[Steppes] Steppes Fighter Practice - 5-21-2005

[Mike]

Heilsa,

The fighter practice official starts at 2 PM and runs until 6 PM. It can 
run later, depends upon who is in armor and wish to continue to 
practice. Sometimes it will only stop when the sun sets. I had two types 
of shade up and available for one and all. Thanks to all of you who 
assisted in getting the shade up and the tear down. I will continue to 
bring out the two different types for the rest of the summer. If others 
wish to bring out a shade pavilion, then please do so.

Number of people fighting: 20
Number of children:  7
Total attendance:  43

The park this day was overflowing, what with our group on the north end, 
a boy scout troop on the east end and on the south end under the city's 
pavilion was a hugh church group that had gather for a BBQ, plus the 
normal group of people who are always enjoying the park on a Sunday 
afternoon. As always, a nice gathering of people, who were drawn to 
watch the fighting and of course, questions and information was provided 
to them both in verbal response and giving out of web sites.

The day was clear and still, there was some breeze which at times were 
more of a tease to things that had come before. Individuals were calling 
for the falling of records but not the temperature. It was 99 degrees, 
while it seem to be 110.  By  5 or 6 PM later that day, it actually felt 
cooler or did we just melt away? :-)

Everyone paced themselves and were drinking fluids and sharing them as 
well.  Yes, the heat and humidity were brutal - this is tournament 
season here in this kingdom, so there is no escape - the heat will 
always be present and this is Texas.  I can not stress the important of 
drinking water prior to coming out and DOES NOT mean the morning of 
practice. Each of you need to be increasing your water intake starting 
on Thursday, right through Sunday.

Items to support yourself the day of practice, each of you need to think 
along the lines of 2 gallons of water - especially if you are fighting, 
in addition to other types of liquid, such as Gatorade and snacks - such 
as pickles, fruit, etc...  There are two water fountains in the park as 
well. I may get "hit" for this, there are ice cream trucks that come 
through the park and you could get something ice cold from them as 
well.  If you have chairs, bring them or you can go out to one of the 
more modern merchants and purchase one or two or whatever is your needs. 
These same chairs can also be used at events.

Duchess Larissa suggested about waterbearing for the fighters and others 
at the regular practices. This would be an excellent opportunity for 
training to anyone who might wish to be a waterbearer at events - for 
example: Gothic Wars, Elfsea Defender, 3 Kings, Autumn Melees, Crown 
Tournament, Gulf Wars, etc...  Some of these events, have points to 
determine who the winner is of the over all War, other than just 
fighting and being a waterbearer is a service and it has points that 
could be earned. It would also endure each one of you who does waterbear 
to the fighters. One or two other individuals suggested that they would 
start bring some additional water, still each one who does come out to 
practice it is up to you to supply your own water and/or drinks.

I listed the attendance of all who comes out to the practice, not just 
the fighters, this is to recognize your efforts in just attending. The 
wonderful support that is being shown by each of you to the fighters in 
just watching the practice is outstanding. - Thank You for coming out 
and for Your wonderfully support!

To get the maximum amount of practice/training, would suggest arriving 
as close to start time (2 PM) as possible. If possible come early, there 
are usual people in the park by 1 PM or so.  We all recognized that this 
is a game and no one gets paid for playing, and there are some people 
who manage to come out on Sunday afternoons after getting off of work 
and there are others will leave practice and go to work later that 
night. Please come out and play with us no matter what time you can make 
it out.

The future plans for the regular practice continuing with one-on-one or 
tournament training at the beginning of each practice for about 90 
minutes and/or 2 hours, then get some melee training.  And yes, the plan 
calls for combat archery to be involved in the melee training as well. 

The future calls for having a War practice the 1st Sunday of each month.

Although some people do NOT have their own armor at this time and so 
must wait until the loaner armor arrives before suiting up. One of the 
side benefits by arriving early is that there is time to discuss, ask 
and answers questions and concerns, without cutting into actually 
practice time.  We all want the same thing here, that is for each and 
everyone of you in armor and on the field everytime that you come out. 
In fact, invite your friends and we will get them into armor as well.

There are a number of people who are present at practice, who will 
assist in answering questions, there are various patterns for armor 
available as well or the necessary information on where to locate them 
on the web, where to acquire either the raw materials (leather and 
plastic) and/or whom one should be seeking out to purchase these items, 
in some cases, tools are available and the necessary advice on how to 
properly use them or where to acquire them.  The major item that we all 
require is the helm and does take some major commitment ($$ dollars), 
just a fact of playing this game and there are "Good" resources for 
acquiring this item, need to ask before you buy. This also applies to 
armor in general as well, you can buy an entire set of armor from the 
web, again Please ask one of us before you buy, this to insure that you 
will be getting "good" quality armor that meets SCA standards.

Centurion Morgan, who is one of the regular attendees along with his 
lady - Lady Ciannait Chaimbuel,  has a supply of rattan that is 
available for those who wish to start making their swords, glaives, 
etc..., shields can be made from plywood and there are locations in 
which one can purchase metal for shields.  Once again, all you have to 
do is ask and someone will only be to happy to answer.

Lady Chiara stopped by to work on her personal armor, she has an 
excellent piece of upper body armor that was design for a woman, would 
suggest that all of our lady fighters contact her and see if the design 
would be of benefit. Then she had to leave for a birthday party, if I 
recall it was for her daughter.

I learned that HL Mary Elisabeth, wife of Lord Richard of Durnsford 
(Squire to Sir Earl Duncan) was in the hospital over the weekend and 
believe that she may have been release by now. Reason for the hospital 
was due to a spider bite. Wishing both of you and family well.
 
The tournament squares of 25 feet each were laid with care by 
CinaedOHosey and his kids - Tori, Jon, and Nikko with the hope that they 
would be filled to overflowing later that afternoon. The bear pit within 
the squares will continue - the fighters will fight and the loser will 
remain while the winner will advanced to the next skill level.

One-on-one training and instruction as always was provided for by the 
more advanced fighters to one and all.

If I recall correctly, Centurion Morgan, as the Central Region Knight 
Marshal, authorized another fighter this day, Zach. For those of you who 
do not know Centurion Morgan, I would suggest that you speak with him.  
He is one of the people who will answer questions on a wide range of 
subjects, especially armor and whom to purchase said items from. Plus, 
he is the one who will need to authorized you as a heavy fighter.

On the subject of authorizations - if you have been authorized as a 
heavy fighter, there is still an additional authorization if you wish to 
use a fiberglass spear. In fact, would recommend that each of you do 
become familiar in the proper use of such. There are 2 fiberglass 
spears, plus a rattan spear that I bring to each practice which can be 
used for training purposes. And I have placed an order for 2 more 
fiberglass poles for Lord Damon and lady Rose, which should be here 
sometime in June, which will have to be built into spears to meet SCA 
standards. Lord Hrafn and Till recently received the fiberglass poles 
and they just need to build them into spears to meet SCA standards.

Josh, fiancee of lady Melanie, attended fighter practice for the 1st 
time this day and this was his 1st time in armor. Lord Hrafn, Steppes 
Knight Marshal, started the basic steps of training him in the arts of 
being a heavy fighter.

Spear training conducted by Lord CinaedOHosey:
Rose with fiberglass spear vs Lord Damon with fiberglass spear.

A word on spear training, the type of training being taught by Lord 
CinaedOHosey will increase one's upper body strength, plus your 
endurance and would allow someone to get on the SCA battlefield while 
having fun in the least amount of time. Spear is one of the easier forms 
of SCA fighting that one could learn and achieve a proficiency in, with 
the least amount of time as compared to the other forms, i.e., sword and 
shield, combat archery, etc...

Sideline activities:
Sandy, member of Clann Ross, was working on new garb for Lincoln while 
Duchess Larissa provided advice.
HL Katheryn Cunningghame - Steppes Hospitaler and of House Porto - was 
doing some sewing.
Lady Icia, brought out the new SCA signs for the barony, just in time 
for Warlord.
L. Rose of Naareth, brought some favors, not sure what they were.
Akiama of the Long Roads, sews and took requests for summer garb. At 
least one fighter, Lord Damon in need of garb, step up and got measured 
in between fights. If other people who sew and would like to assist both 
the fighters and the latest arrivals to this game that we all enjoy, who 
do not sew in getting garb for them, please come out and meet, let them 
know that you are willing to assist them in.  I do sew after a fashion, 
just look at my quiver that should give an idea of my level of 
experience or rather lack of. :-)
And the usual social gathering in the shade.

This can not be stated enough - I will stated based upon the attendance 
todate, the interest by each and everyone of the fighters to come and 
fight, plus those who are attending to support the fighters - is 
outstanding. To best of my knowledge - Steppes has one of the largest 
attended heavy fighter practices in this entire Kingdom. The reason for 
this, each one of you have made the effort to come out and to keep 
coming. I wish to thank each and everyone of you for making this effort!

As always, a number of us gather after a practice for dinner and discuss 
the fighting that was experienced earlier and other subjects.  Sir 
Duncan and Don Robert (Squire to Sir Duncan)  joined those of us who 
went to dinner after the practice. Sir Duncan was back from Austin and 
Don Robert  just back from Gleann Abhann Crown List at Camp Couchdale, 
Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Next weekend is Steppes Warlord. Some plan on being there the entire 
weekend, others will day tripping one day or other, others will not and 
will be in the park Sunday afternoon same time as regular practice time. 
There will be no loaner armor available.

In attendance this day:

Clan Ross:
Duchess Larissa Alwynn Clarewoode of Aquitaine
    and with their children:
        son - Murdoch MacDuncan
        daughter - Tressa
Centurion Morgan Buchanan (Squire to Sir Earl Duncan)  - Central Region 
Knight Marshal
     and his lady, Lady Ciannait Chaimbuel
Lord Richard of Durnsford (Squire to Sir Earl Duncan)
Lady Icia
Lord Hrafn Olafsson (Squire to Sir Earl Duncan) - Steppes Knight Marshal
     and his lady,
        Lady Elizabeta di Valore della Rosa (Apprentice to Duchess Larissa)
Lincoln
     and his lady, Sandy,
Eric and his lady, Stephanie
     and their children: Katherin, Michael, and Brandon

Condottieri:
Lord CinaedOHosey and children
   Tori, Jon, and Nikko
Lord Michael Fray

Fray:
Milo
Thomas
and their friend - Zach

House Porto:
HL Katheryn Cunningghame - Steppes Hospitaler

Lady Chiara Francecsa Arianna d'Onofrio - Captain of the Steppes 
Baronial Guard.
Lady Honour du Bois
Lord Damon Xanthns

Kaneki no Ryuto Akimitsu,
    and his lady, Hilliary
Matthew,
   and his lady, L. Rose of Naareth
Josh,
    and his lady, Melanie
Demosthaese
Ashley
Akiama of the Long Roads
Rose
Byorn inn Svarti
Cuhlwch
Doc

Weapons used this day:
Sword
Fiberglass spear
Rattan spear

Shields used this day:
Heater
Round
Buckler
Rectangle Shield

Fights that I witness this day:

Lord Richard with round and sword vs Lord Damon with round and sword
Lord Richard with round and sword vs Lord Hrafn with round and sword
Lincoln with heater and sword vs Milo with heater and sword
Lord Richard with round and sword vs Eric with heater and sword
Morgan with heater and sword vs Zach with round and sword
Lord Richard with round and sword vs Lincoln with heater and sword
Centurion Morgan with heater and sword vs Zach with round and sword
Murdoch MacDuncan with heater and sword vs Eric with heater and sword
Lord CinaedOHosey with buckler and sword vs Lord Hrafn with round and sword
Doc with heater and sword vs Centurion Morgan with heater and sword
Lord Damon with buckler and sword vs Lord Richard with round and sword
Lord Richard with round and sword  vs Thomas with round and sword
Lord Hrafn with round and sword vs Lord Damon with buckler and sword
Lord Damon with buckler and sword vs Centurion Morgan with heater and sword
Doc with heater and sword vs Milo with heater and sword
Lincoln with heater and sword vs Doc with heater and sword
Eric with heater and sword vs Lord CinaedOHosey with buckler and sword
Centurion Morgan with heater and sword vs Lord Hrafn with round and sword
Lord CinaedOHosey with buckler and sword vs Lord Damon with buckler and 
sword
Lord CinaedOHosey with buckler and sword vs Lord Hrafn with round and sword
Byorn with heater and sword vs Lord Damon with heater and sword
Murdoch MacDuncan with heater and sword vs Eric with heater and sword
Melanie with round and sword vs Matthew with buckler and sword
Centurion Morgan with heater and sword vs Cuhlwch with round and sword
Lady Honour with buckler and sword vs Lord CinaedOHosey with buckler and 
sword
Centurion with heater and sword vs Cuhlwch with round and sword
Matthew with heater and sword vs Eric with heater and sword
Doc with heater and sword vs Lord Damon with heater and sword
Lord Hrafn with round sword vs Josh with round and sword
Demosthaese with round sword vs Lord Richard with round and sword


YIS,

Lord Michael Fray
  Combat Archer for the Condottieri
  King's Archer
  Steppes Deputy Knight Marshal
  Steppes Deputy Hospitaler