King's Arrow Ranch
Lumberton, MS
8-15 MARCH 2025
Herein, you will find my daily updates as posted to my Facebook profile during the course of the event. Enjoy.
Photo of me returning from the bridge battles at Gulf Wars XXXIII. Photo Credit Osanna van der Linden. |
Gulf Wars XXXIII Day 1 - The good Earl and I spent most of the day traveling. The journey slowed somewhat by the misfortune of some other travelers and improvements being done to the highways themselves. We departed our home on the the Cumbrian Plateau at daybreak, arriving at the famous Kings Arrow Ranch a few hours before sunset. The check in process was very easy, as it has been its condition for several seasons now. In short order, we found our space in the merchant’s area right where we left it and dove in to our setup routine. Little word spoken. Undirected choreography guiding us through to an end state we both know too well. The marquee roof raised. Renaissance Arts and Design is now present and accounted for. Trailor unloaded. Truck unloaded. Walls up. My tent setup in the back along with our kitchen and quiet space. This year I am staying with the Earls camp on merchant row, a similiar arrangement to his camp at Pennsic. Laterns are hung. Bedding placed. A smooth but tiring effort. Earl Benen and I make good time in the work before darkness sets in completely. Sporadic light rain starts falling with thunder in the distance. Tomorrow on to setup of the front and make ready for greeting shoppers. For now, a deserved rest. Good night. Sleep tight.
Tent up, trailer unloaded, but more work to do before ready to go. Gulf Wars XXXIII, March 2025. |
Gulf Wars XXXIII Day 2 - Today was by at least my own account, a work day. The good Earl and I broke fast in our shared quiet space behind the merchant tent. Hot water for coffee, tea and oatmeal to start our day. Sated, we launched into the final preparations of the tent. Vehicle and trailer safely stowed. Shelving raised. Fixtures assembled. Garments hung and folded. Wares unpacked and laid out in a manner that would make Kajit proud. ‘Are you open yet?’ Heard from the street. Answered, ‘Why, yes. Yes we are’. Business was started steady and reached a slow boil a few times. When next I looked up, it was dusk. Many visitors today. All of our new folk from Easaraigh came through with greetings. smiling faces and excitement shown in them all. The Earl held court many times through the day, as is common when he is in public view. Stories shared and tales told all afternoon. Friendships and patronages restored. We lunched and supped at the camp store. Dinner was shared with Count Dafydd, a good friend to the Earl. The menu there has gotten more robust and is not too bad. Our evening closed back in our social space behind the tent with Sir Marek as our guest. We talked long into the night before weariness overtook us. Good night.
Front of the Renaissance Arts and Design tent on merchant's row at King's Arrow Ranch during Gulf Wars XXXIII in March 2025. |
Gulf Wars XXXIII Day 3 - had the first day of fighting today. Got up. Ate breakfast and the off to inspection. Armor inspection was chaos. A few hundred combatants all standing in various queues with shouted announcements thrown in for good measure. But, in spite of its messy and disjointed appearance the whole process was very efficient once you got over the bit of shock the scene presented. The first battle of the day was the field battle. Xenos and I got our first chance to field the banners he had made for the signifier role. The signifier is a standard bearer. The role, in our application, is an enhancement of the command and control in SCA melee. Like the signal corps of a modern army, the use of a flag in a battle can be used as an enhancement of command and control. It is a very visible communication tool. For the field battle today, Xenos and I both carried a standard on the field. He moved with the Northen Warband of Meridies while I stood in the center of the main body. With the concept being new or at least not present on the field for Meridies in many years, we found ourselves writing doctrine on the fly as to what the specifics of the Signfier would be in realtime. Some things I found were very intuitive. Like helping to move our people to where we wanted them to be. I’ll call this the ‘Map Pin’ effect. I also found it was useful to help get our unit lined up by holding the banner staff parallel to the ground over my head oriented perpendicular to the direction we wanted everyone facing. Both of these things were grasped quickly and easily by everyone. The rest more experimental, like fighting with the banner. Xenos and I both chose to fight banner with a sword in the other hand. For most of the field engagements, it seemed this format had us working much like a support weapon system in the structure of things. I felt pretty good about the application and effect of the signifier concept. For the second series of battles today which were bridge scenerios, I asked for volunteers to carry the standards and we had a couple of ready hands jump at the chance. This also made me feel very good about this new thing we were introducing to Meridies and some hope for the future of its application. The fighting was good overall for my experience. I know I faced fighters from the Middle and Trimarian kingdoms today. Known for great prowess, I found them to be tough and fair opponents. At the conlusion of the atmored fighting, I went ivervtibthe Rapier field with a banner for them to use snd got to help yhrm a little bit during their engagements. I may get rapier authorization in order to carry a standard for them. Well see. After their battles finished, I returned to the merchant booth. Cleaned up my kit and myself, then helped Benen close things down. Business was steady for him and he was in good spirits. We had pizza at the local cantina. It’s a little doughy, but the sauce and toppings are very good. Overall, it is not bad. We returned back to our space behind the tent for a series of visitors and subjects of discussion before calling it done. I am tired but in good spirits for a day spent on the field, in harness and in the sun. Good night, friends.
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Drogo inn Keiliselgr carrying the Stars and Bars banner during the raving battle at Guld Wars XXXIII. Photo Credit Osanna van der Linden. |
Myself, Earl Benen and Mistress Thallasia at the start of Moonlight Madness at Gulf Wars XXXIII. |
Gulf Wars XXXIII Day 5 - The longest day. Today started off later than typical for us. Knowing that we would be open late into the evening for Moonlight Madness, we opened late. Earl Benen and I took some time to wander before we dropped the tent wall and we visited several of the merchants that opened early. I was able to find and acquire items from my shopping list as we strolled through the merchants area. With the sounds of tournaments echoing through the camp, we opened and started making preparations for the busy evening shopping event. Moonlight madness is a scheduled activity where all the merchants stay open late into the evening. Minstrels come out and play music along the thoroughfare. Throngs of people come out and the merchant area becomes THE place to be. It can be magical. From the merchants perspective, it is the busiest day of the week in most cases. Preparations made, we settled in to await the impending rush. This year Mistress Thallasia Hellenis joined us to help. The evening ran smoothly, I have learned over several seasons now how the booth works and the teamwork is solid between the Good Earl and I. The addition of Thallasia was a boon to us and helped bolster us in our preparations and as the flow of activity increased. The night ran very smoothly and many of the Renaissance Arts & Design creations found new homes. I will take a moment to send out a special thanks to Baron Thorkel and Countess Zbina for generously sharing meals and friendship this week. They are the most gracious of us and the pillars of courtesy. Thank you. Late into the evening, the crowds died down and the merchant area found its way to a weary quiet. Sir Marek stayed with us after we closed and we talked into the early morning. It was a long and good day.
Moon at Kings Arrow Ranch during Gulf Wars XXXIII in March 2025. |
Gulf Wars XXXIII Day 6 - Time at the event grows shorter. With an impending major potential weather event showing signs of likelihood, GW will be cut about a day shorter than usual this year. The weather is expected to hit the region Friday night into Saturday and affects almost everyone in MS, TN and AL. So, we will most likely be packing up tomorrow for safety. But, today there was still a lot of action to be had. The hardest fight at GW was today - The Ravine Battle. An hour long resurrection fight with up hill climbs in all directions (at least that’s is how it seems) on the hottest day of the event this year was the special of the day. I dove in with my mates in Crawhere on the far left of the Ansteorra line. And, well… went down hill from there (pun intended). It’s a hard slog but, mostly cordial for something of this nature. Fatigue being the hardest hitter of the engagement, it usually rears its head late in the fight resulting in some harder than intended shots. To this explanation, I have added a snapshot of myself I took after I got back to tent and removed all my gear. In the final minutes of the fight, I took an overzealous shot, in an upward angle to the left cheek of my helmet. The shot had enough force to push the helmet into my nose and forehead. The result looks much worse than it was. Just some scrapes and soreness is the only harm done. I’m fine. My helmet is fine and I am sure the other guy’s spear is probably fine too. Contrary to how I appear, I had a ton of fun and laughed all the way through. I skipped court today so missed some action there. I usually go but needed to rest a bit. (humblest apologies to Your Majesties). The Good Earl kept the shop open a little later than usual to milk another sale or two since we will be shutting down earlier than normal. Afterward, he open court behind the tent and attended to his subjects. Not many visited tonight as there are several parties going on. There is a lunar eclipse tonight but I’ll be asleep before it presents. I did get a few neat-ish pics of the moon just now that I liked. Good halo effect. Anyway. Tired me sleep now. Buenos noches.
Earl Benen and I heading home from Gulf Wars XXXIII. |
Gulf Wars XXXIII Day 7 - The returnecking. So today we loaded up. A day early. Only had a small handful of GW shirts left, so that is good. The wind really picked up as we were packing. The Good Earl and I made good time packing and left a mostly empty merchants area in our wake. Will be home late and might event beat the first part of the rain. Everyone stay safe. Godspeed. See you again soon.
Fare the well, friends! Safe journey to thee.
Meistr Eoin Mac Cana, OP
Warden of the Northern Plateau
Squire to Earl Benen MacTire
Shire of Easaraigh
Kingdom of Meridies
SCA, Inc