Right then, it looks to be a great year for Rangering about. New trails, new kit, new clothing, and more on the way. To start off, I found these sketches on the Rangers of the White Tree Facebook page:
Why do I find these so exciting? They speak to me of Arnor, Gondor, and Numenor that was Westernesse. I have always been more Numenorian in my leanings than anything else, more Second Age than Third. Also, these are a lovely blend of different cultures; Late Roman, Byzantine, and early Medieval Europe. They mix it so well too. I wish I had thought of this myself way back in my younger years with the SCA. Even so, I can use them now.
"But Eledhwen, those are all black and white, what good is that for a Ranger?"
Glad you asked. For a Ranger we just use 'earth tones' for fabric...you know, the usual greens, browns, greys, and even black. In my case, browns and greens, with a bit of grey, and black or very dark blue decorative bits. Remaining subdued and plain, but still in line with these sketches which speak to me so clearly.
Of course, your mileage will vary. *I* find them spot on, but others may not. I have never, ever, liked the later medieval images used by various folk for Gondor. That is just me, however.
In any case, from this point forward (and even a little backward as I revisit extant garb with decorative work), folk will have no trouble noting me as my garments, mannish and my own feminine dresses, will be based around these. I have to admit, the sagum and paludamentum type cloaks are very, very nice with this.
Additionally, I will be including this style of work in the decoration of my leather and wood projects..no bright colors, no glitz, just subdued work. The only truly fair thing I will wear is my Ranger Star.
On top of all of that, silk painting of the Northern Rangers flag begins in a week or so. Yes, that ridiculously complicated pine tree is to be painted. No idea why I do this to myself, but I do. There will be writing in Elven script on the banner, and there will be pennants for the spears and gonfanons for the wall, not to mention cushions. Yeah, obsessive, aren't I? ;)
Shadows' Bane, my bow, and Orcbane, my Elven knife, also going out and about. One of these days I will render them in Elvish...and name the Numenorian shortsword I am nearly done with. Yes, I still have my DelTin Glamdring, but honestly, I much prefer shortswords. I do have a spear, naturally, and I even have an axe....a belt axe, mind.
New boots. I am patterning them off the Medieval Hunting Boots seen in so many of my hunting texts. They will have a stacked leather heel, although not high stacked, and cuffs at the top.
Also on the new front; the Ranger pack I have been mucking about with. I have found that I need a frame. I have decided to build one and enclose it in canvas and good webbing and then attach the pack itself to that. If I get it right, it shouldn't be terribly noticeable. Sorry, but the misalignment of my shoulder requires it.
Finally, new arrows for my bows. I am fletching these with natural turkey feathers...although if I can get them, I will use natural grey goose feathers. These will be bound with artificial sinew, tipped with good hunting broadheads. The new trail area I will be hiking runs right through a nearby Wildlife Management Area that I can hunt in as I patrol, for whichever game is in season at that time.
So that's the update for this season.
Vendui!
Eledhwen
No comments:
Post a Comment