Quad War '07
Aug. 7th, 2007 11:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jamesqWouldn't it be great, if the band just never ended
We could stay out late and we would never hear last call
We wouldn't need to worry about approval or permission,
we could - slip off the edge and never worry about the fall
- Consequence Free by Great Big Sea
Yeah, I've quoted that song before, but it suits the whole weekend so well I had to do it again. I also memorized it in case I got trapped in a bardic circle.
Got to the site on Friday afternoon and set up as part of the Montengarde encampment. It was stupidly windy so we managed to only get the main tent put up. The rain cover/fly had to wait until the gale ended because it was like wrestling a parachute.
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conejita_diabla (who drove kalchak and vilashna up) joined me in the setting up (and settling into) of my tent. Have I mentioned that I love my tent? It's sturdy enough to stand up to a Saskatchewan wind and tall enough for me to comfortably change my clothes in. Now that I've set it up at multiple events it's getting easier. I should get more tent pegs though.
I took a class in Lechery (in SCA-speak that's flirting with a possibility of caressing) taught bybradwardyn. conejita_diabla and stephtopia joined me. Or rather, I joined stephtopia as she's the one who told me about the class. It was fun, and I got to make with the ha ha during the class without making an ass out of myself. Always a good start. The rules seem simple enough: Be charming or smutty as appropriate. No means No and so does Maybe. Communicate, let your limits be known.
I can't be Cool-Cool, but I can be Goofy-Cool if I work at it and sometimes that's all that's required. I'm also thinking about changing my rules about the dreaded cloven fruit. Time (and my self-confidence) will tell.
I learned how to play Tablero on Friday night. Thanks to ET for teaching me. I'm definitely think this whole alcohol thing isn't just some silly fad. I really wish I was in a better mental state earlier in my life so that I could have tried drinking earlier. However, as with my weight-loss journey, I did start it as soon as I was mentally capable of doing it right.
speed_ball_boy and I got our picture taken by a photographer working for the Lloydminister Meridian booster while competing against one another during the championship archery shoot. I don't know if it will actually get published or not. speed_ball_boy did knock me out of the tournament. If anyone was going to do it, I'd rather it be a talented and chivalrous archer like him. Later I did the populous shoot and managed to not do nearly as well as I hoped (only nine points out of a possible 24). I really should have found more time to practice that day. Oh well, I'll do better next time. It is annoying that I'm not going to be able to shoot this week (I'm busy with the Baronial Garage Sale all week) because I really want to get back up on that horse.
I've never actually watched an SCA war before (I always manage to show up just as it's ending). This year I made a point of getting there on time. For the audience, the war seems to be more exciting in the beginning stages, when both sides are still trying to stick to their plans. Later stages tend to dissolve into islands of skirmishing surrounded by a sea of dead heavies.
At one point during the fighting, I went to get my umbrella and ran into the media. Unlike the earlier newspaper photographer this was a reporter for the local Lloydminister TV station. I offered to show him the war because I was headed that way and wars make good TV. He got to catch the second castle siege and then interviewed two of the fighters that I picked out.vikvikingsson and ES. Vik because he has an awesome set of armour and knows how to work a crowd, ES because I know he's articulate and a bit of a renaissance man in the SCA. They were reluctant due to the sweatiness that heavy fighting in 30+ degree, but still stepped up. Thanks lads. They also staged a three-on-three battle for him nice and close up.
Later, the reporter met with Aelfheim (sp?) the owner of the property, who took over escorting him.
Saturday evening was an impromptu court by TE Beothuk and Wilma (who's quickly learning how to work a crowd herself). The issue was a wager and its consequences. Grievances were aired, responses were heard and a temporary accommodation was reached. It was great theater. I've got a sweet tooth for stuff like that.
Saturday night was the Grotto party. What happens in the Grotto stays in the Grotto.
It was as awesome as an awesome sundae made out of awesome flavoured ice cream, sprinkled with awesome nuts and served on a solid gold bowl engraved with the word "awesome".
Sometime Sunday morning, after waking with a slight hangover I made one of the classic blunders (not the land war in Europe one or the wagering with a Sicilian one) I bragged about something that was not resolved. Namely I bragged that I hadn't gotten stung by one of the ubiquitous hornets. One of the little fuckers got me on the palm of my right hand. Hurt like a son of a bitch too. Thankfully I metabolize toxins very quickly, so the swelling was gone in an hour and the soreness was gone the next day. Honestly, the mosquito bite I got watching the war lasted longer.
Of course I have no reason to complain about my lot in life compared to some. ES took a pike to the neck which dropped him, screaming, to the ground. A general "hold" was called while the Chiurgeon (that's SCA-speak for medic) was called.
Being a neck injury they didn't let him move, remove armour or anything. They did get him onto a back board and took him to meet the ambulance halfway to Lloydminister. Along the way he got stung by a hornet too, adding insult to injury. I think it was at that point that I thought "It's going to be all right" for the completely irrational idea that karma wouldn't break his neck and sting him too. Irrational or not it was correct. ES came back to the event later sporting a neck brace and a case of whiplash. He should have a full recovery. He's already talking about turning the neck brace into a gorget.
Sunday was somewhat quieter then Saturday night. By this time about 1/3 of the populous had gone home (Not everyone had Monday off). There was a (second) wedding though, officiated by my friend MC. I don't know DM (the groom) or GN (the bride), though they are very prominent in Borealis (Edmonton's SCA group). it was full of the over-the-top pomp and ceremony that the SCA excels in. It was also exactly the right duration - long enough to be good theatre, short enough to keep from being dull. It also had a full compliment of piratey daughters of DM, which makes all things better.
Rather then carousing in Grotto Party II, we elected to stay close to our own camp chatting and generally just enjoying the company of friends both new and old. This allowed me to get the most sleep I had of any night during the event: Six whole hours (as opposed to three hours Friday night and four hours Saturday night).
Monday was spent packing. After our own camp was collapsed, we went to help ES take down his own camp. We'd pretty much decided that he wasn't doing any heavy lifting with his injury. He didn't like this very much, but he did grit his teeth and let us do it. it's the typical male response to injury, you're a little embarrassed and you don't won't to show vulnerability so you try to man-up and show that the injury doesn't effect you. ES was in that frame of mind, but he wisely paid it no heed.
We said our goodbyes and hit the road. Three vehicles (myself, the aforementionedkalchak and vilashna in conejita_diabla's vehicle, and AB and M in AB's vehicle) heading to Wainwright for a sit-down restaurant meal in a place with flush-toilets and soap. We ended up at a diner called the Royal Inn, which was about as far from "royal" as you could get. The food was decent, though not spectacular. It had the advantage of being cheap. As Allison put it, it was Boston Pizza quality without having to pay Boston Pizza prices.
We convoyed to Irma, where we gassed up the vehicles. At this point we had no reason to stick together so Devil Bunny went at Warp 9, AB drove at a more sedate Mach 3 and I trailed them as a total doddering-old-man speed of 125 kph. I reached Cowtown five hours later (conversely, AB reached Cowtown in three minutes and Allison arrived four days before she actually left).
Many thanks toconejita_diabla for hanging out with me, Your company made the difference between a good event and a great one.
We could stay out late and we would never hear last call
We wouldn't need to worry about approval or permission,
we could - slip off the edge and never worry about the fall
- Consequence Free by Great Big Sea
Yeah, I've quoted that song before, but it suits the whole weekend so well I had to do it again. I also memorized it in case I got trapped in a bardic circle.
Got to the site on Friday afternoon and set up as part of the Montengarde encampment. It was stupidly windy so we managed to only get the main tent put up. The rain cover/fly had to wait until the gale ended because it was like wrestling a parachute.
conejita_diabla (who drove kalchak and vilashna up) joined me in the setting up (and settling into) of my tent. Have I mentioned that I love my tent? It's sturdy enough to stand up to a Saskatchewan wind and tall enough for me to comfortably change my clothes in. Now that I've set it up at multiple events it's getting easier. I should get more tent pegs though.I took a class in Lechery (in SCA-speak that's flirting with a possibility of caressing) taught by
bradwardyn. conejita_diabla and stephtopia joined me. Or rather, I joined stephtopia as she's the one who told me about the class. It was fun, and I got to make with the ha ha during the class without making an ass out of myself. Always a good start. The rules seem simple enough: Be charming or smutty as appropriate. No means No and so does Maybe. Communicate, let your limits be known.I can't be Cool-Cool, but I can be Goofy-Cool if I work at it and sometimes that's all that's required. I'm also thinking about changing my rules about the dreaded cloven fruit. Time (and my self-confidence) will tell.
I learned how to play Tablero on Friday night. Thanks to ET for teaching me. I'm definitely think this whole alcohol thing isn't just some silly fad. I really wish I was in a better mental state earlier in my life so that I could have tried drinking earlier. However, as with my weight-loss journey, I did start it as soon as I was mentally capable of doing it right.
speed_ball_boy and I got our picture taken by a photographer working for the Lloydminister Meridian booster while competing against one another during the championship archery shoot. I don't know if it will actually get published or not. speed_ball_boy did knock me out of the tournament. If anyone was going to do it, I'd rather it be a talented and chivalrous archer like him. Later I did the populous shoot and managed to not do nearly as well as I hoped (only nine points out of a possible 24). I really should have found more time to practice that day. Oh well, I'll do better next time. It is annoying that I'm not going to be able to shoot this week (I'm busy with the Baronial Garage Sale all week) because I really want to get back up on that horse.I've never actually watched an SCA war before (I always manage to show up just as it's ending). This year I made a point of getting there on time. For the audience, the war seems to be more exciting in the beginning stages, when both sides are still trying to stick to their plans. Later stages tend to dissolve into islands of skirmishing surrounded by a sea of dead heavies.
At one point during the fighting, I went to get my umbrella and ran into the media. Unlike the earlier newspaper photographer this was a reporter for the local Lloydminister TV station. I offered to show him the war because I was headed that way and wars make good TV. He got to catch the second castle siege and then interviewed two of the fighters that I picked out.
vikvikingsson and ES. Vik because he has an awesome set of armour and knows how to work a crowd, ES because I know he's articulate and a bit of a renaissance man in the SCA. They were reluctant due to the sweatiness that heavy fighting in 30+ degree, but still stepped up. Thanks lads. They also staged a three-on-three battle for him nice and close up.Later, the reporter met with Aelfheim (sp?) the owner of the property, who took over escorting him.
Saturday evening was an impromptu court by TE Beothuk and Wilma (who's quickly learning how to work a crowd herself). The issue was a wager and its consequences. Grievances were aired, responses were heard and a temporary accommodation was reached. It was great theater. I've got a sweet tooth for stuff like that.
Saturday night was the Grotto party. What happens in the Grotto stays in the Grotto.
It was as awesome as an awesome sundae made out of awesome flavoured ice cream, sprinkled with awesome nuts and served on a solid gold bowl engraved with the word "awesome".
Sometime Sunday morning, after waking with a slight hangover I made one of the classic blunders (not the land war in Europe one or the wagering with a Sicilian one) I bragged about something that was not resolved. Namely I bragged that I hadn't gotten stung by one of the ubiquitous hornets. One of the little fuckers got me on the palm of my right hand. Hurt like a son of a bitch too. Thankfully I metabolize toxins very quickly, so the swelling was gone in an hour and the soreness was gone the next day. Honestly, the mosquito bite I got watching the war lasted longer.
Of course I have no reason to complain about my lot in life compared to some. ES took a pike to the neck which dropped him, screaming, to the ground. A general "hold" was called while the Chiurgeon (that's SCA-speak for medic) was called.
Being a neck injury they didn't let him move, remove armour or anything. They did get him onto a back board and took him to meet the ambulance halfway to Lloydminister. Along the way he got stung by a hornet too, adding insult to injury. I think it was at that point that I thought "It's going to be all right" for the completely irrational idea that karma wouldn't break his neck and sting him too. Irrational or not it was correct. ES came back to the event later sporting a neck brace and a case of whiplash. He should have a full recovery. He's already talking about turning the neck brace into a gorget.
Sunday was somewhat quieter then Saturday night. By this time about 1/3 of the populous had gone home (Not everyone had Monday off). There was a (second) wedding though, officiated by my friend MC. I don't know DM (the groom) or GN (the bride), though they are very prominent in Borealis (Edmonton's SCA group). it was full of the over-the-top pomp and ceremony that the SCA excels in. It was also exactly the right duration - long enough to be good theatre, short enough to keep from being dull. It also had a full compliment of piratey daughters of DM, which makes all things better.
Rather then carousing in Grotto Party II, we elected to stay close to our own camp chatting and generally just enjoying the company of friends both new and old. This allowed me to get the most sleep I had of any night during the event: Six whole hours (as opposed to three hours Friday night and four hours Saturday night).
Monday was spent packing. After our own camp was collapsed, we went to help ES take down his own camp. We'd pretty much decided that he wasn't doing any heavy lifting with his injury. He didn't like this very much, but he did grit his teeth and let us do it. it's the typical male response to injury, you're a little embarrassed and you don't won't to show vulnerability so you try to man-up and show that the injury doesn't effect you. ES was in that frame of mind, but he wisely paid it no heed.
We said our goodbyes and hit the road. Three vehicles (myself, the aforementioned
kalchak and vilashna in conejita_diabla's vehicle, and AB and M in AB's vehicle) heading to Wainwright for a sit-down restaurant meal in a place with flush-toilets and soap. We ended up at a diner called the Royal Inn, which was about as far from "royal" as you could get. The food was decent, though not spectacular. It had the advantage of being cheap. As Allison put it, it was Boston Pizza quality without having to pay Boston Pizza prices.We convoyed to Irma, where we gassed up the vehicles. At this point we had no reason to stick together so Devil Bunny went at Warp 9, AB drove at a more sedate Mach 3 and I trailed them as a total doddering-old-man speed of 125 kph. I reached Cowtown five hours later (conversely, AB reached Cowtown in three minutes and Allison arrived four days before she actually left).
Many thanks to
conejita_diabla for hanging out with me, Your company made the difference between a good event and a great one.
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no subject
Date: 2007-08-07 08:39 pm (UTC)No need to thank me for my company. It wasn't a favour...more like a win-win situation. Thank you, however, for all your assistance in helping me with armour, making sure I ate/drank, etc... Like I said, bet last year you didn't think you'd be taking care of a heavy this year, eh?
no subject
Date: 2007-08-07 11:22 pm (UTC)I always pictured "helping a heavy" to be like a prison protection relationship. As long as I remained... ahem...forthcoming, I'd avoid rattan beatings. The actuality of it was much more pleasant.
no subject
Date: 2007-08-07 11:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-08-07 11:03 pm (UTC)Lechery? What a fantastic subject for a course :-)
no subject
Date: 2007-08-07 11:27 pm (UTC)