[Ansteorra-missile] Gulf WarS XIII - One Archer history on the field.

[meggiddo at netzero.net]

Heilsa,

Gulf Wars XIII have come and gone for another year. There were many who
attended - those who enjoyed the time at the War and those who service
made it possible.

Thank you, to all of you who took the time to make the war enjoyable.

I assisted Eadric in the Ravine inspecting combat arrows for four
hours. Of course, assisted in inspected those combat arrows and bolts
between and after battles as well.

I saw many individuals enjoying themselves and thus ensuring that those
who were in their presence also enjoy the time spent.

I met some who I had only met through/by e-mail before, such as Agnarr
Thorvaldsson from the Western Region and others that I had only heard of
before. Alvin, who I had never met before, yet commend to Ironwyrm for
his conduct on the field in the Ravine Battle.

Alvin's conduct was in regard to how he dealt with one of the few heavy
fighters that would not recognize that he had been hit by arrow fire.

In the past, we have all seen those new archers who have reacted much
like a five year old on the playground - jumping up and down shouting
out "You are Dead! You are Dead!" - to the point in the past where I
wanted
to pick up a sword and walk over to strike them "dead" to just get them
off the field! 

Alvin let the Marshals deal with that fighter, which is
the proper method. Thus, up holding that combat archers too understand
the thoughts of Honor on a SCA battlefield that each individual must
decide how to achieve it.

I heard of others speak of the numbers "kill" and was asked how many did
I get, meaning how many did I killed in this battle or that battle. In
respond back,
was a couple here or three there, etc... I never really count up how
many falls before me and my recurve. Yes, it can be "fun" around the
camp fire that night to speak of total kills, but what is the point? For
do we not face those individuals once again the next battle or the next
day or month or even the next year, plus there are times when those same
individuals will fight side by side, even employed their shields and
weapons for our protection!

The events that happen on the field that I remember are acts of Honor
and Chivalry conduct, as Sir Mahdi states "a Robin Hood shot", or the
humor at the time, etc. These are things that I like to remember from a
any battle.

Tuesday was a town battle in which all archers were divided into two
groups. Two thirds were inside the fort or town with unlimited arrows,
while the remaining one third was part of the attacking force and
limited to only 24 arrows per scenario. I do not recall the number of
times this scenario was run during the course of the afternoon. I do
know that I remain on the outside through out all of these scenarios. HL
Fearghus was on the outside as will and there were a couple of other
archers who also remain on the outside as part of the attacking force.
Other archers moved inside and toward the end I believe that there was
only myself and two or three others on the outside.

So what do I recall from these scenarios? 

Shooting that Talon while he was in the left tower. Watching the my
arrows just miss him, his head weave from side to side.

Being reassigned by my command Hosey to take the archer in the left
tower, who was Alvin. Alvin had shot CinaedOHosey in the grill, as
CinaedOHosey walked away from the gate. 

His command to me was "Kill the archer in the tower!"
I respond back, "Which tower?" He stated the "Left one!"

Over the course of the afternoon as the heavy fighters switched sides
between each scenario, the archers remain the same. I got Alvin 3 or was
it 5 times, rest of the time, made his stay up there uncomfortable.

A charge came out of the fort, a spearman gave chase to HL Fearghus and
ran him down. I was shooting at some those who had come out of the fort,
when I felt a slight pressure to my left side and the words "Would you
care to Yield". I looked to my left there was that spearman. Of course,
I yielded! After the battle, walked over thanked this spearman for his
courtesy.

While shooting at Alvin in the tower, I was on the far right corner of
the fort which gave me the angle to shoot into the opening of the
tower. I was also being shot at by a number of archers inside fort at
ground level. Ian Moore and Ian from Trimaris, Ironwyrm and perhaps one
or two more, tracking these, plus shooting at the tower and of course
two spears. Might say it I was bit overwhelm with target and tracking
information.

I think I got "killed" twice - once by arrows and once by a spear and I
know that I got armed twice during that afternoon.

There was one more event that occurred that day, it involved Sir Griffin 
(sp?). He saw me shooting that Alvin in the left tower and he warned all
his marshals not to poke their heads out several times. What does he do?
Stick his head out and the arrow that would have "killed" Alvin struck
him instead. When the battle was over, I walked over spoke with Eadric
and asked the marshal that my arrow had hit during the battle. Eadric
took me over and introduced him to Sir Griffin and we spoke about it. I
apologized to him and the other marshals chucked about it, at this time
I found out that he warned the these marshals not to poke their heads
out. Eadric also informed him and the other marshals that one of my
arrows had hit him last year. (Last year, Eadric was on the out side of
the fort and I had selected crossbow man as the intended target, I took
the shoot, the arrow flew just below the catwalk and was right on
target, and the crossbow man moved. The flew straight and true and
Eadric watched it come straight in.)

I did check with Sir Griffin two more times during the week to see how
he
was doing. There was "NO" bruising, and he said that he was doing fine.
I
felt much better.

Wednesday was the Combat Archers Friendship battle in the ravine.

Archers were divided up without thought to Kingdom.

During one battle, I shot Talon and saw him fall over. The shot was not
valid for it had hit the side of his helmet. He got back up and I shot
him again and legged him, then was driven off. He got help in moving
forward and he was the one that "killed" me in that scenario. You know
what they say "Payback is..."

Thursday the Ravine Battle.

I walked into the Ravine and stayed to the bottom where the ground was
reasonable flat. In the course of this battle, I shot 70 combat arrows
in
less than 30 minutes. I was supporting the light Cav unit, my arrows
were going by their heads just abit above their helms to strike those
opposing this unit. How many did I "killed", I did not care - it was
fun!

I will relate one shot that I made. It was roughly 60 feet or so from
me, up slope on the right. Some might ask why was I risking to shoot
upslope? I knew it was safe, for there was a group of trees behind this
group of fighters, so my combat arrows would not travel any further. The
target was a sword and board was doing two things - one, blocking a
spear and two, he was causing havoc with our side. I took the shot and
it hit him. He took it and started to walked back to the resurrection
point. I saw how the arrow hit and knew it was not a valid shot. I waved
and got the spear who was behind his to call him back. Which the spear
did. He gave me a salute and I waved back. Then I shot a again and
"killed" the spear behind him.

There were some shots that I attempted, due to the angle and the various
fighters in front waving their weapons, some of my arrows were knock
down. That is the breaks.

The Combat Archers Only Battle in the Ravine on Thursday:

Ansteorra and Trimaris split the War Point in this battle.

There are some things worth mentioning about these two battles. This was
capture the flag much like paint ball. The flags had various points
assigned to them, from 7 points to 1 point based upon color. There were
11 eleven flags and I heard that they were placed in a diamond shape for
a total of 35 points.

The true result of this battle was a foot race by both sides at the
beginning of each battle. Although the first battle did turn into a
fight over one flag. The second battle was just that, a foot race, then
a archer's battle which had lost the original reason for being in the
ravine that afternoon.

In the first battle, I was with HL Fearghus, in the bottom of the
ravine. I got legged, then armed. Since I can not go to my knees, I
cocked
the leg that had been shot. And was returning fire, when I dodge, only
not enough for my string arm was shot. So, there I was legged and armed,
playing target. Some might asked why did I not declared myself "Dead"
and leave the field. Read on for the answer, for I still was able to
play a role.

The role that I played was target, thus buying time for my fellow
Ansteorran archers to rally.

It did not take too long before I was surrounded by Trimaris. Ian of
Trimaris called out to me with the following:

"Are you alive?" My respond back - "Yes, I am legged and armed!"
"Will you yield?" My respond back - "No, you will have to shoot me!"

At this point Ian reached in to his quiver and pull forth a crossbow
bolt. He was roughly 10 feet away. I heard him exclaimed that he
normally does not do this. Then he turned and toss that crossbow
bolt like a dart from 10 feet away. It flew right past me, almost an arm
length from me. The look on his face was priceless...Ian reached in his
quiver again and pulled forth a second crossbow bolt and moved a few
feet closer. He tossed it and it flew straight and true. It hit me about
waist high. True both bolts did not come out of a crossbow, and they
would not have hit with any force whatsoever...some of you might wonder
why take it. Because, Ian did not
have to show me any courtesy. He could have just back up loaded his
crossbow and shot my at 10 feet.

After I was "dead", Ian called out are there any more Ansteorrans still
alive on the field. We both heard - "I am, my bow is dead" from an
Ansteorran archer roughly 25 feet from us. Ian reached into his quiver
for another crossbow bolt and there was none. He had used the last two
in "killing" me. Thus, he was removed as an effective force on the
field.

Sire EriKa comes forward and asked if this archer was still alive. He
answered he was, but his bow was "dead". She killed him by embracing him
in a bear hug. Two things went through my mind - I get armed and legged,
then have Ian "kill" me with a dart toss and that other archer gets a
"bear
hug" from Sir Erika. And the second thing, I do not recall his name.

The second battle in the ravine, came down to a foot race and we
Ansteorrans capture the same number and color of flags as did Trimaris
in the first battle. While they capture the same number and color of
flags that we did in the first battle. Both sides decided to finished
out the battle like it was a friendly contest with no war point
involved.

Toward the end, I was legged again and was among the last few
Ansteorrans still in the fight. There were 4 Trimaris advancing on me,
when one calls out are you "dead". I respond back, that I was legged and
he asked do you wish to leave the field. I respond back - "Shoot me". He
did just that - a perfect grill shot from 30 feet away, shooting
downhill. After the battle was over, I walked over him and gave him
congratulations for such a perfect shot. I believe his name was "Prin"
(sp?) or at least that is what I remember.

Friday, the open field battles: Archers were allowed in the 1st and the
3rd battles.

While taking the field, I was asked who I was fighting with or in this
case who I was supporting as an archer on the field. My replied was that
I was fight and supporting my commander - CinaedOHosey. Was asked again,
my respond back was the same. A different question was asked, "which
group will Hosey and you be fighting with". My answer was I did not
know,
I never know until Hosey has spoken with one of the groups.

I know this sounds like Chaos, yet it has worked for all us in the
Condottieri. The learning curve is steep and if one is not quick enough,
then you will have a very short time on the field. But, I would not have
any other way. This method has provided not only me, but Hosey, Curtis
and Roc, and those who joined with the Condottieri a truly wide variety
of tactics to experienced on a battlefield. I know that I have gotten to
experienced fighting with many of our allies over the last two years -
Calontir, Middle, and Atlantic, Iron Lance, as well as the Northern
Region, Western Region, Roadd, Light Cav, Heavy Cav, etc. I know that I
have missed a couple of other groups.

This type of training is "priceless" for each group has their own
methods of taking the field and fighting on it. This type of experience
can not be gained any place else. Nor could I have received such
experience if I only stayed within the region that I live in. 

Ok, enough soapbox. The 1st battle we joined up with the Heavy Cav,
after Hosey spoke with Sir Mahdi - who is the Baron for the Central
Region.

At "Lay on", we advanced across the field. I saw the HL Fearghus
advancing towing Ld "Wheelie" Rick behind him. It was like two chariots
advancing on our foes. Saw the HRM Miguel in the center, I was roughly
50 feet behind him and the front lines. The sides engaged, arrows were
flying, I was shooting, heavy fighters swing their weapons, a push was
happening. 

And then there was..."A Hold" by the marshals.

Someone was down and needed to be removed from the field.

While this was going on. I heard a heavy fighter calling out for duct
tape, his gauntlet had blown a strap. I called back that I had duct
tape.  HRM Miguel heard me and pointed to me, he came over with another
fighter who also required a field repair. I am terrible with names. I do
remember that these two were from the Western Region. They got their
armor repaired and was readily to fight with the field had been cleared.

The fighting started again and our left flank was being rolled up. A
spearman run up and tapped my on my chest and said "Archer, you are
dead!". I agreed and started to turned around, when a swordsman run up
within seconds and laid a "good" blow to the grill on my helm. I agreed
that I was "dead" again and stated - "Thank you, my lord. That was a
good blow!" And walked off the field.

Some of you might wondered why I did not called out to the second
fighter that I was already dead and make a scene. There are a couple of
reasons for me not doing so. The 1st one and the biggest reason - I
deserved to be hit by this fighter, 

reason I did not indicate that I was "dead" by raising my bow above my
head. True it was within a few seconds, and there was a bit of a press
around me. The other reason was that he could have landed his blow
anywhere, but he chose to laid one on my grill. This blow was a courtesy
blow, afterall, only my ears ring for a few seconds, instead of having a
"trophy" to show around the campfire that night. And by rights, he could
have laid a good stroke some place
else other than the helm.

Thus, ended the 1st Open Field Battle.

The 2nd Open Field Battle found all the archers inspecting arrows and
getting ready for the 3rd Battle.

The 3rd battle, COndottieri lined up with Sir Mahdi and marched into
battle. Once again, I took position roughly 40 feet behind the front
lines for support. I sw HL Fearghus and LD "Wheelie" Rick charging
across the field and there was Sir Kief leading them. The lines came
together and I was shooting between our heavy fighters about helm high,
to strike the opposing fighters be they sword and board or spearman.
Perhaps an opposing archer or two as well. How many did I shoot? How
many did I "kill"? Do not know for sure. I will relate one shot and I
not very proud of it, this one shot actually made me stop shooting for a
minute or two.

The shot I made was against a sword and shield and the arrow flew
straight, unfortunately it flew a bit low and hit his cup. This fighter
when to his knees and I stopped. I was now fully focus on this fighter.
Watching him and was relieved that he rose again. He started walking off
the field and I caught up with him. I identify myself as the archer who
had hit him, apologized to him for that shot and asked if he needed any
assistance in walking from the field. His replied - "Thank me for asking
about him, as well as letting him know that it was I who had shot him.
And that he could walked off the field. Please, forget about the shot.
It was a good one." I thanked him and watched him walk a couple more
steps and then when back to shooting.

Saturday - Fort Battles.

Ansteorra was defending the fort. I had declared that I would wait for
the front gates to open up and/or if the Trimaris start coming over the
walls before that I started shooting. In the meanwhile, I just went to a
hay bale and sit down, in the back of the fort. The only other person
who truly
knew about my abilities was my commander - CinaedOHosey.

The gates opened up and I moved forward. But there was no charge through
those gates. So, I started shooting at the right side, as well as the
left side of the fort. In an attempt to take off some pressure that was
being generated. Especially on the left side of the fort by the opposing
crossbows.  I was armed again.

Walked back to the back looking for a shield that I could used and could
supporting the defense of the fort. A heavy fighter loaned his, I do not
remember his name. Dropped my bow and quiver and picked up the shield. I
did find out that I needed to work more with a shield to even to be
consider "average" level. I was killed and left the fort.

The 2nd fort battle, Ansteorra and allies were attacking the fort. I was
shooting at the two on the catwalk who was throwing the axes at our
forces who was charging through the front gate.  Then switch over to
shooting at a crossbow just the left of the gate who was popping up like
a jack-in-box. Got into an archer's duel with him, in an effort to keep
him from shooting at the front lines. A second crossbow shot my right
arm. I did have an arrow already notched and waiting to shoot. But I
could not shoot, so I continue on the field. I was a decoy or a target
and it worked. Some crossbow did indeed shoot me "dead" and I left the
field, but at least there was one less crossbow bolt in the fort.

How many times did I get "killed", legged, and armed? Not sure about
about the number of times "killed" and/or legged.

Do know how many times I got armed - 5 times all in the 3 inch area on
my right bicep on my string hand by the end of the War.  That whole area
was just black in color.

So another Gulf Wars is over. Looking forward to next year.

Michael Fray
Unit Combat Artillery for the Condottieri
King's Archer