The third
Frostwar was held on January 2nd, 2005. Although lacking the
picturesque weather of Frostwar II, snow and ice lay in intermittent
patches throughout the Black Forest, and winters bite was in the air.
It was decided that the title of Frostlord would be awarded
through proof of descent from the mythical first Frostlord, Eorl of
the North. To this end, claims of nobility could be won, detailing
the genealogy of your supposed descent.
The deeds done in the Third Frostwar were as follows:
Lineage Tournament
In order to prove that the bellicose blood of Eorl flowed through
their veins, the assembled fighters took their turns at fighting in a
tournament against one another. Ser Maelgrim Crouthur, Sir Ralamean
of Ramsey and Jarl Snorri judged the solid strokes from the poor, and
in the end, Sir Flynn of Knightshire won both the tournament and a
claim of nobility through arms.
Drawing Straws
To acknowledge the random nature of noble birth, the remaining
fighters drew straws to determine who would win the claim of nobility
through luck. Rowena Lancaster drew last, and drew the short straw,
thereby winning the second claim.
Herald Battle
Now, as competing claimants for the title of Frostlord, both Sir
Flynn and Rowena chose out small war bands to do battle on their
behalf. Each leader would act as Herald for their own band, but take
no part in combat themselves. When the dust had cleared, it was Sir
Flynn’s band that had won victory.
The Three Challenges
Choosing new war bands (this time excluding Ser Maelgrim, Sir
Ralamean and Jarl Snorri), the Sir Flynn and Rowena set forth into
the woods to meet their three challenges. The first was a challenge
of chivalry. Jarl Snorri stood astride the path and demanded that
each captain make choice of sacrifice: themselves or one of their
teammates. Rowena chose to sacrifice herself, while on Sir Flynn’s
team, Lady Cynara volunteered to be sacrificed. Next, the diminished
teams came upon Ser Maelgrim and Sir Ralamean, who demanded a
champion from each team be offered up for an unspecified challenge.
Sir Flynn chose Faydra from his ranks, and from Rowena’s team Herr
Lanze Lancaster volunteered. Ser Maelgrim and Sir Ralamean then led
Faydra and Herr Lanze into the deep woods and ordered them to duel.
Herr Lanze won, and was secretly awarded a third claim of nobility.
Finally, the last remaining members of each war band were made to
answer a riddle. Ser Maelgrim asked John (representing Rowena’s
band): “Castles crumble. Weapons rust. Cattle perish. What lives
forever?” (Answer: fame). Sir Ralamean asked Sir Flynn “What is best
in life?” (Answer: To crush your enemies, to see them driven before
you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.”) At the head of
the trail, each team was made to face Ser Maelgrim, Sir Ralamean and
Jarl Snorri in combat. Because Rowena had sacrificed herself, she was
not allowed to fight alongside her team, and because Lady Cynara had
sacrificed herself - but not being the warband’s captain - she was made
to fight against her teammates alongside the three challengers. In
his battle against the three, Sir Flynn sustained a grievous wound to
the shin.
The Grail Guardians
Convening under the spare shelter of a gazebo, Ser Maelgrim, Sir
Ralamean and Herr Lanze held the entrance against all others
assembled. Behind them in the center of the enclosure was a brass
goblet - the objective of the other team. The rule was simple - the
only entrance allowed was over the bridge (sidewalk), of which there
was only one. Anybody stepping off the sidewalk before entering the
gazebo was judged to have fallen off the bridge to their death. After
several minutes of combat, Lanze (the last defender) fell and Faydra
stole the grail, achieving victory.
The Woods Battle
After the woods battle, the group stopped by Subway for lunch, and
then retired to their homes to make ready for the feast. Once again,
it was a potluck affair of medieval and quasi-medieval food. At the
end of the feast each claimant declared the number of points they had
amassed over the course of the day for victories. Then each of the
rest of the assembled mercenaries pledged their own points in support
of one candidate or another. And so it was that Rowena Lancaster was
voted to hold stewardship of the title of Frostlord for the year,
until it shall again fall into debate.
