The Winners!

A total of 23 of our lasses sent in their guesses. Of that there were 16 who got a perfect score. They were: Morven (BessE), Muirne (bwarnergroup) and (knittingalone), Nemetona (tandemsandy) of Clan Beauchamp; and Nannag (LCBraun) and Lileas (knitswithisis) of Clan Fraser; Ide (Annaed), Lachlan (krobin), Seonag (cursedgreenswter), Kinley (Rhenbo), Ceili (theknittingmama), Catronia Duncan (neila), and Isabelle (Emersch) of Clan Mackenzie and Morrigan (mainefan1), Marsali (mommaowie), Joan (Vivian5) and Mab (Aplourde) of Clan Murray. The chieftesses did not participate in the challenge because they were the authors.

My son drew Seonag (cursedgreenswtr) out of Clan Mackenzie out of the hand-knit felted cloche -- I found it in my freezer.

Round 7 Clan Standings:

Beauchamp: 58

Fraser: 24

Mackenzie: 97

Murray: 53

Additional awards: (for bragging rights)

Early bird: Ide of Clan MacKenzie. Her answers were received at 12:11 pm on 4/18.

Sneaker: Edme of Clan Murray. Her answers were received at 11:59 on 4/28. As usual, the Murrays are watching every ones backs to make sure nobody is left behind! Nice job, Edme!

And we are dusting off a Golden Apple Award for Seonag of Clan MacKenzie. She posted her answers with the page the person was found on, for the few doubting Thomas' who said they figured out who I was talking about, but they weren't mentioned in the section. Here are her notes and comments for some of the elusive characters (and characters they were)!

DI REC TOR ~ MC EW AN (14) page 721, but not in tandem – only as the Director or Dr. McEwan
SI MON ~ FRA SER (11) referred to on page 710, but only as Lord Lovat, the Old Fox, the old chieftain of Clan Fraser, and "you old Scotch cur"

TCHAR LACH ~ MAC ~ SEA MUS (18) referred to in English on pages 712, 713, 714, and 731, but not in the Gaidhlig (in this section), which incidentally should be spelled Tearlach (Outlandish Companion, page 241)

Not-so-soft-in-the-head award: Nemetona Beauchamp. Even though she suffered a nasty concussion, she managed to score a 100 percent on the final challenge. Hope you're feeling much better!

Perfect Participation awards: The lassies who participated in EVERY round, except for the ones where they were obligated to sit out. Eilis, Siusan, Murine, Caroline, Morven and Nemetona from Clan Beauchamp; Fiona, Nannag and Lileas of Clan Fraser; Kellan, Ceili, and Kinley of Clan Mackenzie; and Mordag Elsbeth McLean, Joan, Edme, Marsali and Morrigan of Clan Murray.

Perfect Scores Awards: The lassies who earned a perfect score during the games -- except the rounds they had to sit out. Eilis and Muirne of Clan Beauchamp and Marsali of Clan Murray.

Statistics:

23 of 52 clan members participated in the seventh round of the Highland Games, that's xx percent. This round the four chieftesses sat out since they sponsored the round.

The Mackenzie clan scored an additional point for having the highest participation in this round of the games, with 9 clan members participating. They won the round in a come-from-behind win.

Clan Beauchamp had 42 percent or 6 of 14 members participate, earning 58 points.

Clan Fraser had 13 percent or 2 of 15 members participate, earning 24 points.

Clan Mackenzie had 65 percent or 9 of 14 members participate, earning 97 points.

Clan Murray had 40 percent or 6 of 15 members participate, earning 53 points.

Final Standings
Beauchamp: 493
Fraser: 304
Mackenzie: 492
Murray: 460

~Kellan

Murray Challenge Results

A total of 15 of our lasses sent in their guesses. Of that there were 4 who got a perfect score. They were: Eilis (vicjorob), Morven (BessE) and Muirne (bwarnergroup) of Clan Beauchamp; and Nannag (LCBraun)of Clan Fraser. The Murrays did not participate in the challenge because they were the authors.

The two tricky questions were #5 and #10 - either that, or you all had the Bonnie Prince on your minds! Shame on you - but he was a pretty little boy, perhaps that is why he was the 'Bonnie' prince, ye ken?

My son drew Nannag out of the Easter basket -- the hand-knit felted cloche went AWOL this week.

Round 2 Clan Standings:

Beauchamp: 63

Fraser: 33

Mackenzie: 49

Murray: 5

Additional awards: (for bragging rights)

Early bird: Eilis of Clan Beauchamp her answer arrived at 4:48 pm on 4/9, one hour and 29 minutes before the next response.

Sneaker: (it seems odd not seeing a Murray's name here): Fiona of Clan Fraser (11:30 ET on 4/17)

Most moving: Catrionia Duncan of Clan MacKenzie (recieved too late, but the most moving so I thought this photo should be posted)

Most Creative: Caroline of Beauchamp provided a map of the battlefield.

Gigglesnort: Caroline of Beauchamp: She couldn't find a picture of Johnny Cope, so she sent the song (along with the music!)

Johnny Cope (Hey Johnny Cope!)

· Hi, Johnny Cope, are ye waukin' yet
Or are your drums a-beating yet
Gie you were waukin' I would wait
Tae gang tae the coals in the morning

Cope sent a letter frae Dunbar'
Chairlie meet me an' ye dare
I'll learn ye the airts o' war
If ye'll meet me in the morning

When Chairlie looked the letter upon
He drew his sword his scabbard from
Follow me, my merry men
Meet Johnnie Cope in the morning

When Johnnie Cope he heard o' this
He thought it wouldnae be amiss
Tae hae a horse in readiness
Tae flee awa' in the morning

Fie noo Johnny, get up and rin
The Highland bagpipes mak' a din
Better tae sleep wi' a hale skin
It will be a bloody morning

When Johnny Cope tae Dunbar cam'
They speirded him, Whaur's a' your men
The de'il confound me gin I ken
I left them a' in the morning

Fie noo Johnny, ye werenae blate
Tae come wi' the news o' your ain defeat
And leave your men in sic a strait
Early in the morning

Faith, quo' Johnny, I got sic flegs
Frae their claymores and philabegs
Gin I face them again de'il brak' my legs
I'll bid ye's a' good morning

Anatomically incorrect, but still right:Ceili of MacKenzie

(I thought they dropped their kilts before they charged!)

Statistics:

15 of 46 clan members participated in the first round of the Highland Games, that's 32 percent. This round, Clan Murray sat out, since they sponsored the round.

The Mackenzie and Beauchamp clans scored an additional point for having the highest participation in this round of the games, with 6 clan members participating.

Clan Beauchamp had 40 percent or 6 of 15 members participate, earning 63 points.

Clan Fraser had 18 percent or 3 of 16 members participate, earning 33 points.

Clan Mackenzie had 40 percent or 6 of 15 members participate, earning 49 points.

Clan Murray earned five points for stumping the Mackenzie clan.

Up-to-date Standings
Beauchamp: 435
Fraser: 280
Mackenzie: 395
Murray: 407

~Kellan

Final Challenge

Lasses, it is time for our final challenge from Dragonfly in Amber. It has been fun coming up with these puzzles to make your mind work a bit harder and perhaps a wee bit differently than it normally does. For this challenge, I wanted to do something that hadn't been used for any of the others, and you left me little choice but to do a Syl la cros tic. I have taken 10 words (or word groupings), broken them down by syllable. Your challenge: to give them back to me, in their entirety. The number in parentheses is the number of letters in each grouping. Each one is one word unless there is a ~ in there. The ~ separates the word grouping into words. They are all people with the exception of 1 which is a place, but some of the people have had their local named after them, so they might be places now. All of these words are in the last section of the book.

Good luck!
~Mordag

Example:

A AL DI DON FRA GAB JA MIE NA SER

__ __ ~ __ __ (11) (2 words, each word has 2 syllables. Total letters for both words: 11)
ANSWER: JA MIE ~ FRA SER

__ __ __ ~ __ __ __ (13) (2 words, 3 syllables each. Total letters for both words: 13)
ANSWER: DI A NA ~ GAB AL DON

See...that was easy. This might be a little tougher:

AN AN AR BAL BALD CAM CAR CHI CUL DEN DI ED ER EW FRA GAR GARS GIL GLEN I KIL LACH LE LI LIS LO MAC MAR MC MER MON MUS NO NOCK ON REC RY SEA SER SI TCHAR TOR

__ __ __ ~ __ __ (13)

__ __ __ __ (9)

__ __ __ (8)

__ __ __ (9)

__ __ __ ~ __ __ __ (14)

__ __ ~ __ __ (11)

__ __ __ (8)

__ __ __ (10)

__ __ __ ~ __ __ __ (16)

__ __ ~ __ ~ __ __ (18)

This challenge ends at midnight on April 28. Please submit your answers to highlandergames@ymail.com and please use "Final Challenge" in the subject line. As usual, please include your swap name and ravelry name to help identify everyone. This challenge is open to everyone but the chieftesses. We are sitting out this round.

I will try to get winners posted as soon as possible after this round, since this will determine who will win the Highlander Games. It's a close one this time around.
~Kellan

Mackenzie Challenge Answers

Apparently ye liked this little challenge. There were quite a few people who commented on how fun it was. Glad to like it. It appears most people did well in it. Without further ado, the answers.

Across:
1. Ian Murray's Place. Protecting the weaker side But I also accepted Protecting Chief Weak Side. It fits the crossword, but doesn't help the solver in answering the jumble. It didn't seem to be a problem though.
4. The damning letter marking Himself as a traitor. Bill of Assocation or Call of Association.
6. Mistress of the house since she was 10. Jenny
7. Without Eastman Kodak, Himself has found his own way to capture Memories.
8. A dour little clansman. Murtagh

Down:
1. "Fritter away the famine with these. Potatoes
2. A leak on the door post will keep out the Ghosts.
3. Healing comes from the Healed.
5. The locals call Broch Turarach this Lallybroch.

Jumble:

As a wee lamb, his ma might have called this Scottish ovis a "colorful" nickname.

Hughey the sheep

10. Enter the Jumble answer as a Ravelry project search and answer this question:

What clan's tartan is he wearing? Murray

Background

When we were planning this little challenge we wanted everyone to end up at Ravelry to do a specific search that would result in one answer. This was the only project, item that could tie the swap, Outlander and Ravelry into one place. What's the connecting thread? I, Kellan/knitmo made Hughey the Sheep for Latherna Murray during the first swap. So, we know Latherna got that part right. Hughey doesn't really belong to Outlander, perse, but I think Jenny should have named her surly/spoiled merino buck that.

Search Tip

Some of you commented that you got a bit derailed on the search part. On right side of the main Ravelry page (the one that's headed with "Where my stitches at?" is a quick search box. The default is "pattern" but this is really a drop-down menu, and you can pick projects and enter your search term. Check it out. Try searching for one of your own projects -- you should be able to find it pretty easily.

Murray Challenge

Lasses, We all ken that a picture is worth a thousand words, and Diana Gabaldon is the Mistress of words. To honor her, and all things Outlander, we’ll be working this challenge with pictures.

Your assignment: solve the quest and send me a picture or image.

Example: Find a photo of how Claire travels in time. The answer to this is the standing stones at Craig na Dun.

Acceptable responses would be:

or http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~aburnham/scot/call4.htm


So there is not question about whether or not you were successful on your quest, you should include the words to your answer – such as, standing stones outside of Inverness or standing stones at Craig na Dun. That way, if I am looking at the stones and think they are the ones at Stonehenge, I would know that you had the right answer.
~Clan Murray

1. Find a photo of the location of the last battle of the 1745 Rising.
2. Find an image of the English commanding general announcing defeat at the Battle of Gladsmuir.
3. Find a portrait of the man who shows Claire the broadsheet calling her “The Stuart Witch”
4. Find a photo of where Dougal MacKenzie died.
5. If the 1745 Rising succeeded, find a portrait of the man who would have been King
6. Find a portrait of the author of the book from which Claire recalls information about the Battle of Prestonpans.
7. Find a photo of the place where Jamie expects to find Claire after she is turned over to the English.
8. Find a photo of the bell tower in the town that Prince Charles Edward Stuart was blooded in his first battle.
9. Find an illustration of Jamie’s grandfather at the time of his death
10. Find a portrait of the Bourbon King who lived at the Palace where Colum MacKenzie dies.

Mordag (Abitknottie) submits this suggestion: If you have any general questions please post them in the games thread. Specific questions should be sent to via pm in Ravelry to Abitknottie (our Mordag) and Vivian5 (Joan Murray). As usual, submit your answers highlandergames@ymail.com.

This challenge ends at midnight on April 17. Please submit your answers to highlandergames@ymail.com and please use "Murray Challenge" in the subject line. As usual, please include your swap name and ravelry name to help identify everyone.
~Kellan

Fraser Challenge Results

A total of 21 of our lasses sent in their guesses. Of that there were 10 who got a perfect score. They were: Eilis (vicjorob) and Muirne (bwarnergroup) of Clan Beauchamp; Kellan (knitmo), Kinley (Rehnbo), Fiona (caela) and Ceili (theknittingmama) of Clan Mackenzie; Mordag (abitknottie), Marsali (mommaowie), Joan (Vivian5), and Morrigan (mainefan1) of Clan Murray. The Frasers did not participate in the challenge because they were the authors.

My lassie drew Joan of Clan Murray out of the hand-knit felted cloche

Round 2 Clan Standings:

Beauchamp: 60

Fraser: 0 – since they authored the games

Mackenzie: 64

Murray: 72

Additional awards: (for bragging rights)

Early bird: Eilis Beauchamp submitted her answers at 12:16 on March 20.
Sneaker: Edme of Clan Murray squeaked in with 4 minutes to spare at 11:56 p.m. On March 28. This is the second week in a row she's claimed this title.
Best Curse: Mordag of Clan Murray: “May your cottages be covered in this freaking plant (Pellitory of the Wall) and let the person who thought up this question have the nettle juice drip on her!”

Statistics:

21 of 46 clan members participated in the first round of the Highland Games, that's 46 percent. This round, Clan Fraser sat out, since they sponsored the round.

Clans Murray scored an additional point for having the highest participation in this round of the games, and that's because Brigitte (sinkitty) participated, even though she didn't score any points. Proof participation matters!

Clan Beauchamp had 47 percent or 7 of 15 members participate, earning 60 points.

Clan Mackenzie had 40 percent or 6 of 15 members participate, earning 64 points.

Clan Murray had 50 percent or 8 of 16 members participate, earning 72 points.

Up-to-date Standings
Beauchamp: 297
Fraser: 191
Mackenzie: 346
Murray: 320

Special thanks goes to Fiona and the Frasers for writing the challenge, tallying the results and sending them to me.
~Kellan

Answers: Fraser Challenge

Thank you ladies, for enjoying this quiz with us! Although we may hope that we'd stumped more of you, we're satisfied that we were, at least, quite tricky! ;)
~Fiona

1. a. What Hebrew letter is this: aelph
b. What character expounds on this? Comte St. Germaine
c. What did the character say about the occult meaning of this letter? the font of Christ's blood

2. A) “it’s kept near the fleur-de-lys stamped jar in the healer’s box; what is this herb?” Pellitory-of-the-Wall
B) this herb/plant is related to: ________ Stinging Nettle
C) answer B is used to do what in this section? make a fake pox pustule
D) what other herbs/plants are mention in conjunction with answer B? rosemary & madder
E) one of these herbs/plants produces a certain color, what is that color? madder = crimson pee pee!

*note: there were some other herb/plant answers that were correct for parts c, d & e...if you did not answer the crossword & I "graded" you on this question individually, I allowed for those other answers.


3. He learned from a famous Calvin; although he bears more resemblance to the wild man of borneo...

"He" shares an acquaintance with Claire...one who may have replaced the dispicable du Carrefours."

Who is the shared acquaintance, and What city did each of these people meet their common acquaintance in?

4. Her home in France seems to include much from a nearby country. Along with the intentional acquisitions, there is a fugitive from the same country. Name the "acquisitions" (both animate & inanimate), and the fugitive from this country.


Shared acquaintance is Master Raymond, Claire met him in Paris, the mystery "him" (who was Walter Laurent) met Raymond in Geneva.

acquisitions: cuckoo clock, Berta & Maurice (who were possibly brother & sister), and the fugitive was Reverend Walter Laurent. I also saw the monkey & a sconce mentioned as other objects from Switzerland, which I would have double checked if it had mattered with regard to the scoring...


5. Translate this:

Pater noster, qui es in caelis:
sanctificetur Nomen Tuum;
adveniat Regnum Tuum;
fiat voluntas Tua,
sicut in caelo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie;
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
Sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris;
et ne nos inducas in tentationem;
sed libera nos a Malo

This is the Lord's Prayer.


6. a life has been lost
a life is placed at her feet
a color remains

Whose life? Faith
Whose life? Bouton
What color? Blue

*note: this question was in direct reference to the scene in the hospital just before Master Raymond visits her & heals her.


7. name the man who wrote:
"freedom and Whisky gang tegither"
and name his poem too!

name the man, name the poem: Robert Burns, "The Author's Earnest Cry and Prayer"

8. a limb that's injured
a creamy colored treatment
the beast who caused it

whose limb? Jamie
what is the treatment? Hanged Man's grease (or "salve")
what beast? horse (or the specific animal -- also accepted Fergus as the one who caused it, lol)


9. news so long delayed
hand does not match appearance
"she" is met mid way

news regarding what place? Lisbon
whose hand? Murtaugh's (it was commented that his handwriting was quite nice/neat -- "not the formless scrawl she expected")
"she" is met by whom? Jamie ("she" is the ship, which stops in Lisbon midway through the trip & Jamie goes aboard then)

10. fill in this crossword -- or simply send us the words in a list format.

Across:

2. cuckoo clock
3. lisbon
5. master raymond
8. bouton
9. jamie/horse/salve

Down:

1. lords prayer
4. stinging nettle
6. aleph
7. earnest

~Submitted by Clan Fraser

Mackenzie Challenge: I've Come Home

This go-round the Mackenzies have you lassies completing a crossword puzzle, solving a jumble using the letters in the blue shaded boxes which will ultimately take you to Ravelry to conduct a search and answer one last little question.




Across:

1. Ian Murray's place (four words)
   

4. The damning letter marking Himself as a traitor. (three words)
   

6. Mistress of the house since she was 10.

7. Without Eastman Kodak, Himself has found his own way to capture ________.

8. A dour little clansman

Down:

1. “Fritter” away the famine with these.

2. A leak on the door post will keep out the ___________.

3. Healing comes from the __________.

5. The locals call Broch Turach this.

To make it easier to read: The across clues from the top down are numbered 1, 4, 6, 7, 8. The Down clues from the left to the right are numbered 1, 5, 2, 3. There are no spaces between the words in the multiple word answers.

For the last part of the challenge take the blue highlighted letters and rearrange the letters to solve this Jumble.

As a wee lamb, his ma might have called this Scottish ovis a "colorful" nickname.

__ __ __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ __ (3 words)

10. Enter the Jumble answer as a Ravelry project search and answer this question:

What clan's tartan is he wearing?

This round of the Highland Games ends at midnight April 7. Submit your answers highlandergames@ymail.com. Please use Mackenzie in the subject line of the e-mail.

Edited to add another H to the puzzle. The puzzle generator absorbed some of my extra Hs when they made it. You must use the H in I've Come Home to make the puzzle complete. ~Kellan



Best of luck ladies
~Ladies of Leoch

Riddle Me This Answers- REDUX

Here are the answers for the Beauchamp Riddle Me This Challenge, which covered Part 3 of Dragonfly in Amber.

1) He had no wish to cast aspersions,

Nay wish to arouse suspicions,

Did he know about his wife?

Some say “not on your life” –

Cuckold simply a French tradition.

Who am I?

Answer: Jules de la Tour, husband of Princesse Louise Rohan de la Tour, mistress to Bonnie Prince Charles.

2) A prince whose funds were frighteningly low

And little or nothing to borrow

With partner extreme

A new business scheme

From “where” would the needed cash flow?

Answer: The scheme was for Prince Charles to partner with St. Germain to import port from Gostos, the Portuguese island. The limerick asks “from where” the money would flow, which includes the source of the money Charles invested with Germain -- which includes the loan from the Italian banker Manzetti.

3) A real man, full of secrets, for sure

His thoughts, his deeds, many quite impure.

His wigs kept dusted,

Nay to be trusted

Who is this “invité d’honneur?”

Answer: The “guest of honor” is Sandringham. In the chapters we were covering for this challenge, Sandringham is identified as the guest of honor at the scandalous party held after Mary Hawkins was raped. In the same paragraph it is mentioned that “Germain was also invited, to make things interesting…” Although the description of the “impure, untrustworthy” person could lead some to guess Germain, the description in French serves to emphasize the guest-of-honor part.

4) To this “biscuit” family trilogy

Our fave Scot would’na pledge fealty

One blood, many lands,

Seeking an upper hand.

Who fought to expand their realty?

Answer: Three Bourbon Cousins: King James of Scotland, King Louis of France, and King Philip of Spain (apparently Bourbon biscuits/cookies are quite tasty in the UK)

5) A Darn John, All Tan = Jonathan Randall -- need we say more?

6) Our Entire Slum = Rue Tremoulins -- anything but slumlike, this was home to Jamie and Claire while in Paris

7) Mama Crunch Acorns = Marcus MacRannoch -- a big bear of a man, is mentioned in passing

8) “Murtagh’s eye, the morning after” = rotten banana (describing the way his eye looked the night after the hullaballoo w/ Mary Hawkins).

9) Queen Charlottes “house” = Castellotti (as in Castle and Lotti, a nickname for Charlotte)

10) A bird of prey stayed here = Rue Malory (the street on where Mary or Silas “HawksInn” resided)

ETA: Based on feedback from several sisters, perhaps we Beauchamps were a bit hasty or too strict in the interpretations of our answers. For that, we are humbly apologetic.

Fraser Challenge

Welcome fellow Jamie & Claire fans. We Frasers have worked long and hard on the quiz we have for ye! For ye, we have created a hodge-podge of questions, riddles, and haiku’s to solve and answer. Ye may find a need to travel outside the book on an internet searching journey to find your answers, but everything has a strong base in part 4 of our beloved Dragonfly In Amber book!

The last part is a collection of the previous nine. If ye are a clever lass you may use it to your advantage to save time with the other questions.

To reward the clever, only question 10 will be graded…of course you do not know the answers unless you answer at least part of each of the previous nine questions!

Good luck, lassies! (But not too much luck! )

1. a. What Hebrew letter is this:

b. What character expounds on this?
c. What did the character say about the occult meaning of this letter?

2. A) “It’s kept near the fleur-de-lys stamped jar in the healer’s box; what is this herb?”

B) This herb/plant is related to: ________
C) Answer B is used to do what in this section?
D) What other herbs/plants are mention in conjunction with answer B?
E) One of these herbs/plants produces a certain color, what is that color?

3. A riddle for you:

He learned from a famous Calvin;
although he bears more resemblance
to the wild man of Borneo…

“He” shares an acquaintance with Claire…
one who may have replaced
the dispicable du Carrefours.”

Please answer:
Who is the shared acquaintance, and
what city did each of these people
meet their common acquaintance in?

4. Her home in France seems to include much from a nearby country. Along with the intentional acquisitions, there is a fugitive from the same country. Name the “acquisitions” (both animate & inanimate), and the fugitive from this country.

5. Translate this:

Pater noster, qui es in caelis:
sanctificetur Nomen Tuum;
adveniat Regnum Tuum;
fiat voluntas Tua,
sicut in caelo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie;
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
Sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris;
et ne nos inducas in tentationem;
sed libera nos a Malo

6. a life has been lost
a life is placed at the foot
a color remains

Whose life?
Whose life?
What color?

7. Name the man who wrote:
“freedom and Whisky gang tegither”
and name his poem too!

name the man, name the poem

8. A limb that’s injured
a creamy colored treatment
the beast who caused it

whose limb?
what is the treatment?
what beast?

9. News so long delayed
hand does not match appearance
“she” is met mid way

news regarding what place?
whose hand?
“she” is met by whom?

10. Fill in this crossword — or simply send us the words in a list format. The answers with 2 words do include an empty space in between the first and second word.

Across:

2. question 4 (2 words)
3. question 9
5. question 3 (2 words)
8. question 6
9. question 8

Down:

1. what did you translate in question 5 (2 words)
4. question 2 (2 words)
6. question 1
7. the word in question 7 that starts with an “E”

~Ladies of Clan Fraser

Note: I know the crossword is a bit difficult to read. I'm in the process of getting a bigger version that you can see the numbers, but until then:

From the top down the across clues are 2, 3, 5, 8 and 9. From Left to Right for down clues are: 6, 7, 1 and 4

This round of the Highland Games ends at midnight March 28. Submit your answers highlandergames@ymail.com.

Remember to put Fraser Challenge in the subject line of the e-mail. We automatically sort e-mails to make it easier. Please include your swap name, clan and Ravelry name, too.

Best of luck ladies
~Kellan

Winners: Six Degrees of Jamie Fraser

A total of 31 of our lasses sent in their guesses. They ken verra weel just how to get to Himself! Of that, 21 earned a perfect score.

Those included in the drawing:

Camille (anyspunthread), Elspeth (georgethegirl), Morven (BessE), Murine (Bwarnergroup), Murron (lovestoknit), Nemetona (tandemsandy) and Shaylee (soniacolleen) of Beauchamp; Camille (WeeGnome), Nannag (LCBraun) and Phaedra (curlykat) of Clan Fraser; Kinley (Rehnbo), Mrs. Fitzgibbons (jules1960), Ceili (Theknittingmama), Brigid (ktreu), Isabeil (Emersch), and Ide (Annaed) of Clan Mackenzie; Joan (Vivian5), Marsali (mommaowie), Senga (robyn), Mary (Jenifair), Morrigan (Mainefan1)

If your eyesight isn't so great; Ian drew Brigid of Clan Mackenzie out of the hand-knit felted cloche.

Round 2 Clan Standings:

Beauchamp: 103

Fraser: 50

Mackenzie: 89

Murray: 92

Additional awards: (for bragging rights)

Early bird: Isabeil of Clan Mackenzie sent her answers in at 10:46 a.m. Feb. 26.
Sneaker: Kinley of Clan Mackenzie answers arrived with 12 minutes to spare 11:48 p.m. On 3/6.
Most Amusing: Lileas of Clan Fraser with: Johannes Gerstmann is an Austrian music master and friend to Mother Hildegarde - Mother Hildegarde has a dog Bouton. Bouton is not sure of Jamie when he first meets him at the Hospital. (I love Bouton and Lileas is the only one who brought Bouton into the chain, Mordag says)
Proofreader emeritus: Joan of Clan Murray corrected the spelling of Madame Vionnet from Vionette
Most elusive character from the list: Monsieur Parnelle. Out of the 30 entries, 5 of us didn't know who he is. I think he's really the janitor, disguised as a urinscopist and truss maker.

Statistics:

31 of 60 clan members participated in the first round of the Highland Games, that's 52 percent. This round, the four cheiftesses sat out, since they sponsored the round.

Clans Beauchamp and Murray each scored an additional point for having the highest participation in this round of the games.

21 clan members got a perfect score.

Clan Beauchamp had 60 percent or 9 of 15 members participate, earning 103 points.

Clan Fraser had 33 percent or 5 of 15 members participate, earning 50 points.

Clan Mackenzie had 53 percent or 8 of 15 members participate, earning 89 points.

Clan Murray had 60 percent or 9 of 15 members participate, earning 92 points.

Up-to-date Standings
Beauchamp: 232
Fraser: 146
Mackenzie: 207
Murray: 194

Special thanks goes to Mordag for writing the challenge, tallying the results and sending them to me.
~Kellan

Challenge: 3 Beauchamps say 'Riddle Me This!'

There once was a wee lass quite famed,
In whose honor our clan was so named.
Sixteen ladies so braw,
Nay one a scofflaw.
“Here be the game,” they proudly proclaimed!

Literature abounds with many characters playing some version of a riddle game, a formalized guessing game designed as a contest of wit and skill. Riddles come in many different forms. Our challenge features three different types of riddles or puzzles: limericks, anagrams, and simple word play.

LIMERICKS. Often witty, at times obscene, this nonsense verse entertained many o’ man around the campfire.

Ex: There once was a man from Lally Broch
Who, when overcome, sat and took stock
His eye bore his shame
“Failure!” he claimed
And awaited his punishment like a rock

Who is this man? Answer: Murtagh

1. "He had no wish to cast aspersions
Nay want to arouse suspicions"
Did he know about his wife?
Some say not on your life –
Cuckold simply a French tradition.
Who is he?

2. A prince whose funds were frighteningly low
And little or nothing to borrow.
With partner extreme
A new business scheme
From "where" would the needed cash flow?

3. A real man, full of secrets, for sure!
His thoughts, his deeds, many quite impure.
His wigs kept dusted,
Nay to be trusted
Who is this “invité d’honneur?”

4. To this “biscuit” family trilogy
Our fave Scot would’na pledge fealty
One blood, many lands,
Seeking an upper hand.
They fought to expand their realty.


ANAGRAMS are a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce a new word or phrase, using all the original letters exactly once. The best anagrams reflect in some way, or comment on, the subject. Example: Lord Lovat = Valor Dolt

5. A Darn John, All Tan
6. Our Entire Slum
7. Mama Crunch Acorns

CROSSWORD RIDDLES. Here you are given a clue to solve a question. But beware, some of these have a double or veiled meaning.

8. Murtagh’s eye, the morning after [two words, 12 letters]
9. Queen Charlotte’s "house" [one word, 11 letters]
10. A bird of prey stayed here [two words, 9 letters]

Luck be to ye!

~ Clan Beauchamp


Reminder this round of the Highland Games ends at 11:59 p.m. March 18. Points are awarded for participation, so even if you can't answer them all, submit what you can. Members of Clan Beauchamp will sit out this round, but ALL Murrays, Mackenzies and Frasers can play. Send your answers to highlandergames@ymail.com. Put Riddle Me This in the subject line. Please include your ravelry ID and Outlandish Swap name
~Kellan

Results Challenge 1

(Kigeliakitten) of Clan Murray apparently used a spreadsheet to solve her puzzle, answering to Mordag's inner "geek."

Proofreader emeritus:Two words to announce here: Seonag (cursedgreenswtr) and Kinley (Rehnbo) of Clan Mackenzie identified two different spellings of Broch Mhorda and the correct Broch Morhda.

Statistics:

39 of 60 clan members participated in the first round of th Highland Games, that's 65 percent. This round, the four cheiftesses sat out, since they sponsored the round.

32 clan members got a perfect score, including every one from Clan Fraser.

Clan Beauchamp had 73 percent or 11 of 15 members participate, earning 129 points.

Clan Fraser had 53 percent or 8 of 15 members participate, earning 96 points.

Clan Mackenzie had 73 percent or 11 of 15 members participate, earning 118 points.

Clan Murray had 60 percent or 9 of 15 members participate, earning 102 points.

Noteable Quotes:

"Why am I not surprised that the first one I figrued out, and used for the key to figure out the rest is 'muir breame?' when in Scotland, go for the Scotch whiskey, I guess!"
~ Murine Beauchamp.

"ARGH! It felt like it took forever but I finally got it! I absolutely don't remember ever reading about the 'plimsolls,'"
~Mary Murray

Respectfully Submitted,
Mordag of Clan Murray

The 6 Degrees of Jamie Fraser

Many of us know and love the 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon, well, Kevin has met his match!
Below are listed 10 people. Your challenge is to bring them back to Himself in 6 steps or fewer, but they cannot be direct links. If you do it as a direct link, your response will be wrong. The link can be a family relation or a shared event.
This challenge focuses on Part 2 of Dragonfly in Amber.

Example:
Ian Murray: Ian is married to Jenny, Jenny is Jamie's sister. good.
Ian Murray: Ian is Jamie's brother-in-law. or even Ian and Jamie spent the day watching owls to determine if they were missing part of their anatomy. Wrong. These are both direct connections - we need something else linking them.
Ian Murray: Ian is Jenny's son, Jenny is Jamie's sister. Wrong - young Ian wasna even a twinkle in auld Ian's eye during DiA.

Good luck, lasses. Let's see what you can do:

In alphabetical order:
1. Charles Gauloise
2. Johannes Gerstmann
3. Madame Laserre
4. Vicomte Marigny
5. Monsieur Parnelle
6. Portis
7. Vicomtesse de Rambeau
8 Mr. Sheridan
9. Nesle de la Tourelle
10. Madame Vionnet

If ye canna find all of the folks to make the connection, dinna fash yerself. Send in the ones ye can. Remember, the clan with the highest participation will earn an additional point. This game ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on March 6.

Please mail your responses in to highlandergames@ymail.com with 'The Six Degrees of Jamie Fraser' in the subject line.

This challenge is brought to you by the Chieftesses. I will have the answers, results and a winner for Round 1's Cipher posted by Sunday. Check back for details.

Best of luck,
~Kellan

Edited: 2-27-09 4:00 p.m. to correct the spelling of question 10.

Challenge 1

Good Sisters, for this first challenge of our Dragonfly in Amber Gathering, we have a mission. That mission is to help Himself figure out this cipher. It may solve the mystery of where Prince Charles' money will be coming from, or it may be Fiona Graham's shopping list, or it could even be that the words and phrases have nothing in common, except that they are found in the first section of the book.

Jamie spells it all out to Claire and to Mother Hildegarde how to solve the cipher, but I can refresh it for you: each letter represents another letter of the alphabet and the same alpha key is used for all of the words in this cipher.

For example:
A C E G I K M K E O A Q E S U = C L A I R E B E A U C H A M P
In the real cipher, A does not equal C, C does not equal L and so on.

A V P P / L R / I V G H K
W P C E X L P P X
Y G M V U P S D O C V
C D P G D I / U V J V D S V
I U S C I
M U L Z K / E L U I K G
E S C U / M U V G E V
V I A G U I / H V G Z K
H Z K G U P G Z K / E G Z / X V G E S X
U G H / X G H C U V

Important things to remember:
-- If you need help, we can give you 3 hints - but each cheat (hint) will cost you one point.
-- For each cheat you use, you lose a point, which means no perfect score.
-- Each cheat is one letter - you get to pick which one.
-- If you need a cheat, please send an e-mail to highlandergames@ymail.com with “cheat” in the subject line. Indicate which coded letter (ie the one that appears in the puzzle you want to solve) Please include your ravelry and swap names so we can track them. One of the chieftesses will check the e-mail at 8 p.m. Eastern time each night and respond to the requests for cheats at that time.

E-mail answers to highlandergames@ymail.com with CIPHER in the subject line.

Early birds and sneakers will be recognized

This challenge is brought to ye by the chieftesses. Luck to ye. Rember this round ends at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 25.

~Kellan

Edited 4:26 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, to correct spacing on first one and again at 3:30 p.m. Monday Feb. 16.