From the Frontlines: Banner War XV

OK, yes, Banner War was a fair bit back. If I'd used period means to send the report most of my loyal readers (both of you) would have gotten it already.

I fought for the Red Plague, which last year issued an appeal to the households to fight under their own banners, as Banner War had become a nearly bi-partisan event. Their plea was heeded, and quite a few banners from households great and small flew over the war.

I actually won a pair of warpoints, one for Best Death in Rapier and one for Best Story in Bardic.

The Best Death: I was stabbed in the neck, and grabbed my opponent's blade. He slowly shoved forward all the way to the hilt (always nice when they play along). I dropped to my knees, and he walked off, commenting that he didn't NEED his sword anymore. I fell to the ground, slowly pulling the blade from my neck... and he came back and collected his sword. :-)

Best Story: we were challenged to make all our Bardic pieces involve the number 15 (being Banner War XV), and we had to keep them under three minutes. I announced that I refused to use the required number, and told the following story.

"I first heard this tales year ago, when I was a little less than half my current age of 31 years. It happened in the 1400's, or perhaps the following century. There was a war between three lords, and to negotiate a peace they decided to meet in a clearing between 14 and 16 miles from the nearest town. To avoid treachery, each would come accompanied only by four of his knights. And on the appointed day these three lords each with their four knights, totaling twelve knights and three lords, met upon the chosen ground. Now this clearing was marked by an ancient Roman statue. No one knew who it might be, for the only writing that remained upon it were the letters 'XV'. The lords negotiated for half a day and three hours more, and finally decided that the forty-five square miles of land would be divided equally between them. Thus was forged a peace that lasted until the six year old son of one of the lords turned twenty-one and inherited his father's title, whereupon he began a war that lasted for a score less five years. But that is another story."

I also sang several verses of "Fight for the Banners of Scarlet" in honor of the Red Plague.