From: schuldy@progress.COM (Mark Schuldenfrei)
Subject: Re: Grand Pennsic
Organization: Progress Software Corp.
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 20:30:32 GMT

Good Bertram wrote (and it was nice to meet you in the flesh, gentle lord):
  The recent attempt to change the Pennsic Wars into "Grand Pennsic" 
  (to try to coin a phrase) at Pennsic XXI is an interesting one.
  I believe the intention of the change was to minimize ill-will
  between the combattants and to recognize the fact that Pennsic
  has become something more like a cross between a great medieval
  fair and a grand tournament.  Considering the event a "Grand
  Tournament" rather than a "war" may well be a good thing.

Well, I think that Ruslan and Margaret, and Katya and Ronin were trying
to take to literal heart the worries of people like Master El.  I think
they over-reacted, by trying to turn Pennsic into a "Tournament" instead
of a "War".  The obvious personal friendship of the two royal couples,
the "Kill Your Allies" battle (East+Middle versus Known World) and the
joint Pennsic Party were more than enough.  Somehow, stepping on twenty
years of tradition seems like too much.

I'd had an interesting conversation with Baron Steffan of Silverwing, and
we'd agreed that Pennsic, even before this years opening ceremonies, was
not really a war anymore, but a sort of competition.  That's why I took
it upon myself to end the festivities at closing court with "This Festival
and Tournament of Pennsic is hereby closed".

Pennic has truly become a festival, a chance for each and all to bring
out their best, and brightest, to share, to sell and trade, to merchant.
To fight and compete, in the interests of improving our arts, not in
defeat.

Some of my favorite moments:

  When the Eastern archers of the Champions battle each donated one of
their winning arrows into a quiver for Ruslan to hang from his throne,
and presented it to him at Eastern Court.  He insisted that it be brought
back to Great Court, and hung on his throne.

  The presentation of a chain, from the Chivalry of the Middle, to the
Queen of East, whose champions had beaten them.  The chain was made of
one link from each member of the chivalry's personal chain.  Duke Sir
Eliahu presented them.  I've rarely seen a finer tribute.

  My own person dealings with the head of the Pepper's Guild, as I haggled
for spices.  While I'm not a persona fan, this gentle set such an example,
that we traded information and conversation just as we would in period,
right down to my tipping him for a generous measure on his scale.

My favorite moment of all, however, was quite accidental.  Lady Tibicen
had written some music for the play I was in, Wit and Science.  One gentle
in the audience was quite taken with the music, and asked if he could meet
us later and record it.  We arranged for him to meet us at the Rialto
party.  We left the party to find a quiet place, with enough light to let
us see our music.  I completely lost track of how far we walked, but
at last we found an encampent, quiet and torchlit, with a single lady
sitting on the ground near the fire.  We asked permission to sing here,
it was granted, and we did so.  Once the song was sung (and we listened
to the recording) the lady complimented us, and asked if she could share
a song with us in return.

Gentles, I tell you truly, this lady was divine.  She sang a "fifteenth
Century Italian Love Song", and I can still hear her voice.  Without
even standing, she sang with such beauty, that I could scarcely see
the ground before me.  I'll almost certainly never meet that lady again,
or know it if I did (unless she sang).  But I'll remember her always.

On the other hand, the line I most often repressed during my week
long sojourn was a brightly spoken "Hi! I'm a member of the SCA, a
medieval recreation organization.  Who are you, and what are you doing here?"
The chainmail bikini crowd, the elf-ears, the little people with buttons on
their shirts...  And the folks who smoked cigarettes in your face, or
took flash photographs...

But, they didn't matter.  The night I served my Master at table, the
impromptu singing, the glorious fighting, the wonderful ball. (Gods! The
musicians at that ball were the best dance music!  Even when I didn't know
the dance, I stayed right in front of the musicians).

It was great.

	Tibor
--
Mark Schuldenfrei (schuldy@progress.com)