The Swashbucklers' Thread!

[Blas_de_Lezo]

So, how many swashbucklers are wandering around here? :smallbiggrin:

Now we'll see if you have what it takes. Everybody is encourage to participate!

Rules:

1. Be polite and treat other swashbucklers with respect. If not, you may be challenged to a duel.

2. We'll write here to show off.
This may include your most amazing achievements (whataever you consider), duels, or your PC's memorable moments of glory. Of course, also you may talk about chicks/guys you had an affair with (including those secretly kept details!) and those funny anecdotes with your ex! Or if you prefer, enlighten the whole forum with that completely unknown but totally genial swasbuckling movie/novel/song/poem that we should all know!

3. You may also ask for/answer to advices about a complicated situation that should be resolved in the swashbuckler way!

4. Rapier wielding is not mandatory, but it's a coolness factor! :smallbiggrin:

Now, let's show off!! :smallamused:

[Kobold-Bard]

As much as I would love to put my Bardic talents to use singing songs of the Epic shenanigans you swashbucklers get up to, I'm not sure threads like this are allowed lest a swarm of copycat clubs appear.

I may be wrong, and I wish you well, just a warning to consider. (Of course if I'm wrong you get a free song detailing any heroic actions of yours that you wish.)

[Eldan]

Sadly, I have neither a buckler to swash, nor a swash to buckle.

[Blas_de_Lezo]

Sadly, I have neither a buckler to swash, nor a swash to buckle.

Just grab a rapier and come along! :smallwink:

-----------------------

Ok. I'll start the thread.

I've sent 2 years in the Fencing Club of my university. We only learnt the epee (in spanish it's called espada), but it's obviously the coolest weapon of the three (the most similar to a rapier).

BTW, did you know that the rapier is a sword of spanish origin? It was developed in the XV century, as a light sword to be carry not with armor, but with civilian clothes. It was called: espada ropera (from spanish "ropa", clothes, literally meaning "clothe sword"), or just ropera. Then it became popular and the sword spreaded to France, and was known as rapiere. Finally, the englishmen also adopted the sword and named it rapier.

[Samb]

Epee and foil are weaksuace compared to Sabre, where you actually use the edge!!!!

Haven't fenced in almost a year, I'm not even sure I can do real flunge anymore thanks to all this extra weight I've accumulated...... need to find a fencing club around here.

Back OT, my best bout involved me being 3 point down (in a 5 point bout) and making a 4-0 run by not caring anymore. Just stopped analyzing and go by instinct and pure aggression (as well as a bit of leaning trickery). Damn I miss fencing.....

[Blas_de_Lezo]

Epee and foil are weaksuace compared to Sabre, where you actually use the edge!!!!

Haven't fenced in almost a year, I'm not even sure I can do real flunge anymore thanks to all this extra weight I've accumulated...... need to find a fencing club around here.

Back OT, my best bout involved me being 3 point down (in a 5 point bout) and making a 4-0 run by not caring anymore. Just stopped analyzing and go by instinct and pure aggression (as well as a bit of leaning trickery). Damn I miss fencing.....

I always considered more "noble" the epee than the sabre, but it's your choice here.
The first time I fenced (unofficialy), I won my rival, who had some experience more than me. After the duel, he told me that I "really desesperated him" because I was jumping all around, without stopping half a second. I told him that I was sorry if that wasn't the way to win, because before fencing, I trained karate for 3 years, and for me that was the only way I knew to fence. The maestro told me that I looked like D'artagnan with all that jumping around :smallbiggrin:

[DraPrime]

Hmmmm...Swashbucklers? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0T2dPyCEHc)

[Adlan]

I've been known to carry the old englishman's personal defense tools, the buckler and short sword.

I like it, as I find I have a better sense for the combined offensive and defensive than having to use my offensive tool to ward with as well. The combined blocking power of the bucler to deflect attacks and then getting in close are whats important.

Swash Buckling tends to be hard and fast, not like the films at all (certainly not like the rapier fighting so often called swashbuckling, they have no buckler.)

[zeratul]

Epee and foil are weaksuace compared to Sabre, where you actually use the edge!!!!

Haven't fenced in almost a year, I'm not even sure I can do real flunge anymore thanks to all this extra weight I've accumulated...... need to find a fencing club around here.

Back OT, my best bout involved me being 3 point down (in a 5 point bout) and making a 4-0 run by not caring anymore. Just stopped analyzing and go by instinct and pure aggression (as well as a bit of leaning trickery). Damn I miss fencing.....

Yes but there are historical accounts in which the lightness of the rapier has won out over the heavyness of the saber. Notably, part of the reason Blackbeard lost in his final sea battle is that the other crew was wielding rapiers while his was using cutlasses, meaning Blackbeards men would tire faster.

[Spiryt]

Yes but there are historical accounts in which the lightness of the rapier has won out over the heavyness of the saber. Notably, part of the reason Blackbeard lost in his final sea battle is that the other crew was wielding rapiers while his was using cutlasses, meaning Blackbeards men would tire faster.

I would just want to point out that cutlasses and generall "sabres" often weighted less than 2 pounds, while rapiers usually more, that "heavyness" of weapon is hardly sufficent thing to determine the weapon characteristics, let alone the rate of tieing or whole fight.

Also, crews on a ship fighting only with some weird rapier vs sabre thing seems highly unlikely to me.

Wikipedia for example states that Blackbeard was shot few times, and there was only 19 people on his side anyway.

I know next to nothing about this "pirate" times, so maybe I'm wrong.

[Egiam]

Woot! Epee!

The closest relative to the rapier!

I wanna join this club!

*leaps out of room with a flourish*
*Brings in massive amplifier*
*Runs out of room again*
*Brings in CD player, cords*
*Set's this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9LFP5QkwJ0) track going*

[SurlySeraph]

I did some fencing between when I was, what 6 to 8 years old or so. I was awful at it, but my twin sister developed a lot of skill and is now an All American in fencing. She's also a theater major. So yeah, she's the one who deals with swashes and the buckling thereof in our family. Grappling and knives are more my style than swords.

[Bonecrusher Doc]

I once rappelled from a dizzyingly high catwalk over the centercourt of a Division I basketball stadium, in order to deliver the flag to the color guard in front of thousands of screaming fans.

Sadly, that was only a rehearsal, and my moment of glory was not to be. The rappel at the basketball game was canceled at the last minute due to concerns about insufficient safety inspection of said catwalk. :smallfurious:

[Moff Chumley]

I'm with Surley here. My style is more along the lines of shanking people with a tanto, or if push comes to shove, grappling and then shanking them with a tanto. :smallyuk:

[Thanatos 51-50]

*Locks all the other swashbucklers in the thread, goes to make up the sudden 'hitting on women' deficit*

[Samb]

Yes but there are historical accounts in which the lightness of the rapier has won out over the heavyness of the saber. Notably, part of the reason Blackbeard lost in his final sea battle is that the other crew was wielding rapiers while his was using cutlasses, meaning Blackbeards men would tire faster.

First, the sabre of historical times and the sport are not the same. Sabres were made for horseback use, not duels, and it mowed people down like butter. Second, the foil is the training tool for rapiers not epee, epee was made for pure honor duels in the military to reduce in-fighting casualties. Third, rapiers had an edge, just that it wasn't as effective as the point.

I've used all three weapons as a sport, and epee having the biggest guard is the heaviest on average, but not by much. Even sabre fencers still make heavy use of point control as it is still the fastest means of reaching your target.

[Rutskarn]

I've fenced occasionally, and have engaged in at least one boffer combat battle.

I'm cobblers at actually hitting anything myself, and my relatively poor reach can cripple me. My advantage is that I'm a.) skinny as hell and b.) rather quick. A few things I've heard during matches:


"Gaaah! He's like smoke!"

"It's like...trying to hit water!"*

"AhaOH, YOU (MASCULINE ROOSTER)."

*I'm still not entirely sure what that means, but his intent was clear.

[Anuan]

A swashbuckler was someone who went looking for trouble, not an honourable duelist. </nitpicking>

I consider myself to be a swordsman in general, though I do hold a certain fondness for rapiers, sideswords, bucklers and capes.
I've a sabre in my room I may take a photo of later, especially if I can find some clothes similar to my avatar...

Edit: Oh, and on my return to Melbourne, I'll be taking up Sport Fencing, though I'm unsure if I want to do Epee or Sabre. When I move to Brisbane I'll likely be joining the Prima Spada School of Fence, wherin I shall learn Historic Fencing (read; actual rennaisance swordplay) with the Rapier, Sidesword, Case of Rapier, Rapier and Dagger, Rapier/Sword and Buckler/Cape. Also Longsword.

[Coplantor]

Well, I think I'm a sort of swashbuckler, can I hang out here?

Also,nice username mister Blas de Lezo, one of the most obscure yet awesome historical figures, good for you.

[Temotei]

I'm flashy (flamboyant!) and I've got Charisma. I love to burst dramatically into a room. In fact, dramatic things are awesome. :smallbiggrin:

That's my style of swashbuckling.

[loopy]

I'm more the "chat up the cute girls in the room while other people are busy showing off" type of person, which puts me on the periphery of Swashbuckler-y-ness-ment. :smalltongue:

I don't know, other posters may disagree.

[Blas_de_Lezo]

Great contributions! :smallamused:

Ok, here's a swashbuckling poem from the XIX century. It's originally in spanish, but I'm adding a very good english translation.

CANCIÓN DEL PIRATA (original, spanish)

Con diez cañones por banda,
viento en popa a toda vela,
no corta el mar, sino vuela,
un velero bergantín;
bajel pirata que llaman
por su bravura el Temido
en todo el mar conocido
del uno al otro confín.

La luna en el mar riela,
en la lona gime el viento
y alza en blando movimiento
olas de plata y azul;
y ve el capitán pirata,
cantando alegre en la popa,
Asia a un lado, al otro Europa,
Y allá a su frente Estambul:

-Navega, velero mío,
sin temor
que ni enemigo navío,
ni tormenta, ni bonanza
tu rumbo a torcer alcanza,
ni a sujetar tu valor.

Veinte presas
hemos hecho
a despecho
del inglés
y han rendido
sus pendones
cien naciones
a mis pies.

Que es mi barco mi tesoro,
que es mi Dios la libertad;
mi ley, la fuerza y el viento;
mi única patria, la mar.

Allá muevan feroz guerra
ciegos reyes
por un palmo más de tierra,
que yo tengo aquí por mío
cuanto abarca el mar bravío
a quien nadie impuso leyes.

Y no hay playa
sea cualquiera,
ni bandera
de esplendor,
que no sienta
mi derecho
y dé pecho
a mi valor

Que es mi barco mi tesoro,
que es mi Dios la libertad;
mi ley, la fuerza y el viento;
mi única patria, la mar.

A la voz de ¡barco viene!,
es de ver
cómo vira y se previene
a todo trapo a escapar:
que yo soy el rey del mar
y mi furia es de temer.

En las presas
yo divido
lo cogido
por igual:
sólo quiero
por riqueza
la belleza
sin rival.

Que es mi barco mi tesoro,
que es mi Dios la libertad;
mi ley, la fuerza y el viento;
mi única patria, la mar.

¡Sentenciado estoy a muerte!
Yo me río:
no me abandone la suerte,
y al mismo que me condena
colgaré de alguna antena
quizá en su propio navío.

Y si caigo,
¿qué es la vida?
Por perdida
ya la di
cuando el yugo
del esclavo
como un bravo sacudí.

Que es mi barco mi tesoro,
que es mi Dios la libertad;
mi ley, la fuerza y el viento;
mi única patria, la mar.

Son mi música mejor
aquilones,
el estrépito y temblor
de los cables sacudidos
del negro mar los bramidos
y el rugir de mis cañones.

Y del trueno
al son violento,
y del viento,
al rebramar,
yo me duermo
sosegado,
arrullado
por el mar.

Que es mi barco mi tesoro,
que es mi Dios la libertad;
mi ley, la fuerza y el viento;
mi única patria, la mar.


SONG OF THE PIRATE (translation, english)

The breeze fair aft, all sails on high,
Ten guns on each side mounted seen,
She does not cut the sea, but fly,
A swiftly sailing brigantine;
A pirate bark, the "Dreaded" name,
For her surpassing boldness famed,
On every sea well-known and shore,
From side to side their boundaries o'er.
The moon in streaks the waves illumes
Hoarse groans the wind the rigging through;
In gentle motion raised assumes
The sea a silvery shade with blue;
Whilst singing gaily on the poop
The pirate Captain, in a group,
Sees Europe here, there Asia lies,
And Stamboul in the front arise.

"Sail on, my swift one! nothing fear;
Nor calm, nor storm, nor foeman's force,
Shall make thee yield in thy career
Or turn thee from thy course.
Despite the English cruisers fleet
We have full twenty prizes made;
And see their flags beneath my feet
A hundred nations laid.
My treasure is my gallant bark,
My only God is liberty;
My law is might, the wind my mark,
My country is the sea.

"There blindly kings fierce wars maintain,
For palms of land, when here I hold
As mine, whose power no laws restrain,
Whate'er the seas infold.
Nor is there shore around whate'er,
Or banner proud, but of my might
Is taught the valorous proofs to bear,
And made to feel my right.
My treasure is my gallant bark,
My only God is liberty;
My law is might, the wind my mark,
My country is the sea.

"Look when a ship our signals ring,
Full sail to fly how quick she's veered!
For of the sea I am the king,
My fury's to be feared;
But equally with all I share
Whate'er the wealth we take supplies;
I only seek the matchless fair,
My portion of the prize.
My treasure is my gallant bark,
My only God is liberty;
My law is might, the wind my mark,
My country is the sea.

"I am condemned to die! -- I laugh;
For, if my fates are kindly sped,
My doomer from his own ship's staff
Perhaps I'll hang instead.
And if I fall, why what is life?
For lost I gave it then as due,
When from slavery's yoke in strife
A rover! I withdrew.
My treasure is my gallant bark,
My only God is liberty;
My law is might, the wind my mark,
My country is the sea.

"My music is the Northwind's roar;
The noise when round the cable runs,
The bellowings of the Black Sea's shore,
And rolling of my guns.
And as the thunders loudly sound,
And furious the tempests rave,
I calmly rest in sleep profound,
So rocked upon the wave.
My treasure is my gallant bark,
My only God is liberty;
My law is might, the wind my mark,
My country is the sea.

If you like it, I'll add a rock version soon. :smallbiggrin:

[Ikialev]

Also a Song of the Pirate. :3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLsJyfN0ICU)

[Temotei]

That's awesome. :smallbiggrin:

[Blas_de_Lezo]

Great contributions! :smallamused:

Ok, here's a swashbuckling poem from the XIX century. It's originally in spanish, but I'm adding a very good english translation.

CANCIÓN DEL PIRATA (original, spanish)

Con diez cañones por banda,
viento en popa a toda vela,
no corta el mar, sino vuela,
un velero bergantín;
bajel pirata que llaman
por su bravura el Temido
en todo el mar conocido
del uno al otro confín.

La luna en el mar riela,
en la lona gime el viento
y alza en blando movimiento
olas de plata y azul;
y ve el capitán pirata,
cantando alegre en la popa,
Asia a un lado, al otro Europa,
Y allá a su frente Estambul:

-Navega, velero mío,
sin temor
que ni enemigo navío,
ni tormenta, ni bonanza
tu rumbo a torcer alcanza,
ni a sujetar tu valor.

Veinte presas
hemos hecho
a despecho
del inglés
y han rendido
sus pendones
cien naciones
a mis pies.

Que es mi barco mi tesoro,
que es mi Dios la libertad;
mi ley, la fuerza y el viento;
mi única patria, la mar.

Allá muevan feroz guerra
ciegos reyes
por un palmo más de tierra,
que yo tengo aquí por mío
cuanto abarca el mar bravío
a quien nadie impuso leyes.

Y no hay playa
sea cualquiera,
ni bandera
de esplendor,
que no sienta
mi derecho
y dé pecho
a mi valor

Que es mi barco mi tesoro,
que es mi Dios la libertad;
mi ley, la fuerza y el viento;
mi única patria, la mar.

A la voz de ¡barco viene!,
es de ver
cómo vira y se previene
a todo trapo a escapar:
que yo soy el rey del mar
y mi furia es de temer.

En las presas
yo divido
lo cogido
por igual:
sólo quiero
por riqueza
la belleza
sin rival.

Que es mi barco mi tesoro,
que es mi Dios la libertad;
mi ley, la fuerza y el viento;
mi única patria, la mar.

¡Sentenciado estoy a muerte!
Yo me río:
no me abandone la suerte,
y al mismo que me condena
colgaré de alguna antena
quizá en su propio navío.

Y si caigo,
¿qué es la vida?
Por perdida
ya la di
cuando el yugo
del esclavo
como un bravo sacudí.

Que es mi barco mi tesoro,
que es mi Dios la libertad;
mi ley, la fuerza y el viento;
mi única patria, la mar.

Son mi música mejor
aquilones,
el estrépito y temblor
de los cables sacudidos
del negro mar los bramidos
y el rugir de mis cañones.

Y del trueno
al son violento,
y del viento,
al rebramar,
yo me duermo
sosegado,
arrullado
por el mar.

Que es mi barco mi tesoro,
que es mi Dios la libertad;
mi ley, la fuerza y el viento;
mi única patria, la mar.


SONG OF THE PIRATE (translation, english)

The breeze fair aft, all sails on high,
Ten guns on each side mounted seen,
She does not cut the sea, but fly,
A swiftly sailing brigantine;
A pirate bark, the "Dreaded" name,
For her surpassing boldness famed,
On every sea well-known and shore,
From side to side their boundaries o'er.
The moon in streaks the waves illumes
Hoarse groans the wind the rigging through;
In gentle motion raised assumes
The sea a silvery shade with blue;
Whilst singing gaily on the poop
The pirate Captain, in a group,
Sees Europe here, there Asia lies,
And Stamboul in the front arise.

"Sail on, my swift one! nothing fear;
Nor calm, nor storm, nor foeman's force,
Shall make thee yield in thy career
Or turn thee from thy course.
Despite the English cruisers fleet
We have full twenty prizes made;
And see their flags beneath my feet
A hundred nations laid.
My treasure is my gallant bark,
My only God is liberty;
My law is might, the wind my mark,
My country is the sea.

"There blindly kings fierce wars maintain,
For palms of land, when here I hold
As mine, whose power no laws restrain,
Whate'er the seas infold.
Nor is there shore around whate'er,
Or banner proud, but of my might
Is taught the valorous proofs to bear,
And made to feel my right.
My treasure is my gallant bark,
My only God is liberty;
My law is might, the wind my mark,
My country is the sea.

"Look when a ship our signals ring,
Full sail to fly how quick she's veered!
For of the sea I am the king,
My fury's to be feared;
But equally with all I share
Whate'er the wealth we take supplies;
I only seek the matchless fair,
My portion of the prize.
My treasure is my gallant bark,
My only God is liberty;
My law is might, the wind my mark,
My country is the sea.

"I am condemned to die! -- I laugh;
For, if my fates are kindly sped,
My doomer from his own ship's staff
Perhaps I'll hang instead.
And if I fall, why what is life?
For lost I gave it then as due,
When from slavery's yoke in strife
A rover! I withdrew.
My treasure is my gallant bark,
My only God is liberty;
My law is might, the wind my mark,
My country is the sea.

"My music is the Northwind's roar;
The noise when round the cable runs,
The bellowings of the Black Sea's shore,
And rolling of my guns.
And as the thunders loudly sound,
And furious the tempests rave,
I calmly rest in sleep profound,
So rocked upon the wave.
My treasure is my gallant bark,
My only God is liberty;
My law is might, the wind my mark,
My country is the sea.

If you like it, I'll add a rock version soon. :smallbiggrin:


Here we go:

La Canción del Pirata (THE SONG OF THE PIRATE - Rock version)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZDEQCZTwq8

[Rutskarn]

Just given a Mashoonga! boffer as a gift. I'm going to be less swashbuckler and more highwayman for the next few weeks, with a little Conan and Jack the Ripper mixed in.

[loopy]

2. We'll write here to show off.
This may include your most amazing achievements (whataever you consider), duels, or your PC's memorable moments of glory. Of course, also you may talk about chicks/guys you had an affair with (including those secretly kept details!) and those funny anecdotes with your ex! Or if you prefer, enlighten the whole forum with that completely unknown but totally genial swasbuckling movie/novel/song/poem that we should all know!

Random achievements:

- Hooking up with at least four confirmed girls at a club an hour after I'd been hit by a car on the way to said club (I say at least four because I suffered a concussion and don't actually remember any of the night, aside from photographic evidence).
- Making out with a cute English medic at a rave.
- I've paid for about... 3 drinks in the last two years of going to clubs, mainly I can convince other people to buy them for me.
- My friend and I had a competition to see who could get a number off a girl the fastest after entering a club. My record is a minute thirty, but he's unfortunately winning at the moment.
- Pashed three New Caledonian girls in 30-ish seconds, having just met them at a rave.
- Stealing several girls away from their boyfriends...

Thats all I can think of atm. :smallamused:

[Djinn_in_Tonic]

Ah. I have indeed been known to buckler some swash on occasion.

Qualifications
12 years of fencing (Foil and Epee).
6 years of competitive fencing, including national level competition.
Collection of swords and similar bladed weapons, and knowledge of how to use them.
Tall, thin, and often compared to swashbucklers in both appearance and demeanor.
Both charismatic and often a ladies man.
Evasive and fanciful during actual combat: like Rutskarn, I have had opponents in both competitive fencing and boffer-esque combat wondering how I move the way I do, how my blade is in their face when the rest of me is decidedly elsewhere, and similar.
Once single-handedly defeated 16 armed men and women at a boffer-esque melee match.
Once single-handedly saved a dodgeball team from destruction by, as the last man, dodging each and every one of the 40+ balls the other team threw...and they were coordinating their attacks.
...and others.

[Blas_de_Lezo]

Great contributions!! Here's my swashbuckling CV too:


2 years of fencing (epee/espada) in the University Team. I won my first combat against a more experienced fencer, with a mix of recklessness and undeliberated karate shotokan steps that confused my opponet. :smalltongue:

The only weapon I own is a authentical katana (not any fancy replica), got by my sensei in Japan, and passed down to me as a gift some years ago.

Scars:
-One nail scar in a leg. 8 years ago I was involved in a fight (I don't remember the exact motive). The other guy suddenly grabbed a plank with a rusty nail at the top and hit me with it. I was quick enough to avoid it, but it hit my leg and left me a rounded nail scar.
-I cannot open my jaw completely. Last year I was drunk with one friend, after a tough exam at university, and we don't know how we were involved in this fight at a bar. I was punched in the jaw so hard that I had to eat only soup during 3 days.

I've stolen a tonguing kiss from more than 50 women from diverse countries. I'm still far from the one thousand women of Don Juan, but who knows.

When I was 17, I drank so much booze, that next morning I woke up with my face covered in dry blood. I didn't remember anything from that night (and still I don't), neither if the blood was mine or not (I always thought it came out of my nose), but since then I've cut to half my boozing habits.

I played european football using a church door as the goal. On Sunday. Drank. While mass was taking place.

One night this last summer, I was so hungry that I ate two 40 cm diameter pizzas by myself.

[Blas_de_Lezo]

Hmmm... I'm thinking of adding a Rapier's Pub into the thread, for all of you wielding rapiers. If we reach more than 10 avatars with rapiers within the thread, maybe I do. :smallamused:

[loopy]

Hmmm... I'm thinking of adding a Rapier's Pub into the thread, for all of you wielding rapiers. If we reach more than 10 avatars with rapiers within the thread, maybe I do. :smallamused:

Those who wield rapiers are compensating, knife-fighting is where its at. :smallwink:

[Blas_de_Lezo]

Those who wield rapiers are compensating, knife-fighting is where its at. :smallwink:

So, what happens with Greatsword and Fullblade wielders? :smallbiggrin: