Dragon Festival: Shield Painting

In accordance with the will of Her Majesty and in upholding the duties charged to me as Senior
Chronicler, I hereby submit the account of Dragon Festival: Shield Painting.

In the main cavern where the Dragon Festival is taking place, a number of denizens gathered this past Frey’s evening for a night of artistry. After a moment of settling in, Huskarl Cordon began speaking by first thanking and then welcoming those gathered. He went on to explain the thoughts behind shield painting: “Now. I will say that painting your shield comes from... the heart, the soul. Chivalric arms are similar in that they should represent you or your Jarl. But they are informal, an expression of something more .... inner, natural, even primal. Often with images or icons meant to provoke courage in those who stand beside you in the shield wall, or fear in those across the field of battle." He also encouraged the group to be as creative with their designs as they would like, even using one’s hand if they chose to do so.

On the table, he motioned to the painting kits and a box full of blank shields. The Huskarl mentioned then that he had a particular focus on Rumissian runes this festival, and so brought examples of those runes and their meanings, for the artists to use in their paintings, if they chose to do so. Cordon also showed an example shield that he had painted the prior evening. It was quartered into four parts, in a pattern of yellow and black. The center was dominated by a paw in crimson, with each pad and claw reaching into the four quadrants of the shield. Each toe bore a different Rumissian rune.

With that, the cavern was free to begin creating. Cordon spoke as the others worked: “Many are beginning paintings or other art projects, stories, carvings, statues and the like for Trenna's Bardic Event. If you wish to paint such on a shield feel free to take an extra before you leave." The themes for these would be: “Bravery, strength, cunning. Maybe even acts of kindness.” He then suggested that the shields for the current event be kept simple; to let the more detailed shields be reserved for the Bardic Night. The Huskarl then traveled about the cavern, enjoying the designs that were developing.

As the participants finished their shields, they introduced what they had painted. A list of the shields are as follows:

Sera Milani’s shield contained a bullseye pattern, with a black handprint at its center.
Sera Kallistya’s shield was blue and red, containing the face of a grinning, grey and white wolf.
Ser Radulescu’s shield featured a teal and black abstract butterfly design, with a Rumissian rune as its centerpiece.
This chronicler’s shield contained a green background and a purple mace, with a rune traced on the head of the weapon and vines along the handle.
Mistress Filusae’s shield was predominantly decorated with a gold, jawless skull with four crimson eyes.
Karl Renna’s shield was not finished, but featured thorny ivy bunches that shape themselves into a pair of horns and wings.

The evening ended in good cheer and conversation, as excitement for the next affair, Caves and Conquest, was about to begin.

Those who participated in this artistic event included Huskarls Cordon and Trenna, Karl Renna, Mistress Filusae, ser Radulescu, seras Kallistya and Milani and this chronicler.

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This chronicle will be subject to changes and corrections. I humbly ask all readers to please indicate to me discreetly, any falsehoods I may have mistakenly communicated. It is by means of the conservation of the Past that we continue to serve Her Majesty and give substance to those that follow.

In service to Her Majesty Queen Vivienne, The Office of the Chronicler, and the Denizenry of Her Majesty's Realm.