The field notes
How it got out of hand.
The castle gates were closed, so Robert and Sandy prepared a siege. There were banners, flowers, royal invitations, and not one angry word. It was the most well-mannered military operation the Renaissance festival had ever seen.
Robert worked the ACME invitation trebuchet while Sandy carried the PLEASE banner and waved to the castle balcony. Every scroll landed in a flower bed, which the court agreed was much better than landing on a roof.
The gates opened, the villagers applauded, and the king invited us inside for refreshments. The mission proved that courtesy is not just good manners; it is a surprisingly powerful siege engine.