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Greetings unto my brave brothers and sisters in the Legion of the Shadows,
I have infiltrated the court of the King and Queen of Drachenwald, Prothall Wolfbane, Rex Draco and his lady Cecilia Jonsdotter, Regina Draco.
I recently attended the choosing of these people's king, Within the lands of the Barony of Drei Eichen (three oaks) as a guest of their excellencies Martin and Heather. The actual list was held at a Castle near Aachen, and consisted of (get this) a double elimination, best two out of three, fighting series. That's right, if a fighter lost every single fight, they still fought six fights before they were completely knocked out of the list. The tourney was organised this way because the list consisted of FOUR entrants, and they didn't want everybody to have to leave too soon (the castle is at the top of a Very High Hill).
The rest of the event was held at a local bar. More on this later.
I inquired as to why there were only four entrants in the crown list and was told that the king would be expected to make a certain number of events across a kingdom that stretches from Finland (in the north) to Capetown (in the south of Africa) and from Ireland to far, far Russia. This is the most expensive kingdom to be royalty for.
The kingdom has other problems that are unique to Drachenwald, as well. The Various different mundane countries this kingdom straddles have various different rules concerning non profit organizations, some of which are literally mutually exclusive. Sweden, for instance, has particularly difficult laws, I am told.
This brings me to another problem particular to this kingdom, language. The King of Drachenwald is Swedish, so most of court was held in Swedish. This, in my humble opinion, makes court a lot more fun, though I might feel differently if I actually spoke Swedish.
The rest of the event was held at a local Inn. Really, an Inn, with food and drink for sale at tables in both a main room (for locals) and a larger party room (for us). The place had rooms upstairs for travelers, with the common sleeping room renting for 15 DeutchMarks (about eight dollars) a bed, and the private rooms going for more. The private rooms had been completely rented out so I was even unable to find out how much they cost. The common room was completely filled as well, before I got there, so I my guitar and I slept in the bar (not the first time). Showers were to be had at a sports complex about a block away, where a room with about a dozen shower heads on the walls was provided for all of us to shower in. These are some VERY clean people.
There are many fine musicians here, but apparantly, no dancing. I asked about it, and everybody said "no, no, you are wrong, we know the dances!!" then they dutifuly did a couple of turns of "Hole in the Wall" to prove it, then they went back to serious drinking. The king thought this was a fine thing, and shouted something in Swedish about it from across the room.
I played everything I knew, with the strictly period stuff coming early, and the looser stuff coming later. I was actually shocked when I did "Mattie Groves". The audience stood up and cheered lustily when the unfaithful wife is murdered.
Feast took about three and a half hours, and did not include either red meat or potatos. It seemed to be more an excuse for extended drinking than an actual source of sustinance. No non alchoholic bevereges were provided by the feastocrats.
I believe that this place can give us some fine young recruits. The Swedes in particular are very, very, very large, and aproach the SCA with a general lustiness that I find a little frightening. Please send a couple of guys over with some white tabard strips, some rings and a spear. I'll bring Ragnaroc back with me.
freiman
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