Lord (now Baron) Sylvanus Perrin, while Warlord of the Barony of Storvik, was well-known for the time and effort he put into teaching the new fighters of the barony. In thanks, they wanted to present him with tokens of gratitude during court (sometime in 2003 or 2004). The ringleader of this effort, one Finn O'Donovan who would eventually succeed Perrin as warlord, asked if I would contribute a poem for the occassion. I read this while plucking my harp, as the fighters of the barony presented Perrin with their thanks.
Listen oh lords learn of a man
Whose skilled sword-arm swift and deadly
Leads our war-band lads in bright mail
Against the foe enemies of Storvik
Sylvanus Perrin proud his people
Sing loud his deeds daring man he
Fierce in battle foes are afraid
Bright Johanna1 battle-maid she
Knows of his worth wishes a song
Brave the man with biting flame-tongue
Fighting, killing on fields of war
Wise the man with men in the hall
Practice again over and over
Making fighters fit for praise-song
Bold brash battler but bones will be
Without the drill the drill, the drill
Til arm-weary asks to stop
Will you stop, youth on wind-swept field?
See with the men shield-maids in hall
Valiant Valkyr Valhal’s vassals
Pleased with Perrin depart that place
Fierce shield-maidens now serving Storvik2
Bright the harp-song but brighter yet
Fame for this man Fifty-Fights Perrin3
Echo this praise else leave the hall:
Ave! Ave! Ave! Ave!
Notes:
1 - Johanna von Sudeborn, baroness of Storvik in that year, now a Mistress of the Pelican.
2 - Perrin made especial efforts to recruit and retain lady fighters.
3 - This I got wrong; it should be Sixty-Fights Perrin. Several years running, he sponsored the "Sixty in Sixty," a challenge to heavy fighters to fight sixty one-on-one combats in sixty days. He himself completed the challenge many years running.
