This weekend we had our Shire's SCA Event, Pillage on the Plains III, in Tallassee. The site was lovely and we (especially Darryl) had been working hard (along with many others) to get it ready in time. It's the same place where they hold a civil war re-enactment having to do with the armoury in Tallassee, that was held secure against the Union troops.
In any case, Darryl took Friday off so he could help get things ready. He picked me up after supper and we headed up there and set up our tent. The whole campsite experience was great: lots of period tents (i.e. medieval-style tents) were set up, and there were lots of colourful banners and torch lights. There was a campfire going and we sat around it till about midnight, talking with others there and Darryl sampling various alcoholic concoctions that Jocosa (Tonya) had made.
Darryl's duty this weekend was: herald - that means he had to announce to everyone what events were happening when and where.
My duty this weekend was: nastycrat - that means I was in charge of making sure trash cans were emptied and that the port-o-potties were relatively clean and the toilet paper refreshed.
Early Sat. morning, Darryl had to get up so he could announce breakfast. A lot of people had come Friday night and set up their tents, but others were just day-tripping, that is, coming on Saturday only. Breakfast was some odd breakfast burritos with some kind of questionable sausage (I didn't eat it), eggs and burrito wraps. Afterwards, people were just milling around, taking classes (e.g. Heraldry 101, learning about herbs, etc.), socializing, or whatnot. I started painting a scroll. At some point, the newly-crowned Queen Kora attended, and a rapier tournament was held to determine her rapier champion. Going on at the same time was a heavy weapons combat tournament. Other people were setting up for live weapons (spears, knives, axes, and archery) competitions, and merchants were trying to sell their wares (I liked the pottery, but we didn't happen to buy any). Somewhere during this time there was a fundraiser spaghetti lunch; Darryl & I just had some bread, cheese, carrots, apples, and salami that we'd brought.
Darryl did some competing in the live weapons tourney; he wasn't particularly good with a spear (that's the only one I was there to watch), and his axe handle split. Unfortunately, his ability to compete was cut short by the need to herald some more events. Later, Allen and Emma came up to the site to say "hi" and no doubt to wonder why we would want to dress up like medieval people (!); I also said "hi" to Annette in the van. During that time, Court had started (this is where the Queen addresses petitions or any court business). For example, this is where the winners of the various tournaments were awarded. Later that evening, there was "feast"--a big dinner which was held mostly by candle and torch light, after a traditional hand-washing. The food was less exciting than the company and the atmosphere. It's hard to explain and I wish I had some photos, but alas... Afterwards, most people gathered in the bardic circle around a campfire and socialized, played instruments, etc. I think that the bardic circle turned then into the hafla (some kind of middle Eastern festivity with music and dancing) that was supposed to be held somewhere else. I went to bed about half an hour before it started because I'd gotten far too little sleep for the past 2 weeks. I could hear the drums and middle Eastern instruments playing, though. Darryl had fun recounting to me next day the male bellydancer (dressed up as a woman).
And then today, we ate breakfast from our little stock of food, and cleaned up our tent and site.
All in all, it was a really enjoyable weekend: far better than the previous (and only other) event I'd attended, July feast. We enjoyed the company of: Teresa & Dennis, Debbie & Mike, Eric & Audrey, Jocosa & Kennric, Bjorn & Katherine, Davey, and Danny & Bree. By an odd coincidence, I had actually met Danny previously during my "first" trip to Alabama in March 2001. He was James Y's friend and we had gone to some Chinese restaurant in Huntsville with Danny and his then-girlfriend/wife. And I'd also been in his new doublewide. Small world.
Please feel welcome to look at photos from this weekend HERE
