Cousins of the Academy, Winter War hosted by Trinovantia Nova was very full of Academy business.
I’d established with the fencing marshal in charge that the two candidates who had contacted me in advance would play prizes at Winter War, and their highnesses of Ealdormere came to witness the start of the challenges and to present the scarves, prepared by the candidates.
As I was introducing the candidates, a series of people asked enthusiastically, “Ooooh, can I challenge in today?” Starting with a couple of existing cadets who wished to join lords Arcill and Fritz to advance, and suddenly we had 7 candidates…
I asked those members of the Academy who were attending for their opinion, recognizing that these candidates had not made provision in advance as required in the charter. I gained their consent to proceed.
Our space was limited within the hall, and we needed to share nicely with the armoured fighters who were preparing for melee combat.
With help from HG Sir Ed the Red, we arranged the bouts as follows:
- the three cadet candidates fought their challenges first, including against the current cadets lords Arcill and Fritz, and each other
- the four scholar candidates to fought Lord Aldwynn, HL David and myself, as well as each other, to make up the 20 bouts each
- cadet candidates fought their 15 minutes holding the field
- scholar candidates fought their 15 minutes holding the field
Their highnesses presented lords Arcill and Fritz with their scarves. The newest cadets and the newly advanced scholars were charged to make themselves suitable scarves to wear on the field, as befits their rank.
The requirement remains that candidates contact me with their intent to challenge or advance in the academy so I can confirm suitable challengers to honour their intent to advance. With the agreement of the academy on the day, I made an exception, to honour the goodwill and enthusiasm we saw on the field.
Having “too many” people interested in the academy? is an awesome problem to have.
Cadets
- Rachel Swordbreaker
- Arkil Crowe
- Styrbjorn of Rising Waters
Scholar
- Arcill Bìodach mac Ruadrí Lùgdaichte mhic Fsithéch
- Fritz Chesaux
- Cathal Mor
- Alexander Gladstone
I’m grateful to Lord Thomas Grocere acting as timekeeper, to my friend Dame Lyonet de Covenham, visiting Prefect of the Drachenwald academy of defense, for keeping count of bouts, for Sir Edward the Red one of the founding patrons for organizing combat on the field, to Lord Aldwynn of Canterbury and HL David of Ben Dunfirth for providing challengers for the scholars, and to their highnesses Gannicus and Maegwyn for their attention through the challenges.