Last weekend I was able to engage in an SCA event that had the distinction of being the first time I slept in a tent in over 20 years. I’m about as outdoorsmany as a microwave oven, but I know lots of folk, both inside the SCA and out, who were keen to help out, and Lord knows I’m jumping in the deep end by attending the Pennsic War later this year, so I packed up a cot, sleeping bag and a couple of totes of stuff, tossed them into the car, and headed out to Camp Impeesa, where the Fruits Of Our Labours VIII (FOOL) was taking place.

Gad, it’s been forever since I’ve set foot in a scout camp like this. I have fond memories of Lynchwood.

Period tents mix with more contemporary versions, as people are able to manage.

Traditionally, major events have some sort of site token for you to keep as a memento of your attendance. Given that many attending FOOL have to skip their normal dinner times in order to get on site and pitch tents while the sun’s up, the tokens at FOOL are traditionally a little somethin’ somethin’ to help restore blood sugar levels.

While the plan was to camp with Lostie George and pals Ali, Kat and Monique, they were delayed leaving Toronto so pal Merewen pinged me and said she’d bring me her spare tent. A little 9×9, this was referred to throughout the weekend as “The Pimple”. Also, it wasn’t big enough for my cot, so I slept on the ground the first night… which, oddly enough, was fine. The bloody train honking its horn periodically in the distance was much more annoying.

Friday evening view from the Pimple, angled so as to cut out the tents on either side and make it look like there was no-one else there. Clever photography, people! The archery and thrown weapons ranges would get set up in the distance there over the next few hours.

Looking the other way we have proof that I wasn’t just camping in the Pimple all by my lonesome. More tents arrived as the evening proceeded, and some more turned up Saturday morning, but this there was plenty of room for all and sundry.

Hanging with the cool kids, passing around some Cherry Ripes, because Australian candy makes everything better. Most of us weren’t too fussed about dressing in period garb just yet. The tub of Sour Keys on the box there didn’t survive the night.

You pack for your camping events your way, I’ll pack for mine my way.

First card game out of the box was Loot letter. I’ll be bringing it to Pennsic, it was well received and packs in a nice small box.

Merewen grasped Loot Letter pretty bloody quickly… new pal Gerard was thwarted by the Duck Of Doom.

Queen Lidr stepped in, but she too was no match for Merewen’s card-sharkery. She had to face the Gazebo… Alone…

Deadfellas came out next, and I’m not sure Merewen is allowed to play card games with us any more… she’s just too damn good at them 😉

Sunday morning! I get to wander around the site being pretty much the only person awake before 6AM!

Nothing says SCA camping like bringing your own damn thrones to the picnic table. Things like this really add to the feel and atmosphere of SCA events, they were super cool to see.

Meanwhile, nothing says serious tent like your serious tent having a serious wooden door.

Some folk decided “roughing it” meant a camper, but a little creativity and suddenly it was a more period-appropriate exterior.

And then I made Queen Lidr get out of bed and come for a walk with me, because company always makes wandering around dirt roads in a bathrobe more entertaining.

S’okay though, we let her nap on the couch afterwards before she had to put her lid on and be all official and stuff.

My pals arrived! No more sleeping in the Pimple for me! Ali and Monique set to work laying out the smaller of the two tents…

… while Lostie George and Katrina set about on the larger. Yes, I helped too.

Et voila! Tents! And the green one fit my cot niceley, so all was right in the world.

Now this super cool person you might have recognized as the card shark from earlier. This is Lady Merewen de Sweynesheie, and she gets to wear purple goggles because she was teaching a class I was lucky enough to be auditing, on…

… the making of glass beads! Many of these were super intricate and detailed, and Merewen walked us through different techniques and materials, tools and stuff. Glass beads are a significant part of Viking bling, so it’s a craft that many folks are interested in.

Her glasses strap even identifies her as being in charge of the class 😉

Now, here’s something neat. Making glass beads can release fumes and radiation, so it’s important to be safe. That’s what the purple Didymium lenses are for. Also, they make the job easier! The pic on the left has Merewen holding a glass bead in the flame of her torch. The pic on the right has her holding the same bead in the same flame, but I’m holding one side of a pair of goggles over the camera. The lens filters out the visible flare around the bead, meaning you can actually see the bead itself as you’re working it. SCIENCE, PEOPLE!

I got to sit down and take a turn at the torch myself, after folding back my sleeves because they dangle. Dangly sleeves + open flame = bad times. I decided to work with a transparent blue and an opaque orange, because, heck, my tunic’s awesome.

This is the incredibly sexy result. While I ate the cookie thingie they gave me as an event token earlier, this little fellow is now on a leather thong that hangs from my belt, a memento of FOOL VIII.

Nearby, King Steinnar prepared to school some folks in sword bashery. We’ll get to that in a bit.

Nearby I has a class coming up, and found Lostie George keen to show off what he’d put together in the beginners chainmail class. He’s all super keen to make all the chain thingies now.

The class was on medieval astronomy and navigation using period instruments. We covered planispheres, dioptras. armillary spheres, and most importantly given their significance to this blog, astrolabes!

Breaking down the components of an astrolabe and talking about the different types was a lot of fun. You may notice some vaguely familiar shapes 😉

The other class that I was most excited to take was calligraphy. Being a little bit of a word nerd, I did a class in calligraphy back when I was in high school and loved it, but this was the first time I’d ever tried it using dip pens.

We went through some basic exercises which I muddled up and proved I needed more practice with, and I also just goofed around… I was a terrible student… “Plethora”, for the record, was the unofficial word of the weekend.

Back in the fresh air, a bunch of folks had strapped large pieces of metal to themselves to demonstrate medical procedures of the 11th century. Specifically, they were showing how period surgeons had to work extra hard to do accupuncture, since everyone in those days was extremely reluctant to be poked or stabbed with anything at all.

Here you can see the head accupuncturist in the chain hauberk, discussing the procedure with his support staff. The needles of the period were often longer 8′ or longer, to allow the specialist to jab this opponent, potentially through their armour, without being dismembered by a retaliatory sword swing.

While his team beat the crap out of the patient’s friends, who quite understandably don’t want their own pal to be poked with an enormous needle, the specialist tries to maneuvre into position. You’ll notice a second accupuncturist on the left flank in the brown tunic, marking him as an ear, nose and throat specialist.

Having a second accupuncturist on hand was a common practice, since it confused the heck out of the patient and his defenders, as they were never 100% sure who was going to be conducting the procedure.

While the lead accupuncturist deals with a particularly pesky defender…

… the Ear, Nose and Throat guy has singled out the patient!

Shortly, with the full support of this nursing staff…

… the procedure is complete, and everyone has a nap.

Meanwhile nearby, trainee accupuncturists are taught using training aids that demonstrate just how committed the Accupuncture Guild is to the safety of all. No real 9′ stabby things until you’re mastered 6′ of nerf stick, students!

The youth get to whack each other with foam sticks too, because age is no impediment to barbaric tendencies.

Meanwhile, having learned the key precepts of Trichinopoly (which is NOT a board game…), Kat and Ali practice their wire weaving.

BIRDIE!

Court took place Saturday afternoon. The populace gathered on the grounds and awaited the King and Queen, and the Baron and Baroness of Ramshaven.

Neat procession is neat, replete with heraldic announcements and several bad sheep puns from the Ramshaven crew.

Super special, pal Lady Merewen was granted the Orion award. In the SCA you can be recognized for martial ability, craft/handiwork, and service to the kingdom. Even cooler, 99% of the time, people who are being given awards have no freaking clue until it actually happens. Makes for some great “Bwah? I’m what now??” reactions.

The Orion was given in recognition of her bead making skills and achievements. Super proud of her.

Also super cool, the Crown called forth everyone who had made FOOL their very first SCA event. Pals Ali and Monique were among the group of folks that went forward, and they were all given swaths of cloak material as a gift from the King and Queen.

Tee hee! Bitter tasting medicinal fluids make for amusing expressions.

Sunday morning! Hi Ali!

This thing was looming against the wall, and… actually, that’s it. I just wanted to use a bad loom pun. Was super cool though!

I finally made my way to the archery range, where Baron Percival allowed me the use of his bow. Having not nocked an arrow in over 20 years, I was dubious but excited.

The Novelty Shoot tournament means NONE of the targets were the usual big round ones. I mean, they were *there*, but we had to shoot circles on poles, apples on heads, vertical sticks, horizontal bars and squirrels!

Age was no impediment, the only thing that mattered was a desire to hear “twang… THUNK!”

That’s one of mine! Holy crap, I hit one of the poles *during the round I was supposed to*!!!

Next we had to target this bar. You’ll notice a spray of arrows in the grass beyond the target… one or two of mine were in there but apparently when everyone else was targeting this thing, I subconsciously dedided…

… that I *really* hated that squirrel. The two directly in front and behind the target were mine, as was the one in its neck (yes, I was shooting two different colours of arrows).

And then there was the time when five of my six arrows actually ended on on the board! Sure, two of them missed the target entirely, but it’s not like anyone actually hit the bullseye on this one…

Next it was over to the axe butts… hee hee, butts…

Now, these most certainly made a satisfying thunk noise.

Folks can try their hand at throwing knives as well as axes, like my friend at the end here. For me, I’m good with axes for now.

I took 24 shots, 14 of them stuck in, and the last one scored me a bullseye just to make me feel special. A 58% stick rate is an improvement on my throwing at the coronation, I’ll take it!

Being a scout camp site, there are nice walking trails in the area. It was neat to see all the trilliums out for our viewing pleasure.

In case you thought all the melee combat was based on “Accupunture” at FOOL, I snapped a couple of shots of folks practicing their rapier skills too.

Possibly the most flamboyantly detailed rapier kit I’ve seen yet. Neat!

… I’ve washed that bowl twice already, helping out in the kitchen. I never clued in that it was also a hat.

Dinner with the royal entourage Sunday night was a super tasty chicken stew dish thingie with fresh made biscuits. Nom!

… and then I waggled my eyebrows and broke the Queen.

Finally, it was time to hit the dirt road and head home. FOOL VIII was a lot of fun. I was able to meet folks I’d only spoken with on various Facebook groups, I got to try many new things, ate some delicious noms, shot arrows, threw axes, did pretty writings, learned what the heck a planisphere does, made a groovy glass bead for myself, and otherwise had a good time with friends, both established and new.

I also managed to burn the heck out of the back of my neck, apparently, so there’s that.

Now it’s several days of recovery (while doing mundane life things like working and stuff) as I empty totes, do laundry, and otherwise cleanse the SCA palette. Next weekend? Crown tournament. I think I’ll take the kids…