08 Monday Oct 2018
Posted in Announcements, Archery, Thrown Weapons
Saturday’s Crown Tournament Event also held our Kingdom Archery and Thrown Weapons Championships!
Vivant to THL Cynwulf Rendell of the Rhydderich Hael, named Kingdom Archery Champion by the Queen; and also to the winner of the shoot, Lord Ronan O’Conall, of the Debatable Lands.
Vivat to Lord Meinulf, also of the Debatable Lands, who won the Championship Throw, and was named Kingdom Thrown Weapons Champion!
27 Friday Jul 2018
Posted in Thrown Weapons
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By Master Caleb Reynolds
Imagine, if you will: you show up at an event and the autocrat runs up to you and begs you to come up with a thrown weapons tourney. The marshal in charge couldn’t make it and you are the only responsible marshal available. Assuming that the site already has butts and stands, what can you do at the drop of a hat?
The answer is, “quite a bit”.
If you have a few stands and butts painted up in royal round circles (a 3-inch, a 8-inch circle, and a 14-inch circle, concentrically arranged) you have a number of options to run a nice tourney.
Now, while the butts shown in these pictures are not in the appropriate colors for a TW royal round, the circles are the correct diameter. When I prepared them for the season, I only had red and white paint available. I like how they turned out and I think that they can be more versatile.
If you have four butts available, you can use the first two for a royal round: the first for axes and the second for knives. This is, of course, assuming that you can have a 20foot line on your range. I like incorporating a royal round within my tourneys. First of all, it allows every participant to throw a royal round. Secondly, it’s a no brainer for the tourney. It sets the format for the rest of the targets: two flights of two weapons at 10 feet and one flight of two weapons at 20 feet. And, with four butts, if you run a complete royal round, that’s half of your range taken care of.
For the other two butts, here are some suggestions that require no added hardware:
1) Reverse scoring: The royal round scoring is 10 points for the center, 7 for the next ring, then 4, and finally 1 if the butt is large enough. For reverse scoring, the outer most ring is worth 10 points, the next ring inward is worth 7, and so on. Years of practicing hitting the center of target can make it difficult to hit the outer ring on purpose. You can make any weapon that crosses a line count for the higher of the two points if you’re feeling nice.
2) Alternative scoring: With the two color butts shown in the pictures, you could make white worth 10 points and red worth 5. Or visa-versa. You can make any weapon that crosses a line count for the higher of the two points if you’re feeling nice.
3) Only hit one color: Pick a color and that is the only scoring color. Red is worth 10 points, white is worth 0. If you want to make it more of a challenge, only hits that are completely inside the color counts.
4) Breaking the line: To score, you have to break a line and hit two colors at once.
5) Matching colors: Whatever color you hit with your first weapon, you have to hit the same color with the second weapon. Make it 5 points for a stick, with a bonus 5 points if you hit the same color with both weapons.
Need more than five suggestions? Do you have duct tape?
6) Left and right: Put a strip of duct tape vertically down the center of the target. The first weapon has to hit the left-hand side of the butt and the second weapon the right-hand side. 10 points for each stick in the correct side, 5 points for a stick on the wrong side.
7) Down and up: Put a strip of duct tape horizontally across the center of the target. The first weapon has to hit the bottom side of the butt and the second weapon the top side. 10 points for each stick in the correct side, 5 points for a stick on the wrong side. If the first weapon is aimed at the bottom half of the butt, the handle won’t be in the way of the second throw.
8) Quarters: You need two strips of duct tape, one horizontal and the other vertical; crossing in the center. With four weapons, you have to hit all four corners. Say 5 points for each stick and a bonus 10 points for hitting all four sectors. If you do this one at both 10 and 20 feet. the thrower will have six chances of hitting the four corners.
9) Split the tape. Put the tape on the butts as in the previous 3 examples. The goal is to hit the tape. 5 points for hitting the tape. 10 points for sticking completely in the tape and 1 point for a stick anywhere else.
Let me just take a moment to talk about points. Royal rounds are 10, 7, 4 and 1 point, but you can make any other style of target whatever point value you wish. I highly recommend that you pick number that are easy to add up. 10 points, 5 points, and 1 point values are easy to add up. This will make your job easier at the end of the tourney when you are trying to figure out the winner before court. I also believe that for a general tourney, every stick should be worth at least 1 point. And no negative scores. Negative points and zero point targets are fine for championship finals, but are very discouraging for novice throwers. We cannot encourage new throwers if we run tourneys where, even if they stick on every weapon, they walk away with 0 points or fewer. We can save that for the top tier throwers
All photos by Master Caleb Reynolds.
24 Sunday Jun 2018
Posted in Archery, Camping, Event Announcements & Updates, Feast, Fencing, Food, Heavy List, Thrown Weapons
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The drums of war call all warriors to join the Barony of Thescorre as we prepare for battle at our annual Pax Interruptus camping event.
Join us as we celebrate the investituture of our 9th Baroness and Baron, Lady Dubheasa inghean Dubgaill and Lord Eldjarn the Thoughtful, by their Sylan Majesties, July 6 to 8, 2018, at Genesee Country Campground, 40 Flint Hill Rd., Caledonia, NY 14423. The site opens at 3 pm Friday and closes at noon on Sunday.
We will have both heavy weapons and fencing melees, archery, and thrown weapons during Saturday to show the martial prowess of our Kingdom as we get ready for War. A revelry of song and storytelling at night will complete the celebrations. In addition, on Friday, a torchlight tourney will be held at dusk.
Day visitors are encouraged to bring pavilions for shade. Merchants are welcome at no additional charge, but must bring their own setup.
Open flames are also allowed, and fires can be built in the designated areas of the campground. Please be advised that fires are permitted only within existing fire rings. This site is discreetly damp.
The field and camping area do not have water; please plan to bring enough water to meet your needs.
Dogs are permitted on leash with proof of license and vaccinations, to be presented upon check in, and must be cleaned up after. Trash must be disposed of in the dumpster by the camp store before leaving site; bins for recycling are also available. The camp store carries some groceries, ice, and wood. It is located in the same building as the flush toilets and showers.
A light sideboard lunch will be provided by proficient hands of Robert of Thescorre and Lady Fauna. Lunch is limited to 100 gentles and is PRE-REGISTER ONLY, so please pre-register soon to reserve your lunch.
The menu is a Roman travelers repast:
Ingredients lists available soon. (Menu and Ingredients are subject to change do to price and availability at time of purchase).
There will be no feast at night. Please plan accordingly. Please alert the head cook, Robert of Thescorre of any allergies or food restrictions.
Fees:
Pre-registration for this event is encouraged; please make checks payable to SCA-NY Inc., Barony of Thescorre and send to: Andrew Patton, 512 Plank Rd Webster NY 14580.
Camping is available both Friday and Saturday nights. We will have space for tents with ample port-a-castles scattered throughout, as well as room for RV camping with hookups. The site offers a limited number of cabins up by the camp store, within an easy walk of full bathroom facilities. RV camping and cabins are additional, both to be reserved with the site 1-585-538-4200, or http://www. geneseecountrycampground.com/
For any questions for the event, please contact the autocrat, Lord Andrew of Thescorre (Andrew Patton), 585-747-6915 (no calls after 9 pm).
All marshal questions may be sent to the MIC, Baron Sir Aquila d’Athos.
18 Wednesday Apr 2018
Posted in Archery, Arts & Sciences, Fencing, Heavy List, Pennsic, Thrown Weapons
This announcement was originally posted on the Pennsic War Facebook page by Prince Alric of the Middle Kingdom.
Greetings unto the Noble Populace of the Known World.
As Pennsic approaches, the Royals of the Midrealm and the East would like to share the schedule for Pennsic 47.
This will be a great competition between two mighty kingdoms and their assembled allies and we can’t wait to see you all there!
1: Both the Midrealm and the East Kingdoms will agree in writing by signature that scheduled battle times are absolute and will begin on time. The primary goal is a Pennsic that is fun for all. As such, we will make all reasonable attempts towards numerical parity prior to opening ceremonies and the day’s activities. Musters before each battle to be held 30-45 min prior to cannon for head count and rough evening of sides.
2: No kingdom’s court may hold any of the cannons, nor will impede the start time or running time of any battle. Courts will not be held within the battle boundaries either before the battles begin, or between scenarios of each battle. Time will be posted as available for field courts each day.
3: All Holds, except for the Woods battle are general holds unless specified for that battle. Marshals in the woods battle may use their discretion to call holds on selected areas.
4: The Earl Marshals of each kingdom after consultation with their crown may provide in camp armor and weapon inspections, and may deputize any warranted marshal with a current valid SCA membership who is to perform such duties. In camp inspections may only be performed by a marshal residing within the kingdom of the fighter being inspected.
Photo by Lady Àine ny Allane.
2PM – Meeting of the Crowns, location TBD
6PM – Opening Ceremonies
Champions Battles, any champion may only fight in one event in each discipline, except Heirs (alternates do not count for this)
10-10:30AM Unbelted Champions (Muster 9:30am) 1 pt
10:30-11AM Belted Champions 1 pt
11-12PM Allied Champions battle 1 pt
12-1PM Break for Court business and to allow the setup of hay bales
1-3PM Heroic Champions, (Armored Champions 1 pt and Rapier Champions 2 pts (Muster 12:30pm) 3 pts total
3-4PM Rapier Melee Champions (Muster 2:30pm) 2 pts
Photo by Master Juan Miguel Cezar.
10:30AM – Armored Field Battle (Muster 9:45am) 5 pts Total (1pt per battle)
2:30PM Rapier Field Battle (Muster 2pm) 4 pts Total (1 pt per battle)
11AM Armored Woods battle (Muster 10:30 at Woods) 7 pts Total (2 pts per time check majority possession of stationary banners) (1 pt for majority control of mobile banner)
2PM Rapier Woods battle (Muster 1:30 at Woods) 6 pts Total (1 pt per time check for majority control of banners)
10AM Archery Champions shoot (Muster 9:30am) 4 pts Total
12PM Thrown Weapons Champions: 2 pts Total
12PM Siege/CA battle (Muster 11:30am) 4 pts Total
Æthelmearc Siege at Pennsic
10:30AM Rapier Pillage Battle (Muster 10am) 4 pts Total (2 pts per time check for majority of banners controlled)
Armored Bridge Battle: 2PM start time (Muster 1:30pm) 6 pts Total (1 pt per time check for majority of banners controlled)
10AM-4PM Arts & Sciences Champions 5 pts Total
Photo by Mistress Rowena ni Donnchaidh
Combined Armored/Rapier Siege battle – 10AM start time (Muster 9:30am) 9 pts Total
12PM Friday Populace Archery Shoots close 3 pts, 1 pt per shoot–
12PM Friday Populace Thrown Weapons 1pt
2PM (or following combined Siege battle) Closing Ceremonies
Alric and Katherine, Prince and Princess of the Midrealm
18 Sunday Mar 2018
Posted in Archery, Arts & Sciences, Thrown Weapons, Youth combat
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Attention All Archers!!
The Barony-Marche of the Debatable Lands invites you to a Regional Muster celebrating Archery, Thrown Weapons, Youth Fighting and Arts & Sciences at the Castle home of Their Excellencies, Earl Byron and Countess Ariella, on Sunday, April 22nd. This is the day after Coronation. The muster will begin at 10:00 in the morning and continue until 5:00 pm.
The archery and thrown weapons ranges will be open at 10:00 am and archery from the towers, led by THL Deryk Archer, will begin at 1:00 pm.
Usually we would be competing in the Gwyntarian Winter Challenge. However this year, this practice will be after the deadline. However, THL Luceta di Cosimo is preparing some of her fantastical beast targets. There will also be training if we have enough marshals. The Barony’s loaner gear will be available.
Please bring something for a pot luck. We’re going to be there all day, so let’s eat. Pop, water, plates, bowls, and utensils will all be provided.
Their Excellencies have asked that you dress in garb for the day.
The Castle address is 755 Stonegate Drive, Wexford PA 15090.
In service to the Barony-Marche and the Kingdom,
Mestari Urho Waltterinen
crossbow1953 (at) verizon (dot) net
Per valde mustache adveho valde officium
Photo of Their Excellencies’ Castle by Lady Brynna Barth.
13 Monday Feb 2017
Posted in Archery, Combat Archery, Equestrian, Fencing, Heavy List, Quarterly reports, Siege, Thrown Weapons, Youth combat
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REMINDER: 1st Quarter Marshal Reports are due Wednesday, 15 February 2017
If you are a Standard Marshal, Group Marshal, or Knight Marshal then your reports are due by Wednesday, February 15th. To fill out your report you may use the on-line form found here. If you are a regional Marshal your report is not due until March 1st. If you are a Kingdom Marshal or Kingdom Deputy your report is not due until March 10th.
All Archery, Siege, and Thrown Weapons marshals are required to report every quarter including at large marshals.
Note: At-large heavy fighting and equestrian marshals are welcome to report if they wish or if they have something they feel should be reported, but they are not required to report this quarter. They are only required to report for the 4th quarter. At-large fencing marshals are required to report twice a year, 2nd and 4th quarters.
Any marshals with questions on reporting can contact their Kingdom superiors, listed below, using the email links on the Æthelmearc Earl Marshal page.
18 Monday Jul 2016
Posted in Archery, Arts & Sciences, Camping, Combat Archery, Event Reports, Fiber Arts, Food, Heavy List, Pennsic, Scribal, Thrown Weapons
By THL Mairghread Stoibheard inghean ui Choinne, with additional reporting by Baroness Katja Davidova Orlova Khazarina.
Sir Athos in one of many rattan melees. Photo by Baroness Katja.
Pax Interruptus XL began Friday evening with the Thescorre camping event’s annual heavy weapons torchlight tournament.
Despite it being “late at night, very hot, very sweaty, and very tough,” according to Duke Sir Khalek Shuurag Od, THL Thorsol Solinauga was victorious after fighting with great skill and grace.
Prince Marcus in battle. Photo by Lady Jinx.
The threat of rain on Saturday, July 9, held off for most of the day as gentles faced instead brisk winds.
The cooling breezes were a balm to the marshals and the heavy fighters, fencers, archers, throwers, combat archers, and gentles watching, working, or otherwise enjoying the event at the Genesee Country Campground… but everything had to be taped or tied down to avoid flying across away! Several tents, including the Tollner table, had walls or tops nearly blown off and stakes pulled out of the ground by the nigh-constant buffeting.
Rattan melee. Photo by Lady Jinx.
His Grace Magnus Tindal, Pennsic Warlord, started the heavy fighters off with some pickups, then ran them through melees – no tournaments — for the whole day until court. “We’re building off of last year, and will continue to build an army that functions at the upper levels of effectiveness at Pennsic,” he said.
With War just three weeks away, he explained, he wanted fighters to focus on small unit communication. “At the end of the day, with the helmets on, people don’t always hear the actual commands. So, with practice, they more effectively guess what the commanders want them to do.”
“My objective is for everyone to have as much fun as possible with their friends,” said Lord Corbinus de Cuvis, marshal-in-charge of the event, while watching the melee lines begin to form upon the battlefield. He, too, expressed hope that the concentrated melee practice would help the army “hone our skills today so that we can obliterate our opponents at Pennsic.”
Lord Padraig, right, the winner of the day’s baronial rapier championship, faces Lord Hrolf as Lord Heero marshals. Photo by Baroness Katja.
Lord Quintin defends himself against THL Gytha in the rapier tourney. Photo by Lady Jinx.
Over on the fencing field, Lord Michael Gladwyne and Lord Heero Himoura were two of several out-of-barony marshals who kindly agreed to run competitions so that Thescorreans could enter rather than run them. After allowing everyone (including Her Majesty Ariella) to warm up with pickups, the annual baronial rapier champion tournament was opened to all fencers present at the event, although only Thescorreans were eligible to be named the local champion.
Of the four Thescorreans who entered the 13-person single-elimination tree, Lord Padraig Ua Céileachair won the baronial title, while Lord Jacob Martinson, the current kingdom champion, won the overall tourney.
After the champion tourney ended, Master Benedict Fergus atte Mede ran those present through several melees, including a warlord tourney. He chose that specific format, he said, because it improves situational awareness and team forming on the fly. “Our warlord tourney ended up with three teams facing each other, which help fencers to be aware of attacks from more than one angle. At Pennsic, your kill is very rarely directly in front of you. This forces you to work the sides.”
Lord Heero noted at the end of the day that “despite the heat and intense wind, everyone did a phenomenal job. Several people did better here today than they did at recent events.”
THL Rendell on the throwing range. Photo by Baroness Katja.
Princess Margerite, watching the melee, agreed. “I’m really impressed with the comportment and skill of our armies, fencers, archers, and throwers. And I appreciate the opportunity to shoot and throw today!”
Far back on the throwing range, Sir Aquila d’Athos and THL Govindi dera Carr offered a fun competition for axe, knife, and atlatl at 10- and 15-foot ranges, with three normal royal round targets and one target with negative points. Her goal for the day, she said, was to offer everyone lots of throwing practice with all three weapon forms, especially for gentles who had thrown for a while.
Master Jacapo, Baron Edward, and other archers enjoying the day’s shoots. Photo by Baroness Katja.
The archers nearby, meanwhile, faced numerous whimsical targets and challenges. Lord Corwin Alexander Templeton offered a standard five-color target at 20 yards for warm ups, then guided archers through a timed window shoot with a target behind the window, a wand shoot with a markings on a three-inch-thick pole (which included a special 10-point bonus if you hit the blue dinosaur head on the wand), and another window shoot aiming at a foam “Saracen head.” He also included two special targets at 30 and 40 yards: the first, a “money shoot,” invited archers to hit specific denominations of paper money; the second included head photographs of various villains from A Game of Thrones. (Yes, Joffrey was the most popular target on that board.)
“You never know what kind of competition you’ll face at Pennsic, so my goal today is to offer a variety of shoots at different ranges, different types, different targets, beyond just lots of royal round shoots, to help our archers get ready,” Lord Corwin explained.
He announced later that afternoon in court that 10 entrants broke the 100-point barrier for the day and one broke the 200-point barrier – Master Jacopo di Niccolo, who eliminated himself from winning. Second-highest-scoring archer and thus winner for the day – and the only one to hit the dinosaur head – was Master Caleb Reynolds with 185 points.
Lord Andrew, right, and his brother Robert, left, grill the mini meatloaves for lunch. Photo by Baroness Katja.
At noon, Lord Andrew of Thescorre and members of the Cauldron Bleu Cooks Guild served grab-and-go bag lunches to those who preregistered for the meal. In addition to individual spiced meatloaf “hedgehogs” hot off the grill, gentles enjoyed a portable, neat repast of personal-sized Ember Day tarts, plus gingerbrede, savory fried chickpeas, carrot sticks, and pickles, all tied inside a cloth napkin.
In the A&S area, next to several merchants, the Thescorre Scribes and Clan Blackheart both set up garage sales that symbiotically fueled each other. The scribes, led by Mistress Roberta McMorland, raised $236.75 for the kingdom scribal coffers; the goal had been $150!
The Barony also hosted an arts & sciences display at the event, with about dozen participants showing off their completed and in-progress projects: Viking/Norman threadwork (including hooded capelets with striking embroidered trims), embroidered liturgical shoes from later-period France, a Japanese cookery text in Old Japanese translated to modern Japanese and then to English, later-period German aprons, a carved horn vessel, hand-wrought pins, scrolls both gilded and gessoed (one based on the Codex Manesse and the second on The Visconti Book of Hours), and an icon of the Archangel Gabriel.
THL Otelia d’Alsace created the icon, based on the 1408 work of Andrei Rublyev, which won the populace choice. This lovely first attempt at iconography was painted on wood using tempera and period pigments (except for the white and blue).
Storm clouds moving rapidly over Court as it begins. Photo by Baron Steffan.
Baroness Sadira holding one of the original seven hand-sewn favors she embroidered three decades ago for the Thescorreans who fought that year at Pennsic. Photo by Baroness Katja.
In an emotional highlight of the Baronial Court — while the wind picked up harder and storm clouds began covering the sky overhead — Baroness Sadira bint Wassouf shared that this event, on this day, marked 30 years since she was first invested Baroness of Thescorre.
She remarked with a wry smile that she and her late husband, Master Saleem, did not name Bob (the third raven in Thescorre’s heraldry) but were responsible for several other baronial traditions, such as the policies & procedures, the Mathom, and the baronage creating Pennsic favors to hand out to baronial members at Pax.
She and Saleem were also responsible, she continued, for creating a repeatable barony award, the Raven’s Egg, which is given at the whim of the baronage for anything that furthers The Dream.
“So this year, for the first and only time, I decided to give every single person in the Barony of Thescorre a Raven’s Egg because it is my deep and abiding belief that EVERY SINGLE PERSON has done something to build the Dream, and that those contributions are worthy of notice. Everyone, at one time or another, has done something worthy of notice that has gone unremarked and unrecognized, so for this one moment, this one time, I am saying, ‘You have been noticed; you are worthy; you are appreciated; you have been recognized… There is no Dream or SCA without you’.”
Queen Ariella and King Byron induct Lord Quintin into the Golden Alce. Photo by Baron Steffan.
The gathering clouds darkened and rain started falling as Kingdom Court began; after a brief consideration, Their Majesties decided to continue without moving to another location and proceeded to hand out several awards of arms and other recognitions. Lord Quintin Lawless, who had just stepped down as baronial rapier champion and praised by Baroness Sadira for his graceful dance-like fencing as she inducted him into the baronial martial order, the Black Talon, was inducted by Their Majesties in the Order of the Golden Alce.
THL Zofia is moved to tears by her Fleur scroll. Photo by Baroness Katja.
You join not one grant order, but two! Queen Ariella hands THL Mairghread her Millrind as Princess Margerite watches. Photo by Baroness Katja.
Their Majesties called THL Mairghread into court to receive her backlog Fleur scroll and called in the Order to greet her, then promptly grinned and inducted her into the Order of the Millrind, calling in that Order as well, which caused a merry mob as both orders wetly swirled and hugged. In addition, They welcomed THL Zofia Kowaleska into the Fleur and THL Cynwulf Rendell into the Scarlet Guard.
Sir Murdoch Bayne, who had sat vigil for consideration of the Order of the Pelican all day, presented himself and listened in the rain to effusive praise of his decades of service by Earl Yngvar and Countess
Caryl as Royal Peers, Duke Christopher Rawlyns of the Chivalry (conveyed by Duke Sir Magnus Tindal), Sir Aengus MacBain of the Laurel (conveyed by Baroness Ekaterina Volkova), Duchess Dorinda Courtenay of the Order of Defense, and Dame Kateryna ty Isaf of the Pelican. Sir Murdoch was elevated with Countess Caryl’s Pelican medallion and a hood adorned with the badge of the order.
Sir Murdoch listens to the Worthies’ praise… Photo by Baroness Katja.
…And receives a kiss from his wife, THL Rioghnach, before his elevation. Photo by Baron Steffan.
Their Majesties issue a Pelican writ to THL Juan. Photo by Lady Jinx.
Before allowing the Order to welcome Sir Murdoch, Their Majesties presented a writ to THL Juan Miguel Cezar, commanding him to prepare to sit vigil at St. Swithin’s Bog’s 3-day the following weekend for consideration of elevation to the Pelican.
Lady Marguerite de Neufchastau, event steward, was tired but thrilled at the end of the long day. “I want to thank everyone who helped with this, I was very lucky with that my staff was so willing to help pull off this great event, because only with teamwork will this Dream work.”
05 Sunday Jun 2016
Posted in Archery, Arts & Sciences, Camping, Combat Archery, Cooking, Dance, Event Reports, Fencing, Fiber Arts, Food, Music, Royalty, Scribal, Siege, Thrown Weapons, Youth Activities, Youth combat
Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope reports on a wet but fun Æthelmearc War Practice:
War Practice started auspiciously enough, with a sunny and pleasant day on Friday to welcome campers setting up tents, shooting archery, and throwing weapons. The evening saw the traditional Gage Meet ‘n’ Beat, in which many fighters tested themselves against members of the Grant-level fighting award in one-on-one combat.
Gage Meet ‘n’ Beat. Photo by Crystal Clark.
In the next field over, 15 fencers competed in a ribbon tourney in which combatants could wager ribbons on the outcome of a bout or a series of bouts. The winner of that tournament was Lord Robert MacEwin of Thornhill.
Rapier Ribbon Tourney. Photo by Crystal Clark.
Rapier Ribbon Tourney. Photo by Crystal Clark.
Alas, late Friday night and Saturday morning turned chill and drizzly. The weather cleared for a little while late on Saturday morning through the early afternoon, but went downhill again into intermittent hard rain by mid-afternoon. However, many gentles refused to let the weather dampen their spirits and persisted in having fun!
The Kingdom Youth Combat Champion’s Tournament pitted six combatants in a round robin, with two additional youth fighters joining later for melees and a bear bit. The victor and third time Kingdom Youth Champion was El Tigre of the Shire of Hunter’s Home. The most chivalrous youth fighter was Daichi, who was one of four fighters to authorize up a division that day.
Their Majesties address the youth fighters before the Champion’s Tourney. Photo by Arianna.
Youth Combat Melee. Photo by THLady Aaliz de Gant.
The 10-Man Melee tournament featured five teams including fighters from numerous households like Sable Maul, Woodland Watch, and Stormhaven, along with teams from various local areas. It was won by Æthelmearc 10, consisting primarily of fighters from Region 3.
The Rose and Baroness’ Rapier Tournament included 19 fencers, each sponsored by a Lady of the Rose or a Baroness. The victor was Mistress Illadore de Bedegrayne.
Before the start of the rapier tournament, however, Their Majesties called forth Master Lodovic of Gray’s Inn and Don Clewin Kupferhelbelinc, and gave each of them a Writ of Summons to consider elevation to the Order of Defense.
Don Clewin receives a Writ for the Order of Defense. Photo by Lord Ursus.
Master Lodovic receives a Writ for the Order of Defense. Photo by THLady Aaliz de Gant.
Master Bataar. Photo by Arianna.
The Kingom Archery Champion’s Tournament was also held at War Practice. Before the competition, Their Majesties bestowed a Golden Alce upon Master Bataar Sogdo for his skill as an archer.
The Champion’s shoot, designed by Lady Katherine Täntzel, was based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail, including 50- and 100-yard shots that showed the Black Beast of Arrrrgh and its animator. Of the 13 archers who competed in the qualifying rounds, four advanced to the semi-finals: Takamatsu Gentarou Yoshitaka-san, Master Bataar Sogdo, Lady Anorra of Steltonwald, and THLord Cynwulf Rendell.
After shooting at the Taunting Knights in the semis, THLord Cynwulf and Yoshitaka-san advanced to the finals, where they were faced with two targets: a 45-second timed shoot at the “Black Knight” and the Knight who says Ni! The new Kingdom Archery Champion, Takamatsu Gentarou Yoshitaka-san, is serving as Champion for the second time.
The Kingdom Archery Champion’s Shoot, Yoshitaka-san in white. Photo by THLady Aaliz de Gant.
In the early afternoon there was also a tournament to determine the new Kingdom Thrown Weapons Champion. The format was qualifications with specialized targets, pinpoint, spears and Royal Rounds. The finals consisted of Royal Rounds, reverse Royal Rounds and then a specialized target where you were not to hit the arms of the King and Queen or Æthelmearc’s arms A large number of gentles scored very similar high marks, but in the end, the victor was Baroness Aemelia Soteria, who receieved the regalia of office from the outgoing Champion, Lord Sean Delamort.
Thrown Weapons competition, Baroness Aemelia Soteria at right. Photo by Crystal Clark.
After the morning’s tournaments were completed, the heavy weapons and fencing combatants turned their thoughts toward war. The heavy fighters fought a series of open field battles and bridge battles under the watchful eyes of the Warlord, Duke Tindal, and Their Majesties.
Heavy weapons field battle. Photo by Lord Ursus.
Heavy weapons bridge battle. Photo by Lord Ursus.
Duke Tindal addresses melee strategy with the fighters while Their Majesties look on. Photo by Lord Ursus.
The fencers also fought field battles and worked on targeting their skills at kill pockets under the guidance of the Rapier Warlord, Master Donnan MacDubhsidhe.
Rapier melee. Photo by THLady Aaliz de Gant.
Rapier melee. Photo by THLady Aaliz de Gant.
While all of this belligerence was happening on the battlefield, many gentler pursuits were held in the Great Hall or in the classroom tents. Class offerings included topics like brewing, music, fiber arts, scribal arts, cooking, autocratting, herbalism, costuming, and dancing.
Artisans’ Play Time. Photo by Crystal Clark.
Artisans’ Play Time. Photo by Crystal Clark.
Friday night saw the inaugural Grand Ball, organized by THLord Sionn the Lost, with live music for the dancers.
On Saturday, there was a combination A&S display and hands-on classes at the Artisans’ Play Time in the Great Hall, including tracks in scribal arts, fiber arts, and cooking. In additional, Edelvrouw Lijsbet de Keukere ran the first Scarlet Apron Cooking Competition with the theme of illusion foods. There were numerous entries that were both tasty and beautiful. Lady Elska Fjarfell was chosen as the winner for her marzipan and sugarpaste chicken and eggs entries, with her son Simon Fjarfell winning the youth category with a lamb made of crystalized sugar. Maestra Tomasia da Collevento was the winner of the populace choice with her peacock pie.
Court on Saturday night featured the induction of Lord Aidan Gunn into the Order of the Millrind, Lady Ottilige Rappoltsweiler and THLady Cassandra Matis into the Fleur d’AEthelmearc for their work as cooks, and a Writ for the Laurel given to THLady Alfrun ketta for her skill in fiber arts.
In addition, Maestro Augusto Giuseppe da San Donato gifted Their Majesties with a custom-made fire ring to be used in Æthelmearc Royal camp at Pennsic. Their Majesties thanks Master Giuseppe and requested that their new Pennsic Chamberlain, Master Janos, take the ring into his keeping until Pennsic.
On Sunday morning, the annual Pick-A-Prize raffle was held by the Tribe of Tuatha Firen. The Chieftain of the Tribe, Master Caleb Reynolds, announced that the raffle raised $1,120.09, to be split evenly between the Kingdom’s Pennsic expenses and Their Majesties’ travel expenses. He further announced that next year will be their 25th and last year running the raffle, but that the Tribe is hoping another group will step in to run a Kingdom Fundraiser at War Practice the following year. Over the last 24 year, Tribe of Tuatha Firen has raised over $10,000 for the Kingdom.
Brunch was served by members of the Shire of King’s Crossing on Saturday and Sunday. Also on Sunday morning, Their Majesties held Their first Curia, where topics including a restructuring of the Marshalate and possible changes to Youth policy were discussed.
02 Monday May 2016
Posted in Pennsic, Thrown Weapons
Tags
Greetings unto the noble populace of Æthelmearc from Maestro Antonio de Luna.
At the request of Their Sylvan Majesties, Byron and Ariella, the thrown weapons community is starting a “Get Out the Throw” campaign!
We want people of every age and skill level to flock to the ranges and start throwing! We want to expand the ranks of Æthelmearc’s throwing community and show the Known World both our superior numbers and skill. I know the subject line made mention of a contest, and here it is:
This will be a participation contest, beginning May 1st and culminating at the Pennsic War! Points will be awarded for participation, not scores or tournament wins. This allows for a more level playing field.
But the big points come at Pennsic!
For any competition or practice that runs between now and Pennsic, marshals can use the email address below to send me a copy of the score sheets (or just a list of the names) and I will record them. As this is a Kingdom-based tournament, I am using the Royal Round scoring maintained on the Æthelmearc Thrown Weapons website.
The winners will be announced at an event of Their Majesties’ choosing following the War.
The prizes, you ask? Custom made thrown weapons bags containing items no thrower can do without!
Scores and any questions can be emailed to Master Antonio at britonio72@gmail.com.
Throwers to the line, Æthelmearc! Let’s Get Out the Throw!
06 Wednesday Apr 2016
Posted in Archery, Thrown Weapons, Youth combat
The Region 2 Archery Muster is being held this Sunday, April 10th, at the Castle of Their Highnesses, 755 Stonegate Drive, Wexford PA 15090.
There will be Archery, Thrown Weapons, Youth Fighting, and Arts & Sciences. The muster begins at 10:00 am and will continue until 5:00 pm.
The archery and thrown weapons ranges open at 10:00 am and archery from the towers, led by THLord Deryk Archer, begins at 1:00 pm.
The Barony’s loaner archery gear will be available. Please bring something for a pot luck lunch.
Their Highnesses have asked that you dress in garb for the day.
In service to the Barony-Marche and the Kingdom,
Mestari Urho Waltterinen
crossbow1953 (at) earthlink (dot) net
Photo by Prince Byron.