Blackstone Raids 2009: A late review

To start, this was my third Blackstone Raids and I really had a great time at the ones before. I really had to think through my feelings about this years event. It was hot which has not been the case in my past two years there. Did this affect the way I felt about the event. I like the concept of the SCA but I hate the politics and the attitudes of the people that try be be important in the society because they have little outside of it. Was this an influence on how much disappointment I felt at the end of the event? I really had to consider these things and talk with the people I fought along side to see if I was seeing things in some kind of skewed way.

In the past two trips to Blackstone Raids it happened that I fought on the side of AEthelmearc. The fighting was great and people were taking their shots. The Middle was aggressive and and lines clashed and it was fun. AEthelmearc won most battles both years. I figured numbers were off because of home field advantage. I noticed very little rhino hide either of those first two years.

This year Atlantia split its forces due to numbers. Well since I was fighting with a mercenary group we were part of the force that went to the Middle Kingdom. Great I get to fight with the people I have fought against the past two years. Now I get to see the other side. I wonder if it is like this for them every year? Why do they continue to return to this event if it is? Like what you ask?

Let me start by saying that I may hit light for an Atlantian. I discussed this with a few of the people I regularly fight with and the say I hit hard enough and that some times I can hit harder than they would like. I understand that sometimes you are not sure in a melee if it was a shot or spear shaft that hit you. All that taken into account I have to question the honor of a large majority of the people we faced. One fighter left himself open while attacking a fighter to my right. I hit his helm and shoulder four times solid. I then hit his helm slightly to the back and he dropped to a knee. I figured he was dying until he tried to thrust at another fighter so I hit his sword arm and he looked up at me like he was wondering what I was doing. Was he clueless about melee fighting and thought he was only engaged with the person in front of him? Was the whole AEthelmearc army on that bridge that clueless? It was like that most of the time. Almost no one wanted to take a shot. The field battles were as bad. A fighter got around our line and hit my shield arm at the inside of the elbow really hard and said "You don't have to take that shot we were not engaged." Thanks, so you now want me to fight when my arm is numb and I can't use my shield? Honorable move Sir ShitHead.

So, a shield man closes on a spear man and they hold the spear vertical in front of them butt end on the ground and say nothing, have they yielded? No clue, so I put a light'ish rap to their helm. No response no defense. I put a second harder rap to their helm, no response. A third rap that moves their head and no response? I am confused people I am fighting with are confused. The rest of their group is dead. Suddenly I take a shot from a spear to my kidney from the back right side. Not engaged but I am pissed and walk off the field. The spear I was engaged with or what ever it was, joins the new line to continue fighting. I was told that they were hit several more times with no acknowledgment until another spear man chocked up on their spear and drove the person to the ground. I did not know we played immortals in the SCA.

Two of our guys were called dead for walking of the end of the world in a field battle. Next battle same marshal, a line of AEthelmearc fighters walks off the edge of the world to flank our group in front of the marshal; we yell to him and he says to them move back, they ignore him and he lets it go. Where is the honor?

That is how the fighting went. Why does the Middle bother to return year after year. Is it like that for them every year. Was this just a really odd and strange year? I had to take time away after that. Now, I plan to do three events then work on projects over the winter. I don't know if I will return to Blackstone Raids again.

Highlight - Had a nice Mexican dinner with friends at the Cozumel restaurant.

The hell that is getting a registered SCA name (Part 2)

So, a year ago I started trying to register a name and device. Well because of Atlantia rules I have yet been able to submit it because every thing I present to the Herald and signed off on before I send it in. I am going to try one last time then I am throwing in the towel. I am tired of people with limited knowledge forcing their opinions on me. They may know more about mainstream period heraldry but for the time period and culture I am trying to portray I am miles ahead but they want me to keyhole it into their narrow set of rules and ideas. Shocking, I know........

Celt Wars 12

This past weekend was Celt Wars 12. Not really an SCA event, just a large group of friends getting together for an extended fighter practice and a weekend of camping. It was a great event as always.

This was the first time I had armored up since the Storvick Baronial Birthday event last year. I was slow and not at all on my game. Oona on the other hand came out rocking with the spear but was taken out of the game early by a nasty shot to the arm just above her elbow. I managed to stay in the fighting to the bitter end. And since I was slow I kept sticking my sword arm out to be hit. All in all a good day of fighting.

A quick video clip of Oona and her magic with the spear.

After the fighting there was a nice cheese and "juice" tasting, then a pot luck dinner. Followed by lots of talking and laughing by the fire. There was also some fine bardic entertainment.

Always a great time.....

Storvick Baronial Birthday

Now is the time.
What time is that, you ask? Well, it is time to talk about last weekend.
What happened last weekend, you ask? Well, stop asking questions and I will tell you.

Last weekend Oona and I went to the Storvick Baronial Birthday event.
The event was a Viking Raid theme. The fighting was all melees, all day. The fighting was styled around a campaign scenario. The outcome of one event decided what the next event would be. It worked out fairly well. The Atlantia army was the Viking invaders. I fought with the Galatians and Anglesey on the visitor’s side during the first 2 battle scenarios. The first was a beach assault that was played out 3 times. Then a field battle played out 3 times. The Vikings lost all battles. So, Galatia and Anglesey were moved to the Atlantian side. Well, the Vikings (Atlantia) continued to loose the rest of the day, but it was not as much of a slaughter in the later battles. I think they would do better if the fighters learned to fight in small battle units and how to hold lines. They collapsed in on themselves which was hurting them. Or when flanked they would continue forward and get picked off from the sides as they passed. I am not a kingdom man and I am not saying the fighters were bad or harshing on anyone; it is just an observation from working within a small mobile unit. So, enough said about tactics. The day was perfect for fighting and there was plenty of fighting to be had. It was a really great day.

Oona and a friend set up a merchant tent to sell garb they had made. They made some sells but I am not sure Oona is the type of person who could spend a day sitting in a booth. I think she should focus on making us supper spiff garb and I will work on the accessories and camp stuff. There is a new chair design in the works based off historical references and design style. I’ll keep you posted. I will also post on the new coat Oona is making me. I am so excited about new garb.

So, after the fighting we sat through most of court. Then I went to get out of armor. After getting dressed we went to feast late. There was not an announcement about when feast would start and we just noticed no one was around. I do not do the pomp and circumstance stuff well and we felt out of place when everyone seamed to stare at us as we came in. So, basically we did a “eat and run”. I really do not think the feast is my thing. Maybe if it was a Viking style feast like in the sagas. The food was good and a huge thank you to the people who prepared it.

I never made it in to see the A&S display. I wish I had found the time. The feast reminded me why I don’t do events unless they are melee events. I just don’t fit into the “my lord” and “my lady” thing.

Even though I am striving to make my kit as period as possible and now Oona has gotten the bug. She is becoming more than a stick jock. I promise I never tried to change her. She just wanted to create more stuff. I on the other hand was never a good fighter but I enjoy doing it. I also enjoy learning to create things. So, I am creating stuff for us. I was asked recently why I don’t put my stuff in A&S competitions. Well, I am not a scholar and I have not written documentation for any of the things I have made. That got me thinking. Maybe I should try my hand at documentation and enter some stuff in A&S competitions. Maybe it will give me another reason to go to events.

Wow, that was a hard to follow train of thought. See, this is why I don’t think. It is to confusing.

So, this winter will be spent making stuff and documenting it. Watch for me on the field and at the A&S tent. And don’t laugh at my stuff. I plan to be a jack of all trades. ;-p

Well, before I start thinking again, lets do a quick wrap up.
Storvick Baronial Birthday event was great. Thank you to all the people that made it possible. Great to see all of you that I knew there, not a single person made me wish I was not there or think that murder is wrong.
The fighting was great and it kept moving. Only one hold for injury. Great weather. Wonderful time.

Now continue with your lives. I am done here.

Blackstone Raids XVII

This weekend was Blackstone Raids. I blogged about our first time at this event last year. We had an even better time this year. This was my war of colors. I wore my Preachain colors and I wore Anglesey colors for Oona and then I was asked to wear the Ponte Alto colors.

We thought it would just be us again, this year but to our surprise Llyr and Ursus came to the event. This year we arrived earlier on Friday, around 7:00 in the evening. After getting settled we met up with Llyr and Ursus and sat around talking while we waited for Grendal. After Grendal arrived and was settled we went strolling. We ended up at the torch light tourney and met a few more folks, sorry I am really bad at remembering names. We strolled a little more then called it a night.

We were up and ready to go on Saturday morning. Skip the garb, hop into mundane clothes and went to breakfast at Bob Evens. Then back to get ready for the fighting. We got to the field and had no problems in inspection. While waiting around I met “Goblin” in person (a friend on tribe.net). Then we gathered with the Atlantain forces and met up with the fighters of Ponte Alto.

We had been to a few of the Ponte Alto practices a year ago before buying the house and then we stopped going. The folks from Ponte Alto were very welcoming and friendly. The same with the rest of the Atlantian forces. I was warmed by the change in attitude from 7 years ago when I started fighting. I have heard stories from as far back as 20 year ago but, things have changed and that makes me happy. Oona and I plan to make it to more practices again. After the field battles the Baron of Ponte Alto ask if I would wear a Ponte Alto tabored for the bridge battles. I was honored to wear it.

It was fun to fight with them and I hope I was a help on the bridge. I do not know how they train to fight as a group so, I followed orders when given and did what I was trained to do the rest of the time, push and hit. It was an all out fun day. I twisted my back towards the end of the last bridge battle as I fell backwards over the wall as another person fell across my legs. So, I opted out of the gate battle and got a shower.

Oona took off after the field battles and got some great pictures. You can see them here http://oona-ondraedan.smugmug.com/gallery/4811388_5rRLe#286000162_roaWM. Ursus is sure to have some great photos. I can't wait until he gets them up.

We were invited to join the Barony of Ponte Alto for dinner but had to pass because of previous plans. Like I said earlier we will be doing more with the barony in the future. I plan to fight with them at our next event this year, unless I am needed to fill in the Anglesey numbers. I do not expect Preachain to have a force at that event. It will be a challenge to maintain allegiances but, I always like a challenge. The only time there is a real show of force from the clans these days is Pennsic and local events like Highland River Melees.

Oh, yea.... Back to the event. I get side tracked easily.

So, we did dinner then went to The Dancing Pig to shop. Its a habit that is going to be hard to break if Amber keeps adding new designs. The china closet is full and I have a self in the man cave full of pottery. Oona headed off with Ursus and Llyr while I took the loot back to our room and grabbed some light and refreshing beverages to take on walk about.

I met up with the folks at Ceder Lodge and then we waited around for the feast to end and people to start moving about. After some light and refreshing beverages Oona and I headed to our room to get ready for the evening and we made plans to meet up with the guys in an hour.
We found Ursus and Llyr at the bardic circle. They were there with Sir Bryce and William T and others. The bardic circle had been invaded by drummers so we went into the hall at the top of the hill and had a seat. Sir Bryce, Ursus, William and Llyr all entertained us with song. After a while Oona and I left to get more beverage but, when we got to the room we never made it back out. We were really tired.

The next morning it was time for the long drive home.

And that was how it happened. Sorry there was not much humor in this blog but I could not find spots for wit.

The hell that is getting a registered SCA name

So, I decided to go ahead and get a registered SCA name and device. The device is not going to be difficult but a name is a hard thing. When I started I had no clue if I would even like it. A woman I was dating brought me into it and I was already in my 30s. Well she insisted that I come up with a name and I did not like any of the ones she suggested and she shot down name I came up with because they sounded to much like another persons name. Finally I remembered a word I liked when reading Beowulf. I could not remember if it it was a name or the meaning of the word. So, I went with it. Ondrædan was the name I chose. Well, I can't use it in the SCA because it is a strong verb and not a name. I can show the use of strong verb as names in the culture of choice but since I can not show this one was used I can't use it. I traced back to a similar proto-Norse word but it was in reference to a beast and since it was not a humans name I can't use it.

So, I have been going through names and decided on one that I can trace back to old-Norse and show that it was used up to 1100 CE and I want to use the Ancient Norse version that I can document. Well, after doing all the research and getting books on inter-library loan I documented it and wrote down book titles and dates and authors thinking this is what I need. Was I ever wrong. I can trace the name to sagas and usage through time and give books and page numbers but I did not do one thing that they want, I did not photo copy the pages.

Really, should it be this hard to get a name registered? I will still be using Ondrædan with all the people who know me. This was just so I could register a device and have an accepted name in case I decide to do some tourney fighting. I am tired of the hoops and politics.

I will post my new name when they accept it and I will post my device when it is accepted. Then comes the fun part. Displaying the device in a manor that fits a non-heraldic culture.

Keep tuned in for updates and check out http://jutewarrior.blogspot.com/ for updates on my armor and other persona related items.

Celt Wars

Well, this weekend was Celt Wars. A great, small invitation only event. The fighting is SCA rules. It is almost like a large celtic war practice consisting mostly of Bog Troopers. Anglesey, Concusare and Preachain being the large percentage of fighters with a couple Atlantian regulars.

It really makes for great fighting because we are all friends. No arguments break out, if there were questions about shots or confusion it is discussed after the fighting. Never any hard feelings.

The sad thing is we had to day trip it this year. Oona and I both are just getting over bad bugs. The boy did not want to sit around in the cold so, we left the dogs home with the kid and just made a day of it. Now, I’m sitting here on the couch typing this blog thinking how stiff and old I am. And for all of you that remember the leg bruise I got a couple years ago from Arundoor and Skutai, well Arundoor only got me once this year. A nice big bruise right on the hip.

That leads me to a question. If you are fighting from you knees and you get a wrap to the ass and hip do you fight sitting on you butt? I just figured I am already legged so, it meant nothing. The things you have to consider when there are no clear cut rules.

This was the first time I put on armor since the fall. I am starting out slow on the swing but I am not getting winded easily. I am finding that all the biking has helped with my endurance. I will be getting a pell up soon to practice my aim and form. So, if you want to practice let me know. We have a yard now so we can have a few people fighting at once and do mini woods battles.

This weekend also confirmed that my armor is crap. :-) Except for the war belt. I feel nothing through that unless it is a solid hit.

I am still fighting pretty much in the same armor I started with. I added shovel greaves and I have tried various body and leg armor of which I did not like. Now that I have a nice garage to set up shop and I will find the time to make new armor. Last week I got the forge and stuff moved in and I have the room to start working. Anyone want to do an armoring get together? I have some 16 and 14 gauge mild steel that needs to be used and plenty of tools.

So, in summary, Celt Wars is a fantastic event and it was great seeing everyone, invitation to friends for fighter practice and an invitation to do armor workshops.

Now I am off to the hardware store for pell parts and duct tape.