Fourth Company

Introduction/Purpose:

Description of branch/guild/household, etc.

The Waterbearers and the Soup Kitchen have both been inducted into the Order of the Falcon's Heart.

Activities

Events the group traditionally helps with/hosts

History

Mellitus of Rouncivale

Waterbearing in Calontir began under the guidance of Baroness Finola O'Clery. Finola gathered a core of Calontir waterbearers who would travel to events in events and foreign wars, carrying with the tubes and jugs and Gatorade they needed for the fighters. In those days, if Finola or one of her team did not go to an event, there usually was no waterbearing.

During Countess Miriam's term as Kingdom Chiurgeon, waterbearing became a formal activity under the Chiurgeonate and Finola was the first official Kingdom Waterbearing Coordinator. At the end of her term, I became the second to hold that office and we began to further formalize activities and put the responsibility of provisioning waterbearing under the event stewards and local groups.

This model is still in place, even though the official office of Waterbearing Coordinator no longer exists. I think that this speaks highly of how committed Calontir is to taking care of its fighters and populace.

Finola kept working with the waterbearers after her term of office. I remember her telling me before Pennsic XX or XXI that she'd gotten a deal on cup of soup at a wholesale/retail place and brought it with her to the War. She and Mistress Jenna began serving soup after the battles at the Pennsic and thus began the Calontir Soup Kitchen. For many years, Finola and Jenna provisioned the Soup Kitchen and served at foreign wars. Just as waterbearing, the Soup Kitchen quickly became a part of Calontir's army and its traditions. Soon, both the waterbearers and the Soup Kitchen became recognized at Calontir's Fourth Company.

This is the history of the Fourth Company as I remember it. Mellitus of Rouncivale

Eloise Montgomery

What a lot of newcomers don't realise is that General Finola and her adjutant, Colonel Jenna, funded the soup kitchen for a good many years out of their own pockets as well as with donations and fund raisers. I was pleased to be allowed to be a part of the fund raising effort at Kris Kinder each year while I was still able to go out and about.

First Groups to Receive the Award of the Falcon's Heart

Scroll texts by: Master Andrixos Seljukroctonis and Marcus de la Forest

Hear and know the word and will of Fernando, Falcon King, and Lyriel, Lily Queen, delivered on the dust-choked fields of the 17th Estrella War.

Just as the Falcon must be possessed of a firm heart to provide stamina and strength while soaring the skies in search of prey, so does the Falcon Host rely upon the selfless work of its Waterbearers to insure the vigor and power of its soldier on battlefields across the Known World. As the Falcon's heart sends forth its lifeblood to strengthen its limbs, so do Our Waterbearers pour out for Our Host life-giving water, that they might continue their death-dealing work.

So thus is it meet and fitting that We, Fernando and Lyriel, with Our army assembled, declare the Waterbearers of Calontir Bearers of the Falcon's Heart.

So say we, on this the 17th day of February, AS XXXV, standing on the honour-strewn field of battle on the burning sands of the Estrella War.

---

Hear now the words of Fernando, Falcon King by Sword and Law, and Lyriel, Lily Queen and Inspiration.

Often, in times of war, have great metal vessels been filled with life-giving nourishment for the Falcon War Host. Yet these vessels cannot contain that love which We feel for our Soup Kitchen. Here, on the sands of Estrella, where their tireless work is always seen, do We Fernando and Lyriel, present the one vessel that may contain Our people's love - the Falcon's Heart.

On this 16th day of February, A.S. XXXV, let Our decree affirm the membership of the Calontir Soup Kitchen within Our Order of the Falcon's Heart.

So say We from the Falcon Thrones in Our war camp at this 17th Estrella War.

More Information

• Links to web site, FB groups, mailing lists, etc.