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The Æthelmearc Gazette

~ Covering the Kingdom of Æthelmearc of the SCA

The Æthelmearc Gazette

Category Archives: Populace-in-focus

Populace in Focus: Katja Davidova Orlova Khazarina

15 Monday May 2023

Posted by aethgazette in Interviews, Populace-in-focus

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Thescorre

Katja watching a friend be elevated. Photo by Master John Michael Thorpe.

Real Name: Chris Adler-France

SCA Name & title: Katja Davidova Orlova Khazarina, OP, OL, sixth baroness of Thescorre (retired). If a situation requires a title, I prefer Baroness over Mistress or Dame, but I mostly prefer to just be called Katja.

Years in the SCA: 35+.

How did you find out about the SCA? During my sophomore year in college, my journalism professor told me that she thought that I would really enjoy her hobby. I thought the SCA sounded extremely interesting – I’d enjoyed going to some Ren faires and it sounded similar — but I had a full course load and worked part-time at a newspaper, so I decided that I didn’t have the time for it at that point in my life.

A year later, a friend in my astronomy class also prodded me to check out the SCA, but the guys in carpet armor I saw bashing each other at the fight practice he drove me to didn’t grab my interest. After repeated nudges, he pointed out that there would be a fencing, fighting, and arts event in my hometown in a week. Being a mercenary student, I figured I’d combine checking out the society with getting paid; I successfully pitched the idea to my newspaper editor. I threw on what I thought was vaguely medieval (a long dress), grabbed my camera and a notepad, drove to the site… and saw fencers laughing as they danced around each other in a ring and used mugs and cloaks as parry weapons. It was so fluid and utterly different from the stiff, straight back-and-forth collegiate fencing I’d done, it immediately grabbed my attention. Unlike what little Ren faire fencing I’d seen, it was obviously not choreographed, and women were fencing, not just guys!! It looked real and authentic and absolutely fascinating.

As I investigated the event further, the display of arts was so much more varied than what I’d seen for sale at faires, plus people were eager to talk at length about how and why they made things. Many were even more eager to teach how to make them, they didn’t hoard their knowledge or skills. The people I interviewed for the story were from all backgrounds and knowledgeable about so many things, and everyone was so, so kind, unlike the rudeness so common in the “real world.”

I was completely, utterly hooked.

Katja helping Ruaidri make period chicken salad for a 1998 outdoor event lunch. Photo by Baron Steffan.

Where did you start, what was your first event? I lived in the Canton of Ravenhill, Barony Beyond the Mountain (East Kingdom) and initially played a lot in the nearby barony of Dragonship Haven. Although the Ravenhill Triple Threat in March 1988 was my first attended event, the first SCA event I went to as an actual participant was Pennsic War 17.

Yes, I am one of those SCAdians whose first event was Pennsic. One of the gentles I interviewed at the Ravenhill event managed to charm my phone number out of me, we started dating, and he convinced me to go to Pennsic with him four months later (and I married him a few years later).

Finishing college and working full-time at the newspaper took up most of my time in the beginning, so I attended only a handful of events (generally helping out in kitchens) plus Pennsic for six years until I moved to the barony of Thescorre. Besides Pennsic, the first event I attended in this kingdom was an Ice Dragon in either 1991 or 1992, when I drove up from the East to visit friends in the Buffalo area. The first event I attended as an Æthelmartian was Sergeants & Yeomen in 1994.

Katja and a friend at Agincourt. Photo by Skylar.

What is your persona? My name is Russian, I wear mostly 16th century Turkish garb, but my persona is actually 10th century Khazar. Since so far I’ve been unable to determine if women worked in kitchens in that time period and location, I couldn’t defend being a baker, so my persona is a noblewoman.

Why did you pick this persona? I wanted to explore my own genealogy a bit (I’m half Russian/Polish and half German), plus everyone I knew when starting out was mostly Celtic, Italian, or Japanese, and I wanted to do something different. I liked the name Katja, a nice herald who was an expert on Russian helped me select the patronymic Orlova, and I sort of pinned a dot on the 13th century and vaguely eastern Russia. Done!

Then … a few years later, I discovered that “Katja Orlova” was a character in a John Le Carre novel?! The College of Heralds doesn’t approve literary or real historical figure names, so my name was unintentionally illegal. Serendipitously, I’d gotten really interested at that point in researching the Jewish/Turkic country of Khazaria that existed between the Black and Caspian Seas from the 6th to 10th centuries, and I wanted to explore more of my Jewish heritage (my mundane father was Ashkenazi on both sides). So, I went to the heralds’ tent at Pennsic to amend my name to make it more Jewish than Russian, something like Katja bat David.

However, the Jewish herald expert was so incredibly unhelpful and condescending that I got up, returned to the nice herald who had helped me choose my Russian name, and with his guidance chose a second patronymic and a locative. So, rudeness and my own impatience is why I have this ridiculously long Russian name. To all the wonderful scribes who created gorgeous scrolls for me, I apologize.

As for why my name is Russian but I wear Turkish: I wore a variety of European garb for my first 15 years in Society until I began researching the Khazars while I was simultaneously falling in love with belly dancing. It’s very hard to determine exactly what Khazars wore, since there is almost no existing artwork of them, but the predominant garb of that region was either side-closed coats (like Mongol dels) or front-closed coats (like Turkish kaftans). After wearing very not-historically accurate American Tribal Style for a few years, I settled on 1500s Ottoman simply because of the amount of historical artwork available and because it’s flattering to my figure and have pretty worn that for the past 20 years.

Artwork by Lady Portia Montesorri.

Do you have any group or household affiliations? I’ve collected households completely without intending to do so. I was welcomed into House Atai (Sir Yoshina’s household) due to my then-husband when I first began playing, but I participated more often with and was ribboned to Clann O’Choda while I still lived in Connecticut. After I moved to Thescorre and eventually started dating my upgrade husband (Master Eric Grenier de Labarre), I began camping with him at Sharc Pit, a household of fencers mostly from the East Kingdom. I’m also a member of House Robakovna due to my dearly missed Laurel, the late Mistress Michaele del Vaga, and a chum (friend) to Dark Horde Moritu due to my Pelican, Master Devon Adair Bartholomy.

Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA. I’ve been various flavors of editor for over three decades (newspapers, a regional magazine, legal books publisher). I was out of work for about five years due to recovery from successful breast cancer treatment and have been thrilled for the past three years to work for an academic publisher. I am the part-time assistant editor for US office of Boydell & Brewer and I totally love it –it has been my dream since college to work in academic publishing. The UK office of my company publishes lots of yummy books on medieval history.

Outside of work, I have always loved baking bread and cooking all sorts of cuisines. I have sporadically practiced yoga since I was a teenager; I have focused on Kundalini for the past nine years since it keeps my hip arthritis in remission and greatly eased me through cancer treatment. I still enjoy belly dancing when I can do so, as well as reading books, playing role-playing games weekly, and collecting comics. My husband and I are owned by several extremely spoiled cats.

Katja helping Eric season a roast at Pennsic. Photo by Eric Grenier de Labarre.

What SCA activities do you or have you participated in? I love cooking. I’ve cooked in a lot of kitchens in various kingdoms for almost my entire SCA career (both helping others and being head cook) and I used to teach frequently about how to run a kitchen, balance menus, or redact period recipes, as well as specific hands-on skills like bread baking, pasta making, soft cheese making, and sausage making. I LOVE diving into food history and own about a thousand analytical texts and reprints of historic cookbooks, so I’ve welcomed friends to my home for research and redacting sessions. I’ve often been asked to bake bread for other cooks for their lunches or feasts. I really, really enjoy cooking with other people and watching a hall full of people stuffing their faces happily with good food.

Besides learning belly dance in the SCA (and teaching intro classes and practices as well as intro classes on Turkish garb), I also adored English country and basse dancing when I used to do it, especially doing so at public demos. I enjoy the challenge of target archery, even though I suck at it. I stumbled into retaining when Eric and I were at Gulf Wars (when he was on Dorinda’s guard) and I realized that there were very few Æthelmartians on site to retain for Her Majesty or then-Princess Meirwen. (They were so very kind and patient with my clueless first retainer attempts.) I make kumihimo cords for medallion largesse while sitting in meetings or at Troll. I LOVE attending classes and learning new things. I also value being asked to judge food entries and research papers for A&S competitions, getting to learn about the amazing things gentles create and being as kind and encouraging as possible in my commentary. My sewing skills bite, but I still occasionally try to make my own garb or Eric’s fencing armor; most of my really nice garb has been made by friends or purchased from Silvertree Souk.

Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.) I’m currently the chronicler of Thescorre’s quarterly newsletter, The Fewmet (http://thescorre.org/fewmet), as well as the barony’s Gold Key. I’m co-head of the Cauldron Bleu cooks guild with Mistress Sadira. (Before the pandemic, I held monthly vigil cookie baking/decorating parties and feast prep sessions at my home on the west side of Rochester while she ran skills classes at her home on the east side.) I support Baron Steffan, our barony’s steward, by maintaining the inventory of kitchen equipment in his basement and reorganizing stuff back into their proper boxes after an event. I’m also a dancer for the drum & dance troupe, Raven Raqs Beladi, when we return to normal practices after the Pandemic.

Sideways to official roles, I have been a rotating editor for the Æthelmearc Gazette since its inception six years ago. I edit and post stories every Monday.

Katja being brainsucked by four of her five apprentice/proteges after a Pax Interruptus lunch: Baroness Dubheasa, THL Katrina of York, THL Collette de Paris, and Noble Saige. Photo by fourth a/p, Baron Eldjarn.

I’ve held a bunch of offices over the years, including baronial seneschal and kingdom archivist/waiver secretary. I worked on staff for Pennsic Technical Services for about five years and was the Pennsic site book editor twice. I’ve baked lots of vigil cookies and donated food for queen’s teas and kingdom parties.

In recent years, due to lasting and frequent fatigue, concentration, and dehydration issues from cancer treatment, I’ve pivoted to volunteering at troll and Æ Royal hospitality because those are service that is sitting down and usually in the shade.

I have edited or proofread numerous SCA documents for those who know of my mundane expertise, ranging from local policies to the Big Red Book for scribes to friends’ Ice Dragon documentation. I’ve loved being head cook of feasts and lunches for decades, but my body gets really broken if I try to do that now, so I pivoted several years ago to mentoring other cooks to help them make successful, on-time, on-budget, yummy period meals.

When you started in the SCA what goals did you have? To have fun and escape the 20th century for a little while. Oh, and to make new friends and learn things.

What are your goals now? To have fun and help others have fun while escaping the 21st century for a little while. And to keep making new friends, try to keep in touch with existing friends, and learn things.

What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA? When Eric and I won the election to be landed baron & baroness, we started seeking advice from various gentles about how to hold our Courts. I’m fortunate that I almost never get stage fright, so that wasn’t what bothered me; my voice isn’t very loud, so I worried that while Eric can easily project across a stadium, I wouldn’t be heard unless I was shouting. We learned about how much the landed baronage support the Crown in creating pageantry and spectacle for the populace, about how important it is to ensure that gentles are valued and appreciated during their moment of recognition in Court, and I really didn’t want to screw that up by shrieking or having people not be able to hear our praises unless only Eric said them. Several very kind gentles gave me excellent advice on breath control and projecting my voice (notably Mistress Matilda and Countess Caryl), so I was fairly effective at being heard during our term.

Eric and Katja in a baronial court at Pennsic, with Dona Yasmina heralding. Unknown photographer.

After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA? I want to regularly attend archery practice, but it’s hard to find enough spoons on Sunday mornings. I’ve been seriously considering replacing my recurve with a crossbow because the couple of times I’ve shot one has been AWESOMESAUCE and I think that will be kinder to my upper body.

Maybe this will finally be the spring that I get off my rear and set up on our property the target that has languished in our garage rather than just thinking about how setting it up would be A Good Idea™.

If you could accomplish only one thing in the SCA in the next year, what would it be? I really need to resurrect my food research website so that it doesn’t look like it escaped from the 1990s.

A project I’ve started and want to get off the ground this year: The number of SCA friends who kindly and repeatedly provided encouragement and advice while I underwent cancer treatment was wonderful and humbling, and it definitely had an impact on my positive attitude towards treatment and recovery. Cancer centers often recommend patients join a support group, but I realized that it can be very scary for some people to talk to a group of strangers. In my past seven years of survival, I’ve personally talked to many friends or friends of friends who are facing cancer, and it struck me that it might be easier for people to join a group of people they already know or at least have heard of. So, I created the Facebook group AEthelmearc Cancer Support. Anyone who is a cancer patient or survivor/ally is welcome to join. It’s an unofficial group and won’t legally provide any medical advice, but survivors can share with patients what they went through and how they handled the process, and help patients not feel alone.

Katja being carried into court in Sadira’s camel. Photo by Mistress Tsvia.

What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA? Try everything that appeals to you, enjoy the stuff you like, try other things if at some point you’re no longer able to do those things. Cherish the friends you make, whether you have them for decades or just a few years.

If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be? Probably being competent at archery or thrown weapons—the communities are so welcoming, kind, and fun.

Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why? That’s a weird question for me to contemplate. I’m a double peer who never sought or expected to receive accolades when I began playing because I was fringy and focused on making friends. Nearly every award I’ve received has been a very pleasant surprise. My personal goal is to stay on this side of the grass, as Devon often says, and keep enjoying life. But if gentles ever think I’ve done enough to merit a Jewel or an Augmentation, considering all the impressive gentles who have been recognized with those in the past, either of those are good benchmarks to be seek to be worthy of and either would probably make my head explode. Devon would be proud and the tiny, terrorizing Michaele I still bicker with in my brain might be pleased.

Please add additional comments as you see fit.

As the Twelfth Doctor said, “Run fast, laugh hard, be kind.”

 

 

 

 

 

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Populace in Focus! Participants needed!

19 Sunday Feb 2023

Posted by aethgazette in Populace-in-focus

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Greetings!! Baroness 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 anymore, but still call Æthelmearc 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.

Read previous Populace in Focus articles here.

Baroness Thalia Papillon: email

Facebook: Find Vanessa Hayes page here.

I hope to hear from as many of you as possible and look forward to learning more about everyone who is part of our beloved Kingdom of Æthelmearc!!

Baroness Thalia Papillon

Æthelmearc Gazette Editor

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Populace in Focus –  Meesteres Odriana Vander Brugghe

16 Sunday Oct 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Interviews, Populace-in-focus

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Real Name:  Jennifer Bahor

SCA Name & title:  Meesteres Odriana Vander Brugghe, OL

Years in the SCA:  34 total at varying levels of participation.

How did you find out about the SCA? I went to High School with someone that was very active in our local group and then after High School, I dated someone that was also active in the local group and they introduced me to Adriana Ramstar, who was my SCA mom.

Where did you start, what was your first event?  Barony Marche of the Debatable Lands. I don’t remember the name of my first event, and I basically spent the whole event in the kitchen. It was a Royal Progress event (Randal and Katherine) and my boyfriend got his Award of Arms.

What is your persona?  Odriana exists in the late 16th century and lives in Brugge, near the town center. She has an adult daughter who has taken up orders in the Beguinage (the only Roman Catholic institution permitted to still exist in Brugge at that time) and her husband is a ship builder who lives most of the year in Antwerp as there’s no work for him in Brugge. They are nearing retirement and are looking forward to spending their remaining years together enjoying the fruits of their labors.

Selfie from Crown Tournament some time in 2014.

Why did you pick this persona? I originally was focusing my work on a 14th century Scottish persona as that felt the most meaningful to me at the time. I started studying Netherlandish cookbooks and fell in love with the culture. Particularly in Brugge. It reminded me of Pittsburgh in the 1980’s, not quite dead but dying and work moving out of the city to elsewhere. My name means “Odriana of the bridge” and was another nod to Pittsburgh.

Do you have any group or household affiliations?  I’ve been in the Debatable Lands my entire time in the SCA, and my household is Huis Witschoof, which I founded after I was elevated to the Order of the Laurel. It includes members from Æthelmearc and the East.

Cooking Ian’s Inn (2013)

What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?  Cooking (obviously), sewing, pattern making, illumination, heraldry (name heraldry), and knitting. I do a lot of service as well.

Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.)  In the Debatable Lands I’ve been the Seneschal, Signet, Web minister, Historian, Steward, and Room Reservationist when I
worked for CMU. I’ve also served at the Kingdom level most recently as Kingdom MOL and Deputy Authorization Clerk, but I’ve also been the Deputy A&S Minister, Provost of the Æcademy, Chancellor of the Æcademy, and Clerk of the Fleur.

When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?  Absolutely none. I was 18 and enjoying myself.

What are your goals now? I want to serve my Kingdom and mentor my apprentices so that they can reach their goals.

At my elevation with my Laurel, Master Huen Dambrygge.

What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA? I didn’t feel that anything was intimidating as such. Mostly I had the normal concerns that one has when stepping up to do something, the judgement of others. When I was younger, that had more weight. As I’ve aged and had more time in, I’ve learned to listen to those who matter in that regard and understand that you can’t please everyone.

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 biggest advice is to find the things that you’re passionate about and that make you happy and focus on those. If you aren’t enjoying what you’re doing, you need to take a step back to understand why and if it’s correctable, then do that. If not, then don’t. Move on. You aren’t here to build a career; you are here to enjoy a hobby.

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Populace in Focus! Participants needed

04 Sunday Sep 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Interviews, Populace-in-focus

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Greetings!! THL 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 anymore, but still call Æthelmearc 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.

Read previous Populace in Focus articles here.

THL Thalia Papillon: email

Facebook: Find Vanessa Hayes page here.

I hope to hear from as many of you as possible and look forward to learning more about everyone who is part of our beloved Kingdom of Æthelmearc!!

THL Thalia Papillon

Æthelmearc Gazette Editor

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Populace in Focus – THL Gunnlaud Leifsson

31 Sunday Jul 2022

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Real Name: Sean Nguyen

SCA Name & title: THL Gunnlaud Leifsson

Years in the SCA: 8 Years

How did you find out about the SCA? In Middle School, by my teacher who was in the SCA who hosted the school’s annual History Faire. As a 7th Grader I created my own chainmail for my medieval “Garb”, and that was when He recommended me the SCA.

Where did you start, what was your first event? February 2014, Barony of Calafia, Kingdom of Caid (San Diego, CA). First event was a Sunday Fighter Practice where I was able to suit up and fight.

What is your persona? 14th Century Timurid Empire “Gurkaniyan-u-Turan” (Medieval Uzbekistan). A Islamic Mongol Successor State founded by Emir Timur Gurkani “Tamerlane”, 6 generations after Genghis Khan.

Why did you pick this persona? Originally my persona was Kievan Rus, but many times people kept commenting how they love my “Samurai / Mongolian Armor”. So out of humor & spite I doubled down to go for a Mongolian persona, “Going full Mongol!” I would say. Over time I settled with the Timurid Empire for its rich & unique history.

Do you have any group or household affiliations? Corvus Warband; from the Barony of Calafia, Kingdom of Caid.

Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA: Outside the SCA I like hiking, nature walking, & running. And like many young folks I play video games, watch anime, and paint miniatures.

What SCA activities do you or have you participated in? Heavy Fighting first & foremost, and recently getting invested into Rapier fighting and Archery.

Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.): I have been and currently am the Deputy social media Officer for the Barony of Calafia (San Diego, CA) and the Shire of Coppertree (Rome, NY) respectively. I would run and manage the Group Instagram accounts, taking pictures and videos of events and posting them online.

When you started in the SCA what goals did you have? My starting, and still current goal is to achieve Knighthood in the Order of Chivalry.

What are your goals now? To promote the SCA to the younger generation, and to inspire them to join our community and family.

What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA? Particularly in Heavy Fighting, the most intimidating thing is controlling your emotions, your Ego. Always be humble when you know you have lossed and never express hubris whenever you win. When we all don the Helmet and enter the field; there is always a greater opponent to fight and there is something new to learn.

After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA? With the shutdown nearly uplifted, I have returned to traveling and fighting again. It has been back-to-back events across New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maine.

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?

“Do not ever think that you are not good enough: You’re fighting was not good enough in the battles, your garb or armor is not of good quality, you are not contributing enough to your group or the SCA at large; and never be afraid to seek assistance. Your presence in attending and your commitment in improving yourself in any capacity at any pace is all that matters. We are reminded of ourselves when we first began, and we would be more than honored to assist you in any way we can.

If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be? Blacksmithing or calligraphy.

If you had to join the SCA in another “era” (1970, 1980, etc.), what “era” would you pick and why? I would say the 1960’s, from A.S. 1-10. It would be interesting to see the origins of the SCA in person and to see its growth.

Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why? The award I seek to achieve is Knighthood into the Order of Chivalry. For many Fighters we walk the Warrior’s Path: the years of training & learning, and the hundreds of opponents we fight in battle. The White Belt of a Knight is not only the symbol of the martial prowess, knowledge, and wisdom that a Fighter has achieved, but it also represents the duty that a Fighter has in aiding and teaching other Fighters along their own journey on the Warrior’s Path.

If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be? It is always great to see more young individuals joining the SCA, attending events, and volunteering or running positions.

Interested in participating in Populace in Focus? Find out how below:

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Populace in Focus – Lord Godzimir the Golden

26 Sunday Jun 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Interviews, Populace-in-focus

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Real name: Gavin Keith

SCA Name and title: Lord Godzimir the Golden

Number of years in the SCA: Six

How did you find out about the SCA? Baron Snorri Skyti Bjarnarson, aka David Haldenwang introduced me to the idea.

Where did you start, what was your first event? War Practice 2016.  It was a great time and a wonderful introduction to the game.

What is your persona? Godzimir the Golden is a Rus boyar from 10th century Kyiv.  As a boy, he enjoyed watching the archers in his father’s employ.  The grace and athleticism of the archers fascinated him.  Godzimir wanted nothing more than to be as skilled as them one day.  To that end, he picked up his bow and left his home in search of adventure.

Why did you pick this persona? I wanted something more exotic than the usual Viking persona.  It also roughly matches the style recurve bow I use.

Do you have any group or household affiliations? I am a proud member of  the Barony-Marche of the Debatable Lands, and of my household, Ætt Skyti.

Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA… I live in Pittsburgh and work in the steel industry in the steel city, get it?  I like reading, lifting weights, playing video games, and, especially, practicing archery.  I have a lovely wife, Reilly, and two cats, named Aegon, or ‘Egg’, and another named Possum.  They are adorable gremlins.

What SCA activities do you, or have you participated in? Archery and thrown weapons are my favorite activities and the bulk of what I do in the SCA.

Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.) I run the Archers Guild in the barony of the BMDL.  I also co-lead my household, Ætt Skyti.

When you started in the SCA what goals did you have? I wanted to expand my knowledge beyond that of the Viking age.  I wanted to meet new people and see new perspectives. The goal was to really enjoy this goofy hobby of dressing up with my friends in the woods.

What are your goals now?  Reach the rank of Master Bowman in archery.  I’m very close.  I would like to teach a class on spear throwing, having been a javelin coach.  Beyond that, I’d like to learn a new skill.  I’m thinking woodworking, cooking, or sewing.

What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA? Going up against such skilled opponents from Æthelmearc and other kingdoms!

After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA? Oof, this question did not age well.  I’d like to get new people involved in archery.  I’d especially like to bring more people over to the ‘period’ style of archery.  That’s my jam.

What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself, what question would you ask? Be bold.  Be humble.  Be kind. Why are some long-time members of the SCA not these things?

If you magically woke up with an SCA talent that you do not have, what would it be? Sewing or cooking.  One would save me a lot of money, the other would make me and other folks happy.

If you had to join the SCA in another “era” (1970,1980, etc.) what “era” would you pick and why? None, I like where the SCA is currently.

Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why? It is my wish to join the honorable ranks of the Scarlet Guard, Æthelmearc’s elite group of archers.  I would also like to join the Order of the White Horn, for those in Æthelmearc who show great prowess in thrown weapons.  An invitation to the Order of the Golden Stirrup would be neat too.  Hey, you said not to be modest.

If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be? (and why)? More advertisement and ease of access for newcomers.  This is an expensive hobby, and it’s easy for new folks to be overwhelmed by our excitement for what we do.

Interested in participating in Populace in Focus? Find out how below:

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Populace in Focus – Baron Cormacc mac Gilla Brigde

19 Sunday Jun 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Interviews, Populace-in-focus

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Real Name: Lou McBride

SCA Name & title: Baron Cormacc mac Gilla Brigde

Years in the SCA: 12 active but my first SCA even was in 1997 with a huge gap to 2010 because of life.

How did you find out about the SCA? A local Newspaper, then I was brought to my first SCA activities by my friend Cyndi who I occasionally run into at Pennsic

Where did you start, what was your first event? My first Event was an Endless Hills 12th night.

What is your persona? Early 11th century Irishman who fought at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 in the Munster army of High King Brian Boru.

Why did you pick this persona? I wanted to do Irish, and it seems like the most interesting time for me.

Do you have any group or household affiliations? Duchy of Arindale as Squire to Duke Timothy

Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA – I have two amazing sons and I have worked for Amazon since 2012.

What SCA activities do you or have you participated in? Shenanigans and heavy fighting mostly, but I occasionally fence (mostly at war,) I throw, and shoot archery when there is time. I love work in feast kitchens and do over fire cooking, and I have been known to so some woodworking.

Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.) I am currently the Region 3 Heavy Marshal and have been for a while, I am also a Combat Archer and a Fencing Marshal. I have been a knight marshal of Endless Hills, and Zule Herald of Endless Hills. I have been event steward for about a dozen events, and head cook for 4 events. I was also Captain of the Queen’s Guard for Duchess Gabrielle.

When you started in the SCA what goals did you have? To become a knight.

What are your goals now? To be the best fighter I can be, I understand now I can’t control what happens with polling orders, but I can control how I act, and how hard I work. I also want to bring more cooking with period technology to events.

What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA? Duke Dietrich’s footwork…seriously though I have been lucky in being part of such a great household I learned early not to be intimidated.

After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA? To help the society build back better. We lost a lot of good people the pandemic, but more importantly we lost a lot of problematic people. I would really like to help replace those people with new people who feel more welcome than they were before. Particularly, I would love to see more younger heavy fighters, more cis female, female presenting and gender fluid heavy fighters as well as more siege engineers and combat archers.

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? The SCA is a long show path, a have fun, meet all the people, try all the things, and take time to decide before you join a household or enter a Student/Teacher relationship.

If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be? Tablet Weaving: I really want more tablet women trim, but I can’t afford to pay fair Price and also don’t want to rip off my friends.

If you had to join the SCA in another “era” (1970, 1980, etc.), what “era” would you pick and why? I would have loved to have been able to afford to stick with it when I joined in 1997, I would be 25 years in the SCA right now.

Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why? Order of the Cornelian. I have 2 grant level awards a Gage and a Millrind. Both of them say I worked hard, and people noticed. The cornelian says people believe I am a good, kind, and courteous person. To me that matter more than being a good fighter or good at service.

If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be? More events with settings away from cars and modern things. It drives me nuts when you see a great picture of someone that is ruined because there is a car in the background. I would love it if people dropped their stuff and moved there car away. I know this is difficult for some people, and I accept that, but some able-bodied people are just don’t care enough to move their car.

I would also love to see more people get into their persona beyond some clothes and a fighting kit.

Interested in participating in Populace in Focus? Find out how below:

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Populace in Focus! Participants needed

05 Sunday Jun 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Interviews, Populace-in-focus

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Greetings!! THL 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 anymore, but still call Æthelmearc 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

Read previous Populace in Focus articles here

Lady Thalia: email

Facebook: Vanessa Hayes

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Populace in Focus – THL Eleanore Godwin

10 Sunday Apr 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Interviews, Populace-in-focus

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Real Name: Wanda Michaud Spencer

SCA Name & Title: THL Eleanore Godwin

Number of years in the SCA?  28 years

How did you find out about the SCA?  We went to a demo at a mall in Jamestown, New York. It was hosted by members of the Shire of Heronter.

Where did you start, what was your first event? My first event was Harvest Raid II. It was a great experience! We even experienced a wedding! We thought that was normal for every event.

What is your persona? Eleanore Godwin is a 13th century Anglo-Saxon woman who has been widowed twice.  She is an heiress in her own right, so owns property that is hers.  Edward I is on the throne and fighting a war in Scotland. Since it is expensive, he has raised taxes on us lesser nobles. I provide 5 knights, equipment, and horses to the crown. Edward was looking for more and devised a way to get more money by offering a “widow’s dispensation”. What that means is I can pay him to get a written dispensation that guarantees I cannot be forced to marry against my will. So, I run my manor, and my expenses, and most importantly, my life without interference from any man.

Why did you pick this persona?  Well, the last name is my grandmother’s maiden name and in researching it, found it is the name of a very early king of England. Earl Godwinson. The time and place came from garb I saw someone wearing and I thought “it’s a jumper I can make that!” So, I ended up 13th century Anglo-Saxon.

Do you have any group or household affiliations? I am a member of the Barony of the Rhydderich Hael, Clan Blackheart, the Tribe Tuatha Firen, and Otter’s Keep.

Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA… I’m getting settled in a new home, I like meeting with friends, and talking about everything!  I have a two-year-old grandson who is a busy, chatty, little smarty pants! I’m looking to have a new routine with plenty of things to do! I get to travel some, and that is fun!

What SCA activities do you, or have you participated in? Scribal arts are my first love! I have been a Thrown Weapons marshal, and a 3-time baronial Thrown Weapons Champion. I have been an archer, and target designer! I have been a teacher of many different subjects, from heraldry, scribal arts, to embroidery.

Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.)  I have held many different offices from chatelaine, to herald, A&S officer, group signet, demo coordinator, chancellor minor (principality). I have autocrated many events, small and large, I have taught classes small and large. I spent many hours running thrown weapons ranges and helping run events.

When you started in the SCA what goals did you have? My goals were to meet people, work at events so people could have fun, help where needed, and possibly receive recognition.

What are your goals now?  Teach scribal arts to people who are looking to start making scrolls and scribes who want to improve their skills. I want to meet new people and go to events I haven’t gone to before, or that it’s been a long time since I attended.

What was the most intimidating thing you encountered in the SCA? Speaking in front of court as herald! I was a teacher and could talk to a large class, but in court, Yikes! Not much intimidates me now, I’m a survivor of heart surgery!

After the unexpected shutdown ends, what is one thing you would like to accomplish in the SCA?  Encouraging new people to join the SCA and start having fun! Then see them time after time participating more by working at events, holding offices, and bringing their friends to join too!

What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself, what question would you ask?  I would say take your time getting comfortable with what we do. Make yourself familiar with how we function as a group. Do not be afraid to speak to someone you don’t know. Ask a question if there is something you want to know. Don’t try to do it all, be it all. Take your time figuring out your persona, name, and culture. You may change your mind after you “find your place” in the SCA!

If you magically woke up with an SCA talent that you do not have, what would it be? To cook an SCA feast! I know so little about medieval cooking, it would be wonderful to be able to do that!

If you had to join the SCA in another “era” (1970,1980, etc.) what “era” would you pick and why?  I might have joined in the early ’80’s.  I would have had the energy to learn to fence!

Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why? I would like to be considered for a peerage. I think it is a way to do more to serve my kingdom in a more impactful way.

If you could pick one thing you would like to see more of in the SCA, what would it be? (and why)? I would like to see more people helping run events. It lightens everyone’s burden and gives a sense of pride to those who are getting things done for others! Seeing people have fun is a good goal!

Interested in participating in Populace in Focus? Find out how below:

Participate now – find out how!

 

 

                  

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Populace in Focus! Participants needed

03 Sunday Apr 2022

Posted by aethgazette in Interviews, Populace-in-focus

≈ Leave a comment

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 anymore, 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

Read previous Populace in Focus articles here

Lady Thalia: email

Facebook: Vanessa Hayes

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Æthelmearc Gazette

Æthelmearc Gazette

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RSS The Æthelmearc Gazette

  • Court Report Bog Twelfth Night 1/21/23
  • Court Report: Queen’s Rapier Champion Tourney, April 8, A.S. 57
  • Populace in Focus: Katja Davidova Orlova Khazarina

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