Roll Call

Alright, that does it! My map says people have visited this blog from Tennessee, Florida, California, Alaska, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Georgia, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin, Oregon, and various parts of New England. And that's from America ALONE! I've also got one each from Mexico, Canada, England, Germany, Australia and even one of those countries up in Scandinavia (sorry, whoever you are, for not being better up on my geography).

Now, as flattered as I am at how widespread all this attention is coming from...I'd REALLY like to know who you people are! I know the comments list for this post is going to be astronomically long, but you know what? I don't care! Whoever you are, wherever you are, please let me know! Or heck, you don't even have to put down your name! If you want to, you can just remain anonymous, as long as you type in from where you're reading. THANK YOU!

P.S. Yes, I do expect at least one post from every single one of my personal friends! Love you guys! And no, I will NOT make another post until I am satisfied at the number of people who have responded!

In The Shadows of Greatness

I think my blog is becoming more of an SCA journal than anything else, but I think that's ok. A lot fo what I learn in life and about life comes from my SCA life.

But last weekend started with a few days before I left for Coronation. On Wendnesday, Billy, Liza, Mike, Sam and I got together for dinner and some games, and it's always such a good time when we're all together. I watched "Stick It" for the first time and enjoyed it, although after viewing, I wondered on whether the title actually referred to a gymnast's sticking a perfect landing, or perhaps, given the plot line, it referred to the gymnasts telling the unfair judges they could just Stick It...you know...

Thursday, nothing exciting happened, really, except that I went over to William of Glen Lyon's house so that he could show me how to pad my new helmet. We ate dinner together and watched the new episodes of CSI and Without A Trace. Good stuff with great people. If I'm not a squire by then, it will be very hard to decide if I want to be one to Will or to Caedmon. They're both incredible people, and I love them dearly.

Once I got to Coronation, I found that once again, someone had cancelled, so I filled their cabin and feast space...Thank God, because that night stormed something terrible. Caedmon was in the cabin with me, and we talked the good talks that camping buddies talk.
God bless, that site...it's the same site used for Gulf Wars, and I hate it. I mean, without the war, and a few extra thousand people, it seems like such a ghost town. The place is well-night desolate. I have pictures, if anyone's interested, though after I unpacked, I lost my camera and did not find it again until I packed up again, so unfortunately, I have no pics of the event itself. Go figure.

The next day was the day of William and Onora's Coronation, which meant that Uther and Kenna had to either step down or die...and a great and filling day it was!
As I've discussed earlier, they have Crusader personas, so they modeled their reign after that of the Leper King, Baldwin IV. In reference to "Kingdom of Heaven" Uther wore a gorgeous mask. After dozens of awards were given, the last order of business was to rward the Telemark household for various services they have performed.

In Gleann Abhann, we have a tradition when we want to praise someone, or to get the fighters' blood up before a battle. Someone will shout "ALL" and everyone responds with "HAIL!" This is traditionally done three times. Uther gave it once, and we responded. He gave it twice, and we shouted again...but he did not call a third time. All eyes turned to the great Ram Throne, where sat our king, slumped over. Mistress Brigit took his pulse, but shook her head. Uther, our beloved, glorious, shining example of everything a knight, and then a king, should be, had finally succumbed to his malady, and gone.
Queen Kenna took a moment and knelt before their children, then stood and addressed the populace. She gave a speech then, and I cannot recall it's entirety, but the gist of it was that the day we had all been long dreading had finally arrived. As badly as Uther wanted to stay with us, he could not, and she thought it fitting that he should leave so close to the fields of combat that he so loved. She asked his bodyguards to go and prepare him for his final journey. Ali, James the Holy, Dex, Sir Sa'ad, Dagan and I went outside and brought in the cot that had been laid there ahead of time. Dex and James laid him gently to rest, crossing his arms and feet (because he was a Crusader) and covered him with a white silken cloth. Queen Kenna then continued, saying that Uther was her rock, and that she could not govern the kingdom alone, but would spend the rest of her days in seclusion.
She went to her heirs and told them that they were strong enough to ascend to the thrones and lead the kingdom. She gave them each a token. To Onora, she gave the great red jewel brooch (referred to lovingly by the populace as "The Precious") called The Heart of the Ram, saying that this symbolized the heart of the people. You have their trust and their love. To William, she bestowed the Sword of State, telling him to protect his people. To this he solemnly swore. Finally, she called the kingdom seneschal, Master Erik, forward, saying that she would relinquish her crown "Is this what you want?" "I must." "As you wish," and he received her crown. At her words, we six took up the cot once more, carrying it out of the hall in absolute silence. I have never been more honored than to be one of those chosen to bear Uther from that hall, and yet, I also have never taken up a task so sadly.

But once we carried him out, that was the end of the tears. The rest of the day was spent in happy pastime as William and Onora formally took the thrones, being anointed by Father Gilbert of the Hospitallers and then accepting the Oaths of Fealty by their entourage, the general populace, the Royal Peers, the landed nobility and court barons and baronesses, and all the other Peers. Finally, they began their court proper, giving out several awards. The last order of business was to elevate Uther and Kenna to the status of count and countess (that's the way it works: serve as crown once, become count and countess; serve as crown twice or more, become duke and duchess). For those women who have served as Queen, they also have a special order called the Order of the Rose. Kenna was formally inducted into that.

After court, the only interesting thing for the rest of the day was the King's Champion Tournament. Since Uther had tweaked his elbow during Gulf Wars, he had to fight left-handed...but he STILL won!

Feast was fondue, and that was much fun, though there wasn't quite enough food, and the cheese just wouldn't stay melted. After that was the ball, which wasn't very long, but was also much fun! After that, everyone pretty much wandered from place to lace, not least of which was the Green Dragon, where most of the celebrating and merymaking was going on.

The next day, I packed and helped others pack. Uther and family and I were the last ones from Grey Niche to leave site. We had lunch together and spent some good time talking about the event. Once home, I helped them unpack and went home to unpack myself. This morning, I found my worst fears true: Every single time I go to that site, I come away with a sunburn, and this time, I have a cold. My nose and throat have gone completely wompy-jawed. Help me!

In retrospect, I find myself wishing I had done more...again. At the very least, I could have fought in the King's Champion tournament. I would have been terribly beaten, but I would have at least been able to say I had fought and now had the experience. Coronation is always our big Pomp and Circumstance, ceremonial event, along with Crown List. Great names and lots of people show up, and there is never a shortage of things to do, or people to serve. I must do better, next time. I will fight, and I will serve.

Incidentally, next time happens to be in Bartlett, two weeks from this past Saturday. There will be much archery, fighting, and live weapons. I'm going to have to do a LOT of practice!

A Living Anachronism

This post is related to the last one, which is why I have not changed the picture, but here I begin to highlight the side of knighthood I did not touch on last time. I have spoken many times, now, of how knighthood is the highest honor than can be bestowed upon a fighter, and how to become a knight, one needs not only skill, but also courage, leadership, and chivalry...but the other hand says that skill is what also separates a good, chivalrous man from a knight. Knights are good, yes, honorable, of course, humble, mostly, but they are also WARRIORS.

::sigh:: This is going to be one of those times where I voice my opinion that technology (except in the fields of medicine and sanitation) should have stopped with the bicycle. If I did not believe that God doesn't make mistakes, I would believe wholeheartedly that I was born 800 years too late. Of course, I acknowledge that had I been born back then, not only would I most likely been born to the poor representative of the majority of the medieval population, the serf, but my life expectancy would have dropped drastically. If that had been the case, assuming I lived to the age of sixteen, I think I would have simply taken my bow and a knife and run; just faded into the forest and tried to live out my life in blissful avoidance of capture because I would be breaking the king's Forest Law.

Now, let's assume that I had been born into a higher class. Now, I think about what I would have been taught: how to manage property, how to ride properly, how to dance...and how to fight. At the very least, with a sword and shield, but also probably with spear, knife, and axe. I would have learned how to throw my weapons, if needed, I would have learned battle tactics, and how to lead men, and how to repair my own armor...this is sounding familiar...

Oh THAT'S right! I learn this stuff on most weekends anyway. The SCA has taught me many things, and a lot of them span time to apply in my life now: things like humility, among others. Of course, the more enjoyable skills I now possess are almost completely useless in the modern context. I can shoot straight, throw well, fix armor passably, ride enthusiastically and fight tolerably, but...who needs it, these days?

I briefly considered a career in the military before understanding that it was not my calling. I would have enjoyed what I was being taught, if not the teaching process. Every boy daydreams of being a hero. The Marines call themselves (and I believe them) the greatest warriors on Earth. Who WOULDN'T want to be called one of them?! The modern Spartans! But that's not for me.

Makes me wonder what I AM meant for. I am certain God has a plan. I just wish I knew what it was that I need this kind of knowledge for it. Any ideas, anyone?

Return to Chivalry

I think I'm coming back, somewhat, to something I left behind a long time ago when I began to grow up. When I was more of a dreamer than was good for me, I remember myself being more the gentleman than I am now. I guess I got caught up in the thought that everyone on Earth except me believed chivalry was dead, so that the burden of reviving chivalry rested on my shoulders alone. It was arrogant of me, and now that I've been around a while longer, I can see how wrong I was. The world, and especially the SCA, is absolutely stuffed with people for whom chivalry is their entire way of life. When I discovered this, I suppose I began to relax more and have fun. Too much of that got me into relationship problems and lots of drama in my social life. Now, here I am: older, in love, and relatively drama-free. Perhaps now is the time when I can attempt to temper my informality with the gentle reverance of chivalry again.

Last night, Mike, Liza, Billy and I had an Indiana Jones marathon in anticipation of the fourth movie coming out in May. Again, we all agreed that the last one is the best one. At the end, the Grail Knight reminded me of Sir Thomas of Aylesbury. In the above photograph, taken at Uther and Kenna's Coronation ceremony last year, he is the Templar staning next to me, holding his sword. After the ceremony, many people commented on how cool he looked, but Caedmon came up to him and said "We should have asked you to go up to someone with a goblet and say 'You have chosen...poorly.' " Sir Thomas, being a man of good humor, laughed and said he would have done it, if anyone had thought of it soon enough.
The reason I bring him up is because my search for a knight to become a squire to continues, and seeing the movie brought him to mind again. It would be very cool, I think, if he, as a Templar, took me, another Templar, as a squire...but I hesitate to ask any knight to be their squire outright. Such a boldness would be rude of me, I think. Another reason I hesitate is because though I like Sir Thomas very much, I know very little of him, save for that he is a close personal friend of Uther and Kenna's. I have no idea what his fighting style is like, if he desires to take a squire at this point, or if he even fights anymore. I don't suppose it's really practical to think of becoming his squire...but still, the dream will not leave, and I don't know why.

I think Gulf Wars got to me a lot, too. Gulf Wars always does something to me. Serving on entourage for this reign really drove home how happy I get when I am serving. Mike, Liza, and Billy, God bless them eternally, taught me what it really means to be there for friends, and this was only their first or second event! I will never forget the kindness shown to me and so many others by so many people.

Now that the Grand Exhibition Tournament has passed, I'm going to be getting back into fighting more, too. I will never abandon archery. In many ways, I AM a bow. Simple enough to look at and understand, but put me under stress and I may surprise you! The longbow is my first love, one of my life's passions, and it will always be with me. But my dream, one of my life's goals since childhood, has always been to become a knight, and I can't do that with my bow.

Watching Drogo's vigil reminded me that there is more to knighthood than good combat, too. Matter of fact, of the knights whom Gleann Abhann has made, none of them had ever become king before their knighthood, and I can think of many other knights who have never won Crown List. This proves that skill alone is not what makes a man a knight.

They are warriors, leaders and servants all rolled up into one. On the tournament fields, they are brave enough to step onto it, clever enough to think on their feet, quick enough to strike at the right opportunity, and strong enough to carry it home. On the field of battle, they are inspiring enough to lead the men and women they command, obedient enough to receive the orders given to them from their Crown, and capable enough to carry them out effectively.
Off the fields, they are courteous to anyone and everyone they meet, always lending helping hands, ever kind enough to think of others before themselves.

First was Francois Duvant, who founded a dynasty of chivalry the world could never have anticipated. One of his squires was Beorn Collenferth, who squired Phelan Cathaoir-Mor, who squired Merwyyd of Effington, my household father, and Manfred von Rothenburg, who squired William Fitzhugh de Cambria, who will be the next (sixth) king of Gleann Abhann. But Francois's more famous squire was John the Bearkiller, who won Crown List on five separate occasions, and has taught and led men in combat for more than thirty years, and whose name is now recognized literally around the entire world. One of his squires was Lee Fribrand who has now become a legend, whose style is now the most copied style of fighting in the SCA, and whose name is now whispered with reverance as a man whose chivalry and kindness was, and still is, without equal. One of Lee's squires was Michael of the Mace, who has squired Caedmon of Jorvik and Katil, the lady who first got me into the SCA. Another of Lee's squires was mighty Luther von Ziemer, whose glaive is feared more than any other's in the kingdom, and who is the older brother to another of John the Bearkiller's squires, Uther von Ziemer, first knight of Gleann Abhann, and it's fifth king. I have already spoken of what I think of Uther, and I will not repeat the entire diatribe here; only that he is still everything I long to be in a knight, and the best fighter I have ever seen. To be his squire would be the pinnacle of honors, the highest I have ever received...but I think it is not to be. That also, is covered in an earlier post. Another of John's squires was Padruig dubh Cloghad, third king of Gleann Abhann, as well as Rey Ribeaument, Thomas of Aylesbury, and Andras Salamandra, who squired Lawrence of Ashana, who squired Gareth le Bruin, who famously gave up the white belt of knighthood.

There are others known around the SCA. Sir Trudy, the first female knight, and Sir Paul Bellatrix, who has sons and even grandsons by blood who have become dukes (someone who has won Crown List twice or more) were both at Gulf Wars, and Sir Trudy even wore my sword during Great Court. There are many other dynasties, too, such as that of Kane Redfeather, who squired many, such as Rashid ibn Hilal (who squired Sa'ad ibn Yusuf al Hilal and Dagan al Rashid ibn Hilal) Tar Radu, first king of Gleann Abhann, Loric Silvestris, Brian Mac Brand, and Stephan Wolfe, who squired Caillin Macleod, Elazar of Northumbria, Eric of Chester (who squired Uric Blackoak) and Aengus Mac Owein (who squired Seth of Newcastle).

These are but only a few of the men and women whose ranks I long to be counted among. They ARE chivalry. They are my dream.

They are soldiers.
They are heroes.

They are knights.

The Fun Shenanigan Flop

Well, it was meant to be more than it turned out to be, but it was still good! I had the costume, complete with cereal box, Josh turned up to film it, and there were maybe seven or eight other people there to chase me, including Billy, Mike, Emily Thrash, with her boyfriend Greg, a girl named Mellie, and a Theater major named William.

We all gathered at the breezeway between the Music and Theater Buildings and prepped everyone, saying the idea was to CHASE me, not CATCH me. The original intention was to run all the way down to Walker Avenue, but we barely ended up getting past the library! I'll be posting the whole thing on YouTube on Friday.

In retrospect, I think I can see what we needed to improve on. For one thing, I should have gotten permission for this much sooner so that I could start spreading the publicity for it much sooner, and thus have drawn a larger crowd. Secondly, I think I'll have someone I know make the costume for me, rather than dropping $60 for a costume I used once and must now return. Other than that, I think the only things are to get in better shape and actually scream "They're after me Lucky Charms!" as I'm running by the camera, instead of too early for the camera to hear.

Here's to next year! See you all then!

Disappointment, Lessons, and the Future

Wow, so much to blog about!

Hi, guys! I'm back! Gulf Wars was, as always, amazing! You pull onto site and you're back in time 800 years!

After I trolled in and said hello to friends I had not seen in a while, I checked in with entourage to let them know I was on site, then went to find a place to camp. I am NEVER coming to War without pre-registering again! The only open camping was all the way at the end of the world, on a slope. Not a bad one, but enough. After that, I parked my car and began to wander, looking for more friends, most of which I found.

This rest of War is one big blur. I was told early on that I had qualified for the Grand Exhibition Tournament, and that made my blood race, let me tell you! The contest was the day after I got there (arrived Wednesday evening) so the next morning, I bit the bullet and dropped $75 for new arrows. The ones I had were good, but they were ash, and I've been wanting something faster, for the sake of accuracy. Then I went to start practicing, after I had taken care of my throne duties.
The bridge battle that day ran way overtime, but that was to be expected. The contest was after it. I was one out of eleven who were competing with handbows (and I'm pretty sure mine was the only longbow, but I can't exactly remember) and there were two crossbow shooters. There were three others shooters from Gleann Abhann, two of whom I knew I could beat. Before the contest started, Her Majesty called us four over and gave us each a token for us to bear in the contest. I also had my lady's favor.
Right away, we could all tell that the one everyone else would have to beat was the man from Trimaris. I held my own, but I was so excited that my heart was pounding, and my head just wasn't in the game. I should have done much better than I did.
After the initial rounds, the scores were tallied, and the top three archers had a shootoff. Another GA archer and I tied for third, there was another GA archer in second, and the Trimarian was first. The shootoff followed as thus: The four of us went to the line to shoot the targets man by man. The first one to reach 24 points won the Tournament. Since the Trimarian had the most points, he got the first shot, then Daffyd, then Egill, then me. After we had all shot 5 arrows, we tallied the scores...and I was in the lead. I had 16 points, the Trimarian had 14, Daffyd had 12, and Egill had 10.
I could win this tournament with my next shot! All I had to do was nail the bull's eye, worth 8 points. The ring outside that was worth 4, and anything outside that was worth 2.
We went back to the line. The Trimarian shot and scored 2. That put him at 16. Now the pressure was REALLY on. If I didn't hit the bull's eye, then he got another shot, and if it hit the bull's eye, he would win. Then Daffyd shot. Then Egill...then me.

I was cocky. I didn't know it, and didn't think I was. Mentally, I was trying to stay humble...but actually, what I did was think that all I had to do was pull the string back, point it at the target, let it go, and the arrow would somehow magically find the bull's eye. I let my concentration go, and it cost me. The arrow landed in the 4 ring. That put me at 20.
But then the Trimarian scored a 4! That put him at 20, which meant I got another shot, too! NOW all I had to do was make it inside the 4 ring! Even easier, right?!
But again, my overconfidence was my undoing. As the arrow popped the target, it practically sounded my death knell. It was a 2. I had 22 points. Which meant the Trimarian got a third shot.

Well, it was too much to hope that he would miss a third time, and he didn't. He scored another 4, which put him at 24. The winning score. Even though we all knew it, Daffyd, Egill and I took our shots anyway. At the final count, the numbers said I had tied the leader, but the rules of the shoot said that whoever got to 24 FIRST won the contest, and since he had shot first, he had done that.

It still hurts. I don't mind losing, as long as I know that those who beat me are my superiors, and yes, this Trimarian was very much the winner of the day. But if I had truly done my best...if I had actually concentrated, and held onto that string another instant, a mere breath of extra thought...the day would have been mine. Of course, everyone who heard about it and knew me gave me their congratulations at coming in second, having bested every other archer in Gleann Abhann, and I am proud of that, at least. This tournament taught me a few things. 1). Never EVER assume that you've got the contest "sewn up" and won. Always concentrate, aim, and shoot to win. 2). I now know for a fact that my skill can match and even sometimes surpass the finest archers not just in the kingdom, but in the Knowne World. Not bad, eh?

Mike, Liza and Billy showed up later that night. I helped them get settled, then we all went to go wandering, mostly ending up going through Merchant's Row, and then the dance revels. There's a revel every night, and I try to dance with as many different people as I can. This year, not only did I find a surplus of partners, but I also made new friends and proved to be rather popular, if I do say so myself! They ended up asking me more often than I asked them!

After that day, War was a mix of moving thrones, wandering, watching battles, eating, playing cards, or dancing. Saturday, it was announced that Drogo of Axbridge was being put on vigil to become a knight. He was at my first event, 7 years and 2 months ago, so I hung around in line for a few hours to give him my congratulations. While I waited, I had a long conversation with a Laurel...about becoming an apprentice.

A Laurel is for arts and sciences what a Knight is for combat, and a Pelican is for service. They are equals, and being asked to be an apprentice is like becoming a squire. We had a long talk about our mutual interests, what we had to learn from each other, and expectations of each other. It was a good talk, and I look forward to whatever lies ahead with my peer.

My friends and I loved the War. On Sunday, as everyone was packing up, they got to meet Uther and Kenna on a very personal level, and I'm very glad they did. Mike, Liza, and Billy are hooked.

Today's the ST. Patty's Day Chase! I'll post about that later. It's so good to be home!

Best Wishes!

Well, I didn't think I'd get the opportunity for a last blog before I leave for GW, but I do! Yay, blogging!

Nothing much has been going on, really. I made the flyers and picked up the costume for my St. Patty's Day shenanigan. I wish I had practiced more for the tournament, but now I'm scared I might not be able to be involved. I keep thinking I may have missed the cutoff date for some sort of registration I didn't know about, or something.

It's going to be busy, once I get there. Check in with entourage, sign up for shifts, set up the tent and garb up. The next day will be entourage and the tournament, and then Billy, Mike and Liza will get there, so that will be interesting. On Friday, Caitlin gets there!

It's been quite a while since I saw her. She lives in Louisiana, and school has kept her away from the SCA recently, but she's been getting back into it, and I look forward to seeing her again. Another one of my little sisters I love so much.

I've never felt this kind of...pressure in the SCA before. There's the tournament, entourage, and being in charge of three newbies that gives me quite the feelings of responsibility. I think it's a good thing. If I can handle it right, it will show me how much I've grown up...and I want to find that out.

C you guys Sunday evening! God bless! Love you all!