The Baron and Baroness

And the winner was…

For the new Baronial Armoured Champion, Lord Kitan von Fulkenburg,
inspired by Lady Alesia de Cheval Blanc
Huzzah, huzzah, huzzah!

It was a great tourney, a round robin with everyone doing really well. Some very cool bouts and an edge-of-the-seat final between Duke Sir Cornelius von Becke and Lord Kitan von Fulkenburg - one bout each and then Kitan won the third bout decisively.

We were also pleased to name Niall of the Orkneys, who fought most valiantly and placed third in the tourney, as the Baronness’ new War Champion.

Great honour and chivalry were displayed by all in the tourney, before a large gallery of nobles watching and sharing their picnic from the shade of pavillions below fluttering pennants. As well as so many familiar faces from our Barony, it was wonderful indeed to see our fond friends from Radburne and Lady Maeve ni Iasachta who has just recently moved to Politarchopolis from Rowany. It was also a great joy to see the fine weather draw out a few familiar faces who have been long absent from Politarchopolis events.

It was a great day. Our thanks to all who made it so, most especially:
Niall of the Orkneys for great work in organising the tourney and for his set- up and pack up crew,  Lady Caera Sionnach for painting and encouraging others to paint many pennants and banners,  Lady Catherine of Glastonbury for heralding so well and encouraging others to join her in heralding the tourney,  and Lady Joanna of the Beechwoods and Her Excellency Mistress Rowan Perigrynne who provided dancing and music.

We have been reminded that we could be using this forum more often. This is true, so let us start to remedy this. Last Sunday, 1st of June, was Baronial Day and we would like to mention some of the highlights of the day, for those who were not there.

Firstly an apology to the archers - we were returning from Sydney and did not make it to Town Archery.

A whole group of children came along to Haig Park and learned to make windmill lances, boffer swords and shields. Thank you to Master Crispin and Lady Jehanne for arranging these classes and thank you to Lady Ciaera for being a pell in armour for the new boffer combatants. There was much running around and a fair bit of biff. We hope all the children will bring their new boffers and shields again in future weeks and we may be able to get a regular boffer training up and going. We understand the next class will involve painting the shields.

There was the mini-ball with quite a few people dancing, including some newcomers. Thank you to Lady Joanna, Lord Thurston and Lady Petra for their continuing support of dance in Politarchopolis. Thank you also to Master Crispin, who played music for us to dance to. We now have quite a repertoire of English Country and 15th century dances which are quite easy to do, which suits us because we have three left feet between us (we share one right foot). Even if you don’t usually get to dance practice, consider coming inside and dancing next Baronial Day - the more the merrier.

The practice tourney, with six combatants, was both entertaining and eduational. Thank you to Lady Elizabeth, who kindly prepared the lists and enjoyed it sufficiently that she may offer to become our next Mistress of the Lists. Thank you also to Lady Quataryna, who did wonderfully as herald. It turns out Quataryna has an excellent voice for heralding, and we hope to hear more of her - literally. Thank you to Duke Sir Cornelius and Lord Kitan for martialling. His Grace was able to explain some of the finer points of the tourney to the gallery. Sir Brusi was victorious, fighting on with single sword after losing his shield in the early rounds. The tourney prize, a sword gifted by Duke Cornelius, is awareded to whomever pleases us best. We intended to present it at the feast, but as the combatant concerned was not able to stay for the feast, we will announce our decision at a future Sunday practice.

Last, but certainly not least, was the pot-luck feast. The feast was attended by around two dozen people and there was a wonderful range of dishes served forth. The highlights were a Moroccan Lamb dish and an exquisite Blackberry pastry (made from home grown blackberries). These small feasts are a lovely cosy evening, with good company and fine food. Thank you to Lord Gabriel for co-ordinating them. If you have thought a feast is too much for a Sunday night, it may help to know that they begin early at 5:30pm and are generally over by around 8pm. Particularly in the winter, it is a lovely relaxed way to end the weekend.

Thank you to everyone who put together the practice tourney and potluck feast last night.  The practice tourney was a hoot, with much hilarity and some good practice for those of us who badly need it ;)  Cornelius has generously donated a sword to become a perpetual trophy for this tourney.

The feast was excellent, with some truly fabulous food and great company, singing and games.  We would like to particularly thank Thanatos for making it happen and for his delicious baked custard!

Every now and then people approach us to talk with great nostalgia about the good old days, when feasts were cosy atmospheric affairs, that didn’t cost the earth, when people felt comfortable to join in on a song or a simple dance. Well, there are two chances coming up in the next two weeks.

Tomorrow at Baronial Day there will be a small potluck feast following a practice tourney (for those of you also nostalgic for the “monthly bash”).

So come along to Haig Park Hall for the afternoon and evening this Sunday 6 April.  Bring your feasting gear including candles, maybe a bottle or two of ale or cider and a platter or pot of food to share with others (enough to feed a few friends, not an army).  Weather permitting there might even be a fire in the fireplace.

Those of you who remember the good old days with misty-eyed fondness - we hope to see you there.
Those who have only heard tell of such legendary evenings, come and see what the fuss is all about .

The second potluck will be the feast the following weekend on 12 April at the Arts and Sciences event. We fully expect to see the Barony enthused in a multitude of creative directions at the range of classes Mistress Mathilde and Mistress Rowan have arranged for your delight and pleasure on the Weekend of 12-13 April.

Last weekend we had our Saint Valentine’s picnic and tourney in the park. It was a great afternoon with fighting, singing, dancing and games as well as delicious food and lovely company. There were a few faces we haven’t seen at events for a while as well as some newcomers. Altogether it was a really nice afternoon. Congratulations and thank you to Sui and Bart for running a very nice event and to Christoval and Alison for a delicious picnic.

Greetings unto the Barony of Politarchopolis from Far East Lochac, where the King’s deer are plentiful but strangely do not hop!  Fortunately we brought members of our Baronial Huntsman, two of whom have permission to hunt the King’s deer, and so we have been able to sample some of the venison of this region.  We have sailed the beautiful fiordlands and found treasures there.  But though it is a most exotic and extraordinary land, we will not linger here long but will return home soon to fair Politarchopolis.

But first we must join with Her Majesty, Bethan, Queen of Lochac, to assert her right to rule without need to indulge His Majesties’ desire for an heir.  Her Majesty, arrayed with her supporters in Regal Red, will face His Majesty’s forces in Royal Blue on the fields beside Canterbury Faire on the morrow.  Whatever the outcome, we know that all who stand upon that field will strive with honour and valour for the love of our glorious Kingdom of Lochac.

Alessandro & Isobel

Yes, we have succumbed to the anachronism that is an SCA Blog.

This will be a place for short (hopefully) announcements or requests for information from the populace of the fair Barony of Politarchopolis.

There may be general musing and even forsoothly missives occasionally, but our main aim is to add to the ways in which we can stay in touch with the Barony and you can stay in touch with us.

Yours in service

Alessandro and Isobel
Baron and Baroness of Politarchopolis