Wardens Challenge: Episode VI, The Return of the Warden… An Epilogue

Unto the good people of Meridies and the hearty souls of the Northern Plateau, do I, Baron Eoin Mac Cana, Warden, send good tidings and warmest greetings.

Back in January, when our shire, Easaraigh, began discussions and planning for our event this season, I volunteered to steward the activity as we shifted its occurrence on the calendar to the month of June. Having spent the last two seasons at the Pennsic War, in support of my Earl, Benen Mactire, I had not been able to attend my shire’s event due it occurring during the Pennsic campaign. This season, I sought to remedy this shortfall. This would be the sixth occurrence of Wardens Challenge that my home group, Easaraigh, had hosted since the Wardens Challenge inception, shortly after I was presented the title of ‘Warden of the Northern Plateau’ by the illustrious Imperator Barthelemy. My home group honors me by sharing the title I was presented in the name of the event. At this point, I feel the idea of the Warden belongs to Easaraigh more so than me, as bearer of the title.

This sixth occurrence of the event, happened to align with the sixth movie of the Star Wars franchise (in story order, not so much in release) in that we had chosen ‘Return of the Warden’ as the theme. From that point, we decided the lean into ‘borrowing’ from the Star Wars marketing look and feel for our own advertising. I really enjoyed both the subtle and blatant references that came to fore. That blending of whimsical anachronism in our medievally inspired hobby is a joy of mine, I confess. It keeps us honest and true to the foundation of this hobby that, at times, can be too serious. I am entirely pleased with the product we created.

Our event, Wardens Challenge, Episode VI: Return of the Warden, held true to our base principles here in Easariagh. Like the fabled tale of Goldie Locks, we like our events to be ‘just right’. To that end, we shone bright yesterday at the fairgrounds in Sparta.

As steward, my shire and the attendees made the event happen in the magical way things do sometimes. For my part, I was just a witness to a smooth running clock that chimed on schedule without a need for winding. Ceri and Maria greeted our guests as the arrived. Ellen and I welcomed and thanked them for coming. Our many volunteer teachers shared knowledge to willing students. Our martials (Sean, Benen, Asa, Mongo, Arianne) held many competitions of skill and daring. At lunch, we broke for sustenance and our stewards (Ronan and Elysant) and staff (Hallgrimr, Yrsa, and the 3 Lairds Hallgrimsson) delivered a bounty of victuals that filled the stomach and pleased the senses. Very many hands made light work for this steward. You are all appreciated.

We topped our day off with a royal court, the likes of which has not been seen on this part of the Northern Plateau in recent memory. We are so happy to have been able to share our day with Their Royal Majesties, Sebastianos and Morgan; with His Highness, Barthelemy, and the baronages to our east and west; Their Excellencies Ysabel and Jean-Azriel of Glaedenfeld and Bjorn of Thor’s Mountain. The rarity of so many renowned leaders visiting our small shire was a sight to behold and we were so pleased to be able to host them.

To all who came to visit our shire of Easariagh, in the land of the Cumbrians, on a warm day in the month of June… I offer my humblest thanks. We, of Easaraigh, thank you all for coming. We do this not just for ourselves, but for you and our hobby. Thank you.

Your servant in humility,

Baron Eoin Mac Cana
Warden of the Northern Plateau
Steward, Warden’s Challenge VI

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YIS,
Eoin

A message from the Autocrat – Warden’s Challenge V…

Sorry this has taken so long to post, but I was trying to get all my thoughts together, which can be difficult when real life work life takes over. But there are many I want to thank.


I want to thank the Baron and Baroness of Glaedenfeld, Their Excellencies, Maitre Jean-Azriel du Corbier and Maitresse Ysabel de Saincte-Croix, for attending our event. Glaedenfeld has always been very supportive of us and that means the world to me and the Shire.


I want to thank Mongo Blackheart for being the Live Weapons Marshal and running his Find Eion shoot. I want to thank Katerina of Sørøya and Ricard of Glaedenfeld for running the Youth Shoot, IKAC, and Royal Rounds. Sir Griffin O’Suaird thank you for running both of your shoots. They looked very challenging and fun.


Thank you Ronan of Axebridge and Elysant of Axbridge for running troll. It was such a relief knowing it was in great hands.


Thank you Medb with the Wolfdog for bringing the yummy breakfast treats and most of all, the coffee!


Thank you Mistress Ellen DeLacey for running the hall and helping me keep things straight during our event meetings. I would have been lost otherwise.


Thank you Padraig Brun for Heralding with the wonderful rich voice you have.


Thank you Kelcie of Easaraigh for taking on the job nobody wants to do but still must be done.


To our feastcrat, Asa Kolbrún, you did such an amazing job with all the food. I was stuffed to the gills but kept eating the smoked pork anyway. Thank you Constance Saxham and Samantha of Easaraigh for all the help you gave in the kitchen.


Thank you all the teachers for the classes and salons you gave. I really wished I could have joined some.


Thank you Mistress Arianne Lightheart for making youth combat available.


Thanks to Sir Hrothgar of Mercia, for runny heavy fighting on the baseball field. I’m glad you love the field and hopefully it will get more use in the future.


To our missing Warden of the North, Eoin Mac Cana , thank you for allowing us to have so much fun with your face.


To the populace, thank you for coming and spending the day with us. We hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did.


Lastly I want to thank my Laurel, Mistress Constanza Consuela Ximena de Valencia . This was my first time autocratting a live event and I was scared to death. She gave me tips and tricks and sage advice when needed. She even talked me off the ledge when I thought I was losing my mind. Without her I don’t think I would have made it through it all.


To anybody I might have missed, thank you.

Lady Ceri Adain

Regional Practice – Thank You!

On behalf of the Barony of Glaedenfeld and the Shire of Easaraigh, the Marshals and Stewards of the Regional Practice would like to thank all those good gentles that came out to share time with us in Sparta, TN today. It was great to see your fun and enjoyment. We hope you all have a safe journey home. Well met, friends!

Warden’s Challenge IV – A note from the Autocrat…

Nocked and Loaded, what can I say?

You made my feet hurt, my knee hurt, and my back hurt, but you also made my heart swell with joy and pride.

The joy came from seeing so many people in person that I hadn’t seen in a while, from seeing new and older people taking classes and smiling, watching kids and adults alike cast arrows down the range while they cheered and goaded each other on, and then watching others eat and talk while they renewed and created new friendships. This was the SCA I remember. The pride I felt came from watching people do their best to put on this event and seeing them show up late Friday afternoon to move tables, chairs, and such. Being there with them as they gathered Saturday morning to set up the ranges, put up the netting, get Troll ready, preparing the Feast, etc. and then helping throughout the day as everyone did their assignments with all their hearts and love for everyone attending. It made my “job” as the autocrat go so much smoother and easier (especially for the first time of doing it). This was the SCA I remember.

So, having said all of that – thank you to everyone that attended and everyone that helped! You are all the SCA I remember and I’m so excited to be in this Dream with you!

YIS

Ld. Ronan of Axbridge

Squire to Earl Benen Mactire