July 16th, 2005, The Atlantian Kingdom Archery Competition was brutal this year. Yea truely some 75 archers journeyed to Sudentur in hopes of demonstrating to Her Majesty that they were the realm's finest archer. However, the real test came from the weather. Hour after hour the sun beat down, the humidity clung to every living being and the wind was nowhere to be felt. If our good and faithful archer Æþelwine thought it was hot at the Novice Tourney, I can only say that day was balmy compared with today. But enough carping on about the elements. Needwood Forest Company of Archers made a fine showing. Our great mentor Gregge the Archer took second place again this year, missing the win by the slimmest of margins. Greggor had the honor of making the final 8 and had there been a final 10 Thomas and Timothy would have joined him. Cian finished up his marshal in training apprenticeship and will soon be known throughout the land as Marshal Cian. Oh, that archer from the north, Seamus McCrae took home the victory spoils. Account submitted by Timothy of Shaftesbury.

Roster: Mark McGroyne, Arinfriðr, Gwenhwyvar Ywein, Gregor von Leipzig, Thomas of Storvik, Cian of Storvik, Gregge the Archer, and Timothy of Shaftesbury.

July 9th, 2005, A day unsuitable for men, dogs, serfs, and women found us toiling long and hard beneath the unforgiving Sun. Our "esteemed" Vintenar (or so I've heard him called, but not by me) commanded our service not long following the day's break. We were told on this day that our duty was to a Baronage not our own, and that we were to assess the young archers of the region, to determine from them who was most promising. We were told that in this way we might enrich the name of our Company by this good deed. Our sloven leg-bared leader devised a series of tests for the sixteen novices that shewed. Among the tests was a castle wall shoot, two distance shoots, a woodland shoot, a bandit shoot, and others. At the day's end Giovanna of the Roxbury Mill shire won the day, and was awarded a fine bracer created by Cian of Storvik. During the blistering day, our Vintenar also saw to the training of our newest marshals, Teresa and Cian. Surely he is corrupting them, and when they are all found singing and sleeping in their cups, polluting some dark and lowly alley of this Barony all the work we have done to build this Company will be for naught. Entered this day by the hand of Æþelwine.

Company Roll: Æþelwine of Ealdgythesleage, Cian of Storvik, Mark McGroyne, Edonea MacKay, Ethelfleda Davidsdottir, Giovanna, Timothy of Shaftesbury, Rowan of Needwood, and Teresa de Çaragoça.

July 2nd, 2005, Greetings Forest Folk. It is my great pleasure to report that three fine members (Mark,
Edonea, and Timothy) of our Company made the long and perilous journey to the wild marches of Bright Hills for the All Things Marshal tourneys. So far did we travel that the wind carried the smell of the East Kingdom just a few short leagues to the north. But the journey was well worth the hardship, for our friends in Bright Hills did prepare an Archer's Tour of Myths of the Knowne World. There upon we did endeavor valiantly to shoot swinging Sun Gods, a flying dragon, Nirsroch Before the Symbolic Tree of Babylon,a seven headed Hydra, Lei Kung the God of Thunder (who is highly resistant to being shot), four Chinese Demons, the seven Japanese Gods of Luck (who had more luck than my arrows), and eight Egyptian gods. After trying our hand at Sebek, Isis, Anubus, Ra, and Neb-Thet, it was nothing to shoot at a strange new god called Quetzalcoatl, though none seemed to know what land the Feathered Serpent might have come from. T'was a grand shoot and fun was had by all. To Seamus McCrea and Reyne Telarius we give three hearty vivats for preparing one of the finest tourney's I have yet had the pleasure of participating in. Needwood Forest's archers shot well and looked good. Mark's new arrows bearing the Needwood Forest Company of Archers crest looked every bit as good as Theresa's. That's the tale as I saw it, Timothy of Shaftesbury.

Company Roll: Timothy of Shaftesbury, Edonea MacKay, and Mark McGroyne.

June 18th, 2005, Greetings to the Company! I am of late returned from the southern reaches of the Barony of Stierbach where a number of our Company responded to His Excellency Baron Collum's call to rid their fine lands of cattle-thieving brigands. Despite hardship and an arduous journey, it pleases me to report that many of Atlantia's finest archers also responded to the call. Led by the brave Earl Mika Longbow, in a forest strewn with the bones of a great battle in days past, we did meet the brigands and shoot them down.
Throughout the morning, waves of brigands came at us through the forest, but the archers of Needwood Forest stood fast and were in the front of the battle throughout, shooting bravely and tirelessly against the foe, and in the end we were victorious. Our own Vintenar, Timothy of Shaftesbury, did especially acquit himself admirably against the brigands, shooting as well as any of the land's finest archers. Timothy did also lead a company of Atlantia's best bowmen in ridding the forest of plague rats and thus saved the populace of Stierbach from much grief and hunger in days to come. After the brigands were chased from the forest, the archers of Atlantia amused themselves throughout the afternoon with hunting in Stierbach's rich and beautiful forest, and much game was acquired for the evening's feast. Although duty called us homeward, we delayed our departure in order to attend the Baronial Court, wherein Earl Mika, Baron Collum, and all of Stierbach honored Timothy of Shaftesbury with a fine carved box in respect of his accomplishments that day. I think the brigands will not soon return to the woods of Stierbach, but should they be so foolish, the Needwood Forest Company of Archers will again stand ready to defend the lands and lives of our friends. These events did I witness with my own eyes and allege to be true, Lady Teresa de Çaragoça.

Company Roll: Timothy of Shaftesbury, Mark McGroyne, Edonea MacKay, and Teresa de Çaragoça.

June 17th, 2005, A small but impressive contingent of Needwood Forest Archers held a demo for a horde of Cub Scouts in Bowie today.  Cian covered several tables with a fine display of 14th C archer's armor, accoutrement's, weapons, and everyday camp stuff.  Along with Aethelwine's chainmail and a couple weapons Timothy brought the display was the best I've seen outside of England. Cian also told the tale of archery in the middle ages to a rapt audience. Aethelwine shot several very tight groups in the yellow thereby enabling us to keep the little demons at bay.  Unfortunately, Aethelwine's prowess with his bow and his lady's arrows caused the Scout Leaders to rethink their earlier agreement to let us rent some cubs for moving targets at the novice tourney next month.  Oh well.  Finally I am pleased to report that it only took the scouts three tries to figure out the device on our banner is a porcupine.  I wish that kid was a herald. Account submitted by Timothy of Shaftesbury.

Company Roll: Æþelwine of Ealdgythesleage, Cian of Storvik, and Timothy of Shaftesbury.

June 11th 2005, five of us journeyed to the Highland River Melees today and enjoyed an opportunity to thaw out after the unbearably cool and pleasant spring.Cian and Gregor did yeoman duty as combat archers.Based on how they looked at the end of the day, I'd hate to see the other guys. Certainly the action was lively and hot.  It was loud anyway. Edonea, Mark and Tim shot target archery under the mighty Needwood banner.  I'd say we held our own, but alas all out victory went to Bright Hills.  One of these days soon we are just going to have to shoot their lights out.Mark helped with the banner and made some excellent shots. Edonea made one of the best long distance shots of the day, came in 5th and also served as a Marshal in Training. Gregor's lady Beatrix (along with four other heralds (talk about feeling overwhelmed) helped Tim with preparation of the submission for our name and badge. Right now we look good for Needwood Forest Company of Archers.  They also spent a bunch of time drawing a rampant porcupine facing left, white on red with white border.  Our 8th century coin based porkie was deemed too abstract so I elected to go with the closest thing they thought might pass.  I figure once we get the blazon we can draw it as we please.Beatrix also took honors for an outstanding Saxon dress she made. Tim finished 4th and met the King and Queen to receive his Bowman Elite badge. Next stop practice on Wednesdays where we can now shoot royal rounds if we chose and then on to Stierbach's Baronial Birthday. Account submitted by Timothy of Shaftesbury.

Company Roll: Cian of Storvik, Edonea MacKay, Gregor von Leipzig, Mark McGroyne, Timothy of Shaftesbury.

May 20th, 2005, the Company arrived at the estate of a wealthy landowner for an annual archery competition on the banks of a Chesapeake tributary known to locals as Weem's Creek. Gregor erected a small pavillion overlooking the water where we also raised the Company banner. In this way, the gathered folk were able to recognize us, and had some chance to muster their wits in preparation for the challenge that faced them. Missing among our number was our Vintenar who had taken ill days before with claims of dizziness, but it is probably drunkeness, the wretched sot. Even without his direction, we pulled ourselves together and peformed admirably against barbarians on far shores, a drunk Viking, a crossbowman and his hounds, a wild and dangerous Saracen, and many other interesting shoots. How the landowner managed to collect such varied "targets" is beyond me, but such are the ways and resources of the Lochmere coast. Toward the day's end, My lady and I needed to return and tend to our hound. Despite an excellent showing by the Company, our members alas did not win the day. Perhaps if our sot of a leader could have dragged himself from his mead cups, we would have fared better still. Entered this day by the hand of Æþelwine.

Company Roll: Æþelwine of Ealdgythesleage, Cian of Storvik, Edonea MacKay, Ethelfleda Davidsdottir, Gregge the Archer, Gregor von Leipzig, Gwenhwyvar Ywein, Ryryd ap Gwerstan, Teresa de Çaragoça, and Ulric von Vohburg.