Archive : Minutes : 4-10-02

EVENTS:

only one that matters...

CORONATION:

Friday night set up starts at 6:30 pm and will probably run until midnight. They need every man, woman or child available to help move tables, set up signs etc. If you can only give an hour, please do! Help is also needed for break down Saturday night.

We have enough servers, but kitchen help is always needed. Come show up at the kitchen on the day of the event and learn the joys of chopping vegitables and the like. See Ceinwen or Rutgur for details.

If you've a good loud voice, see Pietro to sign up to help with heraldic announcements during the day.

Ian could use more help with security, you don't have to devote your entire event to it, feel free to just sign up for an hour or so and help keep things running smoothly.

Milesent is teaching a class, so needs someone to watch the A&S table while she's doing so from 1pm to 2pm roughly.

1 or 2 people are needed to mind the auction table during the day while Ephraim's scrounging for auctionables. Also if you're bringing something to the event to donate, do not just put it on the table! If too many items are donated and some do not get auctioned off, he'd like to know who to return it to.

Youth combat for the event is being handled by Sean O'Shaughnessy (from Flaming Gryphon?) not Ser Nick, though he notes that there seems like there will be a good turn out for Youth Combat at this event.

For Heavy combat, there will be a bear-pit tourney and lots of fighting and fighters which means help is needed at the list table. The good lady (Serena) who agreed to be list mistress had a bit of an accident and won't be able to attend the event. See Ser Nick if you're interested.

Staff, remember to check in at troll and sign your waver! Feast is sold out, the waiting list is loooong, feel free to pay for site in advance tonight with Clairiel, or slow things down at troll the day of the event.

There are Classes! A complete class list is posted on the webpage for your enjoyment. http://cleftlands.cwru.edu/events/cor02class.html

The Dance De Cleves is a pretty dance, it's a beautiful dance, and has such a lovely name... but even the dance guild mistress can't do it without calling yet. *hangs her head in shame* and so as a last minute substitution we shall be doing Clifton Court Allamande as the presentation dance at feast. It's a signature dance of the Cleftlands and many Cleftlanders know it well, though it is rarely done in other groups. Come dance with us during the feast. The dance will also be taught at the dance classes during the day. Note: there is no other scheduled dancing at the event, the dance classes and this spot at feast are your only really chances to dance. (*pout*) See me for details.

Even if you've just a half hour to spare during the day, please volunteer, you can help somewhere. If nothing else, keep your eyes open and bring problems to the attention of event staff, extra eyes always help. and...

Have a good time!

SCA BUISNESS:

Armourer's same bat time, same bat place. See Timothy for details.

Aurora's T-Shirt Emporium is in buisness! Show your Cleftlands patriotism with a lovely cotton T-shirt displaying Karl Von Kohn's dipiction of the Baronial arms. Once Aurora has 60 orders, the order will be placed, 2 weeks later we'll have the shirts! for the low-low price of $10 a piece. Please see Aurora for more details.

There is no official Archery practice this sunday due to the event, though Lucus archery is open so feel free to go support a local buisness if you want to shoot. Archery is meeting the sunday after that at the normal time. Darius is marshalling.

Archery Guild is meeting Tuesday April 16th for a regular guild meeting, and Tuesday April 30th to make targets.

Needleworkers, if you've made something for their soon to be Magesties, please give it to Ephraim tonight, or to Madelaine the day of the event, she'd like you all to be a part of the presentation.

This next tuesday Master Aiden is hosting the Scribes at his house, see Aiden or Guenhwyfar or your favorite scribe for details.

Brewer's guild was going to meet April 16th, but as there are three other guilds meeting that night, will reschedule. See Nial if you've an opinion about dates. The Rootbeer brewed tonight will be ready in 2-3 weeks, Nial hopes to bring some to a dessert revel to share. Also they're looking to start another batch from scratch, see Nial for details.

Alda has a get well card for Serena, please sign and Ser Nick will get it to her.

DEMOS:

May 5th there is a Dance Demo for Stone Creek Grove, see the Dance Guild mistress for details.

Friday May 24th there is a Demo for Shaker Heights, from around 3:30pm (when school closes) until 7:00pm. The students are putting on a medieval/renaissance faire and would like 'extras', jugglers, dancers, bards, etc.

June 30th and July 7th, both sundays, two demos for a camp of kids. See Lady Alex for Details. (Sorry, I just have no idea how to spell the name of the camp! Homatacoma?)

Baycrafters is coming up fast this year, Darius would like all the planning to be done before Pennsic, see him for details.

There is a Demo coming up in October for Rainbow Babies, see Lady Alex for details, there are items being prepared as gifts for the children at that demo.

NON-SCA:

Fitz is still trying to sell 'demon child'. Demon child is a Nissan Sentra for those who may be uninformed. See Fitz for details.

One of our local archers did very well at the winter challenge shoot, is currently ranked 20th in the Known world for all categories (9th for recurve) I'm not sure who he is... but his initials are Edward Brackenburye ;)

From His Grace:

How many here have never been to a Coronation? Of those, how many will be attending this one? (all hands remaind up) Good. Now for the loaded question, who would like to volunteer to share their most vivid memory of a Coronation in 30 seconds or less?

Fitzranulf: Emerys's Coronation, instead of coming in and demanding the Crown, he arrived with a rose and presented it to the King telling him he had come to relieve his burden.

Lyonnete - Ragnvaldr and Arabella's first Coronation, by the looks on their faces, she could tell how very real it was to the prince and princess.

Ser Nick - Sir Finn's, he diced... something? a vegitable? for it (sorry, bad handwritting and bad hearing make for a bad combination. Feel free to relate the story properly Ser Nick! ;)

Sir Ephraim - The words of the ceremony (which he recited from memory)

Alienor - Edmund and Katrin's, the Queen gave the oath by heart.

Preadur - Ragnvaldr and Arabella's last coronation was his first event and he most remembers swearing fealty.

Ailish - Edmund flipping chicken on the grill at his Coronation.

Nial - Sir Osis throwing his sword into the water.

Pietro - The same Coronation, when everyone knelt to swear fealty in long chains from oathbinder, in the very last row the King's dog ran up and set his paws on someone's shoulders.

Robin - (chronicler's assistant not writting fast enough, missed the name of the King!) it was in his home barony and that made it extra special, and for that reason Cleftlands is in for a special treat this time.

Alda - Emmylne and Emrys's Coronation, she saw her first Tuchuk!

Culainn - Jafar and Cathryn dela Rose, he came in on a platform held up by six winsome maidens, and he wondered how the queen was ever going to top that, but she did. She came in laying demurely across the arms of six strong men.

another - I-something of Aethelmearc, when he went to set the crown on his lady's head he stopped, gazed at her speechless for a moment, and then set it upon her and you knew he meant it.

And a fine gentleman shared with us a bar of a song of Northshield about the Midrealm Kings.

back to Laurelen:

All of us see different things, and we all saw the same thing. Individual moments, second by second, speak to us, a microcosim, if you'll forgive the cliche for 'One brief shinning moment' the fantasy goes away. By act of will we voluntarily pour our time and energy into these events happily for that one moment that will take us out of a fire house, party center or Bohemian hall and turn it into a rough-hewn Viking feast hall, or vaulted castle hall. For that moment it is real.

For those whom are Crowned, it isn't just real for a moment, it becomes real for a long time before the Coronation. In all other Middle Kingdom courts the hearld ends it with "There being no further buisness" It used to be "Is there any other buisness?" and there always was... now it is just for that final Court of a King and Queen. That "Is there any other buisness?" Is a dangerous question, prompting many stories that shan't be shared here and now. Usually the Tanist comes forward, and someone, usually the Seneshal says "Who are you?" and he (So far it has always been a He in the Midrealm) replys "Tanist of the Midrealm" and the King says "What would you have of us?" and the Tanist replies "I have come for your Crown and Throne." and you can be sure that it is very real for both and embodied in what happens next. The Prince comes forward and the King looks down at him... somehow he always looks down, it is a minor miracle, the King could be 5 foot 6, and the Prince 6 foot 2 and still he looks down at him and says "Kneel and learn the duties of a King."

Pay attention to the ceremony, every word has meaning for they were written by the Kings and Queens.

In the Dark days after 1976 when a King and Queen abdecated the throne, Crown Tournements were invitation only. 32 unbelted fighters were invited, it was a 32 man list. Then as now the Chivalry had the right to fight in the tournement so if 10 knights showed up, only 22 of the unbelted fighters could be in the tournement. There were fewer fighters then, only 900 authorized in the Middle Kingdom 45 Chivalry, but it was still a daunting task, of those 900 only 32 could be picked.

The list was published in the Apirl or October Pale and even if you were at the bottom of the list, and knew your chances of fighting were slim you showed up. Talamar, no Sir before his name in those days, drove 11 hours to a Crown Tournement and did not get to fight, but despite the disappointment there was still the honnor... you were invited. Laurelen's first Crown Tournement, he was number 22 on the list. He drove 9 hours, Ithrilliel flew in and drove to be there as well, you were presented to the Crown with all the others if you fought or not you were greeted by the new King and Queen and it was important.

The duties of a King and Queen are outlined in our laws and customs, our history. But the most defining moment is not when you take up the Crown, but when you set it on another's head. Then the suprise, awe, burden and joy of being responsible for some 8,000 people is understood.

There will be levity, there's always something funny, and signs and portents if you watch for them. A young Prince recieving his Prince's crown called up his Lady to place the Princess's crown on her head, and when he did so, the Kingdom banner fell of the wall. The Lady promptly took the crown off and handed it back to him! and that is how Laurelen placed crowned his lady. Watch for the signs and portents, they will be there. Watch for that one moment.

There have been many Coronations in the Cleftlands, other baronies boast as many, but 6 have been Cleftlanders. This is a special Coronation for us, and every Coronation is different, enjoy it. It's not for the King and Queen... it is for you.

That is all.

And that is all for this week...

In service,
Milesent