ere begins the tale of Eoforwic, Royal City of the Kingdom of Ealdormere.
 

As days grew colder, winds of change blew in Eoforwic and Septentria. Baroness Adrielle announced her plans to step down from the thrones of Septentria, and the search began for her successors. Gunthar’s term as Seneschal of Eoforwic drew to a close, and he passed the office on to Eve, while Magdalena took over from Eve as Exchequer. Albrecht played his prize at Feast of the Hare and became a Free Scholar in the Ealdormere Academy of Defence. And Geoffrey and Nicolaa were amongst the first members of the Yeomen of the Wolf, the Ealdormerian company of Archers.

The second Crown Tourney for the Kingdom of Ealdormere was held in conjunction with the Arts and Sciences fair. The finals of the tourney were contested between Osis Jarl, fighting for Duchess Caitlin, and Earl Edouard Beausoliel, fighting for Countess Eanor. Osis was victorious, but the tourney laid bare some of the enmity between certain members of Houses Hrogn and de Taahe. The Arts and Sciences Fair attracted many entrants under the new rules, which allowed artisans to select a level—novice, intermediate, or advanced—with face-to-face judging at all levels. Lady Gwendoline beat out a strong field of entrants, including Dom Nicolae, with her entries, which included a stunning Elizabethan down and an example of Hebrew illumination.

n December, the candidates for Baron and Baroness of Septentria were announced, and the polling began. Those who put their names forward were Sybille and Nicolae, Berus and Marion, Gaerwen and Cynred, Cassandra and Hector, Marian and Rhys, and Eduoard and Eanor. Eoforwic said goodbye once again to Hydro of the North, who this time deployed to Bosnia, promising (of course) to claim some water for the Royal City.

At Wassail, Heithr was made a member of the Order of the Laurel, and so became the first Peer created in the new Kingdom. The Order of the Laurel also began a new tradition, inspired by the hereditary Knight’s Chain passed on to each new Knight in Ealdormere. Together they raised money to create a ring of gold, which Mistress Breannaidh designed and wrought. Inside was inscribed the phrase "scientia consiliumque", Latin for "knowledge and good counsel." Each existing member of the Order wore the ring for a short time before it was passed to Heithr, and all were given the opportunity to purchase their own copy of the ring in silver.

n January, Sylard and Mortraeth were made the first Baron and Baroness of the Court by King David and Queen Elina. Also, the first set of names proposed for the Ealdormere awards were announced.

At Septentrian Twelfth Night, Foote and Grainne reigned as King and Queen of Fools, and entered the hall, wearing the Royal Cloaks, announced as "The Royal Utensils" and "The Silverware of the North." Much merriment ensued, especially when they presented a package of ladies’ underclothes to Hector to send in a care package to Lord Hydro, who had been again sent on short notice to the tumultuous land of Bosnia (with strict instructions NOT to claim it for Ealdormere). Once again, crowns to many kingdoms, such as Aethelmart, Can o’ Beer, and Yeast Kingdom (with accompanying "get out of second field battle free" card, in a reference to the events of the past summer’s Pennsic) were auctioned to the highest bidder, and soon the event teemed with Foolish Royalty. Yet more turmoil ensued when it was discovered that a certain Peasant Army was about and assassinations were occurring at an alarming rate.

In Septentrian Court, Gaerwen, who had spent most of the day dressed as Alistair Kirk, was given a Bear’s Heart. The Cup of Teach Ceartha Mor was given to Sylard and Mortraeth. At the end of Court came the announcement many had been waiting for: Adrielle’s successors to the honour of Septentria. Eoforwic heard with great joy that their new Baroness would be one of their own, for Cynred and Gaerwen had been chosen to lead Septentria. It was also at this event that Hector took Zahra as a protégé and Gaerred as an apprentice.

n February, Adrielle bid adieu as Baroness of Septentria and exchanged her gold coronet for one of silver. She was grated an augmentation of arms by David and Elina for her long labours. Cynred and Gaerwen were invested as Baron and Baroness of Septentria by David and Elina. Also was Nicolae given the Award of Merit for the Arts and Sciences (later called Orion) for his skills in costume, and Angus became the premier for the Award of Merit for Martial Activities, later called the Scarlet Banner. And Viscount Edward the Red was given the accolade of knighthood, becoming the first Knight made by the new Kingdom. Later that month, Viscountess AElflaeda became the first Pelican recognized by Ealdormere.

Adrielle’s Adieu also marked Nicolaa’s farewell to Ealdormere. After many long years, her doctoral studies were drawing to a close, and she was moving south to be near her mother, who was ill and bedridden. In Adrielle’s last court, she took off the ring she had worn to inspire her in her studies and passed it on to Zahra, who was assuming the position of Chronicler of Septentria, to likewise inspire her. Adrielle gifted Nicolaa with one of the pewter bears like those on her coronet as a personal token.

Nicolaa’s final days in Eoforwic were marred by controversy. Lady Muirghein had disregarded the wishes of the group concerning the publication of the Eoforing, filling it with content taken from various discussion forums without obtaining the proper permissions. Every month she tried to outdo herself in the length of the newsletter, and as result, began to run a deficit. When she came to the group to ask for reimbursement, she was turned down, and later quit the post in protest. It was now obvious that Eoforwic’s health as a viable group was not good, and every week, fewer and fewer people were seen in the meeting hall. Matters were not helped when Nicolaa and Gunthar left the City in early March. I traveled south with them, to ensure that their library was maintained in a proper fashion, and did make several journeys to a fabled merchant near to the site of Pennsic to procure the proper shelves.

In April, at the Coronation of Osis and Caitlin, Moria stepped down as Kingdom Seneschal, and Adrielle took her place. The second Coronation in the Kingdom of Ealdormere was not quite such a milestone as the first, but was not without drama, as Osis and Caitlin planned to model their reign around the theme of the Knights of King Arthur. David and Elina retired after a successful first reign.

Justitia resurgam.