Share your Pennsic Stories

[Thaddeus]

It is very likely.

I think I had only recently read the anvil and started in on Charney. I was new to the idea and I think not as refined in my language as I might have been. Also I expect that time and practice with the high speach has given my memory of the words a patina they did not have. I certainly do not begrudge Sir Nigel his words or deeds, he was most gentlemanly throughout. I think it was my demand of him and how I addressed it. I regretted those words later and wished I had asked something more specific and germain to the discussion at hand, ie prowess and celebration of the prieux homme.

I did learn greatly from the brief exchange, and have used the story to express to others like my friend Eadric that there is more to be experienced on the battlefield than the simple winning and losing of a fight.

[Aaron]

No stuff, I was ALMOST there...

The Lolach (Australians) Kingdom had a "mooning" constest from one to four AM on Friday morning. Really.

And apparently this was taken the the extreme sport end because a young lady tried to advance in the standings by removing the clothing that makes mooning so difficult.

I was in the tent nextdoor and just heard a wild party. The next day they explained about the mooning constest.

Now, will that be a war point for next year? Will it be judged, or will we let the "mooned man declare his opponent the victor"?

[Aaron]

Aaron,
I do not smirk and I am not cute. That was a devious grin and I am damn hilarious.
Sorry, I thought you were single, and I was sending you a beautiful warrior woman. That is a great thing about the SCA. No pick up lines are required. You can just pretend you have already gotten through the intros...

Jess

You certainly are cute...and very evasive about your profession. I will have to assume that you are the real-life influence for the TV series "Alias". Don't worry, I've got clearance to...opps, put that out over the net...

By the way, what notice did I give that I was single? I'm the guy who is always talking about his wife, kids, morality and the Church.

I accept the compliment (and the charming conversation with the young lady who is old enough to be my daughter), but how did you reach that conclusion?

[Kilkenny]

My favorite tourney: the Calontir greatsword tourney.

The tourney was hosted by the very gracious King of Calontir, and was won by an Australian knight named Sir Brucie. The tourney prize was a beautiful sword, which Sir Brucie donated back to Calontir to be an annual prize, saying that he didn't know if he could get it into his country.

(Now if only we could have a greatsword tourney in Meridies.)

Was this Sir Brucie a very large man? If he is the Sir Brucie I am thinking of, I have seen him win a tourney with florentine greatswords. He is a great guy.

Eric

It was Sir Brucie from Lochac, and he is quite a big fellow.

Gavin

[BdeB]

In the woods, while I and some companions are guarding a banner:

Felix, King of the Middle: "Bryce, single combat single combat!

Bryce, smart-assed knight: "I'll agree to single combat if you agree to my terms, Your Majesty!"

Felix: "...Alright...."

Bryce: "My terms are this, if I best you I take your Crown and your Kingdom and I give them to my King. King Michael would expect nothing less of me!"

Felix: "Ok! No single combat! No single combat!"



My apoligies if I got the story wrong, Your Majesty....I did enjoy the exchange immensely.

[Dragan McGroyne]

The Combat of the Thirty was the single most inspiring event I witnessed this year at War. I've been doing more research and been looking at more upgrades to my kit due to it than any single event previously.

Another inspiring occasion was watching a fellow fighter, George, loan part of his harness to a new fighter so the new fighter could fight in the field battles.... George had to sit out for these fights. My armor was not large enough...

A humorous overheard remark as a gentle was pulling onto the battlefield Friday night August 4th:
Cooper's Staff: Are you pitching a tent?
Gentle: Hmm...no sir. But I am really happy to see you!

Dragan
If you must play, decide upon three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time.
~Chinese Proverb

[BdeB]

We had a new fighter, just authorized before Pennsic have his helmet stolen from the field at the Novice Tourney. He looked down to where he left his stuff and there was another helm there in it's place. A battered helm with no current sticker and both colors of tape on it. It didn't fix his head of course. He tried several helms that didn't fit (thanks to all the folks that offered!) and eventually I heard about this and offered him my venerable bascibute (which I had brought at the last minute in case there was a problem with my current helm). He got to fight, and I hope had his faith in the SCA restored.

[dak]

Thaddeus wrote-
"...he asked what ransom I would have of him and I answered that I would have his worth as a knight of the middle kingdom, it was with regret that I had to kill him since he declared he could not pay."



sounds to me like he's just one wickedly arrogant fighter!

"My worth as a knight of the Middle Kingdom? My prowess, my valour, all these are beyond price. Push your dagger home boy, for mere coin is nothing compared to me!"



At least, that's how I'd interpret it - and laugh my ass off.



dak.

[Maeryk]

We had a new fighter, just authorized before Pennsic have his helmet stolen from the field at the Novice Tourney. He looked down to where he left his stuff and there was another helm there in it's place.

If his original helmet shows up, I SERIOUSLY hope whoever has it has A) a damn good explanation, or B) gets taken to the woods and has the snot kicked out of him repeatedly.

That just ticks me off more than anything else.

(well, that and people stealing from merchants.)

[Stonekeep]

This year during Pennsic, while striper fishing at Lake Texoma, I pulled in over 15 huge stripers in less than an hour....



Sorry, couldn't resist... Enjoyed the stories though..lol

[Felix]

In the woods, while I and some companions are guarding a banner:

Felix, King of the Middle: "Bryce, single combat single combat!

Bryce, smart-assed knight: "I'll agree to single combat if you agree to my terms, Your Majesty!"

Felix: "...Alright...."

Bryce: "My terms are this, if I best you I take your Crown and your Kingdom and I give them to my King. King Michael would expect nothing less of me!"

Felix: "Ok! No single combat! No single combat!"



My apoligies if I got the story wrong, Your Majesty....I did enjoy the exchange immensely.

You have the right of it goodly Sir! I wanted very much to accept your terms and was going to counter with you and your household shall be loyal servants unto the Crown of The Middle until the end of your days. However I know that fate is a fickle thing and I could see myself showing back up at camp and hearing the Queen say, "you lost what throwing dice?" So discretion won the day for while I am a man of courage some fights with your wife should not be fought. One might say the peril was to perilous. Its a good story....I hope you are well noble Sir.

[Felix]

We had a new fighter, just authorized before Pennsic have his helmet stolen from the field at the Novice Tourney. He looked down to where he left his stuff and there was another helm there in it's place. A battered helm with no current sticker and both colors of tape on it. It didn't fix his head of course. He tried several helms that didn't fit (thanks to all the folks that offered!) and eventually I heard about this and offered him my venerable bascibute (which I had brought at the last minute in case there was a problem with my current helm). He got to fight, and I hope had his faith in the SCA restored.

Let me know the size of his head I may have one to give him. What style was his old helm?

[BdeB]

I'm sorry Your Grace, I just saw these replies. I believe the young man has gotten another helmet but I will check around this weekend.

Regards,
byram

[rhys]

I miss Pennsic

But on the other hand, we went to Lochac for Rowanny Festival and we had a blast. so All I would have are Rowanny stories.

[rob(in)]

fighting:

-being on the Unbelted team that still holds the fastest win record, 38 sec. from first contact; and being given a collective Dragon's Tooth by the King of the Mid.

-record of 2-0-1 in the Queen's Champions Tourneys. the tie was Duke Dag and i. i thought he won the first one, but we had a refight and i won.

other:

-spending my first Pennsic with my girlfriend of three months. married and going on 15 years now.

-seeing the Bardicci Palazzo each year. still can't believe the work that goes into it for approximately three days of full splendor.

[SuGyong]

Things I learned at Pennsic:

2. Jess has a sense of humor. She sent a lovely young lady over to me to say "Hi, don't you remember me?" and given the hords of people I've met on the net but not face to face, and the hords I had met at Pennsic...I sort of muddled on through with non-committial but polite statements until she said, "You really don't know me, I was over here for the shade tent. SHE (pointing to a smirking Jess) told me to do this." It was cute.

*blush... that was me.....thanks for the compliment*

(The look on your face... priceless! AmEx all the way!)

[SuGyong]

This year's cool Pennsic memory:

Picking up 4 guys at the Slave Auction while escorting a Pennsic virgin... selling them to the Blue Feathers.

[rob(in)]

This year's cool Pennsic memory:

Picking up 4 guys at the Slave Auction while escorting a Pennsic virgin... selling them to the Blue Feathers.

now think about how much typing it would involve to explain what you just said to people who've never been to Pennsic....

[LordLokeildson]

At my first pennsic I was on the the shield wall for the field battles. The spears were picking away at each other and i suddenly noticed a huge red samurai (sp?). Man i wanted to kill that guy, so i slowly started shimmying down my line to get in front of him for a shot. A couple of charges, and some close calls i finally had it all lined up. Waited for the next pulse charge to be called, and came running in. As i was about to start swinging the sword for a nice lil wrap shot, he brought up his spear, stepped forward, and planted it on my chest, launching me backwards into my own line. Thanks Nissan, had alot of fun explaining that bruise to some people who didnt see what happened...

[Aaron]

*blush... that was me.....thanks for the compliment*

(The look on your face... priceless! AmEx all the way!)

Thank you young lady! What is AmEx?

And once again, I'm thankful for my faithfulness to my wife..."sold to the Bluefeathers..." yuk!

[Torum]

my god i cant narrow it down... this was my first pennsic, its a long way from lochac (australia)

- Tuchux Tourney, the most fun you can have with your pants on, with a 5 wins 3 loss record i am damn proud!
(as a side note there was a knight there who had a norman outfit leather brig style, awesome fights with him, i was wearing black and yellow with pembrige helmet!)

- the woods battle, awesome ... just awesome... except i kept getting legged, but then i just kept advancing on my knees and the oposing shield wall seemed a bit weirded out by that

- VLADS, i had a friggin ball there !! i was part of the aussie 6-pack .... damn good fun!!!!

- The people, everyone i met was awesome! particularly the canadians (house rosaki) and the guys from Vlads!!


Torum The Hasty

[Henry of Bexley]

Two for me

First, in the woods. I get legged just as the shield wall I'm in moves forward... well, this is no fun! So I decide to so something about it.

I waddle up to the line (there really isn't a better way to put it) and tap a polearm dude on my left to get his attention. The exchange went something like this:

"I'm gonna go in there and die... if they focus on me, hit 'em"
"Um... okay?"

So I go into no man's land, fully expecting to die the minute I get in range.

And I end up legging at least three of their guys and tying up a lot of people in the process... I may have even killed a few, I'm not sure, but I never expected to actually make it...

And number two:

When I heard Weds was a no point battle, I figured it would be a good chance to catch up on the pick up fighting I had been neglecting... so I only brought my buckler. Then everybody lined up to fight and I had nobody to play with... so, you know, why not?

We're standing there, waiting to be sent into the meat grinder that is the castle gate, and the dude next to me drops from an arrow. OH.... we're in range... so I hold up my buckler. Lotta good that'll do, right?

I eventually ease up... and DING!

It hit my buckler. WHOA.

Yeah, that's all I got.

[SuGyong]

Thank you young lady! What is AmEx?

And once again, I'm thankful for my faithfulness to my wife..."sold to the Bluefeathers..." yuk!

LOL! You know.. (announcer voice on)

"Armor $1500.. Entrance Fee $135.. Gas $80... the look on a guys face who thinks he should remember you... PRICELESS. American Express.. don't leave home without it."

giggle

SuGyong
(Also happily married- two babies)

[Nissan Maxima]

Torum, That knight was Graedwyne (sp) of Aethelmark. A good man.

[Saint-Sever]

This was some friends' Best Pennsic Story from some years ago, back in the Days of Pennsic Vampires:

There was a camp full of vampires next door. This annoyed the folks I knew, who considered SCA vampires to be a general blot on the planet. After eyeing the Re-Enacting Undead askance for a week, during a particularly alcoholic night, they went in front of the two camps, in the sort of no-man's land in between the camps, and did a sort of crime-scene set up as though a vampire slaying had taken place. They took some charcoal starter (or similar), and burned a vampire/human silhouette into the grass, put stakes and ropes out where the hands feet would have been, as though said vampire/human had been staked out at time of death, and then (piece d'resistance) drove a wooden stake into the ground roughly where the "chest" had been burned into the ground.

There was a lot of giggling from my friends during the next day, as vampires from various groups came over to solemnly survey the scene.

That night, about a bazillion vampires showed up at the site, and conducted a very dramatic, elaborate ceremony to restore their fallen neck-biter to his undead condition.

My friends' response?

"Damn, don't you just love Pennsic?

M.

[Maeryk]

There was a camp full of vampires next door. This annoyed the folks I knew, who considered SCA vampires to be a general blot on the planet. After eyeing the Re-Enacting Undead askance for a week, during a particularly alcoholic night, they went in front of the two camps, in the sort of no-man's land in between the camps, and did a sort of crime-scene set up as though a vampire slaying had taken place. They took some charcoal starter (or similar), and burned a vampire/human silhouette into the grass, put stakes and ropes out where the hands feet would have been, as though said vampire/human had been staked out at time of death, and then (piece d'resistance) drove a wooden stake into the ground roughly where the "chest" had been burned into the ground.

Okay.. either two very similar things happened to two entirely different groups, or your friend is in Confed.

If your friend is in Confed, there is a lot more to the story, which I can fill you in on.. but if not.. then it is just a remarkably similar event.

[Saint-Sever]

There was a camp full of vampires next door. This annoyed the folks I knew, who considered SCA vampires to be a general blot on the planet. After eyeing the Re-Enacting Undead askance for a week, during a particularly alcoholic night, they went in front of the two camps, in the sort of no-man's land in between the camps, and did a sort of crime-scene set up as though a vampire slaying had taken place. They took some charcoal starter (or similar), and burned a vampire/human silhouette into the grass, put stakes and ropes out where the hands feet would have been, as though said vampire/human had been staked out at time of death, and then (piece d'resistance) drove a wooden stake into the ground roughly where the "chest" had been burned into the ground.

Okay.. either two very similar things happened to two entirely different groups, or your friend is in Confed.

If your friend is in Confed, there is a lot more to the story, which I can fill you in on.. but if not.. then it is just a remarkably similar event.

Westies, who probably know someone who was involved. When I heard this, post-Pennsic, I almost ruptured myself laughing. You tell me there's more??!!

Maeryk!! Tell!! Tell!!

Michael

[Louis de Leon]

And once again, I'm thankful for my faithfulness to my wife..."sold to the Bluefeathers..." yuk!

Reminds me of a good Pennsic story.

Maybe a half a dozen years ago or so, we were up late and partying in my camp. We were open, so people were wandering in and drinking with us. A lot. And we were gifted with a newbie! That'll happen from time to time. He was a really cool guy and obviously having a lot of fun. And we judged that he had the right personality to graciously accept a prank - and so a prank sort of spontaneously "happened". You know how it is.

We told him that a Blue Feather meant that you were new, and if you wore one, that would insure that strangers were extra nice to you.

So, one of the guys we were camping with was bi, and had a hat with a huge blue feather in it. We gave it to him, and wished him Good Travels.

We found him a few hours later laughing like a loon while being bent over a picnic table and getting spanked by some huge dude with the flat of a scimitar. Still wearing the hat.

[Baron Alejandro]

*note - never get drunk around Louis.

[Maeryk]

Westies, who probably know someone who was involved. When I heard this, post-Pennsic, I almost ruptured myself laughing. You tell me there's more??!!

Maeryk!! Tell!! Tell!!

Okay.. this was the year that the Vampires were _REALLY_ out of hand.. to the point that the booklet for either that year or the one after.. (not sure which) had a "This is NOT A LARP! this is NOT A RAINBOW GATHERING" article inside the front cover.

Anyway.. We were camped over on the spit of land between Clovenshield's access road and Tuchux Hill (the "old" Tuchux hill so this was before they moved). I had previously been active in Confed, and had many friends there. (INcluding, but not limited to, Vermin). Anyway.. my Goth gear and my SCA gear were typically interchangeable at that point (not so much that I was doign high victorian SCA, as much as I tended to do generic-swashbuckler goth). So I happened to have my fangs with me at Pennsic, as they all lived in the same trunk.

Vlad's was getting REALLY outta hand with the whole Vampire thing, so Vermin, Thorvald, I think Talun, and a couple of other people cooked up a plan. A CUNNING plan. A DEVIOUS plan. Frankly.. a drunken plan.

I put on my best dark outfit.. black pants, black bag shirt, black boots, and my fangs.. a girl I knew did the same.. (she had her fangs there too.. or had had them made there, when Strangeblade was still allowed to sell).

So.. the plan was hatched. Thorvald made up a leather baldric full of stakes, and became an alter persona, of Vampire Slayer. Vermin carved stakes. (Mine, which I still have, has a cross on one side, and a star of david on the other.. "just in case").

We waited till the biggest party Vlad was having, and "mingled" in the crowd outside the gates, assuming our positions.

Vermin waited for a quiet moment, gave the high sign, and began screaming VAMPIRE! (or, more accurately, Wamphyre!") in his most screechy and shrill voice (which is pretty freakin screechy and shrill when he wants it to be). The lady and I looked both ways and did a bugout RUN away from the shrieking person, only to have large stalwart Germans with stakes and hammers materializing out of the crowd. We were "thrown" to the ground, and staked on the spot.. with much screaming and writhing, and then picked up and physically spirited off by the attackers, and hustled up to Confed camp.

That night, there materialized, outside the camp, the outlines of two burned "staked out" humans which became quite visible after sunup.

Kindred showed up, with a procession and a casket, did some solemn crap, shoveled the ashes into the casket, had a virgin or two bleed into it, closed the lid, chanted, and VOILA! Two (one male one female, but not us.. we couldn't work out the timing) vampires sprang from the coffin and giggled off into the night, and Kindred processed back to their camp.

It was a hoot, a lot of fun, no one got particularly offended that I know of.. but the stories afterwards (second hand) were the best.. "Did you know two of the vampire people were ACTUALLY MURDERED at Pennsic? Thats why there are so few vampires here now!" (wide eyed crazed belief).
Really?

Now.. I'm not saying that is the same incident.. and Vermin can probably fill in any details I might have missed.. but it sounds pretty close..

[Louis de Leon]

*note - never get drunk around Louis.

Well, to be fair, the prank wasn't my idea. But I didn't stop it either. And I hang out with a different crew these days anyways.

[Louis de Leon]

We were "thrown" to the ground, and staked on the spot.. with much screaming and writhing, and then picked up and physically spirited off by the attackers, and hustled up to Confed camp.

That was you??? I have a new respect (added to the old one, of course) for you Maeryk. DAMN but that's funny. I was at the war where that happened and nearly split a gut laughing! Bravo, sir. Bravo.

[Maeryk]

That was you??? I have a new respect (added to the old one, of course) for you Maeryk. DAMN but that's funny. I was at the war where that happened and nearly split a gut laughing! Bravo, sir. Bravo.

Yup, I was Vampire,Male, Lady Asa DeTanet was Vampire,Female, and other co-conspirators were Vermin, T'Gellen Der Auslander, Nanzydon, Thorvaldr, possibly Talun (I'm pretty sure) and maybe one or two other people who I am forgetting..

It's amazing what you will do after the open-camp scotch party at Confed.

[freiman the minstrel]

I was about to retire one night a couple of years ago to the sound of masculine giggling outside my tent, which is never a good sign.

I quickly threw a tunic on and stuck my head out of the tent, and there was Logan Fox (one of my housebrothers) and an anonymous member of a well known tribe of barbarians. They were very drunk, and had possession of a six foot, bright yellow, "piratey dressed", papier mache' chicken.

No kidding.

The rest of the night was getting rid of the chicken, and hiding the evidence.

That pretty much saved that Pennsic for me. I hadn't had that much fun in years.

f

[DELETEMYACCOUNT]

Wow Louis, great minds apparently do think alike!
This is long, be patient.

A few years ago I was tattooing in a shop in DC where one day I had to tattoo a person of questionable gender. Beehive wig with a chinstrap, add-a-booty, spandex hooker dress, the works. ID said male.
Anyhow, one of my regular customers was in the shop when this person came in. He just thought it was hilarious that I had to tattoo this person. Wouldnt let up for weeks afterwards. As this was the year he was gonna go to pennsic for the first time I hatched a scheme to get revenge.
Since he was going up for the whole two weeks and I was only going for the second week I told him to wear a big blue feather or two, so my friends would recognize him and treat him well until I got up there. He was very enthusiastic and promised he would do just that.
I get to pennsic and who do I run across the very first day but my friend, sans blue feather, but with a real pissed off look for me. He denies wearing the feather to this day but you and I both know several men at least asked him to dance...