[Ansteorra] Gulf Wars XII - Post Briefing

[meggiddo at netzero.net]

Greetings,

I apologized if people get this more than once.

Totally agree with Hosey - the war was great!!!

While Hosey fought with Sir Corwin and his boys with
Amaris keeping up with him for majority of the war. Hosey and I would
discuss each battle and decide best how each of us would fight that
battle.

Both of us wore Iron Lance tabards for the first
battle and fought with them. This generated some questions, which I
answer
by the following statement:

"I do not care what else I wear, as long as I wear
the Condottieri rag and shoot and "kill" people!" In addition, some
people failed to understand what the War is truly about - the bottom
line is - "We came to play and have a good time." Without worrying about
anything else, seems some individuals could not grasp this simple
but direct approach.

There was very little blowing off of shots, which
includes those from arrows. The head marshal even defined what a good
hit
from a combat arrow should be. I hope that I can do his statements
justice here after the fact. There was none of this "positive force"
that some many other events seem to want. Instead, if the arrow hits in
the "kill zone" and falls at the fighter's feet then it was a kill, if
the arrow hit in the grill, then it is a kill, if the arrow hit the top
or
sides of the helm and NOT the grill then it was NOT a "kill", if the
arrow hit the "kill zone" but skip then it was NOT a "kill".

Everyone that I saw was calling their shots and if
there was any question, was able to discuss the shots with the
individual during the various "holds" that went on.

Numerous examples happen all week long about the
chivalric conduct on the field by heavy fighters toward each other,
which
also included this combat archer.

If one of my arrows hit either a shield and sword or
a pole or spear or even an opposing archer, then they gave me salute to
recognized that they were dead by one of my arrows. Also, in turn if
one of the opposing side got to me either by running me down or by arrow
fire, I in turn gave them a salute and walked off the field.

There were several times when either one of the
opposing fighters would asked me either by hand signal during the
fighting or
when a hold was called if that shot was good or not. Some of my shots
I could call "good" for them and others I had to wave off, meaning
that those shots did not look good from where I was standing. There
were several times, the fighter and myself would take advantage of one
of
the holds and discuss that shot. There were several times in which
I left it up the individual fighter whether to that arrow had been a
good "kill" or not. Reason, I could not always see just how that arrow
had struck that fighter. Back to the individual honor of each fighter
to decide if the arrow was good or not. No reason to get upset on my
part, come the next round, I will just have to be better in shooting
that
individual.

There was one fighter who attempt to block one of my
arrows with his shield and I lost sight of just where my arrow had
struck him. During the hold that follow shortly after that shot. This
fighter walked across the line and discuss the shot with me. I explained
that I could not see where arrow had to hit him due to his shield
blocking
my view. Thus, I left it to him to make the call and he did - he took
the shot and walk. Never did learn his name.

I, praise this heavy fighter for his honor on the
battlefield, it was in the ravine battle and involved a War point.

The King of Trimaris and I engaged in an archer duel
and wound up discussing whether one of my arrows had actually
"killed" him or not during a hold. Neither one of us could really called
that shot a good "kill" and so we agreed that the arrow was not valid.

I wound up supporting various groups throughout the
War, which include the following:

Iron Lance
Calontir
Mid-realm
Roadd
Western Region
Southern Region
The Fray

and I sure that I missed some groups.

During this week, I received praise for my accurate
as a combat archer both from individuals from within Ansteorra and
individuals who were from another kingdom. The Prince of Mid-Realm (I do
hope I got the correct kingdom here) praise me earlier in the week
for my accurate.

During the second open field battle on Friday, I was
on the left side supporting Calontir and the Fray, when the line broke
and a heavy fighter rushed me. In attempting to run backwards, my
good leg (ankle) hit a soft spot, twisted and down I went onto my bad
knee. It took me by surprise, I called out, this opposing heavy fighter
stopped to assist me back to my feet and even help support me as I
limped
off the field. Another fighter from our side came over and took over
for the original fighter.

I failed to get both of these fighter's names. I will
Thank them both again here in this e-mail for their courtesy and the
opposing fighter's chivalric conduct. As well as the fighter who took
over and assisted me off the field rest of the way.

During the 1st fort battle on Saturday, I was
supporting the defense in the gate when I was summoned to report to the
where
HRM Miguel and HRH Pete (Mid Realm) who was located in the back of the
fort. HRM Miguel was in deep discuss with I believe Duke Keing (sp?), so
reported to HRH Pete for instructions. I was instructed to go support
the
right side of fort and provide relief from various spears that was
making a push on that side and the old sally port.

The first target was a spear at the end of the wooden
wall that was eating up our defense on that side of the sally port.
Got there and I could not readily see the spear - not tall enough to
see over/through the crenelation, could only see through the small
openings between the wood that made up the wall. So, I arched my arrow
over and through the crenelation toward what little of the body of the
spearman that I could see. Per the reaction from various people who
could
see, I "killed" that spear.

I then moved down closer to the far right tower and
between this tower and the sally port. Did have a shield to provide
protection from their archers. I started to work - shooting one shield
to
remove that shield from the field and open up shooting lanes against the
opposing force spears. Thinned them out, until I was armed and could
no longer pulled my recurve bow. Believe I got 6 or 7 spears and at
least 1 shield. Not sure what happen to the shield that initially was
providing protection for me, must have been called away. Oh, well.
Reported back to HRH of Mid-Realm Pete, told me to get some water and
saluted
me for a "Job Well Done".

The second fort battle on the outside, had loaded up
with loaner arrows, since I was down to 40% of my own after the first
battle that day. There was no re-inspection of arrows between battles.
Which
sped up things and I rather enjoyed.

These loaner arrows performance were best suited for
harassment fire only, did attempt to make some "kills" with them - no
joy, oh well...

Per HRM Miguel's command - "All archers engage the
enemy by coming to the front of the fort." I stepped out to the left of
the gate without any cover and went to shooting at the targets that I
could see and drawing fire from the opposing archers. Just standing
there in the open, depending upon my own skill to dodge and avoid arrows
and crossbow bolts.

Afterall, a archer can not take ground nor hold
ground. This exchange went on for some time, I even tease those opposing
archers at one point.

A sword and shield, heavy fighter stepped out and
offered to provided protection for me. Which I accepted with the
following: "Fighter do not put yourself at risk for me, if it comes down
to it,
take care of yourself."

I did not know who this fighter was, but he allowed
me command him during this time and he did an excellent job of
providing protection for me and more importantly for himself as well. I
believe he is a squire. With the assistance of this fighter, I was able
to
make a number of long distance "kills" using the last few of my original
arrows. One kill was roughly 70 or so feet away, against a crossbowman
who
was kneeling behind some ramps that was on the right side of the
gate to the fort.

Gulf Wars XII was great, looking forward to next
year.

The land that the Condottieri was excellent and met
all of our needs.

Thanks to all who worked the War to make it such a
great event this year.



Michael Fray
Unit Combat Archer for the Condottieri