[MR] A very cool *medieval* resort

[McKenna]

Martelle doth write,

>Subject: [MR] A very cool *medieval* resort


> During my internet geekie-ness for the day I found
> this!
>
> http://www.ravenwoodcastle.com/
>
> Has anyone stayed here?

My Lady wife and I are transplanted Atlantians held captive by mundane jobs 
in this far land. Not only have we stayed at Ravenwood, we held an event 
there!

A few years back Generica and I stayed there one weekend, and on first 
seeing the site we both exclaimed, "We have to do an event here!" and 
immediately began plotting.

Last year we managed to get the entire site for a beautiful September 
weekend as my Lady wife Generica autocrated "Cecelia's Revenge III" 
presented by the Canton of Gleann Iaruinn in the Barony of the Middle 
Marches.

The site was magnificent.  We blocked off the main area around the castle to 
vehicular traffic so as not to spoil the ambience with cars.  Other blatant 
modernities were also required to removed or disguised for the main part of 
the event.

In the morning we held a Pas d' Arms behind the castle with all the 
attendant panoply. Each fighter was announced by a herald (moi :-) reciting 
their deeds, titles, and challenges.  And we also had a team of Tenans 
holding a barrier draped in blue and gold against teams or individual 
Venans.  For those who find the rigmarole of Pas dull (personally, I love it 
;-) or just wanted more chances to swing a stick, we had a round robin SCA 
style tournament nearby.  Later we held a 'quest' for the fighters on the 
woodland trails complete with damsels in distress, bandits, crones, and the 
final venue of getting whupped on in single combat by HRM Felix himself.

In the front of the castle we held an all day fencing collegium.

TRM Felix and Madelena held court outside at the base of one of the towers, 
and we managed no visible mundanities at all.  Glorious!!

In the evening the tavern in the castle's cellars was open, but it seemed 
most everyone was pleasantly tired out by the days events and retired to the 
rooms and cottages.  Bless me, but we had fun! :-)

For those of you who might be interested in staying there, it can be a bit 
pricey, but we've stayed there twice now and feel we've always gotten more 
than our money's worth.  The 'Gypsy Wagons' are definitely a bargain.  It's 
a great place to spend a relaxing weekend, and their weekday rates are 
attractive.

Generica and I have a lot of other irons in the fire right now, but we're 
still kicking around the possibility of holding a 'Medieval Murder Mystery' 
there someday.

regards,

McKenna