Clyde's Travels - Meridian Grand Tournament

Camp Discovery
Gainesboro, TN
26-28 September 2025

On the 26th day of October, Anno Societatis LX, I made my way into the hills and dales to the west of Easaraigh to attend the Kingdom of Meridies premier armored combat tournament, the Meridian Grand Tournament (MGT). The event was hosted at Camp Discovery. The site is a favorite and has a long history for the Shire of Easaraigh as a place of good times and treasured memories. Many Easaraigh events have been held there in the past, having the Kingdom host an event there a blessing for us as we are so near.

Image of the tournament field, the MGT champion banner blowing in the wind.

On Friday evening, I attended the vigil for a friend, Xenos Theodrikes, who was to be elevated to the Order of Chivalry on the following day. While standing as a guard, I watched the coming and going of many esteemed persons from Meridies and other kingdoms. The vigil is a blur for the vigilant. We get to celebrate their coming elevation. They get sequestered away and held in place by sage council, the occasional anecdote, some humor, and shared wisdom. Xenos’ vigil ran late into the night, there on the shores of Flynn Creek, lit by firelight and heralded by the laughter and voices of communion. I bid my farewell while the vigil was still going strong to find my way home to rest for the coming tournament.

Xenos, on vigil in a tent, receives counsel from TRMs Lochlainn and Paraskova.

The following morning, I returned to prepare for the tournaments. There are 6 tournaments in total at MGT. I had planned to compete in 3 of the tournaments, the Count Francois Duvant Memorial Chalice Tournament, the Sable Sword Challenge, and the Sir Lee Fribrand Memorial Great Weapons Tourney. But, I withdrew after participating only in the first two of my intended. An injury that has been plaguing me for some time made me think better than attempt a third tournament. That is a story for another time and audience. I made it to the second round of the Chalice and fought 10 or 12 fights in the Challenge. While my showing was not spectacular or noteworthy, I mostly enjoyed myself and had a good time in the tests of skill I was able to participate in. 

 

In the morning, I helped marshal the Armatura, a 3 v 3 bear pit format tournament. A rapid, endurance test starts MGT off with a bang. The Legio Ursi sponsors the tournament and its our job to keep it moving to run as many matches as possible in the allotted time period.

 

The second tournament was the Order of the Blade’s Sabre Tourney. I assisted marshalling again and helped to keep things on schedule. This is a single weapon tournament, single elimination with lethal double-kills. 

 

Image of my helmet, gauntlets and list tree shield.

Still early in the day, I armored for the Count Francois Duvant Memorial Chalice Tournament hosted by our Order of the Chalice. This is a donation tournament where the entry fee is required. It is single elimination, open to any weapon style. The collected fees and additional donations are sent to a charity of the champion’s choosing, which is traditionally a woman’s shelter or something similar. This year, our community contributed $4,700 and the Order of the Chalice was able to send proceeds to Stepping Stones Safe Haven in Murfreesboro, TN. The tournament is a truly worthy and wonderful endeavor to participate and contribute in.

 

On the heels of the Chalice Tournament, the Order of the Sable Sword’s Challenge Tournament was held. This is a William Marshal style event. I helped the Order get things going before joining in myself. Much like the Armatura, this tournament is more about accumulating a number of wins more than anything else. It can be quite a test of endurance if you are doing well.

 

The final open participation tournament, which I withdrew from, was the Sir Lee Fribrand Memorial Great Weapons Tourney. Polearms and greatswords are the only weapons styles allowed, fought to single elimination each round. 

 

MGT List Tree with the shields and heraldry displayed of the champions for the Grand Tournament.

The last tournament of the day is the Earl Richard Raefen Grand Tournament. The top 2 from each of the day’s tournaments along with 6 chosen combatants for a tournament of 16 are matched to determine the overall MGT champion. This year, the champion was Sir Haldr. He had an excellent day. One of Easaraigh’s own, Sindri Bynarsson, was asked by the Order of the Laurel to represent them in the Grand Tournament. He represented himself, our Shire and the Order of the Laurel well. I was very happy for him. It’s a big honor to be chosen. I had that honor for the Pelican at my last MGT. It really made my day.

 

While MGT is a big ‘stick jock’ day for us in the Armored Combat community, it is also a great day for just reveling in our hobby. Under my day shade, field side (thanks to Sir Conal MacDale), members of my shire congregated. We shared the day in each other’s company, bonding, laughing, and witnessing the event together. That part of MGT is more important to me that anything else and that shared moment in time is what I will remember in the years to come.

For those interested, here is a video playlist of the tournaments and the royal court that I captured.

MGT 2025 Playlist

Well met friends. Safe journey to thee!

Meistr Eoin Mac Cana called 'Clyde', Warden of the Northern Plateau
Squire to Earl Benen MacTire
Shire of Easaraigh
Kingdom of Meridies

Clyde's Travels - Hausblot III

Pulaski Rec Center, Pulaski, TN
Pulaski, TN
Hosted by the Shire of Loch an Fhraoich

On the 20th day of September, Anno Societatis LX, I rode with Lord Ronan and Lady Elysant of Axebridge from the Easaraigh hills to the lowlands of South Reach to attend the Shire of Loch an Fhraoich (Loch-on-ree) event, Hausblot III.

I fought in two tournaments on the day.

The first tournament was a William Marshal format. In this open format tournament, combatants fight opponents of choice. The combat is conducted for a set time limit, at the end of which the fighter with the most points wins. For this competition, a win awarded 2 points. A loss awarded 1 point. I ended up with 24 points. The champion, Sir Idris, won with 44 points.

Scoresheet for the William Marshal tournament at Hausblot III.

The second tournament on the day was a 3 v 3 melee tournament. We fought a round robin format, were all teams fight all other teams at least once. There were 3 teams. We fought the best 2 out of three passes for each round. I joined my squire brother, Lord Ronan, and HL Xenos. We did OK, but lost out to the team of Sir Haldr, HL Giermundr, and Lord Boros who won the tournament.

Here is some video I took of the two tournaments.

In between the tournaments I spent some time Masters Jean-Azriel du Corbier and Ysabel de Saincte Croix, learning some principles of rapier combat. I hope to authorize for rapier before Gulf Wars next year. I am still gathering kit and taking opportunities to learn when I can. I just so happened to be able to sit in on a class that master Corbin was teaching for fundamentals. There is a lot to learn. I am a clumsy and have bullish grace. The rapier art requires a level of finesse that I will need to spend time to achieve.

My fighting day was middle of the pack. I had some good moments. I got to learn some things. But most of all, I got to spend time with friends in the sun and shade. 

I thank the Shire of Loch an Fhraoich, our gracious host. It was a fun day.

Well met friends. Safe journey to thee!

Meistr Eoin Mac Cana called 'Clyde'
Squire to Earl Benen MacTire
Warden of the Northern Plateau
Shire of Easaraigh
Kingdom of Meridies
SCA Inc

Clyde’s Travels - Heroes & Heroines: A Renaissance

Heroes & Heroines: A Renaissance
A.H. Stephens State Park Group Camp
456 Alexander Street NW, Crawfordville, GA 30631
6 September 2025

Sigmund’s Tale

Heraldic display of Sigmund Nacht. Photo Credit Kenneth Haldane.

In the summer of Anno Societatis LX in the Kingdom of Meridies, a crier arrived in the Shire of Easaraigh. In the warm summer sun, the messenger proclaimed a call of tournament, a summons, had been issued throughout the Kingdom. The noble and sometimes enigmatic Order of the Sable Sword has put forth invitations to many fine and able fighters of the land. Among the selected, was a squire from this very shire, Sigmund Nacht. Combatants had been called to attend the field at the Heroes and Heroines event sponsored by the Shire of Forth Castle on the first weekend of September, only a short time hence.

Sigmund and I at the Meridies 40th year event. Photo Credit Katherine Radford. 

Our Sigmund has travelled far and wide from his humble beginnings. I was there the first time he donned mail and hefted a blade. We saw his promise and supported his training. The shire lamented when he left our lands to seek fortunes in the Kingdom of Trimaris to the south. There, in the land of sand and storm, he join the house of Sir Teric Gwynedd as a squire to that good and renowned knight. I admired his growth from a distance and watched his progress on the squire’s path with joy. He learned much in his time there in those lands. Eventually, he returned back to the Cumbrian Plateau and the quiet Shire of Easaraigh. Sir Teric, as is common when a squire is separated from mentor, released Sigmund from his oath. With his return to Easaraigh, Sigmund shared what he had learned in the southern lands with any who would listen and he had learned a lot. Our Sigmund is a warrior in his own right at this point in his life. The Trimarians saw this, awarding him a Lion d’Or for his valour and skill in combat prior to his return north. And, I could not agree more with their recognition. Meridies saw the warrior in him as well, adding him as a Companion of the Argent Shield this year. After a short time back in our lands, he found a new mentor in Viscount Valeric the Blackheart, a knight of the west that had moved to our lands many years ago. Sigmund continues to grow. He is renowned and well respected. His skills are as solid as any. He is generous with his knowledge and has been a boon to our fighting community in Northern Meridies.

The Order of the Sable Sword took notice. These mysterious becloaked fighters of Meridies, subtle watchers all, sent riders throughout the kingdom to call a cadre of 24 skilled fighters to an invitational tournament. Sigmund was on their list, an invitation received with the sword and escutcheans seal in wax adorning the writ. I offered my support to this new adventure laid before him. To this end, we found ourselves in the eastern hills of the kingdom in the late summer of Anno Societatis LX.

Our journey not overly long, we made rest in a roadhouse a short distance from the tournament grounds. The excitement of the coming day kept us up late, but we found sleep eventually, waking early the following morning to break fast and complete our journey to the grounds.

The day was clear and the sun bright. This fact of the day would prove to be the most important one. As the sun rose in the heavens, it began to excise a tax upon everyone under its gaze. I confess, it would vex most all of us before the day’s end.

The day started with a tournament in the bear pit format for all armored fighters. Sigmund did not partake, choosing to save his efforts for the Invitational he was there to attend later in the day. I did participate. I made I 12 or 14 passes before I retired and had to hydrate and rest. The Sun’s cost on me was hard and I took my leave before the tournament completed.

 

After the bear pit, Sigmund was able to spend some time warming up with his knight, Viscount Valeric. Warming up is a good add to anyone’s tournament preparations. Having the opportunity to do so with your mentor is even more beneficial. Like a have a coach in your corner, they can bolster resolve and help you with any butterflies roaming in your stomach.

Valeric and Sigmund warming up. Photo Credit Eoin Mac Cana

The Invitational Tournament began with 4 ‘pools’ of fighters, a count of 6 in each pool. Each combatant found everyone in their grouping. I was marshalling a pool, so did not get to see Sigmund fight firsthand. But, he did well enough to advance to the next round of the event.

The second round was another sequence of 4 pools of combatants, 5 per pool. This is when the great orb in the sky began to wreak is worst upon the participants. The brave warriors not only fought their opponent, but the far reaching blaze from above. Sigmund was in the pool I was marshalling. I could see the effort in him. He fought well both against his opponent on the field and the one in the sky. He did well enough to make it to the third round of the tournament and was announced to the final 16.

List tree with shields. Photo Credit Kenneth Haldane

There was a procession. The 16 where announced to the populace, with their consorts where present.

The final round of 16 was a single elimination tournament. Each pairing would fight for the best 2 or 3 fights to progress. Our Sigmund was matched to fight Drogo inn Keiliselgr, an noble man and fighter of the southern reaches of Meridies. The fight did not happen. Recognizing that he was spent,  Sigmund withdrew… with humility and grace. His name called, he came to the field and yielded. He shared private words with Drogo and they embraced in comradery and happiness.

Sigmund and Drogo. Photo Credit Kenneth Haldane.

I could see the conflict on his visage. Sigmund answered the invitation for many reasons. He was asked, of course, but there was more. He came to show his Kingdom who he is.

Sigmund is proud and humble. He loves this hobby. He shares his joy with those around him. He brings a strong spirit and embellishes the community with it. He is makes smart choices. There is no lament about the withdraw. It was the right decision for him and a decision all of us (both in and out of the martial part of this hobby) have to make at times. While I am sad that was not able to see it through, I was happy for him to be able to experience the journey and that I was able to see his impact and how he affects those around him. I could argue that the way in which he yielded the field says more about our Sigmund than swinging a stick does.

Sigmund Nacht is a pretty cool dude. Im happy to know him and call him friend.

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