Tuchux War stories

[Jim L. Washburn]

Oooo-Aaaaa Rialto,

Can anyone stand more War stories? How about from a Tuchux point
of view? Someone mentioned in an earlier message that even we were more
subdued and quieter this year, well that is true. The Tuchux have just gone
thru some hard times and a couple of years almost leaderless since Wulf the
Mighty went over the fifth hill (I.E. retired). Now the clan leaders have taken
charge and we are trying to weed out the were-only-here-for-the-beer crowd and
get back to a smaller, more cohesive group. Us oldtimers are trying to teach the
young members what it means to be a Tuchux. You don't just dress up in fur and
leather, drink beer and insult people, there is much more to it than that. We
have our rules, traditions and taboos much like any group though perhaps ours are
not as understandable to the regular SCA. These were the things that were breaking
down and causing many to lose the spirit that brought them to the Tuchux. This year
though the spirit returned and I feel out best years may still lay ahead instead of
behind us.
If anybody ever wants to learn more about the Tuchux feel free to Email me
and ask questions. However mail such as "The Tuchux aren't period..." or "Some Tuchux
did this to me once..." will be ignored because 1. I am not responsible for the actions
of other Tuchux and 2. I care not for the stuffy purists vs. the fun mavins debate.
This Pennsic's field battle was the best ever for me. Just prior to battle
some wenches came around with these charms made from spices, crystals and other
magical stuff and gave them to any dogs who wanted help. So I took one, tied it to
my garb and then went to the field. I was in at least 7 seperate melees during the
battle, and considering in my 9 previous Pennsics I died in the first melee the
magic charm worked great!! I began to feel invinceable. In my last melee I pushed
and shoved shieldman to shield man against some midrealm position the East was assulting.
It got crowded and nobody could get a shot at me. Then they called a hold and I
finally got a good look around. Funny, I was looking at 5 fighters with polearms.
Hmmm... I said to myself, self where are all the shield men? Well I look around and
there they are, behind me. Oops. There is a nice solid line of them between me and
my dog brothers. I guess I could have used the SCA rules against the polearm men and
turned my back on them, refued to make eye contact (and dare I say it? Ignore a few
hits I see many others do) then try and get back to my position, but I am Tuchux so
this is not a option. When "lay on" was called I charged right into the fighters and
was pounded to a pulp, but I died well.
The Woods/swamp battle was OK if it wern't for the ressurection point problem.
We assulted a line of midrealmers along a trail and drew them into the woods. Unfortunatly
as I set up our shield wall I put my leg between to high roots. I had visions of a broken
leg should I get overborn so I tried to back up. Bad move. I fell into the swamp and
was soon under the midreamlers legs. Nobody thought to hit me though!! So, playing by the
official rules (I don't want to get yanked out) I kept screaming "I am alive" as I rolled
thru the swamp backwards covering as best I could. Finally I saw a hairy leg covered with
duct tape and guessed it to be another Tuchux and I was able to stand up. I got back into
the wall and returned to the fray. I died befitting my name however. Someone in our group
called out "Is there a hold on?" and I stupidly said, "Not that I have heard" and as the last
word left my lips a midrealm spear hit me dead center in the chest. Damm, I can't fight and
talk at the same time. Sigh. So off the the ressurection point. There I dropped one of my
hockey gloves as I walked thru. I noticed this missing and went back for it. It could not
have been laying on the ground more than a minute, but it was gone and nobody had seen it
or turned it into the lost and found. So I returned to camp covered in mud, branches and
stuff hanging out of nooks in my armor and a little annoyed. I hope the new owner of my glove
uses it cause if not why did they pick it up.
For the first time ever I missed the Bridge. Missing a glove and then finding out my
knee blew out in the swamp (armor knee not regular one) and needing fixed I just didn't get
done in time. So a mixed War fighting wise, but much fun otherwise.

Ganja the Hafwit

Tuchux Shaman of the Network (self appointed :-)).