[MR] Blackstone info for Rapier

[Owien Kerr]

Unto the good populace of sylvan Aethelmearc,
    I, Cubstride of the Kanawha, known to many as Don Valentine dePeregoy, have been granted the privledge to serve the lands of my origin by acting as the Marshal In Charge for Rapier Activities at this spring's Blackstone Raids. (April 23-26, though Fencing will focus upon activities Friday Evening and Saturday day.)
    Activities this year as in years past will revolve around Melee, and our ood Rapier Warlord, Don Donnan has declared the Saturday of the Event a muster for our Kingdom's Rapier Army. In respect to this we will fill the day with Melee activity.
    Planned activites currently include a Friday Night Tourney in the Tradtion of past Friday night Torch light Tourneys and Tavern Brawls. Then on Saturday, I plan to try an interesting switch on the Taunting Tourney of the past, with a tourney I am tenatively calling 'Complimentary Breakfast.'
       This will be the only 'Tourney' of the Day, as the rest of the time will be filled with Melee activities which will include the Traditional Bridge Melee, though the focus will be on the reviving and honoring of other Previous Traditions associated with this Event. In Honor of the Famed Sheep Raids of past Blackstone we will be holding another 'Raid' based Melee with the Famed Blackstones of the Baroney as objects being contested. It is my hope to run this Themed Melee several times, with hopes to include an 'official' battle where Aethelmearc defends its lands and treasures from the Midrealm's annual 'intrusion in good fun.' if numbers allow...
    This year will also see the return of the 'Rescue of Kinmont Willie' Melee, and it time permits at least one other themed melee.
    Please know that while all these Scenarios are designed to be good fun for all involved it is also my hope that these battles will serve as exercises which we can discuss as we decompress from each, taking the experiences of the day home to our rspective parts of the known world in preperation for this Summer's Pennsic War. The Friends we make and the Example we show at Blackstone will be remembered at War Practice and when we finally meet at Pennsic, it is a grand opportunity to demonstrate and share our Kingdom's Character with our Guests and Allies.
    I hope to see folks there, and I and my staff will strive to see to it that you have as much Fun at Blackstone Raids as you might find at any War.
Please forward this missive as you might feel appropriate.
In Service,
Cub