Being the Chronicle of the Courts of Timothy and Gabrielle, King and Queen of Sylvan Æthelmearc, held on the ninth day of November, AS 54 (2019), at Corn Maze, in Their small but mighty Shire of Abhainn Ciach Ghlais. Submitted by Lord Snorri skyti Bjarnarson, Jewel of Æthelmearc Herald.
The day was cold but clear, and the breeze blew brisk, and so it was Their Majesties’ pleasure to have their court called into session inside the manor adjacent to the barbecue pit, near to the goat pens and hard against the fields of corn where the day’s slaughters had taken place.
Photo by Erin Whitcomb & Sara Joy Herringshaw, 2019.
As the assembled populace sat to enjoy a hot and hearty meal of whole roast pig (and some other unimportant foods), the first unfortunate order of business was to pronounce a sanction: On November ninth, two thousand and nineteen, the Crown of Æthelmearc, Their Royal Majesties Timothy of Arindale and Gabrielle de Nijenrode and the Kingdom Seneschal has issued the Sanction of Temporary Removal of Participation in the SCA to John Proctor, known in the Society as (No Known Society Name).
That necessary business being attended to, Their Majesties called for all persons there present who were at their first event, or attending their first Royal court, to attend them. However, no such persons appeared, and so the court moved forward with other business.
It was then Her Majesty’s pleasure to call upon Baroness Elena de la Palma, who reminded all assembled about Mistress Jenna’s tokens, to be given by anyone for acts of kindness and service they witnessed.
That business completed, Their Majesties had summoned before them Vihjalmr Jorgennson. They spoke to him of his fine work as a fighter and thrower of weapons, and therefore saw fit to name him a member of the Noble Order of the Golden Alce, and to Award him Arms, with a scroll by Sir Murdoch Bayne.
His Lordship Aiden MacMichael was then called forth, and it was noted by Their Majesties that an award had been read into court for him by their predecessors, but that they felt it right and proper to also recognize him in court, and so presented him with a medallion to mark him as a member of the Noble Order of the Keystone.
Their Majesties then sought the presence of Lady Isolda De Leycestre, who was conveniently found directly behind the throne, wearing the livery of a royal retainer. The Queen spoke at length of this fine lady’s accomplishments in fiber arts, specifically the making of complex late-period garb for others, and saw fit to induct her into the Noble Order of the Sycamore, with a scroll by Mistress Elyse le Bref.
At the completion of that business, after a brief consultation with Their Jewel Herald, Their Majesties demanded the attendance of Don Jehan le Blanc. He attended Them, appearing moderately confused, and so King Timothy bade His herald summon Master Po Silvertop. A lively discussion between the King, Don Po, and the Jewel Herald then commenced, concerning the apportioning of blame for what was about to happen. Finally, a group to be culpable was settled upon, and the Most Noble Order of the Millrind was called forward, then… singing happened, to the tune of “The Muppet
Show”, and the words shall be recorded here for posterity, to wit:
It’s time to join the Millrinds,
All this time you’ve served the Throne,
You’ve roved across the Kingdom, All to help our Sylvan Home!
Chatelained throughout our borders,
Autocrat and marshalled too,
Kitchen staff and scribal wordsmith,
Are just some of what you do!
We’re glad to have you come here,
Before the Crown you kneel,
The Order’s now behind you,
To celebrate your zeal!
Queen Gabrielle is smiling,
King Timothy laughs aloud,
The Herald’s getting started, (I think we’re long past started) On the most sensational, inspirational,
Celebrational, Millrind-ational,
Don Jehan LeBlanc’s a Millrind now!
After completion of the singing, Don Jehan was made the newest member of the Most Noble Order of the Millrind, with a scroll by Lady Ania Mhoireach.
While Their Majesties had Their Most Noble Order of the Millrind before them, another worthy was called forward: Lady Dierdre Kildare. Their Majesties spoke glowingly of her many years of service to her shire, and commanded her name be added to the rolls of the Millrinds as well, with a scroll from Master Jonathan Blakstyne.
Queen Gabrielle then rose, and spoke with great admiration of the helpfulness of Lord Andrew of Thescorre, and called him Her Inspiration that day, and awarded unto him a Golden Escarbuncle, tinted red for service.
Finally, Their Majesties called up all scribes there present who had contributed a scroll to the day’s courts, and each was given a token of appreciation from Their hands.
There being no further business, court was closed.
Respectfully,
Lord Snorri skyti Bjarnarson
Jewel of Æthelmearc Herald
Here continues the Record of the Reign of Gareth and Juliana, King and Queen of Sylvan Æthelmearc at Æthelmearc and East Kingdom War, called Corn Maze, November 11, AS 52, in Their Shire of Abhainn Ciach Ghlais; as recorded by Lord Arias Beltran del Valle, Jewel of Æthelmearc Herald.
As has been Their tradition, Their Majesties first called for those present attending their first event to appear before Them. Their Majesties welcomed each to the Society and bid them well in their journeys to come within the SCA. They then gave each a drinking vessel to carry with them as they attended future events with the Society.
Their Majesties then summoned before Them Reinhard Dobbeler. His Majesty then read a letter composed by the Lady Angel Deth of House Sable Maul before the populace, highlighting with words from the rest of his House the hard work and willing spirit that Reinhard brings to the support of that House and his Kingdom. For this honorable work was he Awarded Arms and made a Lord of Their Majesties’ Court. The scroll was a work of embroidery by Lady Angel Deth.
Jakob Krahe was next called to appear before Their Majesties. Having heard of Jakob’s hard work on the field and his willingness to work hard to set up events, They were grateful, and of a mind to make Their gratitude known by creating him a Lord of Their Court and Awarding him Arms. Scroll artist was unknown.
Their Majesties then summoned to Their Presence Lord Burgos. Word of his continued improvement as a fighter and the joy he takes in learning the martial arts in defense of Their Kingdom had come to their attention, and for this were They of a mind to count him amongst Their Order of the Golden Alce. Scroll by Lady Ashling.
The presence of Lord Gunnar Ulfrbani was next demanded by Their Majesties. They had heard of Lord Gunnar’s brilliant tactical mind on the fencing melee field, and his enthusiasm in sharing his love for that combat with those around him. So too was he made a member of the Order of the Golden Alce by Their Majesties. Scroll by Baron Caleb Reynolds.
Their Majesties then summoned to Their Presence Lady Jan al-Thalab, called Fox. Word had reached Their ears of Fox’s work for many years as a member of the Sylvan Army Support Services, or SASS, culminating most recently in her leading the group, bringing SASS to the fields at Pennsic and keeping Their armies well fed and hydrated. For this, as well as her giving spirit throughout the Kingdom was she made a member of the Order of the Keystone. Scroll by Lady Gulsah Aydini.
Their Majesties then summoned before Them Barwnes Nest ferch Rhys, from the duty set before her that very day handing out scroll cases in court. Their Majesties spoke to her of her history of service to the Kingdom, and her work in the difficult job of serving her home shire as Seneschal after being unexpectedly thrust into the role. They felt that her Excellency’s devotion to service was no longer properly recognized, and so did They call for Their Most Noble Order of the Pelican, and bid them bear her away to determine a time that she should sit in vigil and contemplate elevation into that august Order. Scroll by Lady Shirin of Susa.
Lord Grimbald Deth was then summoned before Their Majesties from his duties as one of the Queen’s Guard on this day. Her Majesty thanked him for his continue devotion to serving as both guard and travelling great distances to do so, coming from his home in Atlantian land. So did she name him her inspiration for the day, and awarded him a Golden Escarbuncle.
Their being no further business, the Court of Their Majesties was then closed.
Corn Maze III is hosted by the Shire of Abhainn Ciach Ghlais from November 4, 2016 at 4 PM to November 6, 2016 12 PM. The event takes place at Ard’s farm (4803 Old Turnpike Rd, Lewisburg, PA. 17837).
We caught up with HRH Timothy to discover what makes Corn Maze (or A&E War, which is the official name) different from other SCA events:
“Several years ago, THL Angus McClerie and I were driving through ACG, and we drove by a corn maze. I said to Angus, “wouldn’t it be sweet to have some melees in there?” His response made my heart leap: “I went to High School with the owner”.
“The first year, he told us we could have it for a few hours after he closed it on its last day before he plowed it under/harvested it. So we arranged for some construction lights, and at 8 pm on a Sunday night, with only three weeks notice, about 50 of us tromped through the maze with every goofy scenario we could come up with. Mostly they were traditional scenarios with a maze twist thrown in.
“The site is a corn maze of about 10 acres. In the middle of the maze is a bridge that we allow spectators to stand on and watch the fighting happening all around them; they wear safety goggles, as there is combat archery in most of the scenarios.
Photo by Ursus.
“The second year, we added fencing, and only fought heavy in the maze during the evening. Again, we migrated to whatever wacky scenario I could come up with. Bearing in mind I had a year to plot, I did get very creative, and that is how we ended up where we are now. The Corn Maze war is in no way, shape or form high medievalism; it is about having a good time. We fight pretty much all day and most of the night, with fighters taking a break as they feel like it. I run one scenario after another with only a brief break for dinner.
We do resurrection battles, free-for-alls, warlord tourneys, and our grand finale, the famed “zombie battle”. This battle is run several times, but the first one is the one that is the most epic. Each fighter is given a glow stick on a lanyard that they are to tie on their person. They can distribute themselves throughout the maze as they will. After all fighters have a chance to place themselves, I announce that they are to stop moving. Each fighter then breaks open their glow stick, and sees what side they are on. I turn out the construction lights, and call lay on. As each fighter dies, they resurrect. The resurrection points are either end of the bridge, and the maze separates them. From the bridge, the spectators get to see glow stick laden arrows fly through the air and the lights of fighters bobbing along thru the maze. I added a twist last year. I selected one fighter at random, and in secret, and told them they were patient zero. When they died, they didn’t resurrect. They were to wander through the maze, and try and kill stragglers, to increase the mob of zombies. At some point, the zombies reach a critical mass, and I call humanities’ last stand, and the red and blue team joins up, under the bridge, trying to fight off the ever increasing number of zombies.”
The autocrat is HRH Timothy of Arindale. The event page can be found here.
Adult Event Registration: $18
Adult Member Discount Event Registration: $13
Children are free.
Please make checks out to SCA Inc, shire of Abhainn Ciach Ghlais.
This report was written by Lord Magnus de Lyons, Lady Miriel du Lac, Duke Timothy of Arindale.
From Lord Magnus:
On a chilly fall morning a small group of intrepid members from the Rhydderich Hael headed south to experience the A&E War (aka the Corn Maze) hosted by Shire of Abhainn Ciach Ghlais. The event boasted “More fighting and fencing than anyone should ever do in a week, all in one weekend,” and let me tell you it did not disappoint. Sadly, due to time constraints I was only able to attend Saturday’s portion of the festivities but I certainly came away fulfilled.
The setting for the event was Ard’s Farm in Lewisburg Pennsylvania. Ard’s farm is a large farm market with a country store, gift shop, and full restaurant, but the key feature of the farm was the massive ten-acre corn maze that would provide the stage for the day’s martial activities (honestly the place would be a wonderful day trip just on its own). The corn maze was divided into two sections; a large section that was set aside for heavy combat and a small section reserved for fencing (don’t let the word small mislead you; it was just as confusing as the large section). Surrounding the corn maze was a small collection of tents and pavilions for the combatants and staff including a rather welcoming fire pit. This was a three day event, so for people looking to stay the duration the site offered primitive onsite camping.
Photo by Baroness Ellesbeth Donofrey.
My choice of activity for the day was heavy combat in the larger maze. I have not had the chance to get into armor since Pennsic so I was excited to suit up and get into the action. Once I was in armor and inspected I was lucky enough to run into some friendly faces. Joining my friends on the red team we headed into the maze. Having no prior knowledge of the maze it was pretty easy to get turned around even when using visible landmarks on the outside of the maze. The “tunnels” of the maze offered a challenging but not overly restrictive area to fight and was ripe with choke points, pockets, and three or four way battle points. Spears seemed very useful and popular but I was able to wield my pole arm without difficulty. Combat archery was allowed in every battle and added a nice “stay vigilant or die” element to the scenarios. Hats off to the combat archers who participated and I hope they found all their ammo at the end of the day
Heavy Combat Report by Duke Timothy:
Are you tired of the typical melee event? Do you find yourself shortly before lay on is called saying: Field battle, bridge battle, field battle, bridge battle, boring, boring, boring, boring! If you did not make it out to this years’ A/E War, you missed an opportunity to do something completely out of the ordinary. His Majesty Tindal and Their Highnesses Byron and Ariella joined nearly one hundred combatants gathered from five separate kingdoms at a small farm in Abhainn Ciach Ghlais. There, these warriors fought and fenced battles that were anything but the ordinary.
A ten-acre maze carved out of a corn field featuring thousands of feet of corridors, each 6 to 8 feet wide, provided a battlefield that allowed for combat far outside everyone’s usual comfort zone. It wasn’t what anyone would describe as high medievalism, but everyone present seemed to have had a great time and they all left with a smile on their faces.
Photo by Ursus.
The initial heavy battle consisted of roughly thirty fighters per side playing a game we named “polearm polo.” Sir Timothy, Viceroy Gui, and His Lordship Brada dropped a “puck,” (a 3’ diameter rubber ball,) and both teams had to move it using just polearms and greatswords. A point was determined if the puck was moved outside of one of the four maze entrances. Both sides had to take just the right mix of weapons to help score. To add an additional threat, both sides had combat archers. Archers Baron Friderich, Baron Fergus or any of the other combat archers spent the afternoon making the undefended or unprepared fighters’ day miserable. Polearm Polo raged for about an hour, creating numerous amusing situations. In one round, the last person left in a battle at the puck was a sword and shield fighter, and it took about 10 minutes before anyone from either side was able to locate him.
We next ran a five-man melee team free for all. Each team was given three flags, similar to what would have been used in flag football, and then instructed to disperse in the maze. No two teams could work together. After each engagement, all fighters were allowed to heal wounds or revive, and the winning team took one of the losing teams’ flags. This battle lasted for about an hour. A tie was the result, with two teams ending up with six flags each.
We next decided to play Capture the Flag. While every fighter knows how to organize and marshal a bridge or field battle, the marshals were pretty much flying blind. There was some confusion as we tweaked the scenario so that it would be the most fun. We decided to use both ends of a massive wooden bridge in the center of the maze as each team’s resurrection point. Just before lay on was called, a five-man banner unit from each side had thirty seconds to choose a spot to place their banner. The first team to capture the other side’s banner and return it to the bridge received a point. After about an hour or so, we called it at a two to two tie. Of all the day’s events, this scenario seemed to be the highlight of everyone’s fighting.
Photo by Ursus.
At this point we had been fighting for four solid hours, and we allowed folks to take a dinner break. Considering how many people gorged themselves on ribs/brisket/steak, I was quite pleased to see how few folks had disappeared when we started to fight again a couple of hours later, under the massive banks of lights that the site provided. As is now traditional, we needed to select a corn maze winner to receive the lovely scroll produced by Nemenia filia Hweli, known as Nyfain merch Coel. Each fighter was given 3 resurrections, and we had a free for all in the so-called children’s section of the maze (kind of fitting, considering that many of the fighters were giggling like idiots). When the smoke cleared, Sir Havouc was the sole survivor. What is a maze without a Minotaur? Or in our case, several? We decided to take a few of the more senior fighters and give them special abilities and see how long they could last against the bulk of the fighters, who were given unlimited resurrection. Well, when you are allowed to literally walk through the maze walls and kill from behind, it can take quite a while. Our initial crew of 5 Minotaurs, HRM Magnus Tindal, Duke Gregor, Sir Tash, Master Wulfstan the Unshod, Sir Murdoc and Sir Havouc weren’t enough of a challenge, so we added a few more. This made for a laugh riot. The Minotaurs succumbed, but it took quite a while for 30 some heavies to kill 8 or 9 Minotaurs. We did a couple side A vs. side B meat grinders, but everyone was anxious for the grand finale, our now famous (or infamous) zombie scenario. Each fighter was given an unbroken glow stick, and instructed to wander into the maze and find a spot where that they were comfortable. Then once each person was given sufficient time to wander, they were allowed to break their glow sticks; red sticks/red team, blue sticks/blue team. As a marshal, from my vantage point safe on top of the bridge in the maze’s center, it was amusing to see the occasional red in a sea of blue and vice/versa. We used the bridge as a resurrection point, and just had the fighters fight for the sake of fighting. One fighter was coached that he was patient zero; when he died, he came back as a zombie, and all his kills joined his side. Once a sufficient number of zombies had been spawned, we declared humanity’s last stand, and everyone laughed as heavies with glow sticks were slowly swamped by fighters screaming “brains”. Around 10pm, the fighters declared that they had finally had enough, about 10 hours after the initial lay on. As I said before, not what I would call high medievalism, but everyone left with a smile.
Prince Byron. Photo by Ursus.
Fencing Report by Lady Miriel:
I have been excited about this event since I read people’s war stories from last year: the night-time zombie battles, BBQ, stories by the camp fire, and just being able to run around in a corn maze sounded like a spectacular time. So when I read that there would be fencing scenarios in the maze as well this year, I was sold!
The day of the event, we arrive and I get geared up and hustle over to the “field,” hoping that I haven’t missed anything. Thankfully I arrived just in time and Lord Andreas Jager von Holstein the fencing marshal for the day, was giving the low down for the first scenario.
Scenario One: The Buckler of Destiny and the Minotaurs.
Teams of three ventured into the maze in search of the mythical Buckler of Destiny. However, in their path stood two fearsome Minotaurs (Don Po Silvertop and His Majesty Magnus Tindel), hell bent on keeping the intrepid teams from ever finding the Buckler.
Many teams entered and fell to the foul beast, but finally the creatures were slain and the victorious team exited the maze with Buckler in hand. The scenario was run once again but with a Holy Mackerel and that item was retrieved by the very first team of three.
Photo by Baroness Ellesbeth.
Scenario Two: Attack and Defend
Two teams of six, with two resurrection points in the maze. One team entered the maze first and placed the Buckler of Destiny in the maze, then set themselves up to defend the Buckler from the attacking team. The defending team had two resurrections while the attacking team had infinite resurrections. Both teams took a turn at being defenders and attackers. The team that could retrieve the Buckler and get it out of the maze the fastest was the victor.
The first defending team decided to set up a kill pocket in an alcove within the maze, the Buckler and res point both directly behind them in the alcove. The attackers went to it, trying to break the defenders’ line and fend off attackers from behind who had lain in wait. Finally, when the defenders’ resurrections were spent, the attackers grabbed the Buckler and removed it from the maze.
When the teams reversed roles, the new defending team placed their buckler and resurrection point at the farthest end of the maze and decided to go with a retreating res. They created a cup of death at the near beginning of the maze and doing their best to just hold off the attackers as long as possible. When a defender fell, they ran to the res point and placed them selves not at the first line of defense but at a new one closer to the location of the Buckler. They did this for both of their resurrections, the last line of defense right at the opening to the alcove bearing the Buckler. It came down to one lone defender, the fierce HL Alianora Bronhulle, holding off the attackers for a good half a minute, giving her team the overall win.
Photo by Baroness Ellesbeth.
Scenario Three: The Adventures and the Zombies
Three noble adventurers entered the maze, going to the farthest point with whatever weapon combos they chose. Then, the zombies entered the maze one at a time every 20 (or so) seconds. Zombies were only able to use one weapon, but could be killed only with a poke to the head. The adventurers had to survive the advancing zombie and make it out of the maze.
Almost all of the three-man teams survived, fending off the brains-hungry zombies. Cries of “Brains’, “Urrr Argh” and “Ready Whip” filled the maze as each zombie was slain on the adventurers’ path out to safety.
The Zombie Scenario was run multiple times until the fighters grew hungry for more than just brains and went to lunch at the outstanding BBQ restaurant on site.
My time doing all of these scenarios was so much fun, I couldn’t have had a more outstanding day. I loved meeting and fighting beside fencers I’ve never had a chance to meet before. I enjoyed working with the teams and working out how to best help my fellow fencers achieve victory. I was able to have some one-on-one bouts with His Majesty, Don Po, Lord Andreas, and more. Each helped me to grow in my skills and just have a damn good fight! I highly enjoyed this event and cannot wait until next year to see what’s in store for the fencers of Æthelmearc and the East.
To those who receive word of Court Reports, greetings from Kameshima. As I recently posted to the Æthelmearc Announcements list, it recently came to my attention that the happenings of a Court during the previous reign were never correctly documented in a Court Report. I offer my extreme apology and herein present the content of said Court.
Historians have uncovered documentation of further business conducted during the reign of Titus and Anna Leigh. Documented: the business of Their Highnesses Timothy and Gabrielle’s Regency Court at the Festival of the Corn Maze, 25 October A.S. 49.
Lady Rowan L’Crotha was Granted Arms and inducted into the Order of the Millrind for her years of selfless service to the Shire of Abhain Ciach Ghlais and the Kingdom of Æthelmearc.
There being no further business, Their Highnesses’ Regency Court was closed.
In Honor and Service,
Kameshima Zentarō Umakai
高貴国境の王国の治部卿
Silver Buccle Principal Herald, Kingdom of Æthelmearc
