A Welcome to the Circle of Homecoming.

A cool spring morning greeted me as I emerged from my studio tent within the Wolf Faction & I set off on my walk across the fields to the Circle of Homecoming in the McYokel lands of Caledonia. I passed by the flame within the stone pit by the entrance to the circle and settled infant of the circle to sketch my first scene of 1117AF.

The Judgement of the Bears

Surrounding the Circle of Homecoming were stands of pine trees. To the back of one of the stands was the skeleton of a legal man. Such people have no profession to pedal in Caledonia, it seems this one did not understand this aspect and paid a heavy price.

The Homecoming Gargoyle

I returned to the Ritual Circle on Sunday morning and bumped into old friends from the Vipers. We found the peering face of a Gargoyle from the pine trees to our amusement and once they had departed for a warm brew and breakfast I decided to sketch it into the Book of Wandering.

(One gargoyle sketch as promised Alex, have a good day mate!)

The Forlorn Hope

Beside the Circle of Homecoming was a courtyard and one wall was adorned with messages for those who were yet to return home or perhaps were unable to do so.

Travel safely my friends.

The Watchers Rest

On the final day I strolled back to the ritual circle. I seated myself by the large wall flanking the circle and sketched the scene across the circle to the chairs where the watchers take a moment to sit and contemplate between rituals.

The Courtyard

Piers and Columns of stone allow for the climbing ivy to weave the space over and around the Homecoming Courtyard.

Shelter for the Guardians of the Bear Gate.

By early afternoon my wanders had taken me back to my own faction camp. After relaxing for a while I cast my gaze over to our neighbours camp. I have sketched at the Bears camp before and noted the way they always ensure there is shelter for the gate guard. The arrangement had changed from previous years and I found a new subject to sketch. My sketching was interrupted and numerous occasions as Tree Lords lumbered into our camp to attack citizens of the Wolf nation. There is a time for the pen, but there is also a time for the axe and arcane.

Shelter for the Bruid

On the final morning of the GEF my wanders took me by the Bear Faction camp. The distinctive tarps have caught my eye on many occasions and I settled down with the sun on my back to sketch the tarp of the Bruid. By the time I was completing the sketch quite a few of the bears were up and about and the camp echoed to the sounds of banter and tales from the night before.

Needles & Chisels

After breakfast on Sunday morning I decided to wander to the merchants tents in the open ground by the ruins at Selby. Temptation overcame me and I called in at Needles & Chisels to chat with the proprietors and treat myself to a Mead Cup skillfully turned from oak. We talked for a while and I enjoyed looking over the goods they had carefully crafted with their own hands and discussed issues of craftsmanship & the pleasures & details of creating something special from raw materials. We were soon joined by my pack sister Freydis from the Shian Wolves, her own expertise lay with the craft of needle and the loom, the conversation gained greater depth & flow as the four of us began to share both experience and appreciation for our own specialities.

To behold something of individuality created by a skilled hand brings much more to life than convenience, it brings a tale and spirit all of its own.

As our conversation drew to a close I settled myself outside beneath the shifting clouds and put pen to paper to capture the scene of the stall to bring to mind the memories in later times and share them with others who might call in to read these lines.

(Many thanks to Tony & Lesley)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/NeedlesAndChisels

The Bears Gate

Another glorious morning brought Iduna's blessings for me as I took my first stroll of the day. It was only a short journey up to the Bears gate, all was tranquil and the youngsters of the Bear Faction took turns to run down to the gate and check the comings and goings of those who happened to be passing through. The gate would no doubt seem more turbulent moments later in the day as those hostile to the faction chanced an attack, but the Bears are sturdy folk and would no doubt meet the challenge head on.

As I was finishing my sketch, Will McCaullich wandered down to say hello and chat for a while. It seems he has discovered the pleasures of going for a wash in the morning and was on his way to partake of warm waters. A gentler start to the day than his usual method of throwing himself into a mountain tarn in his homeland of Caledonia!

Entrance to the Wellspring

After spending late evening at the Bear Faction camp I awoke on Monday morning with a surprisingly clear head, it was ringing only to the memories of new songs. It would seem the "whisky in a bag" we were drinking was more forgiving than I would expect.

The entrance to the Wellspring stood before me and I settled down to draw. Just a few people passed  me as I worked and the only distraction I seemed to find was the smell of coffee & breakfast from near by.