Notes on Baron Wars

Fought in my new (or more properly, improved) gaunts... and managed to pop off a thumb the very first battle. I don't know how it happened; I was in a bad spot in the first field battle--which isn't uncommon, because I'm a rather weak open-field spear--and I was pushed back over a pile of bodies. I went down hard, and there were immediately three guys (the same ones chasing me down) helping me up and saying "Your gauntlets broke--here's your thumb.") I was pissed, but managed to affect a repair and get back before the next battle began. And naturally, when I say repair, I mean I wrapped a bunch of duct tape around the damn thing. I really wanted to avoid duct tape on these things, but I even more so wanted to keep fighting. I see what happened--the rivet on the thumb cap wasn't peened down as much as it should be. My bad. I'll clean them up tonight and pound the crap out of it.

I also broke straps on both elbows. Since my elbows are only held on with one strap, I again had to wrap duct tape all around to keep them on. Fortunately, the second one broke just as fighting was ending for the day. Regardless, now I have to replace both straps. But, better to happen at Baron Wars than this weekend at Crown.

And making naruchi has gone to the top of my to-do list; mostly because I got the shit beat out of my forearms this weekend. I'm going to take the leather I had earmarked for greaves and turn them into arm protection. I also need to look for a smaller metal buckler to wear on my left hand when I'm fighting spear. I'll try to pick one up at Pennsic.

Last things to do before Crown: cut a second sword, and grind the rust off my helmet. I’m also going to try to get to Tandy Leather and buy some brown dye and dye all the straps on my body armor. And replace the shoulder straps with prettier ones, if I have time. And that's as good as it's going to get, I'm afraid.