Argent Aspis' 22nd Annual Bardfest

[GS4-Seomanthe]

This July, the House of the Argent Aspis will be hosting the 22nd Annual Bardfest!

Aspis' longstanding annual celebration of Elanthian culture and creativity will run from July 10th through 12th, and conclude with the finals on July 20th. In a change from previous years, Finals night has been pushed out to the following Thursday, instead of Monday, to give finalists more time to work on their original performances. The tight time-frame to write a new performance has been something past performers have expressed trepidation about so we're trying this out this year in hopes that the extra few days help :)

All aspiring performers are encouraged to pre-register to ensure that you get a coveted performance slot in Elanthia’s oldest festival. Please register here: https://goo.gl/tGq51W

Everyone is a bard at heart - Share your performance art at Bardfest this year!

Our Grand Prize will be 10 million silvers, and the winner's name will be inscribed for all time on the Bardfest Trophy on display in the Wehnimer's Landing museum, alongside all our illustrious and talented past winners.

Runners-up will receive comparable sums, and all attendees are ensured several evenings of the best entertainment Elanthia has to offer!

See our Bardfest Rules (http://www.houseaspis.com/bardfest/bardfest-rules) for details on how performances are judged. If you have any questions about Bardfest, the rules, or anything else, please do not hesitate to post here or seek out an Aspis officer.

Please also look out for our Roar into Bardfest events which we’ll be announcing shortly!

-Seomanthe Bartley-Olberath
Argent Scribe

~ 22nd Annual House of the Argent Aspis Bardfest ~
~ Grand Prize - 10 million silver ~
~ 7/10 - 7/12 - Finals 7/20 ~
~ Bardfest is not limited to bards! Come share your art! ~
~ Register Here: https://goo.gl/tGq51W ~

[GS4-Seomanthe]

Roar into Bardfest 2017 Schedule

Date: 6/10/17
Time: 10:30pm
Location: Ta'Vaalor, Kai's Statue

Date: 6/15/17
Time: 10:30pm
Location: Ta'Vaalor, Kai's Statue

Date: 6/24/17
Time: 10:30pm
Location: Wehnimer's Landing, House Aspis

Date: 6/30/17
Time: 10:30pm
Location: Wehnimer's Landing, House Aspis

[Luxelle]

Here's a digital HANDBILL for the event

https://twitter.com/GemStoneIVNews/status/861641874460770304

Get yours ready to be autographed by all the finalists!

[GS4-Seomanthe]

Reminder bump, the Roars start this coming weekend on June 10th in Ta'Vaalor! :)

Also, I'm pleased to announce that House Paupers will be joining us once again in our celebration of Cholen's Eve with their Second Annual Topsy Turvy Masque! They have also generously hired a special merchant to perform alterations to help revelers join the fun!

Masks & Costuming Merchant
Saturday, July 15 10pm - 11pm ET
House of Paupers tent set up outside Aspis's Gate.
Prepare for the Ball at this costuming merchant! Bardfest finalists may also be able to have items worked on for their final performance.

House of Paupers Second Annual Topsy-Turvy Masque
Sunday, July 16 9:30pm - 11:30pm ET
House of Paupers tent set up outside Aspis's Gate.
Prizes will be awarded for masks, cross-dressing, and dancing, and special recognition will be reserved for all Bardfest judges and participants that come.

[GS4-Seomanthe]

Bump! First Roar is tonight in Ta'Vaalor at 10:30pm eastern at kai's statue!

[GS4-Seomanthe]

Bumpity to let you all know that I will be out of town all next week, so I have extended the Bardfest performer signup deadline to July 8th which is when I will get back. Sign up and make sure you get a spot! https://goo.gl/tGq51W

[hello]

I would love to attend this event, but why the fuck is it so late at night? Presumably this thing could go on till 1 in the morning.. the vast bulk of GS players are located east of Chicago; aka EST time.

One of the events starts at 11:30 PM on a work night; how the fuck is anyone (with a job) going to stay up for this?! impossible.

[GS4-Seomanthe]

Last reminder bump! Extended deadline is tomorrow to sign up to perform! Spaces fill up fast, don't rely on getting a walk-on spot! https://goo.gl/tGq51W

and hello, Bardfest starts at 10pm Eastern and has for years. No Bardfest-related the events start at 11:30, perhaps you're looking at the ending time for Paupers' Masque?

[leifastagsweed]

You guys should totally check out some of our past performances (http://www.houseaspis.com/bardfest/performances) and then come TONIGHT!!!!

[Luxelle]

Here's Miss Newsby's recaps from the 5 performances of the first night:

Bellicia finished her performance, her very first Bardfest! The crowd clamored their appreciation for the song written for her parents, a heart-felt ballad. One can never go wrong with a ballad, ya'know?! Ask her to share it with you the next time you see her.

Ordim took his bow with a tale that involved, wait...get this, the Pie Shop, a Dragon, a Doll, and ... a muffin! The audience was enthralled at the fun! Get him to tell you the tale, with or without the ruff.

Jersea did the Rest proud with her competition entry, and if you ever wondered why the turtle dances, you need to ask her to tell you this one. It's WELL worth it! The assembled adventurers were enchanted!

Malmora finished up her charmingly desperate tale and the crowd roared! I dare you to ask her to tell you the tale of the man whose attention she was looking for! Oh.My.Gosh!

Sir Balantine shares beautiful poetry he created during a courtship. Evidently the poetry worked. You should be sure to ask him to share them, then take notes for your next romantic adventure!


We'll find out the finalists tonight at the end of the evening. It all starts at 10pm at Argent Aspis in the Landing. Follow the notes from TownSquare East.

[GS4-Seomanthe]

Well, another round of Bardfest prelims is complete, and what a night of drama! Between bouts of bad weather and an envelope mixup, we were in for a lot of nail biting, but the performers, judges and good folks of the audience faced it all with us with good cheer, and we have a great list of Bardfest Finalists to show for it!

Please join me in congratulating the following shining stars, in no particular order, the 22nd Annual Bardfest Finalists:

Ordim
Jersea
Kayse
Meril
Bjornsong
Nehor

Now these intrepid souls have a little over one week to compose an entirely new piece for their Finals performance, and are off to meditate upon this years' theme, WILDERNESS and ILLUSION.

Be sure to join House Aspis on Niiman the 20th, (Thurs 7/20) at 10pm Elven to cheer them on and find out who will take home the Grand Prize of 10 million silvers and the title of Bardfest Champion!

[GS4-Seomanthe]

Do you love the arts? Do you want to support them in Elanthia? Do you also love prizes?! Well, has House Aspis got a deal for you! Bardfest Raffles! Check our our raffle tables in Wehnimer's Landing and help us keep the Bardfest purses nice and fat!

[Town Square, West] Room#:285
The raffle is for "... a pair of dark grey spidersilk hand-wraps, seven times enchanted. Winner need not be present at the raffle but must be in the lands somewhere. An Aspis Officer will contact you to arrange pickup.".
The tickets sell for 50,000 silvers each.
The drawing will be in 187 hours and 52 minutes for 1 winner.
Wednesday 7/19 at 9:00pm Eastern

[Town Square, East] Room#:229
The raffle is for "... a perfect hickory-hafted steel maul, four times enchanted and perfectly forged. Winner need not be present at the raffle but must be in the lands somewhere. An Aspis Officer will contact you to arrange pickup.".
The tickets sell for 50,000 silvers each.
Wednesday 7/19 at 8:50pm Eastern

[Town Square, Northwest] Room#:227
The raffle is for "... an obsidian-hinged burnished gold case containing an elven-made silvery mithril lyre strung with twisted glass, as well as a music binder, two sheets of music, and a tuning key. Winner need not be present at the raffle but must be in the lands somewhere. An Aspis Officer will contact you to arrange pickup.".
The tickets sell for 25,000 silvers each.
Wednesday 7/19 at 8:40pm Eastern

[Town Square, Northeast] Room#:276
The raffle is for "... an embroidered silk instrument case with a circular latch containing a striped tigerwood psaltery. Winner need not be present at the raffle but must be in the lands somewhere. An Aspis Officer will contact you to arrange pickup.".
The tickets sell for 25,000 silvers each.
Wednesday 7/19 at 8:30pm Eastern

[GS4-Seomanthe]

Raffle reminder bump!! Buy your raffle tickets, they draw tomorrow night! Please be advised that House Sovyn has set up raffles in all the same rooms so make sure you're buying the ticket you want :) or.... Just buy all of them!

[beldannon5]

I bought all of them but the prayer book one. :)

[GS4-Seomanthe]

After an amazing night of artistic genius, it's my sad duty to inform you that Bardfest 5118 has ended. Although the stage lights have faded for another year, we can take heart and celebrate our talented winners!

�� Bardfest 5118 Results! ��
1st Place: Kayse
2nd Place: Nehor & Solevar
3rd Place: Meril
4th Place: Ordim
Runners Up: Jersea and Bjornsong


Please be sure to congratulate them!

House Aspis sends special thanks to the following people and groups, without whom Bardfest would not have been possible: Eruheran and House Sovyn, Katara and the Silvergate Inn, Berkana and House Brigatta, Shirkon and House Phoenix, Debia and the Obsidian Tower, Leifa, Nihrvanah, Richaard, and Ulaahn, as well as Lord Ruthiford and Lady Irelain.

Thanks to everyone who attended Bardfest and our Roar into Bardfest events this year. We're looking forward to seeing you all again next summer!