Tomorrow, Bannockburn will fight for its freedom.
Scottish warriors will fight those representing England in the Central Otago town, near Cromwell.
Swords will clash, projectiles will be hurled, and war cries bellowed, but no-one will die.
However, one side is fated.
The English will lose, as they did 700 years ago.
That is because the conflict will be a re-enactment of the 1314 Battle of Bannockburn in Scotland, where a vastly larger English army was defeated by a Scottish force fighting for the freedom of its country.
For the 700th anniversary of the battle, the Cromwell and Districts Promotion Group is holding a series of events in commemoration. Beginning with a whisky tasting last night, the programme runs until Tuesday, June 24, the date of the Scots' victory over England in 1314.
Promotions group secretary Terry Emmitt said the event was important as a large percentage of New Zealanders had Scottish or English ancestry.
''It's Bannockburn. We are obligated to do something aren't we? We have to. We really need a pertinent reminder of the battle for Scottish independence.''
As for the battle re-enactment, it would be ''disorganised theatre'', Mr Emmitt said.
''It's going to be in two acts, and we will have a sit down at halftime. It's going to be a bit of theatre with a historic trend to what it is all about - a reminder of what happened.''
During the battle, pacifist warfare rules would be observed - including using rolled newspaper swords - so participants could ''enjoy all aspects of the Battle of Bannockburn, but eliminate the killing, injuring, maiming, and other antisocial aspects''.
Combatants were advised that death and dying were a prominent feature of pacifist warfare.
If struck by a weapon, a soldier would ''fall over gracefully, artistically, and lingeringly'', until revived by a nurse to return to battle.
Mr Emmitt hoped the celebrations would be informative, meaningful, and ''a bit of fun''.
Numbers expected at the battle were uncertain, but if it were similar to the re-enactment held in 2002, it was likely more people would sign up for the Scottish side than the English. Some would have to be convinced to fight for the English side, he said.
The re-enactment and other commemorative events held in the Central Otago town of Bannockburn 12 years ago cost about $3000.
Although the programme was different for the present event, the cost was expected to be about $5000, Mr Emmitt said.
Holding the event was also about getting Bannockburn, as well as its heritage, seen and heard, he said.
Other events include a screening of the movie Braveheart this afternoon and the Bannocks Tea, where 2008 Robert Burns Fellow, poet and fiction writer Sue Wootton would discuss the influence of Scottish writers and poets on the world.
On Monday, Toitu Otago Settlers Museum exhibition developer William McKee will discuss the impact of Scottish settlers in Otago and Southland.
The same day, the Bannockburn Hall will have its first public event since reopening, hosting a concert, ''From the Hills and Glens''.
Finally, on Tuesday evening, a formal dinner, addressing of the haggis, and a discussion on Scottish independence by historian Jennie Coleman, of Massey University, will be held.
Cromwell i-Site team leader Helen Scoles said on Thursday the whisky tasting and Bannocks Tea events had already sold out, and limited tickets remained for other events.
''It would be great to get the event at the Bannockburn Hall sold out, because it is the first public event there since the hall has been reopened.''
Organisers were very happy with the sales so far, she said.
Celebrations for the battle's 700th anniversary are also being held in Scotland and other towns with the name around the world, such as Bannockburn in the state of Victoria, Australia.
Conscription for the battle begins at the Bannockburn post office building at 10am tomorrow, for the cost of a $2 coin. Soldiers must be 16 years or older.
Combatants must report to their commanders at 1pm, with battle commencing at bugle call, 2pm.
Join the battle
Where: The paddock across from the Bannockburn post office and the Kitchen cafe, in Bannockburn, Five minutes south of Cromwell. Parking and viewing from the paddock above the battlefield.
When: Tomorrow, Sunday June 22. Conscription from 10am, formation 1pm, battle starts at 2pm.
Who: Soldiers must be aged 16 and older.
Cost: $2 entry fee.
Rules: Battle to be conducted under the rules of pacifist warfare.
Weaponry: Rolled newspaper swords made from seven double sheets rolled tightly, to be used with the point only. Flour bombs and water bombs also permitted if used safely.
History of the battle
The Battle of Bannockburn began on June 23, 1314, when Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, killed an English knight with his battle-axe in single combat.
It was a sign of who would dominate the two-day conflict to come.
The next day, June 24, a Scottish force fought a much larger English army, defeating it outside the gates of Stirling Castle, near the waters of the Bannock Burn, a stream, securing a victory in the first Scottish War of Independence.
Before the battle, the Scots had placed the English fort, Stirling Castle, under siege, and King Edward II assembled a large army to relieve the castle.
Although numbers are not clear, it is thought that about half of the 27,000 cavalry and infantrymen summoned from England, Ireland and Wales answered the call, the largest army to invade Scotland.
In comparison, the Scottish force was thought to number about 6000, with a small number on horseback.
During the battle, English forces were disadvantaged by a confined position, while the Scottish had the advantage of a better position and information from a knight who defected from the English side.
Due to the landscape and their position, when the armies met, the English could not bring their full force to bear on the Scots.
Fighting in a formation called a schiltron, the Scottish proved superior and their arriving reinforcements appeared to the English as a new army.
After also losing a pair of commanders, King Edward II was escorted from the battle to make his escape, the momentum of the Scots obvious.
The battle turned into a rout as the English tried to flee, many killed doing so, and hundreds of men and horses drowned in the Bannock Burn.
While some escaped, including Edward II, the Scottish side had won.
Robert Bruce was left in military control of Scotland and had won independence for the nation. The victory has since imprinted itself as a key moment in Scottish history.
