By Lord Eldjarn the Thoughtful, C3R Autocrat 2018

Thescorre’s College of Three Ravens has gotten a facelift for 2018! The Barony’s staple schola event (over 30 years old, formerly UWEKAT and UAKAT) will be held at a new location next month: St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Hilton, NY, just half an hour from downtown Rochester. The site includes a gymnasium for fencing and heavy weapons classes and sparring.

February 24th will see more classes and activities than the event has had in years. Classes on many topics will be filling the nine classrooms and dedicated scriptorium from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (See current class list below.)

Sinks, Gym, and No Stairs!

The school just completed renovations this past summer and now all classrooms have ceiling-mounted projection systems. There is also a sink in each room. Previously, there were two larger classrooms. The renovations saw one room permanently split, resulting in an extra room which gives us private space for holding a third vigil. The remaining larger classroom will be dedicated to dance or other subjects requiring a little extra floor space.

What does the new facility lack? Stairs!!

The gym, a respectable-sized main hall, classrooms, scriptorium, and three vigil rooms are all on one level for complete ease of access. The Royalty room is even conveniently placed across the hall from the scribal room.

The school includes three sets of restrooms spaced throughout the T-shaped site, with two sets offering diaper changing stations. The third set alongside the gym is adjacent to a pair of small, locker/changing rooms equipped with two adult-height shower stalls each. One shower in each Lords’ & Ladies’ conveniently has a fold-down shower seat and wand shower head.

Off-street parking is extensive, boasting four separate parking lots totaling approximately 200+ spaces. SCA attendees will be using the larger west lot that fits 98 cars, as well as two other parking areas reserved for the convenience of event staff, vigil coordinators, and Royalty. That still leave us with some overflow in the more distant areas of the parishioners lot, should it be absolutely necessary.

The main hall features 18 tables of eight, and its own exterior entrance apart from the one leading directly into the adjoining kitchen. Our lunch and feast cooks, Lady Ragna Feilan and Lady Lasairfhiona inghean Aindriasa, have been raving about the kitchen space just from seeing photos and are eager to fill many bellies with their delicious-sounding planned meals.

Outside the main hall are large windows letting in sunlight near benches where gentles may sit and chat. There is even room for several merchants should anyone wish to set up a table to display their wares. There are one or two already signed up; contact the Autocrat if interested.

Unfortunately for us, the church holds a small Saturday service in their 400-seat nave/chancel, which conflicts with our traditional Court time. However, the spacious gym with its movable bleachers will be ample room for our pageantry! The gym is also at the opposite end of the site, so SCAdians and parishioners will not disrupt each other. I’ve no idea what spectacle may be planned for the elevation of Gillian Llwelyn to the Laurel and elevations of Nest Verch Rys and Rioghnach ní Rose to the Pelican, but such will doubtless be a delight to witness.

It would be neglectful of me to fail to mention the sprawling outdoor athletic fields, though snow-covered in February, are capable of simultaneously accommodating all martial activities including target archery at future events in warmer seasons.

The site administrators have been exceedingly friendly and interested in our medieval activities. Let us hope we can build a mutually respectful relationship with the school and continue to have access to the site for years to come!

Please consider braving the wintry temperatures and roads to come make this College of Three Ravens an extraordinarily enjoyable day of learning, socializing, eating, and plain chivalrous fun.

Current Class List

• Gilding for Novices– Abigail Kelhoge
• Blackwork, Beyond the Basics– Moniczka Poznanska
• Beginning Embroidery– Moniczka Poznanska
• Do They Get This at the Thingvallir?- Humor in the Sagas– Baron Fridrikr Tomasson
• Með jákvæði hennar sjálfrar: Change in Icelandic Marriage Law as reflected in Njals Saga and Laxdæla Saga– Baron Fridrikr Tomasson
• Whitework 101: It’s Not as Scary as You Think– Felice de Thornton
• Chainmaille for Beginners– Amalie Reinhardt
• Symbolism of Flowers in Squashed Bug Manuscripts– Eleanore Godwin
• Belly Dance– Kathlin Ulfsdottir, known as Hadia
• Left-Handed Calligraphy Class– Padraig O’Branduibh
• Essential Oils in the Middle Ages– Baroness Rosemund von Glinde
• Spoon Carving– Iohn Spooner
• Yonec & Caerwent– Thomas of Petersham
• Syrup of Lemon- Baron Caleb Reynolds
• Emergency Preparedness for the Kitchen, or What to do When it All Goes Wrong– Andrew of Thescorre
• Easy Ottoman Turkish Garb-Baroness Katja Davidova Orlova Khazarina
• The Amazing T-Tunic– Genevote Nau d’Anjou
• Basic Beginner Brocading– Hrolfr a Fjarfelli
• The Single Heraldic Supporter, Décor, and Design– Baron Rhiannon Elandris of Glyndrvdwy
• The Truth about Boleyn Green– Renata Rouge
• On Being a Chatelaine– THL Maeve Ni Siurtain
• Beginning Dance for Children– THL Maeve Ni Siurtain
• Beginning Dance– THL Maeve Ni Siurtain
• Making a Personal Body Block for Custom Patterns– Abigail Kelhoge
• Cut and thrust road show, part 1, 2, and 3– Raev Halle
• Winning Documentation for Scribal Entries– Mistress Alicia Langland
• Kokki-fukurei: How Not to Embarrass Yourself in Medieval Japan– Sǫlveig Þrándardóttir
• Sweet Scents: Making scented hand waters and perfumes– Mistress Francesca della Rovere and Lady Elisabeta da Venezia
• Happy Feasting! or How to get the most from your feast experience– Baroness Sadira bint Wassouf
• Strength, Flexibility and Balance: the 3 pillars of injury prevention– Irene von Schmetterling
• Modern Tricks and Old tactics in Fencing– THL Gytha Oggsdottir
• Talking with Your Hands– THL Gytha Oggsdottir
• Putting “authenticity” in Re-created Clothing: The art of conspicuous consumption in the 15th and 16th centuries– Maistresse Marguerite d’Honfleur

The class list is still growing, but slots are filling fast. Contact Lady Nicole du Marais  about teaching!

A schedule should be posted within a few weeks.

Rather than having a couple of marshals working all day, it is our hope to have numerous warranted marshals help for just an hour or two each, thus enabling everyone to participate in classes or fighting as they wish. If you are able to volunteer, please contact Sir Dominic McMorland (Micah Nelson) to assist with fighting or Baron Eric De LaBarre (Eric France) to assist with fencing.

Lunch and Feast Menus (subject to change)

Lunch, inspired by Nordic sources:

• Viking barley cakes made fresh & hot to order
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Stuffed olives
• Fresh raw vegetables
• Bread with butters and/or soft cheese
• Meat pasties (will be chicken or pork, some veg and gluten-free will be available to those who ask)
• Lentil soup
• Meat soup (likely lamb)
• Hazelnut treats
• Apples or other fresh fruit
• Hot and cold beverage

Dinner, inspired by 16th century French:

• Bread & butters
• Fresh grapes or other fruit
• Green salad
• Stuffed eggs
• Rabbit pate
• Grape juice or other beverage
• Chicken bread pudding/strata (roast parts on side for GF)
• Squash soup
• Herbed peas
• Roast beef with sauces on side
• Cheese gnocchi (plain rice available for GF)
• Turnips with bacon
• Crepes with fruit and sauces
• Orange cheesecake
• Applesauce

Visit the event Facebook group for latest class lists, other updates, or pre-registration info.