Category Archives: Ice Dragon

Court Report: Festival of the Passing of the Ice Dragon

24 Sunday Apr 2022

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Here begins the Report of the Court of Gareth and Juliana, King and Queen of Æhelmearc at Ice Dragon in the Barony of the Rhydderich Hael, 26 March AS 56, joined by Their Heirs Byron and Ariella, and Padraig and Juliana, Baron and Baroness of the Rhydderich Hael, jorundr hinn rotinn, Silver Buccle Herald reporting.

In the Morning:

Their Majesties gave leave to Their Excellencies of the Rhydderich Hael leave to hold Their Baronial Court.

Their Majesties summoned Baroness Ekaterina Volkova to present herself to answer the writ presented to her at Seven Deadlies. Thus, Their Majesties bade Their Order of the Laurel to take her away to sit vigil and contemplate joining their number.

Their Majesties next summoned Baron Magnus de Lyons. After confirming that it was still his wish to proceed, Their Majesties heard words on his behalf from Duchess Líadain ní Dheirdre Chaomhánaigh as a Royal Peer, Mistress Elisabeth Johanna von Flossenburg as a member of the Order of the Laurel, Duke Maynard von dem Steine as a member of the Order of the Chivalry, Baroness Morgan Elandris as a member of the populace, and Mistress Ysabeau Tiercelin as a member of the Order of the Pelican. Upon hearing Magnus’ oath Their Majesties invested him with the regalia of the Ancestral Pelican medallion of Æthelmearc, a personal medallion from Lady Thalia Papillon, and a bicock of maintenance from Mistress Ysabeau Tierceli. They then named Master Magnus a member of the Order of the Pelican. Scroll by Zofia Kowalewska.

Court Suspended.

In the afternoon:
Their Majesties, knowing the good work of Paulo Fabiano Vivaldi on the Pronoun Pin Project, inducted him into the Order of the Keystone.
Court Suspended.

In the evening, with the assistance of Gytha Oggsdottir, Silver Sycamore Herald, and Zofia Kowalewska, White Horn Herald.

Their Majesties called for Baroness Adelyn Idesborne with the Kingdom Toybox, and the Youth of the Kingdom. They Bade Adelyn lead the youth that they might take toys to keep them entertained during court.

Their Majesties called for those new to the Society to join Them. Their Majesties gifted them mugs from the artisans of the Kingdom and welcomed them to Æthelmearc.

Their Majesties gave leave to Their Excellencies of the Rhydderich Hael leave to hold Their Baronial Court.

Her Highness Ariella had a competition this day to determine her Queen’s Favor design for the upcoming reign coordinated by Renata Rouge. There were 8 entries but the one by Lady Aurelie of Nithgard most pleased Her Highness.

Their Majesties summoned Eby Jousie. Her work as a herald, setting up and tearing down for events, and assistance in kitchens pleased Their Majesties, thus They Awarded her Arms. Scroll by Baron Caleb Reynolds.

Zabela Zavodchikov was next called to present herself before Their Majesties. Zabela grew up in the Society and has been helping out with all kinds of things the whole time. They have been seen as list runner at many Crown Tournaments, doing art, creating largesse and scroll blanks, and participating in martial activities. For these and more did Their Majesties Award Them Arms, and name them Noble Zabela. Scroll by Ekaterina Volkova.

Their Majesties called for Frey Gore. Frey is a heavy fighter and he offers his aid where needed. This pleases Their Majesties, so They Awarded him Arms. Scroll by Megge Gormshuileach.

Their Majesties next inducted Sir Arden Scott into the Order of the Sycamore for his skill at painting. Scroll by Baron Caleb Reynolds.

 

Lord Nicolo dei Gaetani was commanded to present himself before Their Majesties. His skills as a thespian, brewer of mead, and herald pleased Their Majesties so they inducted him into Their Order of the Sycamore. Scroll by Alianora Bronhulle with words by Po Silvertop the Rogue.

Noble Lijsbet Hoefman was called to appear in Court. Their Majesties are please by her work as a webminister, and chronicler, and are deeply thankful for the work she put into the online interface for the Ice Dragon Arts and Sciences competition. They inducted her into the Order of the Keystone. Scroll by Murdia Drusilla Vetia Portia.

Their Majesties called for Lord Davin McKenaugh. He is known to be a chatelaine welcoming newcomers, and he further welcomes newcomers by training new fighters. For this service Their Majesties made him a Companion of the Keystone. Scroll by Antoinette DeLorraine.

Their Majesties sought Baron Snorri Skyti Bjarnarson. Baron Snorri is known for using a very historically accurate archery kit. This pleased Their Majesties so They named him a Companion of the Golden Stirrup. Scroll by Riobard O’Suilleabhain.

Their Majesties next inducted Lady Biotta Myrmeen into the Order of the Millrind in abstentia for her service as Chatelaine and fundraising. Scroll by THL Eleanore Godwin.

Their Majesties called for Baron Tassin Tresseaul. Tassin goes out of his way to be kind to everyone, and this pleases Their Majesties, thus They inducted him into the Order of the Cornelian. Medallion provided by Cormacc mac Gilla Brigde and Elena de la Palma. Scroll by Mairghead Stoibheard inghean ui Choinne.

Their Majesties called for flat Cas, as Lord Cassiano da Castello was unavailable. Cassiano has great skill in the apothecary arts, and the brewing of beverages. For this Their Majesties did induct him into Their Order of the Fleur d’Æthelmearc in abstentia. Scroll by Jon Blaecstan with words by Ekaterina Volkova.

Baroness Nest ferch Rhys was called before Their Majesties. Her courtesy and helpfulness to everyone and answering questions for newcomers greatly enriches the society. They were thus pleased to induct her into Their Order of the Cornelian. Scroll illuminated by Melisande of the Gryphon Wood with calligraphy by Jon Blaecstan.

Their Majesties next sought Mistress Honnoria of Thescorre. Honnoria has long supported many Reigns with the creation of largesse, most recently many cups and mugs for welcoming of the newcomers. These actions pleased Their Majesties, thus they awarded her a Crown’s Treasure.

Their Majesties called for Baroness Ekaterina Volkova to bring herself before them. After determining that it was her wish to proceed Their Majesties heard words in support from Duke Frederick of Holland a Royal Peer, Duke Timothy of Arindale a member of the Order of Chivalry, Baroness Kilde Jurgenstochter a member of the Order of the Pelican, Baron Brandubh Ó Donnghaile a Jewel of Æthelmearc, Master Damian Greybeard a member of the Order of Defense, Sir Gregory Lochswan from Lochac, and Mistress Nuzha bint Saleem a member of the Order of the Laurel. After hearing Ekaterina’s oath, Their Majesties invested her with the regalia of her new order a cloak, a medallion, and a wreath. Scroll calligraphed by Kay Leigh Mac Whyte, with illumination by Vettorio Antonello, and words by Po Silvertop the Rogue.

Their Majesties summoned Duke Timothy of Arindale and dealt with an issue regarding sprinkles. They further wished to thank Timothy for all he does, and the way he serves as an example for others and embodies the values of the Society. Thus, they named him the 50th Jewel of Æthelmearc. Scroll by Ekaterina Volkova.

Their Majesties called for THLord Abdullah al- Rashidand presented him with a garnet. A piece of this same garnet had been presented to every other Jewel of Æthelmearc when the next Jewel was named, symbolizing the connection that we as a Kingdom and those members that are most admired all share.

Her Majesty declared Lady Kolfinna Jodaisardottir her inspiration for the day and awarded her a Golden Escarbuncle.

They gave tokens to all the scribes and wordsmiths that worked on scrolls for this Court. Pottery created by Honnoria of Thescorre.

Their Majesties thanked all who attended and those who went to Gulf Wars and invited everyone to come to the events over the Summer as we all hope the Society returns to a more normal state.

Court Closed.

— In Service, jorundr

Silver Buccle Herald

Ice Dragon Event Schedule, COVID Policy

21 Monday Mar 2022

Posted by in Event Announcements & Updates, Ice Dragon

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For those who have registered to attend Ice Dragon:

Event Schedule

  • 8:30 a.m. Doors to event opens
  • 9:15 a.m.
      • Pent room opens in Room T119/T120, Tech Building
      • Pent registration begins
      • Pent judges check-in
  • 10:00 a.m. Inspections for Heavy fighting/Fencing, Gym
  • 10:30 a.m.
      • Pent registration ends
      • Morning Court begins, Theater
  • 10:45 a.m. Pent judging begins
  • 11:00 a.m.
      • Children’s Activities begin in S103, Student Union
      • Reception for Elevation for Ekaterina begins after morning court – Theater Lobby
      • 11:00 a.m. or 12 noon
      • Fencing tourney /Youth Heavy practice / Heavy fighting tourney begins (depending on morning court)
  • 11:30 am. (or immediately following morning court) Fleur Order meeting, Room T121
  • 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Millrind Order meeting, Room T121, Tech Building
  • 1:00 p.m. Bardic Tavern begins – Room T102 – Tech Building
  • 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
      • Order of the Pelican meeting, Room T121, Tech Building
  • 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m
      • Order of the Laurel meeting, Room T121, Tech Building
      • Children’s activities room concludes
      • Heavy Fighting tourney ends
  • 2:30 p.m.
      • Heavy fighting pickups / Challenges after tourney
      • Troll / Covid Check Table close
      • Order of the Gage meeting after Heavy Tourney in Gym
  • 3:00 p.m. Bardic Tavern concludes
  • 3:30 p.m.
      • Pent judging ends
      • Reception for Elevation for Ekaterina ends
  • 4:30 p.m. Evening Court (Theater)
  • 6:00 p.m. Pickup pent entries + prizes
  • 7:00 p.m. Pent room close
  • 8:00 p.m. Event closes, all attendees be off site by this time

COVID Policy

  • As long as the CDC transmission map continues to have Genesee County as moderate or low transmission, vaccinated individuals do not have to wear masks inside.
  • Kingdom Policy recommends folks who are coming from High and substantial transmission counties to still wear masks.
  • Unvaccinated individuals, per Kingdom policy, have to wear masks at all time.
  • Unvaccinated individuals attending will have to eat food outdoors, and use straws for drinking inside underneath their mask, as masks have to be worn at all times.

Thank you all attending for your cooperation, as would like to have a everyone to be safe, happy, and healthy!!

One entry can win all! No more cross-entry limits at Ice Dragon

15 Tuesday Feb 2022

Posted by in Arts & Sciences, Ice Dragon

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Starting this year, the Arts & Sciences Pentathlon competition as part of the Passing of the Ice Dragon Festival has made the decision to drop its cross-entry limit. It makes the 5-in-1 special category obsolete, as well as wondering which cross-entry will be most efficient for your shot at a full Pent… This makes me so happy as I have always found the challenge of finding that one perfect entry that can be entered, and win!, in five different categories the biggest challenge of the Pent! Many a long car drive home from an event far away did we brainstorm about what could make that one perfect entry… Some artisans have done so, and quite successfully. Let me show you what they came up with, and who knows, inspiration might yet strike.

As every once in a while, someone will come up with that one perfect entry that covers the whole pent. One year someone almost won the entire Pent having submitted only one item. Madog ab Emrys reminisces: “I forget who submitted it but they made this amazing hand carved wooden Chess Set. I believe it was based on a set that was made for King Louis XI, with carved and painted pieces that were Heraldic representations of his family tree. With the documentation they had done I think it qualified for about six or seven different categories. I remember a group of us were in back [of court] chanting “Chess Set Chess Set” as they were reading off the winners in each category…. and the Chess Set was doing very well.”

The decorated toono and a sample of lattice work, entered by Lady Umm Samin at the 2017 Pent

I sadly missed to see the chess entry in person, but I was able to ogle another single entry copiously that was successfully cross-entered in five different categories through the Five-in-One category. I did notice the 2017 Pent entry tables contained odd pieces of equipment but it took a minute before it dawned on me I was looking at a complete yurt in its disassembled state – someone had built a freaking yurt from scratch and entered it in the Five-in-One category! I was not the only one to track down the artisan at the end of the event to ask for more details. The creator Lady Umm Samin bint Asad al-Isfahaniyya had already used the yurt before entering the Pent: “everything that needed to be made was completed – three days before Pennsic. Yes, I went. My brother helped me set it up once in the yard to make sure it all went together and then it was packed into the trailer. But it was not finished yet [… meaning the decorations].” The object that fascinated me most during the Pent was the highly decorated keystone ring – the toono which holds the ribs of the roof up and secure. It was beautifully decorated on the side I could see, and it being an active competition I did not touch it at the time. Afterwards, I found Lady Umm Samin had gleefully written in her documentation that “since the other side of the toono would face up towards the sky there was not need to decorate it, but as the ring was leaning against the wall I noticed it looked like a familiar object from one of my favorite TV shows… so it too, was painted. It had to be done, yes, I have my own Stargate! It is never seen unless the [yurt] is dismantled” (or you check her documentation pictures).

Lady Umm Samin setting up the yurt – it has a fully decorated functional wood door.

A project like hers is not for the fainthearted: the frame alone took several weeks to make and sewing the cover took at least another three weeks. Her brother helped with some of the finicky construction details but she had no help sewing the cover, and decided that next time “I would get two very patient friends to help with the sewing one to feed the fabric to me and one to pull the fabric away. Having to jump up and walk around the room every 6 or 7 inches for that much sewing was tiring and really slowed the entire process down.” But not so much she won’t tackle a similar project again, as she is currently in the process of making a smaller weekend yurt. Perhaps less authentic but easier to move and put up by herself. The original one can be handled by one person but it sure is a lot easier with help. She found “Actually camping in it is awesome. Very comfortable. It is great with all the Pensic rain. Not a drop inside ever.” And besides; it won her the Five-in-One category; entered in Woodworking (Embellishment), Applied Research, Curiosa, Fiber Arts and Household.

Kasteel Nijenrode in sugar paste by Sir Ian O’Kennavain at the 2015 Pent.

During a similar time of more restricted cross-entry limitations, some entries got quite far regardless. In 2015 Sir Ian O’Kennavain won the full Pent with his cross-entered sugar paste Kasteel Nijenrode, as well as two other entries. He wrote: “While discussing the upcoming Kingdom 12th Night with Duke Cygnus the Blissful, he asked if I would like to make a sweet subtlety to present at feast. I readily agreed, mentioning that I had always wanted to do a sugar sculpture. The scope of this project was somewhat more grand than I originally anticipated. There were five distinct phases to the project: sugar subtletys, Kasteel Nijenrode history, sugar paste recipes, wooden mold carving, casting and construction.” Because of the more limiting cross-entry rules of that year, the castle could only be entered in Culinary, Woodworking and Heraldic Display. Sir Ian thought “the heraldic display was a weak entry, but garnered a few points and served as my fifth entry…” and successfully entered a mead and a piece of leatherwork as his side entries. He reflects: “The pent rules fluctuate every year. Sometimes one entry can be in many categories and sometimes it’s very limited. I rather like the concept of an entry bridging multiple disciplines.”

While I did not get to see either his 12th Night or his Ice Dragon castles, we did get to see a later iteration at Harvest Raid. And what an impression that made: a large sugar castle filled with Jordan almonds the kids were invited to shoot at with miniature trebuchets and eat whatever they broke down! My Simon still remembers that to this day; hoping, someday, it might happen again… Sir Ian found “the whole project was a fantastic learning process. There were so many rabbit holes to go down from carving molds to period colors to the sugar paste itself. I entered the Pent that year to learn the ropes & ended up winning! That & the positive feedback from many inspired me to keep working sugar and that lead to my Laurel. Then a few years later Drachenwald brought me to Double Wars to teach sugar work for the week. I taught sugar in the morning & fought all afternoon. Best gig ever!”

Most of the examples I found got close, so close, to winning a full Pent with a single entry… but could not quite reel it in completely, either due to exploding their fifth part – in the case of Creador’s fishing entry – or by being restricted in the number of cross-entries. But we did locate one! In 2006, The Honorable Lord Pearce Redsmythe entered a stunning book and book protector titled the “Kingdom of Æthelmearc Heralds Book and Cumdach.” He explains “The interior of the book itself is lined with panels of red and gold brocade. The ‘book’ has no interior pages, it is basically a fancy folder that a court herald uses to hold award scrolls and other such items for presentation by the Crown during court.” The corner pieces on the cover of the book and on the front of the cumdach are quarter-sections of the Æthelmearc heraldic escarbuncle, and the fretwork tracery is backed with red velvet. The book is secured within the cumdach with red leather straps, fastened with locking turn-clasps which are patterned as closely as possible on a copper-alloy belt-fastening from the London Finds ‘Dress Accessories’ book.

Kingdom of Æthelmearc Heralds Book and Cumdach by the Honorable Lord Pearce Redsmythe

The item itself took well over a hundred hours of hands-on time to create. The documentation also took about another forty hours of dedicated research, writing and editing and took up an entire 3-ring binder. The entry itself was extremely well-received, both by the judges and by the general populace who was able to see it on display at the event. The item was specifically created as a five category single-entry into the Pent. Pearce had originally intended to gift it to the Kingdom as regalia for use as a high-end herald’s book after the competition (he had previously created the official Kingdom of Atenveldt herald’s book). However, once the item was completed, he realized: “that it was honestly far too fancy, and required much more care and basic caution in handling and maintenance, than could ever be even optimistically provided by typical Royal retainers, especially as ‘just one more thing to remember & jam in with a massive Royal Retinue’.”

Some years after it won the Pent, something neat did happen: “I was at least finally able to see it in actual use in an Æthelmearc Kingdom Court, as I lent it for what I believe was Maynard & Liadain’s 2nd coronation, which was an honor.” The Æthelmearc Heraldic Book and Cumdach was cross-entered in five categories: Metalwork (domestic); Leatherwork; Heraldry; Woodwork (decorative); and Material Manipulation (Bookmaking). It took first place in the first three categories and second place in the other two, and ended up winning the Individual Pentathlon by a landslide. Honorable Lord Pearce is proud to say: “I believe this is the first and so far only time that a single entry has taken the Pentathlon.”

Will you be the one to take on the challenge of being the next? With the retirement of the cross-entry limit this year this is once again possible!

Feel inspired to enter, without wanting to do a full Pent? Don’t hesitate to enter that one special project that makes you happy – single entries are absolutely allowed and encouraged (and use the same form to register). Or participate in the Display: for those artisans who rather do not wish to compete there will the option to Display, as well as the option to show off our spectacular failures in the Failure display started by Master Thorpe some years ago. Both of these will be on-site only and neither require pre-registration.

However you choose to participate, do make sure to register by March 1st. There will be no opportunity for on-site walk-in registrations – judging starts promptly March 2nd. No more last minute hemming of your entry in the car, or running to Kinko’s the night off for that final version of your documentation … and honestly, I won’t miss that part, not at all. I’d rather be thinking of cool and unusual five-in-one projects on my way to enjoying whatever cool and beautiful the artisans of our Sylvan Kingdom have the offer!

-elska

Aside

Cool and unusual Ice Dragon Pent entries of the Past

11 Friday Feb 2022

Posted by in Arts & Sciences, Ice Dragon, Research

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Over the years, the Ice Dragon Arts & Sciences Pentathlon has seen some cool and unusual entries. I’ve mentioned a few in previous articles about the Pent and Pent group projects earlier this year, like the fantastical entry of three generations of ferret breeding by John the Artificer. Current Pent coordinator Cori remembers the hubbub that one created: “He can’t enter ferrets!” “Why CAN’T he enter ferrets?” and told me “if I recall correctly the next year the rules said No Live Animals.” Oh, to be the one a rule is named for – our word fame would last forever!

I must admit I had so much fun tracking down rumored entries through the grapevine I figured I’d write yet another Pent story. It’s not a chore at all as these pretty much write themselves! Did you hear about the year someone entered a full size Viking bed, which had to be stood up on its hind legs against a wall? Which, I now realize, explains the comments Hrólfr and I overheard when walking his tree log warp-weighted loom, in pieces, down the hallway towards the Pent room… “is that a bed? or a loom? no… I think a bed!” One time there was a painted-on-canvas tapestry of a whopping 25 feet long – recreating part of the Bayeux embroidery – and even a juggler that did tricks requiring 20 feet of clearance – he worked with five clubs and needed to throw high to have time to juggle all five – so he performed outside while the judges watched through a window.

One particular entry I personally would have liked to see up close was one of the first ceramic entries: a puzzle jug. This practical joke jug had holes at in the bottom and another one on the handle, for the thumb. If the thumb did not cover that hole on top, the water in the jug would sprinkle out the bottom. I do not know if the documentation mentioned this bit of information at the beginning, or at the end… and in my mind I see surprised and slightly damp judges! I was not able to track down this particular artisan to ask for clarification, but I found plenty of others more than happy to chat about their cool and unusual Pent entries.

A soapstone lamp entered by (then) Honorable Lord Cynwyl

A more recent entry that caught the eye of the audience was a beautiful teardrop shaped soapstone oil lamp by Master Cynwyl (then Lord). He remembers everyone loved it and said “I still use it at feasts sometimes. Since my persona is 11th cent. Irish, there would have been contacts with the Vikings in Ireland, so I thought it would work.” To shape the soapstone he used a coping saw, files and a sharp spoon-like tool called a scorp, and has used both linen and hemp twine for the wick. He uses vegetable oil for the fuel and lights it by dipping the wick in the oil, putting it in the grove and lighting it. He found that it will burn for about 9 hours and that the soapstone will heat up while it’s burning. The biggest challenge? “The hard part was tracking down the soapstone locally. Luckily there is a [local] geology/fossil store that had some.”

A much less impressive entry – perhaps, at first glance – could be the candied ginger by Mistress Honnoria of Thescorre (Order of the Sycamore at the time of entering). But while she is a Society renowned potter, she is not an SCAdian cook! She explained she had entered the candied ginger two years in a row: “The first year the scores were good, and I took the comments from that year to help my entry the next year. The second year I entered my scores on candy ginger were the best I had for the entire pent. I want to say I scored over 55 points on a scale of 60. It is absolutely worth taking feedback and improving once entry for the following year. That’s part of what good feedback does. I would say as long as someone is actually making the object again, I have no issues with them using the same type of item the year after. It was my best of the five scores that year and I believe ever.”

Like most artisans, she found it is often the hardest to find the fifth entry in the pent, and goes on to say (I love this part!): “At least personally it really challenges an individual into doing something they may not normally do. I would also say that one of my most interesting entries in terms of feedback was a weaving entry that I used based on a museum of London find. It was a card woven d-shaped cord. I tried to replicate it using cotton and the number of threads in the original. It was supposed to be round. I absolutely could not get it round and it wound up being the same D shape as the one in the book. By actually making it I figured out that the reason it was d-shaped and not round is you couldn’t pull it tight enough and there wasn’t enough warp threads to actually make it round. I broke a lot of thread in the weft making that cord. I wrote all of that up in my entry. It took a higher score than some beautifully done belts. The belts were beautiful, but they didn’t explain anything on why they chose to use acrylic versus wool or silk. They also didn’t explain any problems or issues they had. It is so important to put in to documentation if you had issues, what they were, why they were issues, and what you did to resolve them if you were able.”

The malt house miniature entered by (then) Honorable Lord Madoc Arundel

My personal favorite was a malt house miniature entered by fellow brewer Master Madoc Arundel (then THL). The 5 foot miniature was fully functional although not very efficient, mostly due to scaling. He remembers he “did have some challenges with the heat sink between the kiln and the drying rack… again, because of scale. Since I could not get a very large fire in the small kiln, getting it hot enough to actually draw heat through the sink was a challenge. I was using actual burnt-wood charcoal and had to soak the base layer liberally in lighter fluid to get them to set a good enough coal bed to keep the temperature up. Unlike a full-size kiln which I would have been able to fire-and-forget, I had to constantly tend the fire to keep it hot enough.”

Madoc’s malting kiln spouting nearly a foot of flame.

Madoc shared he learned a number of new skills for this project, including how to do mortise and tenon construction for the half-timber framing. And he harvested grapevines to use in the wattle and daub walls, and wove them before applying the plaster. He wrote: “The coolest thing, though, was the first time I fired up the kiln to see if it would draw through the vents… at its hottest, I had flame shooting nearly a foot out the top of the chimney.” Or course, it being a malting kiln, the real test was running a batch of grain through the process. He did two dried batches – one that was left just dry enough not to start growing again before the event and the other dried, left sit overnight, then ran through another kiln cycle to ‘roast’ slightly. “Honestly, I am as surprised as anyone that it actually functioned correctly.”

Another, fiery, project was entered by Master Creador (then Lord). In true artisan frantic, he wrote his documentation the night before the event as he almost did not enter! One of his pent entries had literally blown up: “The poor kitchen ceiling was covered in lead. Actually the modern, less toxic version of lead.” Creador recouped and did enter his fishing research in 4 categories instead. He did so well he now wonders if he would have won the full Pent if he had had that one last entry! The project came about when he finally located his primary source the month before the Pent, after researching fishing for many years.

His entry consisted of fishing line and wool for the flies and using dye recipes from the elusive Treatise (dyeing and weaving), as well as cork bobbers (wood working). He also entered fish bait made from rabbit (cooking), and entered the whole project in the mixed / specialty art category (the current categories are slightly different). His fail was with the lead weights (metal working). He used a handmade mold of tempered clay and wrote: “Unfortunately there was some moisture in the mold so it blew. Luckily I have quick reflexes.” Sadly for us, there are no pictures of the fail nor of the project as this all happened back in 1995 before project photography was a thing. Creador remembers, back then “I did most of my research through interlibrary loan.”

Openwork honeycomb turnshoes, part of (then) Honorable Lord Robert’s Roving Shoe Show in the Pent Display

Not all cool and unusual entries to enjoy during the Ice Dragon Pent end up in the competition: the Pent also hosts a vibrant display. In the last pre-COVID Pent, Master Robert (then THL) made good use of this non-competitive opportunity. In his own words: “The genesis of the shoe show project came over a year before – it was not a last-minute idea. It seemed like a good way to display a corpus of work in order to draw attention – as [my Laurel] so often encouraged me to do – in a highly visible space. With that display in mind, I set about making a number of pairs of shoes designed to represent some broadly topical footwear-related items across time and space covered by our period.” Anyone entering the Pent room halted in awe and just had to come take a closer look at Robert’s amazing, and amazingly colorful, Roving Shoe Show!

But the one entry that brings home the cheese, pun totally intended? That was “that amazing kid’s cooking entry from the last in person pent.” Indeed, Cornelia won our hearts by appealing to our stomachs with her wonderful medieval mac & cheese. She says that she was excited to win, and nervous during the judging. But then, aren’t we all!

Cordelia with her mouth watering medieval Mac & Cheese entry

Want to learn more about entering the Passing of the Ice Dragon Arts & Sciences Pentathlon? Check the website here. Anyone can enter, and if you are not sure you can enter your cool and unusual project, just shoot Pent Coordinator Cori an email – she’d love to hear from you!

Yours in service,
elska

 

Group Entry can now count towards your individual Ice Dragon A&S Pent!

28 Friday Jan 2022

Posted by in Arts & Sciences, Ice Dragon

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Hot off the Press: your Group Entry contribution can now also be entered to count towards your individual Pent! But what say you? The Passing of the Ice Dragon Arts & Sciences Pentathlon has a Group Entry category? Yes, indeed, and if you have ever wondered about tackling a large project but could not imagine doing it all by yourself, then perhaps a group project is something for you!

Then and current Majesties King Gareth Kincaid and Queen Juliana Delamere modeling their Norse wardrobe, made through collaboration as part of the first Royal Wardrobe.

Æthelmearc has seen a number of arts and sciences group projects over the years, some as part of kingdom largesse and some as part of arts and sciences competitions, notably Ice Dragon. My first exposure to group projects was when I was asked to join the first Royal Wardrobe Project, organized by Baroness Elisabeth von Hahn. I loved the format, meeting with fellow artisans, the sharing of ideas and techniques, working as a cohesive group to create an outfit fit for Kings and Queens – something I could never do on my own. Of course, we learned some valuable lessons, like, take your own measurements, and it really is OK to ask for help. Another aspect that quickly came to the foreground is our modern assumption to have to do everything from scratch ourselves.

Another artisan involved in the Royal Wardrobe Project, Mistress Abigail Kelhoge, explains eloquently: “It was rare for people in the middle ages to create an item “sheep-to-shawl.” This was, of course, done in many households just like it is today, especially in isolated areas with plenty of natural resources. But even that had limits. Someone might be perfectly capable of cutting a tree and making a table and benches, but they might not be able to forge the nails. They would go see a blacksmith for that. One can certainly raise chickens for eggs and meat, but salt and spices must be traded for. As people move up the social hierarchy, less and less is made sheep-to-shawl, and more division of labor happens. The spinners are not the weavers, and they are not the dyers, nor are they the tailors, and they are not the clients who buy the clothes. This is not to say that people didn’t sew their own clothing, they did. But beginning to end of the process was rare once we get to the merchant class and tradesfolk.”

Not only is a collaboration of artisans to create a finished product together a great way to experience medieval artisan Guild practices, it also helps modern artisans to learn to work with others. This helps us play to our own strengths, and you will undoubtedly learn about stuff you might not have thought of otherwise! These are wonderful opportunities for our community at large to build better material culture and expand on our knowledge base.

Inspired by the Viking wardrobe we created for Their Royal Majesties King Gareth Kincaid and Queen Juliana Delamere through the Royal Wardrobe Project, something I could never have done alone, I wanted more! But how to do a similar cooperative project, on a smaller scale but still as part of a (motivating) challenge? Then I learned about Group Entries at the Ice Dragon Arts and Sciences Pentathlon. Now that looked intriguing. I researched something I’d had my eyes on for years and found two other artisans (victims…).

Master Robert, Baroness Aranwen and Mistress Elska happily in court at the Group Entry at the 2019 Passing of the Ice Dragon.

Master Robert of Ferness (then THL) and The Honorable Lady Aranwen verch Rhys ap Gwalter joined in the fun; Master Robert in charge of researching and recreating footwear, Baroness Aranwen in charge of the recreating the decorative “belt,” and I did research and assembly – as well as making a butt-load of large amber beads – to recreate the fascinating Wardrobe of the Princess of Zweeloo (2019). Baroness Aranwen exclaimed enthusiastically: “I truly enjoyed working as a team!!! My part was the creation of a lampwork and soapstone belt. It was quite a challenge as I had to learn new techniques to complete my part of the project. Working with Robert and Elska was fun. I also learned about their art in watching them create their part of the project. What a delight to see it all come together. I would recommend working on a joint project to everyone: expand your horizons and meet new friends!”

The Ice Dragon Pent has had the option of Group Entries for a long time, but I’d not seen any entries before and at first had no idea of its existence. Perhaps our awareness of medieval artisanal specialization “Guild Edition” is fairly recent, or perhaps our need to do all the things to be taken seriously as an artisan runs deep. Or more practically, perhaps doing a group project is an awful lot of work, if none of it can be applied to one’s individual Pent scores? Well… have I good news for you! Group Entries were completely separate from the Individual Pent, but starting this year individual components of a group entry can now also be entered separately by their individual artisans, which will then count towards their personal Pent scores! The Pent identifies multiple artisans collaborating on a single project as a group entry, which can include projects made with separate elements but always part of a cohesive objective.

The Viking Ship group entry by Silva Vulcani.

To find out more about Ice Dragon Group Entries in the past, I asked Cori, [idpentguy@wnysca.org] the current Ice Dragon Pent coordinator, for memorable entries. She remembered that the College of Silva Vulcani (associated with the California University in Pennsylvania) did several group entries, including a dance performance. Gabrielle de Winter of Silva Vulcani shared that they used it as an opportunity to allow people to try new things: college students are generally poor and often just starting out in the arts and doing group projects was a good way to encourage them. She found it allowed them to try a competition without feeling like the whole weight of it was on themselves alone. “To gain some confidence, to feel part of the group: and to feel a little pride in Silva Vulcani, as we worked together as a group to accomplish something. I think we have won twice. It was always nice to bring that award home, to say, hey, look at what we can do together!” She reminisces “one year we got together in one of the  buildings and made a marzipan Viking ship together. It was all done by hand, on a stove in a dorm common room. We took turns stirring while some of us formed the main body of the ship and others formed the shields. We even made extra shields for people to eat. Lady Sorcha and Lady Ragna headed that up, but several of us helped. It was… interesting. Most of us will never look at marzipan quite the same again!”

Project Karl, by Maisterin Fredeburg and Master Clewin

Then there was the entry I had even heard rumors about, not realizing it would, obviously, have to have been a Group Entry! In 2010, Maisterin Fredeburg von Katzenellenbogen (then THL) and Master Clewin Kupferhelbelinc entered “Project Karl.” Yes, their son does indeed go by that name! The Group Entry consisted of their from scratch-built baby (Karl), his from scratch-made food (breast milk), his clothing (block printed tunic), a toy (Viking carved wooden horse), and an article about nursing clothing. At the time, Karl was 10 months old and, Maisterin Fredeburg shared laughingly, “One judge gave me a 7 out of 10 for workmanship. Which has become a running joke!”

Whether you are inspired to create a Royal Wardrobe, an Ice Dragon Pent entry, or just want to have some fun, the successful outcome of a group project generally benefits from setting expectations beforehand. Mistress Abigail has some practical thoughts to share on the matter:

1: Have a clear division of labor. This way everyone knows what is expected of them and when, and nobody is waiting, and unnecessarily delayed.
2: Have a clear timeline with micro-goals so that projects progress in a sane and reasonable manner WITH group check-ins AND a contingency plan in case something gets mucked up.
3: Outline administration and budget project expectations. Things like “save receipts” or “keep a list of materials used” and who that needs to go to and when.
4: Don’t hesitate to poke people or ask for updates. Balance this with not harassing them, especially if it’s volunteer work and people have jobs & family responsibilities. That should be accounted for in the timeline.
5: Do not hesitate to ask for help if your contribution turns out more than you can handle; either due to an overestimate of skill, of equipment, or just plain life.
6: Choose your team mates wisely. Make sure you can all work together, and if someone has agreed to do something (keep track), don’t hand it to someone else without asking first (which is how feelings get hurt).
7: And know where the finished items are going before you begin!

For more on group projects at the Passing of the Ice Dragon Arts & Sciences Pentathlon, please visit the website here.

Mistress Elska wearing the Princess of Zweeloo wardrobe at the 2019 Fiber, Fabric & Fighting.

Now go have fun, and make all the things!

Elska

 

 

Bring the kids to Ice Dragon for free; a new Kingdom initiative

06 Thursday Jan 2022

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Children 17 and under are now FREE to go to the Festival of the Passing of the Ice Dragon as a part of new initiative within the Kingdom!

 

Celebrate the turning of the seasons and the return of warmer winds with the whole family at Ice Dragon, in the Barony of the Rhydderich Hael on Saturday, March 26th, 2022.


Ice Dragon is also still accepting merchant applications! Spots are filling up so please don’t delay.

 

Ice Dragon is a great opportunity to show your wares to a large crowd of shoppers. If you are interested in applying to merchant all the information you need can be found here.  Please contact Merchant Liaison, Magnus de Lyons (Lance Kazmark) with questions or concerns via email or the Book of Faces.

 

The doors will open at 8:30 am to all attendees and will close at the conclusion of Evening court. All attendees must be off site by 8:00 pm. Activities for the day will include the traditional Arts & Sciences Pentathlon, a hall of Merchants with a wide selection of items. Martial tournaments and activities for adults and youths. There will be a Quiet Room available for any attendees that need a break from the activities of the day. A children’s activity area will be available for unstructured play time and crafts, and a host of Bardic and other performing arts performances.

 

THERE WILL BE NO SALONS OFFERED THIS YEAR AS EVENT IS AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION. THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING!


REGISTRATION COSTS:

Adult Event Registration: $20

Adult Member Discount Registration: $15

17 and Under: FREE

Please visit the Ice Dragon website to register for event.

There is also a Facebook event page found here where additional event details can be found.

On the day of the event, please be sure to bring your proof of vaccination, State ID card, proof of membership, payment, and exact change.

Directions: Genesee Community College in Batavia, NY (1 College Rd, Batavia, NY 14020). Event will be in multiple buildings on campus including the main building and the Tech building. Additional locations on campus will be added potentially. General directions are to take I-90 East to Exit 48 Batavia continue NY 98 South / Oak Street to College in Batavia.


**PLEASE Remember that Event will be following current SCA policies regarding COVID protocol. Further information will be provided as the event gets closer and will be updated with any SCA policies related to Covid protocol**


Questions? Contact the Autocrat, Lady Thalia Papillon (email; snail mail: Vanessa Hayes, 268 Adam Street, Tonawanda, NY. 14150, phone: 540-649-4337)

Special Instruction Categories at the Ice Dragon A&S Pentathlon

04 Tuesday Jan 2022

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Are you thinking of entering the Passing of the Ice Dragon Arts & Sciences Pentathlon? And perhaps in any of the following categories: Beverages, Culinary Arts, Curiosa or Performance Arts? Then you should be aware that these entries are handled a wee bit different as before the Plague, and now have their own deadline, too!

The Special Instruction Categories deadline is February 15, 2022

Beverages category: German Roggenbier or rye beer, entered in the Passing of the Ice Dragon, AS 51

As the Beverages, Culinary Arts and Curiosa categories have special preparation needs, especially this year, entrants are required to contact the Pent Coordinator before registering to make sure their entry can be processed. The Pent Coordinator is preparing a ‘double’ event – so to speak – to be prepared for the preferred in-person even but also to have a virtual option as a back up.

Assuming the event is in person, then judging will be on site. You would come in, register, and drop off / set up entries – business as usual. Similarly, Performance entries will be scheduled for the theater and times will be assigned when you sign in.

But, if we are not in person, then the Pent Coordinator will make every attempt to make connections between entrants and judges / judge groups to get materials from the entrants to the judges. This system worked adequately well last year, both at the Pent as well as with Kingdom Champs – but this will only work well with enough warning to make arrangements. For the Performing Arts, we’ll set up zoom performance venues (which seems so easy now, right?).

A double Culinary Arts entry: leavening or yeast cakes, and the Pompeii bread made with them, by Cristina inghean Ghriogair at the Passing of the Ice Dragon Pent AS52

More questions? Please check the Pent website or contact Pent Coordinator Cori.

We are all looking forward in anticipation to seeing what the artisans of our Sylvan Kingdom will share with us at this second year of the Plague Pent! I’ve already heard rumors of full pent entries in development… and will cross my fingers for an in-person event as I really want to peruse the tables and see the wondrous entries in 4K…uh, I meant, 3D – obviously!

– Elska

 

 

Thinking about a research paper for Ice Dragon 2022?

24 Friday Dec 2021

Posted by in A&S Competition and Display, Arts & Sciences, Ice Dragon, Research

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Are you thinking about entering in the Ice Dragon Arts & Sciences Pentathlon this year? Great! It is fantastic to see our Sylvan Æthelmearc artisans get back in the swing of things – although some did not seem at all slowed down with the transition to virtual competitions in the past few years! We have faith next year’s Arts & Sciences Pentathlon will happen in some shape or form – preferably in-person, of course – which means we need to get our act together soon. The entry deadlines are starting to creep up… with the first one being:

Research Paper deadline (category Literary Arts): February 15th

The category Literary Arts includes, but is not limited to: Poetry & prose, Research paper, Musical arrangement & composition. Entries are not to exceed 10,000 words (approximately 40 pages double spaced exclusive of images) and should be sent electronically or via hard copy in the mail.

But what exactly makes a written work a research paper? Ideally, a research paper should do more than simply summarize known information. It should ask a question, make an argument, prove a point or present a conclusion about a topic of interest to those in the SCA. The subject might draw from history, or it might relate to the way in which we attempt to accurately recreate the past in the SCA. The end of the introductory paragraph of the paper usually includes a statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved (called a thesis) and would offer a neat summary of the main point or claim of the paper. And like the literary arts, research papers come in different types, too.

Research papers can come in different flavors – which one is yours?

A research paper can be Argumentative: this would be a good one for writers presenting a debated topic. First clearly explain and present two opposite opinions on the issue at hand. Then take a position in the paper with your view for one side of the topic. Present facts, data and authoritative opinions in support of your position to persuade and convince the audience and argue against any contradictions. Argumentative papers can be quite fun to read!

Any paper by Baron Caleb is a fun read, and his example of an argumentative paper What the Norse Greenlanders Ate (2017/2020) is once again memorable. It was entered into the Kingdom Arts & Sciences Championship, 2020.

A research paper can Compare & Contrast: this type of paper is used to compare two different subjects, or concepts, and how they relate to one another in both similarities and differences. The paper’s statement provides clarity on the contrasts and comparisons throughout the paper. The goal is not to persuade the reader, but to neutrally inform the reader about distinctions between varying viewpoints of related topics or genres.

An example of this would be my comparison of medieval gruit beer with modern gruit ale, using oft contrasting viewpoints to figure out why and how gruit ale changed so much from its historic origins. It was entered in the 2018 Ice Dragon Pentathlon.

A research paper can be Analytical: here, you would focus on facts instead of opinions. It is informational in nature and uses a large variety of viewpoints and sources on a subject without a specific opinion. It provides the reader with as much information as possible, but allow the audience to draw their own conclusions. However, instead of merely presenting the information, you should be able to present a factual analysis of the data you are working from.

A concise example of an analytical paper (research does not need to be many paged to be effective) would be A Brief Survey of SCA Bardic Music by Gwendolyn the Graceful. Another, yummy, example would be Krupnik and the Plausability of Landrace Honey Cordials by Lord Cassiano da Castello, entered into the Kingdom Arts & Sciences Championship, 2021, and smartly accompanied by a practical, sip-able, example.

A research paper can be a Report: Report papers are merely an organized and detailed list of facts about a topic. In many cases the report works to outline details related to a case study or process. The statement of the paper would describe the subject being explored and define the scope of the report, and can include your personal experience related to the topic under consideration. Authors of reports choose a subject, research it, and convey the evidence to the reader using quotes, graphs, tables, interviews, experiments, a summary and appendix

Period zombies? Why, yes! Draugarnir: Revenants in Old Icelandic Sagas by Baron Fridrikr Tomasson would be a (somewhat creepy) example of a report paper, as would Luceta di Cosimo’s paper Dead Men Walking – an Overview of Apotropaic Burials, entered in the 2017 Ice Dragon Pentathlon.

A research paper can show Cause & Effect: These papers guide the reader through a series of “chain of event” scenarios. Such papers work to study results; considered, expected, probable or, perhaps, unexpected. Cause-and-effect papers are not written based on opinion, but on quantifiable evidence with supporting documentation. With supporting evidence, this format can be both informational and quite intriguing for the reader (especially when accompanied by YouTube videos!).

Experimental archaeology, finally! An practical example of a cause & effect paper (I did this, and that happened) would be Experiments with Bone Ice Skates and Their Associated Poles by Master Robert of Ferness, entered as an Applied Research paper in the Ice Dragon Pentathlon 2019.

I hope you enjoyed my TED talk on research papers; for sure a topic close to my heart.  Of course, don’t expect all papers to neatly fit into these five broad categories. SCAdian artisans are known for their out-of-the-box thinking and category mash-ups happen just as much in writing as elsewhere, of course. I do admit it took me more days to track down (mostly) appropriate research paper examples, than I did writing this post – so if you know of a better example, let me know. I can’t wait to see – and read – what will be entered in this year’s Pent – you’ve got winter break to start thinking if you have not already… nudge, nudge, wink, wink!

Yours in service,
elska

Want to know more about the Passing the Ice Dragon Arts & Sciences Pentathlon? Look no further, the website is updated with the latest information, including updated deadlines.

Virtual Ice Dragon Court + Social

18 Sunday Apr 2021

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Hear ye, Hear ye!!!

Announcing the coming of Virtual Ice Dragon Court and Social happening in the Barony of the Rhydderich Hael on Saturday, April 24th, 2021 at 4:00 p.m.

For additional details and zoom information, please visit the Virtual Ice Dragon Facebook event page here.

Any questions regarding the event, please contact the Autocrat, Lady Thalia Papillon on Facebook or via email here

Come join in the festivities and look forward to seeing many of you there!!!

 

Virtual Ice Dragon Pentathlon + Bardic Circle

21 Sunday Mar 2021

Posted by in Arts & Sciences, Bardic, Event Announcements & Updates, Ice Dragon, SCA @ Home

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Greetings populace of Aethelmearc!!

Just a reminder of the upcoming deadline for registration for entries in the Virtual Pentathlon is April 1st, 2021.

For those who are interested in entering please visit the website here

Any questions regarding the Pentathlon please contact the Pent coordinator at email

 

Additionally, The Ice Dragon Bardic Circle is set to happen on Saturday, April 3rd, 2021 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The format will be a pick / pass / play free form format.

Hope to see many people there to join in the fun!!

For additional details and zoom information, please visit the Virtual Ice Dragon Facebook event page here.

For questions or concerns regarding the Virtual Ice Dragon event, please contact the Autocrat, Lady Thalia Papillon, at email  or Vanessa Hayes on on Facebook here.