The History of the Kingdom of The West
The Eighteenth Year

From The Page (December, 1983):

The Province of Winter's Gate (Fairbanks, Alaska), is hosting Oertha's Midwinter Lord Defender Tourney this January. TO travel fiends considering a visit to the farthest north and undoubtedly the coldest region of the West Kingdom and Knowne World, the following information is offered as enticement.

This is a two-day event, beginning early on Saturday and ending later afternoon Sunday. Housing and transportation will be provided for those who contact Sister Lazerina. A meager site fee of $10 until December 31 will include lunch Saturday, brunch Sunday, and a four-remove feast with entertainment on Saturday night. Saturday, there will be a double elmination tourney to choose the Lord Defender and Regent of Oertha. There will be dancing, gaming, and general revelry throughout the weekend. Those contemplating experiencing true cold and the hospitality of Oerthans should contact the autocrat: Morgana n'ha Keridwen (contact info omitted) or Sister Lazerina (contact info omitted).

Kylson Skyfyre (Lord Defender of Oertha) Azure, a unicorn rampant argent, crined Or, on a chief arched Or three snowflakes azure.

Anne of Bradford (Lady of the Snows) Azure, chapé, a chicken martletted close to sinister Or.

Arms by Khevron Oktavii Tikhikovich Vorotnikov

Commentary:

"This was one of the coldest tournaments that I think Oertha had seen to that date. The temperatures were around 50 degrees BELOW zero (fahrenheit) on Saturday. The fighting was done indoors, as we were using a fairground for the event, and arrangements had been made to use one of the barns. Even the barn caused some problems for polearms -- the fighters had to try to avoid hitting the ceiling and the lights -- but it was a LOT warmer inside than out.

"There's not a lot that I recall about the event. I have odd memories of things like wearing my first houpeland, sweeping around a corner, and knocking Ulrich von Matanuska's beer over with my sleeve (and apologizing profusely). I recall that King William (the Lucky) was visiting, and that the first double-peerage in Oertha occurred (Kafyre bint Assad -- now Nerissa Meraud de la Fontaine -- was made a member of both the Orders of the Laurel and the Pelican at that event).

"One thing that was fun (see also the Twelfth Night description) -- at 12th Night, the Westermark had put on a play. Kylson brought a video of it, and we watched that -- it was ... amusing. We had to keep kicking one young man out because he was too young (the play was rated "R" for a reason ...).

"Sunday the temperature swept up to 10 degrees (above zero), and the fighters were thrilled -- they fought out doors and had a blast (a sixty degree temperature change will do that). As noted, not a lot to say, maybe my brain froze? It was freaking cold ..." -- Hirsch von Henford

Description of this event (if any) taken from The Page.

The West Kingdom History Website was created by and is maintained by Hirsch von Henford (mka Ken Mayer).