War on colour!

Garb is a big part of the sca, and one of the hardest things to get right. Being part of the SCA means much more than just turning up for fighting. I am working very hard on some nice garb based on an Image I found.

Landsknect

 But I can't sew very well so its been a huge learning experience, I didn't even know how to use a sewing machine before joining the SCA.

From research most landsknecht make their garb from felted wool but this would be very hot at a summer event, so I am making my garb from linen and leather.

Landsknechts are also exempt from sumptuary laws so colour and high quality fabrics play a big part of their appearance.

Shoes continue to be an issue but I will continue to learn.

St Catharines

Just come back from an excellent event in Ildhafn, St catharines Faire, their majesties were in attendance and ran a couple of fighting classes and did us the honor of a few bouts, the training was very valuable learning a style of fighting used in lochac.

I love SCA events the friendship from those you have never met, the best part of the event is the people, I don't think I will ever find a bigger group of friends than the SCA.

A very nice period style feast on the saturday evening after some heavy play, a great way to end the day, It was soon realised that I forgot to bring some libations it was a combination of gear and space. My tankard wasn't empty the entire event, people I had never met came upto me and offered me drinks, some homebrewed others store bought, all excellent.

I learnt much about fighting and a few tips for long distance travel (eg, put your helm in hand luggage, saves on space and give you more weight to play with) Coconut water after a fight is amazing, very refreshing.

I got some really good practice in on Sunday morning, the bed was a little small being a scout camp and sounded like an engine (snoring) so I woke early (around 5am) and had some really nice alone time in the list ring practicing the circle sword style taught by their majesties.

I was honored at court with my Award of arms and was inducted into the Order of the Silver Helms, I was surprised and humbled to be singled out for such an honor.

I love the SCA,

Golden Flight

I have been invited to join the Baronial court, to which I accepted, I am proud to be a part the barony and hope I play my part well.

It was a grand event, the wind spoilt peoples aim but not their spirits, It was great to see so many archers shooting, I spend my time marshaling and we only had 2 minor mishaps which were corrected with a kind word.

The heavy Tourneys were fun, a bit silly but having to only aim for a certain body part made defense interesting. The day was won by Sir Callum.

I learnt much about using Rattan great weapons from Sir Sigard and Master Brian, keep low and push into the strikes then pump your shot after the blow.

Food is a big part of the SCA and the cooks acquitted themselves well. Much bacon was had as breakfast lunch and dinners were japanese/chinese style meals, I am always impressed by the way the people attending the event just "get stuck in" and help with chores even if they have done alot already.

To swing or not to swing?

Get 3 heavys together and you will learn 4 fighting styles.

Now I have read many many SCA training text's, And watch thousands of hours of training video's I have come to the point where I now need to pick a style to follow.

Most of the kingdoms have vastly different training methods and even different ways of generating power (whether its from the hips or from the legs) to pivot the shoulders or not. There are pros and cons to each style, different speeds and commitments to each blow.

In lochac we tend to throw "combo's" as our goto attacks, elsewhere the focus is on 1 perfect shot kills. Again elsewhere the focus is on manipulation to open to that 1 shot you have been practicing for 18 months.

The need for footwork seems the one universal constant, but this is done if different ways also.

To me this is very exciting! Nothing would be more boring that people standing arounds in Pose No. 1 from Fiore dei Liberi manual.

Rain.

Ah, Rain.

The nemesis of organised training, weather continues to put a damper on heavy training, I really need to find an indoor location but all the sites I have found cost, not a huge amount but enough that I can't cover it myself each week so its chicken and Egg. I need an indoor site so we get more members turning up for practice but I can't afford an indoor site until we get more members turning up for practice.

Solo work progresses as does my new leather jerkin which is my current sewing project, I wish I could fight more.

Golden Flight in 2 weeks, I am looking forward to the event.

Hope.

I came to a realization last night when pondering my role in the progression of the dream (eg, What can I contribute) When it occurred to me that the peers have done the hardest thing to do well which is allows others to contribute.

Example, Myself and my Wife have come up with an easy sew gambeson pattern. Of course the experienced sewers could have made this pattern but even when hearing about the idea offered only support, this sounds strange but is very hard to do.

Imagine you are the best at sewing out of anyone you know, you know you can make a pattern for "item" and you can do it really well, probably better than anyone else, but how will others learn and contribute if you just sew everything. We learn't alot about sewing and I hope we have created a valuable resource for others to use, but most of all I would like to thank the peers for only offering to help and not knowing they could do a better job taking this learning experience from us.

Its not just with sewing, armouring, fighting, brewing even stewarding, every craft in the SCA has experienced people who could most likely do it better. I thank them for only offering support, allowing a new generation of SCAdians the chance to learn and grow,  Hope for the future.

Squeak!

I am a mouse hear me roar,

Training continues preparing for Golden flight, engaged the services of a personal trainer twice a month for help get me into fighting condition, It was an interesting experience trying to explain what I need to work on, in short everything. We use every muscle group and need not just power but speed and flexibility on top of the need a sharp and fast mind with also muscle memory movements.

In the end I just went to the gym in my armour, she understood after seeing :)

My pell continues to be murdered everyday, *stab* Getting those slot shots flowing is proving a challenge but not insurmountable.

I continue to learn to bow and am working on learning simple german, the SCA to me means more than just fighting its an entire lifestyle, when I walk onto an SCA event I like to be my persona. At least thats the aim. Now if only I could learn to sew...

Welcome to the Bearpit!

Another Fighter's weekend 26th to 29th of September, I am being hosted by my knight and mentor, Sir Philippe De Tourney in Christchurch.

I arrived in Chch from Dunedin with my Friend (adam) and Rival Elias to be picked up by Sir Philippe. The night was long talking about the SCA and Chivalry while watching SCA related Dvd's and lord of the rings, I knew once the night ended it was amour-time! (excited!)

Saturday!

The dawn broke and once fasted it was off to the Southron gaards training ground for some Light calistic's (ow! sympathetic leg pain) and warmup. Richard soon met us, armoured up and then proceeded to beat me up and down the field with my new shiny shield earning its first stripes.

A few tips from Sir Philippe and soon was starting to hold my own until my treasonous arm betrayed me with the weight of my shield.

The rest of the morning was spent drilling over and over, strikes and free form fighting with tips and techniques enforced by Sir Philippe and Sir Callum. (KNEES!)

Lunchtime arrived sooner than I would have liked (although it truth I was already tired) a small break and back into damp armor (from sweat) for some more fighting, Sir Ratbod visited us and took some footage while aiding and guiding us with technique, sadly time went too fast and soon it was time to pack up for the day, then a quick visit to Lord Bijorn for some leather.

Sunday!

I was a late riser after a good night of parties (Kaos) and exhaustion from fighting all day, But I felt like Oliver twist "Please Sir, Can I have some more?" Arrival at site was met by Lord Richard and soon alot of others, Nothing is better than seeing 10+ likeminded people warming up and then donning armour to beat you into oblivion. A good time was had By all, I got to fight most opponents and then headed inside for Sir Philippes A&S talk on Chivalry and Etiquette which was excellent and well worth repeating. I found the sections of perceptions of rank most illuminating and valuable, allowing me to question my deeds as I now perceive myself.

The weekend was over far earlier than I would have liked but the value of such is incalculable,  Thank you all for an amazing experience and I hope to someday repay your kindness.

Leonhart Hunt
Wildmoor

The First Step on a long path

My name is Leonhart Hunt a heavy fighter and part of the Incipient canton of Wildmoor, Part of  Barony of Southron Gaard in the South island of New Zealand in the Kingdom of Lochac.

I have decided to record this journal of my path to Knighthood as in years to come I can look back and see how far I have come.

First some history, (some of this comes from my notes, I apologize for my opinions at the time as I knew little) I joined the SCA first in 2012 after being invited to attend Canterbury faire by Chris Giles a member of Curvus Domus. I thoroughly enjoyed myself  and was introduced to SCA heavy fighting by a kind soul (Sorry I cannot remember who) who put me in some loaner armour and then proceeded to beat me up and down the field... I was Hooked.

After Faire I started trying to find out more and more, Learning as much as I could. I lost touch with Southron Gaard and started to lose interest until I saw an AD on SG Discusses for Faire 2013, again remember how much fun it was my enthusiasm was rekindled and I proceeded to prepare for another fun event with those crazy armour wearing, stick wielding men. (at this point I knew little about SCA combat and though only men fought) I was also in contact with the potables adventurers guild and started brewing cider. I bought the wrong armour (yay) I have it now to remind me what not to buy.

2013 Rolled along again another amazing event, This time I was there for a week. I became enthralled with the Garb, manner and weird hobbies and thought to myself I can do this too. I started asking questions, mostly to those in my encampment and a few other kind souls who I think saw a lost sheep and wanted to bring them into the fold, I learn't how to greet someone and how not to bow (yes I was taught wrong) I was also introduced to those far off peers (apologies This was my opinion at the time) who were masters of a craft, I wanted to create like they do. I had names and personna explained to me and then rank's, Who are these people who have gained such prowess and fame to be allowed to wield respect as Baron and Baroness, Alas I was young and naive. I was surprised that my Brewing when down well, I brought 80L up with me and none made it back down.

After Faire 2013, I was again hooked I started doing more research and trying to find out more, I started creating a persona and backstory. Started learning new skills and began the long road to my Goal, Knighthood.

I also began my armouring and woodworking at this point, I soon realized that very little exists in the way of tools/supplies for armouring alas I started looking for other ways to make/build the gear I require and soon realizes that I either need to build a full smithy or just buy my armour, I chose the latter and started saving up for my First real helm. It's what I use today and has served me well.

I came across my first real problem when it came to making a Gambeson (Early 2013). my first gambeson was too thick and felt like I was wearing a duvet, It was very hard to sew especially with my poor sewing skills, It was hard to move in and really wasn't all that protective. This wasn't going to work.

My second attempt (Late 2013) was just the opposite, It was far too thin I could move freely but I might as well have been wearing paper for the protective qualities it provided, Again this wasn't going to work.

2014 Faire rolled along and sadly we could not attend due to Illness and lack of liquid funds, This sadly curtailed my journey and laid me low for 1 year.

The 3rd Attempt was the key (2014), Myself and my Lady sat down and decided what we wanted from a gambeson and what we need it to do. My Lady came up with the idea that we could use a tunic pattern as a base for a new type of gambeson, but what would we stuff it with? I remembered while doing some research on my personna a woodcut of a tailor stuffing a gambeson with straw in little channels (we use wool). And Lo the Gambeson MkIII was born. the prototype was finished

Now I had a gambeson I needed better armour, While displaying my Woe on Facebook Sir Tycho gave me a link to an armoury I never knew existed, Bokolo.

An Idea was formed early 2014 to have a fighters weekend in the newly formed Wildmoor this was the first time I had the chance to truly see what I was like to be a heavy fighter in the SCA, I wanted to fight before this but I didn't have the slightest idea how. I was a steel sword fighter previous to this but it really doesn't help much except with mind and stance, All the blows are committed differently and in steel we have far different goals, In steel i'm trying to win, In the SCA i'm trying to kill you (but in a nice way). The fighters weekend was the catalyst I needed, I quickly learnt the basics of what I needed to know and began to practice and practice and practice.


Fimblewinter 2014, By now I had my Kit (minus my new surcoat and Gorget) I got the chance to show what I learned, not only about fighting but marshaling and my love for non-combat arts, Cooking, Cheesemaking, Dance (kinda) History, Heraldry. At fimbulwinter I became an authorised SCA heavy fighter in the worst display of combat prowess ever, I was a mess and felt like I was all arm and elbows. I learn't so much over the weekend of fimbulwinter not just about combat but SG's love for the Dream.

Fimblewinter 2014, I was asked by Sir Phillipe De Tourney to be His Squire. Which I accepted. I hope he knows what hes in for :)

Leonhart Hunt
Wildmoor