Cry "Havoc"!

It's a long weekend here in Vancouver, and as tends to be the case when there's an extra day off, many of the people in my social circle have made plans: trips to Whistler, barbecues, watching the fireworks - and then there's my co-worker Christi.  What is Christi doing with her long weekend, you ask?

Christi is going to war.

Christi is a member of the Society of Creative Anachronism, a group dedicated to "researching and re-creating the arts and skills of pre-17th-century Europe."  The SCA dates back to 1966 - the first SCA event was hosted by fantasy writer Diana L. Paxson, who became one of the founding directors of the organization.  Not too surprisingly, the membership has often included science fiction and fantasy authors, including luminaries such as Poul Anderson, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Robert Asprin, Jerry Pournelle and Katherine Kurtz.

In order to fulfill their mandate, the SCA hosts a variety of historically oriented activities: crafts fairs, costumed events, classes in heraldry, and of course, the official pasttime of medieval Europe, warfare.  Christi, or Her Ladyship Anika Styfe, Order of the Grey Goose Shaft*, as she is known to her fellow SCA members, is participating in a three-day Tournament of Armies being held in Aldergrove, a suburb of Vancouver.

Even as I type this, the armies of the Barony of Lion’s Gate are massing for battle, which is a carefully monitored process so as to avoid injury to the participants.  A certain number of bumps and bruises are inevitable, but the SCA makes every effort to ensure that there isn't any sort of serious damage by setting strict standards for weapons, armour, and the actual combat itself.  Weapons are either padded or made from lightweight materials such as rattan, and armour must meet the rigorous requirements for protection as set out in the Marshal's Handbook**, which also lists the rules for safe combat.

As it turns out, Her Ladyship's warband is currently not affiliated with a particular warlord, so they will very likely be available as mercenaries, eager to fight for the highest bidder.  So, if you have good red gold and honest silver in your purse, and are looking for a doughty band of skilled archers, just let me know and I’ll be happy to put you in touch with Lady Anika.  Does it need to be said that some kind of commission will be in order…?

- Sid

* A biographical note from Her Ladyship:  "I add the last bit of my title as when building an army for a Tournament of Armies. A Goose is worth two archers, but an outsider won’t know what a Goose is. A Goose in archery is similar to a Knight for Heavy fighters and a Don or Dona for Rapier Fighters."

**  Did I say "rigorous"?  An example from the Marshal's Handbook:

Helms shall be constructed from steel which has a thickness of no less than .0625 (that is, 1/16) inch (1.6 mm), or of equivalent material. Alternative materials, such as stainless steel, brass, bronze, or like materials, are permissible as long as the material is structurally equivalent to 0.0625-inch-thick steel. The mass of the helm is an important part of the protection. As such, no titanium, fiberglass, aluminum, or other ultra-light materials may be used unless they meet the equivalent mass, strength, and weight of steel which has a thickness of no less than .0625 (that is, 1/16) inch (1.6mm). Proof of construction technique, materials, and equivalency must be provided to the kingdom earl marshal (KEM) for an approval for in-kingdom use. If a spun-metal top is to be used in the construction of the helm, it shall be a minimum of 0.075 inch (14-gauge or 1.905 mm) steel. The process of spinning the top thins the metal, thereby requiring a heavier gauge.