[Steppes] Steppes Fighter Practice - 4-10-2005

[Mike]

Heilsa,

Those who listen to the dire warnings of rain and other things falling 
from the sky missed an excellent day to be in armor and even a better 
practice. The day was indeed overcast with a slight chill to the air and 
the wind providing a varying breeze, although the sun did manage to make 
an appearance before the day was over.

Instruction was provide by Sir Earl Duncan, CinaedOHosey and Lord Hrafn 
in the following areas: sword and shield mechanics, plus the use of  
both a rattan spear and a fiberglass spear.

The normal one-on-one fighting took place and toward at the end of 
practice an impromptu melee or war practice took place. Stay tune for 
more about melee or war practices.

Young Murdoch MacDuncan, the son of Duchess Larissa and Sir Earl Duncan 
got into armor and fought this day. His opponents were his father - Sir 
Duncan and Centurion Morgan. He did not take part in the melee practice 
at this time, need to increase his skills as a heavy fighter before 
progressing.

Sides were chosen for the melee practice:

Centurion Morgan heater & sword
Lord Hrafn spear
Lord Damon kite & sword
Lord Richard heater & sword
Mike heater & sword
Eric heater & sword

vs

Lady Melissa square shield  & sword
Lord CinaedOHosey buckler & sword
Wes square shield & sword
Connor sword & madu
Till spear
Tolan round shield & sword

This melee practice involved open field battles and I believe there was 
6 different scenarios involved and of course de-briefs in between each 
battle.  There was no combat archery involved due to illness.

Centurion Morgan still has rattan available for sell which are the 
proper length for swords.

If you wish to obtain a fiberglass spear, I am taking orders now. This 
spear will be cut so that the finish item will meet the 9ft requirement 
after building up a combat head and covering the end with a cap.

In attendance this day:

Clan Ross:
Duchess Larissa Alwynn Clarewoode of Aquitaine and Sir Earl Duncan 
Arthur Ross with their children:
son - Murdoch MacDuncan (sp?)
daughter - Tressa (sp?)
Centurion Morgan Buchanan and his lady, Lady Ciannait Chaimbuel
Lord Hrafn Olafsson - Steppes Knight Marshal and his lady,  Elizabeta di 
Valore della Rosa
Lord Elias Korstansoen with his lady, Iliana.

Lady Katheryn Cunningghame
Lady Alina Weaver
Lady Icia
Lord CinaedOHosey and his children - Tori, Jon, and Nikko
Lord Damon Xanthns
Lord Richard
Lord Roc the Bold stopped by.

Wes
Mike and his son Mikey.
Till
Tolan
Eric and his lady, Stephanie and children (3)
Neal and Melissa
Connor
Jeremy - day was the 1st time in armor.
Edward stopped by to pick up his helm

and myself - Lord Michael Fray

Number in armor:  15
Youth in armor (age 17): 1
Both parents were present, with father in armor - both father and son 
were on the field and fighting.

Number of children: 7
Total attendance:  36

Weapons and combinations of weapons employed this day:
Sword
Floretine
Sword and Invert sword
Great sword
Madu
Spear - both rattan and fiberglass

Shields employed this day:
Square
Heater
Round
Buckler
Oblong round

Individual fights that I witness this day:

Lord Damon heater & sword vs Melissa square shield & sword
CinaedOHosey kite & sword vs Lord Damon heater & sword
Till heater & sword vs Tolan round & sword
Melissa square & sword vs CinaedOHosey buckler & sword
Wes square & sword vs Mike heater & sword
Lord Richard heater & sword vs Lord Damon heater & sword
Connor sword & madu vs Wes square & sword

Lord Hrafn round & sword vs Jeremy oblong round & sword - this was 
Jeremy's 1st time in armor.
Lord Hrafn provided instruction for the basics of sword and shield.

Eric floretine vs Till floretine

Sir Duncan instructing to Murdoch MacDuncan who was fighting with sword 
& madu vs Centurion Morgan heater & sword

Lord Hrafn round & sword vs Till floretine
Sir Duncan sword & madu vs Eric heater & sword

CinaedOHosey providing instructions to Melissa, Jeremy, Lord Richard, 
Lord Damon, and Eric in both sword and shield and use of the spear.

Tolan round & sword vs Mike heater & sword
Sir Duncan sword & madu vs Wes square & sword
Sir Duncan sword & madu vs Wes square & sword
Till great sword vs Lord Hrafn great sword
Sir Duncan sword & madu vs Centurion Morgan heater & sword
Sir Duncan sword & madu vs Connor sword & madu
Lord Hrafn great sword vs Till great sword
Eric heater & sword vs Mike heater & sword
Wes square & sword vs Tolan round & sword
CinaedOHosey buckler & sword vs Jeremy sword & inverted sword (in place 
of a shield)
Sir Duncan sword & madu vs Mordoch sword & madu
Sir Duncan round & sword vs Connor round & sword
Wes square & sword Eric heater & sword
Lord Hrafn round & sword vs Wes square & sword


Until next week,

Michael Fray