Clyde's Travels - War College / Fighter’s Collegium

War College / Fighter’s Collegium

Giles County Agri Park
Pulaski, TN

The Barony of Iron Mountain and the Canton of South Reach

January 27, 2024

The air was wet. A true day for amphibians if ever there was one. Fortunately, the chill air was enough to keep any building rain of toads at bay. A cold, wet day in the midlands.

 

This was the stage set before me and my journey from the Cumbrian highlands of Meridies to the southern reaches of the Barony of Glaedenfeld. The journey was uneventful but required vigilance due to the conditions. I arrived unscathed and was greeted warmly by friends, adding a brightness to the gloomy weather.

 

The Meridian Fighter’s Collegium/War College is a kingdom event where we go to learn the tradecraft of martial activities. It used to be two separate events, but has been combined for some time now. Many classes were taught on the arts of war and tournament. The location used this year had ample space, but the frequent and near constant precipitation held the attendance in the vicinities of the sites hall and covered pavilion. There was still plenty of room for everyone that came.

 

The day started with an Iron Rose tournament won by Song Qingzhao. Classes followed soon after for armored and rapier disciplines alike. I joined in for discussion and practical’s on melee with our Meridian General Kikuchi-Sensei and the Northern Warband Leader, Count Barthelemy. The first class covering line breaking and taking an obstacle was a nice warmup to the day. His excellency followed this with a ‘working with spearman’ exercise. There was a lot of good discussion. The drills were well thought and adaptive to our needs.

Photo Credit to Kungaloosh Photography (https://gallery.kungaloosh.photography/)

Lunch break followed. I opted for some pick up fighting during the intermission. I managed 5 or 6 pickups before classes started back up. As classes resumed, I noted that I was having a tendonitis flareup in my sword arm so opted to ground my kit. Apologies to anyone that I had to turn away looking for passes afterward.

 

Sir Seamus lead off the afternoon session with a command and communication class. I was able to assist some which was rewarding. Once done, HL Bram Halfdannarson led some melee drills. I joined in to assist my Ursi Fratris with the exercises. It was good to get some time teaching, even if it was just as an assistant. I don’t do it enough outside of our Shire practices and probably should. I’ve been told that I know stuff worth sharing. 

 

I was able to catch part of one last class before court. It walked in on the end of County Barthelemy’s ‘How to get knighted…’ class. I only caught the last 15 or 20 minutes, but what I heard was excellent and taught with the enthusiasm that is inherent in everything His Excellency does. Hate that I did not catch the entire session.

 

At court, Their Majesties, His Highness, and Their Excellencies Glaedenfeld held our attention as several recognitions were bestowed. As a member of the Legio Ursi, I joined in to help bring Xenos Theodrikes into our order and add his name to the Mantle. As a member of the Order of the Sable Sword, I stood with the order in overwatch of the proceedings, embraced in our cloaked regalia, creating a stir in the throng for the purport our presence. When the Sable Sword appears, it is to bring someone into the fold. This day, Martin de Bernay was added to our rolls and cloaked in an heirloom cloak warn by His Majesty.

 

Thus the day ended and I made farewells and departed for my homestead. Luckily, the rain had ceased for the most part and only the wet highways laid in front of me as I made my way back up onto the plateau.

Photo Credit to Kungaloosh Photography (https://gallery.kungaloosh.photography/)

The idea of Fighters Collegium and War College has always been one of teaching. This year was no different. I think my only regret is having to split time between the two disciplines of melee and single combat. I emphasized melee this time around. Having been selected as a Commander for the North in Meridies, I felt that is where I need to be, to learn, and to become better known to those who do not know me. Last year at Gulf Wars, I was on then Meridian General Sir Seamus’s staff as a line commander. This was my first taste of the idea of command in SCA melee. I learned enough to know that I need to know more. Lol. This year as part of Kikuchi-Sensei’s command I am stepping up a bit higher in the chain. I am trying to learn my responsibilities and what the underlying expectations are for the Commander role I am in. There is much I don’t know. And as they say, that is the first thing we all need to accept as we start to learn. It will be an adventure and I look forward to the lessons to come.

 

That is all I have this time around, friends. Thank you for your time. 

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

Clyde's Travels - Wing Ding

Wing Ding

Pulaski Rec Center, Pulaski, TN

Canton of South Reach

January 13, 2024

On a brisk morning on the 13^th day of January, Anno Societatis LVIII, my squire brother, Ronan of Axebridge, and I made our way down from the plateau and warm hearths to visit the Southern Reach of the Barony of Glaedenfeld for an event known as Wing Ding.

The event, a small local gathering, was attended by many familiar faces of our area. There were activities of all types, catering to just about any persons interest as well as a sumptuous lunch provided by the hosts, The Canton of South Reach. There were many classes throughout the day. The lunch of poultry, warm from a smoker, with fresh fruits, vegetables and confections was a pleasure. There were armored and rapier martial activities as well.

Ronan and I participated in the armored combat tournament, the Broken Sword Tournament. This was conducted indoors. I think there were 16 or so fighters there. The format was single elimination with each round set as a best two out of three. Additionally, double kills counted against you. There was also a rule established that leg hits would be fatal. This was enacted to prevent damage to the flooring of the facility during the tournament. I made two rounds. First versus Sir Seamus and then a pass with Martin. Count Bart won the tournament. It was fought well. There was good communication and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

After the tournament, we carried the armored activities outdoors. There, Count Bart challenged all in attendance for the right to lead the Northern Warband. Many boasts in challenge and in jest were heard. This was followed by several very challenging contests for His Excellency. His metal put to the fire. It was hammered and tested. After the dust settled, he was found worthy and stood proudly as Jarl and Ring-giver of the Northern Warband.

I had several good discussions throughout the day. Two topics stuck in my head that I think are worth recording in my retelling of the Wing Ding trip.

The first, while not specifically discussed, but definitely acted upon was morale. More specifically, personal morale. As combatants, especially those walking a path to peerage, we often can find ourselves in a down state. Either we feel like we are ‘losing’ too much or seeing some perceived shortcoming in ourselves that we latch onto and allow self pity to overindulge itself with. This is just the worst thing we can torture ourselves with (and this goes for any activity). For myself, the biggest change I have had in my fighting is when I changed my outlook. There is a period most path walkers go through where we are very critical of ourselves. I did it for a long time. My breakthrough was when I started treating each day in kit as a success, a moment of enjoyment. Telling myself, ‘Hey dummy, you get to put on armor and play today.’ was my change. Every day you do the thing you enjoy is a good day. The specifics of wins and loses and other failings tend to fall away once you just embrace enjoying the activity. All the specifics that you picked at previously start to just become experiences that feed your improvement. You cannot win everything. You can lose everything. But, the W’s and L’s should never be the focus to find success, they are just lessons learned on the journey. I am learning that my personal ‘morale’ of enjoying the time in kit also helps to create an atmosphere for others to also find enjoyment. Like with any interaction, bringing a good attitude into it helps make the experience a positive for everyone sharing it. In short, good morale on my part leads to good morale for others. I’ll take it. It makes things better for me and hopefully, those I am around.

The second observation was a discussion I had with a couple of folks around goal setting. I stink at this. But, what I do know is that a goal should always be something you can affect the outcome of. For me, one of my goals is to be a consistent and challenging opponent for everyone I share the field with. I can control my actions. I can improve my attack and defense. These things are mine. ‘I want to be a knight’ is a desire, not a goal. While I would love to achieve the accolade of Chivalry in the SCA, that is not within my control. That is for fate to decide and should never be a goal. What I can do is try to act the part, enjoy what I do, and let the cards play out as they will. Goals need to be about what you can do and not about what you have no control over. 

Our day with the Canton was short. There was a closing court where the good Baronage of Glaedenfeld rewarded several citizens with recognition. Many new faces in the recipients. It was good to see. The Barony is strong and will be so for a long time through the vigor of it citizenry.

Ronan and I departed and made for the Cumbrian lands to the north in the late afternoon hour. Our thoughts turned to home fires and the warmth and comfort we would find on our arrival.

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