Boot Camp Meadowmarsh 2024

This year´s Boot Camp token: a marshal´s gauge to measure the heavy fighting equipment.

Each year our lovely neighbourghs from the Shire of Meadowmarsh (from the most ancient barony of Knights Crossing) invite all heavy fighters to a special event. The Boot Camp Meadowmarsh brings together knights, experienced heavy fighters and newcomers from all over Drachenwald. We enjoy in single combats as well as heavy melees. Most important part is the exchange of knowledge: how can we improve our heavy fighting technique? What equipment is best? What did we learn since last year?

The weekend is embedded in the lovely city of Duedelsheim/Germany. Our hosts provide finest accomodation, great food and overwhelming hospitality. We deeply thank the kitchen crew and our most favorite event sterward Master Aelric of Battle. Love to see all of you again soon!

Drachenwald Spring Crown Tournament 2023

Keldor av Skelitta gives Flose Thordson a heavy fighter wake-up tap in his first round at Spring Crown Tournament

A Crown Tournament is a peak level event in each Kingdom. At Spring Crown Tournament Drachwenwald´s keenest fighters were assembled at the muddy fields of Ittlingen (Knight´s Crossing) to find heirs for Drachenwald´s crown.

Best away fans: Ad Flumen Caerulum Ultras

14 fighters, lords and ladies, left- and righthanded met in heavy armored fighting. Ad Flumen Caerulum sent Lord Flose Thordson and Saidra ad Iscula. Alienor de Salignac chose to consort Master Aelric of Battle to underline the friendship with the Shire of Meadowmarsh. They where accompanied by a huge number of companions, meanwhile known as “AFC Ultras” (best away fans ever!).

Sir William attempts to plant Lord Flose into the wet soil of Ittlingen.

After endless struggles, glorious triumphs and sad losses, Sir Sven Gunnarsson won the honour of being Drachenwald´s next king.

Vivant to the Royalty and Drachenwald´s new heirs!

Our thanks go to the marvellous event staff, who managed reservation, feast kitchen and of course the tournament organization. So many helping hands from different regions working together show the solidarity between the regions. May there be many more!

Here are some heavy fighting videos from the Crown Tournament => Videos on Flickr

This was Parasol War VI

Guests and staff of parasol War VI at the Castle of Albrechtsberg

Thanks to an ambitous event crew and lovely guests from all corners of Draachenwald we could enjoy a wonderful event at our humble Shire of Ad Flumen Caerulum. The pittoresque site of the castle of Albrechtsberg was once more the stage for al lovely community. Arts and Science, Bows and Arrows, court and itchen and of course much heavy fighting scenarios made it an unforgettable meeting of friends of our great Society of Anachronism. Find here some pictures.

17/11/2021 Heavy Fighters Practise

Heavy fighters duelling

As long as we can, we will do heavy fighting. Since we can expect heavy restrictions in the next days we should enjoy training as lon as it is possible. So use your gear and keep in mind, that you might have morre than enough time to fix it. See you at HTC site and don´t forget your proof of vaccination!

30/10/2021: New Armoury for Heavy Fighters

Full of joy we proudly announce the erection of our Shire´s new armoury. Just in time befor winter season we are able to provide enought space for SCA heavy fighting equipment, loaner gear and some tools for quick repair.

The work was fullfilled with dexterous skill by a delegation of the finest craftsmen from the heavy fighters group. Following an old tradition we deposited a time capsule, during the groundbreaking ceremony. It contains a newspaper, Shire´s flyer, coins and other tokens,

For incoming winter trainings we cleared and cleaned our container and added some homy touches. So enjoy netxt Wednesday´s heavy fighters practise and admire the result of our hard work. Missa est!

Hieb- und stichfest…

von Geirdís Geirharðardóttir

Hieb- und stichfest… Im Streit wirft uns unser Gegenüber eine Aussage an den Kopf, die für uns an den Haaren herbeigezogen ist. Nach einiger Zeit müssen wir aber zugeben, dass die genannte Tatsache hieb- und stichfest ist. Das Argument ist also nicht zu widerlegen.

Um im Turnier oder Kampf vor den Hieb- und Stichwaffen (später auch vor Schußwaffen) des Gegners gefeit (von Fei = Fee) zu sein, benutzten die Kämpfer einige Zauber, wie z. B. das Bad in Drachenblut in der Nibelungensage oder das Mitführen von Wolfsaugen, Maulwurfsherzen, Nabelschnur, Nachgeburt oder verschiedensten Kräutern und Pflanzenwurzeln. Das magische Ritual des Festmachens oder Feiens sollte die Unverwundbarkeit des Rüstungsträgers garantieren – ihn hieb- und stichfest machen. 

Gerüsteter Schwertkampf in der SCA (SCA Heavy Fighting)

In der SCA wird bei gerüstetem Schwertkampf großer Wert auf die Einhaltung bestimmter Regeln gelegt, welche im Drachenwald Marshal’s Handbook genau festgelegt sind. Schließlich wollen wir mit unseren Gegnern nach dem Kampf ein Bier trinken und sie nicht im Krankenhaus besuchen. 

Die wichtigsten Regeln zur Schutzausrüstung in aller Kürze:

Der Helm: Die Materialstärke des Stahls hat an jeder Stelle mindestens 1,6 mm zu betragen. Der Gesichtsschutz muss ein Rundholz mit einem Durchmesser von 25,4 mm am Eindringen hindern und muss mindestens 25,4 mm unterhalb des Kinns enden. Alle Teile des Helms, die mit dem Träger in Kontakt kommen können sind mit 12,7 mm Schaumstoff zu polstern. Der Helm ist mit einem Kinnriemen auszustatten. 

Die Halsrüstung: Der Hals, inklusive Kehlkopf, Halswirbel und oberstem Brustwirbel, muss während des Kampfes, auch beim Heben des Kinns und Drehen des Kopfes, bedeckt bleiben.

Der Körper, die Schultern und die Leisten: Die Nieren und die kurzen Rippen müssen geschützt sein. Männer und Frauen müssen einen Tiefschutz tragen. Separate Brustschalen sind untersagt.

Die Hand- und das Handgelenk: Die Außenfläche der Hand muss bis zu 25,4 mm hinter dem Handgelenk bedeckt sein. Ein fester Korb am Schwert und Schild muss verhindern, dass die Hand getroffen werden kann. 

Die Arme: Die Ellenbogenspitze und die Knochen zu beiden Seiten des Ellenbogens müssen mit stabilem Material bedeckt sein. Ein Schild alleine ist nicht ausreichend. 

Die Beine: Die Kniescheibe und 25,4 mm darüber und darunter müssen zu beiden Seiten des Knies bedeckt sein. Der Kämpfer soll Fußbekleidung tragen, die ihm ausreichend Schutz und Standfestigkeit bietet. 

Der Schild: Schilde sind so zu konstruieren, dass sie den Schaden an Rattanwaffen oder mögliche Verletzungen des Kämpfers minimieren. Der Schild darf niemals als Waffe eingesetzt werden. 

Wer mehr über SCA Heavy Combat erfahren oder mitmachen möchte, findet uns jeden Mittwoch am HTC Platz im Wiener Prater. 

Alle Abbildungen: Cod. Pal. germ. 848 Große Heidelberger Liederhandschrift (Codex Manesse) — Zürich, ca. 1300 bis ca. 1340

Linksammlung:

Das Nibelungenlied: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-73bW3NWKmA

Marshal’s Handbook: http://www.drachenwald.sca.org/drupal/sites/default/files/Marshal_s%20Handbook_8_1_2016.pdf

23/6/2021 Damage Assessment at Training Site

Still no heavy fighters practise at our training site. The hockey clubhouse is sevrely damaged. As reported, nobody was seriousely hurt. Our heavy equipment was stored in the basement and safe. Only our coats, gambesons an brigantines are burnt rags. But: site will be reopend for training, so stay alert for next Wednesday, when we hit back!

31/3/2021 Keep a Heavy Distance!

Because of rigid Covid-19 measures in Austria you have to keep a distance of 2 metres to other persons. Under usual conditions we would have demonstrated this “benchmark” at our weekly heavy fighters practise. But as a matter of fact, all sport sites are still closed in Austria. So we will show you the meaning of a save Corona distance.

Many heavy fighting concepts deal with distance. They differ between close-combat zones, where you can smell your opponents breath (definitely contagenious), a normal single-hand-combat distance (you can hit your opponent with your weapon and with aerosoles) and a wider distance, where you need at least a half-step to reach your opponent. Personal experiences and estimations may fool you: 2 metres are far more than you may think. So stay in far distance and stay safe!

Heavy Shakespeare Quotes

Whilst the new Covid-19 Lockdown preventy heavy Fighting, we take a look in our heavy fighters archive. We detected a lot of reenacted quotes, taken from Shakespeare´s greatest plays. So enjoy our “Heavy Shakespeare Reenactment Gallery” (to be continued).

SCA Heavy Fighters with Candlelight
“We would not seek a battle as we are. Nor, as we are, we say we will not shun it.” (Henry V.)
heavy fighters swordsplaying in the moonlight
“Let us be Diana´s foresters, gentlemen of the shade, minions of the moon.” (Henry IV.)
“The things that threaten’d me ne’er look’d but on my back.” (Jules Caesar)
“Our bodies are our gardens, to the which our wills are gardeners.” (Othello)
“If you prick us, do we not bleed?” (The Merchant of Venice)
“If I be waspish, beware My sting.” (The Taming of th Shrew)
“Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.” (Coriolanus)
“If two men are riding on one horse, one must naturally ride behind.” (Much ado about nothing)
“Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane I cannot taint with fear.” (Macbeth)