Pennsic and stuff...

Well, I am enjoying everyone else's version of Pennsic, so I thought I'd throw in my version, too, and we could all look at Pennsic from different points of view(s).

Before I hit Pennsic, thought I thought I'd fuss a bit (a VERY little bit).
We are blessed to have an award recommendation form to use, and I am proud that you are sending me stuff,but kids, you MUST also send it to Prince Ailgheanan, or IT DOESN'T COUNT!!!
1) Thou shalt NOT piss off the Prince when asking for something!

So, I invited the His-Highney to join this list... He's been on the Shadow Legion mailing list for years, anyway, so quit saying bad things about him....**just kidding, big A.** Thought I'd tell y'all.

Was a bad omen indeed, for suddenly it was Monday Morning, and time for opening ceremonies!
This is a biggie; ALL the Kingdoms send their Royalty out in their best Kingdom duds, and all the folk from each kingdom march in; the Kingdom heralds do some witty schtick and the Kings declare their intent (to fight for which side). All the Princes/Princess gather at the bottom of a huge stage with all the banner bearers and high hats, and all the Kings/Queens march up onstage to stand in the sun for an hour and broil like a lobster. As the 6 or so of our house and friends gathered at the Middle Royal gates to process in, I became more and more worried.... WHERE was Gareth, Aligheanan, and all the Kingdom hard-hats? Finally, as it was obvious that we were moving, I sent Marcus to ask Gareth when he was coming.
He reported that he was too hung over to rise, and that "I could handle it".

So, not knowing where Aligheanan was camping, we grimly marched in, secure in the knowledge that we would stand out like a sore thumb, as I was wearing a hot pink choli with a purple silk sari (all the Kingdom garb wraps around me so many times I look like a seven-layer Burrito), and no other Royalty or fighters from our kingdom was there to march with us. Bear in mind we Princess-types usually are lost in the crowd at the bottom, not standing onstage. We were fortunate that Rixa had the sense to grab Sarah from Odessey coffee to be my Herald, and since Gareth hadn't told me who he wanted to fight for, I decided that I liked the Middle (So THERE!) Sarah announced it and we were through it. as I was standing up there doing the silent sizzle, suddenly someone poked me in the butt from behind! I turned and looked and a sheepishly grinning prince waggled two fingers at me. There is a great picture of me pointing a finger at him and mouthing, "I'm gonna Kill you!!" I did make him get up there long enough to get me off the stage, so at least he made somewhat of a belated appearance.
We went to some Middle Tea on the battlefield, and were both tremendously relieved to get out of that and leave. As Suasu has been hugely anal about having me escorted every-blinking-where l went, l took this moment to dismiss my ever-present entourage and had my Prince escort me about thirty feet before l said BYE and went shopping alone... So all of you who were pitying Ailgheanan for the ass-chewing you thought he got in the two hours l was gone, no, l was sitting there talking to Larcombe. Some things are not worth fussing about.
Hummphfhfptptptffptptp. By the way , Thanks Suasu. You did indeed get me back for being so anal last year when you were princess. Truly a necessary thing, but no, Zhara, l do NOT want sensors sewed into my clothes so y'all can find me.

Well, we went partying a few more times, like the Hell party that Zhara loved so much. There was a huge box in there, with a handle across it, and when you got in, you saw it was a basket! So, Zhara and l went to Hell in a handbasket. Very silly *grin*
I was a very naughty princess and skipped the East Queen's tea... blood sugar low, so I didn't go.
Promptly got written up in the Pennsic paper as the only Crown that didn't come...sigh. So l got my lazy butt up and went to the Middle Queen's tea.... a very amusing play done by His Grace Duke Eliahu... You guys remember the Mud-wrestling we used to have? He was a BOD member that wrestled for us twice. As he was nervouly waiting for the Queens to sit somewhere, inviting them to the front row so they could participate (NONE of them would) I had to wait for them to sit (As I am only a Princess; it is not proper for me to sit first) so I popped into the front row, grinned and asked him what the entertainment was...what, no mud wrestling? he grinned like a big fox, and replied how nice it was to have an enthusiastic member of the audience right up front!>got brownie points from the Middle for this. Poor Zhara found out what retainers do at boring parties.....

I was a good puppy and went to the State Dinner at the East Camp... escorted by His Majesty. Only problem was that he read the invitation wrong and we were early...VERY early! SO early, that we left and came back, which was good, cause we ran into Ailgheanan, who thought he had ducked out on this. We dragged him back with us, and all the stuffy hats were all standing around scared stiff and trying to look very Royal... Until I looked up and saw His Majesty of the Outlands standing on top of the East's castle gate. WELL, I popped up there, and so did several other Kings and Queens. SO... I had finger food sent up, and we promptly started a food fight. The first casualty was.... Ailgheanan! I beaned him in the ear with a big ol' greasy olive..... Thanks to Gareth, who moved out of the way when he saw me, but didn't tell Ailgheanan. Anyway, it suddenly dawned on some of these people that yes , I was THE Ilissa, of the Kane-and-Ilissa infamy, and the whole party just took off. It was a blast, and afterward a bunch of the Household went out Partying. Countess Chelsi of Trimaris was camping with us by then, and her troupe of cute lil guys and a gal all went partying. In the WEE hours of the morning, as we were stumbling home from the Men-without-pants party, we saw a familiar figure come stumbling pie-eyed drunk out of a camp in the bog.... Ailgheanan! he looked up, grabbed me hand and dragged us to his camp to meet everybody, and said,

"Look! I went out to shake my winky, and I found my Princess!"

Anyway the rest of the War is a bit fuzzy....it rained until the Meridian Party Thursday night, stopped, the continued til Friday Afternoon. By the way, the food was good, but these guys CAN'T throw a good party. We'll show 'em how at Gulf Wars I went to a private party at the Italian Villa by the lake and saw the BEST belly dancing I have ever seen.... These dancers were FROM the Middle East, and were classicly trained dancers.... Just superb!

Friday was a mess of drizzle, so I blew off the fighting totally. All the blinking teas were cancelled (yeah!), and they stuck all the battles together in a row, so every body missed the bridge battle that was moved from 3pm to 11am. BAH! Great Court was attended by ALL the ROYALTY at Pennsic EXCEPT... Gareth. And was duly noticed and announced IN COURT. *sigh* Embarrassed again. Our darling Colin was duly elevated to the Order of the Pelican, probably because HIS King made it to Court. As I was walking behind the crowd (no, Princes/Princesses do NOT stand in Great court....tooo crowded) Prince Ferdinand of Calontir walked by and gasped "Ilissa! they were calling you in Court!!!" So I had a heart attack and died right there til he laughed and said, "Got ya!" I will kill him later, goofy guy. He's a hoot, y'all. Zhara told you about Daveed and Terku; I had to go to the Middle Party. Talked up Panhandle Skirmish in Trimaris (I had 3 Royal requests to dance... woohoo!!) and told Prince Byetor that we would come...he throws a hell of a party, y'all. He has a new game I love.... "Squire Chunking". Basically, I stand still, and two guys throw men at my feet.... Oooh, I love that game! We need SMALL SQUIRES TO THROW at Panhandle Skirmish, and NO, they won't throw females... too unchivalrous. Arlain, wanna make me famous? We gotta practice, and you gotta go. The piece of the BELT that lands farthest is the measure point....

Well that was mostly it; I must do some thank-you's; Raybert for getting the little portable water heater working... YES it' s a GOOD thing! Rixa for all your hard work, all my good house for taking care of me, Zhara for toting my stuff around like a good retainer, Freiman for using the courtesy titles at all the right times in spite of the fact that we hate that stuff, Pat for quietly getting the stuff smoothed down, Marcus for all the digging, toting, etc....Thanks again, y'all.

So now, prepare for the wars, the parties, and my future headaches. I love you and I need you now more that ever...