This year’s Winter Investiture, a joint effort between the Shire of Wyrmgeist and the Barony of Axemoor, took place February 5th at Camp Grant Walker in Pollock, LA. Lady Leonora Isabella Nicollini was autocrat and the feast was prepared by Lady Aisha. We, Axemoorians, spent Friday night decorating the main hall for the ball and other festivities and setting up the Great Baronial Tent. The wooden pillars and archways in the hall were covered with garlands of greenery to which we tied silver and gold, glittering paper diamonds in various sizes. A huge white, glittering diamond, created by Lady Cristina, was suspended from the center of the room at the nexus of two long swags of white netting that ran diagonally the length of the central corridor that was framed by the two rows of columns. It made a lovely setting for court and the investiture as well as the ball.
The first event of the day, right after breakfast and the Principality Officer’s meeting was Royal Court, followed by the final court of Kaus and Susanna, in which “Their Highnesses” were revealed to be impostors, thumbless, shapeshifting creatures from the stars, plotting to take over our world. After a brief intermission, the Heirs, Eric and Christine, came forward, both of Them possessing thumbs, and took Their place as Prince and Princess. Her Stellar Highness was absolutely stunning in an Italian gown of rich, deep red with tied-on sleeves in two parts, heavily beaded in patterns of stripes and crosses and a long, sideless, open-fronted tabard of a black and red floral brocade. His Stellar Highness was attired in a more martial, less courtly style. Sir Ragnar, Lord Georg and I took part in court as three fourths of Their Stellar Highnessesâ rapier guards, providing a sword arch for Their entrance into court.
As soon as I was rid of some of my courtly encumbrances, I went to the kitchen to assemble the kransekake, a traditional Norwegian cake, consisting of a stack of huge, ring-shaped almond butter cookies held together with frosting. The frosting was black, sprinkled with red sugar, of course. I managed to finish just in time to run back to the cabin and squirm into my fighting gear for the rapier tourney.
The afternoon was taken up with various competitions martial and otherwise. There was a crest tourney held for the amusement of Their Highnesses, won by Seth of Newcastle. The tourney for Princess’ Rapier Champion was won by THL Damiano Elie Bellini. There were four competitors, two of them from Axemoor. I made a respectable showing. Well, I wasn’t last. Once that was done it was back to the kitchen to get everything ready for the dessert table. Dainties had to be set out artfully on trays. The fondant on the cake required one or two minor repairs (at least we didn’t hit that car). Even the roses required preparation. The lowest leaves were unsightly and we couldnât have the royal ladies pricking their fingers on thorns.
There were also live weapons competitions. Lord Ender won both the axe and spear throwing, while Lord Lanon won knife throwing and the overall competition. The new Princess Yeoman was one of Axemoor’s own, Cyril Robert. Among the gentler activities of the day was the contest for Principality Bard won by Melandra of the Wood.
The feast was an excellent effort with special praise being deserved for the delicious smoked beef, which proved very popular. (especially with Solvejg and I, who managed to each make off with a bag of it from the cooler) Dessert took the form of a large sheet cake decorated as a map of Glean Abhainn. We were quick about cleaning and rearranging the hall since feast and the ball were to be held in the same place.
Two tables were set aside for the refreshments and covered with red tablecloths and swags of white netting hung with more of the paper diamonds. The central dish was a large cake layered in the colors of Glean Abhainn, chocolate, vanilla and red velvet, then covered with white fondant and edible glitter, topped by a huge faceted “diamond” and set upon columns above a lighted fountain. All of it was provided by Baroness Francesca. Flanking it were candles of red and white as well as more desserts; cinnamon almond tartlets, a kransekake frosted in black and sprinkled with red sugar and an assortment of cookies. The table that held the remains of the Glean Abhainn cake also bore the punch and the various necessaries, plates, napkins etc...
Lady Leonora, the autocrat, led the dancing with music provided entirely by live minstrels. The lively and energetic crowd went through the entire program of dances and made a few requests after that. Perhaps the most memorable event of the Ball was one that didn’t involve dancing at all. I’m not talking about the “Diamond of Doom,” as the central piece of ball decor was dubbed by those gentlemen tall enough to feel its wrath. When you saw it swaying, you knew it had claimed another victim. Play back time, you giant freaks of nature!
No, I’m talking about Prince Eric, who apparently becomes very amusing when he’s been celebrating a bit extravagantly. He came and sat by me at one point, offered me a drink from his bottle of rum and asked me what I was drinking to. “Because someone handed me a bottle,” was my innocuous reply. One has to take care what one says in the presence of royalty. He seemed satisfied, but then I felt compelled to ask him whether or not he was numb, since Lady Solvejg was trying to tickle his ear surreptitiously with a sprig of artificial flowers. He answered that he was and turned to see what was going on behind him because I then warned him about the attempted flower-tickling. Here’s how we know he wasn’t in full possession of his considerable, princely wits. Solvejg blamed it on Thorvald and His Highness believed it, although I’d already told him that Solvejg had done it and Thorvald was standing before, not behind him.
He walked over to Thorvald and we wondered what he would do. He took Thorvald by the long end of his belt and led him to one of the posts. He did his best to tie Thorvald to the post by his belt, even setting His foot against the post while pulling the knot tight. The brief, lascivious pole dance that Thorvald then commenced was captured on film by Thorberger. Sadly, my camera was back in my cabin by then. His Highness then went upon His very merry way.
Cleanup of the hall was rapidly accomplished the next morning by Lady Christina de Asturias, Lady Eleri of Caerleon and Lord Cyril Robert, who worked so quickly that they were done by the time I dressed and came to the hall seeking a little breakfast. I was relieved to find that removing all those staples had actually been quite easy. I had anticipated spending hours prying them up. The event was, by all accounts, a success. It was enjoyable and well-attended with no unpleasantly remarkable incidents and made a considerable profit in the bargain.
THL Sigrid Thorbjarnardottir