Yes, it is late again. Strange things happen with me late at night....
This time, I tried googling my blog. Perhaps due to the lateness of the hour, I was very pleased to see a myriad of links to various posts on my blog show up right at the top of the google search when I typed in "barefoot bladeweaver."
That's the first time I've ever shown up in a google search. I'm so happy! There's so much potential! Hoorah for the internet!
Ahem.
It is late. I should go to bed before something.......happens.
Well, something more. It can only go downhill from here.
Dia duit,
~Penny
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Blog Template Change
This is me stating the obvious: I changed the look of my blog.
My Mother said that the white text on the dark background got a little difficult to read, so I decided to whack out a new look just for her 'cause I love my Mommy and I want her to be able to read my blog. So the forest is gone, and the orange-y parchment theme is here. Hopefully y'all read this blog for the content, not the appearance.
Otherwise I'm doomed.
Dia duit,
~Penny
PS
It's likely I'll fiddle around with the blog's appearance a little as time goes by. Just fyi.
My Mother said that the white text on the dark background got a little difficult to read, so I decided to whack out a new look just for her 'cause I love my Mommy and I want her to be able to read my blog. So the forest is gone, and the orange-y parchment theme is here. Hopefully y'all read this blog for the content, not the appearance.
Otherwise I'm doomed.
Dia duit,
~Penny
PS
It's likely I'll fiddle around with the blog's appearance a little as time goes by. Just fyi.
Memories For Ever After
So we made it back home safe and sound after almost a month of vacation. It would seem appropriate to give a dissertation on what has been going on while my blog was so sadly neglected, so I'll give a brief dialogue on it.
As the last post suggests, we spent the first week playing imagination games. On the second week, I, Percy, Seph, Dana, Bob, and Ani had the privilage of attending the OYAN Summer Workshop/Reunion. Saying it was amazing seems inadequate by tenfold at least! The blessings and lessons we learned could not even begin to fit on a single page.
One part I particularly enjoyed -- the awesome lectures by Mr. S, Jeff Gerke, Mark Wilson, and others aside -- was Celtic Day. On Wednesday of the Workshop week, as many as wanted dressed in something Scottish or Irish themed. I and the PenKnights all wore a medieval outfit, and Dana wore his kilt and beret. Ani wore her Korean Hanbok instead of a medieval dress, though, because hers didn't get made in time. We looked rather spiffy, if I do say so myself.
In the afternoon, and that evening, all of us involved in Celtic Day had a jam session. Pennywhistles, violins, a guitar, a bodhran, and even a cello, plus all the excellent voices lent to two truly amazing performances of Celtic folk music and hymns. One of the things I love so much about Celtic music is that it has a magical way of bringing people together. None of us had ever played or sung together before in our lives, and yet we still played and sang the simple Celtic melodies well enough to put angels to shame. The music left everyone smiling with gladness in their hearts, and that evening sent me to bed glowing inside for the beauty of people coming together and just having honest fun with music and dance.
I can say without a doubt that the entire OYAN Workshop experience was an incredible blessing, and it has undoubtedly changed my life in many ways that I haven't even noticed yet. There is a revolution going on in the realm of Christian writing, and I got to meet and be a part of the next generation of storytellers who will change the world. God is doing great things, and the future is actually looking like an exciting place, now.
The third week! Ah, the third week. Thirty people in one house. We all stayed at, I shall say, the MacDonald place in Maryland. All three of our large families living practically on top of each other for a whole week straight. It was great! Good thing I don't mind doing dishes. There were dishes to do. A lot of dishes.
A lot of dishes.
Anyway, the fun part was that Bob had written a script and gotten a new amazing stupendous camera. Movie time! We filmed a whole movie -- fully choreographed fight scenes, brilliant costumes sewn by Lynn and Lynnae, better acting that in our previous two movies, and some pretty neat props that included a passle of PVC pipe swords made especially for this occasion -- called A Heart of Corruption. It was a learning experience in and of itself to make this movie, as we've never done one with this ammount of consecutive dialogue, complex plot, that many actors, or over that many days in a row. (I believe it took three days in all to get all the shots needed.) Bob had a little bit of a hard time because he was director this time instead of me, so he had to learn to deal with the pressures that come with that position. I told him to come up with five things he learned over the course of filming before I and my family left, and here's what he said:
1. Patience
2. Flexibility
3. Not to work with small children (or animals) if possible
4. Time management
5. Never give up
Isn't that an excellent list? I'm very proud of him. You did an amazing job, Bobby my boy, even if you don't agree. I'm very proud of you!
And thus with very teary eyes and many hugs, the three of our families parted ways at the end of an amazing three weeks of friendships and many, many lessons learned. Leaving the MacDonald house, I had the strangest feeling. Even though the three weeks had come to an end, it felt good; like a relief. Not because I was tired of them, quite the contrary, I miss them very much even now. No, a relief because we'd made it. Months and months of praying, several close calls, numerous doubts, and God allowed us to have those three weeks together. I don't know if there's any way I can express to God how grateful I am to Him for allowing us to have that time together. So, so many things had to go right, so many 'coincidences' had to happen, in order for this vacation to have even been considered, and God put everything right in line for us one after the other from start to finish. He led us all the way through to the end, and now it's safe in our memories forever. Forever! Do you know how long that is? That's until the day we die, and even beyond.
My friends -- you know who you are -- I love you all more than I could say or show. You're all awesome, and I mean that in every sense of the word.
My God -- you certainly know who you are -- I love you more than I'm capable of even feeling. I will serve you all my days, and in your name I will wield my sword and pen for as long as I inhabit this Earth, and still then after that.
To all who read this blog -- yes, you there -- may God keep you strong and bless you and yours for all the days of your life!
Dia duit,
~Penny
As the last post suggests, we spent the first week playing imagination games. On the second week, I, Percy, Seph, Dana, Bob, and Ani had the privilage of attending the OYAN Summer Workshop/Reunion. Saying it was amazing seems inadequate by tenfold at least! The blessings and lessons we learned could not even begin to fit on a single page.
 |
| Seph and I and another OYANer looking over song lyrics. |
In the afternoon, and that evening, all of us involved in Celtic Day had a jam session. Pennywhistles, violins, a guitar, a bodhran, and even a cello, plus all the excellent voices lent to two truly amazing performances of Celtic folk music and hymns. One of the things I love so much about Celtic music is that it has a magical way of bringing people together. None of us had ever played or sung together before in our lives, and yet we still played and sang the simple Celtic melodies well enough to put angels to shame. The music left everyone smiling with gladness in their hearts, and that evening sent me to bed glowing inside for the beauty of people coming together and just having honest fun with music and dance.
I can say without a doubt that the entire OYAN Workshop experience was an incredible blessing, and it has undoubtedly changed my life in many ways that I haven't even noticed yet. There is a revolution going on in the realm of Christian writing, and I got to meet and be a part of the next generation of storytellers who will change the world. God is doing great things, and the future is actually looking like an exciting place, now.
The third week! Ah, the third week. Thirty people in one house. We all stayed at, I shall say, the MacDonald place in Maryland. All three of our large families living practically on top of each other for a whole week straight. It was great! Good thing I don't mind doing dishes. There were dishes to do. A lot of dishes.
A lot of dishes.
Anyway, the fun part was that Bob had written a script and gotten a new amazing stupendous camera. Movie time! We filmed a whole movie -- fully choreographed fight scenes, brilliant costumes sewn by Lynn and Lynnae, better acting that in our previous two movies, and some pretty neat props that included a passle of PVC pipe swords made especially for this occasion -- called A Heart of Corruption. It was a learning experience in and of itself to make this movie, as we've never done one with this ammount of consecutive dialogue, complex plot, that many actors, or over that many days in a row. (I believe it took three days in all to get all the shots needed.) Bob had a little bit of a hard time because he was director this time instead of me, so he had to learn to deal with the pressures that come with that position. I told him to come up with five things he learned over the course of filming before I and my family left, and here's what he said:
1. Patience
2. Flexibility
3. Not to work with small children (or animals) if possible
4. Time management
5. Never give up
Isn't that an excellent list? I'm very proud of him. You did an amazing job, Bobby my boy, even if you don't agree. I'm very proud of you!
And thus with very teary eyes and many hugs, the three of our families parted ways at the end of an amazing three weeks of friendships and many, many lessons learned. Leaving the MacDonald house, I had the strangest feeling. Even though the three weeks had come to an end, it felt good; like a relief. Not because I was tired of them, quite the contrary, I miss them very much even now. No, a relief because we'd made it. Months and months of praying, several close calls, numerous doubts, and God allowed us to have those three weeks together. I don't know if there's any way I can express to God how grateful I am to Him for allowing us to have that time together. So, so many things had to go right, so many 'coincidences' had to happen, in order for this vacation to have even been considered, and God put everything right in line for us one after the other from start to finish. He led us all the way through to the end, and now it's safe in our memories forever. Forever! Do you know how long that is? That's until the day we die, and even beyond.
My friends -- you know who you are -- I love you all more than I could say or show. You're all awesome, and I mean that in every sense of the word.
My God -- you certainly know who you are -- I love you more than I'm capable of even feeling. I will serve you all my days, and in your name I will wield my sword and pen for as long as I inhabit this Earth, and still then after that.
To all who read this blog -- yes, you there -- may God keep you strong and bless you and yours for all the days of your life!
Dia duit,
~Penny
Friday, June 15, 2012
Let The Games Begin!
And so!
We have arrived in Maryland safe and sound. The drive was not too bad at all, compared to a lot of the other long drives we've taken.
The very day after we arrived it was out to the woods to hack each other to-- er, I mean, to play. Hee. The armory of PVC Pipe swords were a smash hit right from the start. Dana adores the claymore Percy made for him, and Bob (Dana's younger brother) likes the Wander Blade Percy made him. Lynn's wardrobe of various costumes and cloaks is incredibly impressive, and has kept our whole company well robed in medieval garb.
So far I've been involved in two games. We've discovered that the element of 'objects' in an Imagination Game is very near essential.
Obviously, for an Imagination Game, one needs characters. That's a no brainer. Costumes come in close second, and weaponry, and location. Those kind of go without saying. But one element that has been invaluable and I think often overlooked or poorly defined is the element of objects, which can be anything from a coke can to a ring of dungeon keys. An object is an inanimate thing that allows the balance of power in the game to shift back and forth, usually because it is desired by more than one party of characters within the game itself. Objects are fast, easy ways to spark conflict, which is what makes Imagination Games fun.
For example, in the first game I played with the others (Dana and I had to go out for a bit so we missed the first Imagination Game everyone played), the main object was a ring of oversized keys that I'd bought from JoAnn's just before leaving home. Dungeon keys. We had three character groups, two in each group; Rosi and I, who wanted the keys to save my Uncle; Dana and Percy, who wanted the keys to rescue their family; Lynn and Pippin, who wanted the keys because they owned them; and then Seph, who wanted the keys because he was the official Key Keeper of the realm.
So you see, there are five groups who all want the same thing. Some of them could forge alliances, since their causes are common, and there is no specific villain even though some of the groups must also work against each other in order to achieve their objectives.
There doesn't have to be just one object, either. In the game we are currently playing, there are two: a diamond and a message to the king. However, in this game also, I am playing the villain. Needless to say, we have a plethora of conflict, especially since I am the type of villain to play tricks rather than fight head to head. (I have alos managed to con both groups holding objects out of their objects and hidden them, but they aren't meant to know that yet. Shh!)
In both games, the balance of power has shifted numerous times. Whoever holds the object(s) automatically has an advantage over the others. Since everyone's trying to get them, and since several will undoubtedly succeed, the game never stands still. There are obviously other elements that play into keeping the game on its toes, but objects are extremely helpful.
As you can see, there are no pictures. I apologize. I haven't had time to download the pictures from the SD card onto the computer yet, but I promise I will soon.
Dia duit,
~Penny
We have arrived in Maryland safe and sound. The drive was not too bad at all, compared to a lot of the other long drives we've taken.
The very day after we arrived it was out to the woods to hack each other to-- er, I mean, to play. Hee. The armory of PVC Pipe swords were a smash hit right from the start. Dana adores the claymore Percy made for him, and Bob (Dana's younger brother) likes the Wander Blade Percy made him. Lynn's wardrobe of various costumes and cloaks is incredibly impressive, and has kept our whole company well robed in medieval garb.
So far I've been involved in two games. We've discovered that the element of 'objects' in an Imagination Game is very near essential.
Obviously, for an Imagination Game, one needs characters. That's a no brainer. Costumes come in close second, and weaponry, and location. Those kind of go without saying. But one element that has been invaluable and I think often overlooked or poorly defined is the element of objects, which can be anything from a coke can to a ring of dungeon keys. An object is an inanimate thing that allows the balance of power in the game to shift back and forth, usually because it is desired by more than one party of characters within the game itself. Objects are fast, easy ways to spark conflict, which is what makes Imagination Games fun.
For example, in the first game I played with the others (Dana and I had to go out for a bit so we missed the first Imagination Game everyone played), the main object was a ring of oversized keys that I'd bought from JoAnn's just before leaving home. Dungeon keys. We had three character groups, two in each group; Rosi and I, who wanted the keys to save my Uncle; Dana and Percy, who wanted the keys to rescue their family; Lynn and Pippin, who wanted the keys because they owned them; and then Seph, who wanted the keys because he was the official Key Keeper of the realm.
So you see, there are five groups who all want the same thing. Some of them could forge alliances, since their causes are common, and there is no specific villain even though some of the groups must also work against each other in order to achieve their objectives.
There doesn't have to be just one object, either. In the game we are currently playing, there are two: a diamond and a message to the king. However, in this game also, I am playing the villain. Needless to say, we have a plethora of conflict, especially since I am the type of villain to play tricks rather than fight head to head. (I have alos managed to con both groups holding objects out of their objects and hidden them, but they aren't meant to know that yet. Shh!)
In both games, the balance of power has shifted numerous times. Whoever holds the object(s) automatically has an advantage over the others. Since everyone's trying to get them, and since several will undoubtedly succeed, the game never stands still. There are obviously other elements that play into keeping the game on its toes, but objects are extremely helpful.
As you can see, there are no pictures. I apologize. I haven't had time to download the pictures from the SD card onto the computer yet, but I promise I will soon.
Dia duit,
~Penny
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Rosie's Library -- The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielson
In spite of what she may seem like in the picture, she is in fact only thirteen. True to the picture, however, she is dead gorgeous.
My Dad's an expert in hand to hand combat and pistol shooting, by the way.
Just sayin'.
Anyway, Rosie recently read a book called The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielson, and loved it. It's then that I asked her if she'd write a book review on it so I could post it here on the blog. She's also compiling a book list that I'll release next month sometime.
Since this is her very first book report, I believe she did an excellent job, and I applaud her for jumping right into it without hesitation when I asked her if she'd write it. Thank you, Rosie! You're awesome. ^.^
The title of the book is 'The False Prince'. It is the first book in the Ascendance trilogy.
The author of this book is Jennifer A. Nielsen, who also wrote 'The underworld Chronicles', which I have not read.
The main five Characters are; Sage, Conner Tobias, Roden, Imogen.
A synopsis: Sage is a fifteen year old orphan living on whatever he can grab off the streets in this medieval fantasy. One day a nobleman named Conner, comes and buys him. Later he finds out that he is meant to compete against two other boys to be chosen as part of Conner's plan or be gotten rid of. The entire country is about to start a civil war. Trying to stay alive and learning more of Connors dishonest plans, Sage has a choice between runnings or finding out what Conner is up to.
That is the brief summary of the book. On a score of one to ten I would give it a nine. the things that I liked about the book was one; there was no magic, and the characters were really well done. You could never tell who was on which side. the ending was very surprising, and I love surprises, especially in books. ^.^ I can't really think of anything I didn't like about the book off the top of my head. It was extremely well written.
To end this, here is my favorite part from the book.
Tobias raised his hand. A sign he'd been educated. At the orphanage I came from, a person only raised a hand if he was about to hit someone with it. ~Sage
Hope you like it!
~Rosie Grymm
[Buy False Prince here.]
So there you have it. I haven't read the book yet, myself, but Rosie's gotten Percy, Seph, and Pippin (another sister. Yes.... I have a lot of siblings.) to read it and they all insist I read it, too. And being such an obdedient, kind hearted, benevolent big sister, I plan to aquiesce to their wishes. I'm actually quite intrigued...
Dia duit,
~Penny
Friday, June 8, 2012
Speed Tunic
This Tuesday I and my family are driving up to Maryland to meet with all the other PenKnights.
HOORAY!!!!!
Ahem.
No, I'm not packed yet. I'm a last minute packer. It's worked so far. But I have managed to get together all the costumes in a big tub to bring up there with us. We have a lot of cosutmes, the majority of them handmade for various movies or Imagination Games in the past. I'm praying the tub will fit in the van.
As well, I worked on a couple of long tunics that turned out pretty well, I thought. Once again, super duper easy pattern. Really, I just cut out two long rectangles and sewed them together at the top and sides, leaving holes for the head and arms. Bing, bam, boom, tunic.
Very bad picture quality, but they were last minute. I also made a tunic in a sea green color, too. Exact same style. That belt is my absolute favorite belt in the whole wide world EVER. I bought it from Maurices (<3) and it's been an accent to many an outfit and costume alike.
So I should go eat supper now. Yup.
Dia duit,
~Penny
HOORAY!!!!!
Ahem.
No, I'm not packed yet. I'm a last minute packer. It's worked so far. But I have managed to get together all the costumes in a big tub to bring up there with us. We have a lot of cosutmes, the majority of them handmade for various movies or Imagination Games in the past. I'm praying the tub will fit in the van.
As well, I worked on a couple of long tunics that turned out pretty well, I thought. Once again, super duper easy pattern. Really, I just cut out two long rectangles and sewed them together at the top and sides, leaving holes for the head and arms. Bing, bam, boom, tunic.
 |
| This is another of my sisters, Rosi Grymm. She's our librarian. I'll introduce her later. |
Very bad picture quality, but they were last minute. I also made a tunic in a sea green color, too. Exact same style. That belt is my absolute favorite belt in the whole wide world EVER. I bought it from Maurices (<3) and it's been an accent to many an outfit and costume alike.
So I should go eat supper now. Yup.
Dia duit,
~Penny
Friday Music Post #5
Friday again! Today we have a somewhat haunting tune, laced with indications of perseverence through hardship and pain.
Dia duit,
~Penny
Dia duit,
~Penny
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Thursday Legend Post #4 -- Rob Roy
Just sayin'.
In spite of that, I do actually really like the legend of the Scottish outlaw Raibeart Ruadh MacGregor, also known as Red Robert, also known as Rob Roy. He's the Robin Hood of the Highlands.
Like with Robin Hood, Rob Roy was made into a legend. Since we don't have a time machine it's hard to say what kind of person he was in real life. Unlik Robin Hood, however, there's more historical fact to go on than just a mysterious headstone in an obscure graveyard as with the English outlaw. A book was written by Sir Walter Scott, titled simply "Rob Roy", during Rob's lifetime, and while it was undoubtedly romantisized to some degree, it's still based in more fact than Robin's legend simply because there was more material to go off of.
But who cares? I like legends as legends. I'm not one of those people who tries to pick each of them apart and prove the heroes were really scoundrels and dogs. The heroes in legends -- be they truth or the result of hunger for true heroism -- are valid, in my mind. Of course, one must look out for predjudices, but if nothing else, legends give insight to how the people of the time percieved life and what they desired to see in those they chose to exalt.
But back to Rob Roy, who I'm not going to refer to as Raibeart, because I think it's cool.
Born Glen Gyle, 1671, died Inverlochlarig, 1734
Robert MacGregor was born at Glen Gyle, at the western end of Loch
Katrine, in the Trossachs region of Central Scotland. His popular moniker 'Rob
Roy' comes from the Celtic for 'Red Robert', a reference to his red hair. His
father was Donald MacGregor, and his mother was Margaret Campbell. At that time
the MacGregor clan was 'proscribed', which meant that no one was allowed to use
the name MacGregor, or wear the clan tartan.
In another article it mentioned that sometimes Raibeart used his mother's maiden name, Campbell, instead of MacGregor. At age 22, Raibeart married his cousin, Mary MacGregor, and they had four sons, James, Renal, Coll, and Robin. If you're like me you'll find it amusing that the Scottish outlaw had a son who shared the name of the famous English outlaw. But maybe I'm just weird.
Rob fought with his father Donald in support of the Catholic James
Stewart in his struggle with the Protestant king of England, William of Orange.
Donald was captured and imprisoned and Rob's mother died while Donald was
captive.
After the cessation of struggles Rob turned his hand to cattle. In
a nutshell, he stole cattle and ran a protection racket, offering to protect the
herds of others for a fee. This makes him sound like a Chicago gangster, but it
is important to remember that the customs of the time were quite different from
our own; cattle were considered common property, so taking them was not a crime,
and the protection racket, as I called it earlier, was a common and very
respectable way of making a living.
It looks like the author of this article may be attempting to reconcile the cattle racket aspect, but in this case I'm not inclined to discredit it. Not just because I like it when heroes live up to their legends to a certain degree, but because I've learned that customs of various timeframes really do play a significant role in a given culture. Things people did back then that we would consider low nowadays were not considered low, and sometimes were even acceptable, by the people of the time. We have to remember to look at things through the context lense and not judge based solely on our perception, which is tainted by the rules of our own modern culture.
But anyway, Raibeart was a bit of a rogue right from the start, as one would expect from a red headed Scotsman. But as the legend goes, there were rogues far worse them him and with much more power...
Things began to unravel however, when Rob Roy borrowed money from the Duke of
Montrose to expand his herd. Here is where the story gets murky. One version is
that Rob Roy stole the money. Rob Roy's version was that his chief herdsman
absconded with the coins. Whatever the truth, the money was gone, there were no
cows to show for it, and Rob Roy was unable to repay the loan. As a result of
this episode Rob Roy was declared an outlaw. He fled from his home at
Inversnaid, leaving his wife, Mary, and their children. Montrose's men descended
on Inversnaid, burned Rob Roy's house to the ground and forced his family to
leave.
So now Raibeart's an outlaw. If I were to write my own version of this legend, I'd have him steal the money and turn the story into one of redemption. However, I believe the more commonly accepted theory is that Raibeart's chief herdsman betrayed, and that Raibeart was persecuted nonetheless. This would more easily reflect the Scottish ideals of freedom and the tyranny of Brittish rule.
Either way Montrose is a villain in my book because noone is allowed to mess with the family. Ever.
From this point on Rob Roy was a thorn in the side of the Duke of
Montrose and the forces of the law sent to find him. He roamed the hills of Loch
Lomond and the Trossachs like a sort of Scottish Robin Hood. On one occasion he
abducted the Duke's factor and held him on an island in Loch Katrine. Finally,
in 1722 he was captured and imprisoned for five years.
Loch Lomond!!
Yes, that's one of the places in Scotland I really want to visit. That short little paragraph there is where the majority of a legend would take place, after setting up the inciting incident of Roy being declared an outlaw. However, it's during Raibeart's imprisonment that the legends begin to grow. Daniel Defoe writes "Highland Rogue" in 1723, and Raibeart's fame grew. (As a side note I'd like to point out that this is a perfect example of how powerful stories are.) This could possibly have led to the issuing of Raibeart's pardon by King George I of England in 1727, just before Raibeart was due to be transported abroad.
He returned to the Trossachs and lived a Inverlochlarig, at the western end of
Loch Doine. He died in 1734 and was buried in the churchyard at Balquhidder.
Later, Mary and his sons Coll and Robin were laid beside him.
In some ways the story of Rob Roy MacGregor's life has come to represent the
struggle of the Highland clans for recognition and fair treatment by a largely
English aristocracy.
A very Scottish theme if ever I saw one. Overall, the legend carries traces of themes like justice against injustice, redemption (like I mentioned earlier), freedom, perseverence, loyalty, and even compassion, honor, and patriotic pride. All in all, the fiery red headed outlaw Raibeart Ruadh MacGregor is quickly becoming one of my favorite legendary characters.
Dia duit,
~Penny
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Storytellers of the Middle Ages
 |
| Minstrel's Path by Yue-Iceseal |
Definition and description of the Minstrels: The Minstrels can be described as one of an order of men who earned a living by the arts of poetry and music, and sang verses to the accompaniment of a lute, harp or other instrument.
Musical storytellers. What could be better?
There were two main types of Medieval Musicians - the Minstrels and the Troubadours. A minstrel was a servant first employed as a travelling entertainer and then as a castle or court musician or Medieval Bard. The name 'minstrel' means a "little servant". Medieval Minstrels often created their own ballads but they were also famous for memorising long poems based on myths and legends which were called 'chansons de geste'. The themes of the songs sung by the Troubadours also dealt with chivalry and courtly love but they also told stories of far lands and historical events. The Medieval Minstrels were replaced by Troubadours and started to move around and were known as 'Wandering Minstrels'.
A wandering minstrel. Music, storytelling, and travel! That is definitely the job I would pick. I'm not sure if there were many female minstrels -- I expect not many at all -- but that's what imagination is for, right?
Because I know that you're asking this question in your head, the difference between a minstrel and a troubadour is that troubadours were more refined and poetic than the minstrels. Hence the troubadours being retained in royal courts and minstrels being kicked out to wander from place to place. Such is life.
But we're talking about minstrels first. Stay focused.
The role of the Minstrel often required many different skills including:
-
Juggling
-
Acrobatics
-
Dancing
-
Fire eating
-
Conjuring
-
Playing Musical Instruments
-
Reciting poems
-
Singing
-
Buffoonery which led to roles as jesters
-
Animal trainers - including animals such as dogs and monkeys in their shows
This is probably why I'd take the job of a minstrel over that of a troubadour; minstrels were more versitile and multi-talented. Obviously my strong point would be storytelling, but I'd certainly not be averse to learned the other skills listed there (besides singing. I already sing. And I'm not sure what I'd think about fire eating....)
Plus I get an assistant.
Jongleurs were the assistants of
minstrels. Jongleurs gained a reputation of itinerant entertainers of the Middle
Ages in France and Norman England. Another type of performer of even lower rank
than the minstrels were the gleemen, a travelling entertainer.
Hee hee. So me and my Jongleur buddy travel all over England (with a few dips up into Scotland, of course) earning our bread and meade by entertaining nobles and peasants alike.
There were many venues for the wandering minstrels who
had been displaced at the castles and courts by the refined and fashionable
troubadours. Middle Ages Feasts, Fairs and Festivals were all common occurrences
during the Middle Ages and were celebrated during specific times of the year
(most of which were dictated by the Church and religious festivals.) The
instruments played by wandering minstrels who performed at these events were
light and easily carried. They included fiddles, the lute, recorders and small
percussion instruments. The songs and ballads sang by the such minstrels were
traditional English favorites.
[Exerpts taken from here and here. They're both almost exactly the same; you can read one and not the other without missing anything.]
I think minstrels probably had one of the more interesting lives in the Middle Ages. They got to see the splendor of the royal courts and castles of nobility, but still had access to the Hall of Secrets (more commonly referred to as the Servant's Hall, or Kitchen). They told stories of valor and adventure, love and sacrifice, but also performed acrobatic feats and mind boggling trickery through conjuring. Really, they're wholly fascinating.
I think I want to write about a minstrel and a jongluer, now. *considers*
I'll do a seperate post on Troubadours later on.
Dia duit,
~Penny
[Exerpts taken from here and here. They're both almost exactly the same; you can read one and not the other without missing anything.]
I think minstrels probably had one of the more interesting lives in the Middle Ages. They got to see the splendor of the royal courts and castles of nobility, but still had access to the Hall of Secrets (more commonly referred to as the Servant's Hall, or Kitchen). They told stories of valor and adventure, love and sacrifice, but also performed acrobatic feats and mind boggling trickery through conjuring. Really, they're wholly fascinating.
I think I want to write about a minstrel and a jongluer, now. *considers*
I'll do a seperate post on Troubadours later on.
Dia duit,
~Penny
Monday, June 4, 2012
The Things That Happen at Two AM in the Morning
Sometimes time just slips by. Usually I'm either talking to a friend on skype, or am in a glum mood. Tonight it was both.
So here I am, saying hello to two 'o' clock AM. Hello, 2 AM! *mad waving*
Now that we have the formalities out of the way....
Here's what I've been goofing off with:
A friend of mine called Katana Kain introduced me to Polyvore a while back, but I'd never really had time to goof around with it. Well, until now. Although technically I was going to write a couple blog posts, but I ended up feeling under the weather, so.... Yeah, lame excuse.
Anyway.
I'm on Polyvore. This does actually tie in to a post that I plan on doing later about putting outfits together. Obviously the Dragon Tamer Set I did up there is modern, but one can put together a medieval/fantasy looking outfit from bits a pieces from here and there without having to buy a specific costume. Thrift stores are the best when it comesto this sort of thing, and I can say for certain that thrift store prices beat tailored costume prices hands down.
But that's for some other time. Right now, I should probably go to bed and attempt to arise at a semi-decent hour tomor.... er, today.
Night!
Dia duit,
~Penny
So here I am, saying hello to two 'o' clock AM. Hello, 2 AM! *mad waving*
Now that we have the formalities out of the way....
Here's what I've been goofing off with:
 |
| I wish I had this outfit in real life.... |
Anyway.
I'm on Polyvore. This does actually tie in to a post that I plan on doing later about putting outfits together. Obviously the Dragon Tamer Set I did up there is modern, but one can put together a medieval/fantasy looking outfit from bits a pieces from here and there without having to buy a specific costume. Thrift stores are the best when it comesto this sort of thing, and I can say for certain that thrift store prices beat tailored costume prices hands down.
But that's for some other time. Right now, I should probably go to bed and attempt to arise at a semi-decent hour tomor.... er, today.
Night!
Dia duit,
~Penny
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Improv Characters and Ponderings on Personality Bases
There are two ways to get Percy to carry on a conversation: talk about something he's interested in and leave out 'yes' and 'no' questions, or take him for a walk. He's very much like my Dad in that once you get his legs moving, his mouth starts moving, too.
So he and Seph take turns coming with me when I walk my dog, Gypsy. One day when it was Percy's turn, we started on the subject of acting. Now, it must be understood that I dislike acting. A lot. Mostly because I stink at it. That being said, I have no problem -- and actually enjoy -- our Imagination Games.
But that's a form of acting, right?
Well, to me, it's not quite the same. When acting, it's your job to portray the character you've been assigned. In Imagination Games, you get to pick which character to portray, and also have the freedom to develop that character on your own, around your own capabilities and personality. You are the character, you don't have to become the character beause the character is just you in a different life. All you have to do is toss in a few quirks to make your character slightly different from the real you, but even still you're not constrained by script pressure to be a character that's been created with a completely different mindset as yourself.
This is when we hit upon the idea of personality bases. See, each of us in our group has a set of Improv Characters. These are characters we've made up or adopted from old legends during various games (e.g. Robin Hood, Camille, King Arthur, Fayre and Dascah Grey...) and kept around to re-use in other games. Got that? Okay. In examining the various characters that Percy and I have, we came across similar patterns for each of them, with slight differences. Boiling things down, we came up with the idea of personality bases.
Basically, when you're coming into an Imagination Game with a completely new character, you have to go off some established cliche as a starting point for how your character is going to develop. We called these personality bases. I'll give an example. I personally can play either a villain or a hero with no difficulty switching from one to the other. But one thing I'm not so good at is playing a perfectly cold, stone faced villain. I simply cannot do it. I am far too visually expressive, without intending to be, to be able to pull it off. So instead of starting from the cold villain base, I start from the misunderstood villain base. This gives me much more leeway to be flustered, smile, and laugh, even, while still being either completely heartless or else heartless enough to be villainous. I'm one of those villains you think you have a chance of turning, but who's always too hurt or too stubborn, in the end, to actually change sides. This comes all from the misunderstood villain base, one that allows for little weaknesses and does not require an immoveable demeanor.
For heroes, my base is still on the weaker end of things. I often use an impulsive hero base. Strategically, I'm not very spectacular (XD), but I cannot stand doing nothing, especially when it's my team member/brother/friend/etc. on the line. One of the others I have is the ringleader hero base. This comes from being naturally bossy, and talent for getting others to go along with my schemes.
Now Percy on the other hand often starts with the warrior base, whether hero or villain. He's a fighter right from the start, and stays one right to the end, win or lose. He makes quick decisions based on his own assessment of situations, which often lands him as a mercenary or wandering warrior character, though he will work on teams sometimes, as well.
A personality base is the dumbed down, oversimplified cliche description of a given character type. From there, you can layer histories, tendencies, quirks, and skills over top to make the character ultimately original. As of yet we haven't compiled a list of common personality bases, but we'll do it sometime, and I'll post it here.
Just some food for thought. As we have grown older, our Imagination Games have become more and more orginized. In the end, however, our goal is just to have fun. The whole reason we enjoy these games so much is because we love the comraderie, the story (most of us are writers), and, of course, the costumes and sword fights.
Yeah. The sword fights are awesome.
Dia duit,
~Penny
 |
| Percy and I conspiring. |
But that's a form of acting, right?
Well, to me, it's not quite the same. When acting, it's your job to portray the character you've been assigned. In Imagination Games, you get to pick which character to portray, and also have the freedom to develop that character on your own, around your own capabilities and personality. You are the character, you don't have to become the character beause the character is just you in a different life. All you have to do is toss in a few quirks to make your character slightly different from the real you, but even still you're not constrained by script pressure to be a character that's been created with a completely different mindset as yourself.
This is when we hit upon the idea of personality bases. See, each of us in our group has a set of Improv Characters. These are characters we've made up or adopted from old legends during various games (e.g. Robin Hood, Camille, King Arthur, Fayre and Dascah Grey...) and kept around to re-use in other games. Got that? Okay. In examining the various characters that Percy and I have, we came across similar patterns for each of them, with slight differences. Boiling things down, we came up with the idea of personality bases.
Basically, when you're coming into an Imagination Game with a completely new character, you have to go off some established cliche as a starting point for how your character is going to develop. We called these personality bases. I'll give an example. I personally can play either a villain or a hero with no difficulty switching from one to the other. But one thing I'm not so good at is playing a perfectly cold, stone faced villain. I simply cannot do it. I am far too visually expressive, without intending to be, to be able to pull it off. So instead of starting from the cold villain base, I start from the misunderstood villain base. This gives me much more leeway to be flustered, smile, and laugh, even, while still being either completely heartless or else heartless enough to be villainous. I'm one of those villains you think you have a chance of turning, but who's always too hurt or too stubborn, in the end, to actually change sides. This comes all from the misunderstood villain base, one that allows for little weaknesses and does not require an immoveable demeanor.
For heroes, my base is still on the weaker end of things. I often use an impulsive hero base. Strategically, I'm not very spectacular (XD), but I cannot stand doing nothing, especially when it's my team member/brother/friend/etc. on the line. One of the others I have is the ringleader hero base. This comes from being naturally bossy, and talent for getting others to go along with my schemes.
Now Percy on the other hand often starts with the warrior base, whether hero or villain. He's a fighter right from the start, and stays one right to the end, win or lose. He makes quick decisions based on his own assessment of situations, which often lands him as a mercenary or wandering warrior character, though he will work on teams sometimes, as well.
A personality base is the dumbed down, oversimplified cliche description of a given character type. From there, you can layer histories, tendencies, quirks, and skills over top to make the character ultimately original. As of yet we haven't compiled a list of common personality bases, but we'll do it sometime, and I'll post it here.
Just some food for thought. As we have grown older, our Imagination Games have become more and more orginized. In the end, however, our goal is just to have fun. The whole reason we enjoy these games so much is because we love the comraderie, the story (most of us are writers), and, of course, the costumes and sword fights.
Yeah. The sword fights are awesome.
Dia duit,
~Penny
Introducing Percival Drake
I love him to pieces. He's an awesome brother.
It was Percy's birthday the other day, and I bought him a tunic and belt as presents. Well, they arrived a week late, since I kept forgetting to actually place the order, but oh well. So I bought these items from YourDressmaker.com, the same place Dana got his kilt from. The tunic is a dark blue version of the Tall Lace-Up Shirt No.15.
"This shirt was developed in response to customer requests for a half-lace-up shirt with a longer hem. Like our similar tops, this design fits a wide variety of looks and epochs from pirate to peasant to renaissance poet. The 100% natural cotton is a favorite fabric with customers and provides an authentically rustic look with contemporary ease of care and comfort." [Taken from description of Tall Lace-Up Shirt No.15.]The belt is the Medieval/Celtic belt No.1. It's real leather, and only cost $26. The tunic cost nearer forty dollars, but both of them are very much worth the money. I didn't get the tunic tailored to Percy's exact measurements -- that would have given away the surprise -- so I guessed and got him a medium. It fits him very well; quite a relief!
The hood he's wearing in the picture is one that I'd made him a while back for a Robin Hood Imagination Game we played a couple years ago. That back sheathe he made is constructed of duct tape, and his claymore is one of our numerous PVC pipe swords he made. As you can see the tunic falls to the lower thigh a little bit above the knees in length, and has a slit on either side that goes to about mid thigh to allow more ease of movement. I didn't manage to get a good shot of the lace up on the front because his back sheathe is in the way, but if you visit the link to this tunic, you'll be able to see it. It's made of lightweight, sturdy material that looks and feels like it will hold up very well even when we move back up to Illinois and play in the forest near our house.In short, he's happy with it, I'm happy with it.... Percy had a very happy birthday. ^.^
Dia duit,
~Penny
Friday, June 1, 2012
Friday Music Post #4
Now for a shorter song, one with a bittersweet melody that caresses the heartstrings.
Dia duit,
~Penny
Dia duit,
~Penny
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Thursday Legend Post #3 -- Snow White and Rose Red
Curious much? I managed to save the research until I could actually write a blog post about it. But only just.
As it turns out, the story of Snow White and Rose Red is is by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Odd pair, the Grimm Brothers. This story of theirs is no less odd than some of their other ones. A little difficult to decipher, but it has some interesting elements to it.
First of all, there are the characters. An old widow is introduced first. She has two rose trees planted on either side of the front door to her cottage, one white and one red. It is after these rose trees that she named her two daughters. Enter our main characters!
She had two children who were like the two rose-trees, and one was called Snow White and the other was called Rose Red. They were as good and happy, as busy and cheerful, as ever two children in the world were, only Snow White was more quiet and gentle than Rose Red. Rose Red liked better to run about the meadows and fields seeking flowers and catching butterflies; but Snow White sat at home with her mother, and helped her with her house-work, or read to her when there was nothing to do.
The personalities of these two are very interesting opposites. Opposites are always fun in characters. If you use your imagination, you can see the front of the cottage on a sunny day, the roses in full bloom. The widow is tending to the flowers, while Rose Red is chasing a brilliantly colored butterfly all over the lawn, and Snow White is quite happily sitting in the grass intent upon the pages of her book. See? There goes the butterfly, right by Snow White, and... Over both sisters go! Just because the fairy tale says they were good and happy doesn't mean they never had their little disagreements.
There is a long description of how good these sisters are; how they were protected by their guardian angel, how animals loved them and feared them not, and how theirmother never worried about them because they always stayed out of trouble. Particular notice is made of their loyalty to each other, which reminded me of my little sisters because they are exactly the same way towards each other.
...and when Snow-white said, "We will not leave each other." Rose-red answered, "Never so long as we live."
So cute. ^.^ Okay, so now we're introduced to another key character. One winter night, out of nowhere, a bear shows up at their door. But not just any bear..... This one talks.
But the bear began to speak and said, "Do not be afraid, I will do you no harm! I am half-frozen and only want to warm myself a little beside you."
"Poor bear," said the mother. "Lie down by the fire, only take care that you do not burn your coat." Then she cried, "Snow-white, Rose-red, come out,the bear will do you no harm,he means well."
Now the story's started to get a little od, as I'm sure you've noticed. But hey, fairy tales are weird. This bear stays with the threesome for the whole winter, coming every evening and staying overnight, and the two girls grow very fond of him. Unfortunately, that summer, he must leave. He has a treasure, he says, that he is trying to guard from an evil dwarf who wants to steal it from him.
Now for the very last character, the dwarf. If there is a villain in this story, it is this ill tempered, ungrateful, greedy dwarf. He's also incredibly clumsy, which is kind of amusing in a villain. Twice he gets his beard caught, and once he's almost carried off by an eagle. Each time, Snow White and Rose Red happen along and free him, and each time the dwarf hurls insults at them, storming off thanklessly with a sack of gold, pearls, or precious stones on his shoulder.
The girls came just in time; they held him fast and tried to free his beard fromthe line, but all in vain, beard and line were entangled fast together. Nothing was left but to bringout the scissors and cut the beard, whereby a small part of it was lost.
When the dwarf saw that he screamed out, "Is that civil,you toad-stool, to disfigure one's face? Was it not enough to clip off the end ofmy beard? Now you have to cut off the best part of it. I cannot let myself be seen by my people. I wish you had been made to run the soles off your shoes!" Then he took out a sack of pearls which lay in the rushes, and without saying a word more he dragged it away and disappeared behind a stone.
Of course, the two sisters do not get angry, but assist the dwarf in spite of his irksome temperament. So far it appears Snow Whiteand Rose Red are good examples of compassion. They learned this from their mother, obviously, who first showed compassion to the freezing cold bear. Now her daughters are showing they learned this virtue well by aiding the annoying dwarf in spite of his insulting manners. As with all fairy tales, the sisters' virtue is rewared. As the girls are returning from running errandsfortheirmother at the market -- having by now saved the dwarf three times -- they come across the dwarf rifling through the sack of precious jewels....
"Why do you stand gaping there?" cried the dwarf, and his ashen-grey face became copper-red with rage. He was going on with his bad words when a loud growling was heard, and a black bear came trotting towards them out of the forest.The dwarf sprang up in a fright, but he could not get to his cave,for the bear was already close. Then in the dread of his heart he cried, "Dear Mr. Bear, spare me, I will give you all my treasures; look, the beautiful jewels lying there! Grant memy life; what do you want with such a slender little fellow as I? You would not feel me between your teeth. Come, take these two wicked girls, they are tender morsels for you, fat as young quails; for mercy's sake eat them!" The bear took no heed of his words, but gave the wicked creature a single blow with his paw, and he did not move again.
Quite a showdown, eh? Not exactly a sword duel, but hey, it worked. Now here's the reward.
The girls had run away, but the bear called to them, "Snow-white and Rose-red, do not be afraid; wait. I will come with you." Then they knew his voice and waited, and when he came up to them suddenly his bearskin fell off, and he stood there a handsome man, clothed all in gold. "I am a King's son," he said. "And I was bewitched by that wicked dwarf,who had stolen my treasure; I have had to run about the forest as a savage bear until I was freed by his death. Now he has got his well-deserved punishment."
Snow-white was married to him, and Rose-red to his brother, and they divided between them the great treasurewhich the dwarf had gathered together in his cave. The old mother lived peacefully and happily with her children for many years.She took the two rose-trees with her, and they stood before her window,and ever year they bore the most beautiful roses,white and red.
[All exerpts taken from http://www.bartleby.com/17/2/42.]
Happily ever after! I love how the two girls took care of their mother after they married. It's so sweet.
Now, if you think about it, that prince wouldn't have been so keen to marry Snow White, or let his brother marry Rose Red, if the girls had been as ill tempered as that dwarf. But instead they learned compassion from their mother, applied it in real life, and were rewarded for it even though they did not do it because they were expecting a reward. They were obedient to children, even though the story seems to indicate that Snow White and Rose Red were older, at least old enough to be married.
As I mentioned before, it's rather an odd story, but cute in its own way. I think it would be a fascinating tale to try and rework in one's own words, for sure. The potential of the characters is definitely there.
Well, this turned out to be much longer than I expected. Hopefully you found the story of Snow White and Rose Red interesting to explore.
Dia duit,
~Penny
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Lonesome
It's eleven thirty at night, and my puppy, Gypsy, is at the vet overnight. My room is very lonesome. I keep looking over to her crate in the corner out of habit to see her, but she's not there. It's really sad....
I missed writing on my blog, so I figured I'd come on here and say something profound or at the very least interesting. So far in five sentences, I've failed to do either. Since tomorrow is Legend Post day, I can't write about folklore, and music is on Friday.
I was considering doing a post on weapons every Monday or Tuesday. I live a somewhat busy life -- eight younger siblings and a novel to write, doncha know -- so I don't want to pressure myself too much. A hairstyle tutorial, and a photo shoot of Percy's new medieval outfit I bought him for his birthday are in order, but neither of those solve my problem for what to write now.
Okay, I need to make this article actually worth something for those of you who read my blog. So I'll post this:
This is the title and motto thingy I typed up for an skype role play that Dana and I have been doing recently. I'm pretty sure y'all are smart enough to know that the reference to love in the motto thingy is not in any way related to romance.
Just making sure.
The game has been fascinating, and I'm considering posting bits and pieces of it now and then on my blog, if Dana doesn't mind.
So yeah, this was a pretty lame blog post. But it's late, and I was feeling guilty about neglecting my blog, even though I am due to do a post both tomorrow and tomorrow's tomorrow.
It's late. That's my only excuse.
I'll shut up and go to bed now.
Dia duit,
~Penny
I missed writing on my blog, so I figured I'd come on here and say something profound or at the very least interesting. So far in five sentences, I've failed to do either. Since tomorrow is Legend Post day, I can't write about folklore, and music is on Friday.
I was considering doing a post on weapons every Monday or Tuesday. I live a somewhat busy life -- eight younger siblings and a novel to write, doncha know -- so I don't want to pressure myself too much. A hairstyle tutorial, and a photo shoot of Percy's new medieval outfit I bought him for his birthday are in order, but neither of those solve my problem for what to write now.
Okay, I need to make this article actually worth something for those of you who read my blog. So I'll post this:
For the Greatest Good
Our
order is under attack.
But
this is not a fight for survival.
This
is a fight for truth,
For
freedom,
For
hope.
These
immortal values withstand time and test,
Proving
one to be the most complex,
The
most mysterious,
The
most powerful among them all.
This
is a fight for love.
This is the title and motto thingy I typed up for an skype role play that Dana and I have been doing recently. I'm pretty sure y'all are smart enough to know that the reference to love in the motto thingy is not in any way related to romance.
Just making sure.
The game has been fascinating, and I'm considering posting bits and pieces of it now and then on my blog, if Dana doesn't mind.
So yeah, this was a pretty lame blog post. But it's late, and I was feeling guilty about neglecting my blog, even though I am due to do a post both tomorrow and tomorrow's tomorrow.
It's late. That's my only excuse.
I'll shut up and go to bed now.
Dia duit,
~Penny
Friday, May 25, 2012
Follow the Sound of Steel
I've been attempting to research European Martial Arts (swordfighting; specifically, Italian longsword) and today I looked up videos on youtube. After searching for a little while, and finally typing in "Fiore di Liberi", I got a result. Here's the video. It shows forms, how they work in actual practice, and then some sparring near the end. It's not an instructional video, but I found it helpful and intriguing in getitng the general idea of what proper swordfighting looks like. And by 'proper' I mean pretty much anything that's better than the blind hacking we do in the backyard with our PVC swords.
Dia duit,
~Penny
Maybe I should have a designated Medieval sword/swordfighting day. Hm....
Dia duit,
~Penny
Friday Music Post #3
You know, one of these times I'm going to forget which number I'm on. I'm terrible with numbers.
Anyway, today is a double feature because of my brilliant indecision. I've posted two inspiring, heroic songs, and figured it was time for a little variety. But then I found another really cool inspiring, heroic song! Instead of being patient and picking one over the other, I decided, what the world? Just post both of them.
The first one is called The Swashbuckler and Fair Maiden, by Future World Music. This one is daring, energetic, and cocky right from the start, with a little section in there that I would assume represents the maiden that is enchanting before the song's explosive climax.
Anyway, today is a double feature because of my brilliant indecision. I've posted two inspiring, heroic songs, and figured it was time for a little variety. But then I found another really cool inspiring, heroic song! Instead of being patient and picking one over the other, I decided, what the world? Just post both of them.
The first one is called The Swashbuckler and Fair Maiden, by Future World Music. This one is daring, energetic, and cocky right from the start, with a little section in there that I would assume represents the maiden that is enchanting before the song's explosive climax.
Okay, so here's the one that I originally intended to post. Unlike the Swashbuckler and Fair Maiden, Battle for Honor by SelecTracks has a more serious feel to it. There is a determined beat, inspiring melody, with an undertone of tension that suggest our brave heroes may not make it out alive, but a choir overlay that seems to reveal a sliver of hope for survival if they hurry.
Today is also Percy's birthday. Happy birthday, brother!
Dia duit,
~Penny
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Thursday Legend Post #2 -- Excalibur's Sheath
One of my brothers, Joseph Armstrong, has always loved the legend of King Arthur, and wants to write his own version of the story someday. However, he's always had a slight dislike for King Arthur's use of the magic sheath that didn't allow him to be killed in battle. "That's cheating," He'd say.
So, finally, I decided to look it up. Let's see what the real deal is with this magic sheath.
Now as they rode thus through the forest together, Merlin said to the King: "Lord, which wouldst thou rather have, Excalibur, or the sheath that holds him?" To which King Arthur replied, "Ten thousand times would I rather have Excalibur than his sheath." "In that thou art wrong, my Lord," said Merlin, "for let me tell thee, that though Excalibur is of so great a temper that he may cut in twain either a feather or a bar of iron, yet is his sheath of such a sort that he who wears it can suffer no wound in battle, neither may he lose a single drop of blood. In witness whereof, thou mayst remember that, in thy late battle with King Pellinore, thou didst suffer no wound, neither didst thou lose any blood."
Okay, so my brother's right. So far it looks like the legend version of a video game cheat code. So....does that make King Arthur a cowardly cheat, now?
Then King Arthur directed a countenance of great displeasure upon his companion and he said, "Now, Merlin, I do declare that thou hast taken from me the entire glory of that battle which I have lately fought. For what credit may there be to any knight who fights his enemy by means of enchantment such as thou tellest me of? And, indeed, I am minded to take this glorious sword back to that magic lake and to cast it therein where it belongeth; for I believe that a knight should fight by means of his own strength, and not by means of magic."
Score! King Arthur isn't a cheat afterall! I must say Arthur's response made me grin. Certainly he is no coward.
But wait, he keeps the sheath in the end. Wha?
"My Lord," said Merlin, "assuredly thou art entirely right in what thou holdest. But thou must bear in mind that thou art not as an ordinary errant knight, but that thou art a King, and that thy life belongeth not unto thee, but unto thy people. Accordingly thou hast no right to imperil it, but shouldst do all that lieth in thy power for to preserve it. Wherefore thou shouldst keep that sword so that it may safeguard thy life."
Ah, the wise Merlin speaks. Surely his powers lie in sagacity rather than magic. Very truly he reminds the great king that his life does not belong solely to himself, but that he must first think of the good of his people before he throws himself into danger. He reminds King Arthur of restraint, and self control; imperiling his own life, no matter how gloriously, will do the people he's sworn to protect no benefit at all. Thus, he says, "keep that sword."
You're up, Arthur.
Then King Arthur meditated that saying for a long while in silence; and when he spake it was in this wise: "Merlin, thou art right in what thou sayest, and, for the sake of my people, I will keep both Excalibur for to fight for them, and likewise his sheath for to preserve my life for their sake. Ne'theless, I will never use him again saving in serious battle." And King Arthur held to that saying, so that thereafter he did no battle in sport excepting with lance and a-horseback.
[All exerpts taken from http://www.2020site.org/kingarthur/calibur.html]
Well, what better reply could you ask for? Arthur keeps Excalibur, the life guarding sheath, and his courageous and noble character all together. He withstands my scrutiny, and I am most satisfied. I may yet revisit his legend in another area sometime. We'll see how he holds up then, but for now, King Arthur requires no remolding, for him in his legend has yet to disappoint.
Dia duit,
~Penny
So, finally, I decided to look it up. Let's see what the real deal is with this magic sheath.
Now as they rode thus through the forest together, Merlin said to the King: "Lord, which wouldst thou rather have, Excalibur, or the sheath that holds him?" To which King Arthur replied, "Ten thousand times would I rather have Excalibur than his sheath." "In that thou art wrong, my Lord," said Merlin, "for let me tell thee, that though Excalibur is of so great a temper that he may cut in twain either a feather or a bar of iron, yet is his sheath of such a sort that he who wears it can suffer no wound in battle, neither may he lose a single drop of blood. In witness whereof, thou mayst remember that, in thy late battle with King Pellinore, thou didst suffer no wound, neither didst thou lose any blood."
Okay, so my brother's right. So far it looks like the legend version of a video game cheat code. So....does that make King Arthur a cowardly cheat, now?
Then King Arthur directed a countenance of great displeasure upon his companion and he said, "Now, Merlin, I do declare that thou hast taken from me the entire glory of that battle which I have lately fought. For what credit may there be to any knight who fights his enemy by means of enchantment such as thou tellest me of? And, indeed, I am minded to take this glorious sword back to that magic lake and to cast it therein where it belongeth; for I believe that a knight should fight by means of his own strength, and not by means of magic."
Score! King Arthur isn't a cheat afterall! I must say Arthur's response made me grin. Certainly he is no coward.
But wait, he keeps the sheath in the end. Wha?
"My Lord," said Merlin, "assuredly thou art entirely right in what thou holdest. But thou must bear in mind that thou art not as an ordinary errant knight, but that thou art a King, and that thy life belongeth not unto thee, but unto thy people. Accordingly thou hast no right to imperil it, but shouldst do all that lieth in thy power for to preserve it. Wherefore thou shouldst keep that sword so that it may safeguard thy life."
Ah, the wise Merlin speaks. Surely his powers lie in sagacity rather than magic. Very truly he reminds the great king that his life does not belong solely to himself, but that he must first think of the good of his people before he throws himself into danger. He reminds King Arthur of restraint, and self control; imperiling his own life, no matter how gloriously, will do the people he's sworn to protect no benefit at all. Thus, he says, "keep that sword."
You're up, Arthur.
Then King Arthur meditated that saying for a long while in silence; and when he spake it was in this wise: "Merlin, thou art right in what thou sayest, and, for the sake of my people, I will keep both Excalibur for to fight for them, and likewise his sheath for to preserve my life for their sake. Ne'theless, I will never use him again saving in serious battle." And King Arthur held to that saying, so that thereafter he did no battle in sport excepting with lance and a-horseback.
[All exerpts taken from http://www.2020site.org/kingarthur/calibur.html]
Well, what better reply could you ask for? Arthur keeps Excalibur, the life guarding sheath, and his courageous and noble character all together. He withstands my scrutiny, and I am most satisfied. I may yet revisit his legend in another area sometime. We'll see how he holds up then, but for now, King Arthur requires no remolding, for him in his legend has yet to disappoint.
Dia duit,
~Penny
Monday, May 21, 2012
Hot Stuff
Gotta love Pinterest. I was searching around for something suitably epic and sword related to pin to either my Land Between Time board or my Lore board, and I stumbled upon this video of A Different Spin's Fire Swordfight.
Aside from being just plain cool to watch, I found it even more interesting when I could discern some of the fighting stances they used. I've been reading through a book called Sword in Two Hands: A Full Color Modern Training Guide Base on the Fior de Battaglia of Fiore dei Liberi. It's a fascinating book and while I don't pretend to be any sort of expert at all on the subject, it's nice to have a little understanding as opposed to none.
I'm reminded of this book because in that choreographed fight I recognized some of the guards (stances) they used from having read about them. For instance, the rooftop guard, the full irongate, the plow guard, and one of my favorites, the ox guard, were all shown briefly in the above video. Pretty neat!
By the way..... doing your own slo-mo in a real fight? Yeah. Bad idea. Looks awesome for entertainment, though.
Fighting with flaming swords = epic. Just sayin'.
Dia duit,
~Penny
Aside from being just plain cool to watch, I found it even more interesting when I could discern some of the fighting stances they used. I've been reading through a book called Sword in Two Hands: A Full Color Modern Training Guide Base on the Fior de Battaglia of Fiore dei Liberi. It's a fascinating book and while I don't pretend to be any sort of expert at all on the subject, it's nice to have a little understanding as opposed to none.
I'm reminded of this book because in that choreographed fight I recognized some of the guards (stances) they used from having read about them. For instance, the rooftop guard, the full irongate, the plow guard, and one of my favorites, the ox guard, were all shown briefly in the above video. Pretty neat! By the way..... doing your own slo-mo in a real fight? Yeah. Bad idea. Looks awesome for entertainment, though.
Fighting with flaming swords = epic. Just sayin'.
Dia duit,
~Penny
Friday, May 18, 2012
Friday Music Post #2
Honorable Objective by Epic Score is one of my absolute favorite songs. It combines action, emotion, and valor all in one with a compelling rhythmn and adventurous choir.
Dia duit,
~Penny
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