[Steppes] Steppes Fighter Practice - 10-10-04

[Greg Shetler]

Very poetic, Mike - thanks as always for the report.

Sorry I didn't join y'all - wet fields and I don't mix well.  I slip and
slide, and fall and pull things.  Perhaps in two weeks... :D

Dux

-----Original Message-----
From: steppes-bounces+mordockvonrugen=comcast.net at ansteorra.org
[mailto:steppes-bounces+mordockvonrugen=comcast.net at ansteorra.org] On Behalf
Of Mike
Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2004 11:59 PM
To: steppes at ansteorra.org; SteppesFP at yahoogroups.com;
Condottieri_Reports at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Steppes] Steppes Fighter Practice - 10-10-04

Listen! the wind is rising,
and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings,
now for October eves!

Autumn is here;
Skies are gray, but hearts are mellow,

The skies were indeed gray and overcast.
Woke to gentle patter upon pane
Cool morning,
Too pleasant to remain
Wasting thoughts upon images
That are flat of other warriors
Upon a far different field of honor

So rose and made ready
Venture forth to be
Greeted by Prince of Fall
As the Queen of Summer bid farewell
While the King of Winter waits impatiently

Yes, fighter practice this Sunday has come and gone.
Perhaps those who travel upon paths of wet
Are those that are truly committed
Yet no reports of mass escapes were heard
And Town Crier(s) remain silent
While those who ensure peace and safety
Just slow their travel and wave
While shaking their heads
For those that stood upon that meadow
In armor and fought

Yes, there was mist
The grass was indeed wet,
The ground remain firm
Upon where the fighters
Faced each other.

The mist stopped around 2:30 PM or so. Those who present don their 
fighting gear.
The sky remain overcast. The mist did return for a couple of minutes 
several times. This only added to the enjoyment of the fighters.

The park drains extremely well and it is not in a flood plain nor is 
there standing water even several days of rain. Witness this past June 
in which we had 18 days of rain and the park was available for fighter 
practice each Sunday.

In attendance this afternoon:

Hosey and his children - Tori, Jon, and Nikko.
Mike and his son - Mikey.
Hrafn
Clint
Bear and his Lady Sarah - Bear is a squire to Sir Aaron.
and myself - Michael Fray

People in armor and fighting:
Hosey, Hrafn, Clint, and Mike.

total of 4 in armor.

Total attendance: 10

Fights that I recall:

There is music in the meadows, in the air-
Sounds of rattan

Hosey with a buckler vs Clint with square shield - both with swords.

Hrafn instructing Mike in the basics of heavy fighting. This Sunday was 
Mike's 1st time in armor.

Hosey instructing Clint in shot and range mechanicals - following the 
old German style of training. Both using single swords.

Hrafn with buckler vs Mike with round shield, both with swords. 
Proceeding at Mike's pace.

Clint with square shield vs Hrafn with buckler both with swords.

Hosey provided additional instructions to Mike in shot and range 
mechanicals.

Hrafn with round shield vs Hosey with buckler both with swords.

A little abit about how some of us view the weather - we will be there 
and hang out like we did under the permanent pavilion until the mist had 
stopped or not stop as the case may be.

Or if the rain is falling heavy, then we will have a social gathering 
and then all are welcome to join the rest of us in dinner at one of the 
local eateries.

The only times that we have not shown was due to being at an event or 
the roads are iced over.

We have been there when it the temperatures were in the 30's with a 
North wind gusting to 30 mph, and a couple of fighters fought.

It's all a farce, -these tales they tell
About the breezes sighing,
And moans astir o'er field and dell,
Because the year is dying.

So, if the weather is gray and the roads were not coated in white - and 
no message has appeared to state otherwise -

Then the meadow will once more ring with the sweet music of rattan.

This Sunday, we visit a BBQ place for all you can eat for less than $14 
apiece, including drink.

Michael Fray








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