Tourney Tales
by Rufina Cambrensis

Despite the shortening days and the first touch of Winter's heavy hand,
full many Ostgardrians ventured forth a-tourneying during the last
month.

Many folk made the arduous journey to Sterlyng Vale for a day of
tourneying, feasting, and revelling in fine Burgundian style.  The
weather was what the folk of Eire might call "soft": the skies were
overcast and grey with drizzle.  Yet none of this dissuaded the hardy
souls present, and warriors and noncombatants alike disported
themselves in the damp.

The tourney began with a melee fought across a barrier.  Then followed
a passage of arms whose conceit was that the mighty Jacques de Lalaing
(portrayed by Maitre Galleron de Cressy) had been ensorcelled by La
Dame du Perron Fee, the mistress of a cunningly-wrought pillar (whose
twin may be seen in the Cueur d'Amours Espris, a romance by Rene, King
of Sicily and Duke of Anjou).  Lalaing could be freed only through the
prowess and valor of his companions (portrayed by members of the
Company of St. Michael).  Once the enchantment was broken, the
Companions held another melee.  Those who chose not to watch the pas
d'armes danced in the great hall or refreshed themselves in Le Poulet
Flambe, a tavern set up for the occasion.

After a brief musical interlude came court.  Sundry good folk were
honored therein, but none so dear to our hearts as our Countess Brekke
Franksdottir, who was made a Companion of the most worshipful Order of
the Pelican.  The good lady had no idea that she was to be so honored,
and so was full mazed when she was called forth.  Many folk vied for
the honor of speaking for Brekke, telling of her unstinting service,
generosity of spirit, and sausages.

At the feast, the cooks of Sterlyng Vale acquitted themselves nobly,
serving a feast from the receipt-books of Chicquart and Platina.
Amongst the dishes were roasted carrots in must and vinegar, roast beef
with colored garlic sauce, divers forcemeats, a blancmange of capon,
and other dainties too numerous to mention, all accompanied by vocal
music by Josquin, Binchois, Morton, Ghiseghem, and other Burgundian and
Franco-Flemish composers .  At the end of the feast, the servers set
out trays of wafers, and folk spent the evening dancing basse danses,
playing at cards, or telling tales by the fire.  By this time the
drizzle had turned into a downpour, but even this deluge failed to
dampen the spirits of this noble company.

Pointless War, apparently, was another story.  Wet weather had made the
site distinctly unpleasant for outdoor living.  The Viceroy and
Vicereine were there, and gave most excellent counsel to the Barons of
Atlantia concerning replenishing their Baronial coffers.  The Viceroy
also reports that some folk brought sighthounds to course at the lure.
Coursing is a new sport in this realm, and our Eastern hounds are not
fully accustomed to its demands, so dogs of lesser degree bested the
greyhounds at agility, if not at speed.

As All Hallows approached, our neighbors in Rusted Woodlands hosted
Crown Tournament.  Unlike the Fete du Perron Fee, the weather was finer
than any could hope, and folk abandoned their cloaks to enjoy a second
summer.

The 64 combatants fought in a four-fold list field, and strove most
valiantly until but four were left: Sir Gunther, Sir Andreas, Duke
Balfar, and Master Hans.  At length, these four were reduced to two,
and Sir Andreas, fighting for Mistress Isabella, and Master Hans,
fighting for his lady, Maura, faced each other at the last.  Ringed
about by peers and serenaded by raucous instruments, the two battled
until Master Hans was proven the victor.  Doubtless some could speak
more eloquently of these bouts, but I have an imperfect understanding
of things martial, and can impart but little.

At court the Crown acknowledged Lady Anabel's enthusiastic service and
noble demeanor with an Award of Arms.  Anabel also was all unaware that
such a thing would happen, and her friends delighted in her reaction.

The evening brought a feast of all manner of exotic dishes.  Folk had
little interest in dancing, but instead gathered in small groups,
singing or swapping tales until the time came to journey home.

It surprised me, an expatriate Midrealmer, to see such a turnout at
Crown Tourney: often Midrealm Crowns draw four hundred people or more,
with a feast that seats twelve score, so I expected Crown to be
crowded, noisy, and hopelessly behind schedule (one infamous Midrealm
Crown Tourney closing court lasted till two a.m.).  I was most
pleasantly surprised to find this not the case.  If all Crown Tourneys
in the East are this pleasant, I look forward to attending another
one.

The season for tourneying is not yet past; An Dubhaigeainn, Rusted
Woodlands, and Ostgardr will all hold tourneys in the next month.  With
so many events nearby, we hope folk in the Province will travel to
these events, and share what they see and hear with the rest of us....


from the November 1996 Seahorse