Summer is almost over and the pace of events is about to pick back up! This weekend we have Festival of the Rose. I look forward to seeing Altavia well-represented in all of the arts and sciences displays.

Next weekend is Pirate tourney out in Darach and His Excellency and I are both looking forward to attending this always-fun event. The weather is lovely up in Darach and we get a chance to break out the fun pirate garb. Please join us if you can!

Highland War is at the end of August, over Labor Day weekend. I know that a couple of us are planning on going. If there is the desire for an Altavia plot of land, let me know and we’ll try and make sure that happens.

We have quite a few baronial investitures coming up in the next few months, starting with Angels investiture on September 8. If you have items you’d like to gift to either the outgoing or incoming Excellencies, please let me know so we can get our presentations together.

There are a few other things on the horizon that we’ll be talking about more at length during the rest of the meeting including Crown, Great Western War, Agincourt, and Yule. Fun and new things are afoot and, as always, if you have other ideas for things the Barony should be trying, please either come chat with us or drop us a line at baronage@sca-altavia.org.

Finally, I want to personally thank everyone who came out to the clean-up for Charles over the past two weekends, who donated items, or who has sent him words of encouragement. This is what the SCA is all about and it makes me so happy to see the strength of our Altavian family in action. <3 Baronial Progress (July ­– September) 7/4 – 7/8: An Tir/West War — B&B will not attend 7/14: Royal Champion (Calafia) — B&B will attend 7/15: Royal Champion Archery & Thrown Weapons (Calafia) – B&B will attend 7/21: Lyondemere Anniversary – B&B will attend 7/27 – 8/12: Pennsic War – B&B will not attend 8/18: FOTR/Dreibergen Summer Arts – Baroness may possibly attend 8/25: Pirate Tournament (Darach) – B&B will attend 8/30 – 9/2: Highland War (Al Sahid) – Baroness may possibly attend 9/8: Angels Anniversary and Baronial Investiture – B&B will attend 9/15: Crown Tournament (Altavia Hosting) – B&B will attend 9/22: Caid Rapier Open (Angels) – B&B will attend

Yours in Service to the Dream,
THL Nikolaos Phaistos, Baron of Altavia
THL Briana MacCabe, Baroness of Altavia

Greetings, Altavia!

We hope that you are having a great summer so far! We are only a couple of months into our tenure as your Baron and Baroness and many great things have happened in our Barony and the Kingdom. From hopping fighter practices to a wonderful encampment at Potrero War to the historic 40-Year Celebration and the historic Coronation of Caid’s first same-sex Royals, we have seen the love, hard work, and camaraderie of Altavia flourish. Thank you to everyone who continues to help make Altavia the land of Theatre, not Drama.

There are a lot of great events coming up over the rest of the summer. Here’s a list of the events happening through September; we hope to see you out there!

Baronial Progress (July ­– September)

7/4 – 7/8: An Tir/West War — B&B will not attend
7/14: Royal Champion (Calafia) — B&B will attend
7/15: Royal Champion Archery & Thrown Weapons (Calafia) – B&B will attend
7/21: Lyondemere Anniversary – B&B will attend
7/27 – 8/12: Pennsic War – B&B will not attend
8/18: FOTR/Dreibergen Summer Arts –  Baroness may possibly attend
8/25: Pirate Tournament (Darach) –  B&B will attend
8/30 – 9/2: Highland War (Al Sahid) – Baroness may possibly attend
9/8: Angels Anniversary and Baronial Investiture – B&B will attend
9/15: Crown Tournament (Altavia Hosting) – B&B will attend
9/22: Caid Rapier Open (Angels) – B&B will attend

Yours in Service to the Dream,
THL Nikolaos Phaistos, Baron of Altavia
THL Briana MacCabe, Baroness of Altavia

Hi, Everyone! Niko and I are very excited to be at our first council meeting as Baron and

Baroness. A little info on how we plan to do these baronial comments; we’re going to switch off months where we’re the primary presenter, with the other half getting a chance to chime in at the end with anything that was left out or personal comments. As you might have already guessed, I chose to go up to bat first. I want to start off our comments by once again thanking all of you for your help with Anniversary. You took the idea of Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, fun, and whimsy and made an absolutely gorgeous day for the barony and kingdom. From the floral swags and crowns, to the fun theatre during court, and the buzzing bardic stage and arts & sciences area, to the exciting tournaments and games, it was a grand day! His Excellency and I have received many compliments from the populace of Caid on an event well-run; and that is all down to your hard-work…thank you, thank you, thank you.

The rest of May was a blur with Wintermist Anniversary, Altavia/Darach Equestrian, and

Potrero War. We had an excellent group of campers in Altavia for Potrero and I think we all had a lot of fun at camp; I particularly enjoyed sitting around the campfire Saturday evening, trading stories and alcohol with everyone…very cozy! I look forward to an even bigger encampment at GWW this fall and if anyone has ideas for activities you’d like us to do as a barony at that war, let Niko and I know.

This past weekend was Collegium and His Excellency and I attended on Saturday. Many great classes were had, including two taught by Altavians (a lucet class by Dame Lynnette and a rapier class by His Excellency). I highly suggest attending this event whenever it comes up on the calendar; I always learn so much! There are a couple of events happening in the next two weeks that His Excellency and I will not be attending including Treasure Chest in Nordwache and St. Corrigan’s Day in Dreibergen. These are both fun little camping events and I highly encourage you to go if you’re able!

Coming up at the end of June is a once-in-a-lifetime event, Caid’s 40 Year and Coronation

celebration. The event will take place from Thursday, June 21 through Monday, June 25 in

Victorville and will include tournaments, an Artisan’s village, merchants, a hall full of Caid’s 40 years of history, the historic night-time coronation of our first same-sex royal couple, and more! We’re hard at work on many things for this event. I’ll be attending as Altavia’s sole baronage representative because someone is going to be in the UK during the event. I hope you’ll all be able to join me at this historic event.

I want to close out my section of the baronial comments with a reminder. Niko and I both have an “open-door” policy. If there is anything you ever want to discuss with us, please feel free to find us at a fighter practice, event, or through social media or text. We are always here to listen, offer advice, or take constructive criticism. This is your barony and we want to do and be what you need to have the best possible SCA experience.

Briana MacCabe
Baroness of Altavia

Today, I wanted nothing more than to thank all the people that helped make Altavia Anniversary such a wonderful and whimsical event yesterday. Sadly, yesterday’s joy is now tempered with the loss of a dear friend of Altavia, Her Ladyship Meala Caimbeul. I mourn with all those who hold this dancer, bard, rapier fighter, herald, beloved Caidan in their hearts. May her memory be a blessing.

But even through such sadness, the light of the love that was on display yesterday still shines. So many people worked so hard for so long to make a special day for Altavia. Your Excellencies, Cecilia and Christof, thank you for taking such good care of Altavia during your years and for helping guide Niko and I as we take our first steps in this role. Thank you to Madelena for stewarding the event and to our Seneschal, Meliora, for all the behind-the-scenes work that you do so very well. Thank you to Juanica for not only being an amazing Chief Lady but for running a very successful Arts & Sciences competition and for creating a space for bardic performance. Thank you to Cassandra for continuing to be the best Captain of the Guard a baroness could ask for. Thank you to Dame Selene and her new protégé, Haddassah, for ensuring the Royals had a lovely repast for lunch.

I know there are many others to thank and I hope to do so in person over the next coming events. Thank you to all who joined in the spirit of whimsy with flower crowns, wings, music, theatre, and even donkey ears. We could not have asked for a better day. I love you all.

Briana MacCabe
Baroness of Altavia