A brief Estrella War 2008 video of the War Wagon

Yeah, some of you are finally getting your Estrella War videos up on YouTube. Better late than never!

Countdown to Estrella War XXIV

Now that both the Super Bowl and Super Tuesday are over, we can get back to the important stuff, like Estrella War!

Sadly, I will not be attending, but many of my friends and family from near and far will be there. Everyone please have a wonderful time, be safe, and happy! Maybe next year will see my return to those dry, desert lands Atenveldters' call home. I would like to see the new site - I hear it's huge!

The Estrella War website is packed with important information: Do you know what to bring? Or what local services are available? On the schedule this year can be found many fine tournaments, competitions and parties (plan ahead in the evening and bring your ID).

The Kingdom of the Outlands will be hosting a few events, including a Bardic competition at 8pm on Friday night, and a Hafla at 7pm Thursday night, both within the Kingdom encampment.

Here's the site map.

If you make it to the Hafla you will notice the fine drummers, musicians and dancers of Darbuka, for they are skilled and most entertaining...

...and responsible for that awesome sound you hear on the battlefield, that of the War Wagon.

Seems like a good time to roll it out and get you all in the mood...

...for...

.....WAAAAAAAAAAAARRR!!!!



I'll be looking for your photos and videos when you all safely return!

Estrella War 2007 Videos and Photos

Though it is not a very long clip, here is YouTuber Latikono's capture of our beloved Outlands War Drums...



I've only been able to find a few videos of War online. So what's the holdup, everyone? I mean, you've been back two whole days by now! Get those clips uploaded to YouTube or MySpace so those of us who missed it can watch! I'll post more as they surface from the murky depths of the internet...

On the photo front, Flickr already has a plethora of pictures to peek at!

Iaincaradoc has some great photos! The very first one is a beautiful rainbow over the event! Check his gallery for a bunch of battlefield shots.

Ririsyncyr's Estrella War gallery has only a few photos, but if you have a far-east persona, you'll want to take a peek at the remnants of the Chinese feast, complete with i-Pod for music. Now if that's not anachronistic, I don't know what is!

If you like late period costuming, check out this batch by Dorinda2212. Boy those look like an awful lot of work - both in sewing time and in 'getting yourself dressed and undressed' time.

Now, Wilgar's Estrella War photos should appeal to some gentlemen out there who appreciate the fine art of bodice-watching. Lots of shots around merchant row makes me almost think I'm there!

Another small batch of photos comes from foreverforlorn, who has managed to capture a few Outlanders gathered by the battlefield. And who is that? I spy with my little eye - a samurai!

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UPDATE: More links!!

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My Estrella galleries are online as well -- please feel free to use and enjoy.

- Simon Drake

Oh, thank you Simon, these are truly fabulous! A whole gallery just for Darbuka! Outlanders should definitely browse ALL the galleries - you will most likely see someone you know!

Estrella War map updated with Outlands camp boundaries

Just because I am now NOT going to Estrella War does not mean I'm going to let that topic just slide off my radar. With just over a week for all of you to finish your War projects (garb sewing, armor mending, drinking practice, etc...) you're probably feeling a bit pinched for time. Here's a friendly piece of advice: you won't finish everything in time, so stop worrying about it.

The one thing I always hated about going to large events, is that once there, you're all ready to set up camp and start the party, but no one has bothered to mark your camp on the main map at the Troll gate. I've wasted many, many hours of my life driving around events with just my fog lights on, searching for familiar heraldry or tents that would point me towards the kindly folks who invited me to stay with them. (Read Pennsic Tales - an account of my very first event. Be warned, there is nudity.)

Well, you knew that I would try and spare you all the shame and horror of getting 'lost' at a large event, didn't you? I'm nice like that. Here you go, a nifty updated Estrella War Map with all of the Outlands camp boundaries, courtesy of the Outlands Yahoo Group

OK, so it's really hard to read all those little low resolution words. I know. Outlands Royal encampment is bright green (nearest the battlefield) and Darbuka is purple, and that's all you really need to know for now.

If you somehow still get lost at the new Estrella War site, just let the soothing sounds of the WAR WAGON guide you home! Everyone have a great, happy, safe and wonderful time!

Pennsic is OVER and Duran Duran is Virtual!

With the end of Pennsic yesterday, I expect that thousands of SCAers are headed home to unpack, tell their best NSTIW stories, and finally get a full nights sleep after two weeks of paradise.

Did anyone think to bring home some of the famous Pennsic chocolate milk for me? Is there a trailer stuffed to the gills with weapons, tents and garb boxes, also carrying a cooler, perhaps filled with the 'food of the gods' itself? If only I could believe in such miracles....

Man, I cannot WAIT for Estrella to hear the War Wagon again. Neither can you? Well, aren't you lucky?? Look what I found on my hard drive....



OH YEAH. GO OUTLANDS! I swear I'm going to make good on my threat to create an Outlands Cheerleading Squad someday.

I really CAN talk about SCA all day, hmmm? Better move on to other things before I get stuck this way....

One of my greatest regrets in life was that I never went to see Duran Duran in concert. Yes. I am a geek. Let's get that out of the way right now. Good.

I was always in the wrong place at the wrong time, or didn't have the money for the huge stadium shows. Imagine my utter shock at finding out that they will be playing a virtual concert in Second Life on their very own Sim set up for that purpose.

They could choose avatars that look like younger, 80's versions of themselves, complete with new-wave hair! I wonder if they will play a bunch of B-sides (if you don't know what THAT means, you were born AFTER 1985) like Secret October, Khanada, and Faster than Light from their vinyl?

I've got over $2k of Lindens burning a hole in my virtual pocket. Bring on the REFLEX! I've gotta go tease my hair...