Here are some upcoming local and nearby notable events & activities you might enjoy! Please check the provincial calendar or the provided links for more details.
Friday, January 19 at 7:30pm — Ostgardr Commons Meeting in Whyt Whey
Every Tuesday at 7:30pm — Lions End Bardic Circle
Wednesday, January 24 at 6:30pm — Dance practice in Whyt Whey
Friday, January 26 at 7:00pm — Lions End A&S: Constructing Simple Garb pt. 1
Saturday, January 27 at 11:00am — Constructing Simple Garb pt. 1 and 2 in Hawke’s Reache
Saturday, January 27, all day — Birka (shopping, fighting, dancing, classes….) in Stonemarche (5 hour drive)
Sunday, January 28 at 1:00pm — Northpass Embroidery Circle followed by Game Day
Friday, February 2 at 7:00pm — Northern Østgarðr A&S
Fair Østgarđr, I hope you are warm and snug despite the wintery chill that besets us.
In these cold days, I ask those of you whom have been around for two decades to cast your memory back to the turn of the millenium.
Do you have stories from these years you can share? A box of photos from events in the back of your closet? Any suggestions on how to get in touch with notable folks from this time who’ve since dropped out of the game but whom we might be able to track down and chat with? Drop us a line here, comment on the individual annals, grab me at commons, etc.
A.S. XXXIII (May ’98 – April ’99)
Crown Tourney was held in Northpass on May 2… Brekke Franksdottir finally received her Laurel (she was supposed to get it many years ago, but her reign caused a postponement of the plans)… The Order of the Sea Dog, for service to the cantons, was founded at Agincourt on October 31… (236 more words)
A.S. XXXIV (May ’99 – April ’00)
John the Bear became the Provincial Champion… The Queens County Fair was held on Sept. 25 & 26, Agincourt was held on November 13, and the Brewers’ Collegium was held on Dec. 10-12… A celebration of Ian and Katherine’s twentieth year as Viceroy and Vicereine was held on January 22… (151 more words)
A.S. XXXV (May ’00 – April ’01)
Ervald the Optimistic, on his thirteenth attempt, became the Provincial Champion at the Huntington Ren Fair on May 27… On September 9, Boal Mergen became the Provincial Archery Champion… At Twelfth Night in Nordenhal on January 13, Eleanor the Fair was made a Court Baroness… (131 more words)
A.S. XXXVI (May ’01 – April ’02)
… At Barleycorn on Sept. 8, Lady Brianna McBain was inducted into the Order of the Seahorse, and Bleiddwan of House Three Skulls became the Provincial Archery Champion… At the Pirate’s Day of Love in Lions End on February 16, Elizabeth Cameron nic Ian was made a Companion of the Seahorse… (351 more words)
These seem to have been busy years in Østgarđr — help us capture that history!
— Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin
Seahorse Pursuivant, Crown Province of Østgarđr
On the thirteenth day of January, Anno Societatis 52, their excellencies Suuder Saran and Lada Monguligin, Il-Kha’an and Il-Khatun of the Il-Khanate of Østgarđr, did progress to Deck The Halls of Valhalla, held in the Old Stone House in their canton of Brokenbridge, and therein did they hold court.
Firstly his excellency Suuder addressed the populace and thanked them for their attendance in that hall.
Then the newcomers were called into court, being those for whom this was their first, second, or third event, and their excellencies did gift them each with candles in the form of the province’s badge, and bid them return again soon.
Their excellencies next did hear from the stewards of the event, Brandr Aronsson and Arnora Ketilsdottir, who thanked those who had taught classes, granting them tokens of the canton’s leporine emblem, and did give two bottles of mead to Cedar the Barefoot in appreciation of their entertainment on that day.
Lady Arnora was then seated but their excellencies did demand Lord Brandr return to their presence, speaking highly of all he had done there in Brokenbridge, teaching at his forge, laboring in the kitchens, and assisting all those who needed aid. In recognition of this work, they did summon the members of their Order of the Sea-Dog and bid they welcome Brandr into their ranks. A scroll was read and presented which did attest to his skills and generosity, written and illuminated with signs of meat and metal by Lady Beatrice della Rocca, who served the court that day as her Excellency’s retainer.
Their excellencies opined that the order was not yet complete and did call before them Lady Godiva de la Mer, thanking her for her service as Minister of Arts and Sciences in their canton of Whyt Whey, and bid her also join the Order there assembled. The flowery scroll which documented her success in arranging monthly classes in the canton had been prepared by Hlæfdige Alienor Salton, lately the Seneschal of said canton and well acquainted with those efforts.
The populace did then give cheer for Lord Brandr and Lady Godiva as they were welcomed by the members of the order they had joined.
Mistress Sofya Gianetta di Trieste then addressed the populace, asking for their assistance with preparations for the kingdom’s upcoming bardic and arts championships, and for the kingdom’s fiftieth anniversary celebrations.
Next Cedar the bard approached, bare of foot and fleet of tongue, and did graciously swear fealty to their excellencies, remembering days past spent together in Østgarđr’s feast halls, and bravely binding themself to stand ready at all times to taste for poison in their mead-cups. Lada and Suuder accepted their oath, promising that in Østgarđr they would always find a roof over their head and plenty of drink in need of testing.
Finally, their excellencies invited Lady Arnora Ketilsdottir to return to their court, which she did though burdened by her cherubic offspring. Suuder spoke of her years of service to Østgarđr, including her recent service as webminister of the province, and her willingness to increment their populace by the most miraculous of means, and for all of these reasons did induct her into the Order of the Seahorse. The order was called forth and Lord Brandr did present Lady Arnora with a medalion of of storied lineage. A beautiful scroll was presented with illumination and words by Anneke Walmarsdottir featuring calligraphy by Brian Smiley, and the populace did cheer thrice for Lady Arnora.
As the hour grew late, their Excellencies did thereupon declare their court to be closed, and passed thence with the approbation of all.
These were the events of the day as recorded by their servant,
— Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin
Seahorse Pursuivant
Declaration of fealty by Cedar the Barefoot.Sea Dog scroll for Lord Brandr Aronsson. Words, calligraphy, and illumination by Lady Beatrice della Rocca.Sea Dog scroll for Lady Godiva de la Mer. Words, calligraphy, and illumination by Hlæfdige Alienor Salton.Seahorse scroll for Lady Arnora Ketilsdottir. Words and illumination by Lady Anneke Walmarsdottir; calligraphy by Brian Smiley.
As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of Østgarđr and the East, we’re looking back over our history and gathering tales of days gone by.
We’ll be showcasing a lot of this material at the EK50 event this summer, and we’d like to make a good presentation — as the birthplace of the East Kingdom and home to so many talented individuals, we have a lot of history to celebrate, and we’d like to ensure it doesn’t vanish in the mists of time.
Over the next few months, I’ll be sending out excerpts from several years of the Annals collected by Richard the Poor, along with corresponding links to the blog, and asking that folks who remember details from those years share their stories, either in responses here, as comments on the blog, or in whatever way is convenient for you.
For this first round, cast your mind’s eye back 40 years, and 30, and 20, and 10…
A.S. XII (May ’77 – April ’78)
Demos were held at the Huntington Renaissance Fair on May 28 & 29, the Cloisters Ren Fair in early August (no date was specified), as part of a “Lighthouse Fund Raiser” on October 9, and at the Adelphi U. Ren Fair. A Solstice Fair was held on June 19, a Middle East Feast and Belly Dance Contest on July 23, a Herald’s Picnic on September 17 & 18 (which was actually held in New Jersey), and the Royal Heirs Birthday Party on February 18.
A.S XXII (May ’87 – April ’88)
At Pennsic on August 8, Katherine Gillesfleur received her Silver Crescent. On March 5 of that year she would also be inducted into the Order of the Laurel for her costume work. Mordred Mjodvitner also earned a Tygers Combattant on March 5. In February, the Canton of Lions End formed in Nassau County with Reyna of Crystaldale as its Seneschal. Seahorses were given to Garlon Dragonheart ap Rheged and Roen Dentilliere de la Voile Rouge on April 16.
A.S. XXXII (May ’97 – April ’98)
At Southern Region War Camp in Eisental on July 26, Gideanus Tacitus Adamantius was made a Laurel for his cooking skills by Hanse and Moruadh… That fall, a canton in Brooklyn (Brokenbridge) was organized, with Ben of Brokenbridge as its Seneschal… Lucan & Caitlin held their Twelfth Night at the Garden City Cathedral in Lions End on January 3. At the Valentine’s Revel on February 14, Anabel Ravaya de Guzman became the first Provincial Bard… (45 more words)
A.S. XLII (May ’07 – April ’08)
At Pennsic this year, Ana Ravaya de Guzman was inducted into the Order of the Laurel for her skills in poetry. In May, John the Bear became the Knight Marshal; in September, Judith Fitzhenry the Uncertain took over as Minister of Arts and Yeh-Liu Targai became the Captain of Fence… The Warrior’s Nadaam event was held on October 15. Agincourt was held on November 3… The Province hosted the Coronation of Konrad and Brenwen on April 12… (177 more words)
Please help us fill out the details, tell us what we’re missing, and add some color to these summaries, so that the world will not soon forget the rich history of our province and its people.
In service to the dream,
— Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin
Seahorse Pursuivant, Crown Province of Østgarđr
