Here begins the Report of the Court of Their Majesties Arnthor and Ceirech, King and Queen of Æthelmearc, at St. Swithin’s Bog Twelfth Night, joined by Jean Phillippe and Catherine, Baron and Baroness of St. Swithin’s Bog, January 21 AS 57, jorundr hinn rotinn, Silver Buccle Herald, reporting.
Their Majesties demanded the presence of Baron Gunther Grunbaum. He was bade to take the Kingdom toy chest and find the youth of the Kingdom so that they might take gifts from it.
Their Majesties gifted mugs to all the newcomers and welcomed them to the Society.
Their Majesties granted leave to Their Excellencies of St. Swithin’s Bog to conduct Their Baronial Court.
Their Majesties called for Eliza Allison. Her assistance at events, and prolific pictures preserving our history pleased Their Majesties. For this They Awarded her Arms. Scroll Pyrography by Arvik Hyttoinen with calligraphy by Ragnhilda Manadottir.Their Majesties inducted Lord Joubert de la Rose into the Order of the Golden Alce in abstentia for his skill in rattan combat. Scroll Illuminated and words by Brother Bobby, with calligraphy by Cassie Carataca of Settmour Swamp.Their Majesties called for Lord Eadmund aet Eoforwicscir. His work during the lockdown period helped bring Society to those that could not make it themselves, he created a video to send to newcomers, and he made cloaks for many of the Bog’s children along with sheet walls for the Baronial encampment. For this Their Majesties inducted him into the Order of the Keystone. Scroll by Bog Scribes.Their Majesties called for Baroness Catherine de Troyes and Baron Jean Phillippe Dit Barbe Rousse. Her skill in recreating period food is a delight, and his skill in forming weapons out of rattan is artistry, as is his teaching of that skill. Thus, Their Majesties felt it right to induct both of them into the Order of the Sycamore. Combined scroll by Rachelle L’ymagiere with words by Ælfra Long.Their Majesties called for Morgan de Clermont. She is the type of person that can always spot the person not having fun, and bring them into the group, so that everyone has more fun. For this Their Majesties inducted her into the Order of the Howling Wolf. Scroll illuminated by Donatella da Fano, with words by Elizabeth Rosamund, and Calligraphy by Cynthia Love of the Tower.
Their Majesties inducted Lady Aurelie of Nithgaard into the Order of the Cornelian in abstentia for her constant courtesy and kindness. Scroll by the Ætt Skyti Scribal Guild.Their Majesties called for Lady Svava of St. Swithin’s Bog to present herself before Them. She serves as Debatable Lands Chatelaine and has planned demos as she is trying to revamp the way we approach recruitment and retention. She also serves as a marshal frequently. For this Their Majesties were pleased to induct her into the Order of the Millrind. Scroll illuminated by Caoinleán Seanchaidh, with words by Maddoc MacRoyri, and Calligraphy by Cynthia Love of the Tower.
Lord Arvik Hyttoinen was called to present himself before Their Majesties. His skill and support of the thrown weapons community had caused a certain group to speak to Their Majesties about him. Thus, They felt moved to induct him into the Order of the White Horn. Scroll by Amalie Reinhardt.Their Majesties called for the scribes, wordsmiths, and regalia wrights to choose a gift from the scribal goodie box to thank them for their hard work in producing items for Court.
Their Majesties thanked everyone for attending and invited everyone to prepare for Pennsic 50 this summer.
Here begins the report of the Court of Andreas Morgan and Kallista Morganova, Second of those names, 50th King and Queen of Æthelmearc at Queen’s Rapier Championship and Equestrian Games held within The Barony-Marche of the Debatable Lands, April 8th AS 57. Po Silvertop, Jewel of Aethelmearc Herald reporting, with the assistance of Gytha Oggsdottir, Silver Sycamore Herald
Their Majesties welcomed all those who attended and bade them enjoy the day-
Their Majesties then received the procession of Rapier Combatants who wished to Fence for the honor of being considered Her Majesty’s champion- each received a rose from Her hand.
Court was then suspended.
…Upon the conclusion of Her Majesty’s Rapier Championship Tourney:
Her Majesty called before Her Her Order of the White Scarf, and spoke of Her love of the artform- She complimented all who took the field but wished to speak of one in general- and thus bade Lady Lucia Augur to attend Her. Upon asking Don Jehan LeBlanc to release Lady Lucia from her cadet commitment, Queen Kallista created her a member of the Order of the White Scarf – Dona Lucia recieved multiple white scarves and a rapier belt and hanger representing her lineage. Scroll (in progress) by THL Meilan Hua, upon a text by Master Cyrus Augur and Don Jehan LeBlanc. Rapier belt and Hanger created by Lady Ania Moireach
Doña Lucia Augur is inducted into the White Scarf.
Court was again suspended…
…at evening Court:
Their Majesties invited Their Excellencies of the Barony-Marche of the Debatable Lands to hold Their court.
Their Majesties invited all the newcomers present to come forward. They were given gifts of mugs made by the artisans of the Kingdom.
Their Majesties called forward those present who were young or young-at-heart- and then chose Abby as the day’s sacrificial “runner of the toychest”.
Their Majesties requested the presence of the Autocrat, Meesteres Odriana vander Brugghe, who thanked everyone for coming and thanked her staff for assisting in making the event happen.
Their Majesties then invited THL Gesa von Wellenstein forward to discuss the day’s equestrian activities- who revealed the winner of the equestrian Joust was Lord Jordan, and that the favorite Horse was Maple.
Master Po requested time to conduct heraldic business as Jewel Herald- and presented gifts of chocolates to those who had heralded the QRC procession.
Their Majesties then asked Duke Malcolm Duncan MacEoghainn to discuss the upcoming “Garnet and Steel tourney“- a 32-slot invitational rapier tourney to be held in the future. Duke Malcolm presented Queen Kallista with the first of the 32 entry coins, as well as a coin for the day’s QRC winner.
Their Majesties invited Duke Ragnarr Blackhammer and Shaykha Jan al-Tha’lab before them as envoys from the Kingdom of Atlantia, and received gifts from that neighboring Kingdom.
Master Cyrus Augur was called forward to discuss the Cut and Thrust tourney results: Naming Don Jorundr Hinn Rotinn as the winner and therefore the Sylvan Cut & Thrust Champion. Their Majesties invited Don Jorundr to join them as part of Their Court.
Reigning Queen’s Rapier Champion Don Nicolo Loredan da Venezia was called before the Crown to discuss the day’s rapier tourney… Many had fenced cleanly with honor and grace- and one stood victorious. Her Majesty requested the victor, Master Cyrus Augur to again step forward, this time to receive the Champion’s cloak and regalia and join the Crown in Their Court. (scroll by Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope).Their Majesties requested Jacklyn of Debatable Lands to attend Them, and for her service and equestrian abilities she was Awarded Arms. (scroll by Mistress Sadira bint Wassouf and Master Christofano Vecchione)
Fredericus of the Incipient College of Arx Collis was invited before the Crown and for his impressive showing in the rapier tourney and for his activities within the Incipient College, he was Awarded Arms. (Illumination by Lady Aveline del Dolce, calligraphy by Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope)
Don Mathias al Tabbai was called before the Throne for his impressive artistic endeavors and was made a member of the Order of the Sycamore (scroll by Baroness Antoinette DeLorraine)
Their Majesties demanded the presence of Baron Salvadore de La Torres– and they remarked upon his constant usefulness. For his service he was granted inclusion into the Order of the Millrind. (scroll by Mistress Sadira bint Wassouf and Master Christofano Vecchione)
Their Majesties requested to speak with Lord Balint Toth and spoke at great length about his art- the creation of beautiful metalwork and garb – and thus inducted him into the Order of the Fleur d’Æthelmearc. (scroll by Baroness Graidhne ni Ruaidh)
Their Majesties were pleased to welcome Baroness Muirgheal ingen Dubhghaill before them- They complimented her on her years of service; as Seneschal, Autocrat, and Reign coordinator, and reuested that she choose a future date within their Reign to sit vigil and contemplate elevation to the Order of the Pelican (Writ by Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope)
Their Majesties invited all first-time tournament fencers present to come forward and receive tokens.
Their Majesties invited all Scribes to come forward and receive gifts of appreciation for their efforts.
Their Majestioes thanked all for attending and making the day wonderful.
Katja watching a friend be elevated. Photo by Master John Michael Thorpe.
Real Name: Chris Adler-France
SCA Name & title: Katja Davidova Orlova Khazarina, OP, OL, sixth baroness of Thescorre (retired). If a situation requires a title, I prefer Baroness over Mistress or Dame, but I mostly prefer to just be called Katja.
Years in the SCA: 35+.
How did you find out about the SCA? During my sophomore year in college, my journalism professor told me that she thought that I would really enjoy her hobby. I thought the SCA sounded extremely interesting – I’d enjoyed going to some Ren faires and it sounded similar — but I had a full course load and worked part-time at a newspaper, so I decided that I didn’t have the time for it at that point in my life.
A year later, a friend in my astronomy class also prodded me to check out the SCA, but the guys in carpet armor I saw bashing each other at the fight practice he drove me to didn’t grab my interest. After repeated nudges, he pointed out that there would be a fencing, fighting, and arts event in my hometown in a week. Being a mercenary student, I figured I’d combine checking out the society with getting paid; I successfully pitched the idea to my newspaper editor. I threw on what I thought was vaguely medieval (a long dress), grabbed my camera and a notepad, drove to the site… and saw fencers laughing as they danced around each other in a ring and used mugs and cloaks as parry weapons. It was so fluid and utterly different from the stiff, straight back-and-forth collegiate fencing I’d done, it immediately grabbed my attention. Unlike what little Ren faire fencing I’d seen, it was obviously not choreographed, and women were fencing, not just guys!! It looked real and authentic and absolutely fascinating.
As I investigated the event further, the display of arts was so much more varied than what I’d seen for sale at faires, plus people were eager to talk at length about how and why they made things. Many were even more eager to teach how to make them, they didn’t hoard their knowledge or skills. The people I interviewed for the story were from all backgrounds and knowledgeable about so many things, and everyone was so, so kind, unlike the rudeness so common in the “real world.”
I was completely, utterly hooked.
Katja helping Ruaidri make period chicken salad for a 1998 outdoor event lunch. Photo by Baron Steffan.
Where did you start, what was your first event? I lived in the Canton of Ravenhill, Barony Beyond the Mountain (East Kingdom) and initially played a lot in the nearby barony of Dragonship Haven. Although the Ravenhill Triple Threat in March 1988 was my first attended event, the first SCA event I went to as an actual participant was Pennsic War 17.
Yes, I am one of those SCAdians whose first event was Pennsic. One of the gentles I interviewed at the Ravenhill event managed to charm my phone number out of me, we started dating, and he convinced me to go to Pennsic with him four months later (and I married him a few years later).
Finishing college and working full-time at the newspaper took up most of my time in the beginning, so I attended only a handful of events (generally helping out in kitchens) plus Pennsic for six years until I moved to the barony of Thescorre. Besides Pennsic, the first event I attended in this kingdom was an Ice Dragon in either 1991 or 1992, when I drove up from the East to visit friends in the Buffalo area. The first event I attended as an Æthelmartian was Sergeants & Yeomen in 1994.
Katja and a friend at Agincourt. Photo by Skylar.
What is your persona? My name is Russian, I wear mostly 16th century Turkish garb, but my persona is actually 10th century Khazar. Since so far I’ve been unable to determine if women worked in kitchens in that time period and location, I couldn’t defend being a baker, so my persona is a noblewoman.
Why did you pick this persona? I wanted to explore my own genealogy a bit (I’m half Russian/Polish and half German), plus everyone I knew when starting out was mostly Celtic, Italian, or Japanese, and I wanted to do something different. I liked the name Katja, a nice herald who was an expert on Russian helped me select the patronymic Orlova, and I sort of pinned a dot on the 13th century and vaguely eastern Russia. Done!
Then … a few years later, I discovered that “Katja Orlova” was a character in a John Le Carre novel?! The College of Heralds doesn’t approve literary or real historical figure names, so my name was unintentionally illegal. Serendipitously, I’d gotten really interested at that point in researching the Jewish/Turkic country of Khazaria that existed between the Black and Caspian Seas from the 6th to 10th centuries, and I wanted to explore more of my Jewish heritage (my mundane father was Ashkenazi on both sides). So, I went to the heralds’ tent at Pennsic to amend my name to make it more Jewish than Russian, something like Katja bat David.
However, the Jewish herald expert was so incredibly unhelpful and condescending that I got up, returned to the nice herald who had helped me choose my Russian name, and with his guidance chose a second patronymic and a locative. So, rudeness and my own impatience is why I have this ridiculously long Russian name. To all the wonderful scribes who created gorgeous scrolls for me, I apologize.
As for why my name is Russian but I wear Turkish: I wore a variety of European garb for my first 15 years in Society until I began researching the Khazars while I was simultaneously falling in love with belly dancing. It’s very hard to determine exactly what Khazars wore, since there is almost no existing artwork of them, but the predominant garb of that region was either side-closed coats (like Mongol dels) or front-closed coats (like Turkish kaftans). After wearing very not-historically accurate American Tribal Style for a few years, I settled on 1500s Ottoman simply because of the amount of historical artwork available and because it’s flattering to my figure and have pretty worn that for the past 20 years.
Artwork by Lady Portia Montesorri.
Do you have any group or household affiliations? I’ve collected households completely without intending to do so. I was welcomed into House Atai (Sir Yoshina’s household) due to my then-husband when I first began playing, but I participated more often with and was ribboned to Clann O’Choda while I still lived in Connecticut. After I moved to Thescorre and eventually started dating my upgrade husband (Master Eric Grenier de Labarre), I began camping with him at Sharc Pit, a household of fencers mostly from the East Kingdom. I’m also a member of House Robakovna due to my dearly missed Laurel, the late Mistress Michaele del Vaga, and a chum (friend) to Dark Horde Moritu due to my Pelican, Master Devon Adair Bartholomy.
Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA. I’ve been various flavors of editor for over three decades (newspapers, a regional magazine, legal books publisher). I was out of work for about five years due to recovery from successful breast cancer treatment and have been thrilled for the past three years to work for an academic publisher. I am the part-time assistant editor for US office of Boydell & Brewer and I totally love it –it has been my dream since college to work in academic publishing. The UK office of my company publishes lots of yummy books on medieval history.
Outside of work, I have always loved baking bread and cooking all sorts of cuisines. I have sporadically practiced yoga since I was a teenager; I have focused on Kundalini for the past nine years since it keeps my hip arthritis in remission and greatly eased me through cancer treatment. I still enjoy belly dancing when I can do so, as well as reading books, playing role-playing games weekly, and collecting comics. My husband and I are owned by several extremely spoiled cats.
Katja helping Eric season a roast at Pennsic. Photo by Eric Grenier de Labarre.
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in? I love cooking. I’ve cooked in a lot of kitchens in various kingdoms for almost my entire SCA career (both helping others and being head cook) and I used to teach frequently about how to run a kitchen, balance menus, or redact period recipes, as well as specific hands-on skills like bread baking, pasta making, soft cheese making, and sausage making. I LOVE diving into food history and own about a thousand analytical texts and reprints of historic cookbooks, so I’ve welcomed friends to my home for research and redacting sessions. I’ve often been asked to bake bread for other cooks for their lunches or feasts. I really, really enjoy cooking with other people and watching a hall full of people stuffing their faces happily with good food.
Besides learning belly dance in the SCA (and teaching intro classes and practices as well as intro classes on Turkish garb), I also adored English country and basse dancing when I used to do it, especially doing so at public demos. I enjoy the challenge of target archery, even though I suck at it. I stumbled into retaining when Eric and I were at Gulf Wars (when he was on Dorinda’s guard) and I realized that there were very few Æthelmartians on site to retain for Her Majesty or then-Princess Meirwen. (They were so very kind and patient with my clueless first retainer attempts.) I make kumihimo cords for medallion largesse while sitting in meetings or at Troll. I LOVE attending classes and learning new things. I also value being asked to judge food entries and research papers for A&S competitions, getting to learn about the amazing things gentles create and being as kind and encouraging as possible in my commentary. My sewing skills bite, but I still occasionally try to make my own garb or Eric’s fencing armor; most of my really nice garb has been made by friends or purchased from Silvertree Souk.
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.) I’m currently the chronicler of Thescorre’s quarterly newsletter, The Fewmet (http://thescorre.org/fewmet), as well as the barony’s Gold Key. I’m co-head of the Cauldron Bleu cooks guild with Mistress Sadira. (Before the pandemic, I held monthly vigil cookie baking/decorating parties and feast prep sessions at my home on the west side of Rochester while she ran skills classes at her home on the east side.) I support Baron Steffan, our barony’s steward, by maintaining the inventory of kitchen equipment in his basement and reorganizing stuff back into their proper boxes after an event. I’m also a dancer for the drum & dance troupe, Raven Raqs Beladi, when we return to normal practices after the Pandemic.
Sideways to official roles, I have been a rotating editor for the Æthelmearc Gazette since its inception six years ago. I edit and post stories every Monday.
Katja being brainsucked by four of her five apprentice/proteges after a Pax Interruptus lunch: Baroness Dubheasa, THL Katrina of York, THL Collette de Paris, and Noble Saige. Photo by fourth a/p, Baron Eldjarn.
I’ve held a bunch of offices over the years, including baronial seneschal and kingdom archivist/waiver secretary. I worked on staff for Pennsic Technical Services for about five years and was the Pennsic site book editor twice. I’ve baked lots of vigil cookies and donated food for queen’s teas and kingdom parties.
In recent years, due to lasting and frequent fatigue, concentration, and dehydration issues from cancer treatment, I’ve pivoted to volunteering at troll and Æ Royal hospitality because those are service that is sitting down and usually in the shade.
I have edited or proofread numerous SCA documents for those who know of my mundane expertise, ranging from local policies to the Big Red Book for scribes to friends’ Ice Dragon documentation. I’ve loved being head cook of feasts and lunches for decades, but my body gets really broken if I try to do that now, so I pivoted several years ago to mentoring other cooks to help them make successful, on-time, on-budget, yummy period meals.
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have? To have fun and escape the 20th century for a little while. Oh, and to make new friends and learn things.
What are your goals now? To have fun and help others have fun while escaping the 21st century for a little while. And to keep making new friends, try to keep in touch with existing friends, and learn things.
What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA? When Eric and I won the election to be landed baron & baroness, we started seeking advice from various gentles about how to hold our Courts. I’m fortunate that I almost never get stage fright, so that wasn’t what bothered me; my voice isn’t very loud, so I worried that while Eric can easily project across a stadium, I wouldn’t be heard unless I was shouting. We learned about how much the landed baronage support the Crown in creating pageantry and spectacle for the populace, about how important it is to ensure that gentles are valued and appreciated during their moment of recognition in Court, and I really didn’t want to screw that up by shrieking or having people not be able to hear our praises unless only Eric said them. Several very kind gentles gave me excellent advice on breath control and projecting my voice (notably Mistress Matilda and Countess Caryl), so I was fairly effective at being heard during our term.
Eric and Katja in a baronial court at Pennsic, with Dona Yasmina heralding. Unknown photographer.
After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA? I want to regularly attend archery practice, but it’s hard to find enough spoons on Sunday mornings. I’ve been seriously considering replacing my recurve with a crossbow because the couple of times I’ve shot one has been AWESOMESAUCE and I think that will be kinder to my upper body.
Maybe this will finally be the spring that I get off my rear and set up on our property the target that has languished in our garage rather than just thinking about how setting it up would be A Good Idea™.
If you could accomplish only one thing in the SCA in the next year, what would it be? I really need to resurrect my food research website so that it doesn’t look like it escaped from the 1990s.
A project I’ve started and want to get off the ground this year: The number of SCA friends who kindly and repeatedly provided encouragement and advice while I underwent cancer treatment was wonderful and humbling, and it definitely had an impact on my positive attitude towards treatment and recovery. Cancer centers often recommend patients join a support group, but I realized that it can be very scary for some people to talk to a group of strangers. In my past seven years of survival, I’ve personally talked to many friends or friends of friends who are facing cancer, and it struck me that it might be easier for people to join a group of people they already know or at least have heard of. So, I created the Facebook group AEthelmearc Cancer Support. Anyone who is a cancer patient or survivor/ally is welcome to join. It’s an unofficial group and won’t legally provide any medical advice, but survivors can share with patients what they went through and how they handled the process, and help patients not feel alone.
Katja being carried into court in Sadira’s camel. Photo by Mistress Tsvia.
What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA? Try everything that appeals to you, enjoy the stuff you like, try other things if at some point you’re no longer able to do those things. Cherish the friends you make, whether you have them for decades or just a few years.
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be? Probably being competent at archery or thrown weapons—the communities are so welcoming, kind, and fun.
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why? That’s a weird question for me to contemplate. I’m a double peer who never sought or expected to receive accolades when I began playing because I was fringy and focused on making friends. Nearly every award I’ve received has been a very pleasant surprise. My personal goal is to stay on this side of the grass, as Devon often says, and keep enjoying life. But if gentles ever think I’ve done enough to merit a Jewel or an Augmentation, considering all the impressive gentles who have been recognized with those in the past, either of those are good benchmarks to be seek to be worthy of and either would probably make my head explode. Devon would be proud and the tiny, terrorizing Michaele I still bicker with in my brain might be pleased.
Please add additional comments as you see fit.
As the Twelfth Doctor said, “Run fast, laugh hard, be kind.”
Interested in participating in Populace in Focus? Find out how below:
Here begins the report of the Court of Arnthor and Ceirech, King and Queen of Æthelmearc, at Debatable Lands Twelfth Night, January 14 AS 57, joined by Their Heirs Andreas and Kallista, jorundr hinn rotinn, Silver Buccle Herald, reporting, with the assistance of Lughaidh Ó Murchadha.
Their Majesties summoned Caillan and sacrificed him unto the youth of the Kingdom. His noble attempt at escape with the Kingdom toy chest was celebrated by all.
Their Majesties gifted mugs to all the newcomers in attendance and welcomed them to the Society.
Their Majesties gave leave to Their Excellencies of the Debatable Lands to conduct Their Baronial Court.
His Majesty, much to the dismay of Her Highness issued a one day lifting of the ban on the hunting and cooking of unicorns.
Lady Ascillia Attebrooke was given leave to discuss the largess competition she ran that day. The Queen’s choice was THLady Gesa von Wellenstein for her Huefalafl game, the King’s choice was Lady Gredechin Morin de Nordenberg for her Norse burial pouches, and the populace choice was Emma de Harewude for her needle book and pin cushion.
Master Rori an Coup was allowed to approach Their Majesties. He had some business with one Lord Éadaoin Ruadh. This individual has been heard committing many auditory infractions. Such as inciting the bardic arts. Master Rori felt that he could help curtail this, and presented Lord Éadaoin with an apprentice’s belt, which he accepted.
Their Majesties called for Baroness Rosheen O’Faye, the Kingdom Chatelaine. Rosheen wished to step down and had found a worthy replacement. Their Majesties allowed Rosheen to retire. Their Majesties summoned Lady Elizabeth Parker, after confirming that she wished to serve as Kingdom Chatelaine, they heard her oath and confirmed her office.
Their Majesties called for Master Uilliam mac an t’Saoir. His performance in the bardic championship pleased Her Majesty the most and so he was invested as Queen’s Bardic Champion.
Their Majesties called for Emma de Harewude. Her research into Russian garb so that he might dress herself and her husband is quite impressive. She shoots archery and takes many classes. This pleases Their Majesties, thus they Awarded her Arms. Scroll by Katherine Kiersey.Their Majesties called for Lord Niall Mac Raedwulf. His skill at archery is constantly growing, he even shot on the Champion’s team at Pennsic. For this Their Majesties inducted him into the Order of the Golden Alce. Scroll by Megge Gormshuileach.
Don Markus Skalpr Grimsson was next called by Their Majesties. He served as the Shire of Ballachlagan’s seneschal, he helps run fencing practices, he founded a Shire in the Middle Kingdom when he and his wife lived there. These are good things, and Their Majesties felt moved to make him a Companion of the Keystone for them. Scroll by Christafano with words by Sadira bint Wassouf.
Their Majesties wished to talk to Lady Ascillia Attebrooke once again. Ascillia has been a water bearer since she joined the Society. She has worked on several Reigns and is always helpful however she can be. For this Their Majesties inducted her into the Order of the Keystone. Scroll by Elizabeth of Roxbury Mill.Lord Niall Mac Raedwul’s presence was once again demanded by Their Majesties. They had heard word that Niall is an Ethereal Herald, even now projecting Their words so that many could hear them from afar. This pleases Their Majesties as Theysay many good words. Thus, They created Nial a Companion of the Keystone. Scroll by Nichola Beese.Their Majesties called for Herr Reinhard Regenbogen. His service as webminister to the Debatable Lands, and work in the scribal arts are worthy of recognition. Thus, They inducted him into the Order of the Keystone. Scroll by Scribal West.Their Majesties called for Lord Sean O’Connor. Sean works on scribal blanks for the Kingdom and Debatable Lands, and recently worked on a project to make a Norse doorway for the Pennsic encampment. These acts pleased Their Majesties thus They created him a Companion of the Sycamore. Scroll by Lisabetta de Rossi.There was a brief intermission in Court.
Their Majesties called for THLady Gesa von Wellenstein. Her hospitality and generosity in teaching people to ride and get authorized in equestrian activities is great, as is her patience. This caused Their Majesties to induct her into the Order of the Cornelian. Scroll by Lisabetta de Rossi.Their Majesties summoned THNoble Katerina das Vogelen. Katerina had been inducted into the Order of the Fleur d’Æthelmearc in 2016 but was not present at the time Their Majesties wished to resolve this by recognizing them on this day. Scroll by Jonathan Blaecstan with words by Lisabetta de Rossi.Her Highness begged a boon of Their Majesties. The Queen’s Rapier Champion poked her several times during Court and had committed numerous other infractions previously. in relation to Her Highness and Their Highness’ camp. Their Majesties were deeply shocked by this and so gathered council from the Order of the White Scarf. It was deemed that Nicolo Loredan da Venesia should be counted as one of their numbers. Scroll by Sorcha MacKenzie and Nichola Beese.Their Majesties called Don Cyrus Augur to return to Them. His skill in fencing had brought him to the notice of the Order of Defense, so They issued him a writ of summons to contemplate induction into that order. Scroll by Mei Lan Hua with words by Elena d’Artois.Their Majesties called THLady Hara Kikumatsu. Her skill in creating Japanese clothing is great, as is her ability to teach others and get them excited about learning about Japanese clothing and other aspects of Japanese culture. For this Their Majesties issued her a writ of summons to contemplate entry into the Order of the Laurel. Scroll by Kieran MacRae.Her Majesty named THLady Harper an Cu as her inspiration for the day for her playing of the harp all day and helping set the atmosphere.
Their Majesties called for the scribes, wordsmiths, and regalia wrights to choose a gift from the scribal goodie box to thank them for their hard work in producing items for Court.
His Highness spoke about how he hoped to see everyone at Pennsic this year and announced that Æthelmearc would be fighting with the East this year.
On the Æthelmearc Facebook group, it was asked whether Æthelmearc has a theme song.
Some Kingdoms do have theme songs — Calontir uses The Song of the Shield Wall, while Ealdormere uses Rise, and the Debatable Lands has its own theme song in Marce Baroniae — but Æthelmearc has never settled on a single song. Instead, we have a wealth of songs from which to choose, many of which are available online at the bardic website: www.aebards.org
One good candidate for an Æthelmearc theme song is “Banners of Scarlet” by Brehyres Gwendolyn the Graceful, a past Sylvan Bard. Gwen notes: “It might interest the Gazette’s readers that a group of five performers put together a video version of “Scarlet” for the First Bardic War in 2021.” That video, which includes lyrics, is shown below.
The finalists at Crown are Duke Gareth Kincaid, who defeated Sir Oliver Sutton, and Master Jacob Martinson, who defeated Sir Murdoch Bayne in the Semis.
As many people have been asking, I will be holding a class on “How to use Æ Google Mail with other Gmail accounts.”
(Remember, Google for AE Accounts include Royalty, all Kingdom Officers (Great or Minor), Regionals, All Group Seneschals, all Order Clerks, all Guild Heads, all Local Groups who have officer accounts (as they run through the Kingdom server), anyone who is a Webminister for a group, Kingdom officer, order, etc., A&S Minister, for a group, Chatelaine for a group, or Herald for a group.)
This session will be for anyone with an account on Google for Æ to learn how to use their Gmail accounts in tandem with person Gmail accounts (be it on the computer or on mobile device).
After the training, Amalie will gladly field questions on any Google for Æ (Google Workspace) related.
This class will take place on Monday, May 8 from 7:30-8:30 PM on the Kingdom Zoom. (Zoom info forthcoming.)
This session will be recorded (edited) and posted.
Unfortunately, we had a snafu with the background check process and background check requests were not getting to the right inbox. A number of folks were affected.
Good news is that we have found the problem and it has been resolved. Bad news is that several people have been waiting a long time.
We are so sorry about that. If you are waiting on a background check and have *not* gotten an email from me, please let me know (or check your Spam Folder.) I just submitted almost 30 people for background checks so likely you were one of them.
Please give us a week to get this resolved. If you have submitted a background check and *don’t* receive an email from the Background check company within a week, please email me at seneschal@aethelmearc.org and we’ll get right on it.
Here begins the Report of the Court of Arnthor and Ceirech, King and Queen of Æthelmearc, at the Sylvan Glen Twelfth Night Celebration, January 7 AS 57, joined by Their Heirs Andreas and Kallista, jorundr hinn rotinn, Silver Buccle Herald, reporting.
Their Majesties called for Bruno and made him carry the Kingdom toy chest to lead the youth of the Kingdom to choose a toy.
Their Majesties called for all the newcomers, welcomed them, and gifted them mugs.
Their Majesties allowed Dame Hrefna Úlfvarinnsdóttir, the autocrat to address the populace. She wished to thank everyone for attending. The Shire of Sylvan Glen presented their tribute to Their Majesties and Their Highnesses and presented a gift to their site liaison Lady Berengaria of Leighton Buzzard to thank her for her work for the group.
Their Majesties called for Marsalli Mac Lochlainn. Her skill in fencing and her willingness to travel to learn and challenge herself pleased Their Majesties, and so They Awarded her Arms. Scroll illuminated by Tiberious Hostilious Malous, with calligraphy by Juliana Delamere.Their Majesties summoned Lodovica. She had made garb, her pictures of events bring joy to many, and she has donated fabric for her local group to use. These are all good things, and Their Majesties felt moved to recognize these acts of nobility by Awarding her Arms. Scroll by Juliana Delamere.Lord Eoghan of Ferns was next called before Their Majesties. He was Awarded Arms by Gareth and Juliana, but was not present that day, so Their Majesties wished to take a moment and thank him for everything he did and welcome him to the ranks of nobility.Their Majesties called for Mistress Alfrun Ketta. Her kindness and courtesy are an inspiration to all, and her crusade against stinky kittens is inspirational. For this Their Majesties inducted her into the Order of the Cornelian. Scroll by Juliana Delamere.Her Majesty named Master Morien MacBain as her inspiration for the day.