T'was a refreshing Spring evening just past dusk that scents of the outdoor kitchen, shadows of period pavillions, and the welcome of friendly, efficient voices of gate guards welcomed medievalists to Bordermarch Baronial Championships, this merry month of May, 2001, AS XXXVI. Lamp stands and cheer assisted campers to place their tents or park their travel wagons; for great hospitality has been the atmosphere in Bordermarch from the beginnings of time.
Daybreak soon followed by sounds of hammer on iron as staunch men working together set up the feast pavillion and weapons inspections occurred. The camp was called together for opening court announcements. To honor the local populace, Their Ansteorran Majesties Jason and Saereid did graciously remove the kingdom crowns and place upon their brows the baronial coronet emblems of Barony Bordermarch Their Corwn Barony. Though the event steward, Lord Malcolm, had taken sorely ill and was unable to attend, an able replacement, Lord Armand de Lacy, had delivered needful pack-horses while another able replacement, Lady Maisie MacCrimmon, announced the events of the day and cared for on site communications, all with the watchful care of the Seneschal well loved, Her Excellency Dona Leah. A Silent Auction of various desirable goods was announced to benefit the barony's ongoing castle upkeep fund. And House Bladesong did give unto Their Majestic Excellencies Jason and Saereid a period wasp catcher. Lord Stiamna and Lady Margruite offered, from their benevolence, refreshment and pavillion shade to all visitors.
Themed around Mother's Day, the Children's Ministries under the leadership of (now "Lady") Kaithlen Hamilton included young bardic displays. A fine Quest had been prepared by Lady Maisie to quiz one's knowledge of famous women of history. Eventually the quest was won by Lady Isabel de Rodrigue answering 6 of 10.
Valiant combatants did fill the fields of Rapier and Chivalry tournaments as Lady Phelissettee d'Avignon and Her Excellency Mistress Neassea, current and continuing Bordermarch Equestrian Champion, did administer the heavy list with the first-time hearlding voice of Young Dave. The always colorful Don Modius heralded the Rapier field with the list mistress, Her Excellency Amberlea Fairchild. Her Excellency Valencia de Granada, as always faithful to do, supplied cooling waters from her horse-drawn cart.
Category Victories were grasped by
Chivalric: Lord Reinhardt Stahlhelm of Blackmoor Keep
Rapier: Don Thorland O'Shea
Bardic: Lady Schaundra of Loch Rayburn
Artisan: Don Modius von Mergentheim
Archery: Scalla, Sqyuire to Kir Kief
Older Children's Bard: Meghan Blackthorn
Younger Children's Bard: Erica Nolan
These notables were praised in court before dusk and presented
suitable parchments calligraphed and illuminated by Her Excellency Valencia de
Granada and Lady Ehlen Kirchennknopf in addition to prize baskets. Their
Majesties Ansteorra in the persons of Their Majestic Excellencies of Bordermarch
did show benevolence in announcing the following awards to Their subjects:
Thistle for Bardcraft to Lady Birgetta Frenzl
AoA to Kathilen Hamilton for her effective work as MoC officer
Rising Star to Angelica la Malchanceuse
Vivat!
Then followed a remarkable elabortate outdoor feast, comments from formidable hungy men at court placing it among top 10, in years, anywhere. Served in seven removes, heralded and paraded to table, the variety suited the pallate of meat eaters and vegetarians. And the children loved both the vegetarian soup and the meatball soup. Astonishing for an outdoor feast table, there were varieties of hot herbed breads, chicken cordon bleu, stuffed beef and merlot souce, chilled fruit and berrries served in half-orange peels, and frozen sorbet served in half-lemon peels, all presented at appropriate temperatures. One lady said she would chew her last bite of one course and relax, to hear in perfect timing, the voice of the feast herald announcing the next course as a dozen severs marched in with the next trays. Applause to the Feast Steward Lady Caitrin de Lacy and the Cooks' Guild. An impressed Royal Baron Jason left the table to go down to the kitchen to thank his feast steward. Thanks to Countess Tessa, mi'lady Courtney, Lord Armand, Lord Zane, Lady Gwenneth of Lizard Keep for laboring ahead of time and all day with Lady Caitrin; to Cadet Lord John Sterling for tending to hauling an actual freezer on site; to servers: Lady Gwennyth Blackrose, Cadet Lady Soscha, mi'lady Meghan, m'lady Courtney, mi'lady Misty, mi'lady Gabrielle Krysten, m'lady Ashley whose birthday it was, Count Simonn, Cadet Lord Armand, Don Ansgar, Cadet Lord Zane, Cadet Lord Vincois, Lady Chrystal, mi'lord David, Lord Il Danach, and Lady Isabela, and Lady Selina for presenting the feast, and to Bordermarch Bard Lady Schaundra for announcing each remove in grand style. Particular appreciation to Lady Ehlen who went to scrub the pots after feast to give the cooks guild a rest.
Into midnight, tired and filled subjects continued to enjoy companionship and tales. The following day, site clean up and inspection by Jones Camp owners met with approval. The devoted core who stayed to do this enjoyed rapport with LandLord Jones then departed for mid-day meals and journies south.
Next Barony Bordermarch event at Jones Country is BAM !
scheduled on the kingdom calendar for November 16-18, 2000 the weekend before Thanksgiving, 2001.
BORDERMARCH AUTUMN MELEES (BAM!)
MOAT SWALLOWING - JUNE 30, 2001 at Mountian-Gate, not on kingdom calendar