Fun Times Without Adult Supervision
Apr. 28th, 2008 12:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jamesqSilver Arrow - one of Bitter End's events - was this weekend. It was a blast. Most fun I've had at an SCA event in some time. It was not without some typical SCA drama, but sometimes the drama resolves itself into a better event.
As archery was scheduled to start at 1 p.m., I was in a wonderful position to sleep in for a change (usually archery is the first activity, so archers are well used to getting up before the dawn to drive several hours to shoot at targets in remote locations while fueled by noxious caffeinated beverages).![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
conejita_diabla and I left around 10:30 am and made it up to the site around noon.
The hall is a few Km outside Red Deer and it's one of Bitter End's "go to" places for events. It is not without it's own problems, being rural. For example, there was no running water on site until 2 p.m. Saturday. This forced them to rent two biffys.
Red Deer's weather mirrored Calgary's this weekend. Saturday at dawn saw slight subzero temperatures and 10 cm of snow. Then the temperature climbed to about ten, which reduced the snow to mush, then water, then damp ground, then dust.
All of the martial activities (Armoured combat, Rapier combat, Archery) took place outside. The fight erics (sp?) were cleared of snow beforehand.
Here's where the first bit of drama occurred. The Prince was down for the event. Short second-hand version: He told the organizers to move the heavy combat inside (because the weather was a little damp and chilly) and tried to push his weight around to get his way. When they told him "no" he went home along with his friends.
It was a huge snub to the hard-working people of Bitter End and it soon got around to everyone there. I don't think I heard a single person side with the prince. But then, all of his supporters went home early.
And you know what the response to this snub was? I think everyone had a better time. Nobody had to put up with a uniquely unpopular royal. Court was a lot of fun since it's obvious that he hates court and the remaining royals are pretty entertaining.
I didn't pay a lot of attention to the armoured or rapier combat (for now. I'm getting some heavy pressure to put on armour and come out swinging). Archery is my thing, sadly I shot like ass. On the bright side, I remembered the hell I went through last year - I almost had both my feet freeze rock solid from the wet ground and cold temperatures. This event had less snow and higher temperatures so it wasn't as bad as last year. However I still knew that it would be chilly and damp, so on the way out of Calgary, I bought some rubber boots. They're not very period, but sometimes you have to make allowances for comfort and safety.
I'm dead sexy in my kilt and gumboots (but damn I've put on a lot of weight)!
There were 25 archers, making it the biggest of the three activities, but then this is one of Avacal's two big "archery" event (the other is Dragonslayer/Hidden Treasures (and you should all attend,garething is organizing it this year).
I bowed out of shooting after the tournament was over, not because of in-climate weather (it was fucking awesome out) but because my calves and lower back were killing me after standing out on the range for three hours. Lots of others stayed outside for another couple of hours to shoot royal rounds. This also added to the numerous fighters doing practice fights after their own tournaments were finished.
So much for the awful weather - no one was in a hurry to get inside. But then, we're all Canadians in the real world and 10C temperatures after a bitterly cold spring snow storm is seen as a gift from the gods. Take advantage of it while you can.
I convincedmommaquilter to follow me to my hotel and drive me back so that I could do some drinking. We got back just as the feast was starting. Beothuk and Wilma, seeing that they would otherwise be all alone at the head table during the feast, graciously invited all the present Seneschals to join them, along with their escorts. Thus I (Seneschal of Montengarde) and conejita_diabla went up, along with Kintair (S of Borealis) and his lady and Stragen (S of Bitter End) and his lady.
It was the first time i've ever been at head table. Given the unlikeliness of me ever winning a armoured tournament and the long odds for me winning the popularity contest required to be a Baron, I consider it a truly singular event. It was fun being served.
The feast was fantastic. Between it and the Smirnoff Ice (5x) I drank, I think I blew every WW bonus point I had for the week. If I can still lose weight this week, I'll count it was being worth it. Time (and numerous runs) will tell.
After feast was court. As I mentioned before, the only royals in attendance were Beothuk and Wilma. Wilma in particular was in fine form as there was noone there to restrain her, so she was at her mostADHD entertaining. They couldn't give out any official awards (because Bitter End is not Montengarde), but they could officiate over assorted prizes and not-awards, like the tokens that are given to event stewards and such.
They also presented a treaty that was found defining the boundaries between Montengarde and Bitter End that was signed back when rocks were hot and runny by Baron Ross (the first Baron of Montengarde).
After court the socializing began. Also, a bardic circle began (the Bardic-Q! so-named because it was beside a giant barbecue - the County of Red Deer decided that 10 cm of melting snow on the ground made the region a fire hazard, so we couldn't use a fire pit. It was one of the most entertaining bardic circles I've seen in quite awhile.
When there was no singing going on there was gossiping. Seems that a lot of people view the Prince's snub as a near-last straw. I expect the fallout from this event to last a long time. There was open talk of revolt (though, being that we just play-act being a medieval society, rather then being an actual medieval society, I'm not sure how we could actually accomplish that). Couple this to the loss of one shire (with rumours of another soon to follow) we're seeing huge signs of dissatisfaction with the ruling elite.
I'm making it sound like this event was a downer and it really wasn't. Aside from some bitching about the Prince, everyone had a fun time pursuing their pet activities, socializing with old friends, singing, dancing, feasting and generally being happy to escape the modern world for a little while, which really is the point after all.
As archery was scheduled to start at 1 p.m., I was in a wonderful position to sleep in for a change (usually archery is the first activity, so archers are well used to getting up before the dawn to drive several hours to shoot at targets in remote locations while fueled by noxious caffeinated beverages).
conejita_diabla and I left around 10:30 am and made it up to the site around noon.The hall is a few Km outside Red Deer and it's one of Bitter End's "go to" places for events. It is not without it's own problems, being rural. For example, there was no running water on site until 2 p.m. Saturday. This forced them to rent two biffys.
Red Deer's weather mirrored Calgary's this weekend. Saturday at dawn saw slight subzero temperatures and 10 cm of snow. Then the temperature climbed to about ten, which reduced the snow to mush, then water, then damp ground, then dust.
All of the martial activities (Armoured combat, Rapier combat, Archery) took place outside. The fight erics (sp?) were cleared of snow beforehand.
Here's where the first bit of drama occurred. The Prince was down for the event. Short second-hand version: He told the organizers to move the heavy combat inside (because the weather was a little damp and chilly) and tried to push his weight around to get his way. When they told him "no" he went home along with his friends.
It was a huge snub to the hard-working people of Bitter End and it soon got around to everyone there. I don't think I heard a single person side with the prince. But then, all of his supporters went home early.
And you know what the response to this snub was? I think everyone had a better time. Nobody had to put up with a uniquely unpopular royal. Court was a lot of fun since it's obvious that he hates court and the remaining royals are pretty entertaining.
I didn't pay a lot of attention to the armoured or rapier combat (for now. I'm getting some heavy pressure to put on armour and come out swinging). Archery is my thing, sadly I shot like ass. On the bright side, I remembered the hell I went through last year - I almost had both my feet freeze rock solid from the wet ground and cold temperatures. This event had less snow and higher temperatures so it wasn't as bad as last year. However I still knew that it would be chilly and damp, so on the way out of Calgary, I bought some rubber boots. They're not very period, but sometimes you have to make allowances for comfort and safety.
I'm dead sexy in my kilt and gumboots (but damn I've put on a lot of weight)!
There were 25 archers, making it the biggest of the three activities, but then this is one of Avacal's two big "archery" event (the other is Dragonslayer/Hidden Treasures (and you should all attend,
garething is organizing it this year).I bowed out of shooting after the tournament was over, not because of in-climate weather (it was fucking awesome out) but because my calves and lower back were killing me after standing out on the range for three hours. Lots of others stayed outside for another couple of hours to shoot royal rounds. This also added to the numerous fighters doing practice fights after their own tournaments were finished.
So much for the awful weather - no one was in a hurry to get inside. But then, we're all Canadians in the real world and 10C temperatures after a bitterly cold spring snow storm is seen as a gift from the gods. Take advantage of it while you can.
I convinced
mommaquilter to follow me to my hotel and drive me back so that I could do some drinking. We got back just as the feast was starting. Beothuk and Wilma, seeing that they would otherwise be all alone at the head table during the feast, graciously invited all the present Seneschals to join them, along with their escorts. Thus I (Seneschal of Montengarde) and conejita_diabla went up, along with Kintair (S of Borealis) and his lady and Stragen (S of Bitter End) and his lady.It was the first time i've ever been at head table. Given the unlikeliness of me ever winning a armoured tournament and the long odds for me winning the popularity contest required to be a Baron, I consider it a truly singular event. It was fun being served.
The feast was fantastic. Between it and the Smirnoff Ice (5x) I drank, I think I blew every WW bonus point I had for the week. If I can still lose weight this week, I'll count it was being worth it. Time (and numerous runs) will tell.
After feast was court. As I mentioned before, the only royals in attendance were Beothuk and Wilma. Wilma in particular was in fine form as there was noone there to restrain her, so she was at her most
They also presented a treaty that was found defining the boundaries between Montengarde and Bitter End that was signed back when rocks were hot and runny by Baron Ross (the first Baron of Montengarde).
After court the socializing began. Also, a bardic circle began (the Bardic-Q! so-named because it was beside a giant barbecue - the County of Red Deer decided that 10 cm of melting snow on the ground made the region a fire hazard, so we couldn't use a fire pit. It was one of the most entertaining bardic circles I've seen in quite awhile.
When there was no singing going on there was gossiping. Seems that a lot of people view the Prince's snub as a near-last straw. I expect the fallout from this event to last a long time. There was open talk of revolt (though, being that we just play-act being a medieval society, rather then being an actual medieval society, I'm not sure how we could actually accomplish that). Couple this to the loss of one shire (with rumours of another soon to follow) we're seeing huge signs of dissatisfaction with the ruling elite.
I'm making it sound like this event was a downer and it really wasn't. Aside from some bitching about the Prince, everyone had a fun time pursuing their pet activities, socializing with old friends, singing, dancing, feasting and generally being happy to escape the modern world for a little while, which really is the point after all.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-28 11:14 pm (UTC);)
:P
;)
no subject
Date: 2008-04-29 12:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-29 01:38 am (UTC)So I have no opinion on what happened.
I do have an opinion of who was on the throne and is a viking and is not a viking... broad generalizations of the type "When was the last time a Viking didn't hold the throne?" are usually incorrect and sow a lot of discontent and typically solve little.
I also have an opinion on why it takes a long time to see some of the royal pairs in a shire.
I am not condoning the bad behaviour of the royal in question. Nor will I ever... But I also try to stay away from the trap of assuming any incident has any other excuse aside from (many) people having a really bad day.
Bad days are typically more catastrophic the higher your status is in the society.
I have also come to discount the notion that:
"The impression amongst the hoi polloi is that a core group of knights is "protecting" the Coronet from undesirables. If you're not one of the cool kids you simply won't be allowed to win."
But I've got to admit that particular view is very prevalent...
The thing is that there are splits in ideology between the various people who have ruled - real serious ones at times. So the "protecting the Coronet" thing would have long ago fallen with some of those schisms. Basically, it's an untenable conspiracy theory - especially once you've seen 'the zone' some of the fighters can get into during these tourney's. Simply, to fight and to win at the level they are working at discounts cheating.... especially since we have a real good cadre of marshal's in Avacal that have no problems stopping rhino-ing during the competition no matter who it is.
no subject
Date: 2008-04-29 04:09 am (UTC)Your brain is made of awesome.