We're Nuts

Now I realize that people have been questioning my sanity for years, but I'm beginning to think it's not just me. In fact, most northern fencers are nuts. Think about it. The tournament at last month's Twilight in Valhalla had six fencers, all but two of whom were from out of shire. I know, that doesn't seem like much, but most of the state was socked in by a storm that had dropped 6 inches of snow by the time gate opened. Okay, so that's a pretty mild sanity check: most northern Artemisians know how to drive in blizzards. But then you have to add in that we were fencing outdoors. Yes, we did manage to find an area clear of snow, but we were still talking about temperatures right around 20. The spectators had fun, though. They were sledding while we fought.

If this were an isolated case, I'd be less willing to call ourselves cuckoo, but it wasn't a one-time deal. The weather the weekend before at Silverkeep's Birthday Bash wasn't quite as bad (no fresh snow), but the temperature was about the same and we definitely caught they eye of several skiers who happened by. Or there was last year's Twilight in Valhalla: fencing in snow and single digits. It almost seems that the worse the weather, the more fencers you'll get. Like I said, we're nuts.

I've even noticed that several fencers up here have separate sets of fencing gear specifically for the cold weather (or is it separate sets specifically for the warm weather?). Albion's got his massively overbuilt fencing jacket that only sees use between November and March and Cormac's furs are far better suited to the snow than Uprising. I haven't gone that far, but I do have a coat that was designed to go over my fencing gear so I can fight without freezing.

Of course, I like to think that we're not nuts: it's our passion for fencing that keeps us out playing in the snow long after most people (and even armored fighters) have come in from the cold. But whatever the reason, you can count on the fencers of Northern Artemisia to be ready, no matter the weather.