Cleftlands

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Cleftlands is a Barony in the Oaken Region of the Middle Kingdom.

Cleftlands is bordered on the south by the Barony of Brendoken, and on the west by the shire of Falcon's Quarry. To the North is Lake Erie and to the East is the Shire of Eastwatch

The Cleftlands Device
The Cleftlands Device

Contents

Brief History

Created a Barony in May 1978, Cleftlands geographical location is north eastern Ohio, Cuyahoga County (which includes the city of Cleveland). While a fairly small barony geographically, Cleftlands boasts a large and active populace. A great many Kingdom Officers have come from the Cleftlands, four Kings, five Queens (in seven Reigns) and many Peers of the realm.

Among Armored Combatants, the "Cleftlands Style" fighting is known to be a unique school of combat and the Middle Kingdom war cry "Draco Invictus" was given to the kingdom by the Cleftlands. While Cleftlands boasts many Knights, they are perhaps best known for their scribes guild which is well over 20 years old and boasts over 30 members at any given time and Cooks guild, which is even older.

Traditions

The Barony has several unique or semi-unique traditions that have developed over its long history including holding a combined buisness meeting where all guilds, activities (save archery for obvious reasons) and all the populace is welcome. The Cleftlands Battle Unit has a lovely Battle Song written by Sir Ephraim (words available at: http://cleftlands.cwru.edu/archive/song.asp).

Baronial Champions

There were Baronial Championship competitions annually from the beginning of the Barony's history, generally decided by combat but for several years it was an A&S competition. In 1992 Duke Syr Laurelen, Baron Cleftlands started a new tradition of a Standard Bearer as the Baronial champion. The competition is held as close to May 1st as possible. To compete in the Standard Beearer's tournament combatants must swear on their honor that they will fight for the Barony until the next spring and bring a tale on a subject of the Baron's choosing to the competition, usually related at the feast. The Standard bearer carries the Baronial standard into battle, staying by the Baron and acts as part of the command structure of the Baronial battle unit.

In 1998 three additional champions were added; the Champion d'Epeé (for Rapier combat), the Champion d'arc (for target archery) and the Champion d'arms (the combatant to best represent all martial arts). To compete for these titles, combatants are held to the same vow as the Standard Bearer combatants to practice their martial art for the Barony and to provide a tale.

It is Cleftlands tradition that past Standard Bearers and Champions are granted by the Baron and Baroness the privilege of wearing the full Baronial Arms.

A complete list of past champions and Standard Bearers is located on the baronial website at: http://cleftlands.cwru.edu/archive/officers.asp#stand

Baronial Awards

From its inception as a Barony, the Cleftlands had only one Baronial Award, the Winged Trine which was given for "Acheiving the Impossible". Highly prestigeous and much covetted, the premiere Baron of the Cleftlands, Laurelen Darksbane would hand engrave medalions for the inductees and by wish of Their Graces Laurelen and Ithriliel, no official record was kept of who was given this award. By Their Graces' request, the Award was closed after they resigned as Baron and Baroness.

Two new baronial awards were created by the second Baron and Baroness of the Cleftlands, though these two awards were never officially named (having been rejected by the College of Heralds). The Third Baron and Baroness of the Cleftlands are currently working on submissions for a new award. While they are waiting for that submission to pass or be rejected they've given the Baronial Award a temporary name: The Order of Saint Clairiel.

The Third and current Baroness of the Cleftlands, Milesent, has started a tradition of a Baroness's favor in the form of a detachable sleeve. Which favor was given for the first time to Ser Nickolas Grigorevich Petrov on July 11th, AS 42 (2007).

Dessert Revel

The final meeting of the month is reserved for a Dessert revel, in the Cleftlands a Dessert Revel is a regular meeting where there is no combat, the populace dresses in their best garb, brings desserts or snacks, there is dancing and socializing. The primary idea behind the Cleftlands Dessert Revel is to get the fighters, fencers, dancers, scribes, etc. to interact with each other and remain a cohesive group and also it acts as the traditional "Newcommers night". During the summer months it is common to allow fighting at Dessert revels if the weather is clement as preparations for Pennsic melees become increasingly important to the battle unit.

Events

There are three traditional yearly events held in the Cleftlands:

  • A Regular Event in Cleftlands - tradition started by Sir Ephraim who autocratted the first, held at the end of January and also called "The January Event"
  • The Baronial Standard Bearer's Tournament - traditionally held in the spring as close to May 1st as possible. Tradition started by Syr Laurelen while he was baron.
  • Northern Oaken War Maneuvers - traditionally held in June, started by Lord Edward Fitzranulf.

These three will be occaisonally joined by a fourth fall event, though the fourth event has yet to become a solid tradition.

Barons and Baronesses

The first Baron Cleftlands was Duke Syr Laurelen Darksbane (Who was simply Lord Laurelen at the time. Mistress Marixsa of Crawfordmuir was offered the job first, but declined as she was moving out of the area.) His lady Duchess Ithriliel of Silverlake joined him as the first Baroness two years later. The two remained Baron and Baroness together for 22 years.

In 2002, a change in Midrealm law necessitated a baronial poll of confidence -- thus beginning a very tumultuous period in the Barony. Much discussion was had as to who could participate in the polling (paid members only? Those technically within the Barony by zip code or anyone that played with the group?) The poll itself was considered deeply flawed by many in that it contained three separate sections:

  • I have/do not have confidence in the Baron
  • I have/do not have confidence in the Baroness
  • I have/do not have confidence in the Baron AND Baroness

Thus setting up the possibility that one or the other individual could retain confidence while the other (or the couple) did not.

And indeed, that is exactly what happened. The populace responded with very high confidence in Laurelen, very low confidence in Ithrilliel and middling confidence in the couple. Lacking a mandate from the people, The Crown was left with a very difficult decision. Ultimately, Laurelen and Ithriliel were asked to resign. The fact that Laurelen was not given the option to continue as Baron alone is a sticking point for many members of the barony as he did receive more than a 60% confidence vote. The entire situation was made more emotional in that the sitting Tanists, Prince Valharic and Princess Alys, lived in the Cleftlands.

Laurelen's resignation made the Barony of Rivenstar the last Barony of the Midrealm to retain its premiere Baron.

The Barony shortly thereafter voted on new candidates for Baron and Baroness. These recommendations were given to The Crown, who selected Sir Ephraim ben Schlomo and Lady Madelaine Bouvier to be the second Baron and Baroness of the Cleftlands. They were inducted into office under the Reign of Valharic and Alys in the fall of 2002.

By ancient tradition, only the premiere Baron is called "Baron Cleftlands" meaning Sir Ephraim and Lady Madelaine are properly called the Baron and Baroness of the Cleftlands. A very small difference, but clearly important to some.

The investiture of the Third Baron and Baroness of the Cleftlands, Edward Brackenburye and Milesent Vibert was June 2nd, 2007 at Northern Oaken War Maneuvers.

Cantons and Shires

Cleftlands has no cantons currently, however in the past had fledgeling cantons of Burg im Wald, Cote Nord and Kennisport and sponsoring the original formation and recent re-formation of the shire of Eastwatch.

Households

While some groups in the kingdom are over-shadowed by powerful households in their midst, Cleftlands has always enjoyed a harmonious relationship with her houses.

Active Guilds

Cleftlands Resources

The Cleftlands website is located at: http://cleftlands.cwru.edu
View Cleftlands history at: http://cleftlands.cwru.edu/archive/history.asp

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