Battle Descriptions

Schedule of Battles

Tuesday, August 13

Woods Battle (1 pt) TBD (Per parade permit

This will be a timed battle 1.5 hours in length. The only permissible entry points into the woods are the resurrection points. The entry areas will be limited to a space 100 feet wide. Both sides will enter at the same time. The East and it's allies will enter from the southwest side of the woods and the Middle and it's allies will enter from the northwest side of the woods.

Natural obstacles (i.e. Brush, fallen timber, etc.) may not be rearranged into a defensive position. The movement of obstacles is only permitted in order to lessen potential safety hazards. Fighting may not occur within 100 feet of each of the resurrection points. Once a fighter or scout is “killed”, he or she must return to their own resurrection point in order to resurrect. Resurrections shall be instantaneous, and fighters and scouts may return to the battle once the reach resurrection point.

A corridor 100 yards wide, roughly bisecting the woods and equidistant from both resurrection points, will be clearly marked. Prior to the beginning of the battle, 3 banners will be placed within this corridor in fixed positions and known to both sides. After a banner is captured it may be moved to any position within the corridor, so long as that position is not within 50 yards of another banner.

Victory in this battle will be defined as possession of 2 of the 3 banners at the end of the battle. Possession is defined as follows: An authorized heavy combatant must hold the banner staff upright with at least one hand at all times to establish possession. When the final cannon sounds all fighters around banners should kneel in position. The marshals will make a nine foot circle around each banner. The troops within the circle will fight until one side remains to determine possession of the banner. Banner bearers may be armed and the banner staff used to block with.

Eye protection is strongly recommended. All holds will be local and time will not stop for holds at the banners except for the final five minutes of the battle. It is recommended that only those chirurgeons and water bearers who are in good enough health to negotiate the woods the woods enter to serve. No water bearers are allowed in the woods without the without the approval of the marshal in charge of the battle. A marshal must escort any water bearer entering the woods. The earl marshal of the East or an appointee thereof must first approve all chirurgeons, water bearers and marshals wishing to participate in the woods battle.

Start Time 11:00 am

Time Limit: 1.5 hrs

Resurrection: Yes

Combat Archery: No

Thrown weapons: No

Siege Engines: No

Wednesday, Aug 14

Hadrian's Wall (1 pt) 11:00am:

As the once mighty Hadrian's Wall crumbles before us the armies of the Middle and East shall meet across this once mighty barrier. This 2 hour ressuresction battle will be fought across a wall of haybales stretching North – South across the battlefield. Openings within the wall will be left to simulate breaks in Hadrian's Wall and fighter may pass through these openings. Portions of the wall will be constructed 2 bales high, these portions may not be fought across or over. All other sections may be fought over. Hay bales marked half red and half blue will be placed within some of the openings in the wall. Posession of these hay bales will be indicated by turning the appropriate color up. (East – Blue, Midrealm – Red). When the final cannon sounds all fighters around the clored haybales should kneel in position. The marshals will make a nine foot circle around each coloerd haybale. The troops within the circle will fight until one side remains to determine possession of the colored haybale. This battle will include combat archery, thrown weapons and seige engines. Please check at Marshall's point for more information and maps.

Start Time: 11:00 am

Time Limit: 2 hrs

Resurrection: Yes

Combat Archery: Yes

Thrown weapons: Yes

Siege Engines: Yes

Archery Champions (1 pt) Immediately following.

Thursday, Aug 15

Bridge Battle (1 pt) 11:00 am

Duration: 30 minutes for each battle.

There will be five bridges 90 feet long. The center bridge will be 27 feet wide. The side bridges will each be 18 feet wide. The center of each bridge will be clearly marked. The marshals will mark a center area the width of the bridge 9 feet to either side of the centerline. The bridges will be thought of as spanning a deep gorge which is untraversable by any means other then the bridges provided. Each side will start 50 feet from the end of the bridges. Each battle will be 30 minutes in length including holds. All holds will be declared local until a breakout occurs. Once a breakout occurs all holds will be general. Should a serious injury require a stopping of the fighting on a bridge the marshals will mark the positions of the respective sides and then the troops may be removed to facilitate safety. Once the injury has been cleared of the bridge, the marshals will reposition the same troops. Fighting will then continue as normal.

This point will be fought in a best of three format with a 15 minute break between battles for the armies to regroup. Combat archery and siege weapons will be allowed in the third battle only. All fighters shall kneel at the final cannon. All fighters outside the center area will be excused. Those in this area will fight until one side remains. Most points at the end of the battle determine victory. It is possible for this war point to end in a tie.

Fighting may take place over the hay bales. No fighter may sit, stand, walk, or run on the hay bales. A fighter may use the bales to regain his balance or stop his fall. If a fighter's hand, shield, weapon, feet, or any weight bearing item lands over the hay bales to stop a fall that fighter is “dead” and must leave the battle. “Dead” fighters are required to leave the area of the bridges. Any Crowns of the Society for Creative Anachronism may remain as spectators.

Time Limit: 30 minutes Each

Resurrection: No

Combat Archery: Last Battle

Thrown weapons: Last Battle

Siege Engines: Last Battle

Friday, Aug 16

Field Battle (1 pt) 11:00am

This battle will continue until there are fighters from only one side still “alive.” Once the starting gun is fired the field is closed. There will be no time limit. As per tradition the Middle will start on the west side of the field, and the East will start on the east side. There will be an inner and outer barrier on the field 20 feet apart. Only marshals are allowed between the barriers and the “Field” shall be within the inner barrier. The Midrealm, East, and their allies will setup up within 125` of their side. If a fighter or unit is pushed into the barrier a hold will be called and the unit or fighter will be repositioned within the barrier. All holds will be general and will be kept to a minimum

Time Limit: none (Last man standing)

Resurrection: no (Last man standing)

Combat Archery: No

Thrown weapons: No

Siege Engines: No

Friendship Field Battle Immediately following

In the spirit of Friendship and Chivalry the East and the Midrealm shall take the field against all comers. This is to be a one-time battle, which will follow the same rules and setup as the previous Field battle above. This battle will also include missile weapons.

Time Limit: none (Last man standing)

Resurrection: no (Last man standing)

Combat Archery: Yes

Thrown weapons: Yes

Siege Engines: Yes

Champions battles 12 noon

The Champions of the East, Midrealm and their allies will face off in a series of champions battles beginning at 12 noon on the battle field.

Belted Champions (1 pt)

This battle will consist of 25 fighters per side chosen from the Kingdoms of the East and Midrealm who are members of the Order of Chivalry. All combatants must be residents of the Kingdom for which they fight. The Kings of the East and the Midrealm shall serve as marshals for this battle and shall each choose two Kings or representatives from their respective allies to serve as marshals. The Kings and Heirs of the Midrealm and East will not participate. Holds will be kept to a minimum and all holds will be general. Victory will be awarded to the last team on the field.

Unbelted Champions (1 pt)

This Battle will consist of 45 fighters per side chosen from the Kingdoms of the East and Midrealm who are not members of the Order of Chivalry. All combatants must be residents of the Kingdom for which they fight. The Kings of the East and the Midrealm shall serve as marshals for this battle and shall each choose two Kings or representatives from their respective allies to serve as marshals. Holds will be kept to a minimum and all holds will be general. Victory will be awarded to the last team on the field.

Allied Champions (1 pt)

Crowns of the respective allies shall determine these rules. Once agreed upon, they shall notify the Kings of the Middle and the East, as well as their Earl Marshalls. Kings and princes are allowed to fight in this battle. Pennsic combat conventions will apply.

Heroic Champions (1 pt)

Two teams of 20 fighters each with no more than 15 belted fighters from the kingdoms of the East, Midrealm and their respective allies. Neither Kings, or Crown Princes shall fight in this battle. The point will consist of a series of 20 individual bouts fought between fighters chosen from each side. For the first bout of the first round the King of the East shall chose a combatant from the East Kingdom team and the King of the Middle shall then chose an opponent from the Middle Kingdom team. These choices shall alternate per bout for all 20 bouts. Victory will be awarded to the team that wins 11 of the 20 bouts. Royal families of the East and Middle Kingdoms shall assist in the marshalling of these bouts. Double-kills results in the “Death” of both combatants, and the next two combatants in line will take the field and continue.

Rapier Champions (1 pt)

Weapons allowed: Schlagers and other heavy rapier blades only. Selected by their respective Majesties, twenty Midrealm rapier champions and ten allies will square off against an equal of east realm champions and allies in a special double elimination tournament. The contest will end when one side is eliminated. Rules and Team rosters for the Champions tourney will be posted in the Rapier field tent.

This is the recognized Web Page for the Pennsic XXXI Marshalate of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. The maintainer of this page is Lord William RavenHair (Michael Luich) ravenhair@northernarmy.org. It is not a corporate publication of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., and does not delineate SCA policies. In cases of conflict with printed versions of material presented on this page or its links, the dispute will be decided in favor of the printed version. The officer badge images are Copyright © 1999-2001 by David L. Weiner. Used with permission Document last modified on Thu, OCT 22 2001.