Hello Debatable Lands & Neighbors! Salve Accolens!
We’ve pre-scheduled this blog post, so as you read this, your new Baronage Praetoria Prima and Baronessa Violeta have just stepped into their new roles. VIVANT! What a great thing to celebrate! We leave you in excellent hands!
Thank you to Their Majesties, Gareth & Juliana, for your presence, wisdom, and leadership. Thank you to THL Ceindrech, Lady Dorothea, THL Elss and all the Investiture event staff.
As our time as your Baron and Baroness comes to a close, we find ourselves overwhelmed with gratitude, appreciation and love for you all. Our Barony is filled with the most vibrant and engaged communities, the most interested and interesting people, the most dedicated and generous officers, artisans, martial practitioners, and service folks. We comfort each other in times of sorrow, and we celebrate together in times of joy. We are filled with camaraderie, passion and delight for our areas of interest, and are fully welcoming to all who would join us in that same spirit. We are the Debatable Lands!
We tried to compile a list of everyone who’s served as officers, position-holders, champions, those who have served us in our office, and everyone who has contributed to the Barony (both in-Barony and neighbors) during our time but we find ourselves not up to the task, as there are literally hundreds. Please know: we know your names, and what you’ve contributed. We truly appreciate your time, skills, and emotional energy. We see you, and we know what it is you’ve given.
That said, a few special call-outs. Any omission here is our own weakness of memory and no commentary on your contribution. In no particular order: Baroness Muirgheal (Seneschal, event steward, baronial auntie, and so much more), Dame Olyf (seneschal, event steward, cook, sygnet, MOL), Master Alaric (Seneschal, chamberlain, being everywhere all the time), THLady Rachel (7 years our sygnet), Lady Ashling (Largess Coordinator), Lady Tierrany (Largess Coordinator and inspiration for Hilda especially), THLady Ceindrech (deputy seneschal, event steward and fixer of all things); our Heralds serving as our voice – Laerfathir Jorundr (and more), Master Kieran , Lady Jehannette, Master William, Lord Ronan, Brehyres Gwendolyn; and also Gwen for all the artistic contributions (songs, scrolls), Mistress Ts’vee’a (for your wisdom and deep, fierce friendship, plus clothes, mantle project), Hrefna Fruthikona (investiture garb, cloaks, and more), Mistress Arianna (Choir for our courts, largess, scribe, clothing, landgrab and more), THLord Owen (embellishing our garb and serving as our head retainer), Shonagons Ishiyama and Hara (clothes, sewing gild, woodworkers guild, banners, largesse, more), THLady Gesa (captain of horse, creating our equestrian program, largess), Jasmine (youth marshal and more), Lady Elinor (head retainer, mantles, more), and all our retainers, Lady Forveleth, Kit, Jay, Lady Dorothea, Thomasin, Lady Fine, Lord Turlough, and more (oh gosh memory fails! There’s more… We had fun with you all!); Master Emrys (Broom) (Pennsic Camp Reeve, friend, confidant); Camp Staff: Mistress Renata Rouge, THLady Margery Kent of York, Master Antonio, and all of our wonderful campmates; Lady Liz and Mandy for your song, THL Silence, Sir Guillaume (martial advisor – your insights were deep and appreciated), Don Robert MacEwin of Thornhill (for our fight song, Marce Baroniae), Lord Niall (aetherial herald and archery), Lord Reinhard (inspiring the motto and more), THLord Godzimir (archery). THL Sumayya, Lord Angus, Maestra Luceta, Mistress Irene, Master Illadore, THL Elss, THL Rufina. Our predecessors, Baronial cousins across the Kingdom, and Kings and Queens during our tenure. Event stewards and event staff, especially the cooks and chatelaines. All our scribes, wordsmiths and bards – you make our world beautiful. To all those that we’ve lost, especially Lord Ronan and Master Remus – we miss you.
And most of all, to our very, very patient children, Otto and Carl: thank you.
Today we leave our positions as your Baron and Baroness. But Debatable Lands, we are still yours. We hope you’ve enjoyed our tenure. It has been a true honor serving you all. Thank you.
In Levitate et Caritate, and Cheers!
Brandubh and Hilda
