One month in, and we’ve had a great, busy time!

First off, thank you everyone for your support, help and congratulations at Altavia Anniversary. It was such a fantastic day, with all sorts of arts and sciences being shown off, from Bardic to full clothing ensembles to illustrations and many more types. The Armored and Rapier fighters also shined, with tons of beautiful fights, and we are excited to have all of our new Champions.

Our Weekly fighter and bardic practices have been VERY well attended, with guests almost every week.

It’s been full weekends every single week. We started off with Wintermist Anniversary, and Lyondomere Anniversary and Investiture, and were thrilled to have a full Dragonwing, overflowing with Altavians and friends at both events.

Next up we had Potrero War, with a great encampment, where we all got to enjoy the long weekend with singing, fighting, and friends.

This last weekend in particular was incredibly busy, with Altavians and our Champions spread out over many events including Collegium, the Koroneburg Renaissance Festival Demo, the Getty Demo and the meet and beat.

Every event has been well represented with Altavians, and we are excited to see the energy and enthusiasm from everyone.

We’re looking forward to the next month, which is just as full of events, but Griffith and Amabel will be talking a little bit of a breather, and attending only Gyldenholt Anniversary, Coronation and Privy Council. We’d love to hit everything, but need to leave time for mundane life as well!

With such great support at events and practices we’re hoping we can find someone soon to step up as deputy Seneschal to take over for Sibylla when her term ends at the end of the year. The earlier we find the right person, the more time they’ll have to learn and shadow the position.

If you’re interested in stepping up as Seneschal, Armored Marshal, Chronicler or any of the deputy positions please reach out! We are happy to talk about what is needed, and what the different positions entail.

Here to serve,

Baron Griffith von Bremen
Baroness Amabel Radleigh

Greetings, Altavia!

Well, it is May and a very special time for the SCA and for our barony in particular. This month we celebrate not only the 57th birthday of this game we all hold so dear but also the 40th birthday of the wonderful lands of Altavia! There is also more to celebrate this year…but we’ll come to that in a moment.

The last month saw His Excellency and I, as well as many Altavians, traveling to events around the kingdom. His Excellency made a solo trek out to Starkhafn Anniversary and then came right back so we could both attend Robin Hood Archery and Thrown Weapons tournament at Woodley Park. Angels announced their new heirs; and several of us made a little spot for some music under the trees while shooting and throwing was going on. Last weekend, His Excellency and I, along with our stalwart Altavians, Captain Cassandra and Eadric, headed up to Darach Anniversary. It was a lovely day with lovely weather and Baron Niko came out on top for the rapier tournament. There was some really great fighting from both him and our honorary Altavians, Ceallach and Saife!

So that catches us up to this week…which is a big one in Altavia. We’ll be talking about last minute plans for this Saturday’s Anniversary events in a few minutes, but His Excellency and I wanted to put down in writing what you’ve been hearing from us this week and will continue to hear from us until they get the shepherd’s crook and yank us off the stage on Saturday morning 😉

So…Thank you, Altavia, from the bottom of our hearts.

Thank you for your faith in us, for your hard work, for your smiles, for sharing your ups and downs with us.

For sticking with us and with the Barony through both thick and thin (and there was a lot of both these last 5 years!)

Like Niko said last night, we were merely the cruise directors, making sure everyone had what they needed to enjoy our hobby to its fullest. It was you, all of you, that put in your ideas, your heart, your backs, and your souls into this game to make it work and to make Altavia the fun-loving land of Theater, Not Drama, that we are known to be throughout the Kingdom, and the Knowne World.

We truly hope that we are leaving Altavia in a better place than when we found it (though our baronial predecessors were all tough acts to follow!) and we know we are leaving it in good hands with Griffith and Amabel. Please continue to support them as they take the baronial thrones and lead us all into the future.

“And remember, fair Altavia, should you need us…yes, should you need us…”

We remain…

Always Yours in Service to the Dream,

Baron Nikolaos Phaistos

Baroness Briana MacCabe

Greetings, Altavia!

Spring has sprung in Altavia and we finally have some lovely weather for our practices and events!

Since we last met, we had a lovely day out at Dun Or for their anniversary and to say “goodbye” to Baron Bjorn and Baroness Roisin and say “hello” to Baron Fadi and Baroness Raignault! It was truly a lovely day in the baronial “living room,” graciously provided this time by Giachino. Thank you to Eadric, Cassandra, Griffith, Amabel, and everyone else that helped move and set up our shade and space for the day! There was lots of fighting to be had in the traditional Dun Or bear pits and we had many Altavians mixing it up on both the Rapier and Armored side of things. Many congrats to Altavia practice stalwart, Ceallach, for making it to finals in Rapier and putting on an entertaining show for the populace along with Crow.

The next day a large crew of us got together in garb to watch the Dungeons & Dragons movie! The movie was great and the company was even better! Thank you to all who were able to join us. I left some Altavia flyers at Story Tavern where we had dinner afterwards and several of the staff sounded very intrigued. #alwaysbechatelaining

This last weekend was al-Sahid Anniversary in Helendale. We had a small Altavia contingent consisting of His Excellency and I and our heirs and we all had a great time! There were bunny melees and eggs hunts and much good fighting on both sides of the field. His Excellency Niko made the finals for rapier and I had a great time fighting many folks I’d never fought before, including the newly Rapier-authorized Earl Marshal, Sir Davin! On the way home, Niko and I had dinner with Their Excellencies of Dreibergen and family and a lovely time was had by all!

This Saturday is Starkhafn Anniversary and I believe His Excellency is planning on attending. A whole bunch of us plan to head out to Woodley on Sunday for Robin Hood Archery and Thrown Weapons tournament. After that, I believe the last event with planned Altavian attendance is Darach Anniversary on May 6; that is always a nice lowkey event right before our big day!

As it is getting into April now, many things are underway for Altavia Anniversary next month. Meliora has already hosted one sewing night for new baronial favors and another one is coming up. Keep your eyes peeled for details on the Book of Faces. I am also looking for any special items of largess you would like to present to Their Majesties and Their Highnesses in addition to everything I clear out of my stores of largess. There is also time still to volunteer to serve on court (either baronial or Their Highnesses) as well as get in those letters for deserving Altavians for both baronial and kingdom-level awards.

Please keep a lookout on the Book of Faces and the baronial Discord for more socializing opportunities in the near future. We are already scheduled to hit up karaoke at Rogue-like Tavern on Friday, April 28 and there may be a Guildhall night here soon as well. We’re always looking for more opportunities to hang with our baronial fam!

Yours in Service to the Dream,

Baron Nikolaos Phaistos

Baroness Briana MacCabe

Greetings, Altavia!

As I write this note, the heavens are once again raining down on our fair lands. It has been a damp month, but our spirits are as high as ever, and there is lots going on here in Altavia and in Caid.

While Calafia-Gyldenholt Friendship tourney was unfortunately rained out (as was pretty much everything that weekend in our area), the following weekend was a lovely double event weekend. First up was a truly stellar Crown in Angels! Congratulations to all combatants, especially Altavia’s own Faelan, for wonderfully clean and well-communicated tournament, and thank you to Cassandra, Monique, Cecilia, Christof, Lord and Lady Altavia, Meliora, Matlens, and many, many more who joined us in the dragonwing for a lovely day! The finals were a nail biter between Sir Valentine and Duke Skalla with some really spectacular fighting. Congratulations to Their Royal Highnesses, Skalla and Lorissa. If you would like to serve on court for their upcoming reign, please reach out to His Excellency or I and we’ll put you in contact with the right people.

Sunday was a slightly soggy Consort’s Champion Archery Thrown Weapons here in Altavia at Woodley archery range. While a smaller event, Cecilia did a wonderful job running the event and arranging a fun and challenging tournament on the archery side, with Lord Conall running things on the thrown weapons side. Her Majesty seemed to enjoy the flock of ducks that showed up for her and even took to the field to shoot a crossbow bolt or two. Thank you to all who helped us run a smooth event, especially List Mistress, Tezar, and finish up quickly so Her Majesty could get back on the road before the snows hit the Grapevine. Congratulations to Miguel, Her Majesty’s new archery champion and Conall, her thrown weapons champion!

Last weekend while I was under the weather, His Excellency headed out to Dreibergen for the brand-new Academia Draconis. He’ll have to give all of the details on this event but from everything I read and all the pictures I’ve seen, it sounds like it was an amazing event and I look forward to attending it in the future.

From Baron Niko: Academica Draconis was truly wonderful. The classes, fighting and revelry were top notch. What I most appreciated is the time I had with a couple of new Altavians who took the time to sit and talk with me in the tavern. Thank you for the company, smiles and waves. I believe Joana was one of their names and I can’t remember the other. The old Baron has never been good with remembering names the first (hundred) time I am introduced. We hope to see you more at practice and events.

The next few months will be busy here as we get Lord and Lady Altavia, Grif and Amabel, ready to step up at Anniversary. There’s lots to do but we know that Altavia will rise to the occasion. Let’s all pitch in to make sure we throw a party full of Theater not Drama!

Until next month, love always…

Yours in Service to the Dream,

Baron Nikolaos Phaistos

Baroness Briana MacCabe