Challenges

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The challenges haven been formulated,
the restraints fashioned,
and the holding cells prepared.

The feast day of Alexandr Nevski is celebrated by the Orthodox church on November 23. It seems fitting, then, that the strong Slavic heritage of the Canton of Dun Traigh (the name only looks Scottish) be reflected in the theme of this event.

Alexander is famously ambiguous - a saint with no miracles, a military savior who paid tribute to the Khan. Our challenges will pay tribute to this enigma.

(Remember, when we say tell us a "tale", we mean "tale, song, story, poem .... or dance, juggling act, etc.")

Fyt the First

Those Pesky Peasants
In military planning, a single mounted knight is said to be the equal of six infantrymen, but in the Battle on the Ice, Alexander's 5,000 infantry defeated a force of 4,000 knights - an amazing victory. Tell us a tale* of victory over (seemingly) insurmountable odds.

Pass the Tale
All those who wish to participate get up together, and tell a tale from beginning to end. The challenge's patron will 'conduct' by pointing to the person whose turn it is to continue the tale, and deciding when it is time to end.

Period Piece
Perform a documentably period piece of music, verse, story, or song. Dig out those reference books, blow off the dust (try not to sneeze), and see what wonderful and magical treasures you can find in them. There is a staggering amount of fantastic material out there. Find something, be it silly or sublime, and amaze us with it.

Fytte the Second

History of the Knowne Worlde in Song and Story:
A special challenge from Sir Fern

Which songs, stories, tales and legends of the SCA are well-known in many different kingdoms? What are the stories and songs that transcend all of the Laurel Kingdoms to create our shared bardic heritage? Countess Sir Fern de la Foret is searching for the most widespread and popular examples of bardic arts to collect for presentation at the SCA 50-year Celebration in 2016. Performances, texts, and recommendations are welcome! This is a difficult challenge, because the goal is to find the universal themes covering all 50 years, rather than each kingdom's favorites. (The bardic history of each kingdom is also important, of course, and it will be a separate topic.)

Ain't to Saint
Alexander was not sainted for his saintliness - it was for his military and political prowess. Tell us a tale* of transformation of mundane virtues elevated to the divine. (We meant "mundane" in the common sense; but heck, if you can work your magic contrasting the SCA sense of "mundane" with the divine, give it a shot!)

Form Challenge: Surrender! Or Else I Will! (Alliterative Verse)
Alexander was sainted for defeating the Finns and the Teutonic Knights, yet he also capitulated to the Golden Horde. All of these enemies used alliterative verse forms (and Russian verse of the time, while wonderful, is not very challenging, formicalogically speaking). So let's try out some Mongol alliterative verse on the theme: "Surrender! Or Else I Will!".

Traditional Mongolian verse dates back to approximately 1240 CE. It tells heroic epics of up to 20,000 verses of varying length (often recited from memory). Verses are alliterative - mainly on the first syllable, but internal alliteration is also found. Lines most commonly consist of 7 or 8 syllables with 3 or 4 stresses. While some lines do rhyme, it is the exception. (Adapted from notes by Master Garraed Galbreath, mka Tim Jennings).

Here are three examples by Master Garraed:

In Ice, the Palace of the North
Its walls inlaid, inscribed with song,
Is built. Iridescent, it glows
Illuminating the night sky

Stir now wolves from winters' bed
Southron soon will see the red
Such screams might soon wake the dead
Soon summer and so we come.

Come fall before the Northrealm Queen
Carlotta calls, quick comes your death
Cast longing looks towards your home
Companions brave steal your last breath

However, remember that these poems are typically used to create narratives, so don't shrink from multi-verse ventures. On the other hand, composers of 20,000 verse pieces are reminded of the five-minute limit!

Further details can be found in the Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics.

Mazacroca
Given several texts to choose from in foreign languages, "translate" one of them and explain what it "really" means. (The texts will be available all day.)

Fit the Third

Juliane's Fishpond (or, "Infamous Last Words")
A big hit at Bardic Roundhouse, devised jointly with Juliane Bechaumpe: You will pull a fish from the "fishpond" (at the end of the previous Fyt) and on it you will find a sentence or phrase. Your job is to devise two verses and chorus which END with this line. (For this challenge, only a song or poem will do.)

Borscht Belt
The Rus are famous for their broad humor, from chastushka to the Borscht Belt comedians. Compose a song or poem which VERGES on the obscene (there are children present).

Maraha, Prince of [your country here]
Through a rather bizarre comma misadventure, our favorite itinerant storyteller Maraha - decidedly a commoner and non-combatant - was recently mistaken for the Prince of the Midrealm (he now styles himself "The Bard Formerly Known as Prince"). Tell us a tale* of an unlikely Royal (specifically Maraha, if you like).

For this challenge only, we make an exception to the "not a contest" provision of the rules. Oliver of Cleftlands has donated a gorgeous pouch, and Master Dahrien, patron of this challenge, will award it to the participant of his choice.

Concert

The concert is your opportunity to perform pieces which may not "fyt" into any of the challenges.

Fytt the Fourth (Feast)

Toasting
Feast time is traditionally when we raise our glasses on high to honor the crown and other deserving individuals. We'll assign the topic or person, you create an appropriate toast for them on the spot.

Three Rights Make a Left
Nevski was the right man in the right place at the right time. Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights DO make a left. Tell us a tale* about going in a direction you didn't intend.

The Rusalkas Are Coming, The Rusalkas Are Coming
A Rusalka is a Slavic water spirit, the soul of a young woman whose life ended violently (and usually as a result of a bad relationship). She must carry her comb to come on dry land, where she will climb into the trees, comb her hair, and sing. Let's end the evening with a melancholy or spooky tale: Tell us a tale* of such a spirit. Gender-bending welcome.

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Challenge General Rules

  • Challenges are not contests. You win by entering and striving to do the best you can.
  • Challenges are designed to encourage you to try your hand at something new, to stretch yourself, to enjoy, and to celebrate the creative spirit.
  • Read the guidelines for the challenges carefully. Trying to follow them as closely as you can is good, but sometimes stretching them in unexpected directions is even better.
  • Individuals are welcome and encouraged to give recognition to those performers whom they especially enjoy.
  • In order to allow the largest number of people to participate, challenge entries should be limited to five minutes or less (that includes the introduction). Each person may enter only one piece per challenge and a maximum of five challenges.
  • While you will want to prepare your challenge responses in advance (where possible), you will be signing up on the day of the event.

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