ye auld medievel fayre

[danny_galaga]

i went to a medievel fair a couple of weeks ago and i had a blast!! these are my kinda people (other than you guys obviously)- slightly mad, wearing steel armour and bashing each other with swords and maces (",). and they werent ---Bad words, bad words, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when saint censors you?----footing around either- at least three swords were broken by the end of the day and one guy left the field with blood gushing from his head. it was kinda like rugby but with no off-side  .
so heres some photos. first two are jousting. some professionals on horse back, and the knights of the order of the python on coconut-shell back    the other three are self-expanatory...
once im settled here i will look at joining one of the societies. most of them make their own armour and teach new-comers the art. the society of creative anachronism (which are world wide) for example like to totally destroy each other and so in combat they use wooden swords and maces. even so they end up with bruises and cracked ribs etc....

[danny_galaga]

two more pics

[danny_galaga]

and one more...

edit: gee, those google ads are quick!

[Stingray]

I went to one a few weeks ago and had a really good time too. Of course I got completely hammered drinking ale from a wooden mug.

-S

[Bones]

Cable Guy!!

[xar256]

I've actually been a member of the SCA for close to 10 years now...Just as FYI...Those pics you posted are not an SCA event<the first 3 pics anyways>.

[Shape D.]

I've always wanted to do that, I've just never had the time. looks like fun though

[danny_galaga]

I've actually been a member of the SCA for close to 10 years now...Just as FYI...Those pics you posted are not an SCA event<the first 3 pics anyways>.

[xar256]

Ya know...It appears I lied...No sooner did I get home and check my mail, that I saw in my Kingdom newsletter, that Jousting is now permitted in my Kingdom...Seems they've been experimenting with it for some time now.

[rchadd]

but where are the pics of the busty serving wenches?

[Hoagie_one]

The Local Ren fest is always fun, but has really become commercialized.  I'm gonna try to go this smaller one accross the state this year as well to see if its any better.

Michigna BTW

[Avery]

Yo Xar - I was sorry to see you guys go! 

For the rest of you, here's a picture of me on vacation (I'm the one in red and white).

[xar256]

Even after a decade doing it...I never get tired of scenes like that...

 

Xar256

[danny_galaga]

yeah, that looks great! although the cars in the backgorund kinda spoil it  .
 hey do any of you guys make your own armor? because thats what id like to get into once start. im not bad with metal and im a gun with fusion welding (my high school had all the types of welders, but the arc and mig welders were always broken by unruly students  ). i notice that there is a bit of welding involved as it would be pushing it to use the traditional blacksmiths methods.

[xar256]

Sometimes it's hard to escape the mundane...But it mostly depends on the sites...Other sites have the space to separate the modern day from the period day better<see Pennsic>.

Absolutely!

[Avery]

yeah, that looks great! although the cars in the backgorund kinda spoil it

[Hoagie_one]

I can do chainmaile, but man does it take forever to finsih anything

[danny_galaga]

Absolutely!

[Avery]

Personally?  Yeah, I've done a bit.  Did a pair of articulated half-gauntlest a while back and some gothic paldrons.  I did some splinted leather cuisses and greaves, a coat of plates and a barrel helm back in the day.

I'm thinking about trying to do a bascinet style helmet in the not too distant future, but I might just break down and have someone make it for me.

[Snarbald]

I've been messing around with chain maile for a while now.

[danny_galaga]

interesting to see a few members here interested in medievel stuff AND arcade stuff! on the face of it you would think there is nothing in common. but in both cases there is an appreciation for something from the past. obviously many of us were actually in the day of the arcades, even though most of us here wouldnt remember the medievel times (except maybe fredster )

[xar256]

Yeah...I've worked on some stuff <chain maille, helmets, coat of plates, knee/elbow protrection, etc>.  It's fun, and you can learn a lot from it...Most of what I do is archery based though, so my expertise lies more with making my own arrows <and hopefully bows soon> and such.

Xar256

[danny_galaga]

i'm keen on crossbows myself. medievel of course, not new-fangled carbon fibred jobbies. that would neatly put my wood-working and metal working skills together. where ive moved you need a licence to own one now, where i came from you only had to be 16 or something. but the licence wouldnt be a big problem...

[AmericanDemon]

I've always wanted to get into that type of stuff.  Always been fascinated with that period.

[xar256]

I think one of the nice things about the SCA, is that you can put as much time/money/effort in as you want, there's no requirement to say spend x amount of time or buy a membership <in most kingdoms anyways>...The only time I find you need to spend money is going to events <most have a site fee/feast fee>, but the experience is generally worth it...some groups even comp first timers to have them look around <first time's free, then when you're hooked... >

Just to clarify though, most kingdoms that I'm aware of require you to purchase a membership to be able to fight in armored/rapier combat/equestrian activities - Insurance reasons>.  The membership is like $20-35US/year, but it gets you discounts at events too...so that helps. <I don't think I got my first membership until I was in for like 5 years, all I did was archery>

Check out SCA Geography page 
You might be suprised how close a group is to you.   

For those who might feel a little intimidated, most groups have regular meetings/get togethers/practices, that are for the most part in street clothes <not counting armor>...This may help make you feel a little more comforable when coming out for the first time.

Xar256
<Geez...you know you've been doing this a long time, when you start sounding like a commercal  >

[danny_galaga]

yep, there's the SCA and about a dozen (wait, make that 12) other groups in my new home town. an annual fee of 35 bucks or so is nothing really, is it? soon as i get a job...

[xar256]

It's not bad at all considering what other hobbies can cost... ... You don't even need the membership to go out and start getting the training needed to fight in armored/rapier combat. <Gives you an idea weather or not you actually like somebody trying to beat you into the ground or having 'best bruise' competitions - combat isn't for everyone> The membership is required to actually participate in tournaments.

Xar256

[Hoagie_one]

you can learn alot from this site as well as buy materials
www.theringlord.com

and this forum from that site
http://www.chainmailstore.com/cgi-bin/forum/ultimatebb.cgi

[ChadTower]

Seriously, without the busty wenches, there really isn't much point.  Stick with Hooters.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Lightning bolt! Lightning bolt! Lightning bolt!


mrC

[Avery]

Seriously, without the busty wenches, there really isn't much point.

[danny_galaga]

Seriously, without the busty wenches, there really isn't much point.

[danny_galaga]

Seriously, without the busty wenches, there really isn't much point.

[danny_galaga]

ok, i went to another festival. supposed to be the biggest in the southern hemisphere. i didnt have as much fun as the first time around but there was turkish oil restling, which they were featuring for the first time. i was quite surprised that men covered in oil and waering leather shorts was less girly looking than greco-roman wrestlers in there funny little costumes!

edit: i did enjoy a medievel culinary experience. this time, instead of a pepsi and kebab i had a venison pie washed down with a cup of mead. i thought it would taste like beer (which i hate) but it tastes more like white wine. i wonder how beer displaced mead as a favourite drink? my guess is that it's heaps cheaper to make beer...

[hanelyp]

hey do any of you guys make your own armor?

I made the helmet I'm wearing at left.  Not quite up to the standards of SCA armor, but that wasn't the intention.  I prefer padded (bamboo, fiberglass, or PVC pipe) for swords.

[xar256]

i did enjoy a medievel culinary experience. this time, instead of a pepsi and kebab i had a venison pie washed down with a cup of mead. i thought it would taste like beer (which i hate) but it tastes more like white wine.

That would be because it's a very close relation to wine.  A friend up here makes mead, and it's highly in demand at events.  A basic mead <remember 13th Warrior?> is fermented honey.  He's also added other fruits into the mix as well <ie. strawberry, oranges, raspberry, etc> after it's fermented and aged, it tends to go down rather smooth. <For those who like it>

I personally have some sort of allergy to the "wining" agent used in the fermentation process for most wines and meads, so I can't in general drink it, but I hear nothing but raves about the stuff, even from those who aren't wine drinkers.

Xar256