Chamonix

Revision as of 02:32, 1 May 2008

Grinnell, IA.

Total Members: Around 20 dedicated, many more occasional

Typical # at weekly practice: 20-30

Realm Officers:

• Kido - Field Master
• Shelbert - Field Master
• Lock - Master of the Sword
• Gavel - Master of the Bow
• Shortstuff - Master of the Axe
• Marsh - Quartermaster

Practices:

• Tuesday 10:00-Midnight. - South Forum Beach or Harris Center (Grinnell College Campus)
• Friday 4:00-6:30 P.M. - Ward Field or Darby Aux Gym (Grinnell College Campus)
• Saturday 1:00-4:00 P.M. - Ward Field or Darby Aux Gym (Grinnell College Campus)

Hosted Events:

• Field Day, an annual 1-day inter-realm battle regularly attended by members of Eriador and KCD, as well as Grinnell College alumni from across the country.

History:

Chamonix was formed in 1996 by a former member of Numenor, Gnat, and was named after the Chamonix Valley, a scenic mountain area in the Northern Alps of France.

Chamonix was a Dagorhir realm until the introduction of "the contract," which the group leaders refused to sign. Unfortunately, no one in Chamonix knew of the creation of Belegarth until more recent years. Having been known for years on campus as simply "Dagorhir" or "Dag", Chamonix has not officially joined Belegarth, though some members of Chamonix have attended numerous Belegarth events.

Having existed for years with little to no contact with other groups, Chamonix developed a number of unique and/or "old-school" house rules and standards. Arrows are tested to a much more rigorous standard than any other realm, for instance, as they are required to be safe and not painful when shot full draw into the face from 10-15 feet. Also, schedule 80 PVC was the exclusive core used for intra-mural fighting until recently, when other cores, including fiberglass, have become increasingly popular on the field.

One running gag at Chamonix's location is the "war" between the Grinnell College cross country team and Chamonix fighters. More specifically, the cross country team occasionally chooses to streak through Chamonix's fighting space, an act of provocation that Chamonix responds to with force. This continuing "war" was the subject of a popular film festival video at Grinnell College, The Foam and the Flesh.