The First Book of the Chronicles of Eoforwic

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January A.S. XV (C.E. 1981)

ighteen people from Eoforwic travelled to North Woods for the Kingdom's Twelfth Night. They witnessed the knighting of Emeric Wendel the Diversified. Later, Baroness Gillian made a surprising declaration: ratherhan abandon her title as baroness of Septentria, she announced her intention to annex North Woods, her new home, as a canton of Septentria. She declared Baron Thorvald an outlaw, and urged the nobility of Canton North Woods to submit to her right. Sir Thorvald, always a proud man, scorned to answer, but the warriors of North Woods defied Gillian, and threatened to bring war into the Northland unless she abandoned her claim. But many of Gillian's people rallied to her, and she stood firm; it was decided to determine the right through war.

The warriors of Septentria were pleased to have a friendly and honorable war, in the tradition of North Woods' own Scots Revolts, to test their valor against the men of the South. Some few Septentrians, however, were offended that the Baroness had called for war against Septentria's closest friends, and grumbled that the conflict was ill-advised. Thus began an absurd controversy that troubled the barony for months. But the warriors happily prepared for battle; and in East Septentria, as the old barony was now called, the preparations were entrusted to Artair mac Artair and the people of Afon Araf.

The next week Eoforwic celebrated the Holy Season with a great feast of fools. This year Mordreth was the host, and she fed the canton well. Lady Enid was chosen Queen of Fools, and she chose Nain of Islandia, as yet little known, for her King. Enid's first command was that each course should be sung in, an ordinance that Lady Bronwyn fulfilled most beautifully. There was a very solemn moment when Gillian appointed Aedan na Kincora and Kaffa Muiriath as her vicars for old Septentria. All knew that it was probable that Aedan and Kaffa would soon succeed to the barony.

This same month Sylard and his household invited the folk of Eoforwic to their Up-He-Aligh, a Norse celebration of the solstice. it took place on a beach near Sylard's hold after sunset. The celebrants invoked the gods of the Norse, asking them for a favorable ear and a good harvest. Then sacrifices were laid in a small boat, which was set alight and burned. All then returned to Sylard's stead for an informal revel.

February A.S. XV (C.E. 1981)

Again at Valentine's Day a court of love was held in Eoforwic, presided over by Princess Caitlin and the Ladies Kaffa, Ragni and Tamarra. It was noted that in the absence of the Baroness the sentences were light.

March A.S. XV (C.E. 1981)

t the beginning of this month Noerlanda held in conjunction with the Feast of the Bear a Feast of Knowledge, that is, a university. Charles d'Arnaud appeared. He would become very active in both Noerlanda and Eoforwic hereafter.

A week after this, Starleaf Gate hosted a second Clancy Day celebration. Here the canton of Dubhras was first presented to the barony. Theuderic of Amberview, a founding member of Skraeling Althing, had settled in Waterloo the previous fall. Since then he had raised up this new shire and taught its young men the use of weapons. Several of them authorized for and fought in the lists, and the onlookers were well pleased.

Here some folk of Eoforwic were honored for their artistry. Ragni's green costumes, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, surpassed all the others, and Breanaidh's embroidery was chosen the best. Their Majesties chose that occasion to award arms to numerous gentles from Septentria. From Eoforwic, Mordreth, Henry of Linlithgow and Vladinir Bohdan were honored thus.

The Clancy Day tourney well prepared the people of Eoforwic for the grand Ice Dragon tourney in Rhydderich Hael the next week. There were melees aplenty, and Prince Hugo acquitted himself nobly against the King of the East. Princess Caitlin won the arts pentathlon a third time. The following day the Vicars of Septentria, and Baron Torbin and Duke Finnvarr travelled to Dubhras and shared their knowledge of fighting with its folk.

April A.S. XV (C.E. 1981)

fter the contests and battles of March, the people of Eoforwic returned to their homes to care for pressing business: the coming Coronation of Hugo and Caitlin. In charge of the preparations was the canton's most skilled host, Lady Ragni Dzintara, who wisely assigned various responsibilities to such folk as Dea, Kaffa, Megan, Torbin, and Sylard, and directed their efforts to the common end. His Highness had expressed the desire to be crowned in the most beautiful and ancient Great Hall of Hart House. The greater part of Ragni's efforts were devoted to securing that hall and making it suitable for a feast in the accustomed style of the Middle Kingdom.

May A.S. XVI (C.E. 1981)

n the IInd of May, in the XVIth year of the Society, King Hugo and Queen Caitlin began their rule. The elements were kind to the celebrants, as so often before. The event was multifarious. The warriors of two realms competed in chivalrous strife; the artisans of the Midrealm took up a milder contest. Artisans gathered in a market. Everyone who attended was fed a midday meal on the largess(e) of the canton.

All this activity came to a halt, however, at the ninth hour, and the people of the Middle Kingdom gathered in the Great Hall to participate in the ritual of succession. Prince Hugo, as was his right, challenged King Laurelen for his throne. he was first instructed in royal duty by his predecessor, swore the ancient oaths of office, and was regally crowned. King Hugo then received the consort's crown from Queen Ithriliel and Princess Caitlin came forward to receive it; she was the first of the Midrealm Queens to swear a coronation oath. She was crowned by her knight, and they took their rightful place on the Midrealm Thrones.

After receiving the oaths of office from their Great Lords and Ladies and the fealty of the knights, the new monarchs appointed personal officers: Baron Torbin was named Royal Chamberlain, and Lady Kaffa was invested as King's Champion. And then Morgan Elandris, War General for the East Kingdom, entered the court and presented Hugo with tokens of defiance, which were courteously received.

After the coronation ceremony there was much celebrating. The Players and Comedians of Eoforwic performed farces, and there was dancing in the courtyard under the spring sun. The feast was magnificent.

Finally came the granting of honors to the worthy and deserving. Arms were awarded to Eanor of Amberhall, Breanaidh ni Naoimin, Frederick l'Avarre, and Tamarra Amalthea of Romany; as well as many other gentles of Septentria. Tsivia bas Tamara was elevated to the Order of the Willow for her many artistic accomplishments. Also Christiana della Semptentriona Silvia, a worthy lady of North Woods, was made Baroness of the Court. Also, Ithriliel of Silver Lake took up her rank as Duchess.

On this occasion, the people of Rising Waters first made an appearance.

The first of Their Majesties' duties was to provide for their succession, which they did at the end of the month in Starleaf Gate. Here fully fifty-four gentle men and women competed for the Crown. The size of the lists and the smooth running of the tournament were made possible by the efforts and ingenuity of Lord Illtyd, who was later honored with a place at the head table. And the victor was Jarl Moonwulf Starkaaderson. That evening, after a pleasing feast and entertainment, Hugo and Caitlin recognized Laurelen Darksbane as Duke, and elevated Ealasaid nic Phearsoinn, Midrealm Chronicler, to the Order of the Pelican. And Orson die Grosse Mauer was appointed Queen's Champion.

The reign of Hugo and Caitlin was a glorious one, and many worthy deeds were done. The monarchs travelled extensively in this, the largest of the world's kingdoms. King Hugo gloriously led his vassals and other warriors against the Kingdoms of the East, West and Ansteorra; Queen Caitlin graced the Eastern Coronation with her presence. Together they presided over the first Coronet Tourney in Calontir, and crowned that region's first Prince and Princess, Ternon and Ghleanna. they made many Knights and Laurels and gave awards to many deserving subjects. In Eoforwic the recognized the merits of Helmut of Greenland and Tamarra Amalthea with the Order of the (Silver) Oak; Ragni Dzintara of Amberhall and Mordreth Llanelli Colwyn with the Order of the Willow, and Dea Carlyle, Dramore von Dreikof, and Charles d'Arnaud with awards of arms. Baron Torbin and Lord Illtyd were given the right to augment their arms with the Midrealm badge.

June A.S. XVI (C.E. 1981)

his months of love began with a Fast of Love in Skraeling Althing, where Jorunn Sophia and Thomas of Nil were wed; and later, in Eoforwic, Ragni Dzintara and Finnvarr de Taahe were married. The rest of the month, however, was dedicated to preparations for war. For the time was approaching when the issue between North Woods and Septentria would be decided.

On the XXVIIth, the warriors of the two baronies met near Afon Araf on a tract of land suitably prepared by the members of that canton. But when the warbands arrived, they found themselves threatened by a mercenary force consisting of Stepann Ruthenko, Searu Dracwyn, House Eagleshaven, members of House Elandris, and a number of other scoundrels. North Woods and the Septentrian loyalists were obliged to band together to put the mercenaries down. They barely succeeded, and in the aftermath of battle, the folk of the two baronies decided that unity was safer than division, and peace was declared.

The remainder of this so-called pacification campaign was devoted to friendly melee and less strenuous activity; many gentles took the opportunity to enjoy the summer sun.

When the sun went down, a royal court was convened in a great natural amp(h)itheater. here, under flickering torchlight, Baroness Gillian d'Uriel solemnly surrendered Septentria to the Crown. She received in return a new coronet, denoting her rank as Baroness of the Court, from the hand of Queen Caitlin, who had made it herself. Gillian's successors were then called forth, and invested as befit their rank. Aedan na Kincora and Kaffa Muiriath, now Baron and Baroness of Septentria, took their place in the royal court.

And when their own court was convened, among their first acts was to appoint Nain of Islandia as baronial harper, and to receive the submission of the notorious rebel, Johanna von Carlsberg, who among other would-be usurpers had disputed their right. More importantly, however, they established their stewardship with a symbolic act of great beauty; For they took the wealth of the barony, and distributed it to the cantons, entrusting them with the responsibility to make it grow. So the new guardians of the land took up their office.