Querna Tema Trials

Querna Tema roughly means shifting or changing seasons in Elven, and we celebrate this with four distinctive events, each reflecting different aspects of the individual season. Autumn focuses on jugging and food (football & beer), Winter is generally focused upon indoor games and activites (due to the weather outside), while Spring focuses upon returning to the field after a long weather induced break (Archery, and field quests), Summer focuses upon unity and company (aka team) combat/events. Each seasonal champion (and yes, each seasonal Trial does end up awarding one) is awarded a park relic, one of the Swords of the Seasons. The season of the trial decides which sword the champion recieves.

Autumn Trials focuses on the things which make Autumn great (read: football and beer). The events tend to run along the same lines, which are: Gauntlet Legands, Jugging, an A&S contest including Soups, Stews, Chili, Bread, Beans, Non-alcoholic drinks and Alcoholic drinks. Chili also has a sub category for The Hottest Chili, and more ditching than you can shake a stick at. The person with the most overall points will become the holder of the Sword of Autumn, a hardened blade sharpened short sword, which makes the wielder immune to Petrify.

Winter Trials focuses on indoor games and activities; each year is different but one example was 2008's Winter Trials which held the following events: a Dagger tourney, a gift exchange contest, Spell Ball Dodge Ball, Dessert contest, Winter Garb contest, On-the-spot Bardic contest (Folks will come up to you and demand you entertain them). The person with the most overall wins is the holder of the Sword of Winter, a hardened blade sharpened short sword, which makes the wielder immune to Iceball.

Spring Trials focuses on the Scout fighting class. Each year's individual events are different, but one example is 2009's Spring Trials which held the following events: an archery tournament, a throwing weapon A&S contest, a field garb A&S contest, and The Spring Trials Tourney is a way to show off the different aspects of the Scout fighting class. It is restricted to weapons legal for a Scout on the field. It has 4 different catagories: open, single blade, 2 weapon (must have 2 weapons, one cannot be a sword) and Guildmaster's choice. The victor is rewarded with a piece of live steel. Spring Feast follows Spring Trials. It has always been a good way to gather souls that were lost to the winter snows. The person with the most overall wins receives the Sword of Spring, a hardened blade sharpened short sword, which makes the wielder immune to Entangle.

Summer Trials has been Querna Tema's biggest event since 2002, the company vs. company (sometimes house and mercenaries as well) rivalry always makes for a fun competitive environment. Each year Summer Trials grows with the 2008 Summer Trials bringing in around 130 sign-ins. It offers group (fighting company or household)) contests. Each year is slightly different but has some standard events, one example is 2008's Summer Trials which included: Nighthunter, Amtgard Idol bardic, and Amtgard IronChef, militia battles, class battles and the ever popular Grande Melee smash battle. Each year culminates in an award ceremony and a feast, and of course much revelry. The group with the most overall points at the end of the event is the holder of the Summer Cup and the wielder of the Sword of Summer, a hardened blade sharpened short sword, which makes the wielder immune to Fireball.
Summer Trials IX (2011)

Summer Trials XI (2013)

Please realize that this is a very basic overview of the trial events. Each one of them is a blast to attend and to participate in.