Went to Rose Tourney this weekend. This is one of the most special events in the Kingdom in my opinion. It is all about honoring the Ladies of the Rose (and Viscountesses) who each sponsor a team of fighters. The format for the last several years has been each Rose present has a team of five combatants, four armored; a member of the chivalry and three unbelted fighters, and one rapier combatant. For each pairing of teams the combatants match up and fight single combats with the victory determined by the teams win loss record (chivalry fight chivalry, unbelts fight unbelts, and rapier fights rapier.)
A little history here; The Rose Tourney started as something added on to an existing event and it was really three separate tourneys, one each for Chivalry, unbelted fighters, and rapier fighters. The first improvement was in holding it as its own event. This allowed time for more pomp and circumstance and a greater focus on the enjoyment of the spectators. The next was the current team format I described above. I have a bias toward this format for two reasons; the first Rose Tourney I fought in I was knocked out by one of my sponsoring Rose's other fighters and the first time the current team format was used I was on the team that won for Alys Katherine.
One of the big misconceptions about Rose Tourney is that you have to be invited by a Rose before the event to fight. This is not true, though some Roses arrange their teams before the event many do not or do not completely and choose all or part of their team from those that are there to fight that day. I have only once gone to a Rose Tourney where I was already sponsored, the rest of the ones I have attended I have had the great fortune to be asked that day to fight for a Lady of the Rose. It really bothered me one year that there were not enough unbelted fighters for all the Roses to choose from (five fought on two different teams, I would have been the sixth but one more fight showed up.) There is always enough pick up fighting available to make the event worthwhile to fight at whether or not you get chosen for a team. And regardless this event is about honoring the Roses. Another thing I have heard is people say, "I'm not good enough a fighter to be chosen." Again this event is not about you it is about the Roses and prowess is only one reason they may choose someone to fight on their team, and to many it is not the most important. But enough ranting on this topic, if you fight go to Rose Tourney and make yourself available.
So I'm in the group of fighters that have not yet been sponsored for a team. They call us out to the field so the Roses that need to fill their teams can choose. I am immediately called over by Duchess Rebekah, and asked to be on her team, taking the place of Captain Crispin who was supposed to be on her team but did not show up (a high crime it is standing up this noble lady, I'm sure Lubeck must be to Blame somehow.) Rebekah has always held a special place in my heart as nine years ago she was the first to sponsor me in a Rose Tourney, that time I replaced Caldador who had gotten sick and could not make it. (We were thinking it had been ten years, but I checked the OP since I was made Red Company that day and it was only nine.) What made it even cooler was the team included Duke Bardolf, Baron Robert Downey, and Baron Gintauris good friends and extended SCA family from the Midlands. The team was finished out with ha young fencer from the Midlands name Stephan.
I fought the whole day with sword and shield. The team won our first round versus Viscountess Astrid's team. I fought first and won my fight. The second round was versus Duchess Caitlin's Team I fought last versus Lucius, another von Brandenburg. I legged him after a number of close exchanges, then he hit me with a light shot to the hip that brought me out of fighting the fight and into thinking (where did that hit? was it on my armor? no it was below, ok it is light then), thinking while in range is bad and he hit me a good shot to the head while my focus off. The teams had been tied so his team won and we went the loser bracket. I still am having back muscle problems (thought I have recovered from the misalignment I had last week) and I stiffened up waiting to the last fight in that round which also did not help, both Sabah and Brannos noticed it in the fight and said something. I talked about this with Rebekah and for the rest of the rounds she called me first to fight. The next round I faced Warder Christian Fournier fighting for Countess Sir Fern. He had polearm and I ran him down and legged him, his pole blocked the first shot after he dropped to his knees and as my next came in he dropped his guard and lowered his head taking the shot on the back of his helm. In the exchange that I had legged him I had also taken one arm and he had lowered his guard rather that prolong the fight. Our Team was victorious in what was declared the "Championship of the Midlands" (of the two teams I was the only non Midlander and I fight with the Haus with Midlands at Pennsic.) The next round we faced Duchess Sabine's team and I fought Magrat. On salute your opponent she gave me one of her flying hugs. Sir Guerric said something in surprise and I shorted out his mind with, "its more fun when she's wearing spikes." (Going back years to a Pennsic story involving a spiked bodice she had borrowed.) I could do little but come out looking like a huge bully as I walked her into the corner of the the list. She got loose and I contained here again along the side of the list and legged then killed her. Our team lost this round though putting us out of the tourney.
I got out of armor and rested till court, I missed who won. After court we followed Sabah and Monica back to their place and got pizza for supper. Sabah and I are known in the Haus for staying up talking most of the night when together but we were both so sore and tired we went to bed shortly after eating. Other highlights of the day included; getting to talk with Sir Janos who has not been active the last couple years, seeing Lucius's lady Heather's face as she got to go through my tourney chest and choose the ransom earned by her lord for defeating me in tourney, getting to see Gavin and Caileich before they move away to the East Kingdom, and seeing Cadogan being put on vigil for the Order of the Chivalry
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bruinson's journal
