Well, my Belegarth cherry has officially been popped. After being away from a padded sword for a few years (during the late Shogun--may it rest in peace), it felt good to get back into action. Our unit, the House of Einherjar, made a showing three strong, and we had a skirmishtacular time on the battlefield. My sword and shield work was sloppy at best, but through practice, I hope to regain my edge soon enough.

Belegarth Rule #1: Don't power-drink until 4:00 am the night before the fighting.

Special thanks goes to Clan of the Hydra for being incredibly hospitable and approchable, House Dregoth for allowing us the use of their enchanted light-conjuring device (without which we would have been doomed to set up camp in the dark), and Lady Feri (sp?) for dispensing helpful information and assorted foodstuffs throughout the event--your chicken sandwiches are practically orgasmic, and I have the stains on my garb pants to prove it.

Our numbers are already on the grow, and a couple of us are planning to make Melcaorme (Beltaine's just too far and too soon, unfortunately), so we hope to see some of the same faces there and meet some new people to boot. Here's to the growth of the House of Einherjar, and, with luck, the beginning of good relations with the other units in the Midwest.

Cheers,

~Olaf the Stout

[...]

One morning, as Shannon Heibler was waking up from anxious dreams, she discovered that in bed she had been changed into a monstrous fighter in the making…

 

I came back from Oktoberfest a pretty different member of Belegarth.  I came back wanting more.  Wanting to be a more helpful part of it, nationally and regionally.  I came back wanting to be worth a damn on the field.  I came back wanting to improve my unit and realm even more than they have already improved.  (And they have – I’m so proud!)  So I came back with a plan.  More to the point, I had several plans about my role in Belegarth.  The first part was cozying up with a copy of the Book of War and getting, erm, familiar with it and all its bizarre nooks and crannies.  I’m able to answer most questions now without checking it, but I always keep it close by at practice, just in case.  I’m still a little weak on weapon construction rules.  I also started brain storming ways to make Clan of the Hydra and Rhun even better.  I’m super protective of Hydra as a unit so I’m always wary of us going down “the wrong path.”  It’s come close a couple of times so I’m trying to steer our recruitment in such a way that we will almost never have to worry about that, just because of the mindset of the people we get.  I’d like to see a bit of focus as a unit on helping Belegarth as a whole and making that part of becoming a member – be it recruiting, helping at events, or generally being active and aware of what’s going on in a healthy kind of “Go team!” way.  I’m a little concerned with the slight sense of emphasis on sport wide popularity going on (the who’s who of Belegarth and so forth) which I’m fine with as long as we don’t forget about our pre-existing members.  Once they get left by the wayside… well, I’m honestly assuming it won’t happen.  I just get paranoid. 

 

Personally, I’ve begun a quest to be a better all around fighter.  I generally prefer fighting with a 48” red sword, but I want to learn sword and board so I can help other realm and unit members with the same.  Also, sword and board is much more effective for me (at this point) on the field.  Once I have the basics of the basics down, I’m going back to red to hardcore train on that.  I approached Bo and he’s been awesome about breaking things down for me and other people.  I’m ecstatic to say that I have already seen a pretty notable increase in my skill though I have miles to go…  I need to pick one or two things, or ask Bo to suggest some, to focus on at each practice.  I’ve been overwhelming myself trying to integrate everything and that’s just not going to help me in the end.  It’s funny.  The thing Bo has said (jokingly) to help me the most was to compare (don’t judge!) Belegarth moves and stances to dancing.  I used to be big into ballroom dancing so now I just practice things at home like a dance routine.  My poor downstairs neighbors must hate me. 

 

I’m cross training as well.  I have a blue sword in my cubicle to practice switching grips and positions while I’m on the phone with customers.  I’m picking up some training weights tonight to wear on my shield arm at work so I stop getting tired so quickly (pathetic red wielder that I was…).  I’ve also been trying to run everyday around my neighborhood.  This is the hardest part because a runner, I am not.  I’m actually a great sprinter, but endurance escapes me.  I hope to change that a little bit.  This pesky respiratory ailment that I’m dealing with may stop me briefly though.  Boo.

I’m excited at just how much a change in attitude, or rather, an increased focus can improve me as a participant of this sport.  I encourage other people to do the same if they feel like they’re stuck in a rut, like I was.  I also encourage a strong sense of unit or realm pride.  If you are unhappy about something, bring it up to someone you can trust.  Don’t just let things suck.  Other people probably feel the same way as you, to an extent.  And if there is no one to go to and nothing you can change from the inside, check out another unit. 

 

Might I recommend Clan of the Hydra…?  :0)

[...]

Khador stuff-

So we had six fighters represent Khador this past weekend at Oktoberfest.  Trystan, Locus, Critter, Critter's sister (I don't remember her name), Sean (Sean doesn't have a fighting name yet.  He will get one before the next event) and myself.  Lucos's son was there but was too young to fight.

I am obviously quite happy regarding this.  Usually it is just Trystan and myself who represent Khador.  We all were overwhelmed during realm battles obviously, but man did I enjoyed fighting for Khador more then anything else.  I love my growing realm.  We have been getting no fewer then fifteen per Rockford practice for the past eight weeks.  We are obviously not the best fighters but a fair number of the guys there are on the path.  They have a lot of potential.  They understand the game well, they take their hits well, and most importantly, they are eager to learn.  A few of them are or have gotten their garb and weapons together, much faster then what I was when I first started this sport.  I have high hopes for them.

 

Just like in every practice/realm, there are two or three who don't take their hits well.  Everyone knows it, so they don't take it personally.  They aren't likely to show up to events anyways.  And if they do, I encourage everyone to plow them over if they are not taking their hits.  It is the way it should be.  Anywhos, funny how in this past Sunday's practice, I was too tired to fight because I just got back from Okfest, so I just heralded the entire time.  So I saw two of them not taking a hit so I grabbed a red axe, announced that if I don't see someone taking their hit then I will red them full force.  I watched them carefully and I did not see anymore problems for the rest of practice. :)

On a Khador news note, we are going to find a indoor location here hopefully soon.  Once we do, I am going to have no fewer then twenty five posters printed off and I will distribute them in Rockford and the surrounding communities.  If this means we gain one more memeber, it is totally worth it.

CofH stuff-

I am now officially a Guard in Clan of the Hydra.  I only have two words to describe my feelings:

FUCKEN YEY!

Other then one stupid minor issue which may or may not be a problem in the future, this unit is perfect for me and I am perfect for this unit.

I just had to ware my sexy new tabard all day Sunday... afterall I didn't get home until about 9p.m. anyways.

 

 

One more thing I must comment on because I think they deserve high praise.

I was quite impressed with awesome turnout from Thunder Guard in Thunder Bay Canada.  A shitton of you guys down for a 1600 mile trip.  Way to go!

p.s. if I sound like a complete retard, I am sorry.  I have spent the last four days writing three essays that have made me feel asthough I have lost I.Q.  I guess this is what happens when I go to a community "college".

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