Fridda, Seneschal of the Otago Canton
The windy weather of March blew and the archers' arrows were blown off course in their flight. Tarras. It made the tents flap noisily too. The trusty participants assembled at Tarras for a weekend in celebration of St Patrick's day. Three days tested their mettle against the elements and the effects of such good food as the kitchen supplied during three days of "SCA-dian" activity.
The time of St Patrick was celebrated, it being his feast day. Medieval mores were celebrated too, in an authentic morality play upholding the importance in a life of merit of good deeds. The play challenged the actors to play their parts unrehearsed.
The theme of unanticipated death must have held a powerful meaning for our forebears who faced the prospect of sudden and horrible deaths at any time by invasion, accident, visitation by the plagues, other illnesses and by ever present crime. Despite this, our participants found humour in the challenge.
SCA members boldly and adventurously face challenges of many descriptions. Our Society is after all "Creative," and thus not for the faint-hearted nor the deeply conservative. Our hero was 'buried' at the end with his good deeds, and went to face 'his' maker, but rose to have a very good lunch provided by our cooks.
Our curtsies and bows were made during the Baronial Court with which her excellency Baroness Katherine Kerr of the Hermitage favoured us. Again the Baronial largesse took the form of gifts to members of note. The Baroness also kindly presented to the Canton, on behalf of Their Majesties King Alfar and Queen Gudrun, a game named Hnenatafl. We are especially honoured to recieve this beautiful gift comprising counters and an embroidered cloth to play upon, the details of the rules and a leather bag in which to store it.
The newly appointed Arts & Sciences officer of the University of Otago branch, the College of St Kessog, was called and presented with a very welcome gift to mark her appointment. The Court was gaily hung about with banners and the Southron Gaard arms and for a moment there, as happens in the SCA, the present era and the past of hundreds of years ago were melded in the minds of the participants.
On the Saturday night good cheer was to be had at the feast. Our new cook tested her skill and the company agreed the fare was excellent. Lord Kotek journeyed from Christchurch to ably assist in advising on the role played in documenting authentic "period" recipes.
The company agreed that we must hold a similar event 'ere long!
From Finnr:
Have finally finished putting the Tarras event into verse (drapa format. oh joy). Anyway, as some of you may know, on the way back from the Baronial Anniversary I managed to spill a large cup of boiling hot water on my lap in Timaru(I still have burns/blisters on the left side of my stomach and my rear end). A significant amount of the following verse was an effort to keep my mind off the pain, which I suppose gives a whole new meaning to the term "scaldic verse":
TARRASDRAPA
Shall we take a trek to
Tarras, save for Baron?
Brave Otago begs a
Boon midst wind and moonscape;
Pleasing wit on Patrick?s
Plenty-Day, good gentles,
Marks the moment talk hath
Mild hint of winter.
So I tell the tale of
Tarras for the loresongs.
Heed the wolf of woodlands?
Wail when sending hailstones
Beast will bite unsated,
Breath will bow and cow thee.
Coney-ravens ravish
Rural fields unyielding:
Hel-sent plague leaves Halls once
Whole so very holesome.
So I tell the tale of
Tarras for the loresongs.
Fast and fiendish pest doth
Fear a peer so peerless,
Hatching them for hutch, he
Hath alarming garments.
Wise in ways of hose and
Wearing buttons daring,
Speaks he long and sparks with
Speech much Canton planning.
So I tell the tale of
Tarras for the loresongs.
From afar, in lair so
Foul, comes nameless howl to
Chill the bones and brains of
Beast and men a-feasting.
Dane and Geat again with
Grendel?s cries that rend the
Ear so, as we pass the
Yawning night till morning.
So I tell the tale of
Tarras for the loresongs.
On the morrow, Moon?s own
Mighty sister lights our
Fields with glow of gold, as
Gaardsmen seat for meeting.
Court of Katherine, heart of
Canton?s Plan, began and
Artful Holly, ill yet
Eager, braced for placement.
So I tell the tale of
Tarras for the loresongs.
Neath the day-star, dry is
Dust of field where trusty
Flames are trained and teeming
Tribes respond with wandwork.
Songs are sung of wings of
Service-lord deserving:
Green and white do greet neath
Gleaming realm of helmet.
So I tell the tale of
Tarras for the loresongs.
Aelred, old and skilled with
Ancient type of pipes long
Lost, then gave us lasting
Lore on Patrick?s yore-deeds.
Early church of Eire?s
Endless wander bond, and
Facing sacrifice, the
Fearless hero cheerful.
So I tell the tale of
Tarras for the loresongs.
Fair was best of feasts with
Fish and choicest dishes,
Pasta, peas, and pies, the
Pudding plate came later.
Spoon of spice in wine gave
Splendid heavy beverage,
Sweet were swigs when late were
Swings of mocking clock-hands.
So I tell the tale of
Tarras for the loresongs.
Slumber slow, for time shall
Slay the saving daylight,
Morning hour earned is
Aid for sleeping people.
Death of summer dims the
Day with coming grey, yet
Gleam in pending gloom hath
Granted best of restings.
So I tell the tale of
Tarras for the loresongs.
Play prepared was hoarded
Plan for Everyman, and
Katherine, kind and candid,
Calmly basked in maskings.
For the Dead the deeds of
Dearest life do cheer them
When the tests of trusted
Trappings wail with failure.
So I tell the tale of
Tarras for the loresongs.
While the sun yet shone on
Central fields we sent a
Storm with darkest dreams of
Denting borrowed tent-wood.
King of Kitchen long was
Called to dance through squall as
Rain of hellish hail from
High above defied him.
So I tell the tale of
Tarras for the loresongs.
Fate befell to call a
Final end to finest
Tarras time, for further
Task of road was goading.
Country meet of Canton
Closed with coney foes still
Breathing, but the wrath of
Bold and High shall die not.