In Memoriam: The Passing of Viscount Brummbar von Schwarzberg

Viscount Brummbar von Schwarzberg passed from this world May 31st, 2018

Brummbar was the first Champion of Calontir, its first Warlord, and its third Prince. Some of his squires include Sir Lars Vilhjalmsson, Duke Thoman Shadan Secarius, Sir Mihangel ap Gruffydd, and Mistress Olga Belobashnina Cherepanova

But those accolades, though well earned, are not nearly the measure of the man. Those who remember him have stories to tell, but his shadow is long and even those who did not know him have been influenced by him all these years later.

From Syr Andrew Lyon of Wolvenwood:

As a member of Three Rivers in Calontir’s pre-Principality days, I have fond memories of Brumbar. His freon-can helm, his black round-shield with rope edging, and his skill at arms which seemed heroic to us kids. In court or at feast, he was stern yet kind, never haughty, and his love for the Society was crystal clear. Believe me when I say that the spirit of Calontir is to a large part due to the quiet solidity and sense of Master Brumbar.

My most cherished memory of Brumbar is not of tourney or court or feast, however. It is of the great privilege I had of being invited to play wargames at his home. I will never forget evenings spent with Brom Blackhand, Senor Juan (Dev), and Stephen Ironhand, rolling dice while Bear refereed a game. He had hundreds of painted miniatures and medieval terrain. He loved pulling out that hidden unit of undead or orcs and seeing how we’d deal with them, or not. The glint in his eye as the lead carnage unfolded on the table was just pure joy.

Bear was a wise, humble, brilliant man with a wry wit and a sharp eye for bull. You knew that he knew what was right and what was wrong. Bear pointed the way to adulthood for me and many others. Please, Calontir, for so long as the Falcon flies, forever remember the debt owed by the Kingdom to this fine man.

From Master Andrixos Seljukroctonis:

This is the way of our lifestyle: We see our friends on weekends, and for a week or so three times a year. Unless we are in the same town, or perhaps at weddings, we rarely meet our friends’ parents. And now some of us have reached the age when our parents, and our friends’ parents, start to pass away.

It is difficult to offer words of comfort to such good friends, about the loss of their first, and most influential mentor. I often fall back on the formulaic, yet deeply felt: I knew not the father, but based on the son, I am certain he was a good, good man.

Many of the newer Sons and Daughters of the Falcon never had a chance to meet Brumbarr. Many of those from foreign Realms never had a chance to meet him. To all of those, I can only say:

This man you may judge based on the Kingdom you know.