Nicholaus Barchatov

Unto the current and former populace of Grimwithshire, to my crew and my old friends where ever you may be,

Today my heart is breaking. In that awful, awful way that thankfully it rarely has. My good and beloved friend has left us. Left me.

I just received word today that Count Nicholaus Barchatov, (modernly known as Jerry Fries) has passed from this realm. It was sudden, unexpected and his passing quick. To say he will be missed would be a vast understatement.

Some who do not know may wonder why I pass this on to Grimwith? Because the formation of a branch in this area was originally his idea.

Long ago I knew him in Oertha, as well as his then lady Alyssia of Cameo Keepe. We shared many, many good times. I was seneschal of our group. He taught me to fight. I was on their retinue when they held the Coronets. I watched their son so they could hold court and my Diamond Willow still has Baraks teething marks. I am apprenticed to Alyssia's mother, Mistress Rolynnda.

When I moved to An Tir I knew no one here and was not active in the SCA anymore, but one day I looked up the Kingdom website and lo and behold who should be King & Queen but my old pals.

So I traveled to Ambergard just to see them. While he and I were talking and sharing a bottle of mead I was teasing him about an incident that happened many years ago in Oertha. He jokingly threatened that if I didn't keep shut about it here he would retaliate by making me "Seneschal by Kings Command" of whatever area I currently resided in.

I retorted "Hah! Good luck with that, I live in Unclaimed Lands!" Never one to be thwarted in an evil scheme he promptly puffed himself up, tapped the crown on the table between us and replied "Then I say you should get a branch formed up there". Well, you cannot ignore a command of thy King, can you? Not the clean version in the Grete Boke but nonetheless the truth about how the idea of Grimwith was conceived.

Count Nicholaus was my first choice for Royal Patron for Grimwith. But at the time he did not feel he could do the role justice and declined. He always planned to attend an event here - but as he often told me, "you live in the damn boonies!"

There is so much more I could share but the tears flow freely as I type, for this was truly one of my oldest and dearest friends, once and future Prince and the only One True King I have ever sworn fealty to outside of my obligations as an officer. Even when I was the consort of another at Crown tournament I was cheering inside for Nick to win again.

Godspeed my King, my friend and give my love to Kylson for I know he is waiting for you with a brimming tankard, a merry song and an eyeball exploding headshot.

I love you man.

Lady Wilhelmina Catherine de La Rochelle of House Ravenoak
Companion of the Diamond Willow
Order of the Ivory Quatrefoil
Former Seneschale of Selveirgard
Former Lady in Waiting to HRH Alyssia of Cameo Keepe
Apprentice to Mistress Rolynnda of the Azurestone
Distractor of the child
One of those infamous hair snake wranglers.

Better known to most of you as
Commodore Arnora Grimsdottir
founding Seneschale of Grimwithshire

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I didn't know him as King or any other royalty. I knew him as Nick because that is what he introduced himself as over a card game. It wasn't until much later that I knew he had held any title. He was as the salt of the earth adding a flavor to the gathering of friends that will be sorely missed for once having him there it will never again be quite the same.

What a delight to visit with this man. I will miss his candor and his laughter. We have lost a great example of what the society should be. Not perfect but open, charming, friendly and courteous even to those who aren't wearing the pointy hats of court.

Rae Yseulande
War Elephant Wrangler

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