Her Majesty Juliana calls those fencers in the kingdom to her home Shire of Misty Highlands to compete for the honor of standing as her champion.
All are invited to come join the galleries as our Kingdom’s fencers display their prowess and skill as the vie to stand with that honor!
The next Queen’s Rapier Championship will be hosted by the Shire of Misty Highlands on January 29, 2022 at Robert C. Byrd High School, 1 Eagle Way, Clarksburg, WV, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This is a royal progress event
Entrants in a past Queen’s Rapier Tournament process before the Queen. Photo by Baroness Aine ny Allane.
. Site is dry, no flames are allowed. The site also is not wheelchair accessible and only service animals are allowed (no pets).
The autocrat for the day is Baron Arias Beltran del Valle. Contact him for any questions.
The site fee for the day is $10 for each gentle, and those 17 and under are welcome as guests of the Shire. Checks can be made payable at the door to SCA WV, Inc. – Shire of Misty Highlands.
QRC and the Shire of Misty Highlands will follow all SCA COVID guidelines in effect on the day of the event.
We look forward to welcoming all to our Shire once again!
See the event page on Facebook here and the official announcement here.
This is a PSA (Po Service Announcement) from Steel Therapy:
New Year’s Eve. You’ve stuffed yourself full. You’ve dealt with family and friends, partied (or drunk, or danced, read, napped, whatever) all the way to midnight, and then snogged anyone within range…
…and now, what you really need is to stab someone.. Or many someones… Luckily, there is an opportunity…
Donnan has a Party… Cyrus has an Academy… Po has … New Year’s Resolutions! “Fence MORE! More fencing is MORE FENCING!”
As has become the tradition, we’ll give the New Year 12 hours head start and then come after it, smiling with rapiers in hand! We’ll have space for fencing and/or rattan, and tables for camaraderie. I’m sure the Endless Voices will be singing in the corner somewhere. There will be time for tourneys and pickups, games and schmoozing, and who knows what else! (Steel Therapy, as always, is already conspiring tourney ideas…)
This is an open, sanctioned event. While there will be no charge, we’ll ask folks to help as we pass the hat.
Due to COVID restrictions, masks will be required. Please be prepared to show proof of vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours of event. We will not be doing a potluck but there will be multiple food options available in the mall adjoining.
We’ll be starting at noon on January 1, 2022 going through 8:00 pm at:
Ovation Theatre Performance Space in the old Sears building in the Wyoming Valley Mall
29 Wyoming Valley Mall
Wilkes Barre, PA 18702
Autocrat for this event is Master Po Silvertop, email here.
See Facebook page here and official event announcement here.
Our series of 5 questions for members of the Æthelmearc Order of Defense continues this week with Master Illadore de Bedagrayne.
1. Of all the things you could have done in the Society , why did you choose fencing?
I had been in the SCA for about 13 years when I first started and was a cook and did other A&S activities. However, I decided I wanted to try some more physical activity. At first, I was vaguely interested in fencing – a number of friends of mine had started fencing, and I thought it looked like fun. So, I went to a practice in the BMDL.
The first time I went, it was okay and I did some drills with the marshals because they didn’t have loaner equipment that fit me. The next week, I came back and they had found a doublet my size – and I got to actually stab someone for the first time. Then, they did melee practice, and I was *hooked* from that moment on.
2. Why do you still fence?
I deeply love it. I love the people, I love the history of it, I love that there is always something new to learn, and I deeply love competition. All of Æthelmearc is amazing and its rapier community doubly so. I also love the game of fencing. It is a physical game, sure, but it is also a deeply mental one. I also greatly enjoy talking about the mental aspect of fencing with people too.
3. If you could go back in time and give the “new” you advice what would it be?
Don’t buy your first sword just because it’s pretty. I still have it. It’s practically a piece of rebar and I never use it.
4. What is your most memorable moment as a fencer?
One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given was “fight the fight in front of you.” Not only was it the perfect advice in the moment (i.e., don’t worry about winning the tourney, just focus on winning against your current opponent), it was great life advice too. I used it, practically daily, as a mantra when I was working on my master’s thesis.
5. If you were to start all over again would you do anything different?
No. Other than win the lottery so I could go fence more. Even the dumb things I have done were good learning experiences for me.
Our series of 5 questions for members of the Æthelmearc Order of Defense continues this week with Master Po Silvertop.
1. Of all the things you could have done in the Society, why did you choose fencing?
For me it was the other way around, the SCA didn’t lead me to fencing, fencing led me to the SCA.
I first held a fencing blade (an Olympic sabre) at a performing arts camp before I was even in my teens. I was already an avid science fiction and fantasy reader, in addition to loving Dumas, Scaramouche, and other swashbuckling novels and movies. I started sport sabre and stage combat that summer and continued them for years, adding foil and epee along the way. Years later, I encountered local SCAdian fencers while I was choreographing the Scottish Tragedy. They invited me to the local practice after they joined the theatrical production.
2. Why do you still fence?
I still very much enjoy it. It makes my heart sing. Not just the ‘tactical chess’ aspect, but the ‘poetry in motion’ aspect, and the ‘zen mindset’ aspect. Plus I’ve always loved the camaraderie of the community.
3. If you could go back in time and give the “new” you advice what would it be?
Hmmm… “Enjoy the moment” more… Overthink less.
4. What is your most memorable moment as a fencer?
Oh my… I’ve been blessed with a staggering number of personally memorable moments both on and adjacent to the rapier field… Great bouts at practices and events, fun tourney finishes, wonderful teachers and students, unexpected court ambushes, the Pennsic tourneys… Even being the “Susan Lucci of the fencing community”… How can I narrow it down to one?
5. If you were to start all over again would you do anything different?
No, I don’t think so… Even the missteps were educational (and entertaining) – and helped me to become the SCAdian I am today.
Our series of 5 questions for members of the Æthelmearc Order of Defense continues with Master Fredeburg von Katzenellenbogen:
1. Of all the things you could have done in the Society, why did you choose fencing?
I joined the society because I enjoyed archery and arts. My husband said fencing looked interesting, so we decided to try that out. Physical limitations made it much more appealing than rattan fighting and when we moved to Æthelmearc we found a great community of friends.
2. Why do you still fence?
Honestly, right now I don’t feel like I do. I hope to have time and a conducive environment to do so again. Before that, I kept fighting because sparring with a friend is fun. Fighting my spouse is one of our favorite couple’s activities.
3. If you could go back in time and give the “new” you advice what would it be?
“New” me could give “now” me a lot of advice. Advice I would give is take advantage of all that time and resources you have, but that is pretty much what “new” me did.
4. What is your most memorable moment as a fencer?
Winning Seven Pearls. It was the first time all of that advice really made sense and I put it into practice. “Fight the fight in front of you.” “Don’t play with your food.” “Winning IS fun.”
5. If you were to start all over again would you do anything different?
This week starts a new interview series courtesy of Master Quinn Kerr:
“The past year has left many of us with a lot of time on our hands. Time to finish those projects we have meaning to get to, finally try some of those drills or pell work we have been avoiding etc. It is also a great time to reflect on why we do what we do. And why do we love it so much. Recently some questions were posed to the members of the Order of Defense (the rapier peerage). Their answers are both fun and enlightening. So, we begin a series called “5 Questions for a Member of the Order of Defense” Enjoy!”
Master Eric Grenier de Labarre, with his wife Baroness Katja Davidova Orlova Khazarina, after his elevation ceremony to the Order of Defense, 2017.
This week’s answers are from Baron Master Eric Grenier de Labarre, nicknamed Grendel.
1. Of all the things you could have done in the Society, why did you choose fencing?
When I first got involved in the SCA, back in the middle 90s, I tried out a bunch of different activities, but fencing was what really clicked for me.
Partly, I just really enjoyed the activity of fencing right from the start; but also, I really felt comfortable in the fencing community. I found the standard “peerage track” SCA activities unwelcoming of a casual new person, but the fencing community really opened up and welcomed me, and I quickly made a small army of really good friends, many of whom I am still close to today. Fencing wasn’t a peerage track activity in those days, so there was kind of a “band of misfits and ne’er-do-wells” atmosphere when a bunch of SCA fencers got together to eat and drink and talk.
2. Why do you still fence?
I still enjoy the activity of fencing itself, although I’m reaching the age where I think my best fights may be behind me. But I’m still determined to holding up the “fencing banner” here in the Barony of Thescorre where I live, until someone comes along to take over from me.
As a White Scarf and member of the Order of Defense, I feel a responsibility to stay active and aware of what is going on in fencing, to provide whatever teaching and service I can offer, and to try to preserve the ultra-inclusive culture that drew me into the fencing community in the first place. Now that we are a peerage activity, there is the danger that we could start to become exclusive, in ways that I have observed a lot of peerage communities in many kingdoms do. I think that anyone who wants to participate in fencing should be welcomed and supported, regardless of their skill level, gender, age, body type, physical capability, persona, SCA affiliations, awards, etc.
3. If you could go back in time and give the “new” you advice what would it be?
Hmmm. I guess I would just tell Past Me that he’s on the right track. There is not too many things from that time I regret greatly. Maybe just tell him not to sell that Apple stock.
4. What is your most memorable moment as a fencer?
It’s probably a three-way tie: the first time I won Queen’s Rapier Championship, my elevation to the White Scarf, and my elevation to the MOD. Each one was a surprise at that moment. I also cherish my memory of seeing the Order of the White Scarf of AEthelmearc opened by King Yngvar and Queen Caryl at Harvest Raids; it inspired everything that came after for me.
5. If you were to start all over again would you do anything different?
Once we can resume fencing, I will be running our internal experiment regarding the use of rubber tipped fencing spears.
I scheduled an open Q&A meeting so that anyone that is interested in either joining the experiment, or just learning about what we will be doing can log in and find out what we are doing.
If anyone has any questions that they would like to ask ahead of time, please feel free to direct them to me directly at shinigamikirin@gmail.com. Otherwise the marshals that are my regional point people and I will be available during the meeting to answer any questions as they are asked.
One tap mobile
+19292056099,,92778775479# US (New York)
+13126266799,,92778775479# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
Due to the extenuating circumstances at this time, the Known World Rapier and Costuming Symposium has been postponed indefinitely. We would like to thank everyone who has shared their time and talents to bring us this far and also, please know we will certainly be hosting a Known World event in the future. Until then, please take care and stay safe!
As a reminder: This is a dry site and there will be some boy scouts on site, so violating that rule will get us in real trouble.
There are a few spaces left in one of the cabins. The cabin rate is $55 for up to eight people (in addition to the site fee for each individual). Right now, I have four people confirmed that are willing to share the cost. So there is room for four more and it will get cheaper with each person added.
We’ve added even more classes this year! Here is the most recent list of classes for the event this weekend. As always, a full list of classes with descriptions will be available on our website, www.angelskeep.net.
Hoping to see lots of you on March 17, 2018!
All classes are one hour long unless otherwise noted.
Understanding tournament trees – Baroness Ekatarina Volkvolva
Parchment 101 – THL Abigail Kelhoge (2 hours)
WWDD – What Would Durer Do? An Intro to Fine Line Pen Work – Lady Gillian McGill
WWDD Studio – Lady Gillian McGill
Chain Stitch Bookbinding: How to Make a Simple Book – Lady Ulfgrimma Tannadottir
At a Loss for Words – Baroness Ekaterina Volkvolva
Faux Fonts and the Technique of Their Development – Master Jon Blaecston
Making a Quill Pen – THL Robert l’Etourdi 2 Hours
Demystifying the Ames Lettering Guide, or How to Line a Scroll the Easy Way – THL Juliana Stafford
A Beginner’s Introduction to the Swetnam Style of Fence – Don Michael Gladwyne
Building Better Scroll Blanks – THL Abigail Kelhoge
From Don Jorundr hinn rotinn:
