The weekend of January 27, my Mynydd Seren family and I attended the Festival of Maidens in the Shire of Caer Gwyn This was my first maidens since I rejoined the SCA, and my first since I received my Award of Arms at the same festival in 2017.
After helping run authorizations in the morning, I made it through 4 rounds of the A-game tournament, which was better than I expected for a double elimination, wounds retained fight in one of the most well attended fencing tournaments in Midrealm. Especially considering two of those rounds I fought missing one arm and one leg.
I got some great fencing outside the tourney too. I got some bouts with the folks from my old home of Rivenstar, both old friends and their budding new fencers. I challenged for the iron ring (didn’t get it, but worth a shot), and fought some fantastic bouts against their majesties when they came out to fence. I also got some good tips from the Wednesday Company folks during their charity fights, which also featured the new coins I had minted for them.
Many great things happened at court, but I was especially happy to see my friend Maedhbh Ni Manainn receive her Willow in Bardic Arts, and Cerian Cantwr be put on vigil for the Order of the Pelican. At the end, when they called up the newcomers, there were at least 30 in attendance, far more than their majesties had newcomers mugs to distribute, though many mugs were volunteered in the moment to ensure everybody got one. I know I’ve only been back in the SCA about a year, but with the struggles with new member retention and keeping our own local group alive, it really warmed my heart to see so many people at such a wonderful event. Maidens is one of those “little bit of everything” events that is perfect for getting your first introduction into the SCA (it certainly was for me at my first maidens!)
Angist Arts 
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