Barad Duin

a kingdom within the High Fantasy Society, located in Austin, Texas.

Heraldry

The device of the Grand Duchy of Barad Duin was a white banner adorned with a Black Tower with crescent moons and stars over a blue river.

History

One of the first Amtgard groups outside of El Paso, the Grand Duchy of Barad Duin was founded by Nithanalorn in late 1987. In 1989, Barad Duin was elevated to Kingdom Status by the Burning Lands, but chose to continue to call itself a Grand Duchy for role-play purposes. Dissatisfaction with Amtgard began with a dispute with the Burning Lands over Barad Duin's right to modify their rules of play via kingdom All-Thing. Later conflicts between the Barad Duin citizenry and members of the Emerald Hills resulted in the populace of Barad Duin voting to leave Amtgard and found their own LARP, the High Fantasy Society in early 1990. HFS uses a similar but distinctly different rule set and is founded on a policy of local autonomy for its member groups. Read first hand accounts of the Barad Duin split here.

A former Barad Duin shire, Turris Lunae joined with Bifost, an Amtgard Freehold in late 1990 to form the Celestial Kingdom. About a year after the split, dissidents from Barad Duin founded Tori-Mar, and joined the fledgling Celestial Kingdom.

Time Lines of Barad- Duin

Late 1987

Nithanlorn founds Amtgard in Central Texas. Acts as Legate until a monarchy can be elected.

March to September 1988 1st Reign

The first Reign of Barad Duin. The chapter was founded as a duchy under the Burning Lands, and it's Monarch Ahrmaand was called a "Duke". Sylaina of the Greenwood was Consort, Sionnach served as champion and Nithanalorn served the first nine months of Chancellor. ( Confirmed in Volume 1 Number 2 of the Tower News letter, issued may 1988 )

During Ahrmaand's reign as Duke there were Quests for the Shield of Absorption, Thor's Hammer and Terras Ember won the Sword of Frost.

September 1988 to March 1989 2nd Reign

When Sionnach stepped into office the Burning Lands had already granted Barad Duin Grand Duchy status and so he was called a Grand Duke. Tanaide served as Consort for this reign, And Tholden was Chancellor.

March to September 1989 3rd Reign

Grand Duke Derydlus steps into office. Rufus Grimwulf who had also been running for the office of monarch was elected Regent instead. This apparently being the first use of the word 'Regent' to describe the position. Wizard Black here began serving the first of his two reigns as Chancellor.

During the latter part of his reign Derydlus created the first and only Amtgard Knight of Barad Duin; Ahrmaand. This was considered by some of be a faux pas, because it occurred before BD achieved Kingdom status. Ahrmaand was not named a knight of any one order, but recognized just as a "Knight" an example of all disciplines even though the knighting occurred after the belts had been split.

During his reign, Derydlus traveled to El Paso to the Coronation of Gilos Dawnhope. During this event Barad Duin was granted Kingdom Status, to be conferred at the coronation of the next monarch.

September 1989 to March 1990 4th Reign

Even though Kingdom Status had been granted by BL Barad Duin held an Althing to continue using the Grand Duchy name. They did this for what they considered role-play purposes. Nithanalorn stepped into the role of Monarch this reign but instead of Grand duke he called himself Pharaoh, and used the name Fean Cala Ra. Aganar, who would later be a founder of the Chosen, served as Regent and Wizard Black served as Chancellor again.

The Midreing of Pharoh Fean Cala Ra was held at Camp Ben McCullough in Driftwood, Tx. It was called "The Night of the Pig". During the event any one could say anything they pleased to the monarch "With out fear of reprisals".

In September or November of 1990 The Emerald Hills invaded Barad Duin. The experience did not engender good will and was a sort of surprised of the BD folks. They had enjoyed previous EH Monarchy in the person of Queen Reyna. Soon after ward the vote to leave amtgard was held. there was a separate Althing to chose the name of the new game, the High Fantasy Society was chosen.

March 1990 to September 1990 5th Reign

Conner Axbringer is crowned Grand Duke, During his reign he knights Tholden.

September 1990 to March 1991 6th Reign

Ard-Rian (Grand Duchess) Syliana of the Greenwood steps into office. Sionnach serves as her regent. Derydlus is knighted.

Houses and Companies

• House Impossible
• Clan Babu

People

Before Split

• Sir Nithanalorn Draconis Dignitatis brought Amtgard to central Texas, leaving with the Barad Duin split
• Sir Ahrmaand Seregon, the Vampire Lord, first Duke of Barad Duin, first and only Amtgard knight of Barad Duin
• Slyaina Greenwood, first Consort, Grand Duchess and the first Queen of Barad Duin
• Sionnach O'Ros Sidh, first Grand Duke
• Rufus Grimwulf, first Regent of Barad Duin
• Tholden, first knight of HFS
• Count Sir Aganar Ky'Slaron helped to write the first HFS rulebook
• Warlord Sir Azar of Chaos, who crowned a fish at his stepping down as King of Barad Duin

Vicountess Raederle, Namarie, Thariand, Raven, Sudakahn, Caduesan, Zorin, Sir Sinjen, Arioch Montaskew, Olric, Tanaide Saelithe Cu Chaike, Derydlus, Naka-Toshi, Kubishi, Viper, Romerian Landsinger, Smooth Walker, Manrel the Alchemist, Caduesan, Amros, Wizard Black, Terras Ember, Sparhawk, Mage Black, Sharjinka, and many many more...

After Split

• Sir Arthon
• Sir Drakknar
• Sir Booga
• Tobre
• Nikon
• Sir Sasha
• Dame Kaitlyn of GreenWillow
• Lord Blackstar
• Sir Prophet
• Dareth
• Cogatora
• Xavier
• Onyx Grimwulff
• Little Conner
• Richard Plantagenet
• Raptor
• Brigid Catriona Leslie of Pendragon
• Jorgen Harmse
• Sir Viscount Terwin
• Warrick
• Skye

Contacts and Directions

Barad Duin's weekly battle games are held on Saturdays from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Pease Park, Austin, Texas.

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Barad Duin Homepage Archives of early newsletters