3) Living Day to Day
I have found that to plan for a long... well... what should
we call it? Event? Deployment? Vacation?
Whatever we choose to call it, we are gone for a week. We
are camping in a tent for a week. Wooo-Hooo.
At this point I should tell you I spent a long time in the military (30
years) and, what I like to call it, camped professionally for extended periods
of time. Where LARPing is in no way similar to military deployments a lot of
the lessons learned the hard way in shitty places working for Uncle Sam carry
over to our 'hobby'.
Anyway- back to planning. As I said I like to plan for any
event by thinking about what I would be doing during the day and then list what
I need to make that happen.
So- first thing in the morning I wake up and wonder why the
hell and I doing this. I roll out of the cot and stand up. My bedding consists
of my sleeping bag, two wool blankets, a pillow, and padding. (the sort you put
on top of your mattress at home to make it softer- cut to the size of the cots.)
I need something to stand on- a small camp rug works well. I slip my trousers
and a shirt on, put my sandals on and wander out of the tent and into the
world. First thing is bathroom and then coffee. After that it's think about
breakfast and if I want to eat or not.
I know that the Order said they will have coffee prepared
but if I bring my small coffee boiler I can heat up my water over the fire
quickly. I have brought enough instant coffee packets to get me through the
week. A jug or two of water under my cot will quicken coffee time and I can
refill them as needed.
Eating is a hike so I get ready for the day. Brush the
teeth, wash the body, maybe shave, get dressed while drinking the coffee.
Boots, socks, trousers, underwear,
shirt, doublet, hat, belt, pouch, dagger, sword (depending on how pissy
I am) and eating kit. I don't smoke so I don't need tobacco or a tobacco
delivery system. Basic toiletry items are in my kit box along with hand sanitizer
and baby wipes. You can clean most of your body with baby wipes and it makes
you feel nice. Trash goes in a trash bag hung on the center pole of the tent.
It will go out with me as I go to breakfast. I grab my mess kit and head out.
What does my eating (mess) kit hold?
Plate, bowl, cup, mug, fork, knife, spoon, hand towel. Separate
soap and cleaning items. It needs to be compact and easily carried. I am using
a large shoulder bag to put it all in with the exception of the mug which is
worn off my belt.
My kit has a wooden 'trencher' plate and bowl, wooden small
cup, iron eating tools (is that a name?) and a horn mug. A white cloth hand
towel to use as a napkin and doubles as a drying rag when I clean my mess kit.
Hand soap in a small plastic case for cleaning the dishes and myself. My
toothbrush and toothpaste in a small roll so that after eating I can spot by
the toilets and wash up and use them.
I wander back to camp with my mug of coffee chatting with
the people I pass, commenting on the lovely weather and the chance of rain in the
afternoon. (my French lesions on tape have come in handy as I listened to them
over the last year) Once back at camp I check in with the officer of the day
and find out when I have to be ready for drill or combat.
Whichever the duty is the next thing is to prep weapons and
equipment. Depending on what the mission is I go to the tent and break out the
weapons needed. I wipe them down and silicone them as needed and then focus on
my armor. The armor should be on its stand and after a quick check to see serviceability
it too is cleaned and prepared.
About an hour before the mission I start getting ready.
To armor up will take two people and I prepare along with my
battle buddy. This is a fellow soldier who with I am paired up for assistance
and to assist in their getting ready. We work together on the battlefield,
usually fighting next to in the ranks.
As we prepare we check each other out to make use all our
gear is working correctly and to insure we don't forget anything. Armor,
weapons, water and whatever else we need to take with us to the mission are
checked and checked again. When we are set we move to the rally point and
listen to the mission brief of the officers. If we need to take notes we do so
and on the order step off to the drill/battle field.
Mission done we arrive back at camp. My battle buddy and I
assist each other in unarmoring and the process begins of cleaning weapons and
kit. We brew up a cuppa and possibly eat a light meal as we wipe down each
piece of armor and hang it back on the rack. Each weapon is checked for damage
then cleaned and silicone applied before placing in its rack. Then our clothing
is cleaned and hung to dry before we clean up ourselves. We check each other's
gear to see if anything was missed. After checking with the officer for the
next mission time we may nap or head into town for a drink or shopping.
As evening draws on we chose to head to the river to bathe.
Grabbing our small basket we change into a pair of shorts and sandals and head
to the river. Our toiletry basket has soap, shampoo and deodorant and we carry
our towel. Once done we head back to camp to change into 'hero gear', hang up
our wet towel and shorts and prep for a night out with the fellows of the Ordo.
We are planning on grabbing a bite at the tavern tonight so we may take our
mess kit over our shoulder as well as strap our mug on.
Several hours later we walk back to the camp, our way
lighted by our lantern (it was in our bag!) and after undressing crawl into our
bunk and rack the **** out.
The next day is pretty much the same... in fact every day is
pretty much the same. It gives us a good idea of what we need to have packed in
order to be successful and comfortable.
I am bringing a couple of clothing styles to bico at the
moment, a 'Norse' one and a 'War of the Roses' one. Thorwald is very much a
10th century Dane and so his dress reflects that. For his 'Thor's day go to
meeting' outfit he is wearing a Short sleeved tunic in green and yellow over a
white short sleeved linen tunic. Wool trousers with leg wrappings, turn shoes
and waist belt, pouch, and seax. I also have a long sleeve wool tunic in blue
that I can wear if the weather turns cooler as well as a square cloak with a
fibula type pin. I have a wool hat that goes with this but it doesn't really protect
me from the sun. I'll toss in a straw hat for that. My sword belt and a Calimacil
Viking Ragnar sword could be worn (and probably will be). A Norseman is never
more than an arm's length away from his sword. I have my sundowner boots to
wear in case I don't want to walk around with turn shoes for the day. The boots
are just more comfortable to my modern feet.
The second impression is circa 1470 English or Burgundian
man at arms. Burgundians wore a very plain dress after their Duke, Charles the
Bold, made quite the statement wearing black clothing. Charles seems to have aimed at a degree of
uniformity, at least among the troops of the Ordinance. The men-at-arms were
ordered to wear blue and white plumes (the Ducal colors) and were supplied with
red crosses of Burgundy, made of velvet, to attach to their armor. The
Coustilliers and archers were given surcoats half white and half blue, again
with the red cross, and there is evidence from the end of the reign that
infantry of the Ordinance also wore blue and white Ducal uniform. I am
wearing typical dress of the period, Black joined hose with turn shoes, white
linen shirt, black doublet, and a small red cap. Again, I may wear boots
instead of turn shoes for comfort and a wide straw hat against the sun. A belt
with a pouch and dagger around the waist and a small sword ( a Calimacil
Robbert Stark Bastard Sword) if needed. I may make up a surcoat in the Order's
colors of green and beige just to round out the impression. I also have the
flat cap that I could wear.
The Ordo's packing list is a great start. It covers a
majority of what I would need above.
Clothing
v #a hat, to protect you
from the sun
*I
have a few. A nice renn faire type flat cap in the Ordo's colors and a good
basic straw one for the sun. A dannish style round cap for when I feel a'viking.
v # something decorum to
wear bathing in the river, if you think you will. Otherwise, something to wear
to the showers behind the auberge
*A pair of dark shorts and a period shirt plus leather
sandals.
v # a warm cloak or coat
to wear when it starts raining and goes down to 55 dF / 12 dC
*A
good cloak with a hood or a separate hood, my padded jack can double as a coat as
well. I made my half circle wool cloak from a couple of grey wool blankets I
found in a surplus store. There was enough wool left for a separate hood as
well.
v
#clothing for six days and seven nights,
including
o
decorum, comfortable,
breathable clothing to get sweaty and run around in every day
o
one or two fancy
outfits
Fighting gear: Gambeson, Trousers x2, Socks x6, Boots x2.
My fighting gear consists of my tan imperial gambeson and black
trousers, boots and socks. I have two pair of black trousers to allow one set
to dry during the day while I use the second set. Several changes of socks and
an extra pair of boots, just in case. After fighting my gambeson needs to be
turned inside out, wiped down and hung to dry.
Town gear: Hat x2, Doublet x2, shirt x2, trousers x2, socks,
boots. Also the Dannish kit (see above)
v
#more than one pair of
socks and underwear per day
*Two
or three pairs of socks a day- one for the day and fighting then one to change
into after the fighting is over- foot powder! Mole skin- just in case
*Underwear....
well.... I do commando it a lot at events. However as to not frighten the small
children as least a couple a day. Just in case.
v
#waterproof shoes
and/or a spare pair of shoes to wear when the others are drying
#sandals or slip-on shoes to wear to the river,
showers, or porta-potties
v# good solid boots to wear on the field; modern
military boots are a popular choice, especially under leather spats
Other Necessities
v# a tankard, for staying hydrated and for
partying without having your soul stolen
v# bug spray
v# sunscreen
v * Medical kit with band aides, Asprin, Tylanol
or Advil, and meds you need, etc.
v # your field kit, which is either armor and
arms, or good footwear and something that will enable you to survive being in
the sun on the field for hours while you help with logistics
v
Good-to-Haves
v # a basket to carry your toiletries to the
river, spigot, or showers, or tablewear to dinner, or purchases while shopping
v# a belt with pouches
v # a mug hanger for your belt
v# a scabbard for your sword/knife. You do not
need to carry a weapon in town, but many people like to because swagger.
v# a decorum light source. Yannick the Alchemist
(an Ordo QC local) sells magic flashlights where the light comes out of a huge
crystal on the front; they're in the $40+ CAD range, and super-awesome.
v # rope to create a clothesline to dry your
clothing
*Clothes
pins. The old style wooden ones would look awesome.
Popular Ideas
v# a musical instrument
v# a period game, such as dice or cards
v # a fan
v # a parasol
v # snacks or booze to share
v # plastic tubs or bags to keep things from
getting too damp
