NEOMFA after Orientation gathering

A happy bunch of writers and friends at the NEOMFA back-to-school picnic. (From left to right and top to bottom: Anna French, Maggie Anderson, Kristina von Held and Diana Wayand. In the background more NEOMFA students, faculty, and friends.)

Across the Bifrost Bridge

We are sitting, a hundred or so people, in the falling dark, watching a boat burn. The sky is that deep indigo just before night. Lights from camps on the far side of the lake are beginning to glow. There is the rattle of a distant drum now and again in the distance. Sounds of far away laughter. The flames are a hard brightness against dark waters.

We sit in silence. Some weep softly. A few tell stories, pass a bottle of Tullimore Dew.

In memorializing a good man's untimely death we are reminded of life.

We touch. Hold hands. Reach out to each other knowing that none of us knows the hour that the ravens will come for us.

You out there at home... touch someone. Reach out to someone you love and tell them you love them. Life is too short to waste even a moment of it alone.

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The last flames

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Sailing now on a different, distant shore...

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Farewell Ulrich

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Setting sail

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Daedez says words about losing a friend while Silver passes a bottle of Tully

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At the edge of the lake Devon puts final touches on the ship

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The long procession from Moritu camp to the lake

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The Viking Longship

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Devon working on Ulrich's longship

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Silverthorn arming up

Five field battles today. Drizzly and wet day and the boys are still planning to fight. And there is never any stopping Silver.
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Silverthorn and Denewulf

Now these two are always being mistaken for each other, but I for one can't see why. (LOL)

Denewulf is the sword and shieldman, Silver fights polearm. Silver is shorter by a couple inches, and (I think) cuter (though I could be biased). Can you tell which is which?
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Sir Pellinore stands before his king

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Strom speaks for Pelly

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Pellinore ready for the acolade

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Midrealm Court on the Field

TRMs call a court on the field to commend the Unbelts, to put Gunnar Redboar on vigil for knighthood, and to knight Pellinore.
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TRMs Lutr & Tessa

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Lothar de Normandie

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Happy Unbelts won their battle

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"Lay on!"

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Midrealm Pavillion

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HRM Lutr gives the unbelts a pep talk before the battle

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Silverthorn heads out to the field

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Getting ready for the Champions Battles

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Midrealm Unbelted Champions catch some rest between the battles

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Anna and Laoise guard Midrealm Gate

As I was doing POD this morning these 2 lovely ladies came to guard the gate. Laoise spent most of the shift singing one song after another. Beautiful voice! And Anna sang lovely harmony to many of those songs, too.
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Musicians at Midnight Madness

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Silver admires Maggie's . . . pottery

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More Midnight Madness

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Midnight Madness!

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AEthelmearc Royal camp

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Myfanwy sewing while Daedez braids Chai's hair at the gate

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Inyedun & Bagshi relaxing at the gate

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Moritu Gate

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The newest bird in the North

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The Scroll

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New Pelican swears fealty to Northshield

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Viscount Edward speaks for the Royal Peers

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Speaking for the Laurel

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Lancelot of Windhaven is called into Court

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Her Majesty Northshield visits with the populace while waiting for the King

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Daedez and bodyguards Lujin and Bagshi wait for Northsheid Court to begin

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Lance Gets the Bird

It's Wednesday afternoon about 4pm ish and we are sitting in Northshield camp waiting for the king to get back from the battlefield. The battle ran a bit late (we just heard the ending cannon a few minutes ago).

This is the afternoon that Lance will be inducted into the Order of the Pelican. I have the medallion that Suvdchin and Mirrim passed on to me and that I passed on to Corun. It comes on a chainmail collar so that the wearer is ever reminded of the burdens of such an honor.

Fighters seem to be rolling in now, so court should start shortly....

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Devon is inspired to tango by the newest Laurel

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... and Daedez is presented with the fruitcake!

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The ancestral fruitcake is brought forth and its lineage is read...

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Khalek steps down from his throne to put the medallion on her personally

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Daedez recieves a collar, and Master Pug comes forward with a medallion

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Una watches from among the Laurels

I would have taken a pic of the Pelicans who spoke for Daedez, but since I was one of them I was a bit busy.
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Duchess Sir Rowain speaks as a Royal peer and as Chivalry

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Baroness Mistress Sadira speaks for the Laurel

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