A Busy Week

The week has just started and I'm already exhausted.
I should be maintaining myself better, a weak sleep schedule and a disorganized house. Just yesterday (Sunday), the Shire of Myrtleholt fired back up their fighter practices (Sundays; 11am; Riverside Park in Grants Pass, OR). From the previous week to this one saw a massive temperature jump, from rainy and in the 50s, to partly cloudy and in the high 70s to mid 80s. Hydrating was a bit of an issue afterwards, and I was exhausted for the rest of the day.
My soon to be knight (as a man at arms, not a squire), Visc. Sir Brian's latest instruction was to work on non-stop throwing of shots, which I take as a push in aggression. I am a very passive, counter-shooting fighter presently, though my "computer" doesn't process openings fast enough to fire at every one. Practice yesterday saw only a mild increase in aggression.
I still reflexively evade and back-peddle, rather than meeting a press. Part of it is that my wraps have been going too deep, and striking with the bottom half of my reverse edge, and my other "standard" shots tend to get caught up on account of my long arms.
All in all it was a good practice, albeit a hot one. I hope the weather treats me better for the coming fights.

Tomorrow is a southern principality regional practice (at the previously mentioned location, 4pm). Expected folks include Sir Lawrence of the Marsh and Sir William Brannan. Its a good opportunity to get fights in with folks I would normally only see at events, and instruction from more experienced fighters.
I don't think I'll be pushing myself physically too much, especially considering that it starts during the hottest part of the day. I'll be trying to work on more cerebral/cognitive aspects, and technique, and hopefully someone might be willing to do slow work.

Wednesday will be a day of packing in preparation for the drive and trip on Thursday, when I'll be heading up to the Barony of Terra Pomaria, getting into town, stealing some of my foster mother's food, and then going to their local practice. I'm not sure what I have in mind for practice there, but I'm sure Sir Brian will have something for me. I anticipate Duke Sir Tjorkil, who was a fun fight at the last practice I attended up there.

Friday can hopefully be leisurely, as Saturday holds a ransom tournament and a torchlight tournament, and Sunday holds the Griffin's Quest Ursulmas scholarship tournament.
I'm looking forward to swearing my oaths of service, and then fighting for a consort for the first time. I'm anxious to see how these things will change my mental state and what affect they will have on my fighting.

I've been studying the West Kingdom's March '12 Crown finals between Visc. Sir Brand McClellan and Duke Sir Hauoc Bender. The contrast of styles is very interesting.

The Consort

This is a subject that's been on my mind for the past month or so. The inspiration of a fighter, the consort.

For me representing another individual puts me in a different mindset than I normally have. My actions not only reflect myself, but my consort as well, and thus I feel obligated (from an internal view, not external) to act and speak in such a way that brings her honor as well as myself; I've felt this way in non-fighting/non-SCA aspects as well, a desire to please and not let someone down. Such a partnership encourages me to perform better, in a sense of worthiness of even having a consort, though I do not know where this personal notion stems from.

I can appreciate fighting for someone you're romantically involved with. However, the additional social/interpersonal facets that consort-fighter relationship may add to a romantic relationship seems a rather daunting notion, and I'm certainly not in a place where that would be okay with my mental state.

My concept of a fighter-consort relationship seems very one sided, and this bothers me. I see a consort as someone who cares for the fighter before, during and after fighting; Ensures they are in a healthy state, physically and mentally, as well as representing the fighter, being worthy of honor and to be fought for. While the fighter simply has the latter of the consort's requirements: representation and worthiness of such.
Maybe I'm over thinking "how things are".

I had asked my foster mother, Viscountess Acacia Gryffyn, about women who might be suitable consorts, she had one response: Astrid.
I won't bother with the finer details of the interim, but Astrid agreed to a partnership for the season (when the season "officially" ends, I'm unsure). The communication has been good, and she's begun work on a favor.
(Left) Viscountess Acacia Gryffyn, 26th, and 31st Princess of the Summits.
(Right) Beginnings of Astrid's favor.

Astrid and I have had decently strong communication as to what we want, what we're willing to provide and so forth. On the 26th I'm heading up to the Barony of Terra Pomaria for their Bar Gemel's event where I'll be giving two oaths of service, one to Visc. Acacia, and another to her husband, Visc. Sir Brian Caius Brittanicus. There will be three tournaments, two of which Astrid will be present-a torchlight tournament, and The Griffin's Quest tournament. The latter is a scholarship tournament for Ursulmas, which requires sponsorship by a Lady of the Valorous Estate. Good thing I know a Viscountess.

My Kit - Present & Future

When I was first in loaner gear, I was wearing a sweatshirt and soccer shin guards on my arms to fit into the vambraces. At various practices, I was wearing Else's leg harness, and a helm that barely fit my melon.
When someone tells you that a comfortable and well fitted kit is important, you listen to them, dammit!

Feargus mac Airt had some gorgeous armor when I was attending Canale fighter practices. Wax-hardened leather. Bazubands, "shovel" greaves, a coat of scales, and a scale mantle on his gorget. All of his leather was from Torvaldr's Leatherworks (www.skaldic.com)
I knew I didn't want a coat of plates, and a leg harness that hung from my hips. I didn't want to clang around in metal.
I wanted a Torvaldr kit. I knew what I did and didn't want in a kit.
I ordered a made to order Norman Conical helm from Windrose Armoury (www.windrosearmoury.com).

Vesta in the background, overseeing practice.
Gorgeous November fall colors in Myrtleholt.

I frequently get comments on my kit's appearance. The follow-up question is always "Did you make it?", and I must confess I am a bit ashamed to admit that I didn't. But I didn't feel like spending years and thousands of dollars in figuring the best method to bake the leather, what combination of waxes works best for varying temperatures, etc. I knew what I wanted.
I love the shape, but would like some brass banding, a la Brand's helm. 
But now, I want something a bit different. Don't get me wrong, the kit is beautiful, but I feel that it isn't as appropriate to period late dark ages (my persona time frame). Specifically its the coat of scales being leather that bothers me the most. A cutting weapon would be able to slice right through any part of my leather kit.

What I want is a lorica squamata, Roman scale armor. Particularly, I'm looking to have a vest of aluminum scales, with a maille Haubergeon underneath. This is my primary change. I also want a dark ages helm, something similar to Visc. Brand McClellan's (minus the animal tail). I like the shape of Windrose Armoury's "dark age" helm as well.
With a more "period" kit, would be low profile and hidden leg armor. I'm liking the look of the "wingless knees" that Windrose Armoury has. My main concern is thigh protection that is low profile, in order to fit under "fighter pants". I'm also liking the look of some splint greaves that sit below the knee (I'm paranoid about my shins).
I'll then keep my leather pauldrons and a single spaulder, the bazubands
, and my gorget with a leather plated mantle (for my shoulders).

As for a shield, I'm wanting to try out a 30" diameter center-grip round. I've recently been inspired by Magnus Ulfarsson in that regard, whose videos I've found on youtube (www.youtube.com/magnuswyvern). I'm thoroughly impressed by his ability to apply the Five D's of Dodgeball to heavy fighting, especially for being 6'5".

Introduction & Origins

My first recollection of anything SCA was actually about four or five, at my paternal grandparent's house; my uncle and his friend were doing heavy combat on the front lawn. I have also had an interest in knights, dragons, and medieval things when I was growing up. I'm not sure what sparked that interest, however.
I was actually introduced to the SCA when I was eleven or twelve years old, by my aunt and uncle, my father's brother and his wife (They had actually began playing back in the 80s, and met through the SCA). It was a day event in the Barony of Fettburg, Principality of Cynagua, West Kingdom. I hadn't really a clue what was going on; my garb was pretty decent, though. I was mostly drawn to the heavy and rapier tournaments. I do recall being beet red when called up in court for the "first event" tokens.
During my stay at my aunt and uncle's, I went with them to a few social meetings. I recall (now) Sir Mari Alexander, and Count Sir Gemini de Grendel, specifically (they both have very intense personalities, in my opinion).

After that visit with my aunt and uncle, the SCA fell out of existence to me. Sometime when I was twenty-one, I was suddenly hit with the urge to look up the SCA. I don't know what prompted it, however.
The shire I lived in, Brinaiaide, was dormant, and the next closest was about a hour's drive away. For some reason, I had a real fire in my gut about involving myself. I got in touch with the Shire of Canale's chatelaine, Mistress Else Hunrvogt. Simultaneously, I was developing my persona, and was in touch with a Laurel very knowledgeable in Welsh culture.
I was driving two hours round-trip to Canale's fighter practices, I was well-received by Else and her husband, Sir Heinrich von Melk, Feargus mac Airt, and a few others. Subsequent fighter practices saw me in loaner armor (the horrors). They invited me to the March Crown tournament (2010). I like to think they fostered me into the SCA. I like to think I share many sentiments as Sir Heinrich regarding heavy fighting.

I abruptly moved to southern Oregon, and mundane life took precedence.
In the spring of 2011, I looked at the armor I bought, and wanted to actually wear it, and fight. I checked out the local branches, and attended a war practice. There, I got in touch with Lord Robert Engleson, and subsequently spent a couple days working at his place, and got myself fighting fit.
From there, I began attending practices, and a few events. Which brings us to the present.

More to follow, I assure you.