Disclaimer: The views, endorsements and opinions expressed in the “Ratatosk” are not necessarily those of  the New Varangian Guard [Vlachernai Garrison] or those of the New Varangian Guard Inc. [NSW].

THE 24 HOUR SIEGE that was to be held at the Ringfort on  9-11 March has been postponed to a later date and in its place, we have arranged to hold a PROJECTILE COMBAT DAY on Sunday 10 March.
The Venue - “The Poplars”, 1335 Plenty Road, Mernda. [Melway Ref - map 390 G13]
Start time   - 10 am.                        Costs - Nil.                    BYO - Everything [Water, food, etc.]
NVG Inc. Projectile Combat Rules will apply.
Some spare Projectile Combat helms, arrows, javelins and rocks will be available but if you have extra gear, it would be most appreciated if you could bring it along.
NB: Could Vlachernai members please make arrangements to arrive before 10am, so as to help with the  setting up of the event.

For further details:- contact Sven on 94704601[a/h] or 94791758 [b/h]

Coming events:
10 March - Projectile Combat Day - Mernda - Vlachernai.
29 March-1 April - NEMAS Easter Gathering - Armidale, NSW.
June[Queen’s Birthday] - The Gathering - Corryong. Details TBA.
June - [Route March] “Walk Against Want”. Details TBA.
October - Laurel Hut Event, Canberra - Ancient Arts Fellowship - Details TBA.
17-22 April 2003 - XII Australasian Medieval Conference - Porepunkah, Vic. Details TBA.

EXTRA INFO:
- The Armidale Easter Gathering -  Costs -  Prepaid - 4 days - $75.00 [until 4 March]
            Pay at Gate        - $100.00.
      Saturday only  - $40.00 [at gate]
         - $30.00 [prepaid]
      Sunday only  - $60.00 [at gate]
         - $45.00 [prepaid]
      Children -12-16  - half price.
      Children - under 12 - free.
For further details and payments, contact NEMAS - P.O.Box U23, U.N.E. NSW. 2351.
Telephone - 67715556 [Talisien] or 67713524 [Linda].
email - nemas9@hotmail.com  website - http://metz.une.edu.au/~gpostha2
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Full contact chess:
On Wednesday 26 February, I went along to Latrobe Uni and joined the members of the Latrobe Historical Re-enactment Society in their inaugural Full Contact Chess Event.
The event, which was part of the University’s orientation activities, was held on the central lawn area of The Agora and drew a large crowd of interested [and vocal] spectators.
The actual chessboard was made up of large coloured cardboard squares which had a habit of moving when the wind got hold of them. This problem was rectified in a typically university-style way - they held the squares down with cans of beer!
After the organisers had allocated the major “pieces” with their particular roles [I was one of the black Knights] and had filled the remaining gaps with volunteers from the audience, the sides were introduced to the crowd by commentators from the Channel 31 “Rumpus Room” program. [Who were also filming the event]
The proceedings were supposed to be scripted but, at this point, it was discovered that the whoever had typed up the script had omitted half of the instructions and the script was unworkable. So the decision was made to “ad lib” and the game commenced. The first action was a massive skirmish between the black and the white pawns, which swept most of them from the board and cleared the way for the battle of the major pieces. Where two armoured players came together, proper combat took place but if one of the players was unarmoured then there was a lot of noise but no real weight in the blows.
The “slain” pieces were carried from the field by a pair of very well turned out stretcher-bearers, who were doing an excellent job until they attempted to carry me off after I lost my bout with Stuart Laird. After an extremely valiant effort on the part of the stretcher-bearers, it was decided that as they couldn’t lift me onto the stretcher, let alone carry me off, that I could come back to life and rejoin the game. So the game continued with some good combats and much stirring by the commentators and barracking from the spectators. Fortunes for both sides were very even, although on occasions, the Rules of Chess did seem to be open to somewhat more casual interpretations. I got my own back on Stuart when,  the “Black” team captain used a rather unorthodox knight’s move which brought us together. Not long after this the game degenerated into chaos and both the team captains turned all their remaining pieces loose on the commentators who, wisely, beat a hasty retreat. While there are still some bugs to be ironed out and the organisers are taking steps to remedy them, all in all I had a great time. I will definitely be attending this event when it is held next and I would recommend that Vlachernai members make every effort to take part.
Many thanks to all the members of the Latrobe Historical Re-enactment Society for their hospitality.
                      Kveldulf.

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havamal - The sayings of the vikings:
 

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This page was last update on the 4th June 2004

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