most
landeds.
Kingdom Historian
Mesterinde
Annes and several other individuals commented to the event stewards or local
officers and unto Their Incoming Excellencies Elisabeth and Santiago that as
the Investiture began, the initial procession in reverse order of all former
landed nobles of Bordermarch was a moving, valuable history lesson, the perfect
segue into the Investiture Court of the 6th Landed Baron and
Baroness in the 4th oldest barony in the Kingdom of Ansteorra. All
announced by the herald, Lord Malcolm MacLein, the procession stepped up to the
royal and noble pavilions that were dripping in strands of sparkling pearls and
adorned by ferns, white flowers, and sheer walls billowing in the breezes.
Preceding Lord Santiago and
Lady Elisabeth marching into their Investiture amid the crowd’s applause were,
in reverse order of precedence, TEx Baron Armand and Baroness Caitrin De Lacy
who retired moments prior (5th, 2001-2007); TEx Baron Don Ericus
Silverhand and Baroness AmberLea Fairchild (4th, 1996-1998); TEx
Baron Dafydd and Baroness Dena de Mortimer (3rd,1993-1996); HEx Baron
Sir Henri in the absence of HEx Mistress Charla du Lac (2nd,
1989-1993 ); the Vicar and Vicaress who sat during the 9th reign of
Ansteorra (1983-1984), Lord Jeffery the Barbarian and HL Therese’ d’Ivoire; and
finally HEx Count Sir Simonn of Amber Isle and HEx Countess Mistress Tessa of
the Gardens (1st, 1977-1989), the Founding Baron and Baroness Bordermarch.
To the beckoning sound of
Lord Jerek’s bagpipes, Their Incoming Excellencies Santiago and Elisabeth’s
retinue was escorted by four baronial guardsmen clad in distinctive Bordermarch
tabards, pot helms over c’mail coifs, bearing partisans, pikes, and swords.
These men were m’lords BrandEric, M'Lord Decimus, M'Lord Gavin of the Daggers,
and m’lord Godric of the Axe. Thereafter
through the day, they were seen in consistent escort for Their New
Excellencies.
HE Santiago’s vert checky
shield was borne by Lord Diego; HE Elisabeth’s banner of magnolia blossoms was
borne by Lady Catalina, and the baronial sword was borne by Lord Nikolai
Vladislav. After being invested with new
baronial coronets created with the likeness of the BorderKeep and ram’s head
across each brow, Their Excellencies Santiago and Elisabeth took their places
upon the thrones of Bordermarch next to the Royal Majesties Romanius and Deanna
by whom they had been selected. Among their early business, TE determined to
retire the previous cloisonné baronial coronets into the hands of Their
Excellencies the Demortimers. Gift
baskets of largess were presented unto the Bordermarch court.
25 Rapier Combatants were
inspired by HE Elisabeth to enter her Pearl Championship. Also, there were 25 Chivalric combatants
vying for the title of Pearl Champion as well as two dozen Archers and a myriad
of talented A & S Artisans displaying and competing for the coveted title
of Pearl Champions of Bordermarch.
Victorious were the
following:
Chivalric, Sior Tomas
Nailligain, undefeated.
Rapier, Baron Don Armand De
Lacy, undefeated.
Archery,
HE Michael, Baron of Eldern Hills.
A & S,
HE Isabeau, Baroness of the Stargate.
Youth Archery: Young Daniel
O’ Nailligain.
Noble Luncheon was presented
by Lady Catalina and M'Lady Libby and their helpers.
Their Excellencies
entertained landed cousins present from Namron, Wiesenfeuer, Eldern Hills,
Stargate, Loch Soilleir, Bjornsborg, served in the
shade of a magnolia tree next to BorderKeep. Noble cousins from Bonwicke who
were also celebrating an anniversary in their Westward home expressed regards
and congratulations to Bordermarch on the Coastal edge of Ansteorra.
Waterbearing organized by
Lord Vaclav and some of his new household members and two other new helpers,
set up at the Border Keep’s functioning stone well. Chirurgeon in Charge was
Lord Diego, gladly assisted by willing helpers.
Grounds, parking access,
gardens, shower house architecture, amphi-theatre, bridges, and particularly
the cinderblock BorderKeep gates, walls, and wooden towers were admired by
attendees who had not been to this site before, astonished at the details and
grandeur surpassing pictures they had seen.
Lord Phocas created the soapstone mold for the cast pewter site tokens.
His cooking facility at home, with the helping hands of Lord Diego and Lord George, was transformed into a foundry to melt the pewter before it was poured into the mold. Assisting the three of them also was Lady Catalina, M'Lady Lyllianne, Lord Gavin, Lady Libby, Lord Godric and perhaps others...
The tokens were aged by soaking them in a secret formula to chemically patina them with the aged pewter and copper plating.
They were each buffed and polished one at a time to a fine luster that received compliments.
This process was repeated over three hundred
times.
Lord
Phocas could be seen during the event on merchants row with his broken foot
propped on a stool polishing the last of the site tokens.
Nearly 20 merchants brought
their wares pleasing unto the crowd. Merchant’s Row lined either side of the
major walkway into the big red pavilion.
The barony welcomes and
appreciates the attendance of merchants who have detailed setups and
journeys. Lord Phocas is appreciated for
managing Merchant’s Row, particularly on crutches with and injured foot.
Also, Phocas was to run the
Archery shoot. He was instantly
assisted, relieved, by HL Eadric Anstapa stepping up aware of the need. Archery
retiring Champion Lord Eric Greyfox ran a smooth competition.
During the afternoon,
M'Lord
Reinholt von Kroner of Greywood did apprentice himself with Master Sir Simonn
of Amber Isle, in agreement that they continue to teach each other the skillful
art of mass production of armor, in production both by modern equipment and by
hand methods, to consistently, readily armor the King’s warriors and moreover
to continue their research into ancient methods. The familiar green belting of
an apprentice was witnessed by Mistress Kasilda and other well wishers.
Court awards throughout the
day included:
AoAs: Lord Godric of the Axe, his wife Lady Evelyn; Lord Gavin of the Dagger, Lady Libby; Lord Daniel von Newby, and Lord Reinholt von Kroner, the neighbor armorer from Greywood.
Several
of the AoAs given out at Melees
Gift baskets to the Champions included handcrafted goods from the populace.
From Lord Adolf and Lady Colecte, a leather pouch tooled and painted with the arms of the barony; from Lord Phocas, 30th year pewter coins engraved with Bordermarch Champion and their title, from HL Therese’ d’ Ivoire, pottery place settings of plate, bowl, and cup glazed in repeating black/white miniature baronial devices around the circumference; from Countess Tessa, a glass goblet etched with baronial ram’s horn symbol, handmade pottery bowl and pottery ram’s horn salt cellar glazed in black and white; from HE Elisabeth, place settings of table ware wrapped by linens black worked in the baronial device by Lady Ariana; HE Santiago made a draw knife for the Archery Champion.
Many
original scrolls were organized
by Lady Kaithleen Hamilton for the victors.
SCRIBES WHO CREATED CHAMPIONSHIP SCROLLS:
Rapier - Lady Kaithleen Hamilton
Chivalric - Mistress Diane
Youth Chivalric - Lord Santiago
Youth Archery - Lord Phocas of Bordermarch
Archer - Lady Libby
A&S - HL Therese d’Ivoire
Youth A&S - Lyllianne the Poetess
An Iris of Merit surprised Countess Tessa, when given, Her Majesty Deanna said
“for Historical Chronicles, Ambience, Herbs, and teaching many things in between.”
As the new champions took their places in evening court behind TE Elisabeth &
Santiago, a chuckling voice was heard to inform Baron Don Armand, the new Rapier
Champion standing behind the thrones, “This is what the BACK of these thrones looks
like!”
In Kingdom court of Their
Majesties Romanius and Deanna and Their heirs, Prince Ulsted and Princess
Ebergardis, Mistress Gwynneth Blackrose was named a Pelican, and two Ladies were
announced to become Laurels at future events: HL Katherine Rose Oliver and HL
Melisenda de Barcelona.
Her New Excellency Elisabeth
lovingly conveyed messages regarding their 10 immediate family members in
attendance as guests who had more opportunity to meet and bond with the
extended SCA family. Her Excellencies words follow:
“I think our children and
their friends got bit by the SCA bug!! They all showed interest of one kind or
another after watching, interacting and talking with so many wonderful, kind
people. They loved the setting and the full event. The guys
especially liked trying the "Wolf Juice!" Thank
you Wolfstar. They also told us they now understand why
we are so passionate about Bordermarch. As for my father who
traveled all the way from the
I am, to say the least,
humbled at the support and warmth of our friends and family.
I too am brought to tears when I think back on that day. May we represent you well.”
His New Excellency Santiago was heard to
proclaim XXXth as an “exhilarating event.” HE Santiago announced the
A Toys for Tots collection gathered over three dozen toys,
sponsored by Lady Brenna and Lady Valeria, Coastal Regional Officers. A raffle prize was donated to the Toys for
Tots drive -a
pottery bowl produced by Sir Giotto- was won by Countess Tessa.
The Children’s Quest was
great, run by Gavin, Godric, Evelyn, Lyllianne, and Josh. Their Excellencies Elisabeth & Santiago
had special presentations of period toys for each one, and Their Excellencies
Tessa & Simonn held a little court for them with papers of participation. MoC Lady Gabrielle is to be congratulated for
the success of the MoC.
A Russian feast by Lady
Bianca, assisted by M'Lord Greg Sonnier, was sumptuously served unto high table
where there were new linens, new banners, new pottery, and new Excellencies and
Their new Champions!
As is her custom, Lady
Quendolyn offered high table a specialty.
During feast revelry, songs
were performed by HE AmberLea and an original bardic piece by Lyllianne.
HE Dominique, the Baroness
of Wiesenfeuer, presented a Mid-Eastern Hafla for entertainment, joined by
Lady Colecte, Lady Padragain, and HE Baroness Caitrin and others who wished
to perform.
All site set-ups and
clean-ups were efforts of many of the populace hard at work so that guests may
have a pleasurable event. Many of the set-up crew had arrived Thursday and
worked two days to build tents and the list area, then stayed the fourth
afternoon to break camp and clean up the site.
Revelry of this core 30 continued even at the last day’s afternoon meal
at the “Texas Star” restaurant in town. As the saying goes, “Many hands do make
lighter work.” Such is the work ethic in Bordermarch, where life is lived well,
as it might have been.
The next local event to look
forward to is Autumn Melees in November 2007.
Meanwhile, all populace members are encouraged to travel the kingdom or
beyond to participate in the knowne world as Bordermarchers are known to do.
Vivat Baron! Vivat Baroness!
Vivat Bordermarch!
Vivat Heirs!
Vivat Rex! Vivat Regina!
Vivat Ansteorra!
[Combined Chronicle from the
memories and notations of
Photos By Lord Phocas - see all the picture Phocas took at our 30th Year Baronial Championship
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