At the Sign of the Stag and Sparrow
The Bhakail Tavern has once more come under new ownership! Please join us at The Sign of the Stag and Sparrow in the atmospheric Ratskeller of the German Society of Pennsylvania. Here we will gather for joy, merriment, and great food. Their Excellencies Bhakail – Baron Rowan Cloteworthy and Baroness Suba al-Hadid – will also use this occasion to choose two new Champions of their Court: their Bardic and Gaming Champions. Anyone who lives in a territory bordering Bhakail is invited to compete for either accolade, but any member of the populace may – and is encouraged to – enter for the fun and merriment.
Our dayboard spread – prepared by Eirani inn Sporr featuring bread by Runi inn Irski (baker of Shire Wars fame) – will feature foods to warm your bones in the midst of these winter days. The site is damp, so those who wish to display and sample brews and concoctions of their own will be allotted space to do so.
This event is limited to 60 attendees, so pre-registering is highly encouraged to ensure entry to the Tavern. We will be able to take pre-registration through PayPal this year, as well as cash or check. While the site is ADA accessible, the site requests that anyone needing an elevator to enjoy the day’s festivities please reach out to the Event Steward in advance.
Bhakail 2nd Annual Gaming Championship Tournament
The Honorable Lord Aurddeilen-ap-Robet, current Games Champion of Bhakail, calls upon one and all to participate in the 2nd Annual Bhakail Gaming Championship Tournament. This year’s contest will be divided into three game categories: Wit, Skill, and Luck.
The Games of Wit will be Tafl, Nine Man Morris, and Fox and Geese. All players will need to play each game twice with the same opponent to determine a winner. Ties will count as a win for both players.
The Games of Luck will be Gluckhaus, In and Inn, and Tarot; These games should be played with 4 players. However, all the players need not be contestants.
The Games of Skill will be Shove Ha-penny, 9 pin Skittles, and Quoits. These may be played as 2 or 4 player games, and again not all the players need to be contestants. These 3 games will be featured at the Bhakail Yule Revel on December 9th to allow you to get in some practice prior to the January Tournament.
Each contestant may play as many games as time permits, but must play a minimum of one game in each of the three game categories. The person with the most wins at the end of the tournament will be declared the new Games Champion. In the event of a tie, the remaining contestants will need to play a tie-breaker game. The game and rules for the tie-breaker game will be determined by the current Games Champion. Scorecards will be provided to keep track of wins and losses.
Time permitting; we will end the day with two favorite court games from the 16th century known as The Riddle Game, and Council of the Gods. These are team games, and are not part of the Tournament. However they are extremely fun and all Tavern Event participants are invited to play.
Bhakail Bardic Champion
The Competition will consist of three rounds.
Round 1: Entertain Me!
This piece should be happy, funny, amusing, or otherwise entertaining. Drinking songs, funny stories, dance music, and upbeat tunes are always a safe bet, but feel free to think outside the box. The piece need not be period, but should be period-ish and can be original.
Round 2: Educate Me!
This piece must be period and you should be able to explain when and where it is from. Ideally, something about the piece should reveal an interesting fact about life during the period.
Round 3: Impress Me!
Show me your best. Do whatever you think will floor the audience. Things that impress me include operatic voices, complicated fingering, improvisation, and foreign languages, but remember, you will also have to impress the other judges as well. The piece need not be period but should be period-ish and can be original.
All pieces can be any kind of entertainment, including, but not limited to songs, instrumental pieces, stories, dance, juggling acts, and puppet shows. Each piece should be less than 5 minutes. The Competition will be judged by The Baron, The Baroness, and the current Bardic Champion. Previous Bardic Champions may be asked for input at Their Excellencies request. If there are five or more contestants, then contestants will be eliminated with each round.
The Stag & Sparrow’s Menu
Pickled Thyngs
Italian Sausages
Green Onion Meatballs
Homemade Rolls
Homemade Cheese
Honey Butter
Hummus
Dried Apricots
Pear Chutney
Savory Vegetable Soup served in Homemade Bread Bowls
Herb-Baked Chicken Thighs with a Cherry Sauce
Mushrooms in a Savory Broth, tossed in Parsley and presented on a bed of wilted Spinach
Warm Rice Pudding with cranberries, golden raisins, and cinnamon sprinkled over
Crisp Gingerbread
If you have allergies, questions, or concerns, please contact the Head Cook, Eirani inn Spǫrr, at k.pazdalski@gmail.com.
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