The Armour Archive

went to Melee Madness in the Barony of Endless hills. The Warlord Tourney was a blast. Five man Melee tourney was also fun. None of this Compared to the Deed afterwards.

The ladies led by Her Excellency Caryl chose the combatants, the weapons forms and the blow count. Whim and fancy took over as we were paired for "color coordination", Size to one another, biggest to smallest. etc. This made for some wonderful combat.

I'm sure I am missing some names/Titles but as I recall them.

His Excellency Yngvarr the Dismal.
Sir Murdock Baine
Sir Magnus Tindal
THL Havoc the Wild
Lord Magnus Jaeger (no idea of his titles so I'm playing it conservative)
Lord Frederick (Sp) Yngvarr's Squire
Gabriel (Magnus' Squire)
Baron Ulrich
Andreas Jaeger
Bob the Herald
Primo
Myself..

Fighting Murdock across the Barriers with short spears to five blows. GRUELING. Murdock Took the win 5-4.. God it was fun

Against Sir Magnus with the polehammers... WOW just fugging WOW. Across the barrier and no barrier.. Got my butt handed to me there..

Havoc and I- Brutal as only friends can do to one another. Yeah Havoc got me.

Then as I was about to retire the field, His excellency Requested one last bout. Judicial Combat, With me.. This was my introduction to such a format.
We squared off per form with short spears. Many a thrust and lunges were exchanged between us. Fast, hard and unrelenting did we strive to overcome one another.
Tossing his spear his excellency drew his broadsword and did seek to end it. Only by chance was I able to get inside his charge and as he came back to smite me draw sword.
Again, a serious of blows were exchanged, neither giving nor taking quarter, Yngvarr then tossed his sword for his dagger ever pressing me backwards. Thinking to match his weapons I also went for my dagger when he did beg me not to draw but continue with my sword. This I did..
Then taking my sword in a half-sword grip we continued against one another. Luck was with me as I was able eventually gain a thrust to his excellency's armpit ending the bout...
This is where I saw God.. NO fighting from knees, no acted out blows. Just two men striving with each other with heart and no small lack of friendship and respect..

Just wanted to thank Yngvarr and his lovely wife Caryl for hosting this deed. And for introducing me to a level of fighting I had previously not engaged in...

Ohh and the most amazing bout I watched was Magnus Jaeger and Gabriel fighting foot planted to the barrier with short spear. It was an amazing dance Macabre. And I when I say dance I mean just that, These guys moved and flowed against one another making it look graceful and brutal at the same time....

Step further into the light.

Vitus von Atzinger wrote:Step further into the light.

Step.. Nay good Sir.. I intend to run. There was just wayyy too much fun had.

My plans now include building a barrier, matched spears, a set of broadswords, daggers and polehammers. These are the simple affairs I can set to immediately..

From there will be a gallery for ladies comfort and what ammenities I can create, buy or acquire to add to the endeavor...

Single sword, with one hand
on the barrier is my idea of heaven.

-Graedwyn

That judicary combat sounds really fun. Thanks for posting your experiences.

Leopold der Wolf wrote:That judicary combat sounds really fun. Thanks for posting your experiences.

It was my first time at this. All I can say is every now and again you find something that hits like a truck and says "Buddy, this is it.." This was one of those moments. Between this and the Combat of the Thirty, I've found something to really and truly invigorate my love of this game.

I only wish I would have gotten the opportunity to play with the spears, but alas it was not the gallery's whim. Daggers with one foot planted at the barrier was interesting. Again it was an awesome time all around.

Havoc

Leopold der Wolf wrote:That judicary combat sounds really fun. Thanks for posting your experiences.

Can someone explain those rules to me?

Graedwyn wrote:Single sword, with one hand
on the barrier is my idea of heaven.

-Graedwyn

Agree with Graedwyn. If I do these type of tourneys, which I dont do as much, now that I dont do 14th cent anymore. This was my favorite.

Urdok wrote: Can someone explain those rules to me?

You start armed with the following and use them in this order.

6' spear
broadsword
Dagger

You have only four vulnerable points. Armpit, Elbows, groin and back of the knee. The object is to thrust one of those targets.
Combat starts with the spear. Then at any point you may drop the spear and change to broadsword. Note there is no hold for the change you just do it. From the sword you may go the dagger.
Shots to the head and body do not count as the armor standard in this is assumed to be plate.

Se let me ask you this. I was speaking with someone from out of kingdom who is more familiar with these kinds of fights and they said that while body and head is not a killing blow it's still a legal target. And, as such, they purposefully target body shots to screw up the opponent's fight (not even attempting to thrust, mind you) to stun or disorient.

Is that typical in fights like this? I will admit I have only seen videos of them and even then not often.

Cisco wrote:Se let me ask you this. I was speaking with someone from out of kingdom who is more familiar with these kinds of fights and they said that while body and head is not a killing blow it's still a legal target. And, as such, they purposefully target body shots to screw up the opponent's fight (not even attempting to thrust, mind you) to stun or disorient.

Is that typical in fights like this? I will admit I have only seen videos of them and even then not often.

Well I'm far from an expert since I only did this once. It makes absolute sense to do this. Working your opponent to gain an opening would be sound strategy. I know I did a hell of a lot of blocking of head and body shots.
While I think about it, It compares to the rules for Combat of the Thirty regarding killing blows.

I got some time with the spears and barrier.

There are some pics here

http://www.faerhaga.org/media/Melee_Mad ... index.html

I think I also had one with the spears and a foot on the barrier, along with daggers foot placed.

It was a good day all around and I particularly enjoyed the deed of arms.

Magnus_Jager wrote:It was a good day all around and I particularly enjoyed the deed of arms.

Yep, was a pleasure fighting along side you in the 5 man as well.

This is where I saw God.. NO fighting from knees, no acted out blows. Just two men striving with each other with heart and no small lack of friendship and respect..

Preach it brother!

HauoctheWild wrote:I only wish I would have gotten the opportunity to play with the spears, but alas it was not the gallery's whim. Daggers with one foot planted at the barrier was interesting. Again it was an awesome time all around.

Havoc

Hmmmmm This has me thinking ya know. Demos could be a wonderful place to try this.. The arts Festival is 10 months away. Long enough for me to get matched weapons built and perhaps a good start on a gallery.

Think we could pull it off??

Definitely. I'm looking through my supplies for a spare aluminum hilt and pommel to make a viking-esque dagger, but the spear would be easy enough to make. It would certainly add flare to the demo.

Havoc

I am sooooo dead. Just ordered..

A second talhoffer polehammer head
Pair of windrose 9.5" hilts
Pair of windrose sword pommels

Gonna order rattan later today..

Parts for the barrier are being bought this weekend as well...

last year for our shire championship I did a Pas complete wiht new oak barrier matched single hand maces, matched great swords and matched pole axes it was one of the best llocal tourneys ever
however i must admit my faovorite is mace to submission on the barrier

Well I just ordered four staves of rattan.. To make matched weapons. Got two of them shaved and sanded so I can stain the short spears and prolly gonna put in line thrusting kits to them.

Now my debate is whether to buy 2 windrose rondell kits or simply make the rondell's myself and hopefully thwart the red headed wrath of my lady.

Just uploaded to youtube. Not my finest moment but damn was the most fun I've had in a long time..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGUHrQX3N3Y