The Sword Conclusion and the Beginning of Parties

My brother posed me this question: So, why do we like swords and not guns as a means of defense and justice in Miendur and other various forms of entertainment? I believe it could have something to do with legos, yes legos. When we were young lads, we used to construct alternate realities with legos. That's right. But we typically did not use modern lego themes. Yes we had some cowboy legos and maybe a few spaceship one, but the vast majority of them were medieval legos. We had the Wolfpack, Dragon Masters, Lion Kingdom, Ninja Dudes, and various other sets that I cannot recall exactly. It all started back then.

And all this talk of legos brings me to another point. We used to set up very interesting little scenarios with those little plastic men. They had names, rank, and even food preferences. However, my brother always took a different approach than I. Ladius used to take one guy and deck him out with all the weapons he was given (we divided our weapons pieces up evenly). This would be his hero. This social outcast would most likely live, with monkey and parrot of course, on some deserted island, only revealing himself in times of dire distress.

I, on the other hand, would create a group of heroes, a party, a brotherhood,...A fellowship if you will. Each member of this group would then have a specific role or two. For instance, their would be a captain who, though not the greatest warrior, would be the unquestioned leader of the group. Then the champion would wield two swords since he was the greatest swordsman in all the lands, therefore he demanded the finest meats and cheeses (Kenny M. From ESPN). Then there would be an amazing archer or a great hunter-type, much like Robin Hood or Legolas. I would probably also have some pyrotechnic as well who liked to execute siege tactics against moving targets. And still there are more: the physician, the warrior maiden, the burly axeman, the falconer.

Miendur has come to respect those differences as my brother and I have come to focus on our own heroic style. He tends to concentrate more on one all-encompassing hero who stands alone against the hordes of evil, whereas I tend to emphasize a brotherhood of battle, where deep relational and even emotional ties exist. For instance, I find gripping dialogues most entertaining, yet Ladius might not even have quotation marks in his entire story.

I feel that group heroism is most useful to illustrate lessons of loyalty, trust, gift-using, and interdependence. After all this story is just one gigantic allegory of the Spirit-filled life, so this illustrates the importance of the Body of Christ in a disciple's life.

The Sword

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VS.


First and foremost, visit my brothers blog. It will make you grin (you will need it after you're done reading this post). Here we go...

Notice the above pictures. You will see four warriors. Two are fake (Mel Gibson as William Wallace and the Alexander of Macedon painting) while the other two are real (the US infantry and the US tank). So, my comparison is flawed, but I seek the symbols behind the pictures.

Let me cut straight to the point. We obviously do not have horse and sword armies any more. Therefore we must remember them through art. Oftentimes, we forget that wars were not always won with the bigger, better guns. Wars were won with valor and hand-to-hand skill.

Now hear me out. I don't want to demean the excellent job that our soldiers are doing around the world in defense of freedom. But, to tell the truth, mankind fights a different kind of war altogether. As of five hundred years ago, warriors stood face to face against their enemies. In fact, Remarque's All Quiet on the Western Front speaks of the brutal hand-to-hand combat occurring only eighty years ago in WW I.

However, in those ancient times, with the exception of range-limited bows and highly inaccurate catapults, death was literally within hands reach of every warrior. Imagine what that would have been like: standing face to face with someone who wanted to and/or had to maim or kill you. That's actually rather terrifying. Truly that would take either tremendous coercive power by the ruler to perform or great courage.

Similarly, the soldiers of the USA are encouraged to fight but usually not in a hand-to-hand situation. They place great trust in their commanders to create a scenario that favors them, and soldiers of ancient history likely held similar trust. Another aspect of this trust is training. American forces have the best technology of any in the world, so they must be prepared to use it appropriately.

Their ancient counterparts, however, were not trained in technological warfare but physical warfare. The US attacks with technology, but the ancients attacked a sword in hand. In that world only the most skilled will survive. One misplaced blow and you could be done for. Today, a random piece of flying shrapnel could end your life in seconds.

The difference lies in proximity--the distance between you and death. With this proximity comes the idea of glory. For instance, King David's Mighty Men are remembered in the book of I Samuel. Achilles is remembered in the Iliad for feats of combative prowess. William Wallace is remembered as a fierce warrior.

To sum up, in generasl terms...

• Today's way of war = valor + technology + distanced
• Yesterday's way of war = valor + skill + personal
  

Wow, that sounds like a rather calloused way of looking at it, but its true. This is why Miendur is based in "ye olde times." Plus it makes for a better story, and I don't have to base it on contemporary events.

Again, I say thank you to those in service of freedom, where ever you are in the world. My prayers are with you. Strength and Honor.

Why medieval fantasy?

Ah yes, my first substantive post. This shall be a joy to explain the seeming strangeness of my mind. For one to understand my mind, they must first look openly upon what I am doing. Am I living in an alternate reality? Am I finding a way to escape from the worries of daily life? Perhaps...Perhaps not. In my quest to reason myself with you, you hopefully will see what I am trying to accomplish.
"Why?" you may ask, "are you so fascinated with medieval fantasy?" The legends of King Arthur, the Lord of the Rings, Greek and Norse Mythology. These are my hobbies. I study them for fun. For one, I love ancient history, so obviously, like ancient peoples, I love the stories that they loved (save LOTR) and have modeled my own stories after these.
Two words sum up my rationality for this seemingly strange hobby. The Sword. Truly, I love swords. Those who know me personally will recall that I collect swords. Swords are to me as shrubberies are to Roger the Shrubber. It all began about four years ago when I saw a movie called Gladiator.
Anyways, in my next post you all shall know exactly why I love swords as I do. Please do not mistake my love for swords as a love for death or a love for war. Remember I just love swords. If you can't wait for a few days I suggest you go read Hebrews 4:12+13. It's best in the King James Version.

Greetings

Greetings and welcome to my chronicles. This page will be dedicated to journaling the progression of my created world, Miendur. I will discuss its origins, its many revisions, and its cultures that are entirely imaginary. Strength and honor.