Also of note last night...

Now that I have a little more time, I really think I should comment on one rather amusing but remarkable little incident from Northkeep's populace meeting last night.

Between the fatigue of Gulf Wars, and the call of the real world, a number of officers did not make it to the meeting. Not least amongst these was the Scenichal himself. Lady Elody filled in, but she arrived barely in time only to find out that this month was the first month for electronic newsletter deliveries, meaning that their was no newsletter for her to look at then and there, and she had no idea who were the current officers.

I just happened to have a copy (PDF format) in my e-mail address, but I had absolutely NO idea how to use the Libraries' computer system. Well, upon saying that out loud, Crystil Blackwolf-the 10 year old (I think) who just got her AOA chimed in that the library computers were easy to use and she could use them. I looked at her and asked "can you help me pull up my e-mail and print something if I open it for you.

I kid you not, she rolled here eyes and said "Well, of course!" So off we ran, alreay five minutes late, hoping to get the deputy scenichal the papers she needed to make it through the meeting. The Library computers didn't exact;y cooperate, but Cristal handled them like a champ, and after just a minute I had my copy of the Saga up ands ready to go. Realizing that I still had to get ready for my part of the meeting, I looked at Crystal and said "can you print these out and give them to Elody for me? I have to get ready to cry the meeting." Completely unphazed by my urgency, she nodded and gave me a reassuring thumbs up as she immediately went to work printing the newsletter. Just as I finished writing down my opening notes (No, I really don't like calling out a Baronial court unscripted, I'm not that good yet.) I saw Cristal come in with the printed newsletter and hand it to Elody, who looked all too happy to get it.

I've never underestimated someone because of their age, at least not beyond reason. but still, Cristal's zeal to help out is made that much better by her level-headedness. No, we didn't save the world, but I still think its important to note that she did help out where a lot of adults would likely have not been able to.


Lord Ivo Blackhawk
Province of Mooneschadowe
Kingdom of Ansteorra
"God Save the King!"

Upcoming: Ansteorrian Heraldic and Scribal Symposium

Well, I filled out a form yesterday to teach two classes at the Ansteorrian Heraldic and Scribal Symposium. The first is going to be my list heraldry class. List heraldry isn't hard, but it is arguably one of the most marketable skills in the society, so just about anyone can learn it. So if someone wants to help out, they should learn how to list herald. I managed to teach it to a class of three people in just over thirty five minutes at Northkeep's Winterkingdom, so I figured that an hour long class will be a good slot for it.

The second class is my site heraldry class. This one took every bit of seventy five minutes at Winterkingdom, and that was with me hustling. Hopefully they the class administrator can give me a two hour slot like I requested.

I'm sure some people think that I should be able to cover everything they ever needed to know about site heraldry in five minutes. But after doing it for just shy of nine years, I think I can say that their is more to it than being loud and walking a lot. But the good news is that the two people (yes two, all of the classes were averaging low that year) who took the class at Winter Kingdom said that it was an excelent class and they both said that it was one of the better ones they had taken that day.

So, at least I know I'm not blowing smoke for two hours.

Also on my roster of things to do for the event, attend court heraldry classes as much as possible. I'm sure some of you are asking why I don't attend the warranting class that should be there. Frankly, I think I'm getting better instruction with Emma De Featherstone's one-on-one instruction here in Mooneschadowe, and I also would be a total fool to pass up the opportunity to teach and attend other classes at a kingdom level event in Houston. Not only is it kingdom level, but its on the other end of the frigging kingdom, I'll get a chance to see heralds I probably wont see again for another year, or more.

Lord Ivo Blackhawk
Province of Mooneschadowe
Kingdom of Ansteorra
"God Save the King!"

Northkeep's March Meeting.

Well, one thing I always have to say about Northkeep is that they know how to throw their hearts and soles into their work. If last night was any indication, Gulf this year was one of the best wars Ansteorra has ever had. Their were a lot of good stories, including one where one of the baronial guardsmen wound up passed out, on the dirt, at night, draped in the Baronial Ensign (flag), sleeping like a baby. (I am so putting that in the next edition of the Blackfeather News.)

I don't have any names with me as I write this, but I did hear that a bunch of prominent fighters from Northkeep were finally given awards that most people generally felt were long overdue---but aren't they all.

In terms of Heraldry, last night was notable for two reasons. The first was that I heralded again. Kevin made it, but was winded and said the job was mine if I wanted it--which I did. The second, Kevin has been asking for local deputies for a while now, and he finally got them. This is good news all around, he's having health issues, and doesn't want or need to be shouldering all of the baronial herald's responsibility alone, and the north needs more heralds more heralds, so this will let the knowledge grow some more. On specific note to me, Lord Talbot (spelling?) is evidently interested in learning court heraldry.

Don't get me wrong, Talbot is a local, and I am not. If he wants to do the job, I am honor bound to step aside and let him have it. I've already heralded a bunch of meetings for Northkeep, and its not like I am going to just forget what I have learned so far.

However, I do admit that I really miss the opportunity to herald any time I don' get the chance. its a careful balance between my ambition and my ego, and I always need to be vigilant about keeping the two in balance, or else my honor could pay the price.

But my petty complaints aside, it will be good to see more people learning heralding, and Kevin looks like he is glad for the help.



Lord Ivo Blackhawk
Province of Mooneschadowe
Kingdom of Ansteorra
"God Save the King!"

Its always fun to visit Namron

Well, With Namron behind me, all of this month's Populace meetings are done, and now I get to cut another episode of The Blackfeather News Before Saturday rolls around.

But I must say, of all the groups, Namron is fast becoming the most fun group to visit, even if that does come with a healthy measure of chaos.

I can't (and shouldn't) go into too many details, Namron deserves some measure of privacy, but the comments from the peanut gallery did keep me laughing through most of the fifty five minute long meeting.

And, also of note, Lord Wolfgang, and Master Ulf made a note of commenting on, and complimenting both my Podcast and my travels across the three baronies each month. I stood up and nodded appropriately as asked, but I must say, such praise was welcome and very much appreciated. I was honored by the Kind words, and thankful for the recognition.

Though I must say, Northkeep, Wiesenfeuer and Namron all ran exceedingly short meetings this month. Mooneschadowe's was the longest, but we usually run 75 minutes or more on average.

All that being said, I am still making headway on my stated goals involving heraldry, so all of this was well worth the effort this month.


Lord Ivo Blackhawk
Province of Mooneschadowe
Kingdom of Ansteorra
"God Save the King!"

Nothing Subtle about it.

Well, last night was Mooneschadowe's Populace, and really, their isn't much to report. I spoke with the attending members and ask about help with heralding the lists at baronial, but other than that, it was a quiet night in terms of heraldry.

At Mazzios, however, We tried to get pass the bucket around for baby sitter donations and Liliana had trouble getting everyone's attention.

Well, right about then I decided to help out, so I let fly with a medium-loud (for me, anyway) "Hear ye!" that brought the entire restaurant to a dead silence.
The whole thing was there and gone in the blink of an eye, but I have to confess no small measure of amusement when I I can do that to a group. its not subtle, its not necessarily polite, but Lord knows, its effective.

I Love being a herald.

Lord Ivo Blackhawk
Province of Mooneschadowe
Kingdom of Ansteorra
"God Save the King!"

Wiesenfeuer March Pop Meeting

Well, last nights meeting was pretty productive, with the build up for Gulfwars, and then Wiesenfeuer's Baronial the next month, they are all geared up for a lot of stuff to happen.

As for myself, well, I'm getting ready to gear up and manage the list heraldry at their event. I tried to see who was going to help out, but interest from the attending members was less than enthusiastic. I did, however, have some people come up to me and tell me how they were interested in learning how to herald a list field, so I'll probably have enough people to make things happen. I know it sounds like I am over thinking this, but part of the point here is that I want to help raise up the local levels of voice heraldry, and generate a larger base of able bodies voice heralds across the north, and this is how I plan to do that. I'm not mad, just trying to adapt to the situation as it develops.

I still think I'll get a good turn out for list field heralding, I just need to wait and see.

Lord Ivo Blackhawk
Province of Mooneschadowe
Kingdom of Ansteorra
"God Save the King!"