Gulf Wars XXVIII
Lumberton, MS
11-19 MARCH 2023
It has been a couple of weeks and I have had time to let my mind settle from my annual trek to the Gulf Wars event. Time now to put virtual ink to virtual parchment and shelve the muse's production in the virtual halls of the virtual library for posterity for, most of all, my own recollection and memories of events that transpired, both trivial and thought-provoking. I hope that the five or so readers, including myself, that might see this and that were definitely not waiting for this particular perspective into the event itself find some solace and maybe even some comprehension into the humor, fore-thought and determined effort my toil has wrought.
In the morning hours of March 11th, A.S. LVII, my lord, Earl Benen and I made our way down from the lands of the Cumbria Plateau to King's Arrow Ranch for Gulf Wars in the Kingdom of Gleann Abhann. The trip was uneventful. The day pleasant. We got to site in the mid afternoon and quickly got in setting up the Renaissance Arts & Design booth of wonders followed by my own meager camp in Fox’s Den. Lots of work to set up one, much less two campsites in disparate ends of the site. The work is tiring, but rewarding, We both find ourselves wrapped in the arms of weariness when it is done. My lord settles in to his tent for rest. I find my way to my own camp, and spend some time with my campmates near a fire, warmed by the flame and comradery found there. The stars are out and bright. A great comfort comes over my being as I retire and find a content sleep.
Rested, the broke fast with the Foxes Den citizenry the following morning. Meeting several new campers, like Lash and Argyle and Wolfram and Esme and Karis and so many more. The Den was full of many wonderful people this year include the Meridian Royalty and visitors from faraway lands.
I spent my day after the morning with Earl Benen helping him prepare his wares for sale and debating what the market would sustain for garments used as makeshift reliquary. What is the markup for such a garment? What would the market handle before counter fitting is commenced by some clever means like by using Tso’s sauce from Delights of Cathay to forge the look and feel of the original substance that marks a garment as a reliquary to begin with. Once the counterfeit product his the market, how does one secure bona fide for the original? Inquiring minds pondered this no satisfactory conclusion.
I also did some shopping once the booth was established and ready. I procured a one-of-kind mug from Firehorse Pottery for Ellen to steal from me when I get home. It’s the least I could do. Been raining on and off all day, but will be drier tomorrow. Closed the day visiting some folks. Managed to get Fiana’s arrows delivered intact. Pop. Pop. Pop as the rain drums it’s rhythm on the tent canvas. It will be drier tomorrow.
Monday greeted my den-mates and I with a sunny start. I delved into the morning hours by hanging around camp and helped Sir John strap up the tower shield I made for him. He was very happy with it. He was marveling later in the week over how much energy he had and how good his legs felt because of the extra protection afforded by the new shield.
I took delivery of a new custom helmet I ordered from Christopher Nowland. He did an outstanding job. Thanks Christoff for making my bad sketches into something very cool. This is definitely a helmet I could get hit in. It is my first custom helmet, and my fighting age, probably my last judging purely by the longevity of my previous helmets. Im extremely pleased with it.
Went to my first commanders meeting this year. It was interesting. GW XXXI was the first time I had been asked to serve as part of the command and control for the Meridian forces, for any event, ever. I served as 'line commander' (or 'shield-wall wrangler' for a more role accurate description of my assignment). I think I did OK with the job but confess that I have much to learn and I am sure I missed a lot. While I am imposing in stature in melee, I do not feel my voice has the tone and pitch for cut through the din of the action. I could be wrong. I have never been much of a 'loud' presence. None the less, I did my best to take care of those in my charge, repeat commands, coordinate reserves, keep my soldiery informed, check on their fatigue, and provide support where needed as timely as possible. Sir Seamus, our general, marked GW XXXI with a small memento for each of his command team. I really appreciated the thought and the opportunity to serve in a new capacity at war.
Tuesday, after some camp KP, I made my way to Hastings Field in my new spiffy ‘Bear’ tunic Ellen made for the town battle. The heavy linen fabric was really comfortable to fight in and I look forward to adding battle wear to it to give it that authentic medievally look (It's called character, Randy!).
Ran into my first 'failure' as a Praetorian of the Legio Ursi discovering that none of the order showed up for the procession that morning to carry the order color's. I will do better. I am an Ursi.
The town battle was a fun fight. Even more so as first time in a leader role as line commander. Had fun, shouted a lot, offered words of encouragement, and tried to look like I knew what I was doing. Basically, just normal sergeant stuff. Reminded me of my army days. Our side, allied with Trimaris, won the day. Lots of smiling on the field. It was a good day in the Sun made better by a dominant show by our army and our allies.
Tournament day (Hump Day!) had me lounging around camp in the morning. We had some good laughs on how to best skirt zip codes in order to takeover neighboring kingdoms and how to best start a grassroots movements to cede and regain lost Meridian principalities. All of these mostly harmless evil plans hatched to make Meridies a principle Kingdom for control of the Gulf Wars event and gain control of the event. Many weeks later and I'm not sure why we were scheming, but we did and someone better watch out. Because. Reasons.
Spent the afternoon hanging with Benen in the Renaissance Arts & Design booth in preparations for midnight madness. Finally got some Gode Bakery awesomeness. It was good, as always. I introduced Benen to ‘Terry Tate, Office Linebacker’ while debated the challenge of opening t-shirt style shopping bags (should be a war point, just saying). Lots of laughs tonight as I helped him peddle his merch. Closed out with a cup of coffee and off to bed.
It was interesting to see that a family of the 'Ice Mafia' has become established at Gulf Wars. It had me wondering of the dynamics at play. Do they have financial obligations to their northern kin at Pennsic? How much control does the Ice mafia really have over the Ice trade in general? Our they susceptible to racketeering charges for operating in different kingdoms?
Thursday at war started off with a 5 am wake-up and boiling water for coffee for camp, cooking breakfast and have good, earnest fun with Argyle in the kitchen helping Stanzi. I was off to muster after and the ravine for melee action.
I had a lot of fun in the 1.5hr res battle in a dust bowl gully. Our side was extremely successful holding our control point for nearly the entire battle. It wasn’t exciting work in the shield wall today but it was honest work. Take an objective and sit on it no matter what happens. Meridies did this well today. I reached a milestone myself of staying in the fight for the entire time without any breaks other than the administrative pauses that occurred through the fight. Had a blast, and so did everyone. A really friendly day fighting in my part of the line.
Friday was marked by a rain delay that started in the early morning through the late afternoon. The end result was a day full of casual socializing with camp mates and other friends throughout the day. It was a good, hard-working, protestant rain all day long. All martial activities were cancelled. While it was a let down to not get to fight, spending quality time with friends without any scheduled agenda is a very positive result caused by natures need to rain down on the campsite. If I am honest, the scheduled fighting today would have been brutal after yesterday’s ravine fight for me as was still feeling the effects of that contest. I would have fought, if weather would have permitted it, but nowhere near 100%. I don’t think I would have been the only one in that boat.
As is the Foxes Den tradition, we closed the day with the campfire rite of mirthful companionship. It was the last fire of the war and it was good.
Saying goodbyes and hoping everyone gets home safe. Earl Benen and I chatting about all things and brainstorming ideas on the nighted roads of Gleann Abhann and Meridies that evening. The cold chill of our Plateau home called.
Well met friends. Safe journey to thee!
Baron Eoin Mac Cana called 'Clyde'
Squire to Earl Benen MacTire
Warden of the Northern Plateau
Shire of Easaraigh
Kingdom of Meridies
