Tag: Dancing with Death…

Amtgardians step up where law enforcement doesn’t during flood in Ruidoso.**UPDATED**

When someone from Mundania1 gets their first impression of an Amtgarder outside the game, it’s usually one of uncommon candor, and all-too-often a mistaken impression of moral ambiguity. I’ve been in life-threatening situations more than most police officers, and most of those situations were directly influenced in a positive manner…by people from Amtgard2. While I am on a hiatus from my regular habits of self-injuring joy on the field on weekends…when I heard about what happened at this weekend’s event…I am in awe. I am going to have to quote this as I honestly am speechless, and altogether VERY happy this was an Amtgard event, where some values on life are more likely to be realized. We may in fact be a rough group, sometimes gruff…rude…and quite anti-social…but it doesn’t mean we don’t have some very important values.

Late Saturday night, multiple areas around Ruidoso were flooded. One of those areas was the campground used for the Amtgard event known as The Gathering of the Clans. This is a big event. Depending on the year, groups ranging from 200-800 camp for a four-day festive event. Around 4am, evacuation orders came through and the campgrounds were evacuated…in a fashion…

The river of water was exceptionally deep and swift and there was no way they could safely cross it on their own. They were stuck in the cold rain, with no shelter for about 3 hours, until an Amtgarder who chooses to remain anonymous, rescued the 4 of them by himself with a piece of rope. The “cops” never once got out of their cars. They made sure they stayed warm in their cars, smoking thier ciggs. None of them offered us any clothing or any real assistance whatsoever. Being a paramedic, i find this appalling that a so called public servant wouldn’t even attempt to help. I told them I was a paramedic and they wouldn’t even help me out by giving me a jacket and a rope to even try to help save them. Finally we see the boys walking towards us and get them into the trucks to warm up.

I am appalled. Not that an Amtgardian took matters into his own hands (that’s albeit expected…one of us always steps up)…but that the local law enforcement wasn’t interested in helping. This is a poor example that law enforcement doesn’t need, but has handed to the public on with bell attached in a time where law enforcement is supposed to set the example. I can rattle off loads of stories where I’ve seen someone face a challenge like this head on, in my opinion…it’s everyone’s duty to contribute in any initiative that saves lives…even those that involve risk. What I can’t believe is that people who are PAID to do exactly that weren’t involved in helping. I am inspired to make a bigger issue of this. Here are the local articles and updates:

http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=8742351
http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=8742933&nav=menu193_2_4
http://www.koat.com/news/17005517/detail.html
http://kob.com/article/stories/S525369.shtml?cat=504&v=1&articleID=7626

I am looking to see if there is anyone still stranded in Ruidoso because of lost vehicles, etc. but not having much luck. If anyone knows if there are collections or relief funds etc please let me know directly.

-Tony

Show 2 footnotes

  1. Mundania is what we Amtgardians refer to as The Real World
  2. Amtgard is one my oldest hobbies/pastimes/activities



and tragedy strikes

So many of my friends assumed that all these very old circle of friends started with Amtgard…nope…we were pretty tight long before…
…when they remember Micah, a brutal slaying…they remember those who committed that vile act…so many blame Amtgard, more specifically a few within the game…they were utterly wrong…place blame at the feet of insobriety and reckless indifference to self-control…the entire circle swam in it…and most of the circlewere barely able to doggie-paddle. When 30-40 people dismiss responsibility with themselves…with each other…collateral damage is a certainty…that collateral damage comes in the form of wounded and ruined lives.

Unfortunately…I never would have thought to have heard what I’ve heard and read what I’ve read.
That very large circle of old friends is again burdened with unfathomable tragedy…as I read about this I am just speechless.
On Monday June 23rd, an old friend I haven’t seen or heard from since Micah left us…this is just crazy…I just cant seem to wrap my brain around it…
…the news says the police saw the children laying in a bed covered in blood and when they kicked in the front door were forced to shoot Scott (he charged them). The blood all over the children was their fathers, not their own…and the cause of death in the children is likely being withheld. A lot of people are drawing conclusions about Scott where information about his children simply isnt forthcoming from the police.

My roomate is dating someone from the gang…she had forgotten that we had the same circles at one time, and was seeming a bit stressed and then realized I might have known Scott. Thats when she just let it rip…”Scott Montgomery commited suicide after killing both his children.” I dont think I’ve been sucker-punched so swiftly…I was kindof speechless. I had to think back on it. Scott?! “Bullshit” I thought…no way he did it. I read a couple articles(links below) and then realized that this was fucked up. I have (still) so many questions. How did the children die? How did the children die? and how the FUCK did the children die? I’ve never thought of Scott as being aggressive…HELL…he used to date one of my best friends back in the RHPS days.

I read another one of the gang’s blogs…this is just…god it’s weird. I think I am just going to do some heavy linking and stop now…I need a drink.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_9679127
http://www5.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/22/police-man-kills-2-kids-cops-kill-him/
http://preview.denverpost.com/news/ci_9679127
http://almosttuesday.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/in-grief-sort-of/
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/16680807/detail.html




A sad announcement.

Today, one of my childhood idols passed on. Gary Gygax, on of the most influential men in the RPG industry passed on.

More information can be found HERE.

If you’re interested in his work, Wikipedia has a full citation of all his literature HERE.

Oi. I will be having a nip in his honor.

-T