"He that respects himself is safe from others; he wears a coat of mail that none can pierce."
                -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Author Topic: Mae govannen!  (Read 13581 times)

Greg

  • Guest
Mae govannen!
« on: 2011-07-26, 16:46:42 »
Greetings!

I found my way here via Wolf, who just recently joined the forum that I most regularly frequent.

I am more a re-creator than a reenactor, buit more often than not, they are one in the same, I think.  I am a Member of the Middle Earth Ranger Forum, and a staff writer for the Middle Earth Reenactment Society.  We work to potray from as historical a viewpoint as possible, the cultures and races of Middle Earth.  All of our gear is intended to be functional, from sharp blades to cooking gear.  We build up working Ranger kits and trek in the wilds wherever we may be, and essentially do primitive backpacking trips in the backcountry as the Dunedain Rangers of the North.  Everything is inspired by the books first, before we look to the movies for ideas, as we wish to maintain Tolkien authenticity through everything.

I am a student of Western Martial arts, my preferred fields of study being the tower fetbuch I.33 and the german system.  I pride myself in having handmade everything in my kit apart from my blades and my current bow, though I do make bows and other archery equipment.  The only thing in my kit that isn't functional is the maill shirt I made, which is butted.  I wear it for the weight, but am in the middle of making flat-riveted mille from scratch, so hopefully that'll be replaced within the next decade.  I hunt regularly in my Ranger kit, both with my bow as well as with my hawk, as I am a licensed Falconer.  I make a mean jackrabbit stew, but can happily live on dried meats and cram.

It's all very much a learning experience; I get something new out of it every time I go out.  Though I wouldn't call myself a knight, persay, as there is no evidence in Tolkien to suggest that there was a chivalric heirarchy within the exiled peoples of Numenor residing in the north of Eriador, the exiled numenoreans were very much of nobility, so I'd imagine that they all would be required to follow a form of code.  "All that is gold does not glitter...and I suppose that not all who are knights wear plate and ride warhorses.

So there you have it.  I'm looking forward to seeing what I can't learn from you all!  If anyone is interested in Middle Earth Reenactment, see the link above, and also feel free to look up the Middle Earth Reenactment Society, which covers all Races of Middle Earth, both on Facebook under that title and at the following blog: http://thewildlotr.blogspot.com/ which is our online publication, featuring articles and discussion.

Cheers!

-Greg


Sir James A

  • Weapons & Armor addict
  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 6,043
Re: Mae govannen!
« Reply #1 on: 2011-07-26, 16:55:05 »
Falconry hunting sounds epic. Welcome to the forums!
Knight, Order of the Marshal
Sable, a chevron between three lions statant Argent

Sir Edward

  • Forum Admin
  • Commander of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 9,340
  • Verum et Honorem.
    • ed.toton.org
Re: Mae govannen!
« Reply #2 on: 2011-07-26, 18:30:04 »

Our forum's first falconer. :)

Welcome aboard!
Sir Ed T. Toton III
Knight Commander, Order of the Marshal

( Personal Site | My Facebook )

Sir William

  • Cogito ergo sum
  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 7,154
Re: Mae govannen!
« Reply #3 on: 2011-07-26, 18:52:31 »
Welcome to the forums, Ranger.
The Black Knight, Order of the Marshal
'Per Pale Azure and Sable, a Chevron counterchanged fimbriated argent.' 
“Pride makes a man, it drives him, it is the shield wall around his reputation.  Men die, but reputation does not.â€

Sir Wolf

  • He Who is Not to be Named
  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 5,389
  • i have too many hats
    • man e faces
Re: Mae govannen!
« Reply #4 on: 2011-07-26, 22:29:24 »
huzzah! welcome

Sir Patrick

  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Acolyte
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,647
  • Nex pro inhonesto, Deus pro totus.
    • The Order of the Marshal
Re: Mae govannen!
« Reply #5 on: 2011-07-27, 03:57:39 »
Welcome, good sir!
Gules, a chevron argent between three cinquefoils ermine.
"Better to live one day as a lion, than a thousand as a lamb."
Knight, Order of the Marshal

Sir Gerard de Rodes

  • "Chivalry our Strength, Brotherhood our sword"
  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Acolyte
  • ****
  • Posts: 816
  • Robor meum Deus
    • The Freemen Of Gwent
Re: Mae govannen!
« Reply #6 on: 2011-07-27, 20:28:32 »
Greetings and welcome Greg
G.
"War is at first like a beautiful girl with whom all men long to play,but in the end like a repulsive hag whose suitors all weep and ache" Samuel Hanagid (993-1056)

Greg

  • Guest
Re: Mae govannen!
« Reply #7 on: 2011-07-28, 08:14:17 »
Thanks, folks!

I'm surprised at the overall shortage of Falconers found in the medieval community.  I was interested in Falconry long before I was interested in reenactment, but you'd just think, with how much time and effort reenactors have a tendency to spend on their stuff, that Falconry would find its way into many reenactor's lives.

However, I suppose I am thankful for the shortage.  Asking that a person devote a solid hours daily to feeding, exercising, and handling of a wild bird is a lot to demand, and that is the bare minimum that one should put into the sport.  All we need are a bunch of Falconers that practice the sport poorly and make it all look bad.  I suppose I just answered my own curiosity there then...it makes sense why it's so scarce.  It still seems surprising, all the same.  I'm honored to be the first in this wonderful looking little community!

Sir Edward

  • Forum Admin
  • Commander of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 9,340
  • Verum et Honorem.
    • ed.toton.org
Re: Mae govannen!
« Reply #8 on: 2011-07-28, 13:27:40 »

Yeah, I think that's exactly it. The level of commitment is huge, and not everyone lives in the right kind of place. I live in a townhouse surrounded by shopping centers and more townhouses, for example. No yard, just a driveway. I can't even find a good spot to get out and practice my sword-work.
Sir Ed T. Toton III
Knight Commander, Order of the Marshal

( Personal Site | My Facebook )

Sir Wolf

  • He Who is Not to be Named
  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 5,389
  • i have too many hats
    • man e faces
Re: Mae govannen!
« Reply #9 on: 2011-07-28, 15:45:38 »

Yeah, I think that's exactly it. The level of commitment is huge, and not everyone lives in the right kind of place. I live in a townhouse surrounded by shopping centers and more townhouses, for example. No yard, just a driveway. I can't even find a good spot to get out and practice my sword-work.

there used to be ;)

Sir Edward

  • Forum Admin
  • Commander of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • *****
  • Posts: 9,340
  • Verum et Honorem.
    • ed.toton.org
Re: Mae govannen!
« Reply #10 on: 2011-07-28, 16:51:56 »

You mean that field at the end of the street? Yeah, that's been a business park for about 9 years or so now.
Sir Ed T. Toton III
Knight Commander, Order of the Marshal

( Personal Site | My Facebook )

Sir Rodney

  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Acolyte
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,118
  • Inquit Corvus
    • The Mercenary Company Nevermore
Re: Mae govannen!
« Reply #11 on: 2011-08-01, 16:46:17 »
Thanks, folks!

I'm surprised at the overall shortage of Falconers found in the medieval community.  I was interested in Falconry long before I was interested in reenactment, but you'd just think, with how much time and effort reenactors have a tendency to spend on their stuff, that Falconry would find its way into many reenactor's lives.

However, I suppose I am thankful for the shortage.  Asking that a person devote a solid hours daily to feeding, exercising, and handling of a wild bird is a lot to demand, and that is the bare minimum that one should put into the sport.  All we need are a bunch of Falconers that practice the sport poorly and make it all look bad.  I suppose I just answered my own curiosity there then...it makes sense why it's so scarce.  It still seems surprising, all the same.  I'm honored to be the first in this wonderful looking little community!
Well met Greg!  Your kit is fantastic, and falconry is the pinnacle of knightly sports!

The huge demand on a person's time surely contributes to the lack of falconry today.  The one falconer I know personally was my SCUBA instructor and he didn't care for medieval or middle earth reenactment at all.  He simply enjoyed the hunt with his birds.  Looking back, I wonder how he had the time to run a SCUBA shop and hunt regularly.  Lack of sleep I guess.  ;)
"Oh, what sad times are these when passing ruffians can say Ni at will to old ladies. There is a pestilence upon this land, nothing is sacred. Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress in this period in history." - Roger the Shrubber

Sir William

  • Cogito ergo sum
  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 7,154
Re: Mae govannen!
« Reply #12 on: 2011-08-02, 14:46:23 »
Greg, have you seen this?

http://bornofhope.com/

I watched it yesterday...I thought it very well done.  I'm going to create a thread about it in the Library.
The Black Knight, Order of the Marshal
'Per Pale Azure and Sable, a Chevron counterchanged fimbriated argent.' 
“Pride makes a man, it drives him, it is the shield wall around his reputation.  Men die, but reputation does not.â€

Sir Brian

  • Knight of the Order
  • Forum Veteran
  • ****
  • Posts: 4,735
  • Felix uxor beatam vitam - Happy Wife Happy Life
    • Order of the Marshal
Re: Mae govannen!
« Reply #13 on: 2011-08-04, 14:29:15 »
Greetings Greg and welcome to the forum! Sorry for my late welcome but I've been on vacation and extremely busy at work since returning!

I think your kit is most excellent and surpassed you being a licensed Falconer!
Most especially cool! :)
"Chivalry our Strength, Brotherhood our sword"
Vert, on a Chief wavy Argent a Rose Sable,
a Gryphon Segreant Or

[img width=100 height=100]
<a href="http://s221.photobucket.com/user/Tah908/media/LP_Medals_zpsq7zzdvve.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i221.photobucket.

Sir Ulrich

  • Squire of the Order
  • Forum Acolyte
  • ***
  • Posts: 1,177
Re: Mae govannen!
« Reply #14 on: 2011-08-17, 03:29:17 »
Welcome to the forums Ranger. You sound like you do a lot of interesting things, good to have you aboard.