As foretold by our forefathers and their forefathers before them, Ragnaroc has come to our shores and once again held been held at bay by the valiant efforts of a few brave warriors. At least, that is how I spent my weekend.
On June 27-30 of 2013, faithful followers of the Empire of Medieval Pursuits – otherwise known as the EMP – attended the XIth annual Ragnaroc fighting festival near Bellingham, Washington. It was a weekend of dueling, storming castles, forest skirmishes, and open field combat. In full armour. With swords, pikes, shields, axes, bows and cross-bows, war hammers, knives, maces, and just about anything else that might have done a knight, mercenary or beserker well on the medieval battlefield. It was glorious!
The highlight was Saturday when 50-60 armour-clad fighters – both men and women – staged six battles over 5 hours. First one group stormed the makeshift castle against another – then they reversed roles and fought again. Each battle was a relentless assault of arrows and pikes, battering rams and barriers, sword and shields against merciless opponents. The heat and exhaustion claimed several otherwise brave knights – nausea and dizziness forcing them to find shade before rising to fight again.
Then followed two full-scale battles in the depths of the woods. And then a fifth which involved the two groups attempting to take a bridge. The day finished with a final sixth open field assault.
Exhausting. All the while I watched from under cool shade with a cider in my hand, appraising the action and seeing what it means to fight as a group. I was thoroughly impressed with the ferocity, intensity, and sustained effort displayed. They hit hard. They charged at speed. They exchanged mighty blows. Occasionally someone was helped off the field, limping or head hanging down or favoring an arm.
I have trained what medieval re-creationists call “heavy combat”. In 40 lbs of armor, shield, helmet and sword, you do not move quite as quickly. The weight (and heat) can be oppressive. Despite the metal coverings, the strikes are very powerful. When I first started fighting heavy, I thought my many years of Dog Brothers experience – with no armor and full contact – would put me ahead on the learning curve. And to some degree it did help. But after only a few sessions of fighting, I came to realize that this was a whole different ball game
The striking and ranging were different. The use of shield was critical. The timing with the extra weight changed dramatically. And somehow it seemed harder. I held the best of the fighters in high regard. These were accomplished fighters with advanced combat skills.
So to watch all these valiant men and women throwing themselves into the fight with so much energy was to bring my casual experience of heavy dueling into a whole different realm. I had never gone into open field combat as a member of a cohort (I had blown an Achilles tendon about 12 months into the training and never returned to it). I could see the considerable focus, skill and strategy it demanded. And whole lot of nerve. Not to mention passion. And heart.
Later that night came the crowning event of the weekend – the Circle of Fire. To prevent the fire giant Sirtr from wreaking destruction down upon the world and ending it in the final apocalypse, the fighters strive to distract him from his purpose with a great show of individual combat. A fighter stands in a 30′ ring of flame as another advances upon him. They clash fiercely until one or the other is driven from the ring. Another fighter appears and enters the circle to continue the fight. One after another the fighters enter, meet in battle, and briefly become victors or are vanquished. The fighting continues until the flames have died back some 20-25 minutes later and all the fighters are exhausted and can do no more. At its end, it is acknowledged that Ragnaroc has not been visited upon us and we are all safe for another year.
This intense fighting is not just blade to blade – much of it with live steel. The fighters use flanged maces, two handed axes, battle claws, and ball-and-chain. They punch, drop-kick, grapple and throw. The hitting is hard. The blows at full power. A downed opponent is given no quarter.
I like it. These people know how to rock the medieval.
And afterward, the night festivities ensue with revelry, ribaldry, and raciness. A great way to spend the weekend.
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