Newcomer's Pas Notice

Order of the Argent Bear
Newcomers' Pas - Notice

The Newcomer's Event

Challenge Tourney

What's the point:

The point is, in a word, renown. Put another way: to gain respect and notice by proving honor and skill. Of course that's the goal of most SCA tourneys, but period tourneys and this near-period challenge tourney, are designed to focus equally on honor and victory. A traditional double elimination tourney puts more focus on victory: if you lose two, you're out and you can't prove your honor or skill any further. A challenge tourney is a bit like a bear-pit with style: you fight as much as you want, as long as the tourney lasts. But instead of tromping onto the field when you're next in line, you get to pick your opponent, the weapons and the style of combat. In period tourneys the challenge itself becomes part of the pageantry of the event.

The tourney wraps up - not with the fighting - but with a discussion of the deeds of the day over food and ale (or whatever passes for ale at a dry site). A good tourney provides everyone with the opportunity to prove their honor and skill. The feast provides everyone with an opportunity to publicly recognize that honor and skill. And it's a chance for some good story telling if anybody is of a mind to make a story about one of their fights.

So in short - if you're big on rewards - the point is to fight so well and with such honor that everybody feels compelled to praise you during the feast. Of course, honorable well-fought combat, and lots of it, is usually enough reward for any fighter.

Well, that's not actually all of the point. Since this is a newcomer's event, the point is also to show off the pageantry, honor, challenge and fun of SCA combat.

How this is all supposed to work:

A challenge tourney involves three main groups:

The Gallery - All the non-fighters who watch the challenges and the combats. The gallery almost always includes the ladies and lords of the fighters in the tourney as well as others. For this event, the gallery is everybody who wants to join it. The gallery really doesn't have a job as such; but it is their place to help judge the honor and skill of the fighters. For this tourney, everyone in the gallery will have ten ribbons, which they can bestow on fighters as they see fit in order to recognize note-worthy deeds. If you have questions about the gallery, talk to Sir Georg, Lord Alfonso, or, at the event, the Marshal of Honor for the tourney.

The Company - This is the group that receives the challenges. For this tourney, the company is made up, initially, of all the Knights fighting in the tourney. They will be near the field so that they can both receive challenges and observe other bouts. They may choose to invite other, unbelted, fighters to join the company for a while. Most likely they will do this to increase the company's size so that there are enough fighters in the company to receive challenges without overburdening the company and to recognize a particular fighter's honor and skill. Sir Georg has other notes for the company - any Knight who plans to attend the event is invited to contact him for more information.

The Challengers - Everyone who is fighting, but is not part of the company. The challengers choose their opponents from the company (not from the other challengers) and, yep, make a challenge. In many period tourneys a full round of challenges are made (one from each challenger) before any bouts are fought. For this tourney, each challenge will be fought as soon as it is made. The method of challenging is pretty straight-forward; it is described briefly below and will be explained/discussed at the event just before the tourney starts.

Making a Challenge:

The Shields - There will be challenge shields hanging beside the list field so that, when making a challenge, the appropriate shield(s) can be struck. There will be one shield for each of the combat forms: single, barrier, and melee; and one shield for each of the three counted blow choices: three, five, and seven.

The Challenge - The challenges themselves can be very simple. At the shortest, the challenger needs to state five things: their own name, the name of their opponent, the form of combat (see below), the weapons and the count of blows. More involved challenges, with reasons or quotations, are very period and are encouraged.

The Choices - There are three main forms of combat, a choice of weapons, and the option to use counted blows:

Single Combat - Single combat on a standard list field. All weapons are appropriate.

Barrier - Single combat at a waist high wooden barrier. Shields are not used at the barrier but single sword, spear and pole axe are all excellent choices for weapons.

Melee - Group combat. The challenger first states who makes up their team for this fight and may then either name the opposing team 'all of the Knights', etc) or name a single opponent, who will then form their own team. Period melees were often single sword.

Weapons - There are no shields to strike to indicate the choice of weapons. The challenger should state their choice of weapons as part of the challenge. There are no overall restrictions on weapons choices except that shields are not used at the barrier. It is traditional and preferred for weapons to be matched - sword&shield vs sword&shield, pole-arm vs pole-arm, etc.

Counted Blows - Counted Blows are only used for single and barrier combat. Instead of the standard SCA fight until 'dead', period tourneys often used counted blows. The challenger may call for combat to a count of three, five or seven blows. The resulting combat is fought until one fighter has struck their opponent that number of blows. The fighters, as usual, call their own blows, but the Marshal of Honor may be asked keep a count of the blows. Standard SCA blow-calling may also be used instead.

The Marshal of Honor - Someone who's not fighting that day will act as Marshal of Honor. They will handle all the details of what order people fight in, the counting of blows when asked, and any other issues that arise during the tourney itself.

After the Fighting:

The Discussion - The discussion at feast was a traditional time to tell tales of the day's fighting, to praise others whose honor and courage had impressed you, and to pose questions about honor and chivalry. By the way, it is not the place to bring up a complaint about a fighter - that should be handled on the field during the day. Everyone, fighter and non-fighter is encouraged to participate. Peers especially are encouraged to comment as befits their rank and leadership. Those who have received the greatest numbers of ribbons will be recognized.

Other Notes:

Banners and Heralds - It is very, very period for each fighter to have pennants, banners and heralds at the tourney. We are not making a point of it for this tourney, but everyone is encouraged to bring any heraldic banners or pennants they have. And if you want to hire or arrange for a herald to announce your presence and praise your deeds, well that's very period too.

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Comments or questions should be mailed to truffa@alaska.net , please include the words 'Argent Bear' in the subject line.