I couldn't write a post here two weeks ago because I was at WAR! And then I could have written a post last week, but didn't quite manage it because I was recovering...from WAR!
For those of you wondering what the hell I'm talking about: I am a member of the Society for a Creative Anachronism (SCA). They have events that go on all the time, which are sort of like Renaissance Fairs, but much more involved. For one, you're camping for days at a time in garb. And for those of you who still have no idea what garb is: for me, it's shirts with big puffy sleeves, breaches - not pants, big hats with plumes, knee-high boots with the big bell that folds over, and a lot of leather goods. And no, it's not some creepy fetish party...well, they have that, but that's not what I go for.
So, in the beginning of October every year, they have an event called Great Western War. And it's called War because there are actually battles that go on. The battles are usually fought to see who will be the next king in that area. Except for one of our crew who just started participating in the battles, my friends and I don't go for the fighting. We go for the camping, dressing like pirates, drinking copious amounts of booze, singing our lungs out, finding suitably friendly wenches (which is mostly just an activity that I partake in because everybody else seems to gotten themselves hitched...suckers), and generally engaging in many and various shenanigans. It's fantastic.
Some of the highlights of this year's Great Western War as is follows:
- We captured the vessel of the Captain of the Royal Navy for our king's enemy and put him in the stocks. We took pictures so we could present the proof to our king. Good times.
- We stole an entire party.
- The Great Bacon Cook-off of Ought 9
- We reclaimed (and renamed) Consensual Clam Sex Island.
- Epic Tug-o-War battles.
- I taught the Middle Ages how to Walk Like An Egyptian
- Sword Dancing
- The Great Kabob Marathon
- The Haitian Rum Auction
- Bacon!
- And the usual singing, drinking, and debauching. Actually, to call it "the usual" sort of cheapens it, because it's not usual, it's epic. Basically imagine a party that doesn't end for a week. At the end of it you're exhausted, scarred, bruised, burnt, blistered, and your kidneys hurt...but MAN what a ride.
Happy Jenday!