thegirlsclub

Hildemar the Alchemist · Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 11:48 pm Post subject: Birka in NH

Anyone coming to Birka? I *believe* the fighting will be oxhide, as it has in the past... being of smaller stature, I am hoping to succeed by dodging as necessary. (And I am hoping from some pointers from my Knight.)

Here is the even announcement:
http://www.eastkingdom.org/EventDetails.html?eid=2029

Will I see any of you there?

-Hildemar

LadyLia · Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 11:55 pm Post subject:

I'll be there, but not fighting. My mentor and I talked about it and came to the decision that the format would frustrate me to no end and I'd be very likely to do something stupid (like pushing myself too far) and re-injure myself. I'll keep an eye out for you though. Is your avatar your arms?
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Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of; the hell with sugar and spice.

Hildemar the Alchemist · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 12:05 am Post subject:

Hi LadyLia,

Bummer - sorry to hear that. But I too find the format a source of (nearly infinite) frustration. As if larger fighters didn't already have enough of an advantage, we'll make you fight in the tiniest arena ever... so that any mobility advantage you might have had will be nullified.

My Knight advises me that to fight bulls, you need to be a matador. We'll have to see the specifics of this to make it work.

As for my avatar, it has nothing to do with my arms at all! But until I figure out how to get a tiny version of my arms to use, I just grabbed it. It's quite irrelevant.

My arms are as follows:
Sable, a tiger sejant regardant between three caltrops, a bordure embattled argent.

My shield carries these - but the embattling is done with white cord, rather than being painted on, and the heraldic tiger is easily mistaken for a wolf except for the beaked snout. My helm is an open face sallet with blackened reinforcement over the forehead. What will you be wearing?

-Hildemar

LadyLia · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 5:53 am Post subject:

PMed
_________________
Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of; the hell with sugar and spice.

Sarra · Club Member Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 165 : Items

I am going to be auth-ing at Birka, then fighting my first heavy list event. Smile

-Sarra
_________________
"Pain fades. Bruises heal. Honor is forever." -William J. Knight, Conals Corner

Hildemar the Alchemist · Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 3:58 pm Post subject:

Birka can be an... interesting first event. Unless they have changed the rules, it's possible to lose a match by simply being shoved out of the oxhide (which I believe is 10' x 10'). So this may be an additional challenge, especially for those of us on the smaller side.

However, it is a *three hour bearpit*. For those who enter with the intent of winning the event, it is an endurance race. For everyone else, it's a smorgasbord in which you can fight as much as you like for the duration.

Sarra · Club Member Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 165 : Items

Yeah, it defintily wasn't my first choice for first heavy list event. Birka has never been my favorite event for fighting, even as youth

That being said, I fought it as youth rattan, with the same size lists, so I have at least fought in a similar situation before. I've also done heavy list practices, and trained a bunch.

It will be a learning experience if nothing else, and I will (hopefully) be auth'd.

And if I get too frustrated/sick of the format, I will youth marshall Smile

-Sarra
_________________
"Pain fades. Bruises heal. Honor is forever." -William J. Knight, Conals Corner

Hildemar the Alchemist · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 9:07 pm Post subject:

Regarding fighting at Birka:
In the past, I've had to fight hard to keep from being blown out of the ring; on some occasions with die-hard pushers, I would drop to my knees so I couldn't be bounced out. However, it's quite challenging to try to kill someone who's already taller than you if you drop to your knees - so this becomes a defensive tactic at best. Again, not my favorite format, but I'll have a go and hope to remember to keep my knees well bent.

Alternatively, I'm a chirurgeon - but there usually aren't many injuries at this event, or at least folks seldom call for help. However, I am trying to put together an ABS molded gothic cuirass, so I'm in need of good bridle leather strapping and a few fittings. I'll have some shopping to do!