RE : Loskalmi contests

Right, like watching a bunch of Meldek poofters who are so scared of getting scratched that they cover themselves in armour so that their own fathers couldn't recognize them, that is IF they even know who their fathers are that is, could come close to the excitement of the cheese roll, the Thunder Brothers tussle, tossing the caber, lifting the Vogarth Stone, the Bull Roar and sampling all the goodies the women make! Not to forget tasting the mead and ale. I'll take the camaraderie and rough and tumble fun we have over some over organized foreign contest run by a bunch of buggerers any day, any time!  

Branbrig Slayer, Clan Champion of the Amber Clan  

Oliver  

PS Vogarth Stones are found in many tulas, even those that aren't old enough to have been around when Vogarth lived. These are invariably a series of stones that range in weight from heavy to bloody heavy to impossibly heavy. Tradition says that Vogarth was able to lift all these stones and would be clan strong men compete on Plow Blessing Day and other special occasions to see who can lift the heaviest one.  

Rumours that these are just the stones removed from the fields for plowing are of course completely true.  

The Bull Roar is a contest engaged in by Uroxi to see who can yell the loudest (sort of like pig calling I guess). The deafened contestants/judges/spectators then spend the rest of the market wandering around saying "What?" a lot.
-----Original Message-----
From: TTrotsky_at_A7u8AAifgrQ9CsMR6wRVQlLwCuBbZSIn0zhmXy3bRdLxpo7sM9PFDtp0sZcBxg4X84p.yahoo.invalid [mailto:TTrotsky_at_A7u8AAifgrQ9CsMR6wRVQlLwCuBbZSIn0zhmXy3bRdLxpo7sM9PFDtp0sZcBxg4X84p.yahoo.invalid] Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2001 3:33 AM
To: HeroWars_at_yahoogroups.com
Subject: [HeroWars] Re: Issaries Competition

In a message dated 16/08/01 08:52:05 GMT Daylight Time, HeroWars_at_yahoogroups.com writes:

<< And of course all the crafting contests (Gustbran, Minlister, Ernalda),
ploughing the straightest furrows (Barntar), feats of strength (Vogarth the Strong Man), aerial acrobatics (Vanganth the Flyer, or maybe even skywriting

using smoky torches...just kidding), declamation or debates (Lhankor Mhy), music and poetry competitions (various deities), tall tale telling (Issaries), etc. >>

     Of course, we Loskalmi do all of this already,. and what's more, we do it *properly*. Annual fairs, with all the organisation and judging handled by
the authorities, to test the skills of the farmer class. Those who do well earn the right for social promotion, giving a real incentive to excel rather

than merely boosting unseemly pride or handing out a few magic trinkets or whatever you barbarians do.

     And, of course, it doesn't stop there. For those who have already been knighted we have tournaments, which are far more exciting and splendid than watching a couple of tattooed louts chucking rocks across a field. Of course,
the Seshnelans hold tournaments too, but theirs aren't as nice as ours, not by a long way. Not only do ours look much better, with parades and decorated

stands for the spectators, but we take proper safety precautions, so as not to waste the flower of chivalry before they have the chance to protect us from a real enemy. They're fun for all the family, too, and a great day out for the local farmers. Its not just the contestants who stand to gain social

advance at these events, either - its a wonderful opportunity for single women to meet young knights, evaluate their skill at arms and to chat and dance in a suitably decorous and chaperoned environment at the formal balls in the evenings.

      So, once again, the Loskalmi Way shows itself superior to barbarous paganism. Huzzah!

Trotsky

Yahoo! Groups Sponsor

ADVERTISEMENT  
<http://rd.yahoo.com/M=211550.1562866.3121829.1261774/D=egroupweb/S=17050571
47:HM/A=763352/R=0/*http://www.classmates.com/index.tf?s=5085>  

<http://us.adserver.yahoo.com/l?M=211550.1562866.3121829.1261774/D=egroupmai
l/S=1705057147:HM/A=763352/rand=510217782>

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
<http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]             Received on Thu 16 Aug 2001 - 07:37:04 EEST