Arontius of Bygelswade

.....Master Cedric arranged for Sir John Wolfstan to hold a fighting class today at the Silverdale Waterfront Park. It was well attended with fighters coming in from Blatha An Oir and Three Mountains. Sir Einar even made the trip from Three Mountains to attend. The fighters of Dragon's Laire were treated to some good lecture and fighting techniques from the Knights of An Tir. They soaked it all in eagerly and seemed to enjoy the class very well.

.....Here is a shot of Sir John at work:


.....TBT took a shot of all those from Dragon's Laire in attendance:


.....I didn't get a good shot or it, but as usual a goodly number of the Modern Public showed their fascination of watching the fighters in action.

.....We even had a good show from the Rapier Combatants of the Barony:


.....Here is a shot of the fighters at work on the Tourney Field that was Silverdale Waterfront Park:


.....Sir John, followed up by Sir Einar, touched on an item that both TBT and I found fascinating as a comparison between the work of what it takes to achieve and maintain Knighthood to that of the Laurels and the Pelicans. Amongst the fighters, and especially the Knights, it is O.K. to lose or fail in combat as it is all a learning experience. When another fighter lands a blow, the defeated can take what was done as a lesson on how to avoid that same blow in the future. He can even take that lesson as a way of attack in the future.

.....When a Laurel or Pelican creates, a failure in the process is often seen as that, a failure. The Laurel or Pelican loses face or favor as the person is supposed to learn the process first and then create the object or the event (or whatever). A failure is not seen as much of a learning process as the Knights see it.

.....This is something even more pronounced amongst the Pelican Community as when a Pelican 'fails' at a process, an event or office or function suffers directly from it. Others suffer from it. When a Knight loses a fight, it is much more of a personal loss and more directly impacts the fighter more than those around them. But I suppose a War Scenario would be an exception to that thought process.

.....It is an interesting comparison and those on the Pelican and Laurel departments could really learn much from watching how the Knights handle learning and loss.

.....I think it is also fascinating that the new direction Dragon's Laire is taking its Arts & Sciences (and Bardic) Championships is moving us as a group in this general direction. The Championship is focusing more on the process than on the final product. Therefore, a 'loss' or a failure is seen as another part of the process, to be taken in as part of the entire creation of the object.

.....It would be interesting to have this conversation with Madrun seeing as how she dislikes the 'Martiallate Method' of deciding a 'Victor' of Arts and Sciences. :-) We may be much closer to the Martiallate Community than we realize. :-)

.....I'd certainly like to hear more on this from those smarter and more articulate than I. It would be a very interesting and exciting conversation.

.....Aaron / Arontius.