Sorry if anyone checks this on a regular basis to their disapproval, not too much to say during the winter. I had to make a hard decision that probably won't be going to Estrella this year.. But Estrella will always be there I figure.

I've decided to switch to a center held, gonna be round for now, eventually going with a square I think. And if Darius pulls through tomorrow I should have a waffenrock and a breast plate giving me a good start to my Landsknecht get up. Most of the iron ring guys will be happy to see me go german I think, though Amalric wants me to stay 14th century.

Did I ever mention how happy I am with my knight? I feel like I'm making real progress, and starting to bring my game to where it needs to be to challenge most people out there, and he has so much to do with that. Simple things he says always seem make a big difference, even though I don't think I'm applying them 100% right away, if I focus I'm getting some benefit. It's reassuring to feel that I'm making progress, slowly but surely.


Book of Five Rings (X)
The Art of War (X)
Men of Iron (X)
Sir Nigel (X)
The White Company ( / )  - thats half way :P

So life has been getting in the way of fighting a bit, but I'm still making some time, which is better then most I suppose. I was thinking about it last night, that really isn't a problem for me. I'm glad there are some who go for things half heartedly. It takes some mediocre to make the great truly exceptional.

the more interested I become.

So I got back from my trip to Montana! I fought a few people, and had some fun. Got some helpful advice, and it's helping to open my mind to the fight, and make me more aware of whats happening while I'm fighting. I really feel like I'm starting to develop my own style, and my own moves that work well for me, and are my signature. So thank you my Artemisian brothers and sisters! I can't wait until Thursday to fight again, as I get better, my drive to improve only grows, and it's a great feeling knowing I'm getting better.

Also my minds been opened in more ways then just that, and from an unlikely source. I though the books I was assigned to read was ridiculous, and wondered what I could learn from them, but I judged them much too quickly. My mind is being opened to chivalry as it was (or how we thought it was) and how it is in our game, and has taught me a lot about how I should carry myself on and off the field. It's also brought about a more vitalized love of the middle ages, and of reading, oddly enough. I'm just excited for my future SCA career, and next season I want to make a bang!


Men of Iron (X)
Book of Five Rings (  )
The Art of War (X)
The White Company (  )
Sir Nigel (X)

So last weekend I had the honor of attending Acorn War. I couldn't ask for a much better event. I was there with my parents and got to spent quality time with them, my squire brothers, my house mates, and his dukedom as well. The talk with his grace was truly enlightening as we spoke about chivalry, knighthood, as well as where I envision myself going, and where he envisions me going. I'm not sure yet who has higher aspirations for me haha.

I also had my squiring ceremony. I felt proud. Much more so then I expected, and I think my performance in the war gave me reason to feel proud. I just figured that it was a formality, and I had already felt squire-ly, but not at all. I instantly felt closer to his grace and my squire brothers. I felt powerful just for wearing it. Which I know is silly, but it seemed like a reward for my hard work thus far, and a reminder of the even bigger challenges ahead.

And on another note, I finished the first book of my reading assignment, and actually enjoyed it and learned a lot. Though as I'm finding with this courtliness and chivilary stuff, more questions are always brought about then answers.

Men of Iron (X)
Book of Five Rings (  )
The Art of War (  )
The White Company (  )
Sir Nigel (  )

http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=aLFbFmUK9-w
http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=brhjMDItmbQ
http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=8ZR0cOZ9kDY

A little after the post but never hurts. I really enjoy seeing it, I feel like I look pretty good in it, which makes me feel like I made a good showing. My fight with Cedric went a bit poorer then  I remember it in my head :P. Feed back would be awesome!

And many thanks to the wonderful Dame Elfa for the footage :).

So I put some quotes inside my shield that I found very inspirational.


I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.
-Vince Lombardi



Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.
-David Frost


Vince Lombardi would be the coolest king ever, just throwing that out there, take it or leave it.

 So Brian took me to practice and I had a good time! A lot of people showed up, and I was the first in armor, and one of the last to stop fighting, so I felt good. I got wooped up on a few times by other left handers, I need to work with some more. And then sir Reddick spanked me like a newbie near the end, that was an experience. My thigh is like one giant bruise. Everything that hit it hurts because it just stacks with the last 100000000 hits there. But a pleasent practice, I was pleased.

Oh and I thought of an SCA joke! I promised Elfa I'd think of some.

So this SCAdian family is having a nice dinner. The father and mother chat but the daughter seems to be bothered, as she just remains quiet and eats her dinner without a word. Concerned, they inquire whats wrong.

"Mom, Dad, I have something important to tell you.. but I'm scared"

The parents look at eachother and respond " It's ok Daughter, you can tell us anything"

The daughter takes a deep breath and says " My periods late."

The mom bursts into tears as her husband tries to consule her "it's ok wife, we'll work through this!"

The wife pulls away from him and angrily shouts "How can you say that?! Our daughters a PIRATE!"

It's not perfect, but hey, it's my first attempt.
 

So my first big tournament! Huzzah Horrah! The first night was crappy. I was sick and didn't really know very many people, and felt awkward around camp so I ended up sleeping at like 8:30. Then it was more of the same, except I fought in the squires tournament there, that was a great experience too, tons of fights with lots of people, though I didn't preform at my best because I was sickly. I was squired to Sir Torifeen Torgulson for the day, he seems like an awesome guy. Fighting him, wasn't though. That man hits harder then anyone else I have ever fought. He hit me in my calf on accident and it still hurts, liiikke 4 days later. I was limping the whole weekend. The night was again, kind of awkward and I felt sick and bored so I slept early.

Sunday everything got better though. I fought in Crown for the beautiful Dame Elfkafoo Verch Morgan [likely mispelled]. I was at like the very end of the order of the line for the procession, so I had to stand for like an hour as it happened, that blew, my feet hurt. Maave [also probably mispelled] got mad because we should of gone by Elfa's presedence which would of cut like half the line, which would of been nice, but Oh well. When we got up to the king and queen he laughed and said something like "is he even old enough to fight? someone check ID" and I said "sshhh it's a secret!" and kept walking, and dropped my sword awkwardly. So then they started making challenges, and since like I said I was at the back, by the time I got there Sir Victor was the only knight left, so I challenged him by default.

ROUND 1
Victor stabbed me in the face about 10 seconds into the fight. I felt silly because Elfa was recording it and I got totally man handled.

ROUND 2
My next fight was Sir Gouranen [ Most definately spelled wrong] who killed me at the Chiv tournament at autumn war. He scared me because before the fight he took a moment to concentrate and like focus himself, and then he had this angry face on. So we started at eachother, and I ended up legging him, and he followed suit real quick like. Then we fought on our knee's for awhile and in the end I was able to get in a good shot. He left the feild quickly and without saying anything so I felt bad, because I thought he was angry. So I chased him down and he told me he wasn't angry at me at all, just upset at his own preformance. Seems to be a common problem.

ROUND 3
I saw the coat of arms on the parring was just 4 squares 2 black and 2 blue, and had no idea what that meant.. But it was right side up so I figured it was a quality fighter. My assumption was proven when Earl Cedric our previous king jumped in the erric. I always thought he didn't like me, ever since I saw Eegils, and then Antir West where the few things he said seemed snippy. Then he warned me of the holes in the ground kindly, which is good because I roll my ankles easily. So they called lay on, and he just stood there, which was different then my last 2 fights, where they came after me, so I just went at him. I legged him pretty quickly, then came up to him sword leg forward, and just as quickly lost my leg, painfully. So we just start throwing, and I keep laying stick on him with my wraps, like a good 3 or 4, but they weren't good appearantly, then he got me with a night offside. After the fight he told me they were all landing on his hip, and that his body armor was just sagging, which did appear to be the case because it was far below his white belt, he appologized profusely, and I was content. Thought later multiple people confided in me they thought my shots were high enough, but I take his word for it, he seemed legitamately appologetic.

Then there was a buy a life tournament that Brian my squire brother bought me into, since I thought $5 a life was a little steep. It was a lot of fighting with people who were at or only slightly above my level, and I ended up taking 2nd out of about 10 people, Squire Duncan was 1st. I was pleased to lose to him, he's an awesome guy. Then we watched the final rounds of crown, and although I was pulling for sir Attius to win, but Vicount Vik ended up the better, but thats ok because from what I hear him and Inga (his lady) are awesome. It was all really inspiring... it's such a vision of true nobility, knights as you imagine them, everything you read in stories.. but it's right there in front of you, nothing like the feeling I had when I was there. Again I felt it when I saw Sir Rodrigo's knighting.

Thats about all that happened there, but it was a good event overall, it got me motivated to break out of my box and meet more people, so I'll be trying to in the future. Oh and someone who has been really growing into a friend of mine that I managed to forget to mention is a little fella named Aethan. I guess you can call him my first stupid squire friend. He's funny sometimes, and a good fight, and a new rival in this climb to the top of the fighting world. He's constantly teaching me new things about the SCA, and introducing me to people, I'm glad I met him, and hope to get to know him better in the future.

This journal is going to be a log of my journey though my time in the SCA, or Society for Creative Anachronism. For those of you who don't know what it is, you can check it out at www.sca.org/sca-intro.html

This first post is jumpy. It's basically just unloading everything I've wanted to say in a journal like this, I've just finally gotten around to making it. I'm not a good writer, and have never been very articulate, so please bear with me.

 I've been involved with the SCA and midevil recreation since I was born due to my parents involvement. I attended events and went through the motions, but never really felt any attachment until I was 16 and started fighting. Even then it was rough, as I had few friends in the fighting community and so many other things at that point. This changed when a friend of mine invited me to play boffer with some people he knew. I hadn't swung a boffer seriously in at least 2 years at this point, but I was intrigued and came, and fell in love. Ok, well thats not true. At first all but a couple of them rubbed me the wrong way. But they grew on me fast, and now I count them amoung my closest friends. These fellows are called the Iron Ring[see side bar A for more info].

[Side bar A]
 A mercenary company full of green fighters/water bearers/bards and most of all good people, the Iron Ring is just one example of the amazingness that is the SCA. I love them dearly{even though I think I said that already) and I know within the next 5 years, their names will be held dear to more then just myself. Though they all have impact my life in different ways, 4 in particular stand out in my mind. Idrus Ap Br I mean Nicolai(sp) has pushed me constantly in the past 2 years. I consider him a great friend, but a greater rival, always bringing me to the next level in anything we compete in. Uliana has gone out of her way to help me more probably more then anyone else in my life. I admire her so deeply, and yet we're so different. It's a wonderful contrast, that I respect and adore. Henrick VonArenburg(sp) your a great guy. I only hope I can become as fine a person as you in the future... maybe with the hair though, that'd be cool. And lastly, but far from leastly, Stavis. Ever since I first met the Iron Ring, he's done nothing but make me feel welcome. I've never not had a good time with him around, and if there is someone I could make spend more time with me, he'd be the one hands down.
[Conclusion of Side bar A]

 A lot of boffering and a tiny bit of heavy fighting later I re-met a man at a small tournament here in my shire I'd first met him about a year and a half ago, but at that time didn't pay him much credit. He didn't seem to care I blew him off so long ago, in fact he seemed to welcome it, for this time I was ready to pay him the respect he deserves. In that man I found someone that today I am proud to call one of my biggest heroes and inspirations, and in him I've found the motivation to become a better person in every aspect of my life. I see in him every quality in which I wish to improve in myself, every quality the heroes I've had before him demonstrate, and yet each day I see him I grow to admire him more. This cuddley little fella is Duke Amalric Blackhart, my knight, inspiration, and friend.

 His squire and my soon to be squire brother Brian has been the logistics to this inspiration. He's drug me all over the Northwest to fight, guilted me into armor when I didn't want to because he knew I'd have fun, and fixed whatever poor excuse I could muster. Without him I'd still be in square 1.

I am now 18 and an active member of the SCA in the shire of Dragons Mist, I am an up and coming Heavy Fighter, and an upstart tumbler. Eager to begin a never ending journey through the most amazing colaboration of people this world can muster, the S.C.A.