Burrow Creek Canyon War

(Originally posted on the old Kingdom Historian page and used with permission)

Burro Creek Canyon War Febuary 18 - 20, 1978

Submitted by Mistress Tessa of the Gardens

Click here to see a report of this event from the History of the Kingdom of the West

The first time Ansteorrans went to war clothed in gold war tabards with the Black Star design, Mistress Janet' made many of those tabards along with Mistress Nerak and Lady Mellusine for 1978 Burro Creek Canyon War in Arizona. Janet' and Telbryne were two among the ten Ansteorran warriors dressed out in those fine bright, intimidating gold war tabards.

Who standing here today was among those 10 warriors? "Then" titles:

• The first Prince of the Principality of Ansteora, Prince Sir Sean Mac Fflamm, out of Bryn Gwlad;
• Sir Simonn of Amber Isle, out of Bordermarch;
• Lord Telbryne Morningstar (later Laurel);
• Lady Janet' Virago Parva of House Morningstar (later a Pelican and Laurel);
• Lord Robert Helmanstal/known as Galvanized (later a Knight);
• Lord John the Plain (later a Knight);

all 4 of Stargate;

• Lord Jan w Orzeldom of Bjornsborg (later, a Baron and King);
• Lord Godfrey de la Fosse (later Laurel);
• Lord Otto the Merciless;
• Otto's brother Charles;

3 from the Shadowlands.

Those 10 were recognized in Caid as "Ansteorra's Golden Shield Wall." From those 10, eight were or became peers of the realm.

Ansteorra's Golden Shield Wall Song:

Words by Simonn of Amber Isle:

Ten Men were charged to hold the center of Atenveldt's line,
Ten men, strong and stalwart
Who bore the BLACK STAR design.
Golden-clad warriors, silent and ready,
Defended a rise in the field,
A rock to be taken, if battered and shaken,
Ansteorra never will yield! 
 
Refrain: 
Aye-yah!  West Kingdom, we stand ready 
To give you the death you desire.
Take, if you can, this hill that we man,
Ansteorra will never retire!

Two Western dukes and a host led the attack,
Bypassing the BLACK STAR's stand..
The Westerners chose Atenveldt's flank
Engaging the stubborn Outlands,
Then wave upon wave the Westerners came,
To break the BLACK STAR line,
The battle was heavy, Ansteorra's levy 
Made the BLACK STAR shine!

Refrain: 
Aye-yah!  West Kingdom, we stand ready 
To give you the death you desire.
Take, if you can, this hill that we man,
Ansteorra will never retire!"

In 1979, later, at the Second Burro Creek War, King Martin of Caid spoke of Ansteorra's Golden Shield Wall as "the stuff of legend," and Caid remembered it as such.

That shield wall was golden because of the tabards!