[Ansteorra] Story from Crown Tourney

[SoldierGrrrl]

On Sun, Jul 11, 2010 at 7:48 PM, Brandon McDermott
<brandonsmcd at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Safety does come first, that is why he and his his wife opted not to continue. Every person is responcible for their own health, but once it was obvious that he was unable to continue in his current condition, he was moved to a better local. If our Crown was decided in any format other than combat, I would agree that it wasnt a tough man/woman contest, but that is exactly what it is. Who is the biggest, baddest, fighter that day? That is what we find out. Also, indoors presents many problems for period pavilions as they cannot be staked down. Moving only modern tents inside would serve only to lessen the already questionable ambiance of a modern building and defeat the purpose. Ansteorran fighting events are outdoors. They always have been, they always should be.
>
> Sir Lochlan Dunn

Sir Lochlan,

Thank you.  One of the things that Ansteorra prides herself on is her
fighters.  Over and over again, I hear it.  "Fear the Ansteorran
army!"  Well, to truly be feared as an army, we need to do something
the United States Army does, at least to the best of our ability.

Train as you fight.

If Ansteorra were cold and wet, we would practice in the cold and wet.
 If it were dry and dusty, we would train in the heat and dust.
However, because Ansteorra is hot and humid, those are the conditions
we must, as much as is possible, fight in.  Why are we so welcomed at
Pennsic?  Because we can fight harder, longer, than ANY OTHER ARMY out
there.  We laugh at the heat at Pennsic, and with good reason.

Should we court heat injury?  No.  A thousand times no.  But neither
should we bow to risk aversion.  We must, as all warriors do, learn to
combat our environment, learn to harden ourselves against the rigors
of said environment and work to mitigate the risk.  Fighters must stay
hydrated, condition themselves in the heat, and know when to say "I'm
done."  I have been in the desert, and I know from whence I speak.
Yes, this is a game, but it is indeed a game of men and women who
would prove themselves against the best this kingdom has to offer.

In service to the Nation and to the Black Star,
Helene Dalassene
OIF III vet
--
I've asked forgiveness from the Lord, now take my soul, and bring my sword.