Clinton War XLV/2010

Clinton War meta-page

Date

30 Jul - 2 Aug XLV/2010

Branch

Non-SCA

Pictures

(Links to event pictures off-site)

Samantha's photos on Facebook: [1]

Personal Memories

This was my second time hitting this event and first camping nearly the whole week. The event attendance has diminished from past years, but there were some very good moments, one of which I want to share.

The event site at Clinton has a goodly sized wooden castle built for war scenarios, but it isn't the first castle built on the site. There was one a bit deeper in the valley. The site where it was is now only burned timbers. Many years back, Baroness Amanda for the start of the Sunday battles would take her sergeantry and transverse the length of woods and bridges between the site of the old castle and the new one. The rest of the fighters at the event would play the part of brigands and beset her defenders. This Sunday, Amanda tied her favor to the standard of Al Madeena and Tayissa and Elizabeta walked the "Baroness's Walk" in her stead.

Before we left for the site of the first castle, the marshal running the fighting came to tell us that there were no other fighters who were willing to get up and play the brigands. We departed anyhow with water bearers and drummers in tow. We went to the charred ground of the site of the first Clinton castle and smudged our faces with the ash. The fighters and Ladies donned their helms and we drummed as the procession started. Our guards cleared the woods, bridges and castle, but there was none to oppose them. Only one brave fighter came to fight at the end.

When we came back to our encampment, Baroness Amanda came and thanked Tayissa, giving a necklace as a token. At least among us girls, there wasn't a dry eye as she gave hugs to Tayissa and Aveloc. It is interesting to see how traditions are made and extended, how simple gestures take on meaning or loose their value to the participants. It was one of my favorite moments of the week. - Yeshika

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