This was a time before the BOD decreed that cantons could not have borders, only "geographic centers".

In those days, in the mythical city of Hollywood, in Mundania, there used to be held a festival, called the "Garden Theatre Festival" in Barnsdell Park. This festival ran the whole month of July.

The festival manager contacted me and asked if the SCA would like to participate in their festival. I, of course, as seneschal of Canyons at that time, agreed.

Unfortunately, during this time, Canyons only had a few active members. Greywinds was in the same condition too. Since the festival was technically located in Greywinds, the two cantons got together to put on a demo-to-end-all-demos, especially since we had been assured that there would be lots of media coverage.

During one of our planning meetings, it had been decided that we should have a tournament as part of the demo. We then thought that a border war sounded like a period thing to do for small cantons. It was only after we made this decision that we realized that neither canton had any fighting members that we could count on. With the help of Mistress Flavia (aka Bjo, at that time), who was then CP editor, we published recruitment notices to join our armies to fight this war.

Greywinds offered female pulcritude as an enticement. Canyons offered Golden Splonders (chocolate chip cookies) as payment for services.

The day of the event proved to be a typical Caidan summer day, hot and sunny. While many people showed up to help with the demo, very few fighters wished to armor up in the heat. The only stalwart Knight who readily donned his armor was Sir Jason Griffiths of Shadowhyrst, who was Canyons Champion and loved Golden Splonders.

However, 12 or so other fighters showed up from a household called the Barbarian Freehold, which were from the Canton of Sarnwold (which is now the Barony of Altavia). They, being true barbarians, did not wish to fight for either side of the war, but for their own gain. After consulting with the Greywind seneschal, Lady Luxandra, we agreed that should they win the war, they would be deeded the prize.

While Sir Jason is a mighty and stalwart Knight, and the odds of 12 to one are pretty reasonable for him, unfortunately, the heat did him in and he lost in the end to one of the Freehold fighters.

At closing court, the Freehold came forward and stated in a rather surly fashion, "We won your war. Where is our prize?" I thereupon handed them a scroll. A deed to Los Angeles City Hall. I said, "Originally, the war was to see who owned City Hall. We said they did. They said we did. The loser was supposed to get it. However, since the Freehold wanted to change the rules, we changed the rules too. Now, the winner gets the privilege of owning City Hall. Good Luck. It's all yours." They started to mutter about what kind of prize was that and where were their cookies and their women. I told them, "Golden Splonders went to the fighters who fought for Canyons and the women were for the fighters who fought for Greywinds. Since you fought for neither, you get neither. All these Golden Splonders (200 in all) go to Sir Jason and, since no one fought for Greywinds, their women are free to do what they wish." The only fighter who went away happy that day, was Sir Jason, who finally got his fill of chocolate chip cookies.

Nota bene: Golden Splonders are the coin of the realm for the Canton of the Canyons. This way, if the economy collapses, we can eat our profits. And we frequently do.

Also, Canyons now has its own fighting levee, internally known as "Canyon fodder".