I first read about the Society in Dragon magazine, back when it was THE Dragon. That was pretty sweet. Mid 1980’s. Then I read about the Estrella war in a multi-age spread in Smithsonian, and I was really hooked. I was only thirty miles west of Pittsburgh, but without wheels of my own, I figured I was stuck. Then a guy invited me to a demo in the park at Bethany, WV. They put me in armor and smacked me around, and the rest is a beautiful love story!
Where did you start, what was your first event?
I was in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, and my first real event was a Shire halloween party in October, 1986 in Wheeling.
What is your persona? I’m a 15th-Century Scottish squire with a minor gift for poetry fighting in the Hundred Years War, except when I’m a 14th-Century forester chasing poachers on the Welsh border!
Why did you pick this persona? I saw Highlander in 1987. That was that! I wore a kilt for the next two years. I didn’t have garb that involved pants until maybe 1990.
Do you have any group or household affiliations? I fight with the White Company, and I camp at the Lusty Wench Tavern at Pennsic. I’m also a regular at the Chalk Man Pub, and I’m a member of the Forester Guild.
Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA. I am a high school English teacher who loves to ride his horse, run tabletop roleplaying games, learn new skills, and get to Europe as often as I can (when there isn’t a plague on).
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?
Armored combat, rapier, cut and thrust, combat archery, equestrian, teaching, poetry, a bit of brewing, period wilderness skills, and stuff like that. I also started the Paladin’s pantry program, which I’m pretty proud of. I also teach a lot of classes, write poetry, and do research on a ton of different topics.
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.)
Over the decades, I’ve done lots of different jobs at the shire and kingdom level. I was regional warlord one year and deputy for a couple more, which was pretty cool! I do work with the Watch at Pennsic up through point commander and deputy on duty. I’ve done most of my service in the marshallate, however, that’s what I got my Pelican for, I guess, along with the pantry stuff. I’m kingdom Earl marshal right now (which is cool, because William Marshal, the most famous Earl Marshal in history, is a distant ancestor.) I’m also working hard to get Aethelmearc its own branch of the Forester’s Guild (if you haven’t looked them up online yet, I really suggest it. It’s awesome stuff!). I’m a deeply lazy person, actually, but the SCA has so much good stuff to do I keep pretty busy!
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have? I wanted to be a knight, to have a totally insane suit of Gothic plate armor, and to own a percheron. My horse’s lineage is debatable, but I count her as a win. I got the armor!
What are your goals now?
Now I’d like to be a Laurel, a Master Forester, a Ranger (a specialized type of Forester focused on period wilderness survival and navigation skills, and making journeys over land and water), to keep Paladin’s pantry rolling, and to grow the Aethelmearc Forester’s Program into the best one in the Known World! I’d also like to get an experiment rolling for quarterstaff combat. It’s really kinda nuts that we don’t do that, I think.
What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA? Talking to women? I was a pretty sheltered Ohio Valley nerd… Honestly, I didn’t find the SCA intimidating. It was finding my tribe and the place where I fit, and it was wonderful. It still is.
If you could accomplish only one thing in the SCA in the next year, what would it be? Get to Pennsic! Good Lord, I miss that.
What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?
My advice would be to do everything. Do absolutely everything you want to do that looks cool. This is a perfect fit for a jack-of-all-trades person. Specialize later if you want, but first try all 39 flavors! (In the SCA there’s WAY more than 39, so this may take a while…)
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be? Leatherworking, maybe? Ooooo….making fire with flint and steel. I suck at that. Target archery? Dang, I still have a lot to learn!
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?
I’d like another peerage. Laurel (for poetry, teaching, and wilderness skills) maybe, or the Omnibus Martial Peerage, if we ever get one! (I think we should call it The Chimera or The Manticore, because it’s an amalgam of dangerous stuff, and because the badge would look amazingly cool!
Please add additional comments as you see fit.
I have to say that the people in the SCA are a blessing. Overall, I’ve been dazzled by the rich variety, immense generosity of spirit, and essential decency of people in our game. VIVAT!
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Greetings!! Lady Thalia Papillon here, Gazette editor and proud inhabitant of the Kingdom of Æthelmearc, continuing with the tradition of populace in focus. Our Kingdom is a vast and wonderful place filled with many great people, but how many of these people do you see event after event and have never met, or maybe wondered more about?
This is open to the entire Kingdom and is not limited by rank, position, or time in the SCA. There is no deadline, when I have articles I will post articles. I am also interested in interviewing couples, households, fighting units, or any other element that makes up the Kingdom. Even if you don’t live in the Kingdom any more, but still call Aethelmearc home in your heart? We would love to hear from you too.
If you are interested in being interviewed please contact me (information below) and I will send you a series of questions to answer. When completed return the answers to me. Please include at least three to four photos to use in the article. One should be a good profile picture. Answers with no photos will not be published.
I hope to hear from as many of you as possible and look forward to learning more about everyone
I grew up in Butler, PA and my parents and I always drove past Pennsic. I fantasied and wished I could get involved, it looked so fun! When I was 17 years old, I met someone who knew someone involved with the Shire of Sunderoak. I attended shire meetings and my first Pennsic that same year, and I’ve been active since.
Where did you start, what was your first event?
Good gentles from Sunderoak encouraged me to attend an SCA event called, “The Fool’s Event” around April 27, 2002 so I could experience a small celebration before my first Pennsic War. A chatelaine, the individual who lends garb and helps SCA newbies get started, gave me a beautiful, flattering dress. I asked her to tell me more about the style, and she explained the dress was modeled after 15 c. Italian Renaissance clothing. From the moment of my very first event, I fell in love with Italian gowns, and they are still a garb style I frequently wear in the present day. I still feel the glimmer of adventure from this lovely day. In short, A young fencer named Sir Jeffrose Stiller came over to myself and my group. He bent down on one knee and inquired, “My dear ladies, I travel from afar without a consort. I humbly beseech one of your greatness to be the lovely consort I may fight for during this tournament.” I stepped forward to join the magic! Following that event, I became enthralled with the SCA. I attended a few smaller events, such as a Sylvan Crusade, because I needed my SCA fix. Pennsic couldn’t come soon enough that year but when it did, it was worth the wait!
What is your persona? Lady Avelina del Dolce lives in 16th Century Florence, Italy. She is a well-educated and sophisticated dancer and commedia dell’arte actress and with talent and knowledge in many different arts and sciences. She loves learning new skills too.
Why did you pick this persona? The arts and garb I enjoy in the SCA connect well to my persona as Avelina del Dolce.
Do you have any group or household affiliations?
I don’t belong to a household. I am known in the commedia and dance communities across the known world. I reside in the Shire of Stormsport (Erie, PA).
Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA.
I have my bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education with a master’s degree in special education. Outside of the SCA I work as a student support coordinator at a university to help individuals with autism maintain with their academic, social, independent living, and emotion functioning in college. I’m also a licensed Zumba instructor and teach many dance fitness classes for adults and children.
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?
I teach dance with a focus on the fifteenth and sixteenth-century Italian cascade dances. I also am heavily involved in commedia dell’arte theater with many different groups across the known world. I also sew, play the violin, sing, lucet, and write.
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.):
I’m part of the Pennsic staff and serve as stage manager for the Performing Arts Pavilion. I also actively teach dance and commedia dell’arte theater classes at Pennsic and sca events in and outside of the kingdom. I helped with the planning of Known World Dance and Music Symposium 12 in Timonium, MD, including running the closing ball. I’ve managed commedia dell’arte troupes, I’m former capocomico of Vagando Stolti (Atlantia).
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?
When I started in the SCA I wanted to learn as much as I could about everything. I started with renaissance dance, storytelling, commedia dell’arte, sewing and I still learn and practice. I learned enough to sew my own garb, which was exciting! Then my goal was to start teaching as much as possible when I lived in Atlantia, so I signed up to teach for many university events and Pennsic.
What are your goals now?
I want to continue to learn about the topics I enjoy above, especially garment construction and techniques. I’d also love to try my hand at illumination too, but with no prior experience, I’m not sure how to begin! An important goal at this stage of my life is my focus on service in the society. I’m delighted about my opportunity to serve right now as a member of the Pennsic Staff. The SCA has given me so much throughout the years, I take joy when I can help the magic happen for others.
What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA?
The few years before I started teaching classes at Pennsic I had a bout with imposter syndrome. I decided with encouragement of my friends to sign up anyway. I taught at Pennsic for the first time, and I found all my students to be kind, thoughtful, and received a lot of positive feedback. I loved the dialogue we shared and when students contacted me to tell me how my classes inspired them.
After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA?
I moved back to AEthemearc only two years ago, after spending nine years in Atlantia prior, and I didn’t really have the time to become more involved with AEthemearc when I settled into my house and job. I’m not even sure if everyone knows I’m back (hopefully they do now, after reading this, lol). It’s hard for me to get involved via ZOOM right now, but I am looking forward to attending more in-person events in AEthemearc when the shutdown ends.
What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?
Beginning as a newbie in the SCA can feel overwhelming. Don’t forget that all of us started somewhere. We have made mistakes but taking the first step is the only way to learn and grow. The SCA has a lot of supportive, nice people willing to help you on your journey.
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be? I’d like to sing and write beautiful poetry for bardic circles.
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?
I’d eventually like to receive a laurel or pelican service award. I work hard and believe fervently in bringing the dream and magic of the SCA to others. If I never receive this opportunity, I will still participate and continue doing what I love in the SCA.
If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be?
I’d like to see more service opportunities where we reach out to our greater non-sca community. We need to be accessible for schools, artist collectives, living history, festivals, colleges, and events. I started to advise a college club at my university, and it is wonderful to see young adults dive in and discover the love for what we do. We need guest virtual speakers, so if anyone wants to share an art, please contact me atthe followingemail address.
SCA Name & title: THL Gwydeon ap Arden, Order of the Gage
Years in the SCA: 35 Years
How did you find out about the SCA?
Growing up in Alaska is the last place you would probably think to find the SCA back in the eighties. Originally my mother wanted to go to a renaissance faire when I was very young. After some time, Dad said okay, and we all loaded up in the car and went to my first ever faire. I fixated on everything, the sights, the smells, the acting, and as we walked around the local Barony of Eskalya was doing a fighting demo, which immediately caught my eye. I stood there beside my mom entranced watching Heavy fighters clash each other and fight. The sounds, the movements, the shiny metal helmets, the applause to the victor. I looked at the heraldry on the shields, and then, as my mother and father were talking to one of the Chatelaines, I watched my first fight ever between two Knights, Sir Kylson Skyfire, may he Rest in Peace, and Sir Brendan Shimmeringstar. As I watched something just clicked, and I excitedly began to interrupt my mom and dad. When my mom finally pried my hand from her shirt sleeve she bent down and asked me “What is it?”
And with big dinner plate blue eyes I looked up at my mom and said, “I know what I want to be when I grow up.”
Amused the Chatelaine smirked as I excitedly pointed to the field, “I wanna be a Knight!”
With that being said, my dad looked at the woman and said, “So how do we join?”
And the rest they say, is history
Where did you start, what was your first event?
1980s? Summer Coronet in at the time the Shire of Selviergard, now the Barony of Selviergard.
What is your persona?
Originally Arthurian. When I was younger I was heavily enthralled by the Knights of the Round Table. And I chose Gareth as my name. When I was finally old enough to fight heralds would butcher Gareth, and I was be called Garth. So Gwydeon was born. A Welch bastard child of a Viking raid.
Why did you pick this persona? As I grew older my area of interest changed, from Knights to Vikings
Do you have any group or household affiliations?
Well, a few to be honest, Rolling Thunder, Oldcastle, Prydeskeep, and the list just keeps going.
Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA.
I spent a collective eleven years in military service between two branches. The Marines out of high school, and the Army. After which I went to school to become a high school history teacher, but due to job climate I was unable to secure employment. Shortly after graduation I received my complete disability from the Military, which classed me as unemployable, and I retired five years ago. The majority of my mundane life is spent training and tending to my furry compatriots and being a house elf.
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?
Fighting, blacksmithing, blade smithing, leatherwork, fighting, fencing, Calligraphy and Illumination, Queens guard, Bardic…. Did I mention fighting?
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.)
I have held various offices in my time in the SCA. Primarily, I am the Knight marshal of the Shire of Sterlynge Vayle, but I have held the offices of Herald, Chatelaine, Constable, Chirurgen, and Baronial Champion.
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?
Well, I was a kid, I had one goal at the time I wanted to fight, and I wanted to be a knight. But as I grew up I began to understand the path is more than just putting on armor going out into the list field and fighting.
What are your goals now? Oh I still want to be a Knight, that dream has never changed.
What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA?
Standing in front of people, I play it off well due to past experience, but deep down inside? Quaking in my boots
After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA?
Find some of my friends, drag them out of hibernation, put on the armor, beat on each other until we can’t lift our arms. Rest. Go to the forge and pound out a blade.
What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?
There is always someone with an answer to your question, and if I don’t know the answer, I can point you to the person that does.
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be? Scrimshaw (scrollwork, engravings, and carvings done in bone or ivory)
If you had to join the SCA in another “era” (1970, 1980, etc.), what “era” would you pick and why? I don’t think I would pick a different era, than the one I came into to be honest.
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?
Well, who doesn’t want to be King? And in time I may even achieve that station. But my one true goal and dream would be to attain Knighthood. That hasn’t changed from the time I was a little kid. And I wouldn’t mind becoming a Laurel or a Pelican either, but my main focus currently is to achieve Knighthood.
If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be? Camaraderie, there is too much darkness in the world for us not to be friends and enjoy this wonderful hobby and dream.
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Elska was looking for a local place to do archery. She doesn’t quite remember how she got hooked up with our local SCA group, the Dominion of Myrkfaelinn, but she did (eventually) go to a meeting to check it out. I didn’t join her the first few meetings. I had a role-playing thing in my head and I’m not a role-playing game fan. She was a bit intimidated though and convinced me that I may like to try out fencing. I went to my first meeting and I guess we never looked back.
Where did you start, what was your first event?
We started and are still living in the Dominion of Myrkfaelinn, our first event was Æthermearc Æcademy in the Fall of 2014, hosted by the Dominion itself. It was the absolute best way to go to our first event. Our first class was SCA 101 🙂 We met new people, learned more of the enormous scope of the SCA, and were or part of the event organizing effort, which gave us a place to belong and a purpose right away as opposed to maybe feeling kinda lost on our first event.
What is your persona?
Late 10th century Viking. Quite broadly defined, I haven’t narrowed it down to a very specific time frame or location.
Photo by Baroness Anastasie de Lamoure
Why did you pick this persona?
We used to go to Renaissance Fairs and at one point (pre SCA) we traded Viking garb for airplane tickets for Elska’s sister to visit us here in the US (all of our direct family still lives in The Netherlands). Elska’s sister makes garb that she sells at Viking/Medieval/Renaissance Fairs. She made a full outfit in a Rus Viking style for each of us. We liked it right away and felt “right” wearing it and when we joined Myrkfaelinn and learned about the history of the group it seemed a good choice. Later our interest gravitated more heavily to that culture and period and now we’re pretty firmly set.
Do you have any group or household affiliations?
Elska and I are honorary members of the Hael Hounds and the Rhydderich Hael archery group. We also have household affiliations through my apprenticeship with Master Fridrikr Tomasson and Elska’s apprenticeship with Master Bedwyr Danwyn, but we never engaged much in either.
Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA.
I met Elska in 1992, both of us born, raised and living in The Netherlands. After completing my Ph.D in 1998, we got married and moved to the US for my first postdoctoral fellowship. I switched from an experimental and theoretical background in Neutron Scattering research to the computational physics field and quickly discovered that I really like programming and writing code to simulate or model interesting physics or engineering problems. We lived in Gainesville, FL for three years (which was quite long enough…) and then moved for another two-year postdoc to Ithaca, NY. We really liked Ithaca and after a three-year stint at Pitt in Pittsburgh, PA, I accepted a job at a tiny research company near Ithaca. We were very happy to move back to the house that we bought here while I worked at Cornell. Two years later, Simon was born and we decided it was time to settle, having never lived in the same apartment/house for more than two years since I went to college. After about 13 years, just before Covid hit, the company I worked for ran out of money, my boss decided it was a good time to retire and I didn’t feel like doing his job. I like research and programming, I don’t like paperwork, hunting for money and the politics and bureaucracy that goes with it. It wasn’t good timing to look for another local job, but I did find a nice position at a company in Rome, NY. The location isn’t ideal, I don’t feel like moving yet, but I do really like the job. It’s not commutable on a daily bases, so in the near future I will continue to live part-time there and part-time in Ithaca.
Photo by Mistress Elska A Fjarfelli
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?
I started out with fencing and came spring I added target archery. Later in my first year I started dabbling a little in A&S. Initially in some general research and a bit of woodworking (which is a long-term mundane passion of me). Many of you know this story by now, but it started with me making a warp-weighted loom for Elska. She was already heavily involved in a variety of A&S areas and at one point decided she wanted to try weaving and build herself a warp weighted loom. She already was active in a bunch of fields, am me enjoying woodworking myself, joked that she already did enough and that she should leave something for me and that I would build her one as an A&S project. I did a bit of research, went into the woods to cut down a bunch of suitable trees and build a loom to enter in the Ice Dragon Pent. I got a lot of positive feedback and one person particularly, Mistress Rhiannon y Bwa, a fellow Myrkie, convinced me that I should at least try weaving something on it. The rest is history. I have since then completed several weaving projects, started tablet weaving, and have done a lot of research on the history of weaving with a focus on the warp weighted looms. I also built several extra parts and a complete additional loom, because Elska kept complaining that she never got to use “her” loom 🙂
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.)
I am the current Kingdom Minister of Arts & Sciences, the region 5 Chatelaine (since AS 53), as well as the local Myrkfaelinn Exchequer (since AS 51), Chatelaine (since AS 52) and group target archery Marshall (since AS 51). Elska and I were garb coordinators for Their Graces Sven Gunnarsson and Siobhán inghean uí Liatháin (AS 52-53). I had the honor to serve as Kingdom A&S Co-Champion under Their Graces Gareth Kincaid and Juliana Delamere (AS 52), lieutenant of the Guard to Her Grace Gabrielle van Nijenrode (AS 51-52), and Kingdom Archery Champion under Their Graces Magnus Tindal and Etain ingen Dalaig (AS 50). With Myrkfaelinn being a small group where every active member pretty much always pitches in and takes turns to run events, I have tried pretty much everything in our local group. Locally and at other events, I have run dayboards, helped in the kitchen, autocrated events, sat troll, served as Æcademy class coordinator, Marshalled and designed/made archery ranges, served as guard and retained to Their Majesties, served as guard and at hospitality at Royal Camp at Pennsic and taught classes at Æthelmearc events and Pennsic.
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?
To have fun and enjoy the many aspects of my soon to be main hobby.
What are your goals now?
To keep enjoying my SCAdian live, to keep connected and motivated and help other to stay motivated in these dark Covid times, and to serve my duties to the best of my ability, with my primary current focus on KMoAS. I more or less stopped fencing after a severe bout of tendonitis and with much of my focus shifted to A&S and archery, I haven’t really gotten back much to fencing. I hope to change that and enjoy more time fencing again at events once we can get together again. Finally, I am still planning to write a CA on the history of and weaving on the warp weighted loom.
Photo by Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope
What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA?
Probably being called forward in Court at Coronation (Harvest Raid, AS 50) as the new Kingdom Archery Champion. I was still so new to the SCA and didn’t know many people yet. Walking up with all those people watching me and wondering who I was, was scary for someone who is really very uncomfortable in the spotlight in front of people. I owe a huge thank you to Their Graces Magnus Tindal and Etain ingen Dalaig and Their staff for Their support, for making me feel welcome and at home and involving me in Their reign and particularly for introducing me to many people outside my local group. It opened so many doors and formed the basis of many friendships ever since.
After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA?
I guess that kinda coincides with my goals above, but particularly in Covid context, I am looking forward to reconnect personally with my SCAdian family and especially reach out to new members who faced a very tough time to get started in our hobby.
Photo by Michelle Jinx Vicchitto
What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA?
To try as many things out as you are able to, physically and financially. To help out at your local events, it really helps to get to know people and for people to get to know you. Try helping out in the kitchen, it really is lots of fun! Reach out to people and ask, you will be amazed how virtually everybody will try to help you or find someone else to help you better. Help with guarding and retaining, you will quickly become a part of a nice bunch of people that can help you feel at home. Finally, don’t be afraid to bring younger kids. It can be hard at events, but I think there are many events now where a real effort is made to reach out and create activities to keep the younger ones entertained. Being part of the SCA with a younger child has been an incredibly positive experience for me and I am utterly convinced for Simon as well.
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be?
Scribal, every aspect of it. I am immensely impressed and grateful to our scribal community and their skill in making all those beautiful scrolls time and time again.
If you had to join the SCA in another “era” (1970, 1980, etc.), what “era” would you pick and why?
Probably the late 80s, early 90s. Early enough to be more a part of the earlier history that I hear so much about, young (and fit) enough to enjoy the martial aspect more than I can now and not too busy to make time for it. That being said I think we joined at a very opportune time, we had time, were well settled locally and Simon was old enough to join us and enjoy himself instead of needing babysitting all day.
Photo by Mistress Abigail Kelhoge
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?
You ask a Dutch guy to not be modest…? I am still recovering from everything that happened at such a quick pace over the past years, that I’m really not thinking much about anything else other than to make sure that I honor and deserve what was awarded to me, that I return the favor and pay it forward. However, what drives me within the society most and what will keep me coming back again and again and involved is the personal relationships built with so many members of my new found family. I love archery for the sake of archery. The skill, the focus, the relaxation that it gives me. I love A&S for the sake of A&S. I love making stuff and doing research. But what really motivates me and stimulates me to keep growing is the sharing of what I do with others. To stand at the line, either as an archer or as a Marshall and enjoy the camaraderie. To sit around the table at an event and chat about our shared passion. To help run events with a bunch of people that are helping out so that others can enjoy a nice day off with friends. To teach others what I love and to learn from other about things I don’t know anything about yet. To see others succeed in what they look for within the SCA. Helping out to make things happen and motivating and stimulating others by doing what I’m doing, is what I enjoy much more than personal accomplishments.
If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be?
Families with children. Even in my short SCA career, I have seen a positive growth in activities for children and a more welcome and open attitude to children. Myrkfaelinn and other groups already started with waiving troll for children. Lots of things are happening that help making it easier to bring younger children and I hope that that keeps getting better and better.
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How did you find out about the SCA? Prior to formally joining the SCA I was a fantasy live action role player (elf ears and rubber swords all the way). During the course of that hobby, I had several friends who also participated in the SCA, so It is hard to say who was the first person to introduce me to the SCA. I went to the same college as Duke Christopher of York and was friends with Morgan Elandris for years before joining the SCA. I suspect it was multiple people who finally resulted in my early SCA exposure.
Where did you start, what was your first event? The first event I remember officially attending (and staying for the whole thing) was in Buffalo, perhaps 1989-1990. I think it was a Summers End. I remember the feast was in a little stone building. This event was significant for me because after the event we crashed at Duke Christopher of York’s apartment for the night. It came to our attention that the basement was full or armor making tools and a friend and I spent hours down there banging on metal. This came to an abrupt end when a tall blonde woman poked her head in the basement and told us to pack it up. The noise had provoked the neighbors to call the police. This was the first time I met Baroness Morgan Elandris. Thankfully, she didn’t kill us, and that encounter turned into a decades long friendship. I played for a short time while stationed in North Dakota but was always on the fringes of the Society. The first event I went to and actually fought at was Pennsic 25. Seven or so years ago I decided to participate in the SCA full time.
What is your persona? I am a very generic 14th century Englishman.
Why did you pick this persona? In another life, I was friends with a very young THL Enzo de Pazzi (just Enzo back then). We both played another game together called Dagorhir (a foam sword fighting game). When we met, I was very much the generic “pirate shirt & moccasins LARP guy” and Enzo was a ninja. We mixed liked oil and water at first but slowly became good friends. He started to get interested in making historically accurate garb and armor, and his work so inspired me that I decided I would move to more historical garb as well. Enzo was focused on 14th century stuff so I matched that. I stuck with it because 14th century gear is comfortable, looks good, and the armor is very functional for SCA heavy combat.
Do you have any group or household affiliations? I am a member of the Woodland Watch, the protégé-apprentice of Mistress Ysabeau Tiercelin, and a proud member of the Rhydderich Hael archery group, the “Hael Hounds”.
Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA I am currently a Protective Security Supervisor for HSBC bank. Prior to that I worked for the government as a Stationary engineer for ten years and served in the Air Force for four years. I have three college degrees in Industrial model making, graphic design, and criminal justice. I have never used any of them to earn a living. Currently I live in the Great Buffalo area and share a home with my Fiancé Lady Thalia Papillon and our two fuzzy cats. I ran my own LARP group, Adventures in Mid-Land for 16 years, and then played in a group called Dagorhir for another ten. I am an avid war gamer, miniature painter, and model maker. I also owned a game store called “Arcane Sanctuary” in Utica NY for a short time before moving to Buffalo.
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in? I am currently an authorized fencer and heavy fighter (including siege) as well as an archer and thrower. I dabble in arts and science as a leather worker.
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.) During my time with the SCA I have served in the Rhydderich Hael as the Deputy Chatelaine, Demo Coordinator, Chronicler, captain of the guard for Carolous and Isolda (10th Baron and Baroness of the Rhydderich Hael), and currently as the historian. I am a heavy weapons and thrown weapons marshal, and by total accident I am a herald (but honestly have no talent for it). Currently I am serving as co-captain of the guard for Their Majesties Maynard and Liadain (though COVID has made that a pretty easy job). As mentioned before, I am the protégé-apprentice of Mistress Ysabeau Tiercelin. I am on the staff for ÆLive and until recently I was an editor for the Æthelmearc Gazette. I have run several events and served as staff on a handful of others. I also had the honor of serving as the 11th Baron of the Rhydderich Hael.
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have? I had two goals when I started the SCA seven years ago. I wanted to authorize in heavy weapons fighting again and (having spent so many years running other groups) take on zero responsibility or jobs whatsoever. I succeeded in the first goal and authorized, but totally failed on the second.
What are your goals now? My main goal is to give my Lady the honor of fighting for her in a Crown Tournament. I would also like to fight in the combat of the thirty at Pennsic.
What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA? Hands down it was my first few months going to heavy fighter practice in the Hael. I love fighting but I have never been a great fighter. Heavy practice at the time averaged about four people a night, including me, and everyone but me was a Knight (including a Duke). Everyone was always willing to fight me and I learned a lot, but I suspect I was not the most exciting opponent. I often had to convince myself to get off my ass and get to practice. Thankfully, I kept going and before long got comfortable in my own armored skin.
After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA? I would really like to take time and focus on enjoying the SCA more with Thalia. During her first years in the SCA I was serving as Baron of the Hael and my time was often divided. She was wonderful during that time and I would like to spend the rest of our years in the SCA enjoying it together. I know when my lady and I make it back to Pennsic we are really looking forward to volunteering. We really enjoyed working Troll and would like to try a few shifts as security. I would also like to return to visiting events outside the Kingdom as often as we can.
What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA? Do not be afraid to try everything that interests you at least once. Serve as often as you can in whatever jobs are offered. Not because you want to get an award, but because service is a great way to learn about how the SCA works behind the scenes. It is also a great way to meet people. Respect your limits (physically and mentally), but do not be afraid to push them. Never think you are not important to the SCA because you are new. Everyone was new once. One day you will find out it was you who inspired another person just starting on their own journey. When you are a “veteran” remember to watch out for new people and recognize their efforts in any way you can. Never assume someone else will see it. Most importantly have fun.
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be? Sewing garb. I enjoy leather work, but honestly the ability to sew garb would serve me better in my day-to-day SCA life.
If you had to join the SCA in another “era” (1970, 1980, etc.), what “era” would you pick and why? If I had to pick another era it would be the early years (1970). I have a few friends who tell stories of the time and honestly it sounded like a lot of fun.
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why? When I joined the SCA the award that really stuck out in my mind was the augmentation of arms. I just straight up thought that was a cool concept. Granted I had no idea what most of the awards meant or why people got them, so I had no clue that I did not (and would never) meet the standards to have an augmentation. I am 100% okay with that, but it is still a cool idea, so I am sticking with that one as my answer.
If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be? I would like to see more effort put into improving atmosphere at events. Sometimes the SCA feels rushed, and I think it takes away from what attracts people to the SCA in the first place. Do not get me wrong, I am not accusing people of not caring. The SCA is a busy place, and a lot of people do not have time to breathe during event season let alone take time to “fine polish” their efforts. It is hard to put 110% into an event when you have two or three days before packing up and attending another. I would like to see a bit more quality over quantity when it comes to events.
Greetings!! Lady Thalia Papillon here, Gazette editor and proud inhabitant of the Kingdom of Æthelmearc, continuing with the tradition of populace in focus. Our Kingdom is a vast and wonderful place filled with many great people, but how many of these people do you see event after event and have never met, or maybe wondered more about?
This is open to the entire Kingdom and is not limited by rank, position, or time in the SCA. There is no deadline, when I have articles I will post articles. I am also interested in interviewing couples, households, fighting units, or any other element that makes up the Kingdom. Even if you don’t live in the Kingdom any more, but still call Aethelmearc home in your heart? We would love to hear from you too.
If you are interested in being interviewed please contact me (information below) and I will send you a series of questions to answer. When completed return the answers to me. Please include at least three to four photos to use in the article. One should be a good profile picture. Answers with no photos will not be published.
I hope to hear from as many of you as possible and look forward to learning more about everyone
SCA Name & title: Lord Éadaoin Ruadh (she/her), Sylvan Bard of AEthelmearc
Years in the SCA: 5ish?
How did you find out about the SCA?
Through one of my closest friends. We had been in Dagorhir starting 2001, and without a chapter at his college, he got involved with Falcon’s Gate (Northshield) at UW Stevens Point
Where did you start, what was your first event?
I grew up in the Dragon Lands, my first event being Summer Faire in Illiton (Midrealm) as a spectator. I did not officially start doing practices and events until spring of 2007 in the Shire of Blackhawk (Midrealm)
What is your persona?
Turn of the 14th century Irish woman who was exiled to Scotland. Still researching the feasibility of it, but the idea is that Éadaoin was the only daughter / third child of a minor Irish lord who took after her brother (second son) and never learned any feminine skills. Getting to Scotland, she was mistaken for a male from her demeanor and physique, so she stuck with it, got adopted into the Mackintosh clan and fought beside Robert the Bruce in the First Scottish War for Independence.
Why did you pick this persona?
Mundanely my mom’s side traces back to the Glenny family of the Mackintosh clan, so Éadaoin gives me a tie into our genealogy. I love the Irish and Scottish country sides, was able to stay with long lost relatives in County Sligo while studying in London and found we are like peas in a pod. The Irish have a strong bardic tradition, which I got into later in my LARPing experience. Spear fighting also fits well with the Irish and Scottish for my heavy kit.
Do you have any group or household affiliations?
I identify heavily with Tuatha de Bhriain (they are basically my spawn point on the Pennsic map), and I ghost around the Woodland Watch camp as a groupie, but I am not a member of anything.
Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA.
I work in IT and exhibits at the local kid’s museum, which is a perfect mix of technical know-how, creativity, and problem solving with my hands. I love the opportunity to foster exploration and living in diversity within our local youth on a daily basis. I am an assistant Mariner Girl Scout leader for my high school ship back home in Illinois. I greatly enjoy giving back to my community through service, and seeing it improve through compassion, understanding, and humor. I am a writer of stories, songs, poetry, musings in my web journal, and am trying to find an agent for becoming an author. Pre-pandemic, I performed at several open mics throughout the western NY area, to help practice bardic skills, but to promote diversity in performance art as well, you would be surprised at how many don’t realize straight up singing without an instrument is a thing. I coach pole vault for a local high school, which fills in for the in person mentoring that I miss with my scouts. I’ve a love for the outdoors, table top and PC games.
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?
My main involvement and skills are bardic related. I delve into wood and leatherworking, archery, rapier, “brewing” (making delicious non-alcoholic ciders), throwing, and minor fiber arts. I also teach a class called The Stigma of LARP. I have fought heavy in the past in melees, not too big into one on one bouts unless practicing new combinations.
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.)
I was Exchequer for Blackhawk for about a year, but got burnt out between it and real life stuff, and went inactive for a while. I have been baronial bard for Rhydderich Hael for a year, and currently serve as AEthelmearc’s Sylvan Bard. My main concentration is to increase visibility of our bards, to get our fledgling bards the resources they want or want to try, and to recruit more people to try out bardic arts (especially in kingdom).
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?
*laughs* I wanted to be knighted and earn Queen by Right of Arms, mainly to weed out all the chauvinism I have experienced as a female fighter in the heavy lists. However, I have had 3 ACL replacements, one tear from my heavy authorization, and I’ve never had the same confidence in single bouts since then.
What are your goals now?
I still want to weed out all the chauvinism, from subtle to obvious, which is not to say that it is rampant, but I see it often enough that it still weighs on my heart. I want to pick up fiddle, and be better at bodhrán. If I happen to someday earn a Laurel for bardic, I would feel honored, but a reputation for being both a genuine human and a talented bard is far more important than a scroll and a mantle. I would love to earn a Known World reputation for harmless pranks and shenanigans. I’d like to establish an order, award, or something to be able to conscript its members / awardees to compete for, fight for, represent AEthelmearc no matter where they move geographically in the future. Our kingdom seems (to me) one of the best in terms of diversity, acceptance, and progressiveness I’ve seen, and it hurts thinking about not being able to be counted in her ranks simply because I move away. Given how most kingdoms view fealty and all that, I doubt this will be possible, but if we can’t have dreams within the Great Dream, why are we really here?
What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA?
Being questioned about historical authenticity. I wanted to enjoy all ranges of involvement and not be shunned or looked down on for not needing to be exactly accurate in my arts.
After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA?
I would like to see more active listening, and less of people just waiting for their turn to speak. It is amazing what you learn when you ask questions of people, when you learn more than what they give you on the surface.
What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?
There is absolutely something to learn from every encounter, criticism, and person, from 15-time duchess to other newbies and children. Do not take them all to heart, since some feedback can be simply without genuine reason, but even negativity can teach you something about yourself and the other person(s).
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be?
Being able to carve wood organically, adapting the design when a pattern goes awry, or being able to apply a vision without tracing an exact design onto the wood
If you had to join the SCA in another “era” (1970, 1980, etc.), what “era” would you pick and why?
None. I like the one I am in, because of the talented, amazing, and generous people that I have met in this timeline. Even the “hardships” have given me inspiration for some of my best work.
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?
Order of the White Horn. I am a huge Narnian fan girl, and it’s always been a personal narrative that the award is a subtle nod to Queen Susan’s archery skills.
If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be?
More outright holding people accountable to the harm they cause, be it through words or actions or inactions, and it can even be diplomatically or with sharp wit, but without subtlety. I hear too much complaining about drama and harmful habits without people taking action to resolve the issues. I’m honestly not trying to defend a negative image of SCA or LARP in general—it’s just a big pet peeve of mine, no matter what world I’m in, and when I notice it, it’s hard for me not to want to correct it.
Please add additional comments as you see fit.
I love to encourage cross gaming, especially to SCAdians. There is a lot to be learned from other games, and SCAdians have plenty of resources, humor, and talent to share wherever they go. Negative (and false) stereotypes exist on both sides of the fence, and I am standing at the gate, more than happy to discuss them with anyone who’s willing or curious.
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Most people call me Hilda (informal) or Baroness Hilda (formal). For those readers that don’t know, the “OP” up there stands for “Order of the Pelican”.
Years in the SCA: 23
How did you find out about the SCA?
A freshman activities fair at the University of Pittsburgh. There was just one little table with two guys sitting there, chatting with people and giving out pamphlets called “Forward Into the Past”. I didn’t really talk to them, but took the pamphlet and read it when I got back to my dorm room. It captivated me! I’d always loved fairy tales growing up, and here it was in real life! I’d found my people! All without going to a single meeting. (I did go to one shortly thereafter)
Where did you start, what was your first event?
I started in the College of Cour d’Or in the Barony-Marche of the Debatable Lands, on Four Towers Campus, which was the University of Pittsburgh (CMU was Thistle Campus). My first event was a Cour d’Or Schola in a park near Pitt, early September 1997. I remember meeting folks that day who would become close friends for many years, and some of them still are today! I learned about troll and dice games and bardic circles and sonnets. I had my first sideboard with cheese and grapes and pasties – still a favorite today! Between reading that pamphlet in my dorm room and the event, I went to a newcomers’ meeting, and went back to my parents’ house, full of excitement. My mom sews, and I told her I needed garb. We went to the library, found a (bad) clothing history book, stopped at Minnesota Fabrics, and found a pattern that we modified… and made this…. questionable…. outfit out of yards and yards of fake satin polyester. I wore it very proudly to the event. When people asked me about it, I whipped out a photocopy from that book we found, and said, “Look! It’s period!” I did that to four or five people, and to a person, they smiled or laughed and said I’d fit in well. They were right!
What is your persona? Why did you pick this persona?
I don’t have a strong persona. I wear the things people make for me. I wear things I think I look nice in. At one point, I decided I was from turn of the millennium Hildesheim in Germany. Later, I decided that I’m probably from early 15th century Ipswich, England. Who knows? Maybe both? Maybe something else at some point. I think I’ll always be Hilda, though. For the first year in the SCA, I didn’t pick a name. Then at my first Pennsic, I bought a book called “Uppity Women of the Middle Ages”. There was an entry for a woman named Hilda. So in a hammock in the trees of Old Tuchux Hill, I chose Hilda. My entire circle of 8 or 9 friends at the time had Irish and Scottish persona (Braveheart being very popular at the time), and every one of them, when I told them I chose Hilda, said, “Oh! That’s so…. Uh…. German….” That still makes me laugh. I didn’t pick the rest of my name (fuller first name and surname) for another year and half.
Do you have any group or household affiliations?
I am a very proud member of the Barony-Marche of the Debatable Lands, currently lucky enough to be serving as their Baroness. I have lots of friends in various households and communities and so forth, but I have never found it necessary to join a household to have a ton of fun and interests in our area. The Barony is amazing, and its people are amazing. They are my beloved community. I do have three proteges, and my husband has one, as well. I’m also still extremely close with my Pelican, and she has her associates. We don’t consider ourselves a household in the least, but they are family.
Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA.
I am currently a Senior Compliance Analyst at a major U.S. retailer, specializing in Corporate Compliance and Ethics. That means that I work with Policies & Procedures, Code of Ethics & Conduct, Risk Assessments, Training, Data Aggregation & Analysis, and other things related to Organizational Ethics and Compliance. I don’t think I would be where I am today professionally without the lessons learned in the SCA. I also have a Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Analytics, am very happily married, and have two children, boys ages 12 and 13. SCA is my main hobby, but I also like dancing, singing, yoga (when I actually do it), movies, the beach, and other various things.
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?
Dancing, heraldry, thrown weapons, singing, hand sewing, teaching, organizing, researching (mostly Livery Collars; ask me about them!!), cheerleading every type of fighting, exchequer of several types, seneschaling (local and admin stuff at the Kingdom level), and Baronessing. Probably some other stuff I’m forgetting.
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.)
Going backwards: Baroness of the Debatable Lands, Deputy Kingdom Seneschal (mostly administrative), Kingdom Social Media Officer (founding), Reign Coordinator, Barony Seneschal, Barony Exchequer, College of Heralds Exchequer, Head Troll for many events, Class Coordinator for War Practice (6-ish years), College Seneschal, Laurel Staff (heraldic stuff, under Elsbeth). Probably some things are missing, but those are the main things. Really, I like to say my specialty is bureaucracy. If you have questions about any aspect of policy, finances, procedures, organizational structural stuff, social media, cultural stuff, zip codes, heraldic stuff, rules stuff… anything that feels like it’s behind the scenes… feel free to ask. Oh. And I’m one of the Staff Editors for the Æthelmearc Gazette!
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?
As many goals as any 17 year old college freshman has for a hobby. To have fun.
What are your goals now?
My only real goal is to facilitate fun. That takes many forms, but that’s what it boils down to. My personal motto is “Levitate et Caritate”. It means “With Levity and Affection”. I want people to find joy and love in everything they do in the SCA. That’s always why I do what I do. Always.
What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA?
I was always really intimidated by Royalty…until then-Prince Christopher and then-Princess Morgen asked me to be on their retinue in 2006. I said I wanted to, but hedged, indicating that they were scary now (I don’t remember the exact words). Then Christopher surprised me by pulling me into a hug and said something like, “No we’re not. We’re friends”. I’ve never been more caught off-guard by a hug! Since then, I haven’t been intimidated by Royalty at all. The Crown is a job. They’re people. In the space between the hat and the throne, the heart remains the same. On a less warm and fuzzy note, I also find it intimidating and uncomfortable when people think I’ve done or said something I did not say or do, or ascribe intention that I did not have. I’ve had several locally high-profile positions in the SCA, and with those, people will always discuss and have opinions about things that you do that affect them. I accept and welcome that as part of the roles I’ve chosen. Hopefully they come to me or someone who can talk to me with feedback – good or critical – all feedback is welcome! But it can be difficult when people believe things that simply aren’t true, and worse when no one talks to you about it. Fortunately, it’s a rare occurrence, and the majority of my experience has been lovely!
After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA?
Building up the feeling of community and camaraderie in my Barony again. I have been at a loss as to how to really do it well when everything is online. I try, but it’s so odd and difficult to feel it, let alone try to build it up in the group. I have high hopes that we can facilitate that community love when things open up more. And do it safely.
What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?
Try lots of things, meet lots of people, go to events and post-revels and meetings, and don’t be afraid to ask questions, or for advice or help. The SCA is made of a huge rainbow of people and experiences. Try as many as you can for as long as you can before you choose a path. Find your own way to play. Now ask me what advice I’d give to the more experienced, higher ranked people! (It’s: Let people find their own way to play, especially newer folks…. Give advice generously; give platitudes, criticism and sketchy or irrelevant stories sparingly… Let them choose their own path, and continue to be a resource even if their path not like your own.)
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be?
I would love to create something beautiful. Whether it’s a scroll or token or chair or even a killer wrap shot or memorable bouts in the list. I am good at making and facilitating (to me) beautiful processes and procedures and other background stuff, but such things are rarely treasured in the way objects and experiences are.
If you had to join the SCA in another “era” (1970, 1980, etc.), what “era” would you pick and why?
I wouldn’t. We are better now than we ever were. I joined almost exactly when Æthelmearc became a Kingdom. I wouldn’t change it.
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?
I have been privileged enough to be well recognized and accoladed for my work and activity in the SCA. I have all recognitions that I think I’ve worked enough toward.
That being said, I think the Jewel of Æthelmearc is the most important Kingdom award that we have. I don’t know if I’d ever be worthy of it, but that’s the one I value the most, of the honors that I do not have. I also hope that my research progresses enough someday to warrant an invitation to the Laurel. It’s interesting stuff!
If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be?
You know, I could get philosophical here, but the real answer? Open post-revels. I feel like we’ve gotten more and more stratified into our established friend-groups over the past 10 years or so. For example, I hear more and more of people saying they’re “from” a household rather than a geographical area. That still sounds so strange to me, as it wasn’t done around here when I started. Or, I see more and more people go to events and do particular activities and then go home without much socializing, outside conversation in the immediate activity. It feels so transactional. I wish people would come together and laugh and party together, with no artificial boundaries. Knowing each other is the best way to understand each other, and to hear about our history and its stories, and to have a good time. More open post revels, please.
Please add additional comments as you see fit.
Thanks for asking me to participate in this article! This is such a great way for us to get to know people we may never encounter in the ‘wild’. Vivant to Populace in Focus and the Æthelmearc Gazette staff!
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SCA Name & Title: Baroness Ysabeau Tiercelin, OL, OP, OGL
Years in the SCA: 36 years. Wow!
How did you find out about the SCA? I had actually discovered it at Brandeis in Boston, MA, where I went to college. I went to a newcomer’s meeting run by Ælfwine and Arastorm, but never really had the time to go to events. After I graduated and moved to DC I went searching again (keep in mind those were the days when you had to send a physical letter to California to get info), found the local group and never looked back.
Where did you start, what was your first event? I joined in earnest in DC in the Barony of Storvik (where I watched a young Timothy of Arindale fight in the Novice Tourneys, met a somewhat young William de Montegilt, and just missed Morgan Elandris by about 6 months). I started by going to the weekly Ladies Sewing Circle and Terrorist Society meetings (I heartily recommend attending smaller local gatherings first before plunging into your first event).
I have no idea what my first event was, but the minute the lights went out at feast and the dancing began, I was hooked. Plus, Cavalier garb was REALLY in at that point with the Michael York Three Musketeers having just come out.
I do remember that on the way to that event, my friend Robin and I figured we had better have medieval names. I conjured up Tercelyn Brynn MacFairen, which lasted until the heralds got hold of it, hence Tiercelin (which is documentable as a last name) and the Ysabeau picked out of a hat.
What is your persona? Not sure I really have one – it depends on the garb I am wearing. I did Italian 1550s for a while, but now it’s more Mongolian and Ottoman for the comfort. So basically just random medieval.
Do you have any group or household affiliations? I live in the Rhydderich Hael. While in Meridies I was in the Ashley household. Now I have my own household with two proteges/apprentices.
Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA. I run an estate sale company, and spend each week delving into old treasures and garbage, looking for that elusive item that will make both our client and us rich so we can retire and build a castle. My husband, Jock, is also a SCAdian.
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in? Definitely arts (mainly scribal and garb), equestrian, cooking. I sang with a choir when we lived in Meridies.
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.): You name it and I have probably done it. Except for being an exchequer; I’m not that much a glutton for punishment. I have autocratted numerous events including Ice Dragon, been head chef for many events, been Chronicler in several Kingdoms, Kingdom Chronicler in Æthelmearc, Society Chronicler, started the Æthelmearc Gazette, and am currently the Kingdom Equestrian Officer (and obviously an equestrian marshal).
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have? I really got into it for the garb. As you’ll see in the picture, I started making costumes in my teens, so finding the SCA was like coming home. I just wanted to wear pretty things with lots of pearls.
My first garb – in high school!
What are your goals now? To see if we can expand the equestrian program in Æthelmearc, proudly take back Rhiannon’s equerry belt when he finally gets to have his elevation (darn pandemic!), drive my mini pair at the next Kingdom Equestrian Champs, and make splendid new garb for both myself and the minis, with lots of pearls.
What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA? Internal politics.
After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA? See our proposal for the Omnibus Peerage finally come to fruition. I was one of the original sponsors of the proposal, which will provide a final peerage for skill in all martial arts under the purview of the Earl Marshal that are not covered by the Chivalry or Order of Defense. When this happens, there will be a path to Peerage for every activity in the SCA. Along with that, I want to see people able to have Peerage be an open goal (as it is for the Chiv but somehow not the “done thing” for the other peerages) and something to actively strive toward.
What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of? Go to local meetings first and meet the people in your group. That way you will have friends when you attend your first event.
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be? Jewelry making.
If you had to join the SCA in another “era” (1970, 1980, etc.), what “era” would you pick and why? Well, since I did (70s), I really wish I could go back. I honestly believe things were more magical then – there was candlelight at every feast, dancing between courses (and woe betide the squire who was not up dancing), there were no cell phones, and there really was more of an attempt to be in “character”. Often now I feel like we’re just having a party with costumes on. Although the costumes are definitely far better now.
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why? Since I kind of already have a full slate, let me say that the two awards I have been given that mean more to me than anything are my Cornelian for hospitality (I really do miss the days of going to events and crashing at the after-revels) and my Golden Lance. The Golden Lance (the grant level award for equestrian) was something I worked hard to deserve and I was immeasurably thrilled when it happened.
Receiving my Cornelian.
If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be? Dancing, event sites that are actually medieval in atmosphere, and candlelight at feasts. Ok, that’s three things.
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Real Name: Stephen Vandevander
Why did you pick this persona? I saw Highlander in 1987. That was that! I wore a kilt for the next two years. I didn’t have garb that involved pants until maybe 1990.
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.)
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have? I wanted to be a knight, to have a totally insane suit of Gothic plate armor, and to own a percheron. My horse’s lineage is debatable, but I count her as a win. I got the armor!
What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?
Please add additional comments as you see fit.
