Bay Area Barbarians's topics - tribe.net

Next week....

Roargathor — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:44:01 GMT

How many of you are ready for Age of Conan: Hyborean Adventures? Only a week away from release. Who's gonna play?

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 2 replies

Looking for Border Reivers

Quixote — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:25:07 GMT

Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen

St. Brides of Kildare (aka Army of Dalkieth) is currently recruiting renaissance period soldiers for their Border Horse/Reiver Re-enactment group for the 2008/2009 season..

Currently , we are looking for persons interested in joining us for the Northern California Renaissance Fair in Gilroy California which starts in Sept and runs through October.....

Our group participates in three events per year and has a very family oreinted Inside--- with a Theatrical Rogue/Reiver outercovering---

we also work in a DRAMA Free zone-- making the Theatrical aspect of our art for the audience as opposed to our members

We practice and perform in the art of Military weapons such as
Pike & Lance
Calvary (Prikers and Dragoons)
Black powder matchlock musket and Cannon
Steel Skirmishing

not to mention fine period cooking with modern cuisine----

If you have any interest....... please contact me at halcyoninc@aol.com

I will be more than happy to share information with you on how to join us for our next show in Lake Tahoe CA,

Sincerely,

Chirs Uchman-Douglas

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

The Hyborian World

Kortoso — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:41:17 GMT

Our friend Andradir has a site for fans to get together on Hyborian costuming.
http://www.hyborianworld.com/hyboriancircle/

Drop by there and check it out!

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Hey How does one go about forming a Tribe?

Konorg — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:44:24 GMT

Hey.
I have a question.

How does one go about forming a tribe in their area?

Konorg

PS:Yup its me that Konorg:)

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 2 replies

Conan fan film

Kortoso — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:18:21 GMT

Anyone interested in taking part?
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/guignol/

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 8 replies

Hey, I got a new Barbarian discussion board!

Kortoso — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 21:03:43 GMT

http://hyborian.proboards51.com/

Please feel free to drop by, say Kortoso sent ya.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 1 reply

Attention All Renaissance Enthusiast

Quixote — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:58:28 GMT

St. Brides-- Army of Dalkieth Invites all those interested in the real living history of the Renaissance time period to attend the premier Northern California Event.......

Action in the Low Countries------ The School of the Renaissance Soldier. April 4-6th
At Gibson Ranch State Park in Sacramento CA

This event last year had a battle contingent of 141 persons.....

We are expecting this number to double this year.......

At What event can you experience a Renaissance style Battle with over 200 soldier wielding pike----- holding off 30 cavalry--- Black powder matchlocks blazing and Cannons booming?

This event is becoming the ultimate destination as Re-enactment Soldiers from all over the Nation are coming to attend and participate in this annual spectacular event.......

Persons who consider themselves Military oriented should heavily consider attending this Workshop in order to knock the dust off their boots and prepare for the up coming season....

With a literal City of period pavilions and tents, sutlers, cooks, vendors, musicians--- This event is quickly becoming the best opportunity for the Renaissance Faire Society (in general) to participate in a great educational and yet highly entertaining event.

Please contact me with any Questions @ Halcyoninc@aol.com for more information............. or go to you can find the website here www.renaissancesoldier.com

Looking forward to seeing you there!!!!!!!

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 1 reply

Powerful Legs the Barbarian Way

Kortoso — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:32:02 GMT

A man fights standing up, connected to the Earth that gives him power. In order to become a renowned warrior and an asset to your tribe, you must have strong legs! Here's how we do it:

You can buy a gym membership and go into this clean airconditioned space on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and use the oiled machines - don't forget you towel for wiping your sweat - but this is for the civilized gworo, not my barbarians!

A barbarian gets dirty and exposes himself to the wind and the rain!

Find a big rock. Or anything heavy. Go ahead, I have time.

Got it? Now stand straddling it with your bare feet on either side. Take your shirt off too, if you dare, gworo boy!

Squat down to get your hands under the rock.
Keep your arms straight and vertical, shoulders back, head up.
Make your back as vertical as possible.
Put your navel as close to your spine as possible.
Now just stand up and slowly squat down again.
Keep your shoulders back and your head up throughout and don't drop the stone on your feet!

There is more. Be patient, my barbarians!

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 3 replies

Comic Con

Kortoso — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:52:42 GMT

Comic Con
http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_reg.shtml
Comic Con is a yearly science-fiction/fantasy convention that takes place in San Diego in July.

It started as a comic-book convention in 1970 and now is one of the major science fiction conventions in the world. Now its focus includes fantasy and science fiction, moves and everything of interest to geekdom. There are often announcements of new movies and TV series. The costume contest is said to be stellar.

Anyway, I am wondering who is planning to attend as well? This is my hometown, I would be pleased to show you around. My plans are to either fly and rent a car, or if anyone wants to carpool, we can drive. At any rate, I'll get a hotel room and if you can tolerate my snoring, we can split that.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Homemade Fitness Equipment

Kortoso — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:15:28 GMT

http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/shenandoah/Grunt/grunt.html
I've said it before and I'll say it again, this site is a great resource for homemade fitness equipment!

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Black Stones to the Sky!

Kortoso — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:54:45 GMT

By popular request, I have continued to add to my Barbarian Athlete site:
http://www.geocities.com/baldurstrand/hyboria/cleanandjerk.html
Enjoy.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Hi

monkeyboi — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:08:33 GMT

I was invited to this tribe by Pool Bacchus. I enjoy old-fashioned/primitive weight training techniques like lifting sandbags, carrying boulders, climbing ropes, kettlebells, Indian clubs, etc. I also have my own tribe called "Let's Get Strong".

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 1 reply

BBQ and cutting party

Kortoso — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 19:15:24 GMT

Now that the weather is getting nice and barbaric, it's time to choose a day for the first annual invitational barbarian barbeque and cutting party.

March 21 would be most significatory, but let's see what they augurs point to!

Choices?!

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 1 reply

Armor-Geddon

Kortoso — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 18:49:00 GMT

This store used to be located in Capitola. Now it's in the Westfield Shopping Town Oakridge in San Jose and in Vallcom Fashion Park in Cupertino. Awesome selection of blades, check it out.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 2 replies

New Swordplay Video

Kortoso — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 20:18:19 GMT

So, my friend Mike and I were practicing swordplay in the backyard again.
Thought you might like to see the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUTvOgqL30M

...and a Happy New Year from Kortoso of the Free Companions!
<><><> <><><> <><><>

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 45 replies

crossover to the SCA

Brother Tomas — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:08:47 GMT

Does the Bay Area Barbarians crossover into the SCA for fighting,carousing or overall mayhem? I belong also to the Barbarian Freehold Alliance. Inquiring minds at work again!!!!!!!!!

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 5 replies

Empire - A Song for All Exiles

Kortoso — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 22:48:44 GMT

Trumpets triumph in red disaster,
White skulls litter the broken sod,
And we who ride for the one Black Master
Howl at the iron gates of God.

Black shapes ride to a reddened revel,
Crimson queens with their hearts of ice-
We have plunged our hands in the wind of the Devil,
Leave the saints to their Paradise.

Becons break and the singers falter,
Lights go out in the rushing gloom-
Slay the priest on the blackened altar,
Rip the babe from the woman's womb!

The black blade drinks and the black heart gladdens;
Summon our kindred up from Hell!
Let me mingle the wine that maddens
With the burning kisses of Jezebel.

Who would trade for a bloodless Heaven,
One fierce harlot's hot caress?
Virtue is one but the Sins be seven-
And Sin is the only goodliness.

Black be the night that locks around them,
They who chant of the Good and Light,
Black be the pinions that shall confound them,
Breaking their brains with a deadly fright.

Praised be the Prince that reigns forever
Throned in the shadows dark and grim,
Where cypress moans by the midnight river-
Lift your goblets and drink to him!

Virgins wail and a babe is whining
Nailed like a fly on a gory lance;
White on the skulls the stars are shining,
Over them sweeps our demon's dance.

Heritage of the world is ours,
Gods of all evil grant us rule-
See where they hang from flaming towers,
Woman and prelate, priest and fool.

Trumpets bray and the stars are riven!
Shatter the altar, blot the light!
Of all the world from the hells to heaven
We are the kings of the world tonight!

-Robert E. Howard

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 2 replies

A few pictures from Hyborian Tales

Kortoso — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:28:29 GMT

A unique roleplaying system based on the Conan stories of Robert E. Howard:
http://web.mac.com/bryn_rees_jones/iWeb/Site/Photos.html

http://www.hyboriantales.com/

If we can get our act together, maybe we can do something like that here!

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

So I start kenjutsu next Sunday

Kortoso — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 21:36:35 GMT

http://www.webdiva4hire.com/kenshinkan/

The Kenshinkan dojo teaches Toyama-ryu iaido and Nakamura-ryu battado, developed during Japan's wars in the early 20th century.

Stay tuned!

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 1 reply

Middle Earth Ranger

Kortoso — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:02:09 GMT

http://www.meranger.com/
Interesting idea, one that I want to pursue for the Hyborian Age. But then again, how different can that be?

<quote>This site is for and about the “Historical” Re-creation of Tolkien’s Middle Earth and more specifically, the Rangers of the North in the Third Age; the Dunedain that remained in Eriador living as “a strange and wandering folk”. I’ve approached this much like any of the Historical Re-creation groups out there, be it French & Indian war, Viking, or 12th Century English bowmen. I take as much as I can, straight from the books (Tolkien’s words), as well as his letters.

It is fantasy, so it should be fun.
That is, fun to me, i.e. wearing functional clothing and gear and knowing how to use that gear, being in the woods, occupying a small camp site, and many more things that will be discussed here.

Tolkien created Middle Earth with more than enough “accurate History”, meaning it is chronological, accurate and cross-referenced. That makes it easy to re-create his world with some guidelines and limits. Middle Earth is founded in our history. Therefore, nothing has to be make-believe in order to enjoy it. I want to stress real-life, true "historical" re-creation/living. Meaning, your abilities are your real abilities. For example, my rate of fire with my bow is my actual rate of fire, not what it would be if I were an 86-year-old Ranger in the prime of my life who had been shooting bows for 78 years. Building ones basic skills is part of the fun. One thing that drives me is the pressure to be at a skill level that enables me to function as a Ranger.

I will never discourage other types of groups. The way I approach this is definitely not for everyone. This isn’t LARP. There are groups for that and I don’t discourage it.</quote>

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Conan Red Nails

Kortoso — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 19:56:52 GMT

http://www.conanrednails.com/
Looks like it's finally back on track!

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Middle Earth Ranger

Kortoso — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 17:22:27 GMT

http://www.meranger.com/
Perhaps this is as close as we'll ever get to being real barbarians.

"of a new breed growing up in the world on the raw edge of the frontier - men who grim necessity had taught woodcraft...They dressed alike - in buckskin boots, leathern breaks and deer-skin shirts, with broad girdles that held axes and short swords; and they were all gaunt and scarred and hard eyed; sinewy and taciturn. They were wild men of a sort, yet there was still a wild gulf between them and the Cimmerian. They were sons of civilization, reverted to a semi-barbarism. He was a barbarian of a thousand generations of barbarians. They had acquired stealth and craft, but he had been born to these things."
-Beyond the Black River, REH

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

More test-cutting and barbeque...

Kortoso — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 19:33:56 GMT

http://www.thearma.org/spotlight/TestCutting/TestCuttingEvent2.htm

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Cimmeria music video

Kortoso — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 19:14:44 GMT

Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdHT3V_gCpM

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 2 replies

Scabbard project

Kortoso — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 00:33:17 GMT

Just posted a pic of my scabbard project.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 1 reply

Cimmeria

Kortoso — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 21:53:58 GMT

Cimmeria

I remember
The dark woods, masking slopes of sombre hills;
The grey clouds' leaden everlasting arch;
The dusky streams that flowed without a sound,
And the lone winds that whispered down the passes.

Vista on vista marching, hills on hills,
Slope beyond slope, each dark with sullen trees,
Our gaunt land lay. So when a man climbed up
A rugged peak and gazed, his shaded eye
Saw but the endless vista - hill on hill,
Slope beyond slope, each hooded like its brothers.

It was a gloomy land that seemed to hold
All winds and clouds and dreams that shun the sun,
With bare boughs rattling in the lonesome winds,
And the dark woodlands brooding over all,
Not even lightened by the rare dim sun
Which made squat shadows out of men; they called it
Cimmeria, land of Darkness and deep Night.

It was so long ago and far away
I have forgot the very name men called me.
The axe and flint-tipped spear are like a dream,
And hunts and wars are shadows. I recall
Only the stillness of that sombre land;
The clouds that piled forever on the hills,
The dimness of the everlasting woods.
Cimmeria, land of Darkness and the Night.

Oh, soul of mine, born out of shadowed hills,
To clouds and winds and ghosts that shun the sun,
How many deaths shall serve to break at last
This heritage which wraps me in the grey
Apparel of ghosts? I search my heart and find
Cimmeria, land of Darkness and the Night.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

WonderCon March 2-4

Kortoso — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 20:53:34 GMT

http://www.comic-con.org/wc/
Moscone Center March 2-4
Who is going?

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

The Sacred Pilau

Kortoso — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 18:54:05 GMT

The Sacred Pilau

Yesterday, I cooked up a pot of the sacred pilau for my lady. She liked
it. I'd be interested in seeing what variations the chefs in this tribe can come up with.

I offer my recipe:
In a large pot, coat the bottom with olive oil. Heat it up.
Throw in some diced onion and minced garlic. Braise until the onions
become translucent.
Probably this is a good place to add spices. I use conriander and
cumin.
Add cubed lamb. Brown.
Add pearl barley, and roast until a nutty aroma arises from the pot.
Add water and salt. Cook until all the water is absorbed.
Stir in some raisins and serve.
We had some mead as an accompaniment.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 3 replies

By Mitra!

Kortoso — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 00:56:53 GMT

The Rosicrucian Museum has a series of lectures on The Mithraic Mysteries:
http://www.well.com/~davidu/mithras.html

The lectures are at 2 pm at the planetarium daily. The museum is also worth visiting and the grounds resemble a long-lost Hyborian city:
http://www.egyptianmuseum.org/

-Kortoso

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 4 replies

Historical Martial Arts Symposium by the Bay

Kortoso — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 17:17:59 GMT

February 16-19

I apologize for not posting this sooner, but here's a chance to learn historical swordsmanship from some of the best researchers in the business. These events are always great fun.

Check this out:
http://www.stmichaelssalle.com/symposium.html

Top of the list (and deservedly so) is Bob Charron's interpretations of Fiore dei Liberi, one of the most powerful and well-documented longsword styles. A variety of other swords and techniques will be covered as well, including separate classes on tameshigiri (test-cutting).

It would be a foolish barbarian indeed who would miss such a training opportunity.

See you there.

-Kortoso

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 1 reply

Age of Conan: Hyborean Adventures

Roargathor — Sun, 07 Jan 2007 11:58:07 GMT

A game in the making looks true Howard's vision thus far. Anyone else excited about this soon to be HUGE timesync?

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Boar Hunting

Kortoso — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:48:10 GMT

http://www.huntingmag.com/big_game/hog_0516/

It's long been a barbaric dream of mine to set forth over the hills of California with some steadfast barbarian brothers and with spears in hand, go out and get us a pig.

Yeah, people hunt pig with rifles, but even then, the guides use dogs, and pin the boar or pig in where the hunter can basically go in with a "pig-sticker" knife or a few good spears, and make them some meat.

Who here would be into that?

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 5 replies

Seasonal Felicitations!

Kortoso — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 18:24:04 GMT

Looks like the barbarians around here are looting the stores and sacrificing pine trees to their local god, who is fat and dresses in red. What a barbaric custom. :)

Here's hoping warmth and happiness in each your respective tribes. Nurture the memories of brightness and warmth until the spring returns in our land. And happy new year.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 2 replies

Hot young naked French girl dancing to medieval music

Kortoso — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 20:13:24 GMT

Would I lie to you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83-AwC9VBao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5hHAbB4dqY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB2yxBxknnU
A solstice gift to my barbarian brothers!

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 2 replies

The Ballade of James Kim

Kortoso — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 00:29:31 GMT

CENTRAL POINT, Ore. – A San Francisco man who died in the snowy mountains of Southern Oregon after leaving his family to seek help was found in a shallow creek, dead of hypothermia, authorities said Thursday.

Test your survival knowledge. What would you have done? Did James Kim do the right thing, or make a fatal mistake?

Perhaps we can benefit from this sad chapter and become, like barbarians, closer to nature and our own mortality.

Should he have stayed with the car?

What else was there to eat out there?

-Kortoso

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 5 replies

Tameshigiri, Test Cutting and Me

Kortoso — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 23:53:57 GMT

From the film Lawrence of Arabia:
Jackson Bentley: Never saw a man killed with a sword before.
T.E. Lawrence: [contemptuously] Why don't you take a picture?
Jackson Bentley: Wish I had.

How many of us, swinging our swords around in the backyard as a hobby, has ever had the opportunity, or the misfortune, to kill a man with a sword? None of have, I’ll bet, and we should be glad for it. I did once meet a man who was a Viet Nam vet, who said that he had beheaded an enemy soldier with his machete, but I have no way to verify this.

However, in our hobby, whether it be sword-collecting, or role-playing, or recreating battles for the screen and stage, we know that a little knowledge about what happens when steel meets flesh, can go a long way towards informing our efforts.

We have a fair number of historical accounts, but what if we have a replica sword in our hands? Is there something fun and educational we can do without damaging ourselves or our steel toy?

I recall when I got my first functional sword. It was a Del Tin and I still have it. The blade arrived in a cardboard box; as soon as I unwrapped it, I stepped out onto the patio and left behind a mangled cardboard box.

Since then, I have studied Italian longsword with Schola Saint George for more than four years. I attended a number of swordplay symposia for extra training, one of which included instruction in tameshigiri with kenjutsu instructor Jim Alvarez. He also helped us out later with a personal session of test-cutting.

Tameshigiri is a sort of sub-art of Japanese swordsmanship; if this were golf, we’d be talking about practicing on the driving range! The classic target is a rolled tatami mat, the same kind of rush mat you’d see on the floor of Japanese homes. Beach mats are similar, but they’re actually a little more expensive. This mat is rolled tightly and soaked in water. Then you prop it up on a stand of some sort, and practice on your fake opponent with a real sword.

And here is – I hope – more than you want to know about the history and semantics of tameshigiri:
http://www2.una.edu/Takeuchi/DrT_Jpn_Culture_files/Nihon_to_files/Tameshi.htm

I bought a huge box of tatami mats from Mugen Dachi a year ago. The company is in El Sobrante and I saved a pile of cash on shipping by just driving there and picking it up. The box is now finally empty and I feel that I’m just starting to learn.
http://tameshigiri.com/

Many students of kenjutsu prefer that people who are studying western sword not refer to it as tameshigiri; we should just call it “test cutting”. Whatever.

It’s tempting to swing at the target, or goza, like a baseball slugger, but the real value is in using the experience to inform one’s swordsmanship. So, try to cut the goza in the same spirit as you would in sparring.
Here’s how your supposed to do it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM18LeRzJug

Is cutting up some Japanese person’s floor mat necessarily the equivalent to winning a swordfight? There’s no reason it should be, but it’s accepted as a good training medium. Another medium that’s probably better for starting on is plastic jugs full of water. My favorite is milk jugs. They’re good as a confidence-builder. A neighbor had a baby and she was going through several milk jugs every week. I was having quite a time with them until she moved out.

A more realistic testing medium is, of course, some cheap cut of meat, including bone. Many people use a leg of pork; I don’t know why everyone assumes that people are like pigs, but there you go. I have yet to cut meat with my sword. It would be an interesting experience, and a great excuse for a barbeque.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 7 replies

Where can a family guy learn stickfighting(east bay)?

Robert — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 13:41:38 GMT

I was hoping somebody here could steer me to a person or place with the basics. I often see a horde of young fighters at the Berkeley Marina and have been jealous too long at their exploits. I want to have some fun, too! So where can a not-too-old old guy start? I'm getting tired of fighting a tree in my backyard by myself, while my children snicker

Thanks!
Any ideas or contacts appreciated.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 8 replies

I'm a stalker.

Kortoso — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:48:20 GMT

I admit it.

Yesterday, I went hiking at the Rancho San Antonio Park near me. I was not deep into the hill trails widing through the woods when I came upon a small doe. She was standing in the trail, browsing on broadleaved plants that were sprouting on the forest floor since the last rain. I decided to make a game of stalking her, to see how close I could get to her. When she looked straight at me, I froze, but when her attention went back to browsing, I stepped forward - very quietly - one step at a time. We kept this up for a while, until I got about 15 feet from her, and she slipped under some branches that I couldn't follow her under. But I saw that she had company, three other does. I sat down a watched them. One of the larger does - possibly the mother - looked at me with curiosity, and started walk towards me step by step. Yeah I was being stalked by a deer! Once she got fairly close, then she bolted and ran off. I could have zapped these girls with a spear.

Later I saw some wild turkeys and got some pictures of them.

Before I left I found a spot that reeked of deer urine. I looked around and found a beautiful buck on the opposite bank of a stream. Taking several minutes to stalk him, I got quite close. Even I could have made a good bowshot at him. I tried to ford the stream without spooking him, but to no avail; he bolted up the hill.

Anyway, no meat to take home, but what a rush that is! I highly recommend trying this. It's fun and you really feel like a forest predator when you come home. :)

-Kortoso

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Season's Greetings!

Kortoso — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:28:37 GMT

My barbarian brothers!

As the fall season dips over the land, it is now time to reduce the herd. Slaughter a few animals, give thanks to Crom (or bloodthirsty deity of choice) for all good things, the foaming ale, the buxom wench and the trenchant sword. Hail!

Kortoso

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

The Complete Conan

Kortoso — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 00:04:18 GMT

The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian
http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Conan-Cimmerian-Cimmeria-Book/dp/0345461517/sr=8-2/qid=1163030478/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-3646733-4864019?ie=UTF8&s=books

The Bloody Crown of Conan
http://www.amazon.com/Bloody-Crown-Conan-Cimmeria-Book/dp/0345461525/sr=8-5/qid=1163030478/ref=pd_bbs_sr_5/002-3646733-4864019?ie=UTF8&s=books

The Conquering Sword of Conan
http://www.amazon.com/Conquering-Sword-Conan-Robert-Howard/dp/0345461533/sr=8-8/qid=1163030478/ref=pd_bbs_sr_8/002-3646733-4864019?ie=UTF8&s=books

Ask Santy Claus for these - or go and get them yourself at your nearest neighborhood bookseller!

Arggh, good reading!

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 2 replies

The New Conan Movie

Kortoso — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:56:54 GMT

Supposed to start filming next year:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816462/board/nest/46774948

Any thoughts about how it should be done, which stories to use, who should star???

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 1 reply

The Swordsmanship of Conan of Cimmeria: A Proposed Method of Re-Construction

Kortoso — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 17:39:58 GMT

I’ve been a fan of swords, and fencing as well as a fan of Conan for as long as whiskers have grown upon my chin. When John Milius’ movie Conan the Barbarian finally came out in the early ‘80s, I saw the Japanese swordcraft that I had loved and learned, but there was something missing. Robert E. Howard’s Conan was not a samurai.

John Milius, like myself, was a fan of the Japanese samurai and the movies of Akira Kurosawa – and the legendary film The Seven Samurai in particular. Apparently he gave in to the temptation to graft Japanese swordsmanship onto a barbarian character that I had grown up with. It boils down to a few simple points:

1. This is not Conan’s sword.
2. This is not how he was trained.
3. This is not the way Conan fought.

I’d like to discuss each item in detail, referring to the original stories by Robert Howard as much as possible, backing these up with the techniques of historical swordplay from around the world and through the dark centuries.

This is Not Conan’s Sword
The “Atlantean” sword in the movie Conan the Barbarian weighed almost eight pounds and measured a little over a yard long. The “Father’s” sword was also a little over a yard long and weighed seven and a half pounds. In Conan the Destroyer the “Atlantean” sword grew to 40 inches long and was a little over eight pounds in weight. (http://filmswords.com)
Now by historical standards, these dimensions are very unusual – the swords are either too heavy for their length or too short for their weight. A typical one-hander (around a yard long) out of a museum collection weighs somewhere around two-three pounds.

Longswords, made to be used with two hands, still didn’t get much over five pounds. The only swords that would weigh as much as the swords in the films, were the German Zweihander or two-handed greatsword – and these generally measured between five and six feet long - and about eight pounds.

Now, Conan is described as using swords of this length, twice in the novel Hour of the Dragon. Not so in any of the 20 short stories: the brief description of “sword” or “saber” or “cutlass” or “tulwar” are many times all that we have.

Wearing a weapon often only described as a “sword”, Conan climbs over walls and moves stealthily through undergrowth. I defy anyone, even a bodybuilder, to move quietly with such gear in tow.

When Conan strikes, it’s not with the sheer massiveness of his blade that does the work, but with “cobra-like” or “catlike” speed:

The Cimmerian moved in a blur of blinding speed.
-The Phoenix on the Sword

He struck with no more warning than a striking cobra; his sword flashed in the candle light.
-The God in the Bowl

Conan’s action was a blur of speed Olivia’s eye could not follow. She only saw that he evaded that deadly grasp, and his sword, flashing like a jet of white lightning, sheared through on of those massive arms between shoulder and elbow.
-Iron Shadows on the Moon

Indeed, it is speed that does the work in cutting with a sword, or specifically kinetic energy:
Ek = 1/2mv^2
-where m is the object's mass and v is the object's velocity.

Note that the kinetic energy increases with the square of the velocity (not the mass). Increasing the speed contributes to the effect more than does increasing the weight. That’s right, speed kills. And a heavier sword will always be slower to get up to full speed than a lighter sword will, regardless of whose hands are using it.

If there were something else to know about Conan’s sword, the author did not supply it; typical if his style, he relied on the reader’s imagination to provide the details. When we see the word “sword”, then, we can expect that the first image that springs to mind is a typical sword….Except when the author deliberately describes it as a five-foot greatsword, as he did in The Hour of the Dragon.

This is Not How He Was Trained
In the movie, we see Conan forced into slavery (another issue entirely) and trained to be a “pit-fighter” or gladiator by a Hyrkanian sword-master (actually played by the film’s swordplay consultant, karate instructor Kiyoshi Yamazaki).

In the original tales, Conan was already trained up by his people when he left for the southern lands:

"I was," grunted the other. "I was one of the horde that swarmed over the walls. I hadn't yet seen fifteen snows, but already my name was repeated about the council fires."
Balthus involuntarily recoiled, staring. It seemed incredible that the man walking tranquilly at his side should have been one of those screeching, blood-mad devils that poured over the walls of Venarium on that long-gone day to make her streets run crimson.
–Beyond the Black River

Zaporavo was the veteran of a thousand fights by sea and by land. There was no man in the world more deeply and thoroughly versed than he in the lore of swordcraft. But he had never been pitted against a blade wielded by thews bred in the wild lands beyond the borders of civilization.
-The Pool of the Black One

Conan’s manner of fighting was unorthodox, but instinctive and natural as that of a timber wolf. The intricacies of the sword were as useless against his primitive fury as a human boxer’s skill against the onslaughts of a panther.
–The Pool of the Black One

I hope it’s quickly becoming apparent that the “real” Conan is a different beast from the Arnold Schwarzenegger version. Not to disparage Hollywood’s version, but let’s go explore what other surprises that the wilds of Cimmeria have in store for us!

This is Not the Way Conan Fought

Coming soon. Watch this space!

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 7 replies

" First thing.....

Sat, 04 Nov 2006 04:42:04 GMT

let's kill all the laywers" Henry viii . Well the first thing that comes to mind , we need to do as barbarians normally would, is A NIGHT OF HEAVY DRINKING AND DEBAUCHERY!!!1 then we go to war! G.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 2 replies

Videos at Albion Armorers

Kortoso — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 18:05:46 GMT

http://www.albion-swords.com/
Brother Vandar sent me these links. They are become cursed and will not work when sent thru tribal mail for some foul reason ;) but here is a link that should work for us:
http://www.albion-swords.com/sword-videos.htm
Enjoy!

Your barbarian brother,
Kortoso

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 1 reply

Just to get your blood up...

Kortoso — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 17:52:45 GMT

Cool European LARP videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4-igGnL11M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPjokydQzQ0

Does it appeal to your wild blood?

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Body Ritual Among the Naciremas

Kortoso — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 22:18:48 GMT

http://www.msu.edu/~jdowell/miner.html
A truly savage tribe of barbarians.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Barbarian Rendezvous

Kortoso — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 22:43:31 GMT

Some have asked me if I can get together a Conan – Hyborian Age reenactment event in the SF Bay Area either this year or early next.

Looks like a fair amount of people would be into such a thing. A number have already spoken up on other lists. How about you folk?

We might be able to secure some wild land in the central valley area.

The vision is similar to a Mountain Man rendezvous, with a campout, both authentic and plastic. We could share skills, compete and swap lies and recite REH poetry about the campfire.

I offer you a timeline of about the story Hour of the Dragon. King Conan was recently captured, Aquilonia overrun by foul Nemedian soldiers, and the mercenaries and dispossessed noblemen of Aquilonia are living in hiding in the hills. But swiftly comes the rumor that Conan is not dead, he’s alive and he has escaped from a Nemedian dungeon! Thus, in secret, loyal troops and mercenaries are being assembled in the hills.

A costume pageant featuring characters from the books would be very cool, but probably any costume based on the books, comics and movies, would be just as cool.

So do you all have ideas for other things you’d like to see at a barbarian rendezvous?

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Myspace barbarians

Kortoso — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 18:34:41 GMT

I just sent out yodel to the folks at Myspace, telling them of this place. Barbarians around the bay, feel comfortable that this is your territory. Sit back, opur yourself an ale, and tell us your story.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Rock Climbing Video

Kortoso — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 19:09:51 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR8HoG_cVQc

Top-ranking free-climbing, in a beautiful Nevada setting. Conan or any
Cimmerian would be impressed. Enjoy.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 3 replies

New video

Kortoso — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 01:34:44 GMT

I studied escrima when I was stationed at Pearl Harbor in the 1980's. For a variety of reasons, this will be the foundation of my re-creation of Conan's fighting style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fITfxlvHzgo

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 7 replies

Silicon 2006

Kortoso — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 19:56:56 GMT

http://www.siliconventions.com/
Convention in at the DoubleTree hotel in San Jose: Comics On and Off the Page!

How many of my barbarians can I count on to be there!?!

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Medieval Metal

Kortoso — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 00:21:34 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/group/medmetal
Bastard son of the aged and the ageless, medieval metal combines music from ye olde Europe with various modern musical sensibilities. Enjoy the videos with ale in hand and a wench on either knee! Huzzah!

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 1 reply

Sharpening up my sword

Kortoso — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 23:12:35 GMT

Jonesing to get home and try out my new sharpening jig for my sword, make it scary sharp.

Oh, heads will roll. Heads will roll!

Got a blade, and some cutting remarks!? Let's hear it!

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 4 replies

Blays-Halla Battle Academy

Kortoso — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 18:26:34 GMT

http://www.blayshalla.com/

Looks like this cat Blaise Loong took lessons from Apache warriors in their way of hunting and warcraft. He also learned from some of the best escrima/kali/arnis instructors on the globe. Over this, he's got an overlay of European barbarian warrior spirit.

I think that's a good recipe for approaching the true barbarian fighting style of Conan of Cimmeria. At least it's far closer than a lot of efforts we've been exposed to.

Classes are taught in southern California. Can anyone here tell me more about this school?

Kortoso

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Burningman

Kortoso — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:10:20 GMT

Has anyone here gone? Anybody planning to go? What were your impressions?

Gerlach webcam:
http://www.burningman.com/preparation/travel_info/gerlach_webcam.html
Daily reports from the Burn:
http://www.current.tv/burningman/

Enjoy.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 6 replies

Benedicto

Kortoso — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:07:06 GMT

"May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. May your rivers flow without end, meandering through pastoral valleys tinkling with bells, past temples and castles and poets towers into a dark primeval forest where tigers belch and monkeys howl, through miasmal and mysterious swamps and down into a desert of red rock, blue mesas, domes and pinnacles and grottos of endless stone, and down again into a deep vast ancient unknown chasm where bars of sunlight blaze on profiled cliffs, where deer walk across the white sand beaches, where storms come and go as lightning clangs upon the high crags, where something strange and more beautiful and more full of wonder than your deepest dreams waits for you --- beyond that next turning of the canyon walls."
-Edward Abbey

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

"Kingdoms to save and women to love!"

Kortoso — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 00:06:09 GMT

OK, who knows what movie that's from?

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 1 reply

The Dreamers of the Day

Kortoso — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:35:02 GMT

"Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that all was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, and make it possible."
-T.E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia")

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Cold Water Dousing

Kortoso — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 00:12:13 GMT

What are we? BARBARIANS?!

The warm season is a perfect time to begin the habit of cold water dousing. It invigorates the body and spirit! - If you survive it, that is.

I do it at the end of a workout. Contrary to what you might think, the result in a healthy body is not more shivering and freezing and misery, but a response from the body in which your built-in heating system kicks in and you experience a mini-fever. Keep it up and you'll be shrugging off warm clothing in the winter, and laughing at colds and the flu.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dousing

Dousing is the practice of pouring water, generally cold, over oneself. A related practice is ice swimming. Some consider cold water dousing to be a form of asceticism.

Cold water dousing is used to "shock" the body into a kind of fever. The body's reaction is similar to the mammalian diving reflex or possibly temperature biofeedback. The effects of dousing are usually more intense and longer lasting than just a cold shower. Ending a shower with cold water is an old naturopathic tradition. There are those who believe that this fever is helpful in killing harmful bacteria and leaving the hardier beneficial bacteria in the body.

Steam may be seen to rise off of the body, especially when dousing in wintertime.

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies

Cutting Practice

Kortoso — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 23:24:00 GMT

I got a video of me practicing my mad barbarian swordplay techniques. Watch and enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReS0fsD62oc

posted in Bay Area Barbarians - 0 replies