Morning Court
Everyone participating in the day is invited to sit in one block in morning court, after which we will parade back to camp.
Intro Melees
The day begins after morning court with two melees, first for heavy, then for C&T. Duration of each melee depends on number of participants.
On the heavy field, all combatants shall wield two-handed weapons. When struck in any fashion, combatants shall yield, return to their banner, salute the judges, and enter the fray anew.
On the C&T field, all combatants shall wield one-handed weapons, per the experimental project rules. When struck in any fashion, combatants shall yield, return to their banner, salute the judges, and enter the fray anew. A reminder that any wishing to participate in C&T melees must have been authorized in C&T for more than one year, per Society.
Procession
Following the melees, all attendees may present themselves to the judges and assembled populace to display their attire, arms, and supporting documentation. Attendees are encouraged to self-critique and optionally ask for input and suggestions.
Open Field
Following the procession, the field will be open for individuals to stand their own challenges with their own conditions for victory. On both heavy and C&T fields will be provided grounds for open field, barrier and pass. Interspersed with individual challenges will be a number of challenges presented in advance so that participants may prepare. Interested participants may lay their challenges in advance, here, by contacting the camp host.
Remember that the pas d’armes existed to lay martial challenges, but also to show off one’s hospitality! Bring a challenge and offer tokens of esteem to those who would dare face you on the field. Lay a table and break bread with those who have tested your worth, weapon to weapon. This is our day to celebrate the joy of combat and the chivalric virtues around it; everything you bring to the day only makes it better.
Sir Geoffrey’s Spear Challenge
Bouts shall be fought between spears for both heavy and rapier. For both styles, two rope rectangles shall be placed adjacent and combatants must remain within their rectangles. Each blow that lands from an opponent’s spear counts as one point, as does stepping outside the rope or on the rope between combatants. The first one to three points yields the bout.
The tourney format of both fields will be determined by the number of entrants to each.
For the heavy list, bouts shall be fought with 9 foot spears in 9×11 rectangles, joined on the 9 foot side.
For the C&T list, bouts shall be fought with 8 foot spears in 9×10 rectangles, joined on the 9 foot side. Remember that rapier spears are experimental, so please try to get authorized with them in advance if you wish to enter this tourney.
Sir John’s Ransom Melee
There will be multiple rounds of these melees, alternating between heavy and C&T. The first round for each field shall be for ransom and subsequent rounds shall be for the joy of combat. A reminder that any wishing to participate in C&T melees must have been authorized in C&T for more than one year, per Society.
Gifts of consequence will be acceptable for entrance to this grand melee. We put our bodies to the hazard for a worthy prize. Weapons, jewelry, fabric, armor, similar plunder, and riches will be suitable. Consider your rank and station and prepare a ransom that befits your worth, be you man-at-arms, noble, peer, or royal family.
On the heavy field, fighters shall trade blows from two-handed weapons as if in full armor and generally impervious to blows. Three blows to the helmet in succession, or one blow to a bar grill, shall be grounds for a combatant to yield.
On the C&T field, fighters shall trade blows from one-handed weapons as if in full armor and generally impervious to blows. Three blows to a helmet in succession or one blow to a mask or perf plate visor shall be grounds for a combatant to yield.
Should the victor escort the yielding combatant in a timely manner to their own banner without hindrance nor rescue, the yielding combatant must forfeit ransom. The terms are between combatants: the victor might accept a lesser ransom on the condition that the yielding combatant then assist them for the remainder of the melee or all subsequent melees, while a greater ransom might release the yielding combatant to their freedom.
Elfsea Defender Event
Everyone is encouraged to leave camp as desired to participate in Elfsea Defender and the event’s activities.
In the afternoon, after everyone is exhausted from fighting all day in pas kits, the camp will be opened to the event at large for anyone curious about immersive camps, period arming recreation, accurate garb, etc.
Closing
The field will remain open until combat comes to a natural stopping point. The virtue judges shall then present victory tokens to those combatants on each field who have best demonstrated the virtue for which they stand. The historic judges will present prizes for best heavy kit, best C&T kit, best male civilian kit, and best female civilian kit. The overall winner for both the heavy and C&T fields shall be chosen by acclaim of the combatants.