photo by: Sean Sreamach
By Brita Svensdottir, Rapier Reporter, PI
Rapier fighters gathered for the first melee of the war at 9 am Saturday in front of the fort for the Siege of La Rochelle.
Master Anton du Marais, MiC, said, “I have been running this melee for many years. I like it because it is a large melee that is not a war point. A chance to fight with your friends who might be on the other side, and there is nothing at stake but bragging rights.”
Fighters are divided into two teams. La Rochelle is run twice—each team has the chance to attack and defend. Defenders have limited resurrection and attackers have unlimited. Each scenario is timed and the team that lasts the longest wins. Spears were allowed at the sally port only. Rubber band guns and a rubberband cannon were in play.
The orange team won with a time of 8 minutes 45 seconds against green team’s time of 7 minutes 34 seconds.
Then came the traditional Grant-level fencers against the world, with a twist. Non-Grant-level fencers were in the tower and the Grant levels attacked them. The non-Grants were able to hold the tower, so Anton resurrected the Grant levels and sent the Masters of Defense to help them. The non-Grants still held the tower. Finally, Master Anton shot them with the cannon, ending the scenario.
A Pike and Shot experimental set of scenarios was run by Master Remy Delamontagne de Gascogne to try out historical battle formations. Sir Logos vom Schnecke, co-marshal, said that the scenarios were fun and provided good feedback on what would work. They are working on developing rules for pike warfare.
Participants could be pikemen, gunners, or cavalry. Pikes and guns could only advance at a walk. Cavalry could run to engagement and had a pistol and a sword. Several scenarios were run with pikes vs pikes, and even pikes vs a rubber band cannon. All fighters agreed that they had fun and wanted to do it again next year.
The Gab & Stab was all about fighting MoD and Grant-level fencers to get advice. Fence however many exchanges agreed upon in advance. Non-Grant-level fencers get a bead that they give at the end to the Grant-level or MoD who inspired/helped them the most. Thirty non-Grant-level and twenty-two Grant level or above participated.
Kolfinna Jadisardottir wanted an easy tourney to run where non-Grant levels learn something. Grant-level and above get to see up-and-coming new fighters. Everyone gets to fight someone they might not otherwise be able.
The Battle of Tortuga was fought at 2 pm on Saturday. There were two teams, Pirates and Merchants. The Merchants get three lives, the pirates have unlimited. There are also bombs that can be used as anti-personnel devices or to blow up the gangplanks between the ships or the ships themselves. The scenario is run twice and the team who can hold out the longest wins.
In the first round, the green team won, holding out with a time of 4 minutes 32 seconds. The blue team won the second round when a blue fighter threw himself onto the merchant ship with a bomb and blew up everyone on the other ship.
Captain Albion Drake said he runs this melee because he loves nautical battles and Rubber Band Guns, and wanted to give RBG shooters a scenario geared specifically for them.
Finally, at Friday’s Poker Card Tourney, 30 fencers from 11 kingdoms turned out for the 11th Annual Poker Card Tourney. A one-and-done bear pit tourney with a twist—the loser stays in until they have lost three times. Every time a fencer leaves the list, they get a playing card, and the object is to assemble a winning poker hand before the 45-minute time limit is out. Losers get more fights, but winners get more opportunities to get cards. If a fencer has more than seven cards, they must discard one. The tourney was run twice.
The winner of round one was Aleksander Tomasovic from Atlantia with 4 Aces. The winner of round two was Virgil Valyn with 4 Queens.
Master Alfwine Pyttel, MiC and creator of the tourney, said he created it because he wanted a tourney that was fun for everyone, where hot-sticks didn’t dominate, andwhere everyone has a chance to win best poker hand.
On Saturday, Jorundr hinn Rotinn of Æthelmearc did his prize fight as his vigil for Master of Defense.
Today’s Rapier Events:
Rapier Melee Champions after Belted Champions. Combined armored and rapier Heroic Champions after rapier melee.
2 pm tip cut tourney.
2 pm bear pit.
Tomorrow’s Rapier Events:
10 am Atlantian 5-person tourney
10 am By the Book Tourney (fence in period style)
2 pm Rapier Pirate Battle