May Gamers (also known by some as May Bardic) took place yesterday. It was a smallish affair, but also kind of awesome. It was one of those events where just about everyone ended up doing all sort of stuff.

I ran my first games tourney as Lions Gate games marshal. I decided on making a format that encouraged volume of play over skill. I called it a Gluttony Tournament where the goal was to play as much and as many of the games provided. The games I included where 9 man morris, Tablut (tafl variation), shut the box, Pall MAll, and three kinds of boules (Siege, Carpet & Jeu de boules).

I had three different ways to win in the tournament

1. Righteous Indignation over a loss, (Malie over a bad stroke during a pall mall game… mallet flying, arms waving, bellowing disbelief… simply priceless)

2. Obessed over a single game, Ylas over carpet boules (looked like Lucien was going to take the title til Ylas did a last minute marathon).

3. Glutton, most sets played of all 5 games, Agnes Cresewyke did 3 full sets and was partially done two more sets.

The winners all are getting game boards I will be making customized to their persona’s time, place, and preference.

The new Bardic Champion is James Wolfden.

32 pictures after the jump (not in any particular order… Drag and drop is having issues today)

Elinore hanging out at the Games List table. Siege Boules, Jeu de Boules, & Pall Mall waiting to be played.

The siege weapons tested out with rubber chickens (no idea why…)

The Bardic competitors being sworn in (John Mail, Aelana de Cordova, Dianora, Malie Rennick, James Wolfden)

Aelana’s single entry was a story with a picture book to go along with the story.

Game Board competition. People were supplied with materials and encouraged to make their own boards. Dr. Carus made a 3 man morris board out of a pie, and girl guide cookies. Awesome lol.

Baron Griffin, Malie, and Lucien loitering around gate.

Dirty Mary being a jack ass as per normal

Hanging out at the lists table. Wearing the new nausea inducing games marshal tabard. Need to place crossed pall mall mallets on the front. and games boards on the back.

Agnes, and Mariko deciding to play a non games tourney game gluckhaus. This reminds me I need to make gluckhaus boards for the barony as we have none.

What’s an event with out a marriage proposal.  Big old woot for Kevin and Leigh.

Agnes and James playing Pall Mall

Roaming Jeu de Boules game with the MacAndrew clan

James and Agnes having a go at Siege Boules

Lucien & Ylas were hard core into carpet boules.

Baroness Caitrin ran a children’s game tourney. Here she’s trying out the hunker down game.

More Game Board art.

James, Bryn, Lilly, & Viscountess Bernadette trying out the pall mall pitch.

Baroness Caitrin inflicting math upon the children with Shut the box

The game board tourney judging table. I love the purple & white board. Reminds me of turnips.

The games list. We had 38 people playing games  that registered.

Picnic out back.

I stepped down as Baroness Caitrin’s personal champion of science (A job I feel I did quite pourly… damn self involved mary)

The new baronial officers being sworn in .

There was a best dinner spread contests too. Agnes and her minions did a late period germanesque table, and the other entry was an early period norse like table. The Baroness ruled they were both equally awesome and gave glass vessels to both entrants.

Three children entered the tourney,all walked away with prizes.

During a lull in court were were treated to a performance from the kingdom bardic champion.

Past bardic defender Kevin thanked the two single bardic entries for stepping up and doing their first ever bardic competition.

Kevin then stepped down as champion and joined the order of the lions fang (Former champions of Lions Gate)

James was then brought forward to become the new Bardic defender.

Way too go James!

• September 27, 2009 -- Tir Righ Fall Coronet Tourney 2009 (0)
• August 30, 2009 -- Tir Righ Summer Investiture 2009 (2)
• July 20, 2009 -- 1st weaving project (2)
• July 5, 2009 -- Turned Thread Spools & Drop Spindle (0)
• March 23, 2009 -- February Woodworking Display (0)
• November 17, 2008 -- X-Chair v1.0 Small Prototype (0)

Milling masses gather

Lots of images after the jump.

Dr Carus displayed a banner at the A&S display, he also brought a slew of books.

Her Ladyship Aelana Cordovera displayed Icon painting, and period bookwork.

Lord Tomas deCourcy talking about his A&S entry “Venision Pie”.

Mmmmmm Pie.

Her Ladyship Alienor Sans-Argent (stealthy apprentice) also entered the A&S defenders contest. She was experimenting with gilding fabric.

Bad picture of Alienors display.

This was the first event where I was gamesmaster for the Barony. I didn’t manage to run a tourney for this event, but I did managed to see numerous people playing 9Men and tafl.

Speaking of Games, and horrible ,horrible mistakes….

Their Excellency’s swore me in as their officer, and then handed me a stick with a pointy end. I am going to convert it to a banner pole as me and pointy sticks mean bad things will be happening shortly.

**update: Since a few people have express concern over the fate of the gamesmaster’s rod (that sound mildly dirty), I was not planning on altering the existing wand at all. I had thought of trying to make a duplicate rook that would friction fit the doweling. The registered gamesmater banner would slip over the dowel. To my knowledge I have never seen the thing before last night, and I suspect it usually only makes an appearance at officer change swearing in ceremonies (I could be wrong).  I had thought as a banner wand it would get seen at a lot more events. I also was planning on running it by their excellencies before I proceeded on this idea, as I did with getting permission to mark the boards property of Lions Gate last night. Thank you for your concern, it is appreciated and noted. **

More Gaming…woot!

Lord Adam Fairamay set up shop, and was selling sundry wooden textile tools. I always like talking to him, as it always turns into a conversation on building ideas.

There was dancing in the Red room. I am ashamed to have no spent more time up there watching. They had two teachers come from down south to teach dance, and I have no pictures. Bad Mary…no cookie! I even missed the Turkish Whirlly dancing… doh.

Mistress Sara de Bonneville of Blatha An Oir & HL Catherine of the Rowan Tree, Barony of Borealis thank you for coming out and helping.  HL Rhiannon, and Lady R’bya also to be commended for teaching dance.

HL Uilliam taught a basic brewing class in the kitchen. We got to sample some of his brown ale, porter, and the banana waffle beer (flying monkey – Belguim yeast brew). There were also classes & presentations held on LG Sergeantry , Kumihimo braiding, and book binding guild, and brewers guild.

Court inevitably happended. Tomas took the A&S defenders title.

His Lordship Hradi inn Rakk got his long delayed sergeants Scroll from Viscountess Amanda.

Her Ladyship Rhiannon ap Gwynedd was sworn in as Mistress of the Dance.

Her Ladyship Anika Steif was sworn in as Exchequer. (long overdue)

A certain Ladyship celebrated her birthday… Cake!

More Dancing.

The Bar Babes, and the local connoisseurs.

Overall … Fun Event.

• May 2, 2010 -- May Gamers 2010 (1)
• July 26, 2010 -- 15th Century Timur Disked Bell Tent. (0)
• July 1, 2010 -- Turkish Rug project v1.6 a Looming I Will Go (0)
• June 3, 2010 -- Archery & Heavy Defenders 2010 (0)
• April 11, 2010 -- Siege Engine Boules (0)
• April 5, 2010 -- Good Weekend (2)