Friends, I have calamitous news. Our dear friend, Orwin, did not recover from his knee surgery and ultimately succumbed to heart disease.
I will share what another DM wrote upon learning of his death:
Friends, I've just this minute discovered some terrible news.
Our dear friend and colleague John Leland, player of Sanbanme no Senshu, passed away last Wednesday from heart disease.
John was one of the originals and greats of the SCA and the Pennsic War, and founded the Barony of Middle Marches in 1970, in his persona of Jehan de la Marche. I believe he attended every Pennsic War but one from the event's founding until his passing. Very sadly, he will not be at this year's event, and I expect a worthy tribute will be made to his memory.
I first met and befriended John in about 2016 when I joined the game Heroes of the Haunted Highlands here on RPoL. As fellow historians (he professional and I amateur), we soon bored the rest of the group with chatter about English history and medieval society. He would regale us yearly with his tales from the Pennsic War, which were always a joy to hear.
When that game finally ended several years ago, I mentioned to John that I planned to start an OA game at some point, which he promised to be present for once it got going. Sure enough, he was among the first to arrive and join our merry band here, but I did not think that this game would be the last we would see of him. At least, I am glad to have had this time to continue my conversations with him, both in PMs and here in the public discussion thread. He was a stalwart and a warrior, a gentleman and a scholar, and I will miss his presence here, as shall we all.
You may read John's obituary here:
https://www.tributearchive.com...0/john-lowell-leland
In honour of the impact he had on the SCA, I invite you to watch this video about the Pennsic War. John first appears at around the 5:45 mark: https://youtu.be/gLX9SDJRggQ?si=XV0BQCItreVwg-34</i>