Share your Pennsic Stories

[Jess]

What inspired you? What made you laugh? Tell your war stories.

Jesmond

[Sixtus_Goetz]

Don't get so drunk you shake the King of Meridies tent at 5:00am to talk to someone who's name you forgot in your drunken stuppor.

Getting looted to the Swedish Landskeckt Girls by the Queen of Glenn Abahn.

The road side front porch red-neck party.

Many many more... but thoes are the one's that spring to mind right now.

Oh.. how could I forget the Battle of 30 and the Tuchux Tourney.. both outstanding!!

The AA gathering was pretty cool despite the weather... Had a blast meeting a good ammount of you.

Cheers

Sixtus

[freiman the minstrel]

In a big (very fun) scrum near a banner (fought the woods 15 times so far, and this is the first battle I have ever seen all three banners) and I tripped over a dead guy. I fell over, and fell onto a dead sappling. Little thing, no more than six inches across, and rotted, very dead. The tree broke off at the base, and fell over onto the enemy line, hitting somebody. Instantly, there were holds shouted and whistles blowing. The marshals first took the tree off the fellow, and then helped him up.

He called it good.

f

[Tristan vom Schwarzwald]

Getting looted to the Swedish Landskeckt Girls by the Queen of Glenn Abahn.


Cheers

Sixtus

Ok. Let me here your version before I ask Her Majesty for her version...

[robyn]

Came into the Highrafters camp and asked them why they are laughing. They said:

"didn't you hear it? Malcom, the King of Aethelmarc, got knocked down by a tree in the battle today....."

Sorry, your Majesty.... he really didn't mean it.....


Robyn

[T. Finkas]

I needed some blue tape for my helmet because I started combat on Thursday and nobody had any. I ran into Malcom, the King of Aethelmarc and he tore some off his own helmet and gave it to me. Cool guy.

[Adriano]

The bad first: my own body let me down. After dying a dozen times in the Town Battle, I was done for the day; started fighting really well, but then hit a wall. Throughout the War, I could only manage a portion of the fighting I wanted to do. Just not enough stamina. I'll keep trying to get in shape.

Good: The big battles are exciting, as always. Met a lot of cool people. Meridies had a very small turnout; I never could find King Godwine in the major battles, even though we were camped thirty feet apart. In the Field Battle I hooked up with Australians from Lochac.

My favorite tourney: the Calontir greatsword tourney. Really thought I was going to win that; using my brand-new six-footer, going on instinct, in a nice, friendly tourney of my favorite weapon. I've never wanted to win a tourney so bad; felt like crying when I got eliminated. Then the man who had taken me out was himself taken out, and I heard him say, "Damn, I wanted it so much!" So I told him I felt the same way, and we shook hands. That was my last fighting at the War, and I feel I ended on a high note.

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.)

[Maeryk]

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

Do what our group did. years ago we created an event focused on more greatweapons, and had a three-man greatweapons tourney.

Throw an event, see if anyone comes! Advertise it as a greatsword tourney, so no-one gets disspointed when they show up with sword and board and cannot fight, or throw a bearpit in for those hardcore thuggers, and have fun!

[Sixtus_Goetz]

Getting looted to the Swedish Landskeckt Girls by the Queen of Glenn Abahn.


Cheers

Sixtus

Ok. Let me here your version before I ask Her Majesty for her version...

I am quite sure her version would be more accurate then mine, as I am still piecing that night together. It all ended with me being back at camp to escort her to coursing as I said I would. So happened, a night of being looted and proper social events don't realy mix very well, so I slept most of the day.

[Tailoress]

My story isn't really funny, but it's kind of cool from the "recreating the gift culture of medieval Europe" PoV.

When I got to the Big P, I bought three rings from Gaukler: One band which says "I love my food" in Latin/French, one cheapie brass ring with red glass in it -- a sort-of stirrup variety, and a really really nice silver one set with two garnets and a ruby. I kept the cheapies for myself but wore the fancy one with the intention of giving it to my apprentice at a small party I was having for her in a few days.

Two days later, I realized the cheapie brass one was gone. Simply gone. Fell off my pinky when I wasn't aware. Much sadness but then it was quickly dismissed, as it had only been $15. Things can be replaced. One ring down, two remaining.

That night I gave the nice ring to my apprentice who liked it but had to exchange it for a similar one, due to sizing issues. She was happy, I was happy, but sad to see another ring off my fingers.

Down to just one, I ran across friends on Thursday evening. As we spoke, one of them asked, "do you like blue, green, or red"? I finally admitted to loving green, and she pulled out a beautiful silver stirrup ring set with a green stone and handed it to me. She didn't know I'd lost one similar to (but oh so less nice than) it. I was touched. Up to two rings now back on my fingers!

As we were packing up our merchanting space on Friday, one of the folks who shared space with us, Tristan, reached down, picked something up, and said, "Oh look at this!" It was my brass cheapie ring. Found again. Back to three rings on my fingers.

One ring lost and then found.
One ring gifted to a friend.
One ring gifted to me from a friend.

I also received a 14thc thimble from a friend and a painted pewter pin of a red rose with the words "pretty bud" in French.

Gift culture rocks the house.

[Winterfell]

One ring lost and then found.
One ring gifted to a friend.
One ring gifted to me from a friend.

In the Land of Pennsic where the good memories are.

[BdeB]

I fought five passes with Sir Emeric Wendel to aid him in his Quest against Breast Cancer. I contributed to (because I was too broke up to fight in the tourney) the Tuchux Tourney as well.

Best things I did all war.

[olaf haraldson]

In the final moments of the woods battle, someone charged our lines and got knocked sideways, coming into the side of my knee. Took me out, and I ended up crashing to the ground in a heap. When I looked up, one of the members of Darkmoon had stepped across the lines, and was stooped over me to keep me from getting hit.

I later went to their camp and found the gentleman, thanked him, and gave him an arm ring I had made. Camraderie like that is what it's about.

[UrsusofAnglesey]

I was only a spectator to this, but it was the most inspiring thing I saw at the war.

In the Earldomere fifteen man melee tourney, a hard fought affair on all sides, Atlantia and the Mid Realm went head to head as two of the favorites. There is a serious rivalry there, and you could tell both teams badly wanted to win.

Unfortunately, during the fight, an Atlantian named Luther was bowled over and stepped on accidentally, resulting in an injury that immoblized him before being taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

(I do not know how badly he was hurt, but I do hope it was not too serious.)

The Atlantians won... barely, and during their recognition as winners, Duke Cuan made a very moving speech about fighting as hard as you can, but remembering we were all friends in the end.

Afterwards, the Atlantians came together to celebrate, although it was a somber gathering, since Luther had not been gone long and was injured (I believe) in the very last melee. His Majesty Michael spoke, and then Duke Cuan, but before they broke up, a Mid Realm fighter approached and asked permission to address the Atlantian team.

I do not remember his name, but I wish I did, because he proceeded to introduce himself, take full responisbility for injuring Luther even though it was done in the heat of the moment and by accident, then apologized to all the Atlantians assembled before making a vow to immediately head to the hospital, sit with Luther and make whatever amends he could. Needless to say, his speech was warmly received, and His Majesty assured him there was nothing to forgive, since we all take our chances on the field.

Too often we speak about chivalry, and we try very hard to practice it, but to see such a selfless and honorable act in person was inspiring.

I say a heartfelt VIVAT! to this unknown Mid realm unbelt. May we all act as he did if we ever find ourselves in similar circumstances.

Ursus

[Felix]

His name is Sgt Killian. He is a fine man of great character and prowess. He spoke to me and offered to do pennance in case anyone thought ill of his King and Kingdom because of his actions. Mark him well for he is a knightly man.

[Thaddeus]

Early in the war I told one of our new fighters Eadric about a small deed of arms I did with Syr Nigel Mcfarlane a few years back. Telling him in great and glowing details how I had met him on the field where he had been knocked down. I had offered him safe passage to his own lines with me as his escort, but he declined saying he loved combat more and would fight for his life. So he armed with his spear and I with my sword and shield joined in combat and I wounded him and declared him my prisoner, 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. In telling this story to Eadric I was describing to him how one can find elevating moments on the field where one is transported to a place of heroic deeds that has only a passing resemblance to the 'football scrum' we tend to see.

This year during the second run of the field battle I and the yeoman Eadric and several others encountered HRM Felix, The fighting was brief and Felix was hard pressed. I had not the wind or the presence of mind at the time to stay the hands of my fellows or to take him hostage. And in faith I must admit it was my hand that did the noble king the sorest of wounds.

Afterwards Eadric came bounding up and said "That was wonderful! Is that what you meant?" To which I could only say Yah sort of - except not so much with the whacking on the head and more with the ransoming bit.

[AJ]

This was my first Pennsic, hell, my first melee really. From the battles on the field I took away a fond memory that sticks out in my mind more then the others from the battles.

During the first field battle, I was with Argentlupe who was allied with Northshield for the battle. During the charge across the field, I fell behind a bit, as I'd never be confused for a overly mobile fellow.

When Northshield was clashing with a unit, I saw another unit curling around the group's left flank to come in from behind. I turned to engage them and went into my defense, I figured at the very least I could offer myself as a speed bump on their way to trying to roll through them.

Two spearmen happily began to play with me in a series of thrusts to which I did my best at defending. When off ahead to my right, I saw a small man(compared to me anyway) charging toward me with a polearm across his body. I figured if I turned to meet him, the spears would pick me off, if I focused on the spears, he could have a clear shot to my right side. So I kept my defense up against the spears. The charge was quite neat to watch, as he comes speeding in, his polearm across his body to check my right side with mighty force...... However, his polearm hit my right side, his body then hit my side, and then he in turn bounced back and fell upon his ass. This of course struck me as quite funny, until I felt the solid thunk upon my head from a good fellow to my left. I acknowledged the blow and declared myself dead while I walked off the field with a smile, having wished to know what the poor polearm fellow thought upon impacting my right side.

[Eric Bjornsson]

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

[Sixtus_Goetz]

Oh yea!!! I forgot... i got to meet Dark Apprentice... Dark Apprentice... Dark Apprentice. Just seein if the wielder of the FLAMING Sword of Chaos made it home safely.

Cheers

Sixtus

[Aaron]

Things I learned at Pennsic:

1. Jess doesn't discuss work while at play.
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.
3. Nissan Maxima throws a great party. The musicians were definately top of the line (and I've been to some of the best) and the belly dancers made me take TWO walks around Pennsic (all the way down to the south end of the bog and up to the very north end of the parking lot) and take TWO very cold showers. It was two weeks (hey, there is a pattern here...) since I'd seen my wife, and it took a bit to get procreative thoughts out of my lower brain. But the music was great. I spent time just standing outside camp listening so I could appreciate it without viewing truly skilled dancing tempatations.
4. The Archive is a fun and funny bunch. It would make for a cute field unit mixed bag.
5. Nissan Maxima chided me for having an outfit that was too loud and too red...go check out his fighting rig and you'll see the humor.
6. Duke Gavin taught me stuff without saying anything at all. There is an old saying in the Church that goes something like, "Spread the Gospel uncessingly, and if absolutely necessary, talk." It was sort of like that. He lead by example and taught me listening skills by just listening.
7. I can keep up with the King of the West on a run while I'm in my full War of the Roses suit, but I'm not worth much once I get there. In the second field battle we were a "fast flanking unit" while I was in 80 pounds of armour with no-traction turnshoes and sabatons. But I was right behind the King of the West as we flanked the East Kingdom Army on their right side. Six fighters were ready to engage us. They ALL decided to engage me, the shiney newbie and let the super skilled Uber-Duke through without a consideration. It was sort-of like a fishing lure...they went for the shiny object. One spear thrust to the gut and I was done.
8. On spear thrusts to the gut...the Warriors of History tournament rocked, and when I challanged all ten or so 14th century guys I got a spear in the gut from Asbajorn. It was just strong enough to notice, sort of like he was telling me, "That was neat, but you're an idiot..."
9. The Bog looks like a nice place to camp, if the weather holds out.
10. 20x20 tents can be rented for ~$350 and you don't have to set up or take down. This will work for us next year when the wife, kids and I are in DC.
11. Two weeks without my wife will end up making me lonely and doing inadvertant double entantre frequently. Next year my better half and I will be on the field together, a unit of two. And we plan to stay together. And I thought of the old saying, "Come back with your shield, or on it," and mentally modified it to put my wife in there and ended up with, "Come back with your wife, or on her."
12. The set-up and take-down of a camp is HUGE, and even though I didn't do fighting on Friday night to Sunday morning, I learned quite a bit. As the "workhorse" of the family, I must assume that I will have to do all the work for this when my little family goes, and we will have to make sure that we keep it very simple.
13. Don't bring beer and plan to run out of food no later than that last Thursday. People were all but throwing food and beer at me while I was doing my two walks around Pennsic that last weekend.
14. There is a lot of children's stuff to do.
15. And dancing. I can litterally take my wife out for dinner and dancing nightly.
16. Showers can be cold, and my wife likes baths. So we'll be looking for a large stainless-steel bucket to have baths in (baby first instead of last) and use the bathwater to douse the fire in the evening. Literally scrub in a tub.
17. U-hauls and whatnot are a great thing and I'll use them.
18. Lawn wagans are another neat thing.
19. The waiting during the war took a little getting used to.
20. The fights were great.
21. The Tuchux charity tournament should be how we should hold crown tournaments...except do them armour as worn. It was fun too.
22. Roybn is a grown woman, just tiny. She can handle herself. I got caught in the cute field for a bit there and ended up trying to help her when she didn't need any help. I will apologize.
23. Roybn is also a little angel. I missed my daughter, and Roybn (being the expert actress she is) gave a little-girl hair toss, gave me a hug and made it better. They're very similiar but Caitlin (5 years old) doesn't smoke or drink. And that was another bit that was odd but comforting. I don't approve of drinking or smoking, but looking at Roybn I had to come to the conclusion that I would love my children anyway, whatever they did...but I would work hard on getting them to see things my way.
24. Tasha was wonderful picking me up at the airport, and yes she is far more beautiful in person. She also helped me pick out a dress for my wife with a low cut front. A gift for my wife AND me so to speak...
25. People like gifts. The fans were a hit as were the coins.
26. The 3-6 AM shift on Pennsic Safety is interesting and fun. Some people act a bit goofy when they're tired and drunk.
27. I didn't see one act of rhinohiding, bad sportsmanship or poor playing. It was all for fun, whereever I went.
28. When I was walking around Pennsic, I saw families huddled around a fire, just watching it. I'd left Nissan's party, possibly the best party I've ever seen in my life, and was pulled to the family camps. It was a great party but it was also like inviting a Fracisican monk to the Playboy Party during the 70's. It was the best I've ever seen, but not what I needed at the time. Those belly dancers were in good form (both physically and as far as coordination), and were overly distracting. It took willpower on the level of fighting Sir Angus for 38 minutes to walk out of the camp and take some time to focus on anything else (and get a cold shower, twice).
29. This will be our vacation next year. The kids can have fun. We can camp in clean air. We can socialize. We can fight. I can take my wife out for dinner and dancing EVERY SINGLE NIGHT and enjoy my little family.
30. Sometimes the laundry just needs to get done.
31. More comforts are better comforts while at Pennsic. We'll bring our beds and some plywood in the U-haul next year.


More later. I'm in the Narita, Tokyo airport waiting for a bus...and I miss my wife and kids.

[Adriano]

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.

Definitely a large man. Seemed like a very nice guy (all the Aussies I met were friendly people).

Forgot to mention something that made me laugh:

In the Town Battle, I was amongst spearmen, and facing opposing spearmen. Specifically, we were facing two spearmen (A and B) wearing matching tabards, who looked like they practiced together a lot. Spearman A receives a spear thrust to the helmet; the thrust slides off, up above his face.

Spearman A wants to indicate that it wasn't good because it was too high -- and instead of just shaking his head, he plants his spear vertically while using his other hand to point to the upper front portion of his helm. He's standing there like the Tin Woodsman, and the spearman on my side simply stabs him in the chest. Spearman B is staring at his buddy, and says "What is wrong with you?"; Spearman B, thus distracted, is then himself stabbed in the chest, and with a disgusted look joins his buddy in heading back to the resurrection point.

[Jess]

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

[Felix]

Here is an amusing little tale. I am running around the woods and people are constantly ratting me out as the King and saying things like watch out for that guy he is the King of the Middle and he will kill you. So I am getting lots of attention and not a ton of fighting as the second I move on line way to many people want to hack me to ribbons. Finally I get to an area when they loose track of me and I walk into a group of about 30 guys. Well I start swinging and then they start falling over and I start walking the line just having a grand old time. Suddenly THWACKA! or BOOMYA! (pick your favorite DA sound effect) whatever, I get blasted, hammer of God on top of my helm, knocked the finnial right off making this cool zinging sound. I turn around at my own line of guys and yell "good!" then I look into the eyes of one of the guys I trained for years and say, what was that about Thorfin! He turns white and says you were killing so many guys I figured we were next. I said what about the big friggin red dragons and all the midrealm heraldy did you not see? He turns even more pale, all the guys in my unit move away from him grinning, glad it was him and not them. I bannish him on the spot to gails of laughter then I unbannish him and told him he had to kill 100 men before Pennsic was over then I walked to res point laughing all the way.

Another story was after the first woods battle I was sitting at res point waiting for the next battle to start chatting with some of the guys. And a man comes up to me and introduces a young fighter and states "this guy is going to be king one day your majesty!" The guy next to me I was talking with says to the young fighter "you better be playing alot of D&D because that is the only place you are going to be king!" Everyone in the general area was shooting water or gatoraid out their noses.

[carlyle]

During the town battle, the West fought at the breaches just below the resurrection point. Though wielding spear, I often found myself in the front ranks of the lower breach. At one point, an opposing knight had placed himself at a disadvantage and, intent on demonstrating the error of his ways, I thrust with vigor at his midsection. Imagine my surprise when my thrust came up short. The wing of my right elbow cop had caught on my neighbor's coat-armor! I made the mistake of looking down to clear myself from his harness, and was rewarded with a well-placed thrust to the head.

Upon retreating from the press, I was approached by Sir Stephen of Edremont. It seems that it was his coat that caught my elbow (surely it could not have been the other way 'round). He explained that, startled by the sudden pull, he, too, looked down to assess the situation -- and was promptly gigged for the moment of inattention.

For such an innoccuous piece of armor, this seemingly harmless elbow cop was the death of not one, but two knights that day. I suspect that the lesson learned is to respect your armor for, if ignored, it will surely be your demise...

... that, and don't look down while still in range of your opponents' spears!

With chagrine... AoC

[Rauf_le_Brewere]

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.

That was definantly Sir Brusi. He was the third ever knight made in Lochac and is thought to be the best Greatsword fighter in Lochac.

I too enjoyed the Greatsword tournament - even though the way the list was run confused me to no end.

Of the wars - i enjoyed the woods battle most. The second battle we just kept on tying up forces near one of the Easts flags enough as not to be able to move their forces away. At the end we got to the flag - just not in control of it

[Malcolm_Mor]

NSTIW...

Castle Battle. We make it up the bridge and hug the wall, moving to the gate. I have my shield over my head, and as tall as I am, It is effective cover for most of my unit/household. One lady x-bowman leans out too far and gets gigged by one of our spears - a funny thing itself. Anyway.

Up at the gate, we get there just as the gate opens.I'm fixing to look around the orner, and Sir Caeveron O'Dell comes up and says "See what's in there, Malcolm."

Now, I'm thinking three possibilities. 1) Big ol' Ballista that is really going to hurt. (2) Archers. Billions and billions of archers. or (3) a Shieldwall.

Shieldwall it was.

So I'm getting set to call a charge, and Sir C says "You need to charge that." Now, I'm sitting here going "Wait a minute. Look around the corner. Charge the shieldwall. All the dirty work, and HE has the white belt. This *is* just like the middle ages!"

But, hey, I'm a loyal servant of the crown, and to be perfectly honest, I wasn't even about to let the king himself get first crack at the shieldwall without a direct order and a lot of whining anyway, so that quickly passes out of my head. So I call for my warband, call the charge, and break around the corner while letting loose with a Celtic Wookie battle cry.

Now, for those who don't know me, I'm 7' tall, and weigh in at about 315# before I even armor up. The helm and horsehair crast are an added effect, calculated to make me look taller and wilder. I've already mentioned the whole "Celt" thing. Yeah, I admit it. I choose the look calculating it to be intimidating. I love the results I get sometimes.

And I am not disappointed. Honest to God, sometimes I am almost ashamed of the way I enjoy the reaction of people as they watch an armored tree charge them. Almost, being the operative word. Eyes bug out, "Excrement" is shouted in no less than two colloquialisms, as well as "Oh, Fornication!" Three people drop behind their shields. There is a feeble spear thrust, batted aside. My sword darts out. One little, two little, three litt...

I hit the shield wall, and the force of my charge catapults me end over end. In midair I am pummeled, and land, quite dead, on two people. Laughing my fool head off.

Gods and Little Fishies, but I *LOVE* my job!

[Dalewyn]

The Tuchux tourney was lots of fun. I was surprised to get out of that tourney uninjured, I must admit...Two of my wins stand out as especially cool:

First, against Nissan Maxima (the archiver) we get into a bit of a grappling match for a weapon, and he decided to pummel me with his fists, elbows, etc. to convince me to let go. I respond in kind, and perhaps add in a head butt for good measure. His helm pops open and I win the bout!

Second, against the (Duke or Count) that was leading in our pool, I drew a polearm and he drew an axe. I started with a high fake to the head, and swung to his leg. He stepped in and took the haft to his thigh, and held onto the haft of my polearm. Deciding that wrestling with him for the polearm while he swung at me with the axe was a bad idea (he was about 8" and maybe 75 lbs bigger than me), I dropped the polearm, stepped back and put up my gauntlets. He dropped the polearm and closed with his axe. I stepped in and blocked the haft with my forarm and tried a disarm, but didn't quite get it. I turned it into a hip throw, and while he was down, I retrieved my glaive and beat him until he submitted.

[freiman the minstrel]

There was a battlefield knighting by the breaches/gates during a hold in the town battle. The good gentle adoubed that day got an unusual brag. His knighting was attended by the court of the west, and at least one of the Tuchux clans.

Kind of an unusual occurance.

f

[Scott]

You are probably thinking about Sir Taloric. He was not actually knighted on the field, but instead offered the accolade that day during the battle. He held his vigil that night and was admitted to the Order of Chivalry the next evening at Western Court.

- Scott

[olivier]

Carlyle's story is awesome and humbling. It is very "death of John Chandos" !

[Blackstone]

For such an innoccuous piece of armor, this seemingly harmless elbow cop was the death of not one, but two knights that day. I suspect that the lesson learned is to respect your armor for, if ignored, it will surely be your demise...

... that, and don't look down while still in range of your opponents' spears!

With chagrine... AoC

Alfred,

I was in that same gate and had the exact same thing happen, though I have no idea who's coat my cop caught on. Thrust, stop, brief moment of looking around, *CRACK* to the helm.

That was such an interesting place to be fighting. All the Estrella Kingdoms together.

-- Charles

[carlyle]

Carlyle's story is awesome and humbling. It is very "death of John Chandos" !

Funny you should say that. I recounted the same story last night at practice, and a friend of mine made the exact same observation. Are you sure you're not a Western duke in disguise ?

That was such an interesting place to be fighting. All the Estrella Kingdoms together.

Indeed -- and don't forget that His Majesty of Drachenwald also attended us with his own sworn kinsmen. For my part, I was greatly pleased that our opponents both gave and took blows with the greatest of grace. A wonderful time well spent by all who had the privelege!

With kindness,

Alfred

[Vitus von Atzinger]

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."

Elaborate, please. I want to make sure that I understand you.
-V

[Thaddeus]

Well it was three years ago and so time has dulled the memory somewhat, but as I recall he said exactly that. I had him at the disadvantage and said will you yield sir? He said what ransom would you have of me? and I replied No less than your worth as a knight. To which he said he could not pay and we must continue on. So we did and I bested him.

Later I thought I should have had him bear a poem in praise of the day and the deed to my lady.

It still stands as a great transporting moment in my mind, the meeting with a gentleman of cote on the field and the doing of a fine deed of arms amongst the chaos of a field battle. I was well pleased.

[Vitus von Atzinger]

I sense something strange in the exchange you describe. I cannot imagine why he would choose to "die" rather than go further into the matter. Is it possible that there was something about your demeanor that may have seemed less than gentlemanly? It seems odd to me.
I have no doubt that your intentions were perfectly genuine and honorable...it is too bad that the details of the exchange are lost to time. I think we could have all learned a great deal about the nuances of handling such a situation.