Event Review - Northkeep Dionadair 2006 - by Zubeydah

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This page contains an event review by Zubeydah. This represents solely her opinion and views/thoughts at the time of writing, and do NOT reflect upon her Barony, her Region, her mentors and friends, or anyone else.

Dionadair is a demo/tournament held each year in the fall. It selects the heavy and light weapons champions who serve the Barony, and is open to both carded and non-carded fighters. Its history is long and colorful. The event is usually held as a full-scale demo, but this year, due to some site issues which could not be resolved, it was agreed to hold the event at the weekly fighter practice, held at McClure Park, on Wednesday, October 18th. Ideally, the event would start at 6:00, folks would armor up, and the combats would begin at 6:30.

Well, that was the idea, anyway! When I arrived on site at 6:05, there were only four other people there. I quickly set up my two tables, chair, and laid out the food items I’d brought (a chicken dish that was a fusion of both Indian and Thai cuisines, made with rice, korma sauce, pineapple and coconut, as well as a double batch of dark chocolate amaretto truffles). William of Northkeep brought over a Cornish Game Hen & Bacon salad (kind of like a chicken salad with bacon bits). We stood around in the chilly wind, wondering who else might show up.

Soon, the newlyweds, Genevieve & Johan, appeared, and others began trickling in as darkness descended on the park. Their Excellencies, Ian & Kelandra, arrived around 6:30 – they have a long drive, as they live all the way out in Muskogee. I brought over a few items I’d put together for the step-down baskets, and helped them tote some things. HE Ian had made some beer brats, which I carried over to the table. They smelled wonderful!

William had set up a second table, which we covered with a cloth that Kelandra had brought. Soon, as more people arrived, the table became laden with delicious food. Ragnailt and her family arrived, bearing some yummy looking devilled eggs and a plate of meat and cheeses. One of our newest Barony members, Kayte, brought some delicious looking three-onion and goat cheese tarts. Nyx arrived, bearing her asparagus cheese dip and some fighter biscuits, still hot from the oven.

Some of the fighters started sparring to warm up, as others donned their armor. More folks continued to trickle in, until we had quite a crowd. Unfortunately, the temperature continued to plummet, and despite my thermal undergarments, two layers of clothing, and a cloak, I was growing miserably cold. Renault very graciously and in a gentlemanly fashion offered me his wool cloak. I piled on the layers, hoping to warm up a bit.

As Kelandra and I were puttering around getting things laid out on the table, I sort of nudged her and let her know that until such time as folks saw she and or Ian eating, no one else was going to do so. So she made a point of eating a truffle, and that seemed to break the ice. Folks started nibbling. Ian asked that one of the brats he’d made be set aside and saved for him, so I made up a platter with a braut, some sauerkraut, and the grilled onions he’d brought. I covered it with tinfoil and set it to the side. I tried some of each item that had been brought, and found that Ian’s brauts were really delicious, as were Ragnailt’s devilled eggs.

It was full dark by the time the fights really got under way. I flitted from group to group, playfully squawking about the cold, taking pictures and introducing around some new folks. Emmalina was there, and we chatted about Mooneschadowe’s Triumphe and Namron’s Protectorate event.

There were some folks who had wandered into the park, and I chatted with them for a bit about what they were seeing. I continued to snap photos, including some rather adorable ones of the children’s boffer.

The combats ended around 8:45, and a brief court was held. Thanks were given to the stepping down champions: Ensign – Seach, Dionadair – Randal Lee. They were given gift baskets including weaponry appropriate to their fighting style. Then the new champions were announced: For Ensign – Genevieve Grant Von Aue, and for Dionadair – Morgan Blackdragon. Each took up the arms and ensignia of their position, and stood behind the Baron & Baroness. There were brief plugs for the Northern Regional practice in Bartlesville on the 21st, and for wInterKingdom, and then court quickly ended.

As I started clearing my table, I was dismayed to see that someone had stolen the Baron’s braut! The foil had been removed from the plate, and the sausage was missing. I reported my dismal failure to protect his food to the Baron, and he kindly forgave me. :P I gave the remainder of the chicken-rice dish to Renault and returned his cloak.

BRRR!! Time to pack up and get out! Perhaps next year’s Dionadair will be during warmer times – though somewhere around 60 people braved the cold to attend. Vivat to the outgoing champions, and Vivat to the new champions! May they serve with honor.