So the last time...

[dametheadee]

...  I really blogged, it was about Sport of Kings.  Which means I haven't updated substantially since then. 

And a lot has happened.  I will. start with Coronation.  The EPIC!!  It can best be summed up with two sentiments.  1)  I love that my friends trust me to bring their vision to life.  2)  It worked!!  2a)  Even with being entrenched in the plans for something, I can still have magic moments that are uber-cool and cannot always be predicted.
 

Sean and Nisa's coronation was on Labor Day weekend in the Province of Arrow's Flight.  There was camping and some minor foo with the camp itself, but nothing substantial that hasn't since been resolved.  I arrived at site on Friday evening long enough to say hi and bye to Sean and Nisa who were leaving to go back home to finish up some stuff.   I waited up late for Michael and Sati to come and get scrolls so they could sign them and be ready for their final court which was going to be on Saturday morning.

Saturday was an amazing day.  Michael and Sati's court seemed to go well.  I am not quite sure how I missed most of it, but I did.   I think I got to puttering around in camp, making big sandwich, and just mentally reviewing the things I needed to get done that afternoon.   When I got called up to receive an award, I was playing with Ziva in camp, so I picked her up and brought her with me  :)  She does amazingly well with being in a crowd of people who are making lots of noise.  I love that little girl.  (The award was a Gryphon's Heart, and it was very cool to be in the company of the others who received them as well.)

After their court was over, the Rapier Champion's tourney was held.  Coronation court was not going to start until 8pm.  I started to get out the scenic and lighting elements that we had built (yes, I said scenery) and started to get them ready to put up.  Thank goodness for the members of the household and other people  who just made things work!  There was a screen that Nisa would sit behind where she would be seen in silhouette, and we rigged up some propane lanterns with punched tin covers as backlight behind the screen and side light hanging from the pavilion poles.  The screen was sheer fabric with a stencilled design around the border.     The coolest part is that while I was under the pavilion setting stuff up, Mary Amanda and some of the other musicians were having a great time playing in the corner.  They were working on some stuff that sounded AMAZING, and I looked around and had one of those great moments where things were happening, people were excited, and it was truly wonderful.  Thanks to my hubby and Lord Einar, all the stuff got set up and was actually standing.  Then it was time to go make sure dinner was happening.  Which it was because people in the household rocked!

(Oh, and after the Rapier Champion's list, Sean and Nisa held a grand tournament for the sake of having a tournament.  It was pretty awesome, too, at least what I got to see of it.)

Nisa had gotten a hotel room nearby so she could have a place to get ready and she headed there.  Sean stayed to finish up conducting the tournament.   Bianca went with Nisa to help her do her hair and Brianna and Grellan went back to their room to shower and change.  I took plates of dinner to the hotel - I wasn't sure if Nisa would eat, but I wanted her and everyone else to at least be able to get food.  And I got to take a shower!  YAY!! 

When we left to go back to site, Nisa looked totally stunning.  And she seemed excited about what was coming.  The clothes that Brianna made were STUNNING, and they looked soo sooo great.  Here's a photo of the outfits (and Holmbiorn getting his award of arms!!)


And here is a picture of the screen I was talking about and the silhouette effect....


This was right after Sean took the crown and before Nisa received hers.

I had gone into complete stage manager mode prior to the ceremony starting.  The moment when I knew all was right with the world was right after Nisa was revealed in silhouette behind the screen, and Sean saw her.  He caught my eye and gave me a big grin and a thumbs up.  And then it was showtime. 

The ceremony was written as a narrative.  Sean wrote it with some input from Dunkr (their Crown Herald and one of the most awesome natural court herald talents I have ever heard) and Oonaugh (Dunkr's wife who has a lot of talent and interest in wordsmithing).  It was based in historical details about the crusader Kingdoms and basically equated Sean and Nisa's story as a parallel to what was actually happening in that place at that time.  (I am sure if Sean reads this blog and wants to, he could elaborate more in the comments).    It was a very different and unique ceremony.  The thing that was a wonderful surprise was the music!  The musicians that were rehearsing earlier in the day played and sang throughout the ceremony in a way that one would think it had been planned that way all along.  It was AMAZING.

The fealty oath was also a very powerful moment for me.  It generally is, but this time, at  that moment, it was even more so than usual.  

After the ceremony part was over and a few pieces of business were conducted, Marcello da Donnici was called forward and sent on vigil for the Order of the Chivalry, to be elevated at Harvest War two weeks later.  And then his "hetero life mate" (Jay and Silent Bob reference for those who don't know) Roger de Palermo was called forward and sent on vigil to be elevated between the Queen's Champion and King's Champion tournaments the next day.  YAY!!  I was so excited for both of them!

After court was over, there was a bardic circle in the Kingdom Pavilion.  I got up and sang for the first time at a Bardic!  It was such a great group of people.  I sang a song by myself.  Then a  little bit later, I sang  "Flower of the Desert"  - Amanda de Spencer helped me sing it and Albion started playing his guitar with us.  Those who knew the words sang along, and it was made that much more poigniant having just found out that   american_knight 

  and his lovely wife had been victorious in Atenveldt Crown Tournament. 

So off to vigiling for Roger and then to bed. 

The next day there were champion tournaments (Loclan won Queen's Champion and Daman won King's Champion) and a truly lovely knighting ceremony for Roger.  I got to sit and hang out with everyone which was really nice.  Bjarki (my DH) wasn't feeling well so I sent him home and I stayed that night. 

Next morning was packup ad time to go. 

All in all, I thought that Coronation was a great success and a great relief.  I was so glad to see Nisa looking so beautiful and poised in front of everyone.  I am so excited that she is getting a chance to be Queen and for the populace to get a chance to know how wonderful and special a person she is. 

I am so grateful to be part of a household in Duchy Argos where people just pull together and make things work without the drama and hassle that comes with other things.  Even when there are communication breakdowns, which do happen from time to time, it doesn't turn into some sort of negative crap that makes it so people can't get along. 

More about the rest of my September adventures later.... I have to get ready for work.

 

Comments

[vitriolpoisoned.livejournal.com]

Stupid work! I hate missing these magic moments! Thank you so much for posting.

[(Anonymous)]

I also had to miss this special day, which makes me sad. Thank you so much for the blog, making it come alive for me! Brigit

[rowena-falkirk.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing! Sounds like it was truly magical! Also happy to hear of old friends doing well, Albion singing and Daman becoming Champion! Way too cool!

I am also happy to hear that you got to sing! I admire you for that. Singing in front of a crowd petrifies me. Sing like you don't care who's listening, gal-pal!! Sing loud and sing often!