In a takeoff of the TV show “Between Two Ferns,” some folks from Lochac are running an online show called “Crowns Between Two Roses” in which Ladies of the Rose interview Royalty from all over the Known World.
Tonight (Friday, Sept. 25) at 7pm EDT, they will be interviewing our own King and Queen, Maynard and Laidain!
I originally found the SCA through the Medieval Reenactment group at SUNY Potsdam in the fall of 1996. They were the college group for the Shire of the Northern Outpost. My first event was UWEKAT (University of the Western East Kingdom at Thescorre, now called the College of Three Ravens) in February 1997. The original plan was to work in the kitchen, helping my friend Nuzha bint Saleem, but really all I did was get in the way and distract her other friend, Kristen. Life happens and I did not participate in SCA events or activities for the next 10 years. I started attending fight practice in Thescorre in 2008.
What is your persona?
Northern European/ Gaelic
Why did you pick this persona?
I picked this persona because of my family ancestry.
Do you have any group or household affiliations?
I am a member of the Thescorre Cauldron Bleu Cooks Guild.
Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA.
I am currently married to Kris, that friend I met a UWEKAT. Although she doesn’t play anymore. We have two very energetic boys. When not at events we go hiking and camping. After 10 years in the food service industry, working every job from washing dishes to training cooks, I needed a change. I decided to return to school and received a degree in automotive technology. I am currently a master technician.
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?
Yes. I am a firm believer of trying everything. I have or am currently working on heavy fighting, archery, thrown weapons, sewing, scribal, heraldry, youth activities, cooking, and teaching.
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.).
I have worked in many kitchens. I have been head cook many times, including Coronation for Timothy and Gabrielle. I have been Thescorre Baronial Champion for Heavy, Archery, and Thrown Weapons. I am currently Thescorre’s Baronial Herald as well as MiT for Youth Combat.
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?
Have fun and learn new things.
What are your goals now?
They are the same but I am currently focused on youth engagement and learning all of the aspects of my new job as Baronial Herald.
If you could accomplish only one thing in the SCA in the next year, what would it be?
That is a difficult question. I would have to go with being the best herald that I can be.
What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?
Try everything. Even if you have no idea how to do it. And if you are still uncertain, find me and we can figure it out together.
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be?
Blacksmithing or garb making.
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?
I don’t really have an award I’m looking forward to. I surprised and grateful when I receive them, but they are not my goal.
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I started in the Shire of Hartstone. My very first event was an Ice Dragon in the Barony of Rhydderich Hael. I remember what I wore. At the time, I was very proud of it, and had no idea how inaccurate it was, lol. It was a black dress from Gypsy Rose, with a red velvet corset. And the first person to come talk to me was Mistress Gillian Llewellyn of Ravenspur. I was in awe of the pageantry and all the merchants! I was hooked.
What is your persona?
14th century French, the wife of a wool merchant, but I do a lot of Viking age, we also participate with another historical group outside of the SCA.
Why did you pick this persona?
It’s kind of a funny story, really. I wanted to register my name, Renata, which I had traced to Eastern Europe. I told the herald I was willing to go with whatever culture we needed to pass the name, as long as it wasn’t French. And it wound up being French. So now I try to wear it with pride.
Do you have any group or household affiliations?
I am a member of House Laughing Fox, and protégé to Master Brian of Leicester as well as apprentice to Master Emrys Eustace hight Broom. I am also a member of the Sisterhood of Bellona, which is kind of a support group a few of us started, with the goal of making events easier on anyone who has anxiety, physical disabilities, sensory overload, etc. We have an online Facebook group that we use to network and for online peer support, and we also have been working on ideas for events; for example, one of our members made arrangements last year to have a quiet space set up at Ice Dragon. You may also see “Bellona Boxes” around at events, which are stocked with activities to help people decompress, cough drops, tea, new mittens, band-aids, (really, almost anything the group can think of to help make an event easier for everyone attending.) If you, or anyone you know, is interesting in being a part of the group, let me know!!
Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA.
Family is the most important aspect of my life. We have a combined family of six, including three adult children; Kit (known as Catalina de Luna in the SCA,) who is currently living in Northshield, Kenzie (known in the SCA as Mara of Hartstone,) who lives at home and helps keep after me at events, and Keagan, who is finishing up a 4 year degree at SUNY Alfred State. Aside from the bipeds, we’ve been rescuing and fostering cats for the last few years, which provide us with endless entertainment. I used to work as a victims’ advocate, and then in addiction recovery; the human services fields are not adequately funded in the US and I found myself working between 70-80 hours a week, with being on-call 24-7 indefinitely. I much prefer working with felines, I have to be honest!
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?
I think most people know me as an artisan and for thrown weapons. At some point in time, I have tinkered with every activity, other than rapier. Sadly, I am not physically able to do some of the things I once did, such as fighting or working in a kitchen for any amount of time. I miss those things, but I have found other venues and methods of maintaining involvement.
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.).
Currently, I am serving a term as the Kingdom Minister for Arts and Sciences. I am just finishing up my first year and it really has been a great experience, thus far. Æthelmearc is blessed to have some amazing, talented artisans and it has been a pleasure working with them! On a smaller scale, I have served as an officer in different capacities for the shires I have lived in.
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?
My first few years, I think I was too overwhelmed by the breadth of activities to really have any tangible goals. It took some time to find my niche and balance. I think the one real goal that I’ve kept throughout my SCA tenure has been to create lasting friendships, and in that, I have absolutely succeeded.
What are your goals now?
Right now, my main focus is on the Kingdom Arts and Sciences and how to best serve our artisans. My predecessors, Master Fridrikr and Mistress Orianna, left big shoes to fill and while I can never live up to their legacy, I do hope to see it flourish. They began the annual Æthelmearc A&S Faire and Queen’s Prize Tourney, as well as the annual Æthelmearc Championship. It is my goal to see those events continue and grow.
If you could accomplish only one thing in the SCA in the next year, what would it be?
I want to win the thrown weapons Glowstick Tourney at Pennsic, lol. Last year, I made it into the final round, the only female left throwing and the only Æthelmearcian left throwing. Master Antonio, my lord, has won it countless times. I really, really want the bragging rights for winning it next year!
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?
Don’t talk yourself out of trying everything you have interest in. You may never know what you wind up excelling at! My first few years, I swore up hill and down I had no interest in scribal. And it wound up being something I loved. I also swore I’d never get into embroidery, and, well, that’s my main arts focus! Let yourself try new things. Don’t look at something and automatically think, “I could never do that,” because ALL of us have started at the beginning and worked our way up by practicing and trying new things. You may not see all of our failures, but fail we did! It’s how you learn and grow.
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be?
Sign heraldry. It would make Court so much easier for those around me because I wouldn’t endlessly be asking, “Wait? Who? What award are they giving??” No, seriously, I think having silent heralds is an AMAZING service to our community and I very much respect what they do and wish I could help!
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?
I would love a Court Baronage just so I had something heavy to hold veils on my head, lol! Actually, I have kind of hit all of my award goals for the moment; I have a Fleur, the grant level award for arts and sciences, and my White Horn, which is the grant level award for thrown weapons. I suppose I am still pursuing my Cornelian, which is the token for courtesy… but the only thing holding me back from that is my own tongue, lol. I don’t really put much thought to other awards, really. As far as honors, the only real goal in that respect is to someday serve on a Queen’s guard, as that is something I have never done.
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Years in the SCA: I spent seven years in, from my college years to the mid-2000’s, then left for a while. Five years ago, I bought a house 20 minutes from Cooper’s Lake, and decided that I couldn’t NOT go to Pennsic, and made my return to the SCA at Pennsic XLIII and have been playing ever since.
Where did you start, what was your first event?
I started when I met a group of college students having a fighter practice on the lawn across from my college dorm. They taught me a few things, shoved me into armor, and mostly, we just practiced against each other. That summer, one of the ringleaders of that group pulls up on my lawn, and says “Get in the car, we’re going to Pennsic.” And so I was sort of kidnapped to Pennsic XXX, and it was my first real SCA event.
What is your persona?
An Athenian Greek mercenary, philosopher, and storyteller.
Why did you pick this persona?
I am a longtime student of Greek battle tactics, strategy, history and mythology. The stories of Homer, and the ancient myths of the Gods of Olympus have always fascinated me, so much that I visited Athens in 2007, and toured many of the old battle and religious sites.
Do you have any group or household affiliations?
I fight with the Borderwatch of Aethelmearc. They are the fighting unit in my local shire of Hunter’s Home, and many of them have been gracious enough to help me raise my fighting game from “monkey with a stick” to “shield-man with some basic survival skills”
Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA.
I’m involved in a number of fraternal, civic, and public speaking organizations, and have contemplated a career in politics. In what can be laughably termed my “spare time”, I’m something of an amateur author and lyricist. I enjoy a good firearms shoot, or deer or bear hunt. I share my home with a wife who is also in the SCA, an old Japanese Chin named Toshi, a young German Shepherd named Tifa, and three cats named Gino, Sophia, and Jinx.
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?
Mostly martial activities, with my primary being heavy fighting. However, rapier also has a place in my heart, as do archery and thrown weapons. I’ve been known to dabble in teaching, having taught several classes, mostly in basic skills like rattan weapon making, helmet padding and strapping, and armor repair. I’m hoping to add a class on exorcisms in period for next Pennsic, but I need to do more research before that one sees the light of day. I’m also something of a storyteller. I can tell a number of Greek myths and legends from rote memory, and if pressed, can come up with an original story told in persona, with a few minutes notice.
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.).
I’ve never held an office in the SCA. Mostly I fight, and when I’m not engaged in martial activities, I try to find places to lend a hand where one is needed. When you don’t know what to do, or have some free time, ask who needs a hand. There’s always some place you could be helping.
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?
When I started in the SCA as a college student, my only goal was to have fun. In the original group I was part of, we played for the better part of seven years, and as far as I know, not one of us was awarded so much as an AOA. Our entire group of college students didn’t know how to write award recommendations, and didn’t care. I’m pretty sure half of us weren’t paying members of the SCA, and the other half only were because we went to enough events that the discount was worth it. We were there to have a good time. Though all of that group, save myself, has drifted away from the society, when I returned, that was still my goal. Awards, honors and goals are great, but, honestly, If I’m not enjoying myself, and enjoying what I do in the SCA, then there is no reason for me to be here.
What are your goals now?
If I can be said to have a goal, it is to improve my martial prowess, to help the SCA grow, in both quantity and quality of members, to push, pull, and drag friends who have expressed an interest to their first practice or event, and to make newcomers feel welcomed, part of things, and wanting to stay, and come back. But above all, to have fun doing those things, and to help others have fun. Also, to stop being lazy, and write more award recommendations more often. As it stands, I average about two a reign, when it should be closer to a dozen.
If you could accomplish only one thing in the SCA in the next year, what would it be?
To get my martial prowess and skill to the level where I am consistently beating the fighters and fencers that were consistently better than I was when I put my armor back on five years ago, or first picked up an SCA rapier four years ago, but don’t practice as often as I do.
What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?
Try as many things as you can, to see what you enjoy doing. But try things several times, and see how much you enjoy certain parts of the hobby, and how many opportunities you have to engage in that hobby, or learn more about it before investing a significant amount of money into it. Because no matter what you enjoy within this hobby, it has the potential to get expensive quickly, and there are plenty of folks willing to let you learn a skill, and decide if its for you before you sink a lot of money into it. So don’t invest heavily in one portion of the hobby until you’re sure about it. Once you know that’s your thing, go for it, within reason. Also, meet people and try things. You never know who might become a friend, or what interest or skill you might learn just by going outside of your comfort zone a little.
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be?
That combination of knowledge, skill, muscle memory, mechanics and awareness that the best fighters and fencers all seem to have mastered. I suppose you’d call it the total package of martial prowess. I may get there someday, but it won’t be today, tomorrow, or next week.
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?
While I would love to eventually receive the White Belt of knighthood, if that can be said to be a “goal” in the SCA, I hope to be able to achieve it by the time I turn 50. That gives me 12 years, though given where my skill stands now, it may take me 12 beyond that, and it may never happen. But having fun in pursuit of the goal is more important. So it’s possible, but as far as skill and prowess are concerned, I have a long way to go, and I understand that.
Please add additional comments as you see fit.
One thing I love to do, and I feel is a big part of my martial improvement is something I’ve adopted called the “six pass education”. When I fight someone I’ve never fought before, or someone I don’t fight on a regular basis at a practice or in pick-ups, I will ask for three passes, so we can see each other a few times. Then I will ask them where I can improve, or what I can do better. If they want the same, I will offer what I see. Then I try to apply that advice to the next three passes. Even if it doesn’t really “take” the first time, (or the second, or the fifteenth), I will often have my A-HA! moment six months later, when I get my brain and body on the same page, make the thing work, and go “That’s what they were talking about.” And you learn some nifty new things that way, and sometimes, pick up a tip in a style you don’t fight very often.
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I started in the Rhydderich Hael at Buffalo State College at the Milton Festival on campus. We were still part of the East Kingdom at the time. My first event was Summer’s End in the Canton of Beau Fleuve.
What is your persona?
My persona is Gaelic, a chieftain’s daughter. I have not developed a specific persona story. I tend to wear clothing from the early periods, 13- 14th century. Maybe someday I will put some time into developing more details.
Why did you pick this persona?
I picked Gaelic/Celtic because I have ancestry in Ireland. (Counties Cork and Clare). I chose the name Maeve because I really liked the stories of Maeve of Connacht, the Celtic queen.
Do you have any group or household affiliations?
I have been a member of the tribe of Tuatha Fieren and am a member of Ravenstar Lance. I am an Equerry to Mistress Shoshido Tora Gozen.
Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA.
I was a Special Education teacher and teacher assistant until I became semi-retired in 2007 due to an injury. I spent 4.5 yrs in the Army National Guard as a Combat Medic as an E-4 (survived basic training at the ripe old age of 29!). I have 2 children, a daughter and son, 21 and 13 yrs old. I live with my husband, son, 2 guinea pigs, and a dog in Akron, NY. I also own a horse, Guinness, and we have spent the past year getting to know each other.
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?
Over the past 30+ yrs I have participated in/tried the following activities: Heavy fighting (spear), fencing, choir, scribal (both calligraphy and illumination) archery, thrown weapons, music(recorder/drum), autocratting Ice Dragon and the first investiture of Æthelmearc, embroidery and sewing (fiber arts). Whew! And, oh, yeah, Equestrian!
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.
I have held the local offices of Danceminister, MOL, and Chatelaine. I am currently Chatelaine for Region 4. I have also been Queen’s Equestrian Champion and have been on the Queen’s guard for Duke Timothy and Duchess Gabrielle’s second reign. I have helped with making garb for 2 reigns. I have taught classes on being a chatelaine, beginning dance, and equestrian activities
When you started in the SCA, what goals did you have?
I didn’t really have goals, per se, but I wanted to try as many things as I could. Which I did. It was fun to meet many different people in the different groups and to go to events outside of my own group.
What are your goals now?
Now? I guess one goal I have is to do what I can to be useful, continue to help new people find their “thing” (I love seeing people I’ve helped succeed), as well as try to find the fun I used to have way back when.
If you could accomplish only one thing in the SCA in the next year, what would it be?
To get to more events than in recent years. There are several events that sound so interesting that I would love to see what they are all about, like, Agincourt, A Stitch in Time, and more equestrian events…
What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA, or if new yourself what question would you ask and who would you ask it of?
My advice would be to try everything to see what you feel comfortable and have fun doing. Don’t be shy, ask lots of questions, there really are not too many wrong ones… Don’t worry about garb in the beginning, take at least a year or two, or three before deciding on joining a household. Help where you can, even if its just moving a chair/table or two. When I was new, I asked about everything (politely) and I asked everyone, whether it was about clothing, activities, etc. (and with true curiosity, people were more than willing to tell me about it or point me to someone who could!).
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be?
That’s funny. I don’t really know… I guess to be really good at something that I have tried/participated in?
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?
Above all else? Not really. There are maybe only two at the moment. I would love to be considered for the Order of the Golden Lance and to be a consort for a Crown Tourney once. It would be an honor to be considered for the Order of the Pelican.
Please add additional comments as you see fit.
Being part of this organization has given me an “extended family” of sorts. Getting to know people from all over the kingdom has been a wonderful thing and I have been getting to know many more. I was able to attend the Society’s 50 yr celebration and met/talked to four of the founding members and met many people in the equestrian community across the nation (and their horses!). Starting out when I did and now are very different because of the development of the internet. Information is easily available and it is easy to purchase anything you want/need. I enjoyed the challenges of adapting/creating things from what was around without spending a “fortune”. It is fantastic that many artisans have developed talents and businesses based on this hobby. I hope that I can continue to participate for many years (decades) to come in whatever capacity I can. If you see me at events, say hello! I love meeting and talking with people (new and not so new). Who knows, you may end up teaching me something new!!
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The very first SCA function I attended was a demo in Ravenswood, West Virginia hosted by the Barony of Blackstone Mountain; but my first “event” was the Tournament of the White Hart hosted by the Shire of Port Oasis in Huntington, WV; which I later had the pleasure of autocratting for its 20th anniversary.
What is your persona?
Sasson is a capriciously aligned and politically engaged man of self-made gentry who provides consultation on affairs of state. He established his estate by working as a courier for conflicting patronages during the 16th century.
Why did you pick this persona?
I find a great deal of inspiration from historical figures such as Niccolo Di Bernardo dei Machiavelli, Sir Francis Walsingham, and Christopher Marlowe. I am fascinated with the history of espionage and duplicitous statecraft and wanted to create a persona that could have served such a clandestine individual.
Do you have any group or household affiliations?
I am not currently affiliated with any households, although I am friends with many who are, and if I were more involved with martial activities I imagine I would be. However, I am a member of the Blue Feather Clan, and am apprenticed to Mistress Anne Grey.
Tell us a little bit about your life outside the SCA. A. I recently married Lord Allene Naughty (Robert Harvell) and moved to the Barony of St Swithin’s Bog (previously from the Shire of Port Oasis). I am the proud parent of two beautiful shelter kitties; Armand a tuxedo boy, and Jambo a golden girl. I am the author of Autumn Rose, a debut fantasy graphic novel series that is published on Tokyo pop’s POP comics app. I have been travelling across the U.S. with my husband since August and I’m looking forward to studio painting when I return home in December.
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?
I participate in A&S competition s and displays, autocrat events, teach classes, create items for largesse, and in the past few years I have become a scribe for our kingdom. I also enjoy archery and thrown weapons.
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience.
I have served the Shire of Port Oasis as youth minister, herald, chronicler, and A&S officer. I’ve represented the Barony of Blackstone Mountain as A&S and Thrown Weapons champion. I’ve served as staff for Sicilians Revenge, Under the Greenwode, and autocratted the Tournament of the White Hart, and I was once selected as the Artisan of the White Hart. I’ve entered twelve A&S projects and taught over twelve hours of classes. I am a companion of the sable anvil, the sycamore, and the keystone.
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?
My first few years in the SCA didn’t have much direction until I met Master Fiachras Bonesetter, who I then aspired to study under. Back then my only goals were to research interesting projects that he would be proud of and to dress as opulently as his Mistress, Anne Greye.
What are your goals now?
I still strive to work on interesting projects and dress for success; but I would definitely love to teach more especially in the realm of scribal arts. I’m also looking into ways to innovate the way I teach and go outside the “class at an event” setting. My big goal now is to make enough quality and quality of scrolls that I become a household name; not for the sake of word fame, but to gauge the impact I hope my service will have.
If you could accomplish only one thing in the SCA in the next year, what would it be?
That is a secret, you’ll have to wait and see.
What advice would you give to a new person in the SCA?
My advice to my past self and to any newcomer is: Don’t be afraid to ask questions or take initiative. I’m a very introverted person so doing very public things like teaching and autocratting was and is still sometimes a scary thing; but pushing my boundaries has really helped me grow as a person. For me, getting the courage to jump in and volunteer has paid dividends and I’m much happier for it. I still need to strive for that courage so it’s advice I’m still following.
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be?
“Anything worth doing, is worth doing badly at first” I love learning and have great patience for failure, so I think I’d rather wake up and find all the tools and supplies I need to learn something new.
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?
I hope to be inducted into the Fleur and Laurel one day; but I have a lot of reverence for the exceptional folks that receive awards for courtesy, character, and service to crown, i.e. the Jewel or Sigil.
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SCA Name: Zachary of Heronter, sometimes called RooRoo
SCA title: Lord/Tiarna
Years in the SCA: 3.5
Where did you start, what was your first event?
Ice Dragon of 2015
What is your persona?
Primarily, a 9th century warrior and landowner from Northern Ireland, though I am experimenting with other times and places as well!
Why did you pick this persona?
Partially due to my love of the Irish branch of my ancestry, and Irish history. The location I chose because it is the region in which my family originally lived, before immigrating to the U.S
Do you have any group or household affiliations?
Being squired to Duke Marcus Eisenwald, I am associated with anyone who is part of his and Countess Margerite Eisenwald’s inner circle/household known as Hus Hygge. I am also protege to Antonio de Luna. But beyond these affiliations, I consider myself a friend to many, many households throughout Æthelmearc, and believe that strangers are just friends I haven’t met yet.
What SCA activities do you or have you participated in?
By far, heavy combat is my main focus, and I’m always seeking to fit in more service. Just secondary to heavy is my passion for historical combat, and I’m an active student of German martial arts from the 14th through 16th centuries, with a primary focus on long sword. But I have and continue to dabble in both rapier and cut and thrust. What folks may not necessarily know is that I have a great love of research in general, and am always seeking to learn more. Also, I technically have an art form I pursue! I am an active, though very amateur bard. Will sing for food or drink!
Tell us a little bit about your SCA experience (jobs, offices, duties, etc.):
I haven’t had a whole lot of official jobs. I’ve done some voice heralding here and there, which I really love, and served as chamberlain while my Knight and Countess held the throne. Beyond that, I wash dishes, carry stuff, and am an MIT.
When you started in the SCA what goals did you have?
I joined the SCA because I wanted the pageantry, joy, and excitement that I associated with things like Arthurian Myth, and wanted to have quests to go on, and to become a Knight someday.
What are your goals now?
None of the goals listed above have changed, I’m still endlessly chasing that rush of beauty, pageantry, and romance, and walking the path of chivalry. But I’ve added a goal to do more service, to help more people, and do good. I wasn’t thinking quite so actively about those things when I joined three years ago.
If you could accomplish only one thing in the SCA in the next year, what would it be?
To be more knightly. Is that answer cheating, since it encompasses multiple things?
If I had to pick one, I’d probably improve my time management skills, so I could better achieve my goal of both fighting and serving like an energizer rabbit.
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?
Don’t feel pressured. Find your thing, take as much time as you need, and it’s okay if you feel out of place. We all did. We love you and we’re happy you’re here, I promise. If new again? I’d ask the same question I did when I went to my first meeting. “How do I start fighting?”
If you magically woke up with an SCA talent you do not already have, what would it be?
Better organizational abilities! I have some ideas for events that I think would be fantastic, but have little idea how to put them together, and keeping multiple balls in the air is difficult for me.
Don’t be modest, what award or honor would you like to receive above all else and why?
Knighthood. It’s the pursuit that brought me here, and a mighty tool to be wielded in the service of good. Everything I want to be is encompassed by what I think of as the chivalric ideal, and becoming worthy is my loftiest dream.
Please add additional comments as you see fit.
I’ll take this opportunity to plug the quest I just began, though in very short form. I’ve stepped into what I’m calling The Quest of the 1,000 Blades, where I meet every challenge set against me, with forms chosen by my opponent (heavy, rapier, archery, chess, anything) giving tokens to all challengers, and asking that they grant me a token in turn if I am victorious. For each New challenger on the journey, I’m donating to Operation Underground Railroad which fights human trafficking, and continuing the quest until I’ve attained 1,000 tokens of victory. A lot more detail and periodic updates can be found at the fb page entitled “The Journey of 1,000 Blades” link here –
Last, I probably want to meet you or talk to you! I’m always rushing around, but come say hi! I need more friends. Whoever is reading this, I hope you have a day filled with joy and beauty.
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Hello! Magnus de Lyons here, Gazette editor and proud inhabitant of the Kingdom of Æthelmearc.
Our Kingdom is a vast and wonderful place filled with many happy faces, but how many of these faces do you see event after event and have never met or maybe wondered more about?
During my reign as Baron of the Rhydderich Hael, we started a Baronial blog. One of the regular features of this blog was a “who-is-who” series of articles that featured members of the Barony. Each article introduced the person and asked brief questions about their SCA history and interests.
My time as Baron of the Hael is ending, and the blog is ending as well, but I thought the idea of the interview articles might have enough merit to expand them to the entire Kingdom. To that end I have decided to continue the project as a series of Gazette article and I am looking for willing participants.
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 submissions I will post articles. If you participated in the Baronial version of this you are still more than welcome to participate in this.
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 one photo to use in the article. Answers with no photos will not be published. We are looking into an online questionnaire and will update that information when and if it comes available.
I hope to hear from as many of you as possible and look forward to learning more about everyone!
In our continuing series of the Gazette’s Officer Interviews, THL Rosalia Iuliana Andre answered the following questions regarding her involvement in the SCA, the siege program and her thoughts on siege activities in the Kingdom.
How long have you been in the SCA and what was your first event?
I joined the SCA in the summer of 2003 when I started at the University of Pittsburgh. My first event was the Coronation of Henri. It didn’t take long to get involved in the College of Cour d’Or where I held both the office of Chatelaine and then Seneschal while I was at university.
What has made you stay?
I came to recreate medieval activities. I stayed for the people. So many of my current friends within and outside the Society came from those first few years.
How did you become interested in siege activities and then became the Kingdom Siege Officer?
I fully blame His Excellency Sir Maghnus de Cnoc an Iora for a harebrained idea of building an arbalest and His Grace Christopher Rawlyns for encouraging my interest in siege. We began with one engine, fairly quickly growing to a battery of three, with a crew of more than a dozen. Recently we added a human powered trebuchet to the mix. I enjoy the effectiveness and the challenge of siege and want to help more people try it out. When the call for letters to the office came out several years ago, I knew that I could really take on that goal and introduce more people to siege.
What is the role of the Kingdom Officer for Siege?
This office is responsible for warranting siege marshals, collecting information about siege activities in the kingdom and passing them on to the Society Deputy for Siege, making sure that Æthelmearc is not in conflict to updates to the siege rules from the Society Deputy for Siege, sharing those updates, and promoting siege activities in the kingdom. The Kingdom Siege Marshal also rotates as the Pennsic Siege Marshal in Charge.
Do you have a general philosophy about your job?
Keep it fun! There are always going to be tedious aspects to any job, but make sure to still have fun doing it.
How would someone get involved in Siege activities?
Start by finding an event that has siege activities, and talk to the people with the siege engines. We always love to talk about what we do. Can’t find an event? Email me and we can brainstorm ways to get you connected with people near you. (She can be contacted at ae.siege@aethelmearc.org )
What is an example of something you think the general populace should know about Siege, but don’t?
Many people think that siege only serves to support fighters in battles. Recently, at Pennsic especially, there have been Siege and Combat Archery only battles. They provide an entirely different challenge! Some of the scenarios require precision, accuracy and finesse, while others demand speed and mobility. They’re great fun!
Æthelmearc Siege at Pennsic
Where do you see the Siege program going in the SCA or the kingdom – Are there any changes coming?
We recently started a Siege Marshal in Training sequence for gentles interested in becoming a marshal but not necessarily having the experience of being an engineer. It’s challenging to grow a marshal community without a solid core of marshals. I also want to encourage a youth tabletop siege component, but am still working out what that would look like.
What is the best part about Siege activities in the SCA?
Bridge battles are the BEST! Also, fighters don’t usually call “light” when they’ve been hit. (They usually call us some other things…)
Anything else that you think people should know?
This fun fact: The official title of Æthelmearc’s Kingdom Siege Marshal is the Brigadier of Siege Weapons.
The Æthelmearc Gazette staff received this missive from Lady Arianna dal Vallone and decided to dig a little deeper into her noble cause to resurrect an inactive kingdom guild.
One of the courses at a feast Lady Arianna prepared at Siege of Glengary last year.
Good and Noble Fellow Citizens of Æthelmearc,
I am in the process of starting up a new and refurbished kingdom cooks guild.
Are you interested in period cooking? Do you want to learn more, share our knowledge and help others do the same? Want to do so in a period way with an actual guild structure to help each other?
Then come join us and help us get this off the ground together. An initial organization and ideas meeting will be held at the Annual Festival of the Passing of the Ice Dragon on Saturday, April 2 from 1 to 2 p.m. (specific room location to be announced later). If you are unable to attend, please feel free to contact me or to join the Æthelmearc Cooks Facebook group for further information.
Thank you,
Lady Arianna dal Vallone
Lady Arianna dal Vallone. Photo by Master Orlando.
How long have you been in the Society and what got you interested in cooking for the society?
I’ve been the SCA about eight years. Cooking actually came in as sort of a secondary thing. I did it mundanely for years and actually went to a votech high school for culinary arts. It was just easy to get into something I already knew. Cooking is a fun thing for me. Doing it in period was a new challenge.
What do you hope to accomplish at this meeting?
My initial ideas for what I hope we can achieve to be discussed at Ice Dragon are:
promotion of cooking and the consumable arts in Æthelmearc;
sharing knowledge among cooking and period cooking researchers;
helping those new to the art in finding resources, learning how to get started etc.;
having a group to go to for help both for educational issues or feast staff-related issues if you do not already have a staff;
being able to prepare refreshments or feasts as a kingdom group, not individuals or smaller groupings;
sharing the workload of the Kingdom Party at Pennsic; and
creating a standard for cooking art or consumable art to be judged in competitions.
Basically, we have a lot of people who cook in this kingdom and I think we could accomplish more together and organized than we do now.
Who do you hope will be able to attend the meeting? Join the guild?
Anyone who loves to cook, wants to learn how to cook in period, already cooks in the SCA, or wants to cook in the SCA. I want people of any and all levels regardless of if you just googled “medieval cooking” today or if you have a laurel for cooking in 14th century Norwegian style. This is supposed to be a supportive and inclusive community for those who enjoy and want to grow in consumable and food arts in Æthelemearc.
If those who are interested can’t make it to the meeting, how can they join in the fun?