The Consort

Astrid asked me if a friend of her's, Count Vik Vikingson could fight for her in the crown tournament. The gist, I figured, was that he just wanted to fight in the tournament, and wasn't looking to win, and thus agreed. Astrid is now Queen of An Tir, and Vik had a very good day of fighting. And just like that, I was out a consort.

It took a bit of time for me to start looking for a new consort, because being relatively new to fighting, I had little experience dealing with a consort, and being relatively new to the Summits, I don't know many people. Acacia suggested several different individuals, most of whom I dismissed for various reasons.

Her Ladyship Idonia Sherwood was brought up in passing. And after a time I reconsidered her on some whim. What I knew about her was her interest in the A&S field (I knew nothing of her specific interests), which to me seems a reasonable pairing, me in the martial area, her in the A&S area. A logical approach to my situation. I asked her Baron, Tadhg, and a friend of hers, Elizabeth Turner, about her, specifically in regards to her viability as a consort. Both had given a positive response.

After some social awkwardness on my part (try talking to a relative stranger about something serious and personal), we began dialogue about the potential pairing. Her primary concern was the notion of gossip that tends to surround fighter-consort pairs. The general notion is that the consort-fighter pair is a romantic thing; husbands fight for their wives, boyfriends fight for their girlfriends... Even though I could cite several consort-fighter pairs that had/have a non-romantic partnership. I assured her I would do my best in dealing with any rumor milling and gossiping I encountered. Funnily enough, her friends noted to me that she was attractive and single.
Call it hedonistic and shallow, but one of the qualities I was seeking in a consort was beauty, despite having no interest in pursuing romantic relations with a consort right now, it was still a criteria I had. Perhaps its a subconscious "status symbol" concept.

With this partnership begun, I'm eagerly looking forward to coronet. Despite my inexperience, part of me is mentally preparing in the event I win.

Update

Recapping will be brief.

EDIT: An ambiguity was pointed out to me today, when I say some fighting was lackluster, it is on my part, not other fighters'.

Egil Skillgrimson Memorial Tournament 2012. Went in with a 42" sword (one-handed); worked a bit on single sword; had my ass handed to me handily in the tournaments; fought the byes in the "notable fighter" invitational, felt much more comfortable without any pressure to perform, even though I lost all those fights; enjoyed some good deaths though.
All in all, I think I'd prefer to go to Grand Thing next year, a more kingdom-central event with less fringies, and more fighting that is typically scheduled on the same weekend.


War of the Trees 2012. A small Summits war event; saw fighters from Wuduholt be Secg (shire in the West Kingdom) as its close to the border; "war" fighting (only about two dozen fighters) was lackluster for me; pick-ups were lackluster; Griffin Quest tournament had good fighting, though my anxiety levels were high. Switched to a planked 2" stick, cut to 32" in length—more persona appropriate.

Summits June Investiture 2012. Had a few pick-up fights with Sir Einarr, whose more aggressive approach was an interesting (in a positive way) change in fighting for me; Summits Defender tournament saw me out in two, but enjoyable skirmish in the finals.
West-An Tir War 2012. Came to the event a day late due to coming off a cold; first day of war fighting was lackluster and frustrating, had fun running around with my knight though; had pick-up fights with (then) HRH Vik Vikingson, Viscount Miles Fitz-Rauf, and another fighter whose name I didn't catch; second day of war fighting saw some good piking on my part, was much more loose and enjoying myself; Brian squired his other two men at arms; got heat exhaustion and heat tetany on the drive back, which was the scariest experience of my life, so far.
An Tir Coronation 2012. Saw Viscount William Jeffrey the Rogue knighted before the squire's tournament; tourney proper was total shit on my end; spoke with HRM Vik about the headspace issue.