Swords, Kilts, and Music

The surest signs that summer is here are when meandering wooded paths become lined with canvas tents, sections are corded off for the encampments, the clang of steel intermingles with the melodies of the wandering minstrels, some in armor and some in kilts.

It's faire season - Renaissance Faires - there is much food, music, drinking, and merry making, but it is also a great place to do research. The photo is one taken by me of a live steel combat fight at the Derbyshire Faire a couple of years ago. The fighters are highly trained members of the Swords of Valour who will fight in almost any weather. These are unchoreographed sword fights which make for great watching and breath taking moments like this one (yes, he really bent backwards in nearly half to miss getting his head sliced off) but you can get a since of the abilities, knowledge, and reflexes your charecters need in order to pull these fight scenes off. (Flamingo, the man in the yellow shirt - is now in the army and fighting in Iraq.) Being called "My Lady" doesn't hurt either.

Last weekend, the Mayfaire Ren Faire opened it's gates and I went back and saw several of the sword fights, paying attention to the weapons used as well as language and actions when members of the 'nobility' were present. And I came away with more story and character ideas and another fight scene.