Bring your entries for display, meet other artists or demonstrate your art (space and safety permitting.) To celebrate the coronation and our Royalty’s love of the Viking era, Their Majesties will select King and Queen’s choice amongst items that might have been encountered by Viking raiders and traders—prepare your tale of how your entry might have traveled through the Viking world! (Have fun and let your research and creativity collide!)
Reserve space by contacting Mistress Chrestienne (argenthartae@yahoo.com)
A change in the light? A soft smell in the air? A gentle kiss of a breeze instead of an ice-knifed gale? Well, ok, not today given the snowstorm blanketing much of southern Æthelmearc, but it’s coming!
If you are weary of the bite of winter, I invite you to think of the warmer months ahead … particularly June!
The good folk of the Shire of Abhainn Ciach Ghlais look forward to welcoming you to the Spring 2018 session of Æthelmearc Æcademy and War College, which will be held on Saturday, June 16. Event information can be found here: http://aecademy.net/spring2018/index.shtml
The theme for this session will be Adornments, Embellishments, Flourishes, and Garnishes.
We can all find ways to up our game, whether by adorning a garment with intricate embroidery, embellishing a tale, adding flourish to a calligraphed signature, or garnishing a tasty dish.
Teachers are thus encouraged to offer classes that will inspire others to “kick it up a notch.”
Already, we have classes in:
Making turnshoes (An all-day, make-it-and-take-it class!)
Protocol for RP events (Helpful tips for Royalty Liasons!)
Running an event (Great for autocrats wanting to up their game!)
Scandinavian boxes (Spiff up your camp!)
Sewing hats (Every outfit is better with a hat!)
Short-sleeved Italian gown (Just right for Pennsic!)
For this session, we will be using two sites: one is a church with typical classrooms; the other is a fire hall with one large open room.
Having two kitchens means that those wishing to teach hands-on cooking classes will be able to do so without interfering with lunch prep. The fire hall is especially suited for multi-hour, messy classes.
Brewers will be pleased to learn that the fire hall will allow us to offer a Brewers’ Guild Roundtable.
For the martially inclined, we have a large, flat open field that can accommodate any number of fighters and fencers.
In addition, Duchess Ilish is already working to line up a stellar slate of classes for our Youth Track. We welcome classes taught by our youthful artisans as well as for them.
I hope you will consider sharing your knowledge, skills, and passions with AEthelmearc by teaching a class (or two!)
The class schedules for recent sessions of AEcademy have filled up more than a month before the event. To avoid disappointment, please don’t wait to register your class … sign up TODAY!
All are Welcome on this day to enjoy music and song and dancing, good food, and good friends!
What is a Debatable Lands Twelfth Night like? Here are the top 12 things to do!
1. Bring some food to share. Our event is free, even the food! It’s a potluck. All kinds of food are welcome! (Mmmm, cheese balls)
2. Bring and/or taste some cookies! A perennial favorite, Master Urho runs our favorite cookie competition of the year. Bring some to enter, or just munch on the entries and vote for a populace choice winner!
3. Bring your A&S project to display! The event features the Debatable Lands’ Arts & Sciences Championship and Display. There are no limitations, bring your projects, old or new, finished or in progress, to display. You can even request feedback from our top artisans. And if you’re from the Debatable Lands, enter the competition!
4. Bring some beverages. Wet site. Nuff said.
5. Snowball fight! Jasmine of Clan Tarn has her elves working overtime making stuffed “snowballs” for an epic tourney for young and old alike!
6. Get ready to laugh. The Best Commedia dell’Arte troupe in the Knowne World – I Genesii – will be *cough* performing *cough* …multiple times. Don’t miss the most beloved court of Misrule.
7. Bards welcome – the Debatable Lands Bardic Championship is also taking place. Only Debatable Landers are eligible for the Championship, but all are welcome to perform. The theme is the Old and the New.
8. Speaking of performances, the Barony’s own Debatable Choir will perform at 5pm. Let their dulcet tones wash over your ears and hearts.
9. Stuff and cash, cash and stuff… our Twelfth Night Auction of Forgotten Treasures ™ will delight you with the garb, gear, stuff and do-dads available at this silent auction. Have stuff you don’t need? Bring it to donate! But wait, there’s more! We also have a few fine merchants.. peruse their artwork, chainmail, and more!
10. Courts and vigils and courts, oh my! The event features Mistress Graidhne’s vigil and induction into the Order of the Laurel, as well as many other awards, Kingdom and Baronial.
11. Stay for the dancing! After evening Court, our event always has one of the best dances of the season in the entire Kingdom. Don’t worry, we’ll teach you!
12. Bring a donation for Paladin’s Pantry! The Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank needs food items, blankets, and more. Read more here!
The Battle of Clontarf in the Barony of the Endless Hills
Barony of the Endless Hills, April 30, 2016
On April 23, 1014, at first light, the battle of Clontarf began, and by sunset, between 7,000 and 10,000 men were dead and the history of Ireland was changed forever. Much of Irish lore still holds that the Battle of Clontarf freed the Irish from foreign domination.
On April 30, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. (slightly later than first light), the third Battle of Clontarf will begin in the Barony of the Endless Hills, and by 7:00 p.m. (a bit before sunset), warriors and spectators alike will make their way home from a day of fighting and fun.
Do you like fighting with rattan? We have it!
Do you like fencing? We have it!
Do you like archery? We have it!
Is thrown weapons more your speed? We have it!
Do you prefer the elegance and beauty of A&S? We have it!
Perhaps you just prefer to relax around friends and enjoy delicious food? We absolutely have it!!!!
For those who have a penchant for martial activities, Clontarf will be hosting fencing tournaments run by Lord Alain Piat. Baron Murdock Bayne will be running a heavy tournament of honor which will include a procession and presentation to give up-and-coming fighters an opportunity to learn what they’ll experience if and when they fight for crown.
Baron Verdi and Baroness Fiona will be choosing their Baronial A/S champion at Clontarf, so all are invited (and encouraged) to bring their A&S projects to show off.
Archery is also on the schedule, as well as thrown weapons.
And, if that wasn’t sufficient enticement, Baron Perote Campbell will again be preparing a sumptuous dayboard for attendees.
There may be other events at the far ends of the Kingdom, but none where you will be made as welcome and appreciated as the Barony of the Endless Hill’s Battle of Clontarf. For details and other information, please contact Lord Cormacc mac Gilla Brigde.
Come One Come All to the Celebration of Saturnalia with our Most August Imperiatori, Tindal and Etain, featuring the renown competition for Sylvan Bard of Æthelmearc.
Keep your strength up for reveling by partaking of the splendid lunch presented by Baron Janos Mezzaros, and after a day full of activities, you may choose to sit Above the Salt or Below the Salt for a Saturnalia Feast also created by Janos and his Company of Cooks.
You may choose your entertainment throughout the day: dancing (Instruction during the day and dance in the evening), an arts contest with roots going back to the the days of Cicero (more info to come), games of chance (including a Kingdom fundraiser) and games of skill.
Come in your most brilliantly-hued haute couture. As did our ancestors, we too will revel in the Roman fashion. There will be a Kings Choice and Queens Choice for best dressed in Saternalia sartorial splendor. And as the Sun turns, so too shall our social order, and as befits our celebration, our Lord and Lady of Misrule too shall make their choices known.
Merchants are welcome. In lieu of a merchant fee, we are asking for donations for the fundraiser. Due to limited space, you must reserve ahead of time. Please contact our Merchant Liaison Baroness Rosemund von Glinde (Wendy Hart, baronessrosemund725@yahoo.com, 716-949-4984)
Other activities and information will be forthcoming on the web and on the Kingdom and Twelfth Night Facebook pages as well as here in the Æstel.
Please send reservations to Edith of Winterton (Caroline Elliott, 38 Chateau Terrace EAST, Amherst, NY 14226, edithofwinterton@gmail.com, 716-574-1354). Please include an email with your reservation for followup. Please include any food allergies when you make your reservation.
The cost for this wondrous affair is:
SITE FEE (includes lunch):
Adult: $14.00
Minor age 13-17: $7.00
Minor age 0-12: Free
Family Cap SITE FEE ONLY: $35.00
BELOW THE SALT (Site Fee + Below the Salt dinner)
Adult: $22.00
Minor age 13-17: $15.00
Minor age 0-12: $8.00
ABOVE THE SALT (Site Fee + Above the Salt dinner):
Adult: $27.00
Minor age 13-17: $20.00
Minor age 0-12: $13.00
For Children age 0-12 there will be an alternate Children’s Feast available at a children’s table in the feast hall for $3.00.
For those whose minor children do not eat event dinners at all, parents may reserve for them with site fee only. We will have a table in the feast hall for kids who are not partaking any feast whose parents are, so that the kids may still be in line of sight without taking a feast seat.
Off board tables will be available for people who wish to stay at the event and bring their own feast.
Please make your checks payable to: SCA NY, Inc- Canton of Beau Fleuve. A $5.00 non-member surcharge will be collected at the door from all non-member adults.
Pennsic is coming up soon! Her Majesty, Queen Gabrielle, has been hard at work making baldrics for the gentles who will be chosen as Æthelmearc’s Champions in each of the War Points. Because our allies will also contribute Champions, Their Majesties don’t know yet exactly how many gentles from Æthelmearc will be participating, but there will be teams of skilled and inspirational gentles filling the following slots.
Heavy Weapons
His Majesty, King Timothy, says that He is working with Sir Stefan Ulfkellson, Kingdom Warlord, to choose fighters for the three Heavy Weapons Champion Battles. “Prowess alone will not get you a slot on the team,” His Majesty said. “Attendance matters. I’m looking for the people who put their heart and soul into going to every muster and really care about being on the team. I want the fighters who will be thrilled to receive a champion’s baldric and cherish it for the rest of their lives. There is no “entitlement” – being a hot stick won’t get you a slot on a Champions team if you don’t put in the effort to show up and work hard.” The three heavy weapons champions’ teams are listed below:
Unbelted Champions: the first War Point of Pennsic 44, this battle held immediately after Opening Ceremonies features a total of 40 fighters per side, none of whom may be Knights or Masters at Arms.
Belted Champions: immediately after the Unbelted Champions battle, it features 30 fighters per side, all of whom are either Knights or Masters at Arms.
Matched Champions: immediately after the Belted Champions battle, it features 30 fighters from each side who have not fought in either the belted or unbelted tournaments. In this battle, fighters are sent out in small groups of 1-5 fighters, with numbers matched by the opposing side.
Photo by Lady Valentina de la Volpe.
Arts and Sciences:
This war point will be held on Wednesday of War week throughout the day, and features 14 artisans per side. The A&S Champions may not be Laurels. Queen Gabrielle says “We are trying to showcase artisans from the more remote parts of the Kingdom who don’t have as much opportunity to have their work seen, although we also want to showcase some well-known artisans and challenge them to come up with something really special and unique.” To help Their Majesties find such skilled but lesser known artisans, the Kingdom A&S Ministers, Master Fridrikr Tomasson and Mistress Orianna Fridrikskona have been hosting A&S Displays at events around the kingdom, where artisans are encouraged to enter works in progress and seek feedback from other artisans and the populace. Her Majesty notes, “Rather than spending six months working on something and then find out that you could have done something different at the beginning, we thought it would be helpful for artisans to get feedback during the process of creating something. Master Fridrikr and Mistress Orianna printed up booklets for comments that We and they have been sharing with those who want to have their work displayed.” Mistress Euriol of Lothian, who is coordinating the A&S Champions for Pennsic, set up a Facebook page for the A&S Champions, where the artisans who have been selected so far are sharing their research, discussing their efforts to create or purchase supplies, equipment, tools, and ingredients for their projects, and generally encouraging each other.
Photo by Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope.
Photo by Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope.
Archery Champions
There will be 30 Archery Champions per side, with the shoot held on Wednesday of War week. King Timothy has appointed THLord Juan Miguel Cézar as Captain of the Archery Champion’s Team, and tasked him with choosing the members of the team. His Lordship says, “Enthusiasm is definitely one of the criteria that His Majesty impressed upon me that he feels is an important attribute for each member of the Archery Champion’s team to have. The chance to shoot with some of the best archers in the Known World is both daunting and exhilarating at the same time, and can really make a huge impact on a person and their relationship with the SCA. An experience like this has a chance to take a blossoming archer and give them a long lasting sense of belonging in the archery community. That does not mean that skill and prowess are to be thrown out the window, it just means that such things are a secondary criterion. Also being considered is the disposition of the archer. We want to avoid people who are sore losers or cannot get along with the other archers. Often the champions shoot takes 6 to 8 hours to complete and that can be trying on anyone.” THL Juan Miguel also noted that the kinds of shoots that archers encounter in the Champion’s Tournament challenge archers in unusual ways. “One might think that Royal Round scores would serve as a good metric, but I have found that more often than not it is an untrue measure of skill. The Champions’ shoot tests an archer in ways a Royal Round never can. Once we have a list of potential archers, we will have them come out to the range one or two nights for some practice to be better able to gauge their aptitude for this type of competition. After that comes the hard part of choosing the candidates that have the best combination of spirit and skill to add to the team, and of course negotiating with our allies, who will also contribute archery champions.”
Photo by Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope.
Rapier
As Rapier Warlord, Maestro Orlando di Bene del Vinta will recommend the fencers who should represent Æthelmearc to Their Majesties. As with the other champions, Their Majesties have asked him to find people with enthusiasm and passion as well as skill. Maestro Orlando says, “I will be recommending individuals who demonstrate prowess as well as dedication to the rapier community through their participation and activity. Simply winning a particular tournament does not guarantee that a recommendation will follow, or that one will be named to the team. Additionally, Their Majesties and I will be looking at who would represent Æthelmearc well on the field; meaning a fencer who is very honorable in combat, comports themselves well on the field, and fights well.” There are two Rapier Champions’ Tournaments:
Rapier Champions: 20 fencers will represent each side in this battle, to be held on Wednesday at 11 am.
Rapier Heroic Champions: 12 fencers from each side will compete one-on-one in this War Point, with at least one of the bouts to be Cut & Thrust. It will be held immediately after the Rapier Champions Battle on Wednesday.
Photo by Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope
Thrown Weapons
Master Augusto Giuseppe da San Donato will lead the Thrown Weapons team, choosing those throwers whose commitment as well as skill exemplifies the best of Æthelmearc and its allies. Twelve throwers from each side will compete in this war point to be held on Wednesday of War week from 3:00-6:00 pm. Master Giuseppe has contacted the Thrown Weapons Marshals of the Allied Kingdoms and asked them to send him a list of their all of their throwers who are going to Pennsic so he can reach out to them. He will be hosting a series of try-outs in the evenings early in the War. These try-outs will be open to everyone from Æthelmearc and our allied kingdoms. Throwers who are interested in trying out should look for a note regarding days and times at the Thrown Weapons tent. The prospective Champions will throw for a couple of hours at each try-out so they can be observed by the allied marshals. Master Giuseppe says they “will be looking for people who embody their Kingdoms down to their soul.” They want people who teach, work well with others, and learn from each other as well as exhibiting skill. He will choose the top 12 throwers plus three or four alternates for the Champion’s team. Master Giuseppe notes that three years ago, which was the last time Pennsic pitted Æthelmearc against the combined forces of the East and Middle, Æthelmearc and our allies outscored the other side by more than double. He is very proud of that, and expects our team to do equally well this year.
Photo by Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope
Mistress Arianna of Wynthrope wrote this article with contributions from Their Majesties, King Timothy and Queen Gabrielle, THLord Juan Miguel Cezar, Maestro Orlando di Bene del Vinta, Master Fridrikr Tomasson, and Master Augusto Giuseppe da San Donato.
Horses preparing to charge a line of ground fighters at last year’s Stormsport War Muster and Equestrian event.
This weekend the Shire of Sunderoak is hosting Æthelwald Proving Grounds and once again there will be horses on site. The day’s activities, under the apt leadership of THL Meadhbh, include a competition in the morning, and various training opportunities in the afternoon. These include experimental activities in Mounted to Ground Combat.
This activity involves mounted combatants engaging ground fighters and allows both sides to experience some of what combat between cavalry and infantry was like during the medieval period. Obviously, we cannot replicate every aspect of this combat, just as we do not in rattan fighting. The cavalry does not run down the ground fighters, who also do not spear the horses through the chest to stop their charges. But this activity allows both sides to explore what this type of combat was like, the special training that is required, and the complexity of this combat. As equestrians, we are able to develop training strategies in order to foster the horse’s courage and obedience in the face of armored forces advancing on them, making a lot of noise. And we work to train our horses to the level of a medieval warhorse that faced a variety of conditions on the battlefield. The ground fighters are able to work on strategies to defeat cavalry and engage a mounted force. Prior participants have exclaimed about the exciting experience of facing charging horses, with the ground rumbling beneath their feet at the approach of the horses.
Acclimating horses to the ground fighters.
If this sounds like something you want to get involved in, then we have the opportunity for you at APG this coming weekend. As the Experimental Deputy to the Kingdom Equestrian Officer, I will be conducting Mounted to Ground activities and encourage authorized fighters to join us on the equestrian field. We will be conducting some controlled charges similar to what was done at Stormsport’s event last year and fighters are needed to participate. This will also be a chance to screen future participants for the more advanced aspects of the Experiment. For that level of participation, we are looking for fighters with skill, as well as good common sense and some familiarity with horses. In these more advanced activities, we will be experimenting with a variety of combat scenarios and forms.
So, if you are interested in something a little different from the tourney or melee field, I encourage you to seek us out on the equestrian list field this Saturday at APG
–Shishido Tora (Gozen)
Photographs by THL Rhiannon Elandris of Glyndrvdwy
Mark your calendars for the weekend of June 19-21 as the Shire of Port Oasis is trying something new. Hosting an all tournament event to showcase pageantry and inspiration as well as honor and prowess. When asked what sparked the idea for a different type of event, Lord Olaf Steinabrjotr, co-autocrat for the event, said, “The model of this event was conceived out of a few of us talking when we discussed the lack of pageantry and the lack of tournaments in our southern reaches of the kingdom, and also the fact that we would have to travel outside the kingdom to get to an event.”
There is a full day of tournaments scheduled and announced:
Bertie Beetle Tourney
Each fighter has to cut off an opponent’s body part. The purpose is to collect a whole fighter by body part. (Head, body, left leg, right leg, left arm, right arm). Once a needed blow is landed, the bout ends. All opponents continue to fight other bouts (AKA Round Robin) until a fighter collects a whole body. If an opponent is wounded with a body part already collected, the bout continues. If the opponent is killed with a headshot, the bout ends. All forms acceptable.
Roman Style Grand Melee Tournament
All in melee. last two standing combatants will do best two out of three.
Olaf’s Polearm Challenge
Single elimination pole arm tournament. First combatant to score 3 killing blows against an opponent will advance. Arm shots are ignored during this tournament.
William Marshal Tourney
Each fighter is given five coins. Then a Round Robin structure of tourney is held. Each “loss” of a bout requires the fighter to give up one coin to the winner. Once the fighter runs out of coins, they are eliminated from the tourney. The winner is the fighter with all (or a predetermined amount of) the coins. AKA: Ransom Tourney. Round robin or speed tournament depending on amount of combatants
Basic Single Elimination Tournament
All forms are welcome.
The Final Tournament
A double elimination tournament fought in the same fashion as crown tournament.
Each match will be a best 2 out of 3 to advance farther.
The final bout between the top combatants will be the best 3 out of 5 in each of the different forms : weapon and shield, two weapon, great sword, pole arm, spear.
Co-Autocrat Lord Olafr fighting tournament-style. Photo by Master Alexandair
The final tournament will be comprised of the winners from each of the five tournaments as well as a sixth combatant that will be chosen to enter the list based on the deeds and chivalric values demonstrated throughout the tournaments.
Not a fighter? Never fear! Port Oasis has also come up with a Day of Tournaments for the Arts & Sciences crowd which has a little something built in for everyone.
The Water Tournament
Our shire’s heraldry features a boat and water. Our spring event was canceled due to water related issues, but in mid June’s heat we’ll most likely welcome some extra water to cool off. This tournament will honor the many aspects of water in any non-performance medium.
The Period Technology Tournament
Let’s illuminate the populace’s knowledge of period technology! Please share your working pieces, models, blueprints, research and other items of technological interest from anywhere within the known world of our period.
The Handout Tournament
To make up for a lack of class offerings, we are offering the Handout Tournament. This means that those who would have attended your class wont have to decide between two activities, and you don’t have to worry about space or pre-approval from those in charge of the event.
The War Preparations Tournament
For this tournament, please show us any pieces that are related to period wars (such as a specific battle, people involved in a war, etc) but also anything created for warfare in the Modern Middle Ages such as your period camp equipment, garb meant just for war, war meals, fighter kits, photos of handmade pavillions, etc. Please be creative and include any references that you have for this.
The Bardic Tournament
The Bardic Tournament will be judging for a period performance and an original performance. Any performance art (music, story, poem, dance, juggling, etc.) is welcome for either tournament. These will be judged by the populace.
There are Archery and Thrown Weapons Tournaments in the works as well. The full event announcement and more details can be found here.
The Bog would like to welcome you to our event this year.
We’re calling it Throwback 3 Day in the hopes that you’ll appear, to celebrate our past with us, it will be such a treat.
We’ll have marshal activities, scribal arts and thee best food to eat.
Their Majesties will be here, and the Prince and Princess, too.
What better day to meet up with old friends and with new.
Please join the Barony of St. Swithin’s Bog as we celebrate our past at this year’s Throwback 3 Day event. We’re in the mood to reminisce, so bust out that old garb you haven’t worn in years, and bring us your stories and old photographs from Bog events past. Throwback 3 Day will be held Friday July 17th-Sunday July 19th at the New Germany Grove- 1635 New Germany Rd Summerhill, Pa 15958. The site opens on Friday July 17th at 5:00pm and closes promptly at 12:00pm on Sunday. Camping is free and very much encouraged. No shower facilities are available, but please feel free to bring your own amenities. The site is discreetly wet and above ground fires are permitted. No pets allowed on site. The autocrat for this event is THLady Ursula of Rouen (Danielle Duvall, PO Box 661, Shepherdstown, WV 25443). Any questions can be sent to her at 540-287-1748 or Ursula.of.rouen@gmail.com. Co-Autocrat for this event is THLady Rois O’Faye called Rosheen (Tracey Zimmerman) who can be reached at tzimmerman125@gmail.com.
The site fee for this weekend of friends, food and fellowship will be $10 for adults, $5 for children agest 6-17. Children 5 and under are the esteemed guests of Their Excellencies. Checks can be made payable to “SCA, Inc; Barony of St. Swithin’s Bog”. There will be a $5 non-member charge. Reservations can be sent to our reservations clerk Lord Battista (Paul Tedeski at 499 Southmont Blvd Johnstown, Pa 1590)5 at 724-859-7190 or ptedeski@atlanticbb.net. Please, no calls after 8:30 PM. The only good reservation is a paid reservation.
Refreshments will be available Friday night for those camping, as well as breakfast Saturday morning. A Saturday day board is included in the site fee. Feast will be available Saturday evening for $8, and will be limited to the first 64 people. All dietary concerns should be sent to our Head Cook who promises several “Throw Back” treats and a day board that is sure to astound, Mistress AElfra Long (Sherry Meyers) at mistressaelfra@atlanticbb.net.
Numerous activities will be held throughout the day Saturday including: the last leg of the Kingdom A&S Challenge, the 7 Pearls fencing tournament, and the AE 500 tournament. There will be fencing and heavy pick-ups in the afternoon, as well as throwing on the thrown weapons range. Scribes are encouraged to bring their paints and brushes and compete in the 7th Annual Iron Scribe competition.
