So.... This happened yesterday.

I'm still gobsmacked.

This was presented to me right after being inducted into the Order of the Howling Wolf and, like a good fencer would, that award served only to distract me from the main attack; one with which I was unable to launch a counter.

And it was caught on camera.

The scroll is a steel buckler; list legal, but I would not dare have a blade scratch a single word painted on it. 

The back is also filled with jokes from members of the White Scarves of AEthelmearc. 

I will be clear-coating the F out it so that it doesn't get messed up. I'm also going to get a buckler hanger so that I can wear this with my sword for important court event.

Words by "The Three-headed Cerberus"

Calligraphy and illumination by Kolfinna Jódísardóttir

Shenanigans (and jokes on the back of the scroll) by the entire Order of the White Scarf

Having Caleb rendered tearful and speechless: Priceless

Listen and rejoice at Our word: Understand they describe a daredevil welling with wit and whimsy, Master Caleb Reynolds is more than an august assassin. His prowess with a sword indelibly inspires, but has unbearably unbreakable heart and juvenescent spirit is the true testament of Caleb as a fighter and a man. Caleb captures the attention of other fighters without effort or design and teaches his fellow rapier rascals that killing your opponent with kindness is more dangerous than killing them with your blade. Those who do not see his skillful trajectory are surely a travesty, tragedy and full of audacity.

For these reasons and countless more, Caleb has earned an honored place amongst the members of the most Noble Order of the White Scarf. Thus Andreas and Kallista, King and Queen of Sylvan AEthelmearc having consulted with the Order and in complete consensus with them, devotedly decree that Caleb Reynolds should be inducted into the Noble Order of the White Scarf this day at the Feast of the Seven Deadly Sins and Venetian Carnival.

I bought a new buckler

I bought a new buckler

 I had to stop by Wegman's (a big supermarket chain in New York) and I found this by the front door. It's a plastic shield that came with a snowball maker/launcher.

WHY DIDN'T THEY HAVE THESE WHEN I WAS A KID?

Not that it would have been useful down in Texas. But still.

It's barely legal, size-wise, for AEthelmearc's Rapier rules, and I don't think that it will stand up to heavy rapier combat. I might spray-paint it green and black, to match my Barony's colors, and donate it to our youth rapier loaner pool.

It's strapped nicely: the straps are stretchy and I was able to get my fat arm through them while I was wearing a hoodie. I prefer a single handle, when I fence, 'cause I am a fan of I.33, but it's not uncomfortable to wield. 

Again, this probably not last long against heavy rapier, but against foils? It should be good enough for kids. $12.95 is a good deal for something that made be giggle. 

The Ice Dragon has passed.

And left a mess in it's wake.

Welp! Ice Dragon 2018 has come and gone and I feel like I ran a couple of marathons. I blame dehydration, not eating, lack of sleep, a lot of set up/break down work and fencing.

The heavy fighters were required to make some piece of artwork for their tourney, with crayons. For some reason, some fighters complained. They didn't want to draw something using crayons. A few of us fencers joined in in solidarity. The above is my entry. Scroll number green. I had offered it up as the tourney prize scroll, but... that didn't happen.

I acquired a new buckler and dagger, but didn't use them. I did manage to fence for an entire 90 minute tourney. Don Diego asked me if I would join him in some shenanigans and donate my points to the late THL Wolfgang Starke. The two of us, and one other fencer, made sure that Wolfgang won the tourney. 

Worth it.

I did better than I expected: winning about 1/3 of my bouts. And I did challenge Her Majesty of the East to a duel to the death. Her, with The Duchess ( a great sword that was as tall as her) ; me with The Great Gatsby (my great sword that's almost two feet shorter than The Duchess. I managed to kill Her Majesty (she's very fast) and only managed to fight three bouts with my two-hander. I don't use it often as I am trying to perfect my I.33 technique and the two-hander tends to throw my back out. Still, a good day.

On top of everything else, the weather was goofy. It started sleeting right at the end of court, and the weather was getting crappy to our north. The above is a picture taken near the end of court (I was loading Baronial stuff while the Laurel elevations were happening.

 This is my driveway when I got home a few hours later. Flippin' snow! In April! Flippin' Ice Dragon.