[Artemisia] Kingdom Champions Tourney, a report

[shauna at bresnan.net]

	Kingdom Champions Tourney, for Archery and Thrown Weapons 

	Friday night games – Viking Pentathalon winner was Baroness
Penelope! 

	Bronzehelm Saturday July 23 2016 at Neverdone Ranch 

	Archery range set up and opened for practice by 9:30 am 

	Morning Court scheduled for 10 am, actual start time 10.21 am 

	Baron and Baroness Sentinels’ Keep and Baroness Gryphon’s Laire
in attendance to Their Majesties Artemisia 

	Hi and hello from His Majesty 

	Hi and hello from Their Excellencies Sentinel’s Keep and a pitch
for the Kingdom fundraiser (kingdom glass) 

	Hi and hello from Her Excellency Gryphon’s Laire 

	Rolf Bjornsson summoned into the presence. Received a thrown weapons
holder from the hands of Her Majesty made by his father. Young man is
Thrown Weapons Champion for BSeK (won two weeks ago at Hellsgate) 

	Lord Edgar the Builder summoned into the presence – words from the
event steward. 6 pm for potluck feast, court to follow. Lunch on your
own. 

	Lady Victoria Isen summoned into the presence. Words from the current
Archery Champion. 

	Baroness Bjorn summoned into the presence. Words from the current
Thrown Weapons Champion. 

	Court recessed at 10:35 am 

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	Tournaments started immediately. Weather may be a HUGE factor. Lots
of wind gusts. The actual range for archery and thrown weapons was set
up on a large but freshly harvested barley field, with lots and lots
of room for everyone to participate. Great sight – Baron Ryryd from
the Barony of Loch Salann declared it a perfect range when he saw it. 

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	Day filled with laughter, friendship and fellowship. Aside from the
tourneys for archery and thrown weapons, there was a lot of pick-up
fights by the rapier fighters who were encamped under the trees near
the river. 

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	Potluck feast was served in the barn starting around 6:15 pm as a
buffet-style service. There was plenty of food for everyone and a
great variety of side dishes to go with the pork that had been cooking
all day that was provided by the Shire. 

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	Evening court started about 7:45 pm. After processing in and inviting
Baron and Baroness Sentinel’s Keep and Baroness Gryphon’s Laire to
again join them, Their Majesties opened court with some serious
business. A letter that had previously been posted online was read out
in Court to make it official that the Barony of One Thousand Eyes was
now a Crown Barony, with the Crown of Artemisia also being Baron and
Baroness One Thousand Eyes, until it was determined that the Barony
could once again have a sitting Baron and Baroness. 

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	Once that announcement had been made, the rest of Court was, as Her
Majesty Veronique declared, ‘the fun stuff’. 

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	Ulric von Violette (also known as Brandon and his sister Rachel,
along with their parents Sir Til and Mistress Isabeau, were summoned
into court. Both were given Awards of Arms along with many words of
praise for their work as children growing up in Artemisia and how they
are shining examples of Artemisian youth. Both received A’s, knives
and scrolls. 

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	Christopher was called up next. His Majesty talked about how, just
two months earlier, Christopher had come to the Zoo demo, paid money
to participate in the thrown weapons range and then proceeded to take
over the range and get more people to pay money to participate! He has
been very involved in Shire activities ever since, and he then
received an AoA, with A, scroll (done around a large golden A) and
knife. 

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	Magnus Stonesetter was called up next and His Majesty extolled his
talents on the field and then gave him a Golden Gryphon’s Talon,
complete with scroll and award medallion. 

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	At this point, the current Archery Champion, Lady Victoria, and
Thrown Weapons Champion, Baron Bjorn, came forward to relinquish their
posts and return their regalia. Both were given Quod Libets as
outgoing Champions.  

	Duke Basil der Drache and Baron Enrique were then both summoned to
take up their positions of honor as Thrown Weapons and Archery
Champions for the Kingdom of Artemisia for the upcoming year. Both
received their regalia and swore their oaths on the Sword of State.
Duke Basil also received a dagger in a sheath as the prize for the
tourney, which Her Majesty Veronique tried to claim as ‘taxes’.
Duke Basil offered it to her, but she declared he has won it honorably
so she would not take it from him. 

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	At this time, the Baron and Baroness of Sentinels’ Keep opened
Court, and summoned the herald for Their Majesties, THL Giovanni da
Venezia, before them. He tried to kneel before Their Majesties, but
was directed to kneel in front of Their Excellencies. They asked him
if he knew why they had summoned him. He answered that he had no idea.
They then said that they did not know either and directed him to move
down (still on his knees) to kneel in front of Their Majesties. His
Majesty spoke of his fighting on the field and teaching both on and
off the field and then named him as a Defender of the Citadel. A
scroll was given along with the medallion for this award. 

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	After THL Giovanni regained his composure and took his place behind
the thrones again, court continued. Her Excellency Gryphon’s Laire
said she had had a wonderful time and extolled the virtues of the site
and the event steward/site owners while thanking everyone for a
wonderful day. 

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	At this time, the event steward Edgar Builder was called forward to
be thanked by Their Majesties. He had a couple more site announcements
and then was given a present by Her Majesty in thanks for the event. 

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	Melisande the Gypsy was called into court to give a merchanting
announcement and after she sat down  Lord Colgrym of Avebury was
called into court to give an event announcement regarding Bardic
Blades, an event being held in our neighboring Kingdom of Northshield.
As he was talking about the event and mentioning he had been visiting
Northshield, members of the populace started saying ‘spy’ and
‘watch your back!’ while he was still talking. At the end of his
announcement, Their Majesties directed him to kneel in front of him,
and asked him directly if he was actually a spy for Northshield
because of all the time he has spent traveling there lately. He
declared himself a loyal Artemisian willing to do whatever it took to
make our Kingdom triumphant on or off the field. At this declaration,
His Majesty was most pleased and said, that since he was willing to do
‘whatever it takes’, then he must be suitably rewarded with a
Golden Pillar of Artemisia. A scroll and medallion were given to him
along with much rejoicing. 

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	There was a brief pause in court with Her Majesty and the herald
discussing the order of business, so His Majesty decided to talk about
upcoming events – Baron’s War and Southern Crusades. After his
stirring words, Court resumed with Aire and Thorhall being called into
Court. Both of these gentles many good deeds and good works were
talked about and then Aire was given an Award of Arms, along with a
scroll, A and knife. Thorhall was given a Golden Gryphon’s Talon,
scroll and award medallion. Since this award carries with it an Award
of Arms, he also got an A and a knife. 

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	Wylif the Stubborn was then called into Court and asked to explain
what he had done all day. He answered that he had been rapier
fighting. Her Majesty asked if there had been a tournament, as she had
not been informed of one and would surely have been present if she had
been told. He said that it was just pick-up fights with no actual
tournament, just a lot of fun. She said that she needed to be sure he
would continue his rapier fighting, so he was made a member of the
Defenseurs de l'Ordre du Papillon. Her Majesty tied the black scarf on
his arm and gave him a scroll to go along with the accolade. 

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	Lady Soffia Ivarsdottir was then called forward. His Majesty
discussed the fact that she has been given almost all the Award of
Arms-level awards in the Kingdom, and that she seems to ‘do it
all’ and do it well. Since they could not decide what skill to
especially reward her, Their Majesties gave her a Grant of Arms, with
a scroll declaring to all her many good works. 

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	Sir Killian Calwaye was then called into Court and, after suitable
shenanigans between His Majesty and his former squire, a Golden Pillar
of Artemisia was put around his neck while the scroll was read. 

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	After things had settled down a bit, all those for whom this was
their first event were asked to come forward. His Majesty and Her
Majesty thanked them all for attending, and allowing themselves to be
brought forward, before telling them that they were the most important
people at the event because they brought new ideas and fresh eyes to
our Kingdom and Society. They all received tokens from Their Majesties
hands before being cheered and going back to their seats. 

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	Court was closed at about 9:15 pm, as it was getting to be full dark.
There were plans for late night revels but this reporter had to leave
site so if there were any other activities of note others will have to
tell them. 

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	Given by my hand this 24th day of July, A S VI, being 2016 in the
common reckoning. 

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	Baroness Shauna of Carrick Point 

	Bronzehelm Chronicler 

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