TheRapidsNerd Posted November 24, 2008 Posted November 24, 2008 At the end of October, some friends and I went over to Florence for the day to visit the annual Ren Faire. This was my first trip this particular gathering and the company made it the most fun. Hope you all enjoy! Hmm…and Angus, the rancher, still can’t find his herd… More pics in a few... Yes, a soothing, quiet chair for pensive thought. This fine fellow forges the dice and bears resemblance to Lord Gary of Gygax. Gaming dice made of bronze, sterling silver, and other metals. A pittance at 100 gold pieces for a set. and his caravan is well marked. Beware of St. Nicholas good sir! He’ll eat you! Apparently, he does this several times a day… Some poor fellow was turned into a pig. He got better… They modernized the shire with magical black posts like this one. Witchcraft I say! Goo-gahs and trinkets abound as the merchants show their wares. I’ve no quarrel with you sir. No. None…AT ALL. They take their law quite seriously in this town. Our parchment stated Florence Ren Faire. No matter, we are here, so let the gallivanting and tom-foolery begin! We’ve reached the shire. What peculiar carriages they have in Florence… Well timed good child. Well timed indeed. The child is fine, but I’d keep a watchful eye on that green-shirted fellow too. Odds bodkins! There be St. Nicholas at the bacon! A hearty breakfast at the tavern called Shoney’s. On the way to the Shire of Florence, we passed a horse farm that reminded me of Lexington Shire, in Kentucky.
TheRapidsNerd Posted November 24, 2008 Author Posted November 24, 2008 Would you like to join our noble quest? Two maidens, a mage, and friar walk into a tavern… More in a few. I’d like a +2 mace please. Good sir? Dost thou perchance have a butter knife? If there’s a saucy, fetching wench and a tankard of ale included, I’m sold. Castle…betwixt the trees. Hail to the Highlands and their kilts! Do you know WHY it’s called a kilt? Because that’s what happened to the last man who called it a skirt. I am the Dread Pirate Roberts. There will be NO survivors…including me. How doth it hang, Death? Juggling for Dummies. I would not lie good ladies and gents. A merry pair of minstrels. The woman played a cross between a dulcimer, and xylophone. Gadzooks! Did we forget our floggers and wooden snakes? Bow and quiver? Aye! Wooden sword? Aye! Good. We attack the cake pantry at dawn. And the scarecrows are well protected too. Thankfully, if you soil your armour, this shop has spares. Such strange dress here. The fellow in green seems the only normal one.
TheRapidsNerd Posted November 24, 2008 Author Posted November 24, 2008 ^ *sigh* Amateurs! They should've used magic missile and greater fireball. Good find Ginzo! Ack! I've been way-layed tonight. Belly Dancers and the rest in the next couple days.
thrillerman1 Posted November 24, 2008 Posted November 24, 2008 Wow man I used to live in the shire of Florence many a moon ago. Didn't think anyone else here was familiar with said noble village. 'Tis a cool town though, and I still visit there regularly since my parents live not too far fom there. Nice to see these pics!
AllenA07 Posted November 24, 2008 Posted November 24, 2008 Great post, my High School used to have a Renaissance Day once a year where the same group of roughly 15 people would dress up and get made fun of for the duration of the day. Those were some good times. BTW: Did anybody here see the movie Role Models, because that is all I could think about while reading this post.
dino Posted November 25, 2008 Posted November 25, 2008 ^seriously, Role Models was on my mind the whole time. Anyway, cool TR. I think I might actually go to the Renaissance faire they have near my house now.
TheRapidsNerd Posted November 25, 2008 Author Posted November 25, 2008 Good Lords, I thank thee for thy kindness and give unto thee, more bafoonery! On the way to the noon’s feast we spied this. A Land of Fun with aquaducts carved into the hillside by the river. I’ve not heard of this place. Pretty the way the sunlight plays apon her hair, eh? This fetching nymph would later work her magic to get the party into the haunted Graystone Manor, without charge from the Ferry Man. Ahh, a maiden fair. The adventurous Link graced us with his presence. By the way, tis a well costumed lass, not a lad. I tell you truly. The green shirted fellow of our party tries his smithing hand. Two men. Two eras. One vision. No really. Be'twixt us we had one good man's set of eyes. Aye! That she does! You there! Minion! Sign me up for dance lessons with Arthur of Murry! Make haste! It depends. Doth she dance well? Sire? Taketh my wife, please! The Brute Squad was off to play a rousing game of croquette. One would wager Santa’s home is equally as impressive as his throne, especially with Ye Olde Real Tree. T’would seem Santa is trying a new look this year. The Eccentric Shop Keeper’s husband…an ogre, who favors a Smurf and Carrot Top. “Would you like to see my tail?” – The Eccentric Shop Keeper Thou art a well-dressed rascal. Busy later? Again, we thank thee for thy favor and time. Exquisite outfit m’lady. Forgive our interuption. Make haste with thy chicken tenders to thy sister. 3 cheers for Joey the Very Average! Aha! The feast awaits! Curious contraptions from Polynesia. Thy other carriage is a broom. I shall commit this to my brain. Amidst the tomfoolery was some nunsense. Can'st thou tell I likest that word? Meanwhile, Lady Lennox doth tread on fine afghan. Oh bother! That strange man with the eye patch points his contraption at me yet again. Tis Annie Lennox! sigh… Gypsies and Belly Dancers. (wiggles eyebrows)
TheRapidsNerd Posted November 25, 2008 Author Posted November 25, 2008 A pittance more, and this tale shall be spent. Greatful am I for your time well meant. "This next trick, I call call...stupid.." - Yon Motely Entertainer
TheRapidsNerd Posted November 25, 2008 Author Posted November 25, 2008 A pittance more, and this tale shall be spent. Greatful am I for your time well meant. And finally, the evil ramshackle of Graystone Manor, a place so foul, not even cameras could penetrate. Our day of adventure ended here with only the sunlit nymph and I braving the perils within. Yes, a fine day with friends old and new. And so ends this tale, with a hearty "Thank you!" My friend and ally Luke also tempts the fates of yon smithing trade. I did have audience with the legendary Jack Sparrow during his quest for Rum. He looked for quite some time over by the Belly Dancers. "I know it doesn't seem like much...but you can't do it. Don't laugh, I could be your kid!" - - Yon Motley Entertainer "If I fall, I'll sue you! If I fall ON you, you can sue me!" - - Yon Motley Entertainer "This next trick, I call call...stupid.." - Yon Motley Entertainer
thrillerman1 Posted November 25, 2008 Posted November 25, 2008 Well I certainly never in a million years thought I'd see a picture of Funland on TPR. It is quite ghetto for an FEC, but friends and I used to go there ever so often and do the water slides and mini golf. In addition to the pipe slide, it has the very old school "CONCRETE scrap the skin off your back if you fall off your mat" style of slides you can see in the lower left of the photo. Been there done that lol. By the way, was Graystone Manor a haunted house attraction? This is a cool PTR.
TheRapidsNerd Posted November 25, 2008 Author Posted November 25, 2008 ^ Well, I'm just dredging up all kinds of good nostalgia huh? That's great! I'm tempted to try the place out next summer. Graystone Manor (http://www.graystonemanor.net/) is a haunt converted from a 40,000 sq ft flea market, located in...no kidding here....Killen, Alabama. Cameras weren't allowed inside, hence the one exterior shot. While waiting in line, I heard some folks say it was better in quality than the Sloss Furnace haunt in Birmingham (Alabama US, not England). On a side note, the regular, non-halloween related Sloss ghost tour is said to be very good and I remember seeing Sloss on a ghost stories show in the last 2 or 3 years. Back to point, I enjoyed Graystone much. It took 20 minutes to a half hour to go through and, at the pace you moved, there just wasn't time to figure out what was real and what wasn't. Just no way to figure out the gags. There was a no contact policy. Depending on the night, cost was $13 to $15 to get in. Since we had the power of the fetching, sunlit nymph, we got to thumb our noses at the Ferry Man on the way in. Wish I'd gotten a lanyard as a memento. I think the thing that freaked me out was the creepy little lady (at 4'8") with the albino python. The snake was cool, but when you're at the back of the line and she's slowly walking up to you, silouetted, with the room lights behind her, it is NOT a good feeling. Beware of the air raid siren and the Lazy Boy Chair. If you go, you'll understand. At any rate, hope you all enjoy and thanks much for reading. EDIT: Just realized I hadn't explained my outfit nor Luke's. Since we were both between Ren costumes, we opted for Steampunk with a "tesla/ man out of time/experiment gone wrong" backstory. Bloody tesla coils are always over-loading and sending people randomly back in time.
Brandy524 Posted November 25, 2008 Posted November 25, 2008 Speaking of Sloss, the Ghost Adventures show on Travel Channel just aired an episode last week of their investigation of Sloss. They got some pretty good evidence. It must be a prerequisite when filming a show in Alabama to find the dorkiest redneck within a 50 miles radius to interview. Back on topic, the ren faire looks interesting. I've never been to one, although I have theatre friends who used to participate in them. Your pictures are great, and the captions are hilarious!
printersdevil78 Posted November 26, 2008 Posted November 26, 2008 Good stuff, Michael--especially the belly dancers! I have tickets for a Renaissance Christmas Madrigal Feast next Friday (sounds like it's going to be kind of like Medieval Times, only without the horses). This was a nice prelude!
thrillerman1 Posted November 26, 2008 Posted November 26, 2008 Oh I totally remember driving by Graystone Manor now the last time I went to Alabama. It's where Uncle Charlie's Flea Market is held normally. I drive through Killen all the time when I go see my parents. Next time you're in Florence you will have to drive across the creepy Ghost Bridge if it's still standing. It's rumored to be haunted. Yeah I saw that Ghost Adventures episode at Sloss Furnace too. Pretty crazy. I went there back many years ago to see The Replacements when they were actually still a band and Sloss had shows. I want to like Ghost Adventures, but the host is just so overly dramatic when something like water drips. IMO Ghost Hunters is a better show.
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