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On January 3rd, 2009 the members of Jotun's Bane Kindred gathered at Gaea Retreat in Leavenworth County, KS in order to oath two new members of the Kindred. Adam and Tracy Culver had completed a 6-month applicant process with our Kindred, and by unanimous consensus we had asked them to oath as Full Members. We spent the day up at Gaea Retreat, and stayed the night in a cabin there. Once we unloaded our camping gear at the cabin, we all loaded up in one pickup truck, to drive up to where the oaths would take place. Jamie and Adam.
Somehow we fit 11 adults and 4 dogs in Craig's pickup truck. :-)
Mark in front of the “Old Man,” or Forn Halr in Old Norse. Forn Halr is an old oak on the edge of a small rocky ledge, and the five original members of Jotun's Bane Kindred oathed beneath him.
Mark and Tracy. This photo shows the short rocky ledge where Forn Halr grows..
Will, Jamie, Rod, Adam (with his black lab, Odin), Mark, Sarah, and Alex prior to the oathing.
Rod, getting ready to gift Forn Halr with some of Adam's mead. Tracy and Adam as well.
Adam, Rod, Tracy, and Mark.
Rod gifting Forn Halr with mead.
Mark administering the Kindred Oath. Adam, with his right hand holding our Kindred Hammer, “Jotun's Bane,” and touching Forn Halr. With his left hand he hold our Kindred's iron Oath Ring. Tracy looks on...
Tracy taking the Kindred Oath, Oath Ring in hand.
Mark, placing our Kindred's “formal” hammer on Tracy. This hammer is reserved for oathed members only, and was made by Craig Winkler, one of our Kindred members.
Mark also gave Tracy a carved wooden hammer he had made.
Adam receiving the Kindred's “formal” hammer.
Adam also received a carved wooden hammer.
Will, hanging a wind chime on Forn Halr as a gift to the Old Man.
The oathed members of Jotun's Bane Kindred, after reaffirming our oaths to one another...
After the oathing, Sarah went running with the dogs, through a field as golden as Sif's hair. The sun was setting, and this photo completely fails to capture how the field's golden glow.
Sarah ran with the dogs till they were all out-of-breath.
After the oathing, some of the Kindred Members took a walk to a location at Gaea Retreat called the Fairy Gate. Jason, Rod, Adam, and Mark.
For some reason, late at night, we always end up beating the crap out of each other with foam swords. Here Craig and Mark square off...
Mark accidently hit Jamie in the face with a foam sword, and did 20 pushups (with his feet up on a cooler) at her request to make it up to her.
Jason, Rod, Sarah, and Alex look on as Mark does his pushups.
Jennifer...holding a horn.
It was very cold outside, but a wood-burning stove kept the cabin warm.
Nissa gave Mark and unexpected kiss, with Jason looking on. The horn in the foreground is called "Theodish Gift."
Skoll and Nissa, hanging out on the bed...which they knew was against the rules.
It was a late night of talking and laughing, and we didn't get a lot of sleep. This photo is the sun coming up over the ridge behind the cabin...
Adam...
Will, and the Culver's dog...Odin.
Will beat the dirt and mud off the cabin's carpets.
Jennifer staying warm in a crocheted viking helmet that she made herself.
Rod, Will, and Sarah.
Rod on the porch of the cabin.
Sarah and Jamie...
Jamie, bundled up like an Eskimo.
Tracy, Jennifer, and Jamie.
We met a gentleman named Mike staying in the cabin next door, who also honors the Germanic Gods. Mark's on the right.
The Culver's dog...Odin.
Mark, Jamie, and Will...checking out the storage area of the cabin.
Adam.
This Valknut was carved in a log outside the cabin we were staying in...
Hail the Culver family! Hail Jotun's Bane Kindred!
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