Missed Origins. Sorry Koltar, I was in South Carolina on vacation, so could not attend with you a week ago Saturday (otherwise I would have went).

We did manage to get in some tournament combat action however, with a visit to Medeival Times in Myrtle Beach. It was the first time the kids went to a live performance of any kind. They were especially pleased when the squire that crowned them counseled them on Royal Etiquette told them to hold up their left and right hand...

When they held up their right hands he said "This is your fork", and when they held up their left he said "this is your knife". Good luck with dinner.

While dining at the court of the King we were treated to quite a spectacle, including the Royal Falconer unleashing the bird of prey in a hunt, The Princess with the Dancing Andalusian, and the Royal Andalusians performing in unison...

Finally the tournament began with the Knights demonstrating their prowess with mounted spear combat, followed up by tilting at the rings with a lance. All of the Knights excelled at all of these demonstrations concluding a flawless performance.

We were seated in the section of the Green "Dragon" Knight (Chaotic Evil as it turned out...). He was the dark horse villain that had abducted the Prince early on in the show, and made a play for the Princess during the tournament.

Jousting commenced and lances were splitted, shields splintered, and mounted combat ensued, followed by combat on foot using a wide variety... Benoist is that you? No wait... Just the Royal Chancellor and speaker for the king...

As I was saying they fought hand to hand using a wide variety of armament including two-handed swords, battle axes, pole arms, flails, and morning stars. Something new since the last time I had attended, now they put up teflon nets to protect the crowds during melees making photography difficult. Still I got a few good snaps of the show!

Our Dragon Knight hero of course bested the Blue Knight, the Yellow Knight and the Red and White Knight and their squires using a variety of deceitful techniques including: sand in the eyes, backstabbing, taunting, along with various trips and throws... he was actually very good in melee as well, strong and tall with a commanding voice.

He would have defeated the Prince as well, who escaped somehow during the tournament, but all the remaining knights and the prince ganged up on him to bring him to an untimely end...

Slideshow of some of the highlights. Sorry about the quality of some of the shots, before you complain though, try eating dinner, watching, and also  photographing a tournament simultaneously. ... In the dark...



All the individual pix including a few not incuded in the slideshow...

Medeival Times Tournament

Sounds (and looks) like fun!