Ymir

It was a good event, as far as I could tell. I was in a wierd mood the whole time - tired and disjointed, unable to think, I was so very grateful that other folks in our group took care of everything. I was mostly a waste of space - sleepy, somewhat grumpy, I shouldn't have come, really, There were moments that stand out - fun conversations, some silly shopping, I really enjoyed watching the children all play together under the baronial pavillion and the various non-parents who took such delight in spending time with them.

I was the "German Judge" at A&S, or so it felt. Then it was time for folding things up (I was so tired that I nearly sat on my chair while it was sideways rather than upright) so we missed Court. Then dinner, then bed... blessed bed. I slept nearly 12 hours. On a hotel bed. Yup, I was that wiped. I woke up wanting Ymir to start over again so I could be there this time!

Old Atlantian Policy

A couple of folks have some heavy-reply entries about children wandering events without their parents. I'd reply on their entries but at over-80 responses, I think it might never be read so I'll mention an old Atlantian policy*:

When a child is found without a parent near it, the child is taken to the List field, where all fighting stops. The Marshal, List herald, and child go to the middle of the field and announce that the child is lost and fighting will not continue until it is re-united with its parents - and the herald/marshal/child stays right there until the parent, not a friend or anyone else, comes and gets the child.

It only had to happen twice in two years. Word gets around fast and no one, even the known repeat offenders, wanted to be embarrassed that way. I firmly believe in "natural consequences" for training out poor behaviour.

(There was another reason to make it so public - someone watching the bouts would surely recognise the child and be able to find the parent faster than if the kid was brought to the troll or the autocrat who'd try to handle it "by staff", taking longer to unite kid & parent.)


*And yeah, it was my policy when I was Kingdom Chatelaine so it is *really* old.