The Summer Hunt of A.S. XXXII

For many years the Canton has held a Hunt to mark the end of summer. This has a deserved reputation for being a fun easy-going occasion - a fine opportunity to unwind with friends after a spring and summer full a more taxing demos and events. In the summer of A.S. XXXII, three fighters were at the Summer Hunt, along with five gentles; four who would play the dogs and one the Mistress of the Hounds. It was decided that each fighter in turn would be the beast while the all the others made up the hunting party.

The first to go was the Prince. He would be a bear, which if you have ever seen the prince, you would agree, took no stretch of the imagination. And saying he had never seen a bear with a shield, he declared that he would go single sword.

He made one stealthy bear. Great fun was had by all searching him out and seeking to engage such powerful prey in tight quarters. Three times he went out as the bear. And although he caused casualties among the hunters and the dogs most of those times, three times he was brought down. In all fairness, single sword against two fighters, one with sword & shield, one with spear (and add in the dogs too) made a really harsh fight for the bear.

The next fighter, visiting from a neighboring Barony, decided he would be a boar. And, not being as experienced as the prince, decided that he would go sword and shield. The initial search for the boar was long and thorough and unsuccessful. Unfortunately, there was some misunderstanding of the hunting area, and the boar was finally spotted well away from that area. On the other hand, the hunters and the dogs were, indeed, becoming bored. This settled (and the punster properly chastised) the hunt resumed and fun was had seeking the boar. Again the hunters were successful and a break was called.

Since the hunters had already fought a Bear and a Boar, both of whom had mostly hid from the hunters (with great skill) and (when found) had fought them head on, the third fighter thought it would be a nice change if next came a running beast. With no particular thought (and wearing a white surcoat), he declared that he would be the 'White Stag' and would also use single sword. The Prince thought that mythical beast a fine idea, and with the whole group in agreement, everyone settled down for a brief respite before resuming the hunt.

This done, the White Stag then entered the woods prepared to find the hunters ready and the dogs set to the search. To his great surprise, he found them instead all lounging where he had last seen them.

Since he was some distance down a pathway, the White Stag turned his back and waved his white surcoat.. er, tail, at the assembled group. This was too much for all to take, and as the men quickly re-helmed, the dogs, who were unchained, set straight to the stag.

And quickly learned what townsfolk often forget. Hunting the stag has long been held in great esteem not just because the stag is fine of form and tasty on the table. A healthy stag is also a formidable beast in its own right. Without their hunters, and arriving singly rather than as a pack, the first dogs were quickly overrun by the stag. The rest of the pack was much more cautious and kept their distance while still keeping sight of the stag.

With the hunters now approaching, it was time for the chase. The stag ran deeper into the woods, until he reached the nearby river. He hoped to work his way though the deeper brush there so that hunters and dogs alike would lose his trail. But one of the dogs was particularly effective, and the stag's movements were greatly slowed.

Soon the stag saw, in the direction he had hoped to go, the great shape of the Prince moving towards him through some difficult brush. The Stag, having better ground, turned and ran, bypassing the dog and surprising the other hunter. With a quick charge, and a quicker exchange of blows, the stag broke free from the encircling hunters and dogs while most of them were still slowed by the undergrowth.

Thinking that yet more of a chase would be needed to do honor to his request for protection, the White Stag doubled back and returned near to where the hunters had originally been resting. Soon he was spotted again, and the chase resumed. The White Stag ran first this way and then the next, attempting to keep heavier woods between himself and the hunters as he used the trails. Soon he found the hunters and dogs were again between him and the camp.

Finally, thinking he had passed back and forth through the woods a respectable number of times and given the hunters and their dogs a good chase (and expecting that everybody else was getting just as tired as he), the White Stag thought it time to head back to the ladies at the camp. And off he ran along open paths. But just as he got into sight of the encampment, one of the hunters cut off his path and the other hunter soon cut off his retreat. The dogs finished the circle.

The ladies quickly spotted the commotion and ran to the edge of the woods. The hunters were unaware of the agreement between the White Stag and the Ladies, and were determined to see their prey brought down after so much hard work. At first the hunter's marshal blocked the ladies advance and it looked as if, despite it all, the stag would not achieve the honor of the ladies' protection he had hoped for.

But the ladies were insistent and soon all was made clear. Now understanding that the ladies had not arrived merely to see the final dispatching of the beast, but instead, sought to protect it, the hunters graciously gave way and the grateful White Stag entered the encampment surrounded by the ladies.