From The Mountain, Returnèd

Evening, mortals! We returned late last night from the mountain, & after deep slumber, I found the energy to reflect & write. In six shows across two days, we entertained over 200 mortals, told over 50 futures, & drank at least 12 gallons of water. Below, find some images & memories from across the wonderful weekend:

Our first-e’er faire performance was at Idyllwild back in 2021, & ‘tis an honor that they continue to bring us back. They expanded at their new site this year, Hurkey Creek Park, & have plans for e’en more expansion next year. Both days saw large crowds, of locals & of those who journeyed up the mountain for a magickal day.

The guilds had a yard of their own, & staged many battles for bloodthirsty mortals’ enjoyment. La Orden de Santiago brought their cannon, which somehow did not frighten the pigs nor ducks nor pegasi brought by the local 4-H & animal sanctuary!

We recorded our midday show on Saturday—a show in which not one, but TWO different INSOUCIANT YOUTHS attempted to outwit me. They were destroyed, & I smote their ruin upon the straw-bale seating. We shall harangue the InstaGoblins to edit that show together, so those who could not attend may enjoy the magick!

Here are some other memorable moments:

• Meeting so many mortals experiencing their first renaissance faire, & making our show part of that experience

• Watching someone spin rabbit-hair into thread

• Deftly handling the future-telling for a child who said she wanted to be in the FBI—foretold with such careful tact that she came back to two more shows despite the fact that our feelings on the FBI were not unclear

• Summersbane foretelling the impending invention of PENICILLIN II, the world’s first sequel drug

• A large group stopped us at the creek-crossing, exclaiming they had Summersbane’s face on their fridge; they had seen us way back in 2021, & were finally returning to the faire for the first time since then. Two in the group had had a baby in that time; they asked us to pose with the baby, & assured us that photo will also be going on their fridge.

• Reuniting with our friend, “Chopland Sedans,” & his merry band of gamesters

• At least once per show, telling a future so precisely that the person exclaimed ‘twere TRUE ALREADY. Huzzah MAGICK IS REAL

• Meeting a bug-teen & her mother; the bug-teen fashioned a backpack with a WORKING DOOR, which was most impressive

• Finally seeing Professor Peanut’s big, kind finale

• Being waylaid by a Tusken HIghwayman, who was quite friendly, & had other friends from the Star War alongside

• Seeing a dog comfortably wearing a hat, which Summersbane assured me was quite RARE

• Engaging in a threatening battle of wits with an Italian witch hunter

• The camaraderie, shade, & water of the Kingdom of Esperance

• Hopping in a community dance with the fine folk of Ramtop Morris, of which Summersbane recorded some video!

• A patron making an offer so scandalous I dare not put it into writing

• Hearing mortals chant WIZWORLD IS FOREVER

• Hearing mortals CHEER when we ended the shows by saying, “WIZWORLD IS FOREVER, FASCISM IS NOT”

• Hearing mortals hiss at landlords, boo at the oligarchy, & gasp in horror when a gorilla’s husband was revealed to have eaten their cat

Thank ye for reading, mortals! & thank ye to all who joined us on the mountain, posed for pictures with us, tried & failed to heckle us, let us tell their futures, handed us kindly tips, & thank ye to all those who support our works here with coin!

I shall write ye Wednesday with news of this week’s episode—our normal broadcast schedule resumes! I must return now to slumber, & continue to re-gather mine energies. ‘Til then—be safe, be well, & WIZWORLD IS FOREVER

Cheers,
Amœnus Franco
Wizard, Writer, Weary but Well