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.

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.

Upcoming event - Highland River Melee

So, next weekend is Highland River Melees and there has been a lot of buzz about the event. Why this has happened is beyond me but the word going around is that the fighting is Crusader vs Middle Eastern and you will not be allowed to fight if your kit is not of a correct style for one of these persona.

Well, I heard this and had to get the information varifief for myself. It appears the information is false. You can fight in what ever rig you have as long as it passes inspection.

Here is the information I got on tribe from one of the people working on the event.

On the message boardtribes » Cultures & Community » Atlantia » topics » Highland River

Ondraedan wrote:
Re: Highland River MeleesYesterday, 3:59 PM
"Our theme this year, Europe and the Middle East from 1066 to 1291 (the fall of Acre)" "The Baron, Baroness and populace welcome all those who are English, French, Italian, German and other Europeans as well as their Byzantine and Middle Eastern contemporaries!"

I have heard fighters will not be allowed to participate on the field of battle if they are not armored in a middle eastern or crusader persona. Is this true? There are some of us that just heard of this and do not have the time to create new garb or change armor and some just don't have the funds to make garb for multiple persona.


Glynis wrote:
Re: Highland River MeleesYesterday, 6:54 PM
This is absolutely untrue and is a vicious rumor sparked by those who don't know better. Please spread the word that fighters may fight in whatever they fight in, so long as it abides by Atlantian/Society/Etc. rules. I'm a non-fighter so I don't necessarily know what those rules are, but there is DEFINITELY no rule about not being allowed to fight because your armor doesn't fit in.

Nor will you be kicked off site if you show up in 14th century garb, or Elizabethan, or Italian Ren, or a kilt.


Tarkhan wrote:
Re: Highland River MeleesYesterday, 7:53 PM
Could also just be individuals confused about the proposed Crusaders Vs. Saracens battle at Pennsic 36?
www.legiodraconis.com/modules.php


So, that is the story. Come and fight with the kit you have.