The Pen is Mightier

Silver Crescent for Baroness Varju: Instrumental or mechanical science is of all the noblest and the most useful, seeing that by means of this all animated bodies that have movement perform all their actions; and these movements are based on the center of gravity which is placed in the middle dividing unequal weights, and it has dearth and wealth of muscles and also lever and counter-lever. Thus are the instruments of honor and chivalry lifted into the sky by the Loyal Servant of the Crown and Artist, Baroness Katarzyna Gwozdz, called Varju. Repetition of form is the essence of excellence and Baroness Varju has perfected the art of lever and counter-lever by her steadfast marshaling of the list trees of the East Kingdom, only on very extraordinary occasions resorting to the deployment of the Shield of Shame. So often has she used this science in the service of the Crown that We, Brennen and Caoilfhionn, King and Queen of the East are motivated to induct her into the Order of the Sil

Gazal for Suba I had intended to be at Bardic Champs (03/05/16) to speak words for  Suba  in person, but because of my duties to a different SCA project I had to write something and pass it off to someone else to read.  I lucked out and Her Majesty  Caoilfhionn  agreed to read my words as the Rose during Suba's elevation to the Pelican. .     My words took the form of a Ghazal, which is a Persian form of poetry, so it is appropriate for her persona.  Rumi, Hafez and various other sufi poets wrote Ghazals. Ghazals are also present in late period India as well, so it is appropriate for my SCA Indian Poetess persona as well. First: a totally skip able explanation on Ghazals, but reading it may increase your pleasure in the poem.  A ghazal in English can be hard, because the particular Persian Rhyme scheme which gives ghazals their beauty in Farsi or Urdu can sound sing-songy in English.  The rules for a ghazal are: Each line of the poem must have the same meter. In

Poem for Rowan on the day of his Elevation As a Lady of the Rose I speak at at a lot of elevations.  Many more elevations than I can make it to.  If I have to send words, especially for someone I adore, I will sometimes put it into poem format.  Baron Rowan is amazing and I was sorry I could not be there.  So I researched and wrote a poem for him, which was delivered on the day of his elevation to the Pelican.. Some heroes find their courage on the field, and hone their strength on troops who will not yield. Some heroes make fidelity their art and craft a truthful off’ring of their heart. Still others, by their prowess and their will                                         can elevate a task into a skill. Yet, I can speak to none of these. Instead I’ll speak of Courtesy; the golden thread, that binds society, and lets us grow, a wisdom that for sure the Roses know. A hero comes in many forms, you see; as acorns small, as large as spreading trees. Like…. mi

I teach a class titled: How to Give a Good Peerage Speech. I have taught it at Pennsic.  I have also taught it one on one to people who are freaking out that they have to give one. As a service to all courts everywhere, I am sharing my notes.  Go forth and give good speech. How to Craft a Good Peerage Speech:  Countess Marguerite inghean Lachlainn -East. In writing: Rule 1: Know the reactions of your candidate. Rule 2: Keep your speech short. No, really. Short.  I don't care if your persona is long winded. Short. There will be 5 or 6 people speaking. It needs to be only 2 to 3 minutes. Rule 3: Address to the candidate, the crown AND the populace. Rule 4: You can keep mundane references in, but disguise them.  No inside jokes unless you are prepared to explain them. Rule 5: Remember which virtue/branch of the society you are representing when you make your speech and speak to that. If you are a populace speaker, then speak of the candidate's influence among th

There was much delight when the King's Bard's scroll was read into court for Juliana Bird at K&Q Bardic yesterday. I gather the King was delighted that I wrote about his "gleaming beard". I will try to dig up an image of the final scroll Rowan made. It is astonishing. Context:  Winner scrolls are weird. You don't know what the persona of the winner will be so you can't custom tailor the look & feel of it to them. Therefore it either needs to be medieval non specific... or about the crown who is giving it out.  In the East, for the King's Bard scroll sometimes it is also about the lineage of the Bards who came before you. Rowan really wanted the chance to do something non western in her scroll, had her eye on Mughal mineatures. So I, as outgoing King's Bard, obliged her with the words I crafted. Text: Scroll text below: I gave Rowan options for some words. Those options are in parentheses. I am not sure which ones she picked: Poet Me

Vasia, Duke Edward's Squire, was given a Silver Tyger; the AOA level fighting award for the East Kingdom. I have a great fondness for Vasia.  She is an amazing woman.  I was excited to be able to collaborate with Mistress Nataliia on the words for the scroll. Text: Perkūnas ’ thunder shakes the trees of oak   as An Dubhaigeainn’s warrior takes the field. Her armor shines, the phoenix on her shield Speaks of rebirth, arising through the smoke.                                                                                                                                                                                          Her strength & skill is clear with each sword-stroke, known too her boundless grace on tourney field, her courtesy alone should make men yield; Thus her fame has spread among Eastern folk. O’er many years through transformations true, the East has let the Crown know they adore her. The King & Queen, in proper royal review,

My Household member, Jensen, was up to receive his AOA.  His persona is a Finnish Viking from the 9th century.  I was asked to create words for him.  I've been aware of the Lay of Igor for a little while, and was delighted to be able to use it as the source material for Jensen.  The words are evocative and beautiful. Text: Might it not behove us, brethren, to commence in ancient strains the lay of Johannes Mikken , known as Jensen, son of Lochleven? If you were to see the glory of a Northern warrior, like a nightingale would you soar over the tree of wisdom, flying in your mind up under the clouds and crying at the wonder of such a vision. The bards of the court of the East would sing Johannes’ song thus: The day is kindled by the dawn, A mist has covered the plain; the trill of the nightingale has fallen asleep, the chatter of ravens has awakened. The sons of the North have barred the broad plains with their mighty shields, seeking honor