[Ansteorra] Fw: Theft at GW XVI

[David Backlin]

Forwarded from another list:

----- Original Message ----- 

> Greetings all,
> 
> Gulf Wars XVI was great, and later I may write up a
> nice post on the good times, but unfortunately, my
> first post must be about the really bad experience.. .
> 
> Sunday morning we discovered that someone had stolen
> most of our gear that I had left by our pavilion space
> Saturday evening at the battlefield. I should not have
> left it there overnight, however, we had left plenty
> of armor, weapons, etc. there during the week without
> incident. I have been in the SCA for over 25 years
> now, and, blissfully ignorant, have never had anything
> stolen before.
> 
> Whoever did this stole a goodly number of items of no
> small monetary value, probably more than a thousand
> dollars of stuff (in replacement value). But of more
> import, they stole from me an innocence, an ideal, a
> feeling of comfort and security. Now, when I take the
> field at the next foreign war, I will know that
> someone on that field may be a thief, a low, base,
> vile, dishonorable varlet. Now I will know that all my
> opponents and even my allies may not be honorable men
> and women of valor.
> 
> This was unfortunately not a case of mistakenly
> gleaned items, but of theft. Our very large weapon
> pile was picked over, the thieves left a couple of
> weapons they did not want. Crispin's armor bag was
> turned into Lost and Found, but the helmet and
> gauntlets had been removed from it and it was found at
> a different location than it was left. At least one
> other person also had her helmet and gauntlets stolen
> in a similar manner.
> 
> Please forward this email on to every SCA list that
> might prove helpful. The far corners of the Knowne
> Worlde should know these items are stolen. Maybe
> someone will notice someone coming home from the war
> with a bounty of new used weapons and armor. Maybe the
> theives will give themselves away somehow and justice
> can be served (a police report has been filed).
> 
> All told, there were 5 fiberglass spears, 5
> glaives/pole arms, 2 great swords, 2 long swords, 2
> chairs, 1 pavilion, 1 helmet and 1 pair gauntlets
> stolen from us.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Tymm Gard's first spear: Nine foot long Black
> fiberglass shaft (older, thicker-walled variety of
> shaft) covered in wood grained contact paper;
> self-made thrusting tip, tapered, no shield hook;
> large knob end on the handle with black grip tape.
> 
> Tymm Gard bought this spear shaft at (Pennsic 23 or
> maybe 25) and has wielded it in many foreign wars to
> the detriment of hundreds, possibly thousands of foes.
> He used this spear to win the Spear Champion of
> Trimaris Tournament two years ago.
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this spear: You will never know glory. If ever
> you accomplish anything good, no one will be watching,
> no one will remember and no one will believe you when
> you tell NoShitThereIWas stories about it. 
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Tymm Gard's newer spear: Nine foot long Brown
> fiberglass shaft (newer variety of shaft, very light)
> covered in very tattered wood grained contact paper;
> Mandrake Armory thrusting tip kit with shield hook;
> small knob end on the handle with black grip tape.
> 
> Tymm Gard bought this spear and spear tip kit at
> Pennsic 33 and has wielded it since then primarily
> because it is so light and quick.
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this spear: You will be sluggish when you wield
> any weapon. Your blows will fall late and your blocks
> will be too slow -- you will be hit over and over
> again in the same place. 
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Tymm Gard's War Glaive: Rattan 7 1/2 foot long shaft,
> has a unique bend to it with shaved sides; grip tape
> handle and grip at top of the haft; self-made
> thrusting tip and butt spike; self made flat teardrop
> shaped hand guard at the juncture of haft and blade.
> 
> Tymm Gard made this weapon a decade or more ago. It
> was an old, bent, cracked stick. He used this war
> glaive at dozens of wars and skirmishes. It was this
> glaive he was using during the Gulf Wars 14 Field
> Battles, when as one of the last three Trimarians
> alive, he defeated in single combat eight Ansteorran
> champions in a row (so the legends say) until King
> Miguel opened his court and awarded Tymm Gard, Crynn
> and Diaz all three the Sable Falcon of Ansteorra there
> upon the battlefield. It was this glaive he wielded
> during the Order of the Rose Melee Tournament when the
> Trimarian Ladies of the Rose chose him to be their
> Champion for the year. 
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this glaive: Your hands should bleed when you
> touch this glaive. Its accumulated *wah* power should
> cause you, a person without any honor, to
> spontaneously combust. It will leap from your grasp at
> every opportunity. It will burst into splinters should
> you ever manage to strike an honorable opponent and
> you will be pincushioned with rattan toothpicks.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Crispin's Spear: Nine foot long black duct taped shaft
> with decorative white crosses; self-made cylindrical
> thrusting tip; this spear was a few inches too long
> and did not pass inspection at the war.
> 
> Crispin says he hardly used this weapon over the last
> 10 or 15 years -- spear is not his forte, he says. He
> is a modest and humble man.
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this spear: While you use this spear, you will
> get face-jacked so hard you will lose teeth.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Iseault's Spear: Nine foot long blue and purple
> decorated shaft; self-made thrusting tip (tapered)
> with a decorative yellow fleur-de-lis on the thrusting
> tip's face; yellow leather grip handle.
> 
> Iseault's spear has been on loan to Duke Llewellyn for
> a number of years. He said it was used to defeat many,
> many honorable foes. He returned the spear to her on
> Saturday.
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this spear: No one will ever loan you anything.
> You will be in need and you will find yourself without
> resources or friends.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Strahd's Spear: Nine foot long red fiberglass shaft,
> un-taped, cracked slightly; self-made thrusting tip
> and shield hook.
> 
> Strahd used this spear against Trimarians when he
> lived in Ansteorra and against Ansteorrans now that he
> lives in Trimaris. It was cracked and he bought a
> replacement shaft earlier in the war, which he still
> has, so he does not mourn its loss too much.
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this spear: You will always be confused as to
> whose side you fight on. Your allies will strike you
> thinking you are the foe and you will strike your
> allies instead of the foe. You will gain an insulting
> nick-name such as "Kinslayer" or "Friendly Fire." The
> spear shaft will shiver asunder the first time you
> strike an honorable opponent and you will be injured
> with the impact.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Tymm Gard's Short Glaive: Six foot long shaft, blade
> silver and blue duct tape, haft covered with black
> duct tape and spiral wrapped with grip tape; thrusting
> tip and butt spike self-made using black rubber ball
> hitch covers; flat oblong hand guard at juncture of
> haft and blade.
> 
> Tymm Gard made this weapon from the haft of an older
> war glaive about 15 years ago. He rarely used it,
> preferring the longer glaive, but did wield it in this
> Gulf Wars' Town Battle, sometimes two handed,
> sometimes in his left hand alone, so that he could
> swing a sword and grab the flag with a gauntleted
> hand.
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this glaive: For you, nothing will endure. You
> will misplace your precious things, lose them, someone
> will steal them from you.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Tymm Gard's Short Spear: Thrusting weapon, apx. 48"
> long, apx. 1 3/4" thick rattan, self-made wedge spear
> head shaped thrusting tip on one end, Mandrake Armory
> Pole Weapon black rubber thrusting tip on the other
> end.
> 
> Tymm Gard built this weapon 20 years ago, or so, back
> when there was a vogue in Trimaris for fighting with a
> "baby glaives." Later, and recently, he used it as a
> secondary weapon. The Mandrake thrusting tip was a new
> addition.
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this glaive: You will lack innovation. Any idea
> you have will have already been done, and you will be
> ridiculed for mentioning it. This will happen so often
> you will fade into silence and obscurity.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Crispin's Swords: Inch and a quarter diameter rattan,
> shaved handles; Asgard black plastic cup hilts; silver
> duct tape with yellow contrast edges; no thrusting
> tips.
> 
> When Crispin wielded these two swords, they were as a
> whirling wind of wood surrounding his body, that would
> reach out to strike you without warning and ward him
> from blows. 
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal these swords: You will try to fight two-sword
> and fail miserably. You will be bruised, battered and
> injured seriously. These swords will not work for you.
> You will get them crossed up and tangled, unable to
> land a blow or defend against your opponent's swings.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Crispin's Helmet: Mild steel bascinet with bar grille;
> Blacksword Armory original item. I will post links to
> pictures of the missing items later...
> 
> This was Crispin's first helmet, made for him by Sir
> Seosaidh. The pate it protected is a fountain of
> Chivalry, something foreign to you. 
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this helmet: For you this helm will ring like a
> bell when struck, and all you do to prevent it from
> being struck will be to no avail. The first strong
> Duke who strikes it will break the bar grille, sending
> a bar into your eye, deep into your pitifully
> malformed brain -- you will die.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Crispin's Gauntlets: Mild steel mitten gauntlets;
> Blacksword Armory design and make; they were painted
> black with white letters drawn upon them.
> 
> Crispin's gauntlets protected his hands while he
> fought, so that he could open his hands to those in
> need, and gently close them about the arms of his lady
> and his children. His hands could dispense justice and
> gentility at will.
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal these gauntlets: No hands will be open to you,
> none shall treat with you gently. Hands will be raised
> against you at all turns. You will not find
> protection, but instead gauntlets will be thrown at
> your feet in challenge and you will be unmanned.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Tymm Gard & Elianora's Field Pavilion: "First Up"
> brand 10x10 popup pavilion, blue canopy, white metal
> frame; black triangular dagging sewn around bottom
> edge of canopy; patches with Tymm Gard's and the
> Triskele Legion's devices sewn over the "First Up"
> logos on the canopy.
> 
> Elianora sat in this pavilion while she inspired Tymm
> Gard when he fought in Crown Lysts and other
> tournaments. Crispin and his brother Paterno slept in
> it at Pennsic. It was set up at several wars as an
> armor tent. Elianora and Honoree spent hours
> re-decorating it -- they sewed the dagging on it, and
> made walls for it, so that it appeared more period.
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this pavilion: You will find no shade from the
> sun nor respite from the rain under this pavilion. You
> will find no shelter anywhere and no one will inspire
> you. You will become homeless.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Crispin's Great Sword: Apx. six foot rattan
> greatsword, light and strong; shaved handle, silver
> duct tape with black tape contrast edge.
> 
> Crispin wielded this sword with style, prowess and
> grace unmatched. He thought it was lost for the first
> few days of Gulf Wars, but it was resting against a
> tree in camp, partially hidden by shields.
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this sword: You will not be able to find things
> that you are missing, even though they are right
> before you. You will step on a rattlesnake with
> grievous consequences.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Tymm Gard's Great Sword: Six foot rattan greatsword;
> heavy black duct taped (Gorilla tape) shaft with
> silver duct tape contrast edge; thrusting tip
> self-made using black rubber ball hitch cover; lead
> tape and hard rubber half-sphere make up the butt
> counterweight, tire tubber quillions wrapped heavily
> with duct tape.
> 
> Tymm Gard recently made this sword, refurbishing
> Alkman's old greatsword, and had hardly used it. He
> spend a lot of time wrapping the counterweight,
> attaching the tip and re-taping the shaft and
> quillions. Crispin used it some during the fighting
> vigil for Scout on Friday.
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this sword: The balance of every weapon you
> touch will not suit you and no matter how much you
> tinker with them, they will always feel awkward in
> your grasp. A large rock will fall upon you.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Alkman's Glaive: Apx. Seven and a half foot long
> rattan shaft; silver duct tape blade with black
> contrast edge; two large, red taped, busted-ass
> thrusting tips on either end.
> 
> This glaive should not have been down by the field, as
> its thrusting tips never would have passed inspection.
> Patricles and Hroutland in their very helpful way,
> brought Tymm Gard's weapons down to the battlefield
> and they grabbed this stick along with the others.
> Alkman gave it to Tymm Gard a while back and he
> brought it to war to possibly refurbish with new tips
> or to give away. It was still marked with Alkman's
> name.
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this glaive: Your will lose all your friends. No
> one will gift you with anything, no one will volunteer
> to help you. You will be foolish enough to try to get
> this weapon inspected without fixing the tips and a
> zealous Marshal will pull your authorization card.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Crispin's Glaive: Apx. seven foot rattan shaft,
> stained to look like a darker wood; silver duct tape
> blade with black contrast edge.
> 
> Crispin weilded this glaive with ferocity matching
> that of his totem, the lion.
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this glaive: You will know fear, always. This
> will be evident to all, as you will wet your breeches
> frequently. You will be branded a coward.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Elianora's Chair: Wooden framed, short legged
> "Director's" style; beige mesh waterproof fabric back
> and seat; sold at Target stores.
> 
> Elianora bought this chair and has used it for a
> comfortable seat by the campfire or battlefield. It
> looked period enough, was sturdy and weather
> resistant.
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this chair: This chair will break when you sit
> in it, and will tumble you to the ground roughly.
> People will laugh and point. You will get a splinter
> in your ass that takes a surgeon to remove it.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Iseault's Chair: Dark wooden folding chair, period
> design with a carved back piece and lion head carved
> into the ends of the arm rests. This chair is fairly
> unique and not readily replaceable.
> 
> Iseault sat upon this chair and inspired Crispin to
> great feats of honor and glory. She inspired all who
> would gaze upon her beauty and bearing.
> 
> Tymm Gard's curse to the person who knowingly did
> steal this chair: You will inspire no one. You will
> look foolish seated upon this chair. This chair will
> ultimately be your downfall, as it will be recognized
> and you will be caught, beaten, arrested and raped in
> jail.
> 
> - - - - -
> 
> Thank you all for your indulgence, sorry for the
> length of this missive. Please forward this to the
> Knowne Worlde.
> 
> HL Tymm Gard, OMS, OST
> 
> If you want to forward just the descriptions of the
> items, without all the history and curses, here is the
> simplified list:
> 
> All told, there were 5 fiberglass spears, 5
> glaives/pole arms, 2 great swords, 2 long swords, 2
> chairs, 1 pavilion, 1 helmet and 1 pair gauntlets
> stolen from us.
> 
> Spear: Nine foot long Black fiberglass shaft (older,
> thicker-walled variety of shaft) covered in wood
> grained contact paper; self-made thrusting tip,
> tapered, no shield hook; large knob end on the handle
> with black grip tape.
> 
> Spear: Nine foot long Brown fiberglass shaft (newer
> variety of shaft, very light) covered in very tattered
> wood grained contact paper; Mandrake Armory thrusting
> tip kit with shield hook; small knob end on the handle
> with black grip tape.
> 
> Spear: Nine foot long black duct taped shaft with
> decorative white crosses; self-made cylindrical
> thrusting tip; the spear was a few inches too long and
> did not pass inspection.
> 
> Spear: Nine foot long black and purple decorated
> shaft; self-made thrusting tip (tapered) with a
> decorative yellow fleur-de-lis on the thrusting tip's
> face.
> 
> Spear: Nine foot long red fiberglass shaft, un-taped,
> cracked slightly; self-made thrusting tip and shield
> hook.
> 
> War Glaive: Rattan 7 1/2 foot long shaft, has a unique
> bend to it with shaved sides; grip tape handle and
> grip at top of the haft; self-made thrusting tip and
> butt spike; self made flat teardrop shaped hand guard
> at the juncture of haft and blade.
> 
> Short Glaive: Six foot long shaft, blade silver and
> blue duct tape, haft covered with black duct tape and
> spiral wrapped with grip tape; thrusting tip and butt
> spike self-made using black rubber ball hitch covers;
> flat oblong hand guard at juncture of haft and blade.
> 
> Glaive: Apx. seven foot rattan shaft, stained to look
> like a darker wood; silver duct tape blade with black
> contrast edge.
> 
> Glaive: Apx. Seven and a half foot long rattan shaft;
> silver duct tape blade with black contrast edge; two
> large, red taped, busted-ass thrusting tips on either
> end.
> 
> Great Sword: Apx. six foot rattan greatsword, light
> and strong; shaved handle, silver duct tape with black
> tape contrast edge.
> 
> Great Sword: Apx. six foot rattan greatsword, light
> and strong; shaved handle, silver duct tape with black
> tape contrast edge.
> 
> Field Pavilion: "First Up" brand 10x10 popup pavilion,
> blue canopy, white metal frame; black triangular
> dagging sewn around bottom edge of canopy; patches
> with Tymm Gard's and the Triskele Legion's devices
> sewn over the "First Up" logos on the canopy.
> 
> Gauntlets: Mild steel mitten gauntlets; Blacksword
> Armory design and make; they were painted black with
> white letters drawn upon them.
> 
> Helmet: Mild steel bascinet with bar grille;
> Blacksword Armory original item. I will post links to
> pictures of the missing items later...
> 
> Swords: Inch and a quarter diameter rattan, shaved
> handles; Asgard black plastic cup hilts; silver duct
> tape with yellow contrast edges; no thrusting tips.
> 
> Chair: Wooden framed, short legged "Director's" style;
> beige mesh waterproof fabric back and seat; sold at
> Target stores.
> 
> Chair: Dark wooden folding chair, period design with a
> carved back piece and lion head carved into the ends
> of the arm rests. This chair is fairly unique and not
> readily replacable.
> 
> 
> 
> YIS,
>   Doe
> http://velvetgreenefarm.bravehost.com/