Happy Summer, Altavia!
Warmer weather means busy days and we have seen a lot of activity since our last meeting! We had our first in-person anniversary in 3 years right after our last meeting and it was a glorious day full of Highland hi-jinks! There were Highland games, a silent auction and bake sale that helped raise much-needed funds for the barony and a snow cone sale that cooled us down on a worm day and helped raise funds for the kingdom! We have new champions – Duke Sven for Armored, Don Nathaniel for Rapier, Her Ladyship Amabel for Unarmored and Master Sir Niccolo for Arts and Sciences. Many thanks to Lady Amber for stewarding this event after a long delay and everyone who helped out before the event and day of, especially Dame Lynnette for running the auction, Lord Pieter for creating and running the Highland Games and especially Mistress Cecilia for all the little and big things you did to make sure this event happened. Everyone in the barony worked so hard to pull this event off and you should all be proud of the fun day we created for the kingdom.
After our anniversary event came Wintermist, where we saw yet another baronial changeover. We said thank you and “Job well done!” to Baron Einarr and Baroness Sunnifa and welcomed Baron Ajax and Baroness Fabia as the took over the helm of the lands to our north. It was a great day with much friendship and laughter and sharing of shade with our Cousins of Calafia.
The next week saw some of us traveling down south to Potrero War. We very much missed His Excellency (damn that plague!) but had a nice, if small, camp with our friends from Angels. It was great to get to know their Vicaress, Honoree, better as well as meet new friends Meggan and Rob…Camp Angeltavia was so much fun! We had a few folks out on the armored field and I even got out on the rapier field for a fun day of “sword tag” Thank you to all Altavians that camped with and for House Valentine being a home away from home on several evenings!
Following Potrero, a few of us travelled down to Gyldenholt where we once again combined forces with Angels for low-key hangout day. We once again missed His Excellency especially as we saw his protégé sister Morgana elevated to the Pelican that day.
Finally, this past Saturday, His Excellency, who we were so glad to see feeling better!, Our Captain and I travelled down to Gyldenholt once more for Collegium. It was a great day full of learning and hats off to Dame Gwen and her team for pulling off a lovely in-person Collegium once again.
On a much more somber note, we learned during Collegium that another shining light of Altavia and Caid has gone out. Baroness Aelfwyn Wodende, 3rd baroness of Altavia, passed away last week. While I didn’t have a chance to get to know her outside of Facebook as she was already out of kingdom when I started playing, I have heard so many wonderful stories of her time as baroness and all she did to help start the youth combat program here in Caid. I have been touched by the many remembrances I’ve seen posted since the news broke and our hearts go out to Baron Duryn, Dame Lynnette (her chief lady), and all who knew and held Aelfwyn dear. If we hear of any local plans to honor her or for memorials, we will keep you informed.
On a sadly similar topic, if you hadn’t already heard, Baron Llewellyn of Naevehjem passed away suddenly while were at Potrero. Our hearts go out to all in Naevehjem that have lost so much in the past few years, and we will likewise keep you apprised of any plans to honor him as well.
As always, we are here for you if you need to chat, need a hug, or any help in anyway. It is hard when we suffer loss but it also illuminates what a strong and loving community we have when we see how immediately people offer help and shoulders to cry on when these tragedies occur.
Never forget that we love you, Altavia, and we will be here for each other, always.
Yours in Service,
Baroness Briana MacCabe
Baron Nikolaos Phaistos
