Her SCA Blog

SCA Demo at the Holiday At Home Parade

Diane — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:00:04 +0000

Arts and Crafts

Armored Combat Fighters

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - Official Trailer

Diane — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:00:35 +0000

Here you go. The Official Traile for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Drool over it because I did.

2008 Ohio Reniassance Fesival Joust - Opening Weekend

Diane — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:00:19 +0000

The Barn - Part 6

Diane — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:00:42 +0000

“Can’t you walk? Can’t you hold a sword? Are you afraid of a kender?”
The hobgoblin lunged at the kender as he danced out of the way again and poked the creature in the ribs with his hoopak.
“Damn kender,” the hobgoblin sputtered in guttural, almost unintelligible common.
The kender was about to attack again when a dark shape loomed overhead, blocking out everything.
Eva was trying to hit the bugbear in a vital spot when the shadow fell across the sky. Dragonfear filled her! Without looking up she knew it had to be the black dragon. She heard it scream. A blood curdling sound that rendered her almost immobile. Waiting for the deathblow from the bugbear or an acid stream from the dragon, Eva crouched close to the ground. Elter was in a similar position but with a look of awe on his face.
The bugbear stopped in mid strike. It too fell against the ground as Blaze became visible and leaped into the air at the black dragon. The dragonfear lifted as the black’s attention changed from the ground to the threat now winging toward it.
Eva stood up, ready to attack the bugbear. It too had gotten up but was watching the sky. She looked at Elter and the hobgoblin but they too were watching the dragons. Eva looked up as well keeping an ear out for the bugbear.
Blaze was upon the black quickly. She bellowed a scream. Eva was sure with the open sky that the sound could be heard for miles. The black dragon hissed and opened its mouth to spit acid at the silver dragon. Blaze breathed quickly and a cloud of white mist erupted from her mouth. Eva knew something about silver dragons’ breath weapons but was unsure if Blaze had spit cold at her opponent or paralysis. The black dragon screeched again, but it sounded more from pain as it dove away from Blaze. The silver followed the black down, breathing again and again. Seeing that the black kept shrieking, Eva was sure that Blaze was using cold on her opponent. Eva didn’t know much about black dragons, but she figured that the dragon must live somewhere warm for the cold to be hurting as much as it appeared to be.
A scream of pain came from behind Eva. She glanced at the bugbear she had been fighting but it was still watching the sky. Eva turned her attention to the barn and saw the blinded bugbear come out of the foliage. The weaponless creature was hoping back and forth on its feet. Apparently the caltrips had done their job. From the short distance between the two, Eva could tell that the bugbear could only see out of one eye. Her focus changed again as she heard another howl from the sky. The black dragon was flying away as fast as its wings would carry it. Blaze was shrieking after it, pursuing the black a short distance.
Then the bugbear in front of her tried to attack again. Eva brought her sword up to defend against the blow and hoped the other bugbear did not try to attack from the rear.
“Is that how you use a sword? No wonder you can’t hit me.” Elter was taunting the hobgoblin again. It growled at him.
After stopping the bugbear’s sword, Eva again slashed at it. This time the blade hit home and the bugbear howled in pain as a cut appeared on its fighting arm, deep and long. Eva pressed her advantage and hit the bugbear’s hand, forcing the mace barely clutched in its grip to drop.
Blaze’s shadow covered the ground as she flew back. Eva barely paid attention to the lack of sunlight. She drew her sword back to cut her enemy again when the creature began to laugh. Too late Eva realized that she had been set up and the other bugbear was almost upon her, an evil grin on its’ face. But just as the second bugbear was about to attack, Blaze dove toward the ground and unleashed her dragonfear on the three evil creatures. Immediately the three dropped to the ground and then just as quickly jumped up and ran off into the woods, the third creature hobbling on its hurt feet.
Elter came over to stand by Eva.
“That was fun. That hobgoblin couldn’t fight for anything.” Elter grinned broadly.
Eva just looked at him and smiled. Blaze landed nearby.

SCA in a Parade: An Experience

Diane — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:00:26 +0000

Yesterday, being Labor Day, there was a parade in my town with various organizations, schools, groups, and other people in the parade to entertain the locals. When I was in high school I walked in the parade with the group I was in then. Being in the SCA now I found out they march every year to promote the organization, help recruit, and just kind of show off. We also have a demonstration after the parade for people to come and see what we are about. I decided to march in the parade with the group.

Anyone who wants to march is allowed. There are armored combat fighters who stop every once in while to battle each other to applause and cheers. I didn’t actually count but we had 5-6 fighters. They are in full gear like when they really fight, because they are hitting almost as hard as during actual combat. The only difference here is that all the shots are arm, shoulder, and body since no one is going to die and leg shots are not allowed so everyone can still walk.

We also had one archer, one of the comedic actors, one boffer fighter in full gear, one boffer carrying a sword only, a few children in garb, one gentleman in garb and several ladies in garb. The gentleman and one of the ladies in garb had pamphlets to hand out to those who seemed interested in what we were wearing or did while we marched. We also had a banner to show off who we were. It was a generic SCA banner that did say Society for Creative Anachronism. I helped carry the banner by choice. I had decided previously I wasn’t going to try and fight and walk.

It was hot and miserable; even in short sleeves and thin material. It wasn’t a light color, unfortunately, but I don’t own many in light colors yet. Of course most people were wearing long sleeves so they weren’t any better off than me. We try to keep up with the cars in front of us, which was the group in front of us. We did ok for a while, but when we got up to where they announced each group, somehow they got ahead of us by a lot. And we ended up very spread out as well from the fighters stopping to fight. The announcers also said anachronism wrong. I think we should tell them how to pronounce it prior. Some people applauded as we walked. Probably those that know what we are about already. At one point I heard a bunch of little kids point at the fighters and say “Look Knights”. I had to laugh since not all fighters are.

At the end we all were hot, sweaty, and grateful for the water that had been hidden in the wagon which was pulled along by someone. We all drank to cool off and were sprayed with water bottles as well. Then we made the short trek back to where the demo location was going to be a little later. It was a fun experience I will definitely do again. Unfortunately there are not any pictures yet but once I have some, I will post them.

Middle English Vocabulary Education August 25-29

Diane — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:00:26 +0000

1) Hithe (n.) - A small port; a wharf.

For now is Culham /hithe/ i-com to an ende,
An al the contre the better, and no man the worse.

- Lelandi Itinerarium

Pronunciation: /hiT@/

2) Stum (n.) - Strong new wine, used for strengthening weak liquor.
According to Howell, stooming wine was effected by putting herbs and
infusions into it.

There strength of fancy, to it sweetness joynes,
Unmixt with water, nor /stum’d/ with strong lines.

- Brome’s Songs, 1661

Then to the Queen, let the next advance,
With all loyal lads of true English race;
That scorn the /stum’d/ notion of Spain and France.

- Songs of the London Prentices

Pronunciation: /stum/

3) Dwale (n.) - The night-shade. It is highly narcotic, and hence used
to express a lethargic disease.

Whenne Joseph had tolde this tale,
Thei fel as thei had dronken /dwale/,
Grovelynge doun on erthe plat.

- Cursor Mundi, MS. Coll. Trin. Cantab.

Pronunciation: /dwAl@/

4) Lingel (n.) - A shoemaker’s thread.

The cobler of Caunterburie, armed with his aul,
his /lingel/, and his last, presents himselfe a judiciall
censor of other mens writinges.

- The Cobler of Caunterburie, 1590

Pronunciation: /lingEl/

5) Brigantayle (n.) - Bringandine, an extremely pliable kind of armour,
consisting of small plates of iron sewn upon quilted linen or leather.

Of armis or of /brigantayle/,
Stood nothynge thanne upon batayle.

- Gower, MS. Soc. Antiq. 134

Pronunciation: /brigAntaIl@/

SCA Midrealm Pennsic War 37, 2008

Diane — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:00:06 +0000

Here are some videos of battles fought at this year’s Pennsic War

10 Man Melee

Unbelted Champion Tournament

Allied Champion Battle

Thoughts on the Season Finale of BBC America’s Robin Hood

Diane — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:00:46 +0000

With last week’s announcement of Harry Potter being pushed back, I didn’t get this posted as I wanted.
The tale of Robin Hood and his merry men is fairly well known. They lived in the woods, caused trouble for Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham until King Richard’s return, Robin and Marion were sweethearts who wanted to marry, those things. Over the years the tale has been told in various films. BBC America’s TV series is the first I know to portray the hero of the poor and England in a long format. I watched the first part of season one a few episodes in and was immediately hooked. When it ended I couldn’t wait until the following spring to see the second season (it is filmed with all English actors and broadcast in Europe in the fall and then America receives it the following spring when the season has ended in Europe). However the season finale of BBC America’s Robin Hood left me in shock and wonder.
Killing of characters in tv series is not new. Nor is it new to kill off main characters, although that is a little rarer. But how can you kill of such an important character as Maid Marion? She is what Robin strives for in the history. What makes him want to be a good man. Of course in the BBC America series Robin is shown to have been a nobleman who came back from the war early and then lost his lands and title by opposing Prince John and the Sheriff. His robbing the rich to help the poor is payback and to anger the Sheriff since Prince John is only mentioned in this series.
I had read, before the season began in America, something briefly that sounded like Maid Marion left or was killed off. I didn’t mean to read it and as soon as I saw it would spoil the season for me, quit. But the whole time the thought was in the back of my head of could they really kill her off? She is too important in my opinion to do that but apparently the producers and writers didn’t think as much. When they showed the previews for the season finale and said some would not return, I still did not believe she would be killed. So when her death came about I was actually shocked. I even cried because now what is Robin going to do to keep him level. I guess this is what will keep him going and even make season 3 about revenge instead of redemption.
The other thing that bugged me was that Will Scarlett stayed behind with Djaq. Djaq was an interesting addition as a woman and Sarasin. But she is not actually from the history of Robin Hood. Thus her leaving is not as wrong. Don’t get me wrong, I love her character and what she brings to the group but she was not part of it originally, so it’s not as much of a loss. However Will Scarlett staying behind is just as wrong as Marion’s death. Next to Little John, Will Scarlett is the most famous of Robin Hood’s merry men. Actually I can not think of any other names mentioned in history than those three.
It could be with this parting, Robin will return again to the Holy Land and we will see the two again. But I do not understand how the group can have the same dynamics without those that are famed to have run with Robin. Of course it could also be that the writer’s needed a smaller group. So Robin, Munch, John, and Alan again make that up. Easier to have Alan and Munch sort of be Will in two people. I have no real way of knowing, that is just my speculation.
I will not sign off on the show just because they got rid of two of my favorite characters. If that would be the case for me, I would have quit watching Lost a long time ago too. But I will try not to get as attached to the characters as I am. This show is more in following with my passion of medieval history so I am willing to forgive. As long as they show why they did what they did and don’t divert completely from the history of Robin Hood.

The Barn - Part 5

Diane — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:00:58 +0000

Eva turned, walked to the barn and pushed her way into the brush. It was dark in between the brush and the barn. Her dark green tunic and leggings helped her blend in. It smelled of old wood, grass, leaves, mold, and something else. Eva thought the other smell might be the dragon eggs but she wasn’t sure if they gave off an odor or not. Soon Elter joined her.
Eva looked at him and said, “You have to be quiet for this to work.”
Elter nodded but the smile on his face made her worry. Eva wasn’t sure how long they would have to wait but within a few minutes the ground outside was getting dark. Eva didn’t think it was due to a storm.
Blaze breathed in rapidly. Eva tried to locate her but couldn’t see her anywhere. She had gone invisible again apparently trying to surprise her own enemy. Eva tried to look up and see the other dragon but couldn’t without revealing herself.
“It’s a black.” Blaze whispered. She had to be nearby.
Eva’s attention changed from the sky to the trees due to the great ruckus coming from there. The bugbears and hobgoblins were obviously not expecting any resistance and thus were not being careful or quiet. Elter started to step out and Eva grabbed him shaking her head.
“Just a little longer.”
The four creatures emerged. Eva wrinkled her nose in disgust as Elter stared, his mouth moving but no words coming from it. The four creatures were ugly indeed.
The bugbears were both seven-feet tall, with hair and muscles all over their bodies. Wedge shaped ears stuck out on top of their heads, looking slightly elvish, but were too hideous to be mistaken as such. One was brown while the other a deep red. Each wore leather that was torn and old but still covered their bodies. Gaping mouths revealed long sharp fangs. Clutched in their hands were weapons. One carried a mace and a spear while the other a spear and a war hammer. Eva was worried about the spears but let the thought pass knowing the mace and war hammer could be more fatal.
The hobgoblins were not much shorter, at about six and a half feet tall and burly looking. They were also hairy but not very muscular. Both were dark gray with blue noses, but one had a dark red face while the other a red-orange face. They both wore blood red clothes and carried swords. The hobgoblin with the red-orange face also had a whip at his side but that weapon did not worry Eva too much.
They appeared to be speaking to each other in a harsh language Eva didn’t recognize.
She looked at Elter and nodded. Aiming the crossbow at one of the hobgoblins, she took care to aim for a vital spot, and let the bolt loose. At the same time Elter was aiming with many small sharp stones and some nails he had found. His timing was almost the same as Eva’s and the missiles seemed to fly together at their different targets.
Eva’s bolt hit home, right into the chest of the closest hobgoblin and he fell like an ox, dead almost instantly. Elter hit one of the bugbears in the eyes, blinding it so that it could not fight. The other two creatures immediately went into a defensive stance, looking where the attack had come from. Eva jumped out, sword in hand. Elter ran out beside her, quickly smiling at Eva.
The remaining bugbear threw the spear at Eva. It flew past her far enough away that she didn’t have to move to avoid it. Then it raised the mace clutched in its other hand, a war cry erupting from its mouth as it ran toward her.
Eva had downed the hobgoblin with the whip. Its brethren took a moment to assess the situation, see who the enemy was, and also run toward Eva.
The two creatures closed the short distance quickly. Then the hobgoblin fell as Elter tripped it with his hoopak. It landed hard, the sword in its hand skidding way in the grass. Eva turned her attention to the bugbear as it attacked her.
The bugbear brought the mace down, trying to crush the elf’s skull. Eva ducked out of the way and counterattacked with her sword, coming in on top of the bugbear’s open arm. It howled as the blade cut the skin. But it was shallow and did not have the effect Eva hoped.
The downed hobgoblin cursed in its own language. Elter jumped back as the creature tried to grab his leg. As the hobgoblin got up, Elter danced around it.

Middle English Vocabulary Education August 18-21

Diane — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:00:21 +0000

For some reason there wasn’t a word of the day on Friday. So this week we only get 4 new words to learn.

1) Peat (n.) - A delicate person.

A citizen and his wife the other day
Both riding on one horse, upon the way
I overtook, the wench a pretty peat,
And (by her eye) well fitting for the seat.

- Donne’s Poems

Pronunciation: /pEt/

2) Cendal (n.) - A species of rich thin silken stuff, very highly esteemed.

Her gomfainoun was of cendal Ynde,
Of gold ther were on thre coronne.

- Arthour and Merlin

Pronunciation: /sEndAl/

3) Sclatyre (v.) - To be negligent.

/Sclatyre/ thy clothys bothe schort and syde,
Passyng all mennes syse.

- MS. Cantab. Ff. ii. 38

Pronunciation: /sklAtir@/

4) Drihe (v.) - To endure.

For as me thenketh, I myght /drihe/
Without slepe to waken ever,
So that I scholde noght dissever
Fro hir in whom is al my lyght.

- Gower, MS. Cantab. Ff. i. 6

Pronunciation: /drih@/