magic-moments-msg

magic-moments-msg - 2/3/00

Those "magic moments" that have occurred to others in the SCA.

"All of us who participate in the SCA have at one time or another experienced a magic moment, a point where we witness something so special that it will stay with us forever."

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NOTICE -

This file is a collection of various messages having a common theme that I have collected from my reading of the various computer networks. Some messages date back to 1989, some may be as recent as yesterday.

This file is part of a collection of files called Stefan's Florilegium. These files are available on the Internet at: http://www.florilegium.org

I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter.

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Thank you,

Mark S. Harris AKA: THLord Stefan li Rous

Stefan at florilegium.org

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> All of us who participate in the SCA have at one time or another experinced

> a magic moment, a point where we witness something so special that it will

> stay with us forever.

From: bronwynmgn at aol.com (Bronwynmgn)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: magic moments

Date: 14 Apr 1996 13:14:31 -0400

My magic moment of record ocurred in a church basement at Twelfth

Night, when I suddenly realized that absolutely everybody in the room was

doing something that would have been done in a great hall in period, in

the winter, with it snowing outside. I was sewing; another lady had

coerced a small child into running full tilt around two poles carrying her

weaving thread (the poles were just far enough apart to measure the right

length for her warp threads); many of the lords were rehashing last

summer's battles; others were singing, talking of their current projects,

discussing the upcoming feast, etc.

Bronwyn

From: llfarnha at uci.EDU (Lucia L. Farnham-Hudson )

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: magic moments

Date: 13 Apr 1996 17:27:14 -0400

Melisend spoke of the beauty of taking off her glasses at events. I

concur. I am also profoundly nearsighted, but occasionally find myself

thinking I am lucky to be so. When I take my glasses off in the middle

of the eric, I am in the middle of a glory of color with no mundanities

intruding into our pageantry. Music, color, and conversation are all.

On the other hand, fighting without my glasses can be quite amusing.

Many years ago (long before I had contacts) I fought in a resurrection

battle in a war between the Mists and Cynagua in the West. When you

died, you were to return to a designated _secret_ spot to resurrect. If

the enemy found it, they could capture it for their own. When I died, I

grew suspicious of the enemy dead around me, and decided I'd take off in

the opposite direction from the site, just to throw them off. I was

right, they did follow me for a bit, but I eventually lost them. By that

time, I was totally turned around in the woods. There were no landmarks

for me, and the battle sounds were too muffled to get directions from. I

eventually banged into a fence and followed it too an open field from

which I could spot the encampments, and from there finally made it back

to the resurrection site. At which time the horn was blown indicating

the end of fighting. I'd lost more calories that day fighting the woods

than my enemies ... :)

It's little experiences like that that make me _very_ glad I was born in

_this_ century, where I _can_ correct my vision.

Cyrie

llfarnha at uci.edu

From: david.razler at postoffice.worldnet.att.net (David M. Razler)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: PENNSIC/power

Date: Mon, 08 Jul 1996 04:42:57 GMT

<snip>

Now all of this is a con: pretending to do medieval while abandoning not a

single creature comfort of our modern world, and, like I said, my limited

system will be in place to give me relatively cooler crash space 'round

noontime, when I happen to need it. Everyone has their own justification for

not living in the style of the Enchanted Ground, such is mine.

But unless one has *greater* health problems <and therefore can get a site

with power> electricity does not belong at Pennsic: Magic Moment Pennsic XIX

<my first> Almost all of the region is blacked out Friday night. And almost no

one at Pennsic knows or cares. The lanterns work, the torches work, the ice

blocks keep things cold that we insist be kept cold....

Aleksandr, Traveller/dmr

David M. Razler

david.razler at worldnet.att.net

Date: Mon, 23 Jun 1997 10:26:34 -0500

To: ansteorra at eden.com

From: Gunnora Hallakarva <gunnora at bga.com>

Subject: Magic Moments

Sir Burke asked about magic moments. Do you remember those old children's

history specials "YOU ARE THERE"?? That's the feeling I associate with the

most magical moments, the ones that let you really believe, all the way

through, that "you ARE there", even if it's only a fleeting moment.

I'll never forget the first time I felt that way. The event was a War with

the Midrealm (aka The Chigger War or The War the Chiggers Won) during the

reign of King Sigmund I. The site was a lake in northeast Oklaholma. As

the battle lines were being formed in the early morning, there was a heavy

foggy mist above the lake and swirling around our knees. The Midrealm

lines were barely visible through the fog, which erased all traces of

mundanity, revealing colorful glimses of banners and surcoats. It was my

first war, and like any medieval soldier I was scared, and excited. Then,

just asthe tension had built to almost breaking point for me, behind the

Ansteorran lines the haunting wail of a bagpipe skirled up into the mist...

the hair stood up all over my head and I had tears in my eyes. THAT is

sti9ll the single most powerful moment I have ever experienced in the SCA.

The next best had to be during my Laureling, when, fueled well by the Mead

of Inspiration, Sir Kief af Kierstad extemporized Norse alliterative poetry

for over ten minutes extolling my virtues as testimony to the crown why I

should be made a Laurel. It was a moving tribute, and a spine-tingling

moment as well for the feeling of "realness" that hearing those measured

lines of poetry rolling out conveyed.

Gunnora Hallakarva

Herskerinde

From: zarlor at acm.org (Lenny Zimmermann)

To: ansteorra at eden.com

Subject: Re: Magic Moments

Date: Mon, 23 Jun 1997 17:55:16 GMT

I must admit that I am still realtively new to the Society, but I find

some of the most magical moments to be some of the little ones that I

just enjoy the most. Often right after a feast sitting among friends

with a happy belly, pleasant conversation and exquisite candlelight I

find myself drifiting off into silence and just pondering and ejoying

the moment. It just seems like there is no place I would rather be

than among such fine friends at just such a time.

But, despite my great enjoyment of such a little moment, it is not one

of those moments when you are "there". There have certainly been times

at Lyonesse that have come close and at one of my first events at a

Yule Revel where we sat out in the dark of the woods in the middle of

the night listening to songs while the fog rolled in. Civilization was

not to be heard anywhere and Mistress Mari's voice lilting out Celtic

sounding songs just seemed right. Not quite "there", but still pretty

close.

I think the hardest part for me is that I work hard to learn a great

deal about my persona and the "character" of a Renaissance courtier

and diplomat and it is just not completely "right" to be with so many

disparate cultures. Much like a stranger in a strange land, is perhaps

the best way I see it, so it's all kind of odd to me anyways. Just as

my modern sense tells me that what we participate in is out of time

and place, the feel for my persona is the same way. Perhaps in that

sense I am often "there", as well. There are, indeed, so many things

to savor and enjoy in the SCA, I hope I can always maintain that

wide-eyed wonder at the pageantry we do. (Although it can be DARN

tough at some events! ;-))

Honos Servio,

Lionardo Acquistapace, Bjornsborg

(mka Lenny Zimmermann, San Antonio)

zarlor at acm.org

Date: Mon, 23 Jun 1997 19:11:25 -0500 (CDT)

To: ansteorra at eden.com

From: amazing at mail.utexas.edu (dennis grace)

Subject: Re: Magic Moments

Aquilanne here.

Sir Burke asked for magic moments. I started in the SCA in

Montana/Atenveldt, in the eternally-incipient shire of Braanshelm (Billings,

MT), way, way out in the SCA boonies. I had only been playing a few months

when a bunch of us carpooled to a fighter's college in Silver Keep

(Bozeman). Some knights and other charity-minded folk from the Barony of

Loch Salaan (Salt Lake City, Utah) had traveled up to teach and share. The

event was held in the upstairs area of a school gym--fighting, feast,

festivities and all. It was the first event I'd been to where there was

dancing. They got the dancers started with a simple pavan. I was standing to

the side, watching, when I was approached by a tall, stately gentleman

wearing a (gasp, nervous figit) coronet, the first I had ever seen. I bowed,

and moved to let him by, but, low and behold, he stopped, bowed back, took

my hand and asked oh-so-politely if I would honor him with a dance. I was

absolutely agog. The *Baron* asked *me,* a "nobody," to dance! We shared a

pavan, bowed to one another again; he conversed pleasantly with me for a

little while and went on. I still remember how absolutely charmed and

excited I was to be asked to dance by someone so important and so genteel.

Years later, Baron Sir Robert de Spencer still stands in my mind as a

paragon of nobility. In that shining moment, so young into the SCA

experience, I was no longer a "nobody;" I *was* a lady at court, fortunate

enough to have had the Baron's arm for a dance.

As proficient as I like to believe myself at communication, mere words can't

begin to do justice to the magic of that moment for me.

_____________________________

Dennis Grace

University of Texas at Austin

English Department

Recovering Medievalist

amazing at mail.utexas.edu

Date: Mon, 23 Jun 1997 19:57:39 -0500 (CDT)

From: kal35810 at jetson.uh.edu (Kathy Lee)

Subject: Re: Magic Moments

To: ansteorra at eden.com

How to choose just one "Magic Moment" ... OK, so how about my first?

I had done some fencing in college, and originally joined the SCA in Loch

Sollier for the rapier combat. At fighter practice, I met up with Rodger of

York, who was then a newcomer as well. We knew each other from high school,

and soon became fast friends and travelling companions. (Getting horribly

lost most of the time.)

At our first event, which was Quest for Clover, Rodger and I stumbled across

a bardic circle. People were taking turns performing, and the candle

eventually made its way around to us. We were clueless. We had sung

together in high school, though, and we both knew "Today." That was as

close to Period Music we could come. We steadied our nerves, stood up, and

did our best.

The circle made a few more rounds, and we managed to avoid performing again.

Afterwards, a red-haired lady with a crown on her head, who had sung the

most beautiful song I'd ever heard, introduced Rodger and I to the concept

of largess. I still have the string of beads she gave me, and Rodger I

believe still has the pin.

I later found out that the lady was Duchess Siglinde, and the song was "Come

Share the Dream." She shared her dream with two newcomers that evening, and

it's been alive for us ever since.

-Katerina

Subject: My Magic Moment

From: Mark Wallace <blackfox.mwal at webzone.net>

To: Ansteorra Digest <ansteorra at eden.com>

Date: Mon, 23 Jun 1997 23:04:49 -0500

Greetings unto the members of the list from Master William Blackfox:

In response to one comment in a previous issue, not all SCA magic moments

involve poor visibility. They do seem to revolve around bagpipes, though,

don't they? So does mine.

Aaaaallllrightee, then. NSTIW, Pennsic 19, after the thursday evening

bagpipe seminar. We managed to get about 6 pipers together along with a

motley assembly of drums, bohdrans, dumbeks, etc. We started marching

around in the general merchanting area and nearby camps.

Being thursday, the dancers were having their masked ball. We were all

feeling froggy so we sauntered up to the barn and asked to speak with one of

the dance masters and offered to play for "Road to the Isles".

When the Known World Dance Band (gotta hear 'em to appreciate 'em) took 5,

we formed up at the barn door and struck up a short march. We filed in like

we had been doing it for years, then peeled apart into a "concert formation"

which was basically a line facing into the dance floor. I was struck by the

fact that there were several lights that happened to spread out just where

we were standing and we certainly didn't feel like the motley crew we must

have appeared to be.

With a quiet count-off, I started our little troup into "Scotland the

Brave" and thrilled to the sight of dozens of couples rushing into place and

starting in unison. We played about 8 times through, falling closer and

closer into sync as the dancers jumped and shouted and pranced to the sound

of our pipes and drums. I swear that I could feel the mutual air of pride

and joy among our entire troupe. When I signalled to stop and we cut off

together, the roof went up from the cheers.

With a simple command, I called the troup to play the outgoing tune and we

marched into our original columns and out the door to another howling of

cheers. We had to come back to the door for one more bow.

I don't know how to describe the feeling when half a dozen guys from the

ends of the earth get together and make beautiful music with such effect.

Sadly, nothing like this has recurred in my experience.

Magic times are just that.

Yours in service,

To: "Ansteorra Mailing List" <ansteorra at eden.com>

From: "Vicki Marsh" <zarazina at flash.net>

Subject: Re: Magic Moments

Date: Tue, 24 Jun 97 09:21:59 PDT

> All of us who participate in the SCA have at one time or another experinced

> a magic moment, a point where we witness something so special that it will

> stay with us forever.

Greetings, Sir Burke,

I have so very many special moments that it is difficult to select one or two. But I will try...

I have witnessed lots of special times, but the ones that stand out are those that I was personally involved in the making of.

At Dragon's Fire Tor two years ago, I played the harp and sang a lullaby written by HL Mot Cather. The bardic fire was beautiful, glinting off the strings of the harp. The valley was quiet and cool in the mist of the evening. The words and the notes from the harp came from me, but were not mine in the making. It was like being able to watch it from afar. When the song finished, the audience was quiet, then they all sighed at once. Turning to my love, Llywelyn, I was surprised to see the tears in his eyes matched those in mine.

At a Byrn Gwlad Baronial Championship several years ago, I was involved in a Thomas of Tenby presentation of Beowolfe. Prior to the actual performance, we had several rehearsals to prepare for the event. One night, under a full moon, in Thomas and Clare's backyard, we did a complete run-through. It was in regular clothes, with the lights and sounds of the city around us, but we were transported to a time before time. The full moon, the harp, the drum, the telling of the story in Old English.....everything. It was awesome. When the time came for the actual performance at the event, the wind which had been blowing incessantly, stopped. The clouds parted for the moon to shine upon us and the firelight danced upon the dragon banner. At the end, when the story finished and the last note of harp and drum sounded, no one could speak or breathe for a moment. The small audience was frozen in time, many with tears shed and unshed in their eyes.

I have been very blessed with memories such as these, as well as the honor to be

involved in the making of them with my friends.

Thank you, Burke, for the asking,

Zara Zina

Date: Wed, 25 Jun 1997 01:24:57 -0500 (CDT)

From: Heidi J Torres <hjt at tenet.edu>

To: Ansteorran Mailing List <ansteorra at eden.com>

Subject: Magic Moments

Greetings from Mari!

Interesting topic. This is one my friends and I have been discussing at

great length for several years now.

Probably the climax of all "magic moments" for me occurred at a Bjornsborg

event (Fall Court, I think) a few years back when Thomas of Tenby directed and

performed "The Battle of Maldon" around a campfire.

As is usual in many of Thomas' performances, the performers were

stationed around and within the circle. The quality of the performance

was such that you were immediately caught up within it. I cannot tell

you the words every one spoke, but I still remember the firelight, the

ring of their voices, the stillness of the rapt listeners -- who in

hearing had become participants.

I honestly felt their voices vibrating within me. I wager that everyone

else at that fire did as well. Thomas and his players swept us all up

into their performance and their world, caught up our senses then pulled

them so taut they could play our emotions like strings.

At the end of the piece, the crescendo of battle peaks and crashes, there

is a moment of silence, then -- I still have this memory so clearly -- I

can see Ragnar, the victorious Viking chieftain, his great axe hung over

his shoulder, and hear his soft, gravelly voice saying "Row, men, row.

The monks of Ely (?) sing of their dead. Let us row and listen

awhile....." And at that moment, Robyn Solarius' angelic voice rose from

the woods, pure and sweet, singing an old chant. The players all pulled

back into the darkness, leaving Robyn alone by a torch, shining like a

candle flame and singing, until he too stepped back and trailed off, like

a candle going out.

The hair was standing up on the back of my neck and I don't think anyone

was breathing.

There were this long, incredible moment of silence -- none of us who had

heard and were a part of it wanted it to end -- as if everyone's breath

was indrawn, waiting; then, I don't remember how, the howling and

cheering and clapping started and I don't know how it ended. Everyone

around me -- Athena, Galen Nicolli, Rognvald -- had tears running down

their faces.

To me, the world is often divided into those of us who were there that

night, and those who weren't. I'm not sure those who weren't will ever

comprehend what it felt like, but I hope another chance comes along. And

I will always bless Thomas for my chance.

Mari ferch Rathtyen

From: Mjccmc01 at aol.com

Date: Tue, 24 Jun 1997 13:31:02 -0400 (EDT)

To: ansteorra at eden.com

Subject: Re: Magic Moments

My most magic moment came at Pennsic one year.

I was in the camp of the Norselanders, a subgroup that does exclusively Norse

personna, and does it superbly. We were sitting around a campfire in their

encampment, not a formal bardic, just general chatting.

A fight broke out among two of the younger men of the group about (of course)

a woman. At one point in the discussion, one man called the other a fool.

The other man replied, "What is wisdom, anyway?"

At this point, Gunnar, the leader of group and a very large individual,

leapt up, went _through_ the fire, picked up the second man by his tunic,

pulled him up to his face, and proclaimed, "Wisdom is what Odin gave his eye

for," and dropped the offending young man, and immediately launched into a

recitation of a saga.

My retelling of this moment cannot possibly capture the scene, but for just a

moment, I got a glimpse about what a completely foreign culture (both time

and place) must have been like. I've often thought I learned more in that

moment that in hours in a library, not factual knowledge about what the Norse

ate, drank, wore, etc., but a far more intangible knowledge about how they

viewed their world.

Fondly,

Siobhan

From: Tyrca at aol.com

Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 12:43:59 -0400 (EDT)

To: ansteorra at eden.com

Subject: Magic Moments

I have a couple of things to share. I started playing in the SCA in a

very small place that still isn't even a shire, just a couple of contact

people. As almost all of us were newcomers, we had get-togethers that taught

us courtly graces and basic costuming. But the time came for my first "real"

event.

We drove 4 hours to Salt Lake City (Barony of Loch Salann) to attend the

Outlands Investure (yes, that long ago, when Outlands was still a

principality, and Artemisia was a twinkle in Atenveldt's eye). It was the

investure of Robert and Leah as Prince and Princess, and they held it in an

historic church next to the State Capitol. It was wonderful. We sat on pews

with a large center aisle, and up front, the altar had been moved aside for

the thrones of the prince and princess.

It was all so amazing to me, in my first attempt at a T-tunic. The

herald calling individuals, the processions up to aisle to the throne, the

shouts of acclaim. And then the newly-invested Prince Robert called Master

Gunvaldt into court. In he came like a great golden bear, with his hair

french-braided to the middle of his back, his long golden beard forked in the

front, the representation of any Dwarf. As he came forward, the herald

regaled the populace with Gunvaldt's accomplishments, and then read the

glorious words of the scroll of a Lion of Atenveldt. And then my friend who

brought me to this wonderous event wiped tears from her eyes and explained

the significance of a Lion. I found that I was crying too, without knowing

why.

After an introduction like that, what could I do, but continue in our

game?

And from another side, I have another memory. We were in Drachenwald,

and it was the first event that Thorgierr and I attended as Tanist and

Tanista. We were in the Caer Philly castle in Wales, and I was at head

table. We had no court planned, but wanted to give some largess and

recognition, so we asked the local seneschal to identify for us their newest

individuals that were showing excellent efforts in both arts and deportment.

With this information, we had the herald call forth a man and wife that had

only been in the Society for 3 months, and were as well acoutered as any in

the hall. We presented them with a plate that we made ourselves with the

Dragon of Drachenwald on it.

And I began to understand the joy of surprise recognition from the other

side of the court. The looks on their faces made all the effort and bad

politics worthwhile.

Lady Tyrca Ivarsdottir

Barony of Namron

From: sharra2 at aol.com (Sharra2)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: special moments

Date: 2 Apr 1998 08:02:59 GMT

"sunshinegirl" <sunshinegirl at steward-net.com> writes:

>I am interested in collecting stories about special moments in the SCA.

>They might be "living the dream" memories or "Suddenly I was really in the

>1400's" etc.

Waking up at Estrella to a lone piper on top of the hill. There was a low fog

swirling and the entire park looked like I could have been at a real medieval

tournament. All the cars were hidden and you could just see the peaks of the

bigger pavilions.

Krista

Triaria de La Riviere

Flagstaff, AZ

Sharra2 at aol.com

From: Dana Tweedy <tweedy at mail.cvn.net>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: special moments

Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 10:16:33 -0800

sunshinegirl wrote:

> I am interested in collecting stories about special moments in the SCA.

> They might be "living the dream" memories or "Suddenly I was really in the

> 1400's" etc.

> As an example, one of my special moments came at a weekend war that the

> Canton of Summergate sponsored many years ago. It was at Poway Riding

> Stables, in San Diego County. The site had a valley surrounded by small

> hills. In the valley, we had a wooden castle set up for the castle

> battles. There were banners flying from the castle towers. I was on one

> hill, watching the battle below. I glanced across the valley at another

> hill and caught my breath. Duke Armand, in full Chain, was on his horse,

> also with barding, watching the battle below. Something about that scene

> has stayed with me for over a decade now. It was truly a very special

> moment for me, a vision of Knighthood made real.

> So, What is Your "special moment"?

> Melandra of the Woods

I remember an early spring event where it was cold outside, and I was inside

the Hall near the fire, listening to the converrsations and sining around me..

The wind was blowing thorugh the crack in the doors and for a brief moment, I

could imagine that there were wolves ouside in the woods. I found myself

feeling sorry for any poor travelers who hadn't found shelter that night.

Suddenly I realized I was at a camp in Southen PA and there hadn't been any

wolves in the area for 200 years. The feeling lasted only a few seconds, but

it was eerie but thrilling at the same time.

Karl Rasmussen of Tvede

From: hrjones at uclink.berkeley.edu (Heather Rose Jones)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: special moments

Date: 2 Apr 1998 18:22:11 GMT

Organization: University of California, Berkeley

sunshinegirl (sunshinegirl at steward-net.com) wrote:

: I am interested in collecting stories about special moments in the SCA.

: They might be "living the dream" memories or "Suddenly I was really in the

: 1400's" etc.

I think the one that still stands out most vividly in my mind -- even

after a decade or more -- was a Sunday morning at an event in the northern

"fog-belt" of the California coast. The camp was just beginning to stir;

the rising mist blurred the edges of everything outside immediate view;

and out in a grassy field, a group of children -- all dressed in

wonderfully ordinary everyday medieval clothing -- were playing a game of

tag. I felt like I'd stepped into a Breughel painting.

For me, it's never the outstanding, dramatic, heroic moments that take my

breath away -- it's those ordinary, everyday moments when you feel the

eternal connection with what makes people people when all the modern

accoutrements are stripped away.

Tangwystyl verch Morgant glasvryn

From: DDFr at best.com (David Friedman)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: special moments

Date: Thu, 02 Apr 1998 10:59:44 -0800

Organization: Santa Clara University

"sunshinegirl" <sunshinegirl at steward-net.com> wrote:

>So, What is Your "special moment"?

The crown tournament that Asbjorn eventually won ran out of light while we

were still in the first fight of the finals. The finals were continued

twice--I think I calculated later that the three fights ran to four and a

half hours--we knew each other pretty well. The final bout was held on

Staten Island, in a field near the sea, with Angus (then King), Duke

Akbar, the two of us and a few others. There was nothing modern around,

just fields, trees, perhaps the sea in the distance, and a few people in

period garb. I remember walking out towards the fight through the field.

Akbar was some distance ahead of me, and I was walking after him for some

reason--to kill him, to bring him some news, I didn't know what, but I

felt as though I was suddenly in the middle of one of the Icelandic sagas.

David/Cariadoc

From: bellatrix2 at aol.com (Bellatrix2)

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: special moments

Date: 3 Apr 1998 04:00:58 GMT

There are so many stories and events that make me feel as if the world we

recreate is real. My childhood goals dreams and memories were not thoseof the

modern child. I have related myself in many ways to the child of the medieval

world who growa up working toward knighthood, having the desire to make a name

for themself and aspiring to be king.

I attained those goals and the times were so real and life fullfilling that I

could not even explain. There are also battles and chivalric acts galore that

stand out and the bardic circles that have transported me back are too numerous

to list (later). Of all those that have been so important to me there is one

that stands out the most, and although it starts in combat that is not the

moment alone.

I bring you you to March Crown AS XXIV, in the Kingdom of the West. I was

facing Sir Drew Fortesque. I had lost to him ealrier in the day. The first

two bouts were split. We faced each other for the final bout and I turned to

my Lady Niobe. I had been inspired the entire day by her, but for some reason

this time it felt different. I lost the second fight because I said to myself

that if I win I will be King. This time I saw the love and support she felt

and saw her mouth the words "I Love You." At that moment I was transported to

another time. I was facing a long time friend and one of would fall, and one

of our ladies would soon be Queen. The Bout went on for oonly a few moments.

The Final blow launched and before it landed I knew the outcome. As Drew fell

I dropped and felt my lady behind me. I rose and kissed her. The area was

misting and the hills were a wet green. No mundanities were in view. The

wreath was handed to me and I was placing the wreath on Niobe's brow, and I

could not help think about that child who dreamed of Knighthood and of someday

being King. The one thing, though that the child never dreamnt of was finding

his true love.

Stephan

From: mok at mdi.net

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: special moments

Date: Fri, 03 Apr 1998 01:55:13 -0600

"sunshinegirl" <sunshinegirl at steward-net.com> wrote:

> I am interested in collecting stories about special moments in the SCA.

> They might be "living the dream" memories or "Suddenly I was really in the

> 1400's" etc.

Every year at Pennsic I get the same chance for this experience to happen, and

after eight years it has never failed to sustain me untill the next year.

Standing in line before the start of the great field battle. It is the most

incredible feeling that has ever come over me. To be in the company of your

comrades in arms, to hear the chink of mail and the slap of plate. The smell

of the mown grass and the leather and sweat. To gaze across the field and see

the "enemy" with painted shields and a forest of pike waving in the still

morning air. Pennons fluttering, the standards of all the great houses and

kingdoms. The jests of soldiers, the shouts of commanders trying to get their

lines into some semblence of order. That feeling that I get when the two

minute warning is up....it starts in my toes and seems to go straight to

Walhalla...everything seems to feel and look and sound and smell so much

sharper and clearer...I have never been so alive in my life at that point, and

every year, without fail it becomes more and more. This is a dream i have

searched for all of my life and finally found, and I count myself so blessed

because of it.

Lord Cruaddon

AKA Crow

BMDL

From: Reed <"mihaloew" at mitre.org (A. Reed Mihaloew)>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: special moments

Date: Fri, 03 Apr 1998 08:40:49 -0500

> So, What is Your "special moment"?

> Melandra of the Woods

I've had several "special moments" over the years.

The first one I remember was in my first fighting Pennsic (VIII). We

were marching out to fight the woods battle, with a piper skirling in

the lead, the populace cheering us on. I was wearing armor, bearing

sword and shield, my helm pushed back on my head. If I looked ahead or

behind, I saw an armored host marching two by two on a dirt road--to

either side was nothing but a medieval-looking (to my glasses-less eyes

at least :-) crowd. For just a second, I felt like the whole thing was

"real"--that I had been trasnported in time. An amazing thing! I get

(literally) goosebumps remembering it. (I have goosebumps *now* just

writing about it! :-)

For the others, perhaps another day...

Rolin Thurmundsson

mka Reed Mihaloew

From: Storm <tjhortman at earthlink.net>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: special moments

Date: Fri, 03 Apr 1998 08:08:04 -0700

> So, What is Your "special moment"?

> Melandra of the Woods

It was in a small mountain park with a shelter resembling a hunting

lodge. A few of us had arrived just before sunrise to set up for the

day. The horizon to our left was a glory of color but much of the slope

before us and to our right was still in shadow. Mist rose from the

slanted pocket meadow just below us. The smell of wildflowers, grass and

pine was rich and sweet. My lord came up behind me and wrapped me

in his cloak as we watched a small herd of deer, including a magnificent

stag, step from the woods and wander, breakfasting, across the grass.

A pair of hawks spiraled above us. No modern intrusions disturbed us. It

was the perfect opening for a day of hunting games, questing, feasting,

dancing, singing and storytelling.

Wyndylyn

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

From: ojirelan at localhost

Subject: Re: special moments

Organization: Xerox

Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1998 18:53:35 GMT

>So, What is Your "special moment"?

I'll give you two:

The first Coronet of AEthelmearc was held during Hurricane Hugo at a

4-H camp just outside of Rochester NY. The camp had unheated cabins and

a large dining hall with a huge fireplace at one end.

During the feast, we had shut the window shutters due to the cold and wet.

We had a large fire going in the fireplace and the only light was from that

and the candles on the table. Several people had brought their dogs to the

event - between the lighting, the dogs and children running around the hall,

period music being played, and general conversation, I was transported back

to a medieval hall during a dinner or feast.

To top it off, the next morning we came into the hall for breakfast and

found rows of sleepers curled up near the fireplace, dogs too.

My second was the Pennsic where I was 8 months pregnant with my second child.

For some reason, I was much more connected to Orianna that Pennsic and I think

being pregnant and mostly confined to camp did it. One night, (as is usual with

being that pregnant) I had to get up to use the privy. As I was walking

back down the hill to camp, I had the oddest feeling of no longer being

in the 20th century - I was barefoot, wearing a loose gown with a shawl thrown

over it, it was moonlit and quiet...it was wonderful!

Orianna

AEthelmearc

Date: Sat, 04 Apr 1998 21:05:53 +0200

From: Jan Frelin <jan.frelin at wineasy.se>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: special moments

At the Visby medieval fair some 7 or 8 years ago, my lady and myself was

walking along the town wall (in garb, as almost always during the fair).

As we walked down the path, we met five or so knights from one of the

jousting groups, as they were trodding towards the jousting fields for

the night. Without speaking, my lady and I stepped aside and bowed. A

very eerie feeling ensued...

========================================================================

Hartmann Rogge Holmrike, Nordmark, Drachenwald

Jan Frelin Stockholm, Sweden

jan.frelin at wineasy.se

From: "Chris K. Hepburn" <chepburn at calcna.ab.ca>

Newsgroups: rec.org.sca

Subject: Re: special moments

Date: Sat, 18 Apr 1998 11:07:17 -0600

Organization: Calgary Community Network Assoc.

I've had many, many special SCA moments and most of them seem to have

happened at Clinton War...

One of them happened at my first Clinton. I was waterbearing during the

war and at one point I looked over to see a lord in armour apparently

battling the world's largest dust devil. The cone of this thing must

have

stretched a hu