Probie No More
Yesterday was the Better War Through Archery event in Sternfeld (Indianapolis) Warders Brigid and Anton were not expecting the large turnout we had for the rapier melee pre-season war practice.
Morning melees struck home the fact that everyone is out of practice, which means it was all the better that we had the shake-down to shake the cobwebs out.
After the morning melee warm-up, I was informed by my Company-mates that Warder Anton was offended by the results of last week's challenge between myself and Niall, Watchee of the Thieves of Hearts. We had ourselves some good schtick as he demanded satisfaction for my offense and after I goaded Anton on a bit more, we set to the field to resolve the issue.
For all that I have learned in the nearing a year and a half that I've been fencing, I am seldom a match for a Warder of the Bronze Ring such as Anton du Marais. After several bouts, Anton had shown his skill, and I asked if he was satisfied. He responded by saying that the real question was whether my Company-mates were satisfied.
And so, I ran the Gauntlet, fighting each of the seven soldiers of the Wednesday Company in turn. (Lord Nikolai, being in An Tir, was not in attendance, but I felt his presence there with us yesterday).
These soldiers are my friends, my teachers, my mentors. I have studied and fought with them for over a year now, for eight months as Probie, the Petitioner of the Wednesday Company. Their teaching and my training served me well as I acquited myself amidst two Warders of the Bronze Ring, two cadets, and three skilled fencers whose talents cannot be disparaged (in fact, Bjorn received his Cavendish Knot that night at court, further cementing the prowess of company-members recognized by the Crown and the populace). I pulled off beautiful shots that I usually only was able to think through and not execute, and after the Gauntlet, I presented myself to the Company for their judgement.
At his request, I returned Bjorn's half-cloak, which I had born as a sign of his sponsorship, and received a favor marking me as a Soldier of the Wednesday Company, Petitioner and 'Probie' no longer.
And then they gave me cool stuff! While my own talent with a needle and thread is meager, the skills of some of my Company-mates is impressive, and I was gifted with fine clothes, a dashing hat, comely feast gear, and other heart-moving tokens.
Luckily, my Jedi senses told me last week that it was perhaps time for me to prepare for such a momentus occasion, so I had the chance to procure a number of framed copies of my favorite Company picture from last Pennsic, the 'Captain Morgan' picture, where everyone else was the Captain and I was the barrel.
The rest of the event paled in comparison to the joy of my elevation to full Soldier, but I had the chance to take a class on Tough Love Marshalling from Warder Uadahlich and some more pick-up fights. I donned many of the sartorial splendors granted to me my my friends, and became a walking propaganda poster for the Wednesday Company.
"Join the Wednesday Company! Meet interesting people...and stab them. Learn to fence with the best, and how to dress like a dashing gentleman/woman." Other benefits include the joyful acquaintance of charming rapscalions such as the Thieves of Hearts, a rockin' posse for Goth/Industrial Dance nights, and thugging-fabulousness.
Morning melees struck home the fact that everyone is out of practice, which means it was all the better that we had the shake-down to shake the cobwebs out.
After the morning melee warm-up, I was informed by my Company-mates that Warder Anton was offended by the results of last week's challenge between myself and Niall, Watchee of the Thieves of Hearts. We had ourselves some good schtick as he demanded satisfaction for my offense and after I goaded Anton on a bit more, we set to the field to resolve the issue.
For all that I have learned in the nearing a year and a half that I've been fencing, I am seldom a match for a Warder of the Bronze Ring such as Anton du Marais. After several bouts, Anton had shown his skill, and I asked if he was satisfied. He responded by saying that the real question was whether my Company-mates were satisfied.
And so, I ran the Gauntlet, fighting each of the seven soldiers of the Wednesday Company in turn. (Lord Nikolai, being in An Tir, was not in attendance, but I felt his presence there with us yesterday).
These soldiers are my friends, my teachers, my mentors. I have studied and fought with them for over a year now, for eight months as Probie, the Petitioner of the Wednesday Company. Their teaching and my training served me well as I acquited myself amidst two Warders of the Bronze Ring, two cadets, and three skilled fencers whose talents cannot be disparaged (in fact, Bjorn received his Cavendish Knot that night at court, further cementing the prowess of company-members recognized by the Crown and the populace). I pulled off beautiful shots that I usually only was able to think through and not execute, and after the Gauntlet, I presented myself to the Company for their judgement.
At his request, I returned Bjorn's half-cloak, which I had born as a sign of his sponsorship, and received a favor marking me as a Soldier of the Wednesday Company, Petitioner and 'Probie' no longer.
And then they gave me cool stuff! While my own talent with a needle and thread is meager, the skills of some of my Company-mates is impressive, and I was gifted with fine clothes, a dashing hat, comely feast gear, and other heart-moving tokens.
Luckily, my Jedi senses told me last week that it was perhaps time for me to prepare for such a momentus occasion, so I had the chance to procure a number of framed copies of my favorite Company picture from last Pennsic, the 'Captain Morgan' picture, where everyone else was the Captain and I was the barrel.
The rest of the event paled in comparison to the joy of my elevation to full Soldier, but I had the chance to take a class on Tough Love Marshalling from Warder Uadahlich and some more pick-up fights. I donned many of the sartorial splendors granted to me my my friends, and became a walking propaganda poster for the Wednesday Company.
"Join the Wednesday Company! Meet interesting people...and stab them. Learn to fence with the best, and how to dress like a dashing gentleman/woman." Other benefits include the joyful acquaintance of charming rapscalions such as the Thieves of Hearts, a rockin' posse for Goth/Industrial Dance nights, and thugging-fabulousness.