Wanderer
Contents
Baron Sir Michael Winternight called by most the Wanderer, of Nocturnis.
“We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams.” --Willy Wonka
"I am not dangerous. My rolodex, however, is." --Wanderer
Biography
What follows are my thoughts on Wanderer. I figure they can stand until he gets around to writing something himself -- Randalf Falconbridge.
Wanderer is inactive at the moment but like so many other members he goes through phases of participation. His last significant period of active was during the formation of Avalon's Gate but he dates back to old Barad Duin. I remember him best as Duke of Tori-Mar. In fact my first day on the field was the occasion of his war with Zephram MacLaran. We have been friends ever since. I know that many people consider him to be a figure of derision but he has done a great deal for Austin Amtgard. In fact, I cannot imagine how things would have turned out with out him.
Wanderer's personal notes on the remarks above
Stunned and shocked. I have always tried to do what was right, not necessarily politically correct, but right. The very idea that I have influenced anyone or been a role model never really occurred to me.
Maybe it should have.
Auto Biography
I joined Barad-Duin in middle 1990 and adopted the lifestyle within the year. I.E. Crashing on my fellow HFSers couches and being a bum.
It wasn't until Rufus took me under his wing that I really understood any of this mess. He put me to work in both real life and in Amtgard. I was made a Page to a then Squire Rufus to Sir M'Deth.
I learned the ins and outs of many things, and not the least of them was that "working" at a real job equalled money. It is sad, but yes, true. I won't bore you with the details, but to say that Rufus was my mentor would be exactly what he was.
I have been both Baron and Duke of Tori-Mar, indeed helped form the group many years back; in 1991, I believe. The years tend to blend together after this long, please forgive an old man.
I have been blessed to meet many important individuals people that have done much for the game over the years. I don't believe I am one of those people, although from the remarks above - others do.
I am very goal oriented, which is both a blessing and a curse. In 1993, Rufus was knighted and in turn was expected to hand down a red belt to me. I should have known I was in trouble when he came to me smiling. He wanted a reason list from me as to why I should be his squire.
Yeah, I was pissed.
So I handed over a 200 item list and basically told him he could choke on it. Many years later, he would present this list to the knight's circle as proof that I was ready for my belt. The things we learn later in life.
After many years, a few death defying acts <one of which involving a tornado at an event> I had the honor of being knighted by my peers and the Knight's Circle of the Celestial Kingdom. I still remember the cheers and the standing ovation I got from the 300+ in attendance at Spring War III. King Zephram and his champion, my own knight, had this planned out. I was knighted by Zephram's own World War II katana that I had mentioned in passing when I had helped him move that last year.
This is where being goal oriented was a problem and how Rand noted my "ins and outs" after this point. Once I was knighted, I had no where to go. I didn't have much interest in politics or Empire-building. As the King noted, my security clearance went up, I was made aware of all kinds of ill dealings in the Kingdom at large. So I ran. It wasn't fun anymore and it made sense at the time.
I have returned over time and the years. Playing in Tori-mar, even returning and forming Avalon's Gate in order to help give my friends with families somewhere they could go to due to the more Stickjock-friendly modes of Tori-Mar.
Will this latest return stick? Dunno, but I am hopeful.
Being one of Rufus' Red Belts, even the first, there is a certain responsibility to the game that has been ingrained into all of us. So I will support the Kingdom and Nocturnis, my new home, to the best that I can. Hopefully, the years and the experience that I have gained over the years in and out of the game will help other generations and my own squires.
High Points
Jingles
I really hate this name, and it has been tied to me for longer than most of the Amtgardians I have met recently have been living. But, it seems to have become it's own entity and I feel it needs to be explained.
Origins
In the first year of my playing, 1990-ish, I was a player in a Dungeons and Dragons game at a player named Booga's home. Booga, portrayed by Keith Land - an original founder of Tori-Mar as well, was known for his charity and in general, allowing everyone and God to crash on his floor. As you can imagine, this resulted in some huge parties and games. In a truly epic gaming group twenty-five people strong, we played under the GM, Onyx Grimwulf. I played a paladin, ironically a class I wouldn't touch with a ten foot caddle prod today, and wore the heaviest armor you could get: Plate Mail and Chain. I remember trying to sneak up a long winding staircase and at the very top step, Onyx, portrayed by John McNeil, asked for a simple dexterity check. Of which I rolled a "1". Never has a simple roll affected an entire lifetime. I fell down the stairs all the way to the bottom, as John put it, Jingling and Jangling all the way. The girl I was sitting next to, one I fancied at the time, turned and said, "Way to go, Jingles". Every one laughed and we moved on with the game.
Amtgard's integration and inability to let a simple joke die
We had played that DND game on Saturday night, so the next morning, we went around the block to the Pease Park and did our thing. Keith was held highly in those days, and decided to call me Jingles on the field. Before you knew it, everyone was. I'd be introduced for the next decade to new incoming members as "jingles" over and over again. Before you knew it, EVERYONE thought it was a name that I had created for myself. Oh, I tried to kill it. I growled, I corrected, I threatened, I pretty much tried everything. So for years, and I do mean Years, it's followed me through Amtgard. Ironically, it became something I could tweak to an advantage. I couldn't get rid of it, I sure as hell was going to use it!
Jingles vs. Wanderer
Since I signed in and was known throughout the kingdom as Wanderer, people didn't realize that I wasn't properly known as Jingles. So, when I am at a campfire - I'd hear about "F*cking Jingles this and that" because that was Wanderer over there. Pretty soon, Jingles had his own history and was known to be quite the hellion. Wanderer, on the other hand, was a respected, and eccentric, member of the kingdom. Over the years, anything bad was associated with Jingles while anything good was associated with Wanderer. After generations of members, who just repeat the same battle stories over and over again (while adding their own tweaks to them) tell these stories - it's surprising how things change over time. So yes, Jingles was nothing more than a nickname - and like anything that won't ever go away, it started with a girl.
Dirk and the Wanderer
Like any time in our lives, you encounter someone that you can raise hell with. No matter what gets in your way, if you are with this partner - then that barrier vanishes into a cloud of debris. To be honest, Dirk isn't remembered by other's that knew him with much fondness. If any, to be frank. He was known to powerslide across the field, bowl people over and in general - be himself. He was as good a friend as an outsider could have though, we raided baronies up and down the kingdom. If it wasn't bolted down, we stole it. If she wasn't tied down? Well, you get the idea. We raged like that for about five years, him with his huge vinyl covered axe, known as Destiny, and me with whatever variety of katana I could get my hands on. We were roommates for a while too, as Amtgard seems to always bring people of our unique calibre together. I do look back on those days with fondness, but don't really try to find that kind of connection with other's these days. I think like everyone, I go through phases. I seem to have outgrown that one.
The Brigands
The Brigands were a group of the more experienced fighters in Tori-Mar, and my good friends. I think it was sometime around 1995, I wasn't a knight yet - that much I remember. You have to realize, that when Rufus was king, and I was squire to the king, I could get away with anything. and Gods, did I push that limit. Zephram MacLaren and his wife, Melinda <known as Curtis and Donna Wade> had joined Tori-Mar at the height of our population growth. We were fielding 70+. How could you NOT want to be out there? When Melinda won her run for Duchess, we decided to really role play it up. So we had Melinda, substituted for an evil witch <which Donna loved playing the villainess> and formed a group of Merry Men to fight against her. For the duration of the reign, we ran a series of battles that really couldn't be considered organized or even fair given the odds against the group. But we had fun and that is what mattered.
Members (updated as I remember them)
- Wanderer
- Dirk Thunderblade
- Roo
- Zephram MacLaren (under an assumed name that escapes me now)
- Jade Grimwulff
Some Fairly Well Known Facts
- Wanderer's full persona name is <currently> Michael Winternight.
- Wanderer once went to war with Zephram. <as a fund raiser>
- Wanderer is infamous for posing out while fighting.
- Wanderer was a flurb before flurbs were "cool".
Affiliated Groups
- Member of House Grimwulff
- Former House Lord of House Twin Rose
- Formerly of the Golden Lions
- Councilor of the Ministers of Grace
- Initiate in the Saracens, hopefully to join Tribe Latrocene
- Member of Rufus' Red Belts <Squire #1>
- Helped form Tori Mar
- Helped form Avalon's Gate
- The Brigands, under the rule of the Despotic Duchess Melinda of Tori-Mar
Belted Family
Formerly Squired to Sir Rufus Grimwulf and knighted by King Zephram MacLaren.
Squires
Wanderer has two squires at present Carratos and Reaper Forsaken. Carratos is currently considered Senior Squire in the belt line. Reaper Forsaken is on deployment in Iraq in the Army.
Off Duty Squires
Shiva is presently at college in Colorado and out of contact. Her place is reserved at present.
Past Squires
Iiridian Despawna passed away in May of 2007 in an auto accident.
Squeers
Lady Roo Grimwulff is currently wearing a pink belt under this belt line and referred to as a "Squeer".
Notable Accomplishments
Titles:
- Knight of the Flame in 1997
- Baron for reigning as Duke of Tori Mar
- Baronet for reigning as Baron of Tori Mar
- Lord for service to the kingdom, by King Pebyr Ap Cucorin
