And I don’t mean emotionally, either.

Sheila gets next dibs in the oh-god-give-me-material quest.  Don’t worry, I am getting them all in approximate order, and if you posted a question I will get to it.  Plus, I need to milk this until my writer’s block is over.

To post an earlier pic, this:

Is my armor.  It is a product of 26 years of trial and error about what works and does not work for me.  The first 20 years were pretty much all about function.  I did not have a very good-looking, coherent or historical kit.  The last five years have been a concerted effort to move myself in an actual direction, which is more or less Varangian as far as the hard kit is concerned (my soft kit has advanced a little more and is solidly Outer Hebridies).

Let’s see, starting from the top:

Helmet – this is from White Mountain Armories.  Adam Berry (Master Magnus, in the SCA), is not only a highly skilled armorer, he is a truly fabulous human being.

Gorget – unseen – from GAA, who is, to my last understanding, out of business.  Too bad, I got a lot of nice work from Master Geoffrey.

Arms – I wear no upper arm protection.  This is not recommended for the new fighter or the faint of heart.  My lower arms/elbows are from a former worker at GAA.  Hardened leather and a perfect fit.

Body armor – lamellar cuirasse again from White Mountain.  Adam had this set already laced for a small fighter.  I SWEAR it had my name on it.  I won’t tell you what I paid, but I promise you it was worth every penny.  He put on the pteruges (the leather flap skirt), to which I added the medallions.  The skirt, however, is eventually on its way out.  It will be replaced when I upgrade to a new gambeson (and here is where I skillfully insert an answer to Sara’s question) – I am making a linen aketon (gambeson) diamond-quilted with cotton batting.  At that point, the cuirasse will have a black scalloped edging put on it.  The shoulder pieces were hand-tooled with combattant rams by THL Malcolm MacAdaim, and will stay.  The belt is a gift from my Knight and was his original squire’s belt, made when he squired to Duke John of Ean Airgead.  It will also stay as long as I don’t piss him off.

Tunic – I made this – red linen embroidered with white crescents.  They are my Knight’s colors and symbols.  See, even Duchesses wear livery when appropriate.

Groin – unseen – a commercial women’s athletic protector, available at Academy Sports.

Legs – I don’t wear thigh armor (see disclaimer in “Arms” above).  I do wear Crash pads, which are hidden under my pants, and don’t do much more than take a bit of the sting off. The lower legs are shovel greaves from GAA again.  I LOVED their stuff. They will eventually be on their way out. I am going to hidden knees and shinguards with wickelbanden and turnshoes.

Gauntlets – my full gaunts are EGG armories.  It is the only nod to plastic that I make, but they are truly the very best I have ever worn as far as function for these little mitts of mine.  The half gaunts are a gift from Duke Maelgwyn of the Outlands – another very cool dude, and an unexpected gift.  I have a pair Drogo made me as well, but I need to shorten the cuffs.  I rotate my wrists too much.

The shield shown is not my usual shield – Charlotte has that to paint, but I have slacked and not sent her a picture to use as a model.  Bad, bad squire.  The sword is also not my usual sword.  Borrowed from Ulrich.  He has some fast sticks, I am telling you.

So that covers ONE of her questions.  The chronology of my epic travels will form another blog…