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<TD>"Lathrop, Dave" <Dave.Lathrop@premcor.com> <A href="http://address.mail.yahoo.com/yab?.rand=94688&v=SA&A=t&em=dave.lathrop@premcor.com&.done=http%3a%2f%2fus.f540.mail.yahoo.com%2fym%2fShowLetter%3fMsgId%3d3745%5f12713178%5f14767%5f1863%5f1864%5f0%5f1866%5f3634%5f3208283215%26Idx%3d2%26YY%3d86990%26inc%3d25%26order%3ddown%26sort%3ddate%26pos%3d0%26view%3da%26head%3db%26box%3dInbox"><IMG height=16 alt="View Contact Details " hspace=2 src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/pim/el/abook_rdex_1.gif" width=16 align=top border=0><FONT color=#003399>View Contact Details </FONT></A></TD></TR>
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<DIV id=message><PRE><TT>Newbie observations at Autumn Melees,
As I was banished from interacting directly with the customers
entering "Thy Hammered Biscuit" my Lady Elisabeth of Green Mountain Keep, sole
proprietor of above said tavern, did not mind that I raised my head
whilst I washed her tableware in the rain. To take in the sights and
sounds of the Autumn Melees was her gift to me for services rendered. To my
great surprise everyone was having a wonderful time except when their
tents collapsed around their heads in the middle of the night. I made
many new friends who treated me like royalty despite my lowly station as
my Lady Elisabeth's man boy. People from far away were making the same
comments about what a wonderful event this was and how much they
enjoyed the atmosphere that had been created. I was allowed to open the royal
Sterno cans during Saturday's Royal lunch, a memory I will cherish
forever. I heard battle cry's from the castle and a sound not unlike a
stampede of wild horses as the fighters crashed into each other. Thunder
issued forth from the battlefield and the solitary fighters blurred into
a mass of color and flailing appendages. I witnessed our Baron die,
several times, although I am certain there was treachery involved. Our
Autocrat Lord Caleb MacLaughlin took a cheap shot to the shin and was seen staggering around the
campsites late at night moaning like a lost soul. Count Sir Simonn stalked
the field like the grim reaper about to give the touch of death to any
within his reach. I saw Sir Sion Rhys of Badon surrounded and come out the victor. I
saw female fighters that just plain scared me. The archers stood their
ground serving long-range death while heavy fighters died protecting
them from the onslaught of the enemy. Fighters staggered off the field
torn and beaten down only to breath a few short well-earned breaths, grab
their helms and return to the madness. While all this was going on the
field marshals were dodging death trying to keep some semblance of
order to the battles. Aaron Mudwolf (aka Whitewolf) of Greywood almost
conned me into helping his Viking hoard kidnap our Baron's daughter. I no
longer know Mudwolf for fear of retribution and I feel his Viking hoard
will soon disappear.
I feel the merchants and tavern people put up with the bad weather
with exceptionally optimistic attitudes and look forward to seeing them
again. I caught the bardic performances during court and was awed at the
talent that people have. The Wolf Star people with their drummers and
dancers set a mood in the evening that made you forget the mundane world
we all had to return to but alas it was time to pack it up and go.
My Lady and I would like to thank everyone for allowing us to be a
small part of this event and look forward to seeing old friends and
meeting some new amazing people that only the SCA could produce, until then
Vivat!
P.S. Mudwolf, do not fear the father of the child you took for he is a
fighter and a logical man, fear the mother for she has lost her child!!
In service,
Santiago and Elisabeth of Green Mountain Keep
</TT></PRE></DIV></DIV></DIV>