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.
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Good chat!
Date: 2008-04-29 12:02 am (UTC)Great idea! In Borealis - since the weather is quite twitchy - we always prepare for the option of fighting indoors. Even in June. Cause fighting in the rain sucks.
>I think it was perceived as not needed, as fighting at Silver Arrow has always (with the exception of one year out of 26, and I'm told it was considered a mistake because it really curtailed the fighting) been outdoors. Same for Beltaine, but I will take note of this and post a note about it in my reminders.
Well the trouble with relying on "always" is it presumes people know that too. Also with the suprise snow last week everyone I talked to had presumed - wrongly - that we'd fight indoors. Ragnar brought his kids thinking everything but the archery would be inside and was not prepared for them to be outside with him - bad planning on his part? sure but it precluded him fighting if it was outside.
>But if it came across as entitlement, that's a communication issue, regardless of whether it was intended as such.
Agreed. And while it is not a right I'd invoke, it is not beyond the rights of the Coronet to presume entitlement. If you buy into the Royals word is law concept that is. Just playing devils' advocate here.
>Should the autocrats have to provide what the fighter deems a legitimate explanation if they deny this request?
I think it never is wasted energy to take the time to be polite and clear. Regardless of who asks and what their station is.
I also think that clarity is so important - if fighting will be outside regardless of the weather - say so. If there is a particular format to the tourney that may not be everyone's cup of tea - say so. The better informed people are the better able they are to decide if they wish to attend and then there are no surprises. I am a huge fan of complete and detailed event info. It never hurts and only helps. Few folks like surprises.
Re: Good chat!
Date: 2008-04-29 05:52 am (UTC)Yeah? As a relative newbie, still, this is the sort of thing I'm unclear on. How far does the Royals word go? This is presumably laid out somewhere, and I'll have to look into it when I'm not ridiculously busy. *g* I think this touches on another point, too - we live in and are used to a roughly democratic society. It's hard not to chafe at things like Royal entitlement, even if it is part of what we're playing. So if that card is played (by anyone at any time, not just this whole incident) without utmost caution, then it can make for very sticky situations.
"I also think that clarity is so important - if fighting will be outside regardless of the weather - say so. If there is a particular format to the tourney that may not be everyone's cup of tea - say so."
Fair enough. The trick here is the same as working tech support, I think. When you're immersed in something, it's hard to distance yourself to know what you have to point out to others. Things seem obvious to you that aren't to others, but you can't just state every single tiny little thing. It's an interesting balance...