Scarburg Meadhall Discussion Thread - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Folwren · 08-16-2008, 05:31 PM

They would have practicing blades, folks. Blunted without points, but properly balanced, most likely. It's definitely do-able.

I don't care what we do with the boys. I was hoping someone (other than me) would decide what Garstan said to them.

Can someone really throw a javelin or spear 50 feet?

Quarter staff fighting sounds like tons of fun. I did that this summer with another friend. She and I really got into it. I got bloody fingers, and a banged head once. It was quite enjoyable.

-- Folwren

littlemanpoet · 08-17-2008, 05:56 AM

How many of Scarburg's women will take part in these traditionally manly games? Are there women's games that might be thought of? Or other such games, like what might be good for kids?

Nogrod · 08-17-2008, 08:47 AM

The kid's games... someone I think suggested running and that sounds good. Also, they have been practising archery the last few weeks so they should show people what they have learned. But no wrestling, please. I think they have had enough of that already...

One possible event could be that old game where two people face each other standing on a log that has ben hoisted up (like a meter or something) and they have heavy sacks as weapons trying to stay on the log and make the other fall. I can't remember the English name for it but I hope you know the sport. In that there might be a female competition as well.

Maybe something like dagger-throwing for the women or something? I mean at least I think the rohanian society was quite a traditional one in respect to male and female roles - with possible exceptions like that of Eowyn - and so the female "games" should be less dangerous and possibly less physical or aiming less to physical damage in the first place.

How about a competition which would include different tasks to perform? I mean tasks that would require agility, firmness of hand, wit and such. It might even be a game for all (also males and kids) as there might be interesting results. The tasks could be something like climbing to get a required object, pebble-throwing, building from pieces of wood a tower of a required height so that it doesn't collapse, figuring out any sort of puzzles, running/crawling/jumping through a track with different obstacles etc.

Or something like that.

Folwren · 08-17-2008, 10:06 AM

Whatever games there are for women to do, I imagine they would be designed for the woman to be wearing a dress/skirt - so no climbing could be involved. I kind of doubt that they would be included in any game with weapons (including the knife throwing). I don't remember reading any story wherein a woman took part in any tournament or games. Usually they sit by and be boring.

Not to say we can't break the rules a bit.

What about board games, like Nine Men's Morris?

No time for more suggestions just now...

Feanor of the Peredhil · 08-17-2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Folwren

I don't remember reading any story wherein a woman took part in any tournament or games. Usually they sit by and be boring.

You should look up Tamora Pierce's novels. Not necessarily realistic, but there are women in combat. Very few female knights (ahem... two.), but the queen's ladies, for example, are highly skilled at archery and such...

In any case, something I read a few years back stuck with me. The scenario was that the castle was under siege and some of the kids were freaking out that there weren't very many men around. Somebody says something about how once when pirates attacked, her aunt had barrels of lard lit and catapulted at the ships. The response was something like, "As any well-reared noblewoman would do."

It stuck with me because it reminds me that even if women aren't classically trained for combat the way men are, they would not be exactly helpless when it came to battle and strategy: they would have at least overheard a lot of what the men knew; couple that with a strong portion of common sense and can you imagine the ire of the matriarch of any family? I for one pity people who draw my mom's wrath. 'Helpless' is not in the vocabulary of most women, particularly way back when. Imagine, for example, Frodidas's prowess with a broom and cooking pot if somebody messed with her kitchen. She would also be well acquainted with what burns easily and what would make the enemies' food spoil if somebody could slip unnoticed into the rival camp. That's certainly a terrifying power. Hungry men don't fight as well.

Women, though perhaps not trained to go out riding on the front lines, would be well acquainted with domestic abilities which could easily be used creatively for defense or offense.

Not that it pertains exactly to a day of manly games... I just wanted to point out that though women were supposed to sit nearby and be boring, when it came right down to it, they were pretty freaking awesome.

But bearing in mind that this is Rohan: the women can ride, and therefore they could race if it was okay for them to do so. Anybody know if it would be acceptable for them to take part in that?

Ooh!

Idea!

Can we have a game of riddles?

Pretty please?

littlemanpoet · 08-17-2008, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feanor of the Peredhil

Ooh!

Idea!

Can we have a game of riddles?

Pretty please?

I had the same thought. We really should. Let that happen around the bonfire after the sun goes down.

08-16-2008, 05:31 PM	#1
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	They would have practicing blades, folks. Blunted without points, but properly balanced, most likely. It's definitely do-able. I don't care what we do with the boys. I was hoping someone (other than me) would decide what Garstan said to them. Can someone really throw a javelin or spear 50 feet? Quarter staff fighting sounds like tons of fun. I did that this summer with another friend. She and I really got into it. I got bloody fingers, and a banged head once. It was quite enjoyable. -- Folwren __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis

08-17-2008, 08:47 AM	#3
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	The kid's games... someone I think suggested running and that sounds good. Also, they have been practising archery the last few weeks so they should show people what they have learned. But no wrestling, please. I think they have had enough of that already... One possible event could be that old game where two people face each other standing on a log that has ben hoisted up (like a meter or something) and they have heavy sacks as weapons trying to stay on the log and make the other fall. I can't remember the English name for it but I hope you know the sport. In that there might be a female competition as well. Maybe something like dagger-throwing for the women or something? I mean at least I think the rohanian society was quite a traditional one in respect to male and female roles - with possible exceptions like that of Eowyn - and so the female "games" should be less dangerous and possibly less physical or aiming less to physical damage in the first place. How about a competition which would include different tasks to perform? I mean tasks that would require agility, firmness of hand, wit and such. It might even be a game for all (also males and kids) as there might be interesting results. The tasks could be something like climbing to get a required object, pebble-throwing, building from pieces of wood a tower of a required height so that it doesn't collapse, figuring out any sort of puzzles, running/crawling/jumping through a track with different obstacles etc. Or something like that. __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet...

08-17-2008, 10:06 AM	#4
Folwren Messenger of Hope Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a tiny, insignificant little town in one of the many States. Posts: 5,076	Whatever games there are for women to do, I imagine they would be designed for the woman to be wearing a dress/skirt - so no climbing could be involved. I kind of doubt that they would be included in any game with weapons (including the knife throwing). I don't remember reading any story wherein a woman took part in any tournament or games. Usually they sit by and be boring. Not to say we can't break the rules a bit. What about board games, like Nine Men's Morris? No time for more suggestions just now... __________________ A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading. - C.S. Lewis

08-17-2008, 05:56 AM	#2
littlemanpoet Itinerant Songster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: The Edge of Faerie Posts: 7,066	How many of Scarburg's women will take part in these traditionally manly games? Are there women's games that might be thought of? Or other such games, like what might be good for kids?