Lions War

Vigil tent with standards flying at Lions War 2023

Lions War 2023 site Map

Lions War is a war hosted by the Barony of Lions Gate on the August Long Weekend in Clinton, BC, originally the site of Clinton War of which this event superseded. Well known for the hot days, cold nights and the infamous Clinton dust, the war features war scenarios for armoured combat, rapier and cut & thrust, with archery, thrown and if available equestrian activities. Bardic, arts and sciences, largesse competitions and games like tablero and spear the beer are also found as you wander the site.

In this war, Lions Gate chooses a opponent for their "VERY valid reason to host a friendly war". During war the populace fights, shoots/throws and enters competitions to earn war points. These war points go towards their chosen side and at the closing court for the event these points are tallied to determine which side is victorious.

Armoured War

Armoured combat with trebuchet at Lions War 2023

Typically armoured combat consists of armoured fighters and combat archers going through several scenarios from both sides, such as defending and storming the castle, often with time limits and/or limited lives and a win condition (such as getting someone to a certain point unharmed). Sometimes a trebuchet is used during war as well.

Rapier War

Rapier war being fought at Lions War 2024

Similar to armoured, rapier fighters will split into their sides of the war and fight scenarios with time limits/limited lives. Sometimes starting on the other side of the bridge to the war field to fight over the bridge, rapier war often has field scenarios as well as castle scenarios. Rapier war can have rapier legal spears and rubber band guns during scenarios.

Tavern Brawl

Fighters Madelena Vieri (red back of head), Warrick Drakkar (silver helm) and Draven Mac Raith (black back of head) within the tavern at Lions War 2025 towards the end of the scenario.

The Crabby Seadog tavern at Lions War is complete with a bar, tables and benches and when not being used for settling disputes it is known to host bardic and other activities. Most notably is the rapier tavern brawl, which will often consist of several different scenarios such as: brigands fighting to get out as the tavern is lit on fire by the constables fire, brigands fighting off the constables trying to arrest them, and different factions at the tavern turning into a brawl. Cut and thrust also has tavern brawls, following similar scenarios. Sometimes scenarios are known to have props, such as foam and duct tape tankards, foam plates, and foam and pool noodle stools meant to break apart and be used as offhands.

Roving rapier and cut and thrust has also been a part of the tavern brawl portion, bringing the flashy fighting to the populace to view in the public spaces before finding their way to the tavern to battle it out. Many a photo have been taken from standing on top of the bar of the martial activities within.

Archery and Thrown

Archery and thrown weapons have war point competitions on their ranges, and sometimes fight with unfortunately placed ant hills in the process.

Arts&Sciences, Bardic and Largesse

During the event A&S&B will often have classes, such as drumming and dancing as well as A&S and largesse competitions for war points. In the evening bardic circles are known to spring up as people join in merriment, song and good company.