A missive from the Baronial Court of Ixac ben Simone and Amalie Reinhardt, Barony of Delftwood, held the 4thd day of December, Anno Societatis LVI, as related by Lady Megge Gormshuileach, friendly neighborhood Pursuivant.
Greetings, gentlebeings! Gather ‘round and pay heed, for I bring bright cheer and tidings of import on behalf of their Excellencies Baron Ixac ben Simone and Baroness Amalie Reinhardt of the fair Barony of Delftwood!
It is my joy and honor to report that on the chill winter’s day for the 4th of December, Anno Societatis 56 (2021 AD by the common reckoning, Plague Year Two) an in-person event was held in the Barony of Delftwood to celebrate Yule, and to continue the season’s traditions of selecting the Barony’s next Bardic Champion, Arts & Sciences Champion, and the winners of the Peace Tourney which promotes the Arts & Sciences. At the end of the day a Court was held by their Excellencies, the following is a record of the activity which occurred therein.
Their Excellencies Baron Ixac ben Simone and Baroness Amalie Reinhardt did take their places upon the dais, and the Court was opened. Their Excellencies welcomed all present, thanking them for their attendance in light of the ongoing plague. Baron Ixac took a moment to remind those present of the Inspiration Tokens available at the Tollner’s table — while their Excellencies cannot be and see everywhere and everyone at all times, they make these tokens available so that whenever an event attendee observes someone else acting in an inspirational manner, the observer may present the actor with a token to recognize the good and helpful act.
All gentles for whom this was their first event were called forth, and were gifted with a goblet — so that, when again the time comes that we *are* allowed to break bread and share a meal together, they may join us in drinking each other’s health.
Mistress Graidne ni Ruaidh requested a moment of Their Excellencies’ time, and announced to the gathered populace that she had found a ‘long-lost daughter’ in Lady Grainne Ruadh. Mistress Graidne desired to take Lady Grainne as an apprentice to guide and encourage the Lady’s calligraphy and Illumination skills. Lady Grainne accepted, and received a fine green belt as a token of the arrangement.
The day’s Event Stewards, Mistress Othindisa Bykona and Lady Keara Caitlin MacLeod, were invited to appear before their Excellencies. They proffered grateful thanks not only to those gentles who had been instrumental in assisting with organizing and running the day, but also to those in attendance — each of whom had also contributed in some small way during the day to its success. Gratitude was also proffered for the generosity of those who had donated items to the prize baskets for the Peace Tourney.
The winners of the Peace Tourney were announced — Honorable Mention was made to the Honorable Lady Eleanore Godwin, for her blackwork embroidery; Third Place was awarded to Mistress Máirghréad Stíobhard inghean uí Choinne, for her hand stitched Italian Renaissance gown; Second Place was awarded to Don Michael Gladewyne, for his hand-carved soapstone chess set; and First Place was awarded to Lady Isolda De Leycester, for her gold silk filet and hand stitched silk veil. The Baron’s & Baroness’s Choice went to Mistress Máirghréad Stíobhard inghean uí Choinne, for her hand-sewn Italian Renaissance gown.
Their Excellencies then called upon several individuals who had been commended by the event stewards as having assisted them greatly — Rosie of Delftwood, Master Cyneric Dracaheorte, and Lady Megge Gormshuileach — and gifted them with Millstone tokens for their efforts this day.
Their Excellencies then called for Lady Ania Mhoireach, and thanked her for her service as Baronial Bardic Champion through not only her normal year’s tenure but a second year as well, as the ongoing plague had made it impractical to hold a tourney to determine a replacement until now. However, as there had been a tourney earlier in the day to choose a new Champion, it was time to finally release her, and they divested her of the regalia. Their Excellencies then requested the presence of Magaestra Solveig Throndardottir, and informed her she was the winner of the day’s Bardic tourney, and would she accept the position of Bardic Champion for the Barony of Delftwood? Magaestra Solveig accepted, was vested as such, and invited to take her place with the other champions flanking the Baron and Baroness.
The presence of the current Arts & Sciences Champion, her Ladyship Ilaria Rosati, was next requested. Again, their Excellencies expressed their gratitude that she had not only fulfilled her normal year’s tenure as A&S Champion, but agreed to stay on a second year, as the plague interfered with finding a replacement. However, as the A&S Champion Tourney was held concurrent with the Peace Tourney earlier that day, and a new Champion had been selected, their Excellencies divested the Honorable Lady Ilaria of the Champion regalia with gratitude for her service. Their Excellencies then requested the presence of Lady Lauryn of Delftwood, and she was collected and brought near. Their Excellencies spoke of their delight with her woven garment entry, and asked if she would hold the position of A&S Champion for the coming year. Lady Lauryn accepted, and was vested with the regalia.
Their Excellencies invited her Ladyship Ilaria Rosati to attend them once again. Citing her many labors on behalf of the Barony’s populace teaching classes, and serving as the Deputy A&S Minister, they were moved to induct her as a member of Delftwood’s Order of the Windmill.
Though they were unfortunately not present, two additional gentles were honored for their efforts in the realm of the Arts and Sciences. Lord Corwin Alexander Templeton was made a member of Delftwood’s Order of the Capstan for his skills with arrow craft, leather craft, and lace weaving. As well, Åsa Thorstaeinsson was recognized for her artistic contributions to the well-being and happiness of the barony through her weaving, music, and cooking, and was thus made a member of Delftwood’s Order of the Capstan. Their Excellencies made promise to deliver the award scrolls commemorating these inductions to their recipients at the earliest opportunity, and begged the boon of silence and secrecy of those present, so the presentations might yet be a surprise. (Fortunately their Excellencies were able to gift the scrolls throughout the course of the next week, and so this missive is only slightly delayed, yay!)
Her Excellency Amalie had one last missive – she recognized that a number of the event attendees were from places outside Delftwood’s borders, and thanked them deeply for coming to share the day with us, however brief a day it had of necessity been. She reminded all that our next gathering would take place in February of the next calendar year, at the Feast of the Seven Deadly Sins, and hoped to see everyone again at that time.
There being no further business before the Court, it was closed. All present were released to find their way home, or on to their next activity, as they saw fit.