Aug 8th - The Field Battle and Debauchery Unlimited
"If you feel up to it, meet me at that tent over there tomorrow at 9AM," said Sterling the afternoon prior. Which means meet him at Bhakail campsite at his tent, and this after a compliment difficult to ignore.
The alarm clock rang at 7:30. I'd not remembered setting it the evening before but got up anyway and came to sit in my usual chair by the table outside the tent, looking up at the bright sky with clouds in it promising rain. Felt somewhat normal today on waking. Looked at the pavilion containing my armor, took my bottle to fill it with water for the usual hydration routine, adding powdered Gatorade, trying to tell myself I wasn't sure yet whether or not I was going to armor up today. Last day, last battle, last chance to redeem the failures of last two days. Like hell I wasn't going to armor up. I had to earn my party this evening.
About 8:55 I arrived at Bhakail; although Sterling had been partying he was charged and ready to go. One of my other buddies was still staggering around insisting he was getting into his armor. Sure he was. I threatened him with telling the marshals and having his auth car pulled; better this way as I suspected the first helm hit would ruin his entire day. Plus his stomach didn't seem all that steady.
Sterling, his other student Darius and I began walking up the road "to meet some people"; at a crossroads we met an elderly bagpiper at which we were instructed to divest ourselves of helm, shields and swords in order to walk to the edges of the known world to a small band or mercenaries, about six of them. Introductions all around, and back we were to the crossroads, told to pick up our gear. Sterling asked the bagpiper was he ready, and gets behind him.
I think there are a few experiences which stand out in a lifetime, but this was one of them. Being piped onto the field, just the eight of us following the Baronial Champion of the Known World to his pavilion way across the field with hundreds of fighters and onlookers observing had to be one of them. I cannot express the swelling of pride and excitement I felt, especially when I saw my own folks from Bhakail watching as well. Hard pressed to keep serious and keep a wide grin off my face as we went across that very long field. Highly suitable for my highlands persona to walk into battle with accompanied by bagpipes, my black and white tabard in contrast to merc severe black.
Horace, aka Josh and the first person ever to teach my anything about playing with swords walked at a respectable distance from our group along with my own Prince Darius. He did say something about some jail work release program, looking straight at me while doing do but he can get away with this with me, and I know he was teasing, so I saluted him with the sword and kept going not being able at this point stop myself from that grin but perhaps I'd earned the right just getting out of bed this morning.
The Field Battle
A series of 5 non resurrection battles, actually, each with a different objective.
Battle 1: Got ass kicked very quickly by a polearm vs Mid-Realm and allies. It's getting cloudy above. I hear thunder. Praying for no lightening.
Battle 2: Hit by friendly sword from behind. Damn. Rain is beginning.
Battle 3: King Conrad comes up to us. This is a three sided battle. He says, forget about hitting the red tapes. Go hit the allies instead, turn around, run at the red tapes and then drop everything and hug them. This fuzzy bear attitude confused the heck out of us but ya know orders are orders. Then he switches place with the King we're supposed to kill in the middle of the yellow tapes. I look at Sterling, he tells me to follow the last orders received. Well enough. The plan goes off as expected. I kill a couple folks, then get beat up by about 4-5 guys with swords, spears and polearms. Fair enough.
Battle 4: East Kingdom and Mid-Realm fighting together against the allies. Not quite sure which color tape we are supposed to go after this time so Sterling says if it even looks like it wants to go after us, kill it and let it get sorted out later. I like Sterling's simple ways of seeing the world. Works for me.
We break left, line up against a wall of yet again spears and polearms, who look terrified when Sterling has us charge them . I fall back after a spear hits my shield but the important part is that I trip over my own feet on the terrain and fall, I AM NOT DEAD. They have not realized this I see with a certain glee as I rise. Just to be careful I make my voice very loud, just to make sure I have their attention so they can't say I hit them from behind, damn red tapes that they are, looking at where Sterling went rather than at their feet, where they assume I am dead.
"Excuse me, M'lord!" I say as I rise, just as I have been taught to do, to get their attention. Once I have their attention all is fair game. Lined up like birds on a wire, one, two, three I get three perfect shots to their helms and should have continued but I hesitated and was consequently dropped by a spear to the gut as my shield was not in place, trying not to howl laughing at their disgusted expressions. They could have at least had the courtesy to drop and play dead like they're supposed to, I am grumbling to myself as I walk back to the Champion's pavilion.
Battle 5: Again, fighting the allies. Raining has stopped fro the present and the sun's out again. I am impatient in hunting this round but was winning against one dude when the enemy hit me from behind. I was unsure as to whether to take this shot because I knew he was behind me and did not know it rules called for taking the shot in this case. Being so new I did but later found out could have turned on guard and faced that person one on one. Next time, perhaps. It was still fun.
No piping off the field, though but that's quite alright as I am tired and have to use the bathroom, wanting to get out of my armor as quickly as possible today. I am also truly hungry for the first time in two days and have promised myself a big plate of nachos from the food court since Monday. I acquire potty, shower and nachos in short order and I am content. Ken says it was good to see my in armor again and I am thinking it was good to BE in armor again and am already planning what I need to train in next. I need to nap a bit before Baroness Isabella's party this evening.
The Party
Oh my. So much to tell. I wore a brightly striped ghawazee coat and belly dance skirt rather than my customary highlands garb to the party. My neighbor Heather and I went together to the party, which was conveniently down the road at the Silver Horde camp. It was women only until midnight, with male servers who would do just about anything and about 25 different kinds of home brewed mead, also, a bar which would rival that of most taverns.
Today's song is a tribute to that party. The Baroness herself sang many of the last verses, not all of which are here but all geared to more female tastes.
365 day Challenge Song of the Day
The Moose Song (female version, as sung by Baroness Isabella), chorus only and with plenty of alcohol imbibed
Moose, moose, I likes a moose,
I've never had anything quite like a moose.
I've had lots of lovers, my life has been loose,
But I've never had anything quite like a moose.
The alarm clock rang at 7:30. I'd not remembered setting it the evening before but got up anyway and came to sit in my usual chair by the table outside the tent, looking up at the bright sky with clouds in it promising rain. Felt somewhat normal today on waking. Looked at the pavilion containing my armor, took my bottle to fill it with water for the usual hydration routine, adding powdered Gatorade, trying to tell myself I wasn't sure yet whether or not I was going to armor up today. Last day, last battle, last chance to redeem the failures of last two days. Like hell I wasn't going to armor up. I had to earn my party this evening.
About 8:55 I arrived at Bhakail; although Sterling had been partying he was charged and ready to go. One of my other buddies was still staggering around insisting he was getting into his armor. Sure he was. I threatened him with telling the marshals and having his auth car pulled; better this way as I suspected the first helm hit would ruin his entire day. Plus his stomach didn't seem all that steady.
Sterling, his other student Darius and I began walking up the road "to meet some people"; at a crossroads we met an elderly bagpiper at which we were instructed to divest ourselves of helm, shields and swords in order to walk to the edges of the known world to a small band or mercenaries, about six of them. Introductions all around, and back we were to the crossroads, told to pick up our gear. Sterling asked the bagpiper was he ready, and gets behind him.
I think there are a few experiences which stand out in a lifetime, but this was one of them. Being piped onto the field, just the eight of us following the Baronial Champion of the Known World to his pavilion way across the field with hundreds of fighters and onlookers observing had to be one of them. I cannot express the swelling of pride and excitement I felt, especially when I saw my own folks from Bhakail watching as well. Hard pressed to keep serious and keep a wide grin off my face as we went across that very long field. Highly suitable for my highlands persona to walk into battle with accompanied by bagpipes, my black and white tabard in contrast to merc severe black.
Horace, aka Josh and the first person ever to teach my anything about playing with swords walked at a respectable distance from our group along with my own Prince Darius. He did say something about some jail work release program, looking straight at me while doing do but he can get away with this with me, and I know he was teasing, so I saluted him with the sword and kept going not being able at this point stop myself from that grin but perhaps I'd earned the right just getting out of bed this morning.
The Field Battle
A series of 5 non resurrection battles, actually, each with a different objective.
Battle 1: Got ass kicked very quickly by a polearm vs Mid-Realm and allies. It's getting cloudy above. I hear thunder. Praying for no lightening.
Battle 2: Hit by friendly sword from behind. Damn. Rain is beginning.
Battle 3: King Conrad comes up to us. This is a three sided battle. He says, forget about hitting the red tapes. Go hit the allies instead, turn around, run at the red tapes and then drop everything and hug them. This fuzzy bear attitude confused the heck out of us but ya know orders are orders. Then he switches place with the King we're supposed to kill in the middle of the yellow tapes. I look at Sterling, he tells me to follow the last orders received. Well enough. The plan goes off as expected. I kill a couple folks, then get beat up by about 4-5 guys with swords, spears and polearms. Fair enough.
Battle 4: East Kingdom and Mid-Realm fighting together against the allies. Not quite sure which color tape we are supposed to go after this time so Sterling says if it even looks like it wants to go after us, kill it and let it get sorted out later. I like Sterling's simple ways of seeing the world. Works for me.
We break left, line up against a wall of yet again spears and polearms, who look terrified when Sterling has us charge them . I fall back after a spear hits my shield but the important part is that I trip over my own feet on the terrain and fall, I AM NOT DEAD. They have not realized this I see with a certain glee as I rise. Just to be careful I make my voice very loud, just to make sure I have their attention so they can't say I hit them from behind, damn red tapes that they are, looking at where Sterling went rather than at their feet, where they assume I am dead.
"Excuse me, M'lord!" I say as I rise, just as I have been taught to do, to get their attention. Once I have their attention all is fair game. Lined up like birds on a wire, one, two, three I get three perfect shots to their helms and should have continued but I hesitated and was consequently dropped by a spear to the gut as my shield was not in place, trying not to howl laughing at their disgusted expressions. They could have at least had the courtesy to drop and play dead like they're supposed to, I am grumbling to myself as I walk back to the Champion's pavilion.
Battle 5: Again, fighting the allies. Raining has stopped fro the present and the sun's out again. I am impatient in hunting this round but was winning against one dude when the enemy hit me from behind. I was unsure as to whether to take this shot because I knew he was behind me and did not know it rules called for taking the shot in this case. Being so new I did but later found out could have turned on guard and faced that person one on one. Next time, perhaps. It was still fun.
No piping off the field, though but that's quite alright as I am tired and have to use the bathroom, wanting to get out of my armor as quickly as possible today. I am also truly hungry for the first time in two days and have promised myself a big plate of nachos from the food court since Monday. I acquire potty, shower and nachos in short order and I am content. Ken says it was good to see my in armor again and I am thinking it was good to BE in armor again and am already planning what I need to train in next. I need to nap a bit before Baroness Isabella's party this evening.
The Party
Oh my. So much to tell. I wore a brightly striped ghawazee coat and belly dance skirt rather than my customary highlands garb to the party. My neighbor Heather and I went together to the party, which was conveniently down the road at the Silver Horde camp. It was women only until midnight, with male servers who would do just about anything and about 25 different kinds of home brewed mead, also, a bar which would rival that of most taverns.
Today's song is a tribute to that party. The Baroness herself sang many of the last verses, not all of which are here but all geared to more female tastes.
365 day Challenge Song of the Day
The Moose Song (female version, as sung by Baroness Isabella), chorus only and with plenty of alcohol imbibed
Moose, moose, I likes a moose,
I've never had anything quite like a moose.
I've had lots of lovers, my life has been loose,
But I've never had anything quite like a moose.