[Ansteorra-rapier] Vivats for several fencers at Guardian of the Gauntlet / Iron Star

[James Crouchet]

Thank you, Master Robin. This is a great report for those of us who could
not be there. I hope we see more great acts of chivalry, courtesy and
prowess at the upcoming Squires & Cadets.

Christian Dore

On Sun, May 4, 2008 at 11:20 AM, Jay Rudin <rudin at ev1.net> wrote:

> I've returned from the event, and several fencers caught my attention.
>
> Don Dyryke, Don Sebastian.  As previous winners of the Gauntlet, they each
> took the field and faced thirty opponents, one after another.
>
> Don Alaric.  Reminding us that our focus is more than just fencing, Alaric
> challenged each entrant by asking questions about period military history.
>
> Giovanni of the Steppes.  Facing me in the first round, he won the fight.
> He struck my neck when my blade hit (and bounced off of) my arm.  I walked
> off content.  But he wasn't.  He realized that my shot had bounced into his
> chest, so he came up to me, and then the list mistress, to re-fight his
> first tourney victory over a Don, because he wanted honor more than victory.
>
> Lady (?) Caitlin.  Is there a more fun fight anywhere in the kingdom?  She
> came up for pick-ups, and more than held her own against me in my furious,
> run-around, closing-fast style of fight.  Her skills are slowly growing to
> match her level of fun -- no small feat.
>
> Vyolante.  Fairly new, she entered both the Guardian of the Gauntlet and a
> rather challenging bardic competition.  But her willingness to help is
> strong enough that I had to find a replacement marshall for her so she could
> actually get to the bardic competition
>
> Lord Brian ui William: No particular moment, but Brian always brings
> honor, respect and joy to our field.  He is focused on his fencing, without
> ever losing sight of the fact that it's about more than a physical struggle.
> When he's there, the Star shines more brightly.
>
> Delayed Banishment -- melee team of Prince Ulsted, Lord Corvin, Emmeline,
> Caitlin, and one other,  (Somebody please supply the name.  He / she
> deserves the word-fame.  The team was formed on the day, from people who had
> not worked together and didn't even attend the same practice.  With no White
> Scarves, they fought well together and placed into the finals.  Well done!
>
> Prince Ulsted.  His Highness honored us by fighting in both the tourney
> and the melees.  He turns out to be pretty darn good at protecting himself
> with a large shield.  Who knew?
>
> Baron Avery.  In his first Iron Star melee, his opponents tried what
> seemed like a good tactic -- isolating Avery from his team.  They sent two
> fencers to keep him busy.  It worked reasonably well -- they forced him back
> and kept him away from the main melee.  But while he was defending against
> them both, he was able to keep watching and directing the rest of his team
> --  giving commands that were winning the battle.  That was probably the
> most impressive fighting feat I saw throughout the Star melees.  (It
> convinced Us that it wouldn't be good enough to isolate Avery's physical
> presence --  because his mind was still deep in the rest of the melee.)
>
> Iron Star defenders -- Baron Avery, Baroness Gwenneth, Master Pug, and two
> more whose names I can't place (name please?).  After a round-robin that
> reduced the field to three teams, they were fighting Us, and had reduced Us
> to Uilliac alone against four of them.  They offered him single combat,
> which he won.  Had the four of them chosen to swarm him, they would have
> easily won.  The only reason they didn't place into the final round was the
> high level of honor they showed to their opponents.  We are honored to
> follow them as defenders of the Iron Star.
>
> Lord Uilliac. He was the star of the team that eventually won the Iron
> Star.  He faced four on one, was granted single combat, and then faced
> three-on-one, two-on-one, and then one-on-one with both of them grounded. He
> won that fight, setting up the final bout (and his team's eventual victory).
>  He is also the only fencer who has competed in every single Iron Star
> tourney.
>
> The White Scarves, supporting the arts.  Attending the Elfsea bardic
> competition were one knight, one Pelican, one Laurel, and three White
> Scarves.  Yup, we showed three times the support for this arts competition
> as any peerage, including the Laurels.  Also, there was deep White Scarf
> support for the event.  We had Dons / Donas made in 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002,
> 1997, 1996, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1984, and 1981.
>
> There were more great moments.  I didn't see it all, and don't remember
> all the great moments I saw.  But all day long, I was continually reminded
> how proud I am to be associated with Ansteorra's fencers.
>
> Robin of Gilwell / Jay Rudin
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