Memories from Bicolline's Grande Bataille 2023

 

The Duchy of Bicolline Grande Bataille "1024" is near! To survive the anticipation, we allow ourselves a dose of nostalgia with a look back at our 2023 experience.

A Shop at Bicolline

Last year, Les Artisans d’Azure had the Haute Garde shop as our base in the Duchy. Located in the Haute Ville, the building housed a shop where visitors could meet our merchants and gear themselves with our products throughout the week. It was also a central point for activities organized as part of the Azure's Order quests at Bicolline. Although we no longer have the shop, our products will fortunately be available from four partners during the Grande Bataille: Calimacil, La Flèche, Dracolite, and Made By Hand (the new owner of the Haute Garde building) for the 2024 edition!

Azure Quests

Conducted in cooperation with ten guilds from the Duchy, the quests saw participants competing in colorful contests or undertaking missions that led them to visit Bicolline and meet its community. The adventurers, often newcomers to the Duchy or young LARPers, were invited to visit the camps of the various guilds associated with the Azure's Order and learn a bit about their history and culture. These epic adventures were rewarded with treasures or prizes exchangeable at the shop. We'll be back in 2024, so come and see us every day at 11:00 a.m. at the Haute Garde for new quests!

Our Adventures at Bicolline 1023

During the week of the Grande Bataille, our team members also got to experience the Bicolline atmosphere, attending or actively participating in many events. There are so many things happening in the various corners of the Duchy that it is simply impossible to see or do everything, but Les Artisans d’Azure’s team still managed to experience a beautiful sample!

Epic War Games of Bicolline

Obviously, several of our merchants and ambassadors went to cross swords on the battlefield, joining the ranks of various guilds to go to the front in smaller combats or the famous Grande Bataille (or Great Battle), which gives its name to the event. Even the smallest skirmishes at Bicolline involve armies of hundreds of fighters, with pike formations, shield lines, archers, ballistae, and cannons; even fantastic monsters such as golems, treants, or werewolves. In the Grande Bataille itself, the fronts can exceed a thousand individuals, and the plains and forests of the Duchy are teeming with soldiers for epic scenes that seem straight out of a fantasy movie.

Viking Gastronomy and Celebration

We also had the pleasure of being invited to share gourmet meals with our neighbors from the Ragnarok guild, among whom are genuine chefs working to cook some of the best feasts in the Duchy. Their generosity significantly improved the quality of the food consumed by our team during the week!

Not content with feeding us regularly, the brave members of Ragnarok also invited us to an event organized by their guild, the Thorsday banquet, a religious ceremony dedicated to the Valkfadir cult, where ancestors are celebrated and receive sacrifices intended to reach them on the other side of the veil. Besides its mystical character, the event was also very festive, and we also met talented bards from the Val Raven guild there.

A Hobbit Luncheon

Bicolline overflows with small thematic events organized by the community, and the hobbit feast is a perfect example of that. Organized at lunchtime, everyone is invited to bring something to add to the collective fare. The abundance of good food and the pleasant company of small (and not so small) people make it a must for epicureans and other food lovers! Not to mention the cricket competition and ribbon dance!

The Dwarf Wedding

The good people of Les Artisans d’Azure also had the opportunity to be invited to the wedding of none other than the legendary master Bugman, head of the dwarven guild ‘’La Confrérie des Maîtres Nains’’. Weddings are common events at Bicolline and perfect occasions to celebrate, forge alliances, or honor well-known characters. It was an honor to be invited to attend this beautiful event!

Medieval Drag Queen

Held on the balcony of the grand inn in Haute Ville, the drag performance evening, Drag on the Colline, is one of the most popular events of the week. Whether it's to admire the magnificent costumes, laugh heartily, appreciate the creativity of the artists, or immerse oneself in the jovial atmosphere surrounding the event, a real crowd gathers to witness this memorable show.

Picture by Bicolline

Bards and Troubadours

Artists hold an irreplaceable place at Bicolline, whether it's the many musicians performing at the inn or the drummers and bagpipe players accompanying the armies on the battlefield. Several guilds also have their own bards, songwriters, both professionals and amateurs, so music and songs are never far when walking around the Duchy. To celebrate these troubadours and to please the ears of the inhabitants, a great bardic competition is organized at Bicolline, an event our team made sure to attend. And let's not forget the official shows taking place every evening at Bicolline, featuring medieval-themed bands such as Ulfhednar, Svarika, le Crapaud Hurlant, Déferlante, the Swindlers and Saltarello!

Picture by Bicolline

A National Mondus Festival

Last year, the nation of Auquesse from the Bicolline universe (Mondus) organized a grand banquet, a lively event that had everything to please hedonists and lovers of decadent festivities. The event ended late into the night and is a fine example of what Bicolline can offer to those who want to let loose for an evening. Many of our members were present, and we can tell you that no one walked very straight when leaving the party.

The “Poutine” Quests

Nothing ends a late evening better than the traditional adventure awaiting all the hungry folks in the middle of the night: the midnight poutine quest. The Duchy hosts masters of fries, cheese, and gravy who serve the inhabitants well after nightfall. After all, nothing beats a hot poutine after a long day of role-playing, epic quests, and legendary battles. Our merchants certainly did not abstain from savoring this tasty indulgence.

Trollball: Bicolline’s Official Sport

Trollball is the official sport of the Bicolline community, with a multitude of mixt and female teams participating in tournaments throughout the week. The sport includes foam sword fights, with the objective of placing a troll head in the opposing side’s barrel. Our envoys observed several matches at the Vieille Ville trollball arena, where supporters sit in the stands to cheer for their favorite teams. It’s a central aspect of Bicolline’s culture!

The Monster Pit

The Monster Pit show, organized in the same Vieille Ville arena, is a grand performance that combines theater, fire-breathers, and, of course, the famous Bicolline monsters, who fight each other and parade before the crowd, their appearances woven into an engaging narration. Hosted by Yorik the Jester (Charles Beauchesne), the 2023 Monster Pit was definitely worth the visit! This event is particularly appreciated by the Duchy’s families.

Picture by Bicolline

The 2024 Discovery Day

If you ever feel curious about experiencing life in the Duchy of Bicolline, we recommend, as several of our team members did, joining the Discovery Day on Friday August 16 2024. This special one-day entry is perfect if you want to live the Duchy's ambiance and stroll through a fantastic medieval village where everyone is costumed, without worrying about the logistics of staying for a week. We highly recommend it!

Lookingforward to the Grande Bataille! If you are there in 1024, you can once again meet our ambassadors, such as Médène the hobbit, as well as Éris and Casparian from the Sicarii!