Fun in a Castle battle

Asbjorn Johansen · Post by **Asbjorn Johansen** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 6:58 pm

Is anyone bringing a portable barrier to Pennsic?

Whyâ€¦

Wouldnâ€™t it be great to do something they actually did in period, break the boredom of a siege by challenging the opposition to fight at the fences? We have Sir John Assueton from the chronicles of Froisart, http://www.nipissingu.ca/department/history/muhlberger/froissart/assueton.htm who wouldnâ€™t want to be accounted with this noble Scottsman.

I would love to see a bunch of us playing at the barrier during the castle battle, as the monotony of the siege goes on. But, this will require some pre planning and arrangements with the Marshallate and the kings. I am willing to do this, but I need someone to contribute a barrier, which I do not have the time to build.

Anyone interested in doing this? Anyone have a barrier to contribute.

I'd also like any other references folks have to playing at the fences during a siege.

Asbjorn

Jonathon More · Post by **Jonathon More** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 7:19 pm

I've got one, 8 feet wide, self supporting. I could be convinced to bring it along. Anyone interested?

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Johnathon
pax, pax, est non mi pax

Dagisd · Post by **Dagisd** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 9:09 pm

Pardon my ignorance, but would you mean this to be a fortification for the defenders? If so, that sounds like a great idea! I'll volunteer to help in the set-up or construction of a new one.
I may be able to get a line on cheap materials too, should anyone really want to build one there.

Have tools, will travel... Will Work for Battle

Dagisd

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"One does not know, truly, what it is to stand, until one has fallen.
Once one has fallen, then one knows, you see, what it is to stand."
-Lange

Rev. George · Post by **Rev. George** » Mon Apr 01, 2002 9:49 pm

well the general idea is that during prolonged seiges, it occasionalluy happened that the knights &company inside, and out were bored. to pass the time, they would erect a barrier at one of the gates, open the gate and have single combat. the idea for the barrier was that it would prevent the visitor knights from storming the gate.

-+G

Asbjorn Johansen · Post by **Asbjorn Johansen** » Tue Apr 02, 2002 10:52 am

Exactly George,

A couple of us tried to do it at Estrella last year, but the marshal's wouldn't allow it. When the idea hit me, a guy next to me offered to run back to camp and get one he had with him, but it was a no go.

I figure with several monthes notice it shouldn't be a problem. Plus the castle battle is a non war point battle, so no one should complain to much.

In order for this to work, I'd need a couple of volunteers from the Mid side (or the allies if they decide to make it a friendship battle) to work with me.

Asbjorn

freiman the minstrel · Thu Apr 04, 2002 11:44 am

I agree. With several months notice it should not be any problem.

the deadline for reserving the castle/battlefield at pennsic this year is May 7

f

Steinn · Post by **Steinn** » Mon Apr 08, 2002 3:48 pm

Of course, there are those defenders who get really bored and jump *out* of a perfectly good castle.

This past Pennsic, about 8 members of my household were getting antsy about sitting inside the castle. They weren't allowed to use a sally port, because once any of them opened, it stayed open for the rest of the battle. Okay, strike one. Was there any rule about jumping out of the castle?

Nope.

The question was asked of all of the marshals that could be found, and they were in agreement; it was legal to climb into the castle, so it may as well be legal to climb out. So one of them supported himself against the wall and acted as a step for everyone else that wanted some action. A marshal was specifically assigned to make sure that they all went over the wall and that none of them simply went around it. They camped out around a corner and had spearmen calling down to let them know when there'd be a worthwhile number of fighters to expose themselves for. Apparently, the looks on the faces of the spearment they charged were priceless.

Historically accurate? I don't know, but it certainly kept the other side on their toes after that.

Steinn Karlsson

who really *really* wishes he hadn't wimped out that day

Asbjorn Johansen · Post by **Asbjorn Johansen** » Mon Apr 08, 2002 5:23 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Steinn:
They weren't allowed to use a sally port, because once any of them opened, it stayed open for the rest of the battle. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is such a poor rule (edited my original wording). Its one of the few ways you could keep the battle moving other than the time limit.

Asbjorn

freiman the minstrel · Mon Apr 15, 2002 1:41 pm

the deadline for reserving the battle field at pennsic XXXI is now 22 days away.

Hushgirl · Post by **Hushgirl** » Mon Apr 15, 2002 7:51 pm

Fun? Fun? Who told you you could have fun?!?

freiman the minstrel · Sat Apr 20, 2002 4:36 pm

The deadline for reserving the battlefield at Pennsic is now 17 days away.

I know that the fighters would show up for another seige if somebody would organize it.

freiman the minstrel · Wed May 01, 2002 3:25 am

the deadline for reserving the battlefield at Pennsic is now 7 days away.

Richard Blackmoore · Post by **Richard Blackmoore** » Wed May 01, 2002 9:51 am

During the old interminable boring meat grinder bridge battles at Pennsic (bake in the heat and stand in front of Calontir forever wondering when it will end, please God someone let us charge or just kill me) I finally lost it one year and started inviting people from the other side to singles combat (not in front of Calontir, you get speared that way by someone who did not hear you call for singles).

This was a lot of fun and we even started doing it during some of the non-bridge scenarios where static lines were drawn up but no one was engaging. Of course, this did not always meet with the approval of the current monarchs/field generals/etc. who would remind us this was about winning (it is a war you know, chivalry and fun be damned, grrrrr...). So one year I snapped. If other people were going to be silly and stupid but encouraged to do so as long as it met with the "war" mentality, so be it. My squire and I marched out to the bridge battle as "beach patrol Orientalis" and put lounge chairs at the "shore" before the battle started. We sat there sunning ourselves with silly hats and drinks, admiring the fine weather as everyone else stood in long lines baking in the heat. At one point the King came by and asked what we were doing. "Shore Guard, you never know when someone might try to ford the river!" back then there was a rumour you could try to cross on your knees if you were a knight, I don't think anyone ever actually tried it for obvious reasons. The king (I think it was Hanse) shook his head, then smiled and walked away, I guess he was too amused to be annoyed with me.

The marshals came over from the other side (some amused, some very annoyed) to ask what the hell we were doing, our chairs were a safety issue and after all, this is a "war", not a vacation. I pointed out it was period. After they complained lounge chairs were not period, I pointed out that we had covered them with our large heraldic banners and they only knew that they were lounge chairs because somebody told them. I also pointed out we left the pink Flamingo's in camp so as not to offend Bedford inadvertantly. At that point the battle started and they told us we had to get out of the chairs and put our helms on or be declared dead. I pointed out no one was coming to this side for at least an hour or two, so we refused to get out of our chairs, we just put on our helmets, moved the seatbacks to the upright position so that we "could not be thought to be dead" (one of the marshal's chief concerns) and whipped out the flexible straws for our drinks so we could comfortably view the battle without overheating. This led to certain marshal's getting indignant while others laughed their asses off at their companion's discomfort and angst.

I think our umbrellas were taken by the marshals at that point (no sense of humor). At one point we did make the mistake of getting up and the chairs were removed by the marshals for safety reasons. An hour or so later somebody did finally break through one of the bridges, but I still fail to see the serious safety risk.

Good luck with the portable barrier, I like the idea.

Wulfgar Ullicsson · Post by **Wulfgar Ullicsson** » Thu May 02, 2002 8:20 am

Hey, at Quad War the castle has a gate that has to actually be knocked down/open before any gate battles commence. It's little thing, but it adds to the fun.

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"Wulfgar spake, the Wendles' chieftain,
whose might of mind to many was known..."

Wulfgar Ullicsson inn Gerpir

Derian le Breton · Post by **Derian le Breton** » Thu May 02, 2002 9:52 am

They do that at Blackstone raids too, you have to physically break the board that is barring the door shut. It's neat.

-Donasian.