The middle ages

I absolutely adore the middle ages - both the reality of what they were historically, and the way they are represented in fantasy novels and games. There's something so satisfying about winning a fight not because you pulled the trigger faster or had better aim, but because you were stronger, faster, and more skillful. That you were the one who fought better. And not only that, but to fight with honor, face to face, and to see the look in your opponent's eyes as they breath their last breaths on the end of your sword.

And of course, in fantasy, the wonder that is magic. To be able to rewrite the fabric of reality at any given moment, to control your enemies, and to revive the dead. And I can't really explain why, but that concept just seems to fit in the middle ages so much better than it would in other periods. Beliefs were different back then, and magic was something that was easier to believe in than it is today, when it is so easy to prove how false something may be.

There's just something magical about the glint of polished armor and hand forged swords, the skill required to ride horses and fight on their backs. The hulking muscles required to wield those weapons, and to draw their bows with the power to fire arrows dozens of yards and pierce their enemies throats with incredible precision.

And of course, there's the ideas and ideals of chivalry, which is more than many people give it credit for. It is not simply kindness to women, as so many believe it to be - in fact, this is only a very small bit of what chivalry is. Much of being a chivalrous knight was being a powerful warrior, and an expert politician. To gain allegiances, to hold on to them, and to fight for them. To know when to cut ties and make new ones.

Magnificent stone towers, erected over periods of years, as testaments to man's greatness. Beautiful creations, decorated with masterfully sewn tapestries that tell the history of the people who inhabit the land. Castles that stand the test of time, only to be destroyed when mankind has garnered more power than it could ever have any use for.

The middle ages are just something that I can't help but love, and I can never accurately describe why. Seeing anything even remotely related to the middle ages fills me with joy and passion, and I can't help but get excited when I see them. Knights and mages and kings and queens. I just love them. If only there were more things that used them well.