The start of the event was on Friday and the day saw many pavilions being set up with practiced ease. The encampment circled the Eric where most of the activities would take place. Pavilions from those of the Barony of Selviergard as well as the Barony of Winter’s Gate and even far-off Ravensfjord were beautiful to behold and provided an excellent atmosphere for the weekend-long celebration. While there was no scheduled activities for Friday night many took the opportunity to visit with friends and family after setting up their home-away-from-home.
Saturday morning saw more visitors to the event and, later in the morning, Baron Halfdan of Selviergard held a court in which he welcomed all to the event including the Prince and Princess of Oertha as well as the visiting Baron and Baronesses of Eskalya and Winter’s Gate. After words from Master Fergus mac Thomais, the Autocrat of the event, it was time for Baron Halfdan’s opening statement inviting all to take part in the celebration. With a heartfelt recollection of an amazing journey that the Barony of Selviergard took fifteen years ago, Baron Halfdan wished the Barony a very, very happy birthday and gave word for the activities to commence.
The Heavy Tournament was first activity to take place. Based on the ‘Book of the Five Rings,’ each individual tournament featured a different combat style. The Earth Tournament was polearms and great weapons, the Water Tournament showcased Florentine, the Fire Tournament was represented by a round robin, and the Wind Tournament was fought by offhand single sword. The winner of each tournament would then take part in the Champion’s Tournament to determine the overall winner. Because of the large number of fighters and the overall length of the tournaments; some of the individuals ‘Rings” were changed with only the Void Tournament being cancelled.
Fighters take part in the Tournament of the Five Rings at the Barony of Selviergard’s Fifteen Year Celebration. May 26, 2018. Photograph submitted by Trevor Mora.
All of the fighters that took part in the Ring Tournaments met their worthy and honorable opponents with skill, valor, and chivalry. Each and every fighter put their best foot forward and did their best—truly an honor for all Oerthans. In the end, however, there can be only one victor in and it was Sir Culann Mac Cianain from the Barony of Winter’s Gate who won the Champion’s Tournament.
After the heavy tournament the Rapier fighters took to the field. The Rapier fighters put on a display of skill and daring as they too took part in a variety of tournaments based on the original concept of the Five Rings, with the winners of those tournaments moving on to the final Champion’s Tourney.
The Rapier Fighters take part in the Tournament of the Five Rings at the Barony of Selviergard’s Fifteen Year Celebration. May 26, 2018. Photograph by Halfdan Ozurrson.
The most amusing Rapier tournament to watch was the highly entertaining ”Non-Standard Off Hand” tournament. With a spoon, a peerage chain, an oriental fan, a piece of firewood, a gauntlet, a boot, and even hose (as in the wearable kind) these fun items were used as off hand weapons. There was much laughter from not only the combatants in the tournament but those watching it as well. Again, only one fighter would win the overall competition and In the end it was Lady Angela of Eskalya who won the Champion’s Tournament.
After the tournament, the youth had a performance piece that they graciously entertained the populace with: their take on the tale of King Arthur. The performance was lively, skillful, and witty with several action scenes that were well thought out and expertly executed. Afterwards, Baron Halfdan called the actors forward and presented them with rings from his hand for their presentation and asked them to continue their journey towards period presentations such as the one that they performed.
With the evening fast approaching it was time to think about something to eat.
There was a potluck feast with meats provided by the Barony set out for the populace to enjoy. After grabbing some food, people made their way back to their encampments to talk about the tournaments witnessed that day and share not only food but laughter as well. After feast; a birthday cake was presented for all to enjoy. It was the first Baroness of Selviergard, Margarita, and the current Baron, Halfdan who cut the cake together—a melding of the beginning and the present of the Barony of Selviergard to welcome in the future.
Camping events are not complete with friends gathering around together…usually around a fire. The bardic fire was lit and bards, minstrels, poets, and storytellers gathered around the fire to sing songs and tell grand tales of adventure and love. Many people took part in the wonderful bardic and the memorable gathering went well into the night.
The Bardic fire is lit and the songs and stories start at the Barony of Selviergard’s Fifteen Year Celebration. May 26, 2018. Photograph by Halfdan Ozurrson.
The next morning brought a full day of archery. Archery, seeing a surge of interested people within the Principality of Oertha within the past several years, is always fun to watch. The concentration of the archers as they focus intently on the target, the cheering when their arrow scores well, and, yes, even their long walks in the woods together looking for lost arrows is always a high point of any event and is tantamount to watching the fighting tournaments.
To start the archery competition, Lord Colum Mac Eoghain Uí Niall and his wife, Lady Ciara Inghean U Beirichtir, first shot two arrows deep into the woods as a memorial to one of their fallen friends from the Kingdom of Atenveldt; Master Leif. After the memorial ceremony, the competition started. Along with the Inter-Kingdom Archery Competition, in which twelve people took part in, there were several novelty shoots as well alongside a regular target competition.
Archers take aim at the Barony of Selviergard’s Fifteen Year Celebration. May 27, 2018. Photograph by Halfdan Ozurrson.
The competitions were fierce, fun, and enjoyable to watch. Master Bran Mac Fynin scored the highest in the IKAC/Royal Rounds, while Mistress Étaín O’Rowarke made the highest score while poaching the Baron’s own deer. Viscount Fergus mac Thomais won the “Strip the Willow” shoot with skill considering that the archers had to shoot towards the setting sun to land an arrow closest to “the willow;” a target 125 yards away.
With the end of the archery shoot, and the bows and arrows carefully packed away, it was time for a closing court for the event. It was at this court that winners of the various competitions were announced, honors were presented, and final words given for the event.
Baron Halfdan thanked everybody for attending noting especially how much fun he had witnessing the various deeds and spending time with family and friends. His Excellency chose to recognize several individuals for their works and efforts within the Barony even though they were not members of Selviergard. Lord Hraði Kǫttr, Lady Sylvia of Thrace, and Lady Úlfhildr Sverradóttir were bestowed the Order of the Forget Me Not; an award given to those who do not reside in the Barony of Selviergard but are friends nonetheless. Baron Halfdan noted that these individuals; who helped, who participated wholeheartedly, and who enriched the Barony of Selviergard were deserving of such an award to the cheering of the populace.
His Excellency also called forward M’Lord Trevor Mora and his family and thanked them for attending the event. He gave them tokens of his esteem, along with some coin of the realm, and invited all of them to come back and spend time in the Current Middle Ages.
The Autocrat of the event was called forward for his final notices in which he announced the winners of the various competitions and awarded those gentles with extravagant prizes. Among the winners for the tournaments, Sir Culann Mac Cianain and Lady Angela of Eskalya, who were gifted a prize each for their victory; those that took part in the tournaments, both heavy and rapier, were also thanked with a copy of “The Book of Five Rings” for their reading pleasure. Additionally, M’Lord Trevor Mora was called forward along with his lady and awarded a beautiful wooden chest for his winning entry in the “Best New Camp” competition. The winners of the various archery competitions, Master Bran Mac Fynin and Mistress Étaín O’Rowarke were awarded for their skill as well. Additional prizes were given to Lady Rosalinda Lopez who won the Children’s Hawk Throwing Contest and Lizzie was recognized for making amazing butter in the Butter Making Class.
Additionally, the winners of the Double Blind Bardic Brawl were revealed in court. Lord Colum came forward and announced the judges who, in turn, announced the winners of the bardic competition held throughout the weekend. The first judge, Lady Ciara, came forward and announced that Baroness Elena of Winter’s Gate young daughter, who told a wonderful tale about her toy, made quite an impression on the judge and thusly awarded the youngest bard a prize. The second judge, Mistress Étaín O’Rowarke, announced that the person that she chose was Lady Talorc Caer Arienrhold for her epic story told on Saturday night. Baron Halfdan was the third and final judge and he acknowledged Lady Sylvia of Thrace for her performance of multiple songs throughout the event. Prizes were given out to the winners and all contestants were thanked profusely for entertaining the populace with skillful and exciting tales and songs.
It was here, towards the end of court, that Baron Halfdan of Selviergard called the Autocrat of the event forward in which His Excellency, according to his tradition, gifted Master Fergus mac Thomais with a bronze ring from his hand.
After court the populace was released to enjoy a meal. Later in the evening another bardic was held in which even more stories were told and new songs performed for willing listeners. The bardic went well into the night and into part of the next day.
Monday brought the conclusion of the event; and the weather cooperated quite well. With pavilions packed away, the last of the trash packed up, and the final farewells given it was time to head home. The long drive gave time to reflect on the many fun and exciting memories of the weekend.
Upon his safe arrival home; Baron Halfdan took the time to thank those who helped make the event a success and “an event worthy of our Trollish ancestors.” In his missive to the populace he noted that “We celebrated the past but we look forward to what the future holds for us; and judging from this past weekend’s celebration the future looks very bright indeed.” The Autocrat also took the opportunity to thank various members of the populace for their hard work too, noting especially “Thank you all for making this event one that will be remembered for a long time and go into the history books as a great success.”
A full weekend of tournaments and archery; with bardic well into the night and plenty of food for everybody, honored our ancient ancestors and welcomed in the future of Selviergard nicely. While not everything that was planned happened at this event we still had a lot of fun. The Barony of Selviergard was never founded on planned activities and adhering to the schedule but by comradery and the desire to have fun—indeed, our motto is “For the Fun of It” and our celebration of fifteen years as a Barony has proven that this belief is not only our motto, but in our blood as well.
The Selviergard Associated Press
Originally Published in the July 2018 edition of The DragonTale
Originally Published in the July 2018 edition of The DragonTale
Event Date: May 25-27, 2018
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