The Knives Will Come Out at Østgarðr Commons

October 15, 2019 Posted inCommons

You are hereby invited to bring your choice of blade to this Friday’s provincial commons meeting — knives, axes, scissors, chisels, and the like — and then hone it to a razor-sharp edge as part of our informal blade-sharpening workshop!

(As a reminder, Commons will be on October 18 starting at 7:00 at our usual location on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.)

I am not a master sharpener, just an enthusiastic amateur — if someone shows up who knows more than I do, I’d love to learn more from them — but I have had decent success in sharpening our kitchen knives, household scissors, and wood-working tools.

I will be bringing my wet stone grinding wheel, a flat polishing stone, a couple of kinds of sharpening steels, and a leather strop. (If anyone has any sharpening gear of their own they’d like to show off, bring it along!)

TL/DR: Bring some dull knives or scissors to Commons on Friday and let’s see if we can’t get ‘em sharpened up for you!

(* Please do not deploy live steel during the business meeting.)

— Mathghamhain

Commons Minutes for September 2019

October 1, 2019 Posted inCommons

The September commons meeting was held September 20 at the New Rochelle Public Library in Northpass. Here are the minutes as recorded by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin. The officers’ reports are attached at the end.

Attendance

Present

  • Suuder Saran, Il-Khan
  • Lada Monguligin, Il-Khatun
  • Alienor Salton, Seneschal
  • Francisco de Braga, Exchequer
  • Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin, Herald, Youth Marshal
  • Alec MacLachlan, Fencing Marshal, Deputy Seneschal
  • Zahra al-Andalusiyya, Chronicler
  • Anne of Østgarðr, Webminister
  • Oliver de Bainbrig, Northpass Seneschal
  • Esnede O Murrin
  • Victor Maximus
  • Richard the Poor
  • Aurora ffolkes
  • Thomas of Northpass
  • Al of Northpass
  • Gibbs Moryss
  • Isabel of Ostgardr
  • Buenaventura Miguel Rivera
  • Apollodora of Delphi

Online

  • Sofya Gianetta di Trieste, Historian
  • Vika Grigina z Prahy, Whyt Whey Seneschal

New Armored Combat Champion Selected at Cloisters

September 29, 2019 Posted inEvent

Vivat to Muiredach Ua Dálaigh, winner of today’s rattan tournament, recognized as Østgarðr’s new Provincial Armored Combat Champion!

Vivat to Alienor Salton, whom Muiredach named as his inspiration this day, now Østgarðr’s Provincial Queen of Love and Beauty!

Thanks to Gowain MacAoidh for running today’s championship tournament, and for his valiant service as their Excellencies’ former rattan champion over the last year. 

And thanks to Ervald LaCoudre for his service on the field earlier in the day, entertaining and educating the large crowd that gathered to watch our many fine fighters.

New Fencing Champion Selected at Cloisters

September 29, 2019 Posted inEvent

Vivat to Engle der Pfau, victorious in today’s rapier tournament and selected as Østgarðr’s new Provincial Fencing Champion!

Thank you to Alexander MacLachlan for running the championship tournament and for his diligent service as their Excellencies’ previous champion over the last year. 

And thank you to Anne of Østgarðr for running the early tournament, which greatly amused the audience by allowing them to toss a giant die to select the combatants’ weapons forms.

September Provincial Commons

September 20, 2019 Posted inCommons

Please join us for our monthly commons, the Province’s combined business meeting and social gathering, to be held tonight in the canton of Northpass.

We will be at the New Rochelle Library on Friday September 20th, starting at 7pm.  Business portion of the meeting begins at 8pm. 

The New Rochelle Library is one block from the New Rochelle train station on the MetroNorth New Haven line. I-95 runs right past the station.

You may join the meeting remotely via Google Meet at meet.google.com/cof-yths-rww using Chrome or Firefox browsers, iOS or Android apps, or traditional telephone dial-in.

Awards from Summer Provincial Courts

September 20, 2019 Posted inEvent

At Pennsic, the Viceregents delivered an Award of the Golden Lyre to Godiva de la Mer on behalf of Ozurr and Fortune. Young Johanna Brandrsdottir was inducted into the Province’s Order of the Sea-Urchin in appreciation for her service at local events and the lovely jewelry she has created. Friderich Grimme was recognized for his skill in archery, and for his efforts training so many of the province’s archers, by making him a member of the Order of the Silver Sea-Lion. And the Viceregents rewarded Angelica di Nova Lipa for her many years of service to the Province — at events, in artistry, and behind the scenes — by inducting her into the Order of the Seahorse.

At Barleycorn, the Viceregents delivered an Award of Arms ordered by their Majesties East for Meadhbh O’Gairbhith. Buenaventura Miguel Rivera and Galen Mac Byrne were inducted into the Order of the Sea Dog for their years of service in the Canton of Northpass. Conandil ingen Donngaile was made a member of the Order of the Silver Lantern in recognition of her artistry and her service to the Province’s dance community. And Catelin Straquhin stepped down as Provincial Archery Champion, passing that title on to Mongu Chinua, who had won the day’s tournament.

Commons Minutes for April 2019

May 1, 2019 Posted inCommons

The April commons meeting was held on April 19 at the Greenvale Townhouse Diner in Lions End. Here are the minutes as recorded by Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin. The officers’ reports are attached at the end.

Attendance

Present — 4 members of the officers’ council, 2 members of the populace

  • Suuder Saran, Il-Khan
  • Lada Monguligin, Il-Khatun
  • Mathghamhain Ua Ruadháin, Herald, Youth Marshal
  • Nagashima Ichiro Ujimichi, Lions End Seneschal
  • Richard the Poor
  • Jenna Childslayer

Online — 5 members of the council

  • Alienor Salton, Seneschal
  • Francisco de Braga, Exchequer
  • Ervald LaCoudre, Armored Combat Marshal
  • Sofya Gianetta di Trieste, Historian
  • Vika Grigina z Prahy, Whyt Whey Seneschal

Upcoming In & Around Østgarðr: May 2019

May 1, 2019 Posted inCalendar

Update your calendars — this month is going to be busy!

An Evening in the Solar, Canton of Whyt Whey (Manhattan)
Date: Thursday, May 2, 7:30
Activities: Class and hands-on cooking of the food of al-Andalus, medieval Muslim Spain.

Return of the Lions, Canton of Lions End (Locust Valley, NY)
Date: Saturday, May 4th
Focus activity(s): provincial bardic championship, classes

Spring Crown Tourney, Shire of Caer Adamant (Harrington, DE, 3.5 hours S)
Date: Saturday, May 4
Activities: crown tournament

Northpass Commons, Canton of Northpass (Westchester)
Date: Thursday, May 9, 7:00
Activities: Canton commons meeting

Lions End Commons, Canton of Lions End (Nassau)
Date: Friday, May 10, 7:00
Activities: Canton commons meeting

Siege of Granada, Crown Province of Østgarðr (Carmel, NY)
Date: Saturday, May 11
Focus activity(s): provincial A&S championship, armored combat, fencing, A&SM

Broken Bridge Commons, Canton of Brokenbridge (Brooklyn)
Date: Sunday, May 12, 11:00 AM
Activities: Canton commons meeting and bread-making class

Provincial Commons, Crown Province of Østgarðr (Manhattan)
Date: Friday, May 17 7:30
Activities: Monthly provincial commons meeting

Viking Day Demo, Crown Province of Østgarðr (Brooklyn)
Date: Saturday, May 18
Activities: engage newcomers with displays of A&S, armored combat, fencing, and more

Quest for Wit and Wisdom, Barony of Settmour Swamp (Pittstown, NJ, 1 hour W)
Date: Friday-Monday, May 24-27
Activities: quest (scavenger hunt, obstacle course, mystery adventure), baronial championships, brewing competition, bardic circle, artisan’s row

(Note that the travel times shown for events outside of the Crown Province are given as approximate driving times from Central Park; your milage may vary.)