Non-Fighting events

[Kim.Salazar@em.doe.gov]

    Mar Yaakov points out that our illustrious forebearers didn't
    didn't entertain themselves exclusively with tourneys and
    suggests the following entertainments:


    I suggest:

1) A story telling competition a la Boccacio's Decamerron.

2) Poetic contests.

3) Debates and disputations.  (If you don't think this is interesting, watch
for it at Pennsic!)

Yaakov

    I strongly second his recommendation.  Last month I sponsored a
    story telling competition in Carolingia.  There were about
    eight storytellers entered.  Many people voiced concerns that
    the entertainment would drag on, and that no one would be
    interested in listening to eight times 10-25 minutes of one
    person speaking.

    Instead, those who attended were totally rapt.  The stories
    ranged from a retelling of a particularly twisted legal bit
    from the Sagas (which was far more delightful than my rather
    dull description) - to a tale of adultery from Orlando
    Enamorato (told in verse) - to a Japanese ghost story from
    Genji.

    The stories were told outside under an immense old oak tree,
    after the feast was over (starting around 8:00 - our only
    mistake - the autocrat should have scheduled it for the
    afternoon so that people with kids could have stayed).  Who was
    going to win quickly became immaterial as each tale-teller got
    up and told his or her piece.  Time just floated by.

    I would dearly love to see another such exhibition, this time
    closer to home.  I beg future autocrats to consider adding
    special time and venues for storytelling to their schedules.

    -Ianthe d'Averoigne                      kim.salazar@em.doe.gov