NK - wise words

[Langston, David R]

I would take credit for this, but everyone knows I am a man of few words, so
I copied these off the net.  
	Wynfrith


Wear Armour 
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, armour would be it. 
The 
long-term benefits of armour have been proven by Dukes, whereas the rest 
of 
my advice has no basis more relaible than my own meandering experience. 
I will dispense this advice now.. 
Enjoy the power and beauty of your sword. Oh, never mind.. You will not 
understand the power and beauty of your sword until it's mushed into a 
broom. But, thrust me, in twenty rounds you'll look back at pictures of 
yourself and recall in a way you you can't grasp now how much 
possibility 
lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as 
you 
imagine.. 
Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as 
effective as trying to block a Duke's axe by screaming in fear. The real 
blows that ends the fight will are apt to be the things that you never 
saw, 
the kind that blind side you around your shield.. 
Do one thing in every bout that scares you.. 
Sing.. 
Don't be reckless with other people's ribcages. Don't put up with people 
who 
are reckless with yours.. 
"Light.." 
Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes 
you're 
behind. The bout is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.. and 
with that guy trying to cave your skull in.. 
Remember the compliments you recieve. Forget the insults. If you succeed 
in 
doing this, tell me how.. 
Keep your old helms. Throw away your old swords.. 
Stretch.. 
Don't feel guilty if you don't know how to fight your opponent. The most 
interesting Counts are still surprised they won. The very most 
interesting 
Dukes didn't know how to fight all their opponents either.. 
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when 
they're 
gone.. 
Maybe you'll win, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll be coronated, maybe you 
won't. Maybe you'll get knocked out in the first round, maybe you'll be 
in 
finals. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or 
berate 
yourself either. You blows are half chance. So are everyone else's.. 
Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of 
what 
other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.. 
Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but on your fallen opponent.. 
Read the rules of the list, even of you are illiterate.. 
Do not read the Order of Precedence. It will only make you feel 
outclassed. 
Get to know your Crown. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be 
nice to your Baron. They're your best link to your Crown.. 
Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should 
hold 
on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because, as 
Crown, you'll have see more geography and lifestyles than you ever 
imagined.. 
Live in Atlantia once, but leave before it makes you invulnerable to 
normal 
blows. 
Live in the Northern Outlands once, but leave before you start accepting 
near misses as killing shots.. 
Accept some inalienable truths: Tournaments always run longer than 
expected. 
Feasts will be late. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll 
fantasize that when you were young, tournaments were reasonable, feasts 
were 
on time, and children respected the Crown.. 
Respect your Crown.. 
Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a squire. Maybe 
you 
have a consort. But it's you standing on the list field. 
Don't mess too much with your helm or by the time you're 40, it will be 
40 
guage. Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who 
supply 
it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the 
past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and 
recycling it for more than it's worth.. 
But trust me on the armour.. 
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