Provincial Games

I showed up to Mooneschadowe's Provincial Games with, more or less, one goal in mind, and that was to sit down at the scroll painting table and paint. I didn't so much as say "Hear ye" one time, and I don't think anyone looked at me once for voice heraldry.

It was a chilly start, according to one of the autocrats, the building where the non-fighting took place started the morning off at 49 degrees, and was getting up to 70 by the time we showed up, thought it was a slow climb.

The table had a definitive normal cadre of people there, starting with my wife, and also including Lady Uallach Ui Dubhshlaine, and Lady Derega Tot. Not long after we were joined by Jon, a newer member who has drifted into my social circles, though as a welcome addition. A retired Marine, he brings a lot of the odd-ball humor and grim pragmatism that I mundanely grew up with as the son of a Marine officer.

One small item of business that I do want to call out that isn't heraldry related, but still important, was when Derega gave back the archery supplies to Vincinti. In the process, she got to show him the finished products, 7 dozen arrows, each set with a unique paint job on the shafts. Mooneschaodwe (and Derega) got some high praise for managing to pull that off. A few people commented that out loaner arrows looked better than some of the personal sets that people bring to the range on practice days.

It was good see Derega get some tangible thanks from hr archery peers after putting so much effort into bot leading and actually working the effort to build up archery in the group again.

I also ran into Lomax, friend and Namron local. who spoke with me about my certifications for Chirurgeon. I found out that there would be a First Aid Class At Gulf, and for a fraction of the cost the Red Cross was asking. So, looks like I might actually (maybe) get a jump-start on my certifications. At least one can hope.

About halfway through the day, I was joined by two more new members, one was the wife of a good friend who had recently come back into the game (work had pulled him out to the middle of nowhere for several years there), and her friend from college, down in OKC. The latter of the two nearly jumped in excitement when I told her I she could come over and actually paint an award's charter.

One outrageously fun little encounter was when Count Bear walked up and randy started giving one of our newcomer's a shoulder massage. (Note: Bear is a professional masseuse, and quite literally pays the bills with this skill). The poor woman looked a little (ok. a lot) intimidated when a set of hands the size of frying pains landed on her shoulders, but a moment later, she was practically melting in her seat as Bear worked out kinks and knots from her neck and shoulders. The whole time he was jabbering cordially with the rest of us like nothing else was happening. When he finished, he thanked us for our time and conversation, an then walked away.... and the lady he had been working on (I'm sorry, her name completely escapes me) looked about as lumber as a rubber bands, and as relaxed as a two month old. It was quite the amusing engagement.

"And yes," I said to her as the mountain of a count walked away. "That is just one of those things that do randomly happen in the SCA, not that anyone has complained yet."

I worked on my incomplete AOA, and a Flur, finishing the former, and getting a good start on the later. I'm slowly getting used to my paints, but I think I am going to just switch to a different paint try, because the one I have is just not working out.

The event ended with little fan fair, and a lot of fun conversations. A good portion of Mooneschaodwe went to sirloin Stockade, though a lot of the people from the scribal table opted to head to the New China Buffet instead. It was a pleasant enough dinner, with most of us enjoying the chance to wind down and chat some more before heading out separate ways.

All told, it was a low key, fun, 11 hour day for me.

Lord Ivo Blackhawk
Kingdom of Ansteorra
"God save the King!"