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The
Empire of Medieval Pursuits
August 16, 2011 The
Beacon
 Our light will shine for all to see 
A letter from Her
Highness, Tayissa Regina, First Sovereign Queen of the EmpireUnto the Populace of Ardesca does Tayissa Azra, Crown Sovereign, send Greetings, As the first Sovereign, We are humbled by your confidence and shall do Our very best to set a high bar for those who shall follow. As human beings one of the most basic things we need in Our lives is a sense of community; for Us, Ardesca is that community. This Empire was built as a place where we come together in both spirit and deed. We charge you to remember our most basic rule: Be Excellent to each other. Each day you have the opportunity to listen, encourage, and build up the people in your households and branches. Ardesca is a place for distinction; so don't be afraid to hold yourselves and one another to higher standards of behavior. Through Our celebration of history, We have the ability to connect and change the world for one another. In this periodical, you will find Our combined contributions. May you find its contents to be both helpful and inspirational. In the coming months We will continue to grow and expand this news letter, the Kingdom of Ardesca, and the Empire as a whole. These are exciting times, and We are proud to be a part of it! Sultana Tayissa Azra Of Valor and Renoun:
The foreign campaign began this season with Art of War. The Legion prepared by spending four days of intense training, including; full armor fighting classes, studying the writings of Sun-Tzu, examining military strategy, and proper combat movement and execution drills. The Legion was lauded for its might and prowess, even so much as to earn a mighty flail from Sir Dane himself, an award for rising to the name of 'Best Unit at War.' As weeks passed, the Legion was called to battle at the Honey War, where we began fighting for Blatha an Oir. With the Legion's might on their side, they stood clearly triumphant over the Barony Glen, so the Legion defected for a more sporting battle. As the Summer months pressed on, the Legion received word from the King of Antir that the Kingdoms of the West were rallying against him and he feared that difficulties traveling through his kingdom might reduce his fighting force. We rushed down to the West to aid his forces in the battle. The fighting made me long for the battles on our Ardescan soils, but it was a fine fight nonetheless. I walked away from the battlefield feeling like the West had tactically outmaneuvered AnTir. I much prefer smaller battles, besides, where the percentage of Legion soldiers counts for more. As the campaign season draws down, the most important fight yet remaining for our glorious Legion is Autumn War, wherein lie the best fights and parties of AnTir. This particular war has a lot of sentimental meaning for me, as it is where I first raised my sword and donned my armor. I seek to bring the Legion into a new frontier of fighting for honor in the Foreign Lands. I hope that when the battles in Ardesca grow as heated as those abroad, that Foreign fighters may hear my call to arms and answer with grit and iron. VAE VICTIS Commander Quaz, Warmaster of the Imperial Legion. Event happenings: From Broch Ceoban: The Greenman War is cancelled, due to other event conflicts, and is replaced with "The Shadow Forest Rebellion". Festival of Pumpkins Saturday, September 17, 2011 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Alexander Farm Corner 42nd St SE & 52nd St SE Everett, WA (Ebey Island) Outrageous
Medieval Trebuchets hurl pumpkins over 1800 feet!.  Shadow
Forest Rebellion - Broch Ceoban
(http://www.brochceoban.org/Rebellion.html)September 30-October 2 ShadowOps Airsoft Field 5129 Sand Road, Bellingham, WA 98226 Google Map To all good people that support Broch Ceoban, call to arms! We are being invaded and need all able bodied men and women of arms to help us fight for our freedom. The great host of Ardesca will meet the allies of Broch Ceoban for a weekend of fun, fighting and friendship, EMP style. There will be camping, fighting, drumming, and games. This is a new venue and there are fields, forests, and other cool stuff to fight in and around.If the weather is ugly, there will still be fighting, drumming, and games. There will be food...and EMP hospitality.  Harvest
- Viadrina OutpostSeptember 23-25, 2011 25133 0 Avenue Aldergrove, BC Come wile away the chilly autumn nights with a warm fire and warmer company with Fortress Viadrina. Our fifth annual Harvest Festival and Tavern will take place on September 23-25. Location: This year the festivities will take place at our new site Sanudo Manor located at 25133 0 Avenue, Langley, BC. There are outdoor camping spots for those who are interested. Bunk down space indoors will be also available on a first come first served basis (bring your own sleeping gear.) Site Details: $10 is the day-tripping fee for Saturday. $14 for all three days. Children under 12 free. All Children must be accompanied by their legal guardian or a responsible adult approved by the guardian. Family cap of $35. Site opens at 6 pm on Friday for setup and closes on Sunday at 12 pm. As per the new rules no pets of any kind at the event. This is for the safety of the farm animals as well as the safety of your own. If you have any further questions feel free to contact Lady Elzbieta Zeydl (Elizabeth Schmidt) or Lord Captain Michel Zeydl (Ian Schmidt) Kuraltai - Kelet Mori Obek (waiting for details) Oct. 7-9 British Columbia  Astaroth GamesFriday, October 21 at 3:00pm - October 23 at 6:00pm Bothell, WA - To be announced Save the Date for Astaroth Games! Theme, event games and more to be announced SOON. A word from the Pontifex:
Astrology's origins can be traced all the way back to the third millennium BCE; where it was used along with calendrical systems to predict seasonal shifts and interpret celestial cycles as divine communication. Once thought as a 'learned skill' along with alchemy, meteorology, medicine, and astronomy, it has a falling out in the late 17th century and fell into the realm of pseudoscience. Why include it in our newsletter then? How does this apply to the human condition? How does a horoscope affect us individually? The struggle against fate and destiny has been one of man's greatest battles since he was first upon the earth, and our ability to open our eyes to guidance outside of ourselves has set us apart from the beasts that walk it alongside us. My goal with these horoscopes, as the months go on, will be to open your eyes to the possibilities that await you, to provide you with unique avenues of insight into yourself, and to demonstrate how people throughout time immemorial have sought to do the same. Throughout the course of this portion of the newsletter; myself and other members of the Sacred Order will be exploring the history of horoscoping in its contextual setting, as well as exploring various means of historical divination and their impact on medieval and ancient society. Your Servant, Pontifex Iakchos Proxima Your Horoscope Aries: I hope that you haven't been questioning any of your relationships lately, Aries. I understand that sometimes it can be difficult to stick with people through certain things, but you come from a place of great passion and emotive strength. Don't let that passion force you into an awkward position, and you will find peace and prosperity around the corner. Taurus: Taurus, now is the time to be adventurous! Use that wisdom you have gained from your travels and apply it to new things. Pick up a hobby, read that book you have set aside, take a short trip somewhere. There is a change on the horizon and you can make it for the better. Gemini: Gemini, a rich spiritual life is a valuable thing. Make sure you keep a little order in it. Satisfying the soul can take many forms, and a little consistency right now will only bring you greater peace of mind. I think you will find that as you start focusing inwards, your outer situation will become more stable as well. Cancer: Look around you, Cancer; isn't life amazing? It's unreal to me, at times, at how much beauty and freshness we can be surrounded with. Even when times seem a little rough, we have to open our eyes and our minds to the incredible world we inhabit, love it! Remember that journeys begin with steps and changes with mere intention. Where are your intentions? Leo: It may be time to reign in some of that wildness and boldness. You should keep things in check and examine the inner self that you want to shine outward. Focus on your hearth and home; make a strong nest and believe in it. Take that peace and build new relationships. Virgo: Recent investments are going to pay off for you, Virgo. Use this opportunity to shift your paradigm, try on some new ideas. Bold steps towards new foundations may lead to a long journey, but the completion of it will bring inner peace. Libra: Libra, it's time to finish the projects that you have started but left incomplete. Use this free time to get in touch with your feminine side. Embrace the creativity that you find there and spread it around. Use it to cultivate a more lively environment. Scorpio: Scorpio, try not to be too discouraged with how recent decisions you made may have resolved. Use this time to take a personal sabbatical. Internalize recent events, let the lessons learned become a part of you, take those lessons to new places. Sagittarius: Stay on track, Sagittarius! You have put a lot of energy into letting your personal relationships blossom outward, now you have to carefully tend them, make sure they stay healthy and manageable. Good things are on the horizon. Capricorn: Your hard work and dedication will not have been in vain, Capricorn. Remain steadfast and diligent. The more effort and time your put into a project, or anything for that matter, the more complete it will be and the more easily it will integrate into your life. Spread the fruits of your labor. Fill the cups at your table. Aquarius: Aquarius, now is not the time to hold onto old familiar bad habits, nor is it the time to horde your wealth. You are in a position to help others up the mountain, hold your torch out for them to see. I think you will find that as you reach your hand outward, it will grow steadily stronger. Pisces: This is an excellent time to be a Pisces. This month you should really put effort into making more out of what you have. This is a very energetically favorable season for you! Draw on that strength, that energy, that power within you and around you and form the life you want. Own it, Pisces. From the Kitchens of the Cooks This Month's Recipe: Sulla's Feta Toss! Ingredients:
First;
bring the water for the noodles to a boil, cook the noodles Enjoy! Greetings From the Ardescan Fibre Arts Guild
We would like to introduce ourselves to the Populace of Ardesca. We are dedicated to creating, teaching and researching historical fibre related skills. Producing beautiful items to promote the Empire and generally having a great time doing it!
Our first large project was unveiled at the recent Crown War, banners for each of the Branches and a large Kingdom banner. We would like to thank the War Crown Organizer, Kovac for encouraging us to tackle this rewarding and challenging Heraldic display. Currently, we are accepting new members to the Guild and hope that you will join us at an upcoming meeting or class. Please feel free to contact us if you would like us to work on projects or teach classes for your branch, guild or household.
Sincerely, Tayissa Azra- al-Madeena Adriel al-Warrens - al-Madeena Tika LiaDan– Fortress Viadrina
Rumours:
Al-Madeena Speaks:
What is next?: If Lords Vego and Turalyon do not heed the Queen's request, She will send and an army to quash the rebellion and bring Lord Vego and Lord Turalyon to Her court, in chains, to answer for thier crimes. Weekly Practices and Activities Saturdays 12:00-3:30pm Blythe Park Bothell, WA Fighter Practice hosted by Astaroth Keep
Sundays 1:00-4:00 Gas Works Park Seattle, WA Fight and Drum practice hosted by al-Madeena
Sundays 1:00-5:00 Aldergrove, British Columbia Fighting, Bellydance Class and sewing room available.
Thursdays 6:00-9:00pm Aldergrove, british Columbia Classes, Bellydance, sewing room Freehold of Arandor and Broch Ceoban Every other Sunday 4pm (Next practice 8-14-2011) Skagit Highlands Park, Mount Vernon Soon bi-weekly practice in Whatcom county. Waiting to vote on site and time. Thanks: Thanks to everyone who has planned, prepared, cooked, cleaned, volunteered, given, and went out of thier way, to help us become something that is becoming larger than life.Without you, this organization would never have survived, let alone grown as it has. Every day, someone new comes to us to find that something that they can't find elsewhere, and contribute to our ever growing, ever expanding culture, creativity, and extreme sport... or is it a way of life? Without you...this thing could never work...we bow to you and give our thanks. If you wish to add content to this newsletter, please submit before the 10th of each month. Contact Queen Tayissa for details. The
Beacon is a publication of the Empire of Medieval Pursuits
The Empire of Medieval Pursuits is a non-profit organization dedicated to the re-creation and enjoyment of the realities, myths, and legends of the Ancient to Medieval world. Our purpose is to provide a forum through which individuals can come together in order to share a mutual interest in the celebration of the arts, customs, and ideologies of diverse and ancient cultures. |
Now
hear this!
Sovereign and mighty Queen
Tayissa, Our Rising Phoenix of Ardesca,