In October the Baronial Hospitaller office turns its focus to our biggest demo of the year, Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Faire. Here is what you need to know!
Greetings,
October is here and we are gearing up for our largest demo of the year, Lady of the Lakes Renaissance Fair ! Nov 2,3,4,10,11th
This is an annual fair supported by Lake county schools. The Barony of Darkwater takes part every year by recreating a period village to offer educational fun to everyone. It’s also a great way to introduce a lot of people to the SCA and what we do. Last year we had over 250 people sign up for more information on what we do and how to get involved throughout the Central Florida area.
The demo consists of a working kitchen, a forge, casting, lampworking, dying, games, fiber arts, home skills, show making and so much more. It’s a great event for people to come out and have fun with friends as well as new people to try so many things! By volunteering and signing up to be a part of the village, you gain entrance into the fair for free.
The Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/groups/2142510999355874/
There you will find the signup sheet so that you may sign up for the days you like and the areas that most interest you.
New to the SCA? This is the perfect event for you. Come on out and try new crafts, enjoy the day with new friends. Gold key can be made available to you so that you can participate.
Lady Thyri Bersi
Darkwater Hospitaller
Thursday, October 4, 2018
News from the Knight's Marshal Office
We continue to have two weekly practices in the Barony, one on Wednesday nights from 7-9 pm and one on Sunday afternoons from noon to 3pm. For up to date information please visit the calendar on www.darkwater.org or the facebook group Darkwater Fighters. We have recently accepted Bjorn as the baronial Youth Marshal. We have been pretty consistent getting 1-3 youths at our practices and look to keep that number rising!
Lady of the Lakes is looking for a Marshal to volunteer for Saturday November 10th since the Baronial Marshals have indicated they will be at Crown Lyst that day. If you are interested in helping please let us know at marshal@baronyofdarkwater.org.
The Barony has been requested to build and bring 5 war shields to war this year. If you are interested in helping please let us know at marshal@baronyofdarkwater.org. The plan is to start working on them 10/6.
On 10/19 it is my intention to head to War of the wings where I have confirmed that Munitions grade arms will be there. It is my intention to purchase rattan and bring it back, I will have my van so I can transport full 9' lengths of rattan. If you are interested in getting rattan let me know and we can save you the cost of paying shipping online and they wont ship the 9' lengths.
If there are those in the barony who have 55 gallon plastic barrels they do not need or can get them on the cheap we could use them to help outfit our new fighters in inexpensive armor. Please reach out to us at marshal@baronyofdarkwater.org.
YIS
Honorable Lord Hywel Ap Wyn
Lady of the Lakes is looking for a Marshal to volunteer for Saturday November 10th since the Baronial Marshals have indicated they will be at Crown Lyst that day. If you are interested in helping please let us know at marshal@baronyofdarkwater.org.
The Barony has been requested to build and bring 5 war shields to war this year. If you are interested in helping please let us know at marshal@baronyofdarkwater.org. The plan is to start working on them 10/6.
On 10/19 it is my intention to head to War of the wings where I have confirmed that Munitions grade arms will be there. It is my intention to purchase rattan and bring it back, I will have my van so I can transport full 9' lengths of rattan. If you are interested in getting rattan let me know and we can save you the cost of paying shipping online and they wont ship the 9' lengths.
If there are those in the barony who have 55 gallon plastic barrels they do not need or can get them on the cheap we could use them to help outfit our new fighters in inexpensive armor. Please reach out to us at marshal@baronyofdarkwater.org.
YIS
Honorable Lord Hywel Ap Wyn
Knight's Marshal of Darkwater
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Village Matsuri Baronial Court Report
Following is the court report from Village Matsuri as posted by the Baronial Herald.
~~~~~~~~~
Oyez! Oyez! Greetings from the Trident Keype Pursuivant! Unto our populace I proclaim; the recipients of the Coronet's acclaim!
Asa Dragomir has been named to the Order of the Acorn's Glade!
Christian De Launey has been named to the Order of the Darkwater Defender!
Tetradia De Lace has been named to the Order of the Acorn's Glade!
Inukami Ieyasu has been named to the Order of the Acorn's Glade!
Ilona of Darkwater has been named to the Order of the League of the Hidden Treasure!
Richard Le Wulf has been named to the Order of the Acorn's Glade!
Freyja the Falconer has been named to the Order of the Trident's Keype!
These additional accolades were also bestowed upon well-deserving members of our barony!
Regional Art Sci Winners:
Populace Acclaim - Odette Raine
Coronet's Acclaim - Thyri Bersi (Baronial Champion)
Youth Acclaim - Cole of Darkwater
Crown's Acclaim - Safiya Bint Soleiman
Kindness Awards:
Calpurnia Fortunata
Freyja the Falconer
Ring of Chivalry:
Hywel ap Wyn
Hextilda Marshall
Regional Art Sci Winners:
Populace Acclaim - Odette Raine
Coronet's Acclaim - Thyri Bersi (Baronial Champion)
Youth Acclaim - Cole of Darkwater
Crown's Acclaim - Safiya Bint Soleiman
Kindness Awards:
Calpurnia Fortunata
Freyja the Falconer
Ring of Chivalry:
Hywel ap Wyn
Hextilda Marshall
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Around the Knowne World - Medieval Bread
Greetings!
Today's post comes to you courtesy of the Getty Museum. They shared a great blog post about recreating medieval bread. Enjoy!
Reconstructing Medieval Bread
Today's post comes to you courtesy of the Getty Museum. They shared a great blog post about recreating medieval bread. Enjoy!
Reconstructing Medieval Bread
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Help Wanted - September 2018
The SCA is a volunteer run organization, thus we are looking for a few good volunteers! Monthly we will be posting a list of available positions within the Barony of Darkwater and its cantons.
Position: Revel Coordinator
The position of Revel Coordinator is a deputy of the Baronial Seneschal. Their primary responsibility is to coordinate three revels a year, one for each canton and one centrally located within the Barony proper.
For revels within the cantons, the Coordinator will work with the Canton officers to determine location, time, advertising, and planned activities. They will also facilitate communication between the Baronial officers and the Canton concerning support and funding.
For the centrally located revel, the Coordinator will be responsible for planning the event as well as communicating and coordinating with the Baronial officers concerning details and activities.
After each revel the Coordinator will prepare a brief post-event report about how the event went, any issues, and any suggestions for future events.
Contact: David Archer - Darkwater Seneschal - seneschal@baronyofdarkwater.org
Position: Hospitaller
The welcome wagon of the SCA. Looking for outgoing and friendly person who loves to share the SCA and support those who are just starting their journey. Involves being present at meetings and events to welcome newcomers and answer general SCA questions. Hosting Demos and providing information to the public. Will involve emailing information to new contacts and hosting simple newcomers 101 classes at events. Storage and care of Gold key items (loaner garb) is also involved. A great position for those who are friendly and excited about sharing the SCA.
Contact: Thyri Bersi - Darkwater Hospitaller - Hospitaller@baronyofdarkwater.org
Position: Deputy Youth Marshal
We are looking for a Deputy Youth Marshal for the barony.
Requirements:
Position: Deputy Marshal
We are looking for a Deputy Marshal for the barony.
Requirements:
Position: Guild Leader - Cooking
The Baronial Arts & Sciences officer is looking for individuals who would be interested in becoming a guild leader for Cooking Guild. Guild leaders are responsible for organizing classes and activities for the guild, and facilitating the guild's support of the Barony.
Contact: Lady Ursula Blackpool - Barony of Darkwater Art/Sci Officer - artsci@baronyofdarkwater.org
~~~~~
Position: Revel Coordinator
The position of Revel Coordinator is a deputy of the Baronial Seneschal. Their primary responsibility is to coordinate three revels a year, one for each canton and one centrally located within the Barony proper.
For revels within the cantons, the Coordinator will work with the Canton officers to determine location, time, advertising, and planned activities. They will also facilitate communication between the Baronial officers and the Canton concerning support and funding.
For the centrally located revel, the Coordinator will be responsible for planning the event as well as communicating and coordinating with the Baronial officers concerning details and activities.
After each revel the Coordinator will prepare a brief post-event report about how the event went, any issues, and any suggestions for future events.
Contact: David Archer - Darkwater Seneschal - seneschal@baronyofdarkwater.org
Position: Hospitaller
The welcome wagon of the SCA. Looking for outgoing and friendly person who loves to share the SCA and support those who are just starting their journey. Involves being present at meetings and events to welcome newcomers and answer general SCA questions. Hosting Demos and providing information to the public. Will involve emailing information to new contacts and hosting simple newcomers 101 classes at events. Storage and care of Gold key items (loaner garb) is also involved. A great position for those who are friendly and excited about sharing the SCA.
Contact: Thyri Bersi - Darkwater Hospitaller - Hospitaller@baronyofdarkwater.org
---
Position: Deputy Youth Marshal
We are looking for a Deputy Youth Marshal for the barony.
Requirements:
- You are youth marshal authorized, YCM in the Marshal Authorizations section.
- Your authorization card is current.
- Have a current background check.
- Are a paid member of the SCA.
- Attending the Darkwater Sunday Fighter Practices
- Ensuring the safety of the youths participating at practice
- Ensuring necessary paperwork is filled out for all participants
- Training the youth fighters(This could just be the safety and rules if not an experienced fighter)
- Maintaining youth loaner equipment and bringing to applicable practices
- Reporting quarterly updates to the Barony Marshal
---
Position: Deputy Marshal
We are looking for a Deputy Marshal for the barony.
Requirements:
- Heavy weapons marshal authorized, ACM in the Marshal Authorizations section.
- Your authorization card is current.
- Are a paid member of the SCA.
- Attending the Darkwater fighter practices Wednesday and Sunday
- Ensuring the safety of all participating at practice
- Ensuring necessary paperwork is filled out for all participants
- Reporting quarterly updates to the Barony Marshal
---
Position: Guild Leader - Cooking
The Baronial Arts & Sciences officer is looking for individuals who would be interested in becoming a guild leader for Cooking Guild. Guild leaders are responsible for organizing classes and activities for the guild, and facilitating the guild's support of the Barony.
Contact: Lady Ursula Blackpool - Barony of Darkwater Art/Sci Officer - artsci@baronyofdarkwater.org
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Book Review - The Lions of Al-Rassan
So not only am I writing a blog but this is first e-book I've ever read. Guess I am finally entering the modern middle ages. Next thing you know, I might start checking FB more than once or twice a month. I still prefer to hold and read paper books. However, I've come to the unfortunate conclusion that I can't afford to buy all of the books I'd like to read, nor do I have the space to store them. However, the Orange County Public Library has a lot of books that interest me, and many of them are only available in e-book format. I guess they don't have infinite storage capacity either. This is one of those books that was only available as an e-book.
The Lions of Al-Rassan
Guy Gavriel Kay
(HarperCollins 1995, epub 2012)
Guy Gavriel Kay is one of my favorite authors. I think I may have even reviewed one of his more recent works back when I was doing the review in the Revelry. Kay is a Canadian author of fantasy. One of his earliest works of "high fantasy" is the trilogy The Fionavar Tapestry which may be familiar to some readers. I read this series and found it entertaining but the books of his I most enjoy are the ones where he uses history to inspire his characters and stories. However, rather than writing and out and out historical fiction, he has created an alternate world that is unapologetically inspired by medieval Europe and the Mediterranean world. In Kay, Al-Rassan is a parallel to Andalusia, Esperana is Spain, Ferrieres is France, Batiara is Italy, Sarantium parallel to the Byzantine Empire. He has also created parallels to the three major religions of the middle ages. Thus, the Jaddites who worship the "Sun" are the stand-ins for Christians, the Asharites are the people of the desert parallel to the Muslims, and the the Kindath are the 'Wanderers" and this world's Jews. While there are some few fantasy elements in these historically inspired novels, such as brief encounters with the Fey or old gods, or in this novel a character with an unreliable power of prophecy, the historical is much more important to Kay. By setting his novels in a fantasy setting he has more freedom to address medieval individuals and cultures without having to adhere to specific events. Kay also states in an essay he wrote on this subject (Home and Away 1999, http://brightweavings.ca/ggk/globe/) that he feels he can better relate these themes from the past to his modern readers by means of fantasy.
The Lions of Al-Rassan is inspired by Moorish Spain. In this story, Asharite Caliphate that once dominated the peninsula has broken up into mini-kingdoms and city states while the once native Jaddites, driven into the north and northwest, and themselves split into competing kingdoms, have in the intervening centuries begun to reconquer lost territory and assert rising dominance over the Asharite statelets. Meanwhile the Kindath minority lives on the fringes, given grudging acceptance among the Asharites as long as they pay their taxes and otherwise keep to theirselves. This is the period that modern scholars call the Convivencia, a time when at least among the elite there was some tolerance and respect among the peoples and cultures even amidst their political and religious conflicts. However, the convivencia is not so much enlightened idealism but a function of the fact that in this fractured land no one people or kingdom is powerful enough to assert absolute dominance so that a kind of cultural equilibrium.
Their are four main characters that dominate the story. The first is Rodrigo, the Jaddite captain from one of the Esperanan kingdoms, whom the author bases on the historic El Cid. Due to the politics of Esperana, he has been exiled and he and his company are now serving as mercenaries in the Asharite city-state of Ragosa. Ragosa represents the ideal of the convivencia (perhaps as Cordoba did in the days of the Calipahate...), rich, jaded, a cultured trading city where an Asharite king rules with the assistance of a Kindath chancellor defended by both Asharite and Jaddite mercenaries. Enter Ammar ibn Khairan, assassin and statesman, also exiled after a coup has overthrown the Asharite king he served. These two men, the best and most talented of their peoples, should be natural enemies but are throne together in a doomed friendship that you know at the outset cannot last. The third major character is Jehane bet Ishak, a Kindath physician in service to both Ragosa and the mercenary company, who admires and is admired by these two champions. Finally the fourth major character is Alvar de Pellino. Son of a minor knight living in the rural borderlands, he has grown up on stories of knightly glory, of vanquishing the Asharites and restoring the glory of Jad to Esperana. He is new to Rodrigo's company where he develops a crush on the Kindath doctor and while living amongst the mercenaries in a cosmopolitan city learns that the world is not as black and white as he thought it was.
Outside forces are active that will disrupt this equilibrium. The Jaddite Esperanan kingdoms are growing in power and the petty Asharite states are forced to pay them tribute. In order to hold onto their power, the largest of the Asharite states invite in fundamentalist Asharite tribesmen from across the straits from Al-Rassan. These tribesmen, living in the deserts and mountains, consider their own fellow Asharites pampered and decadent and their is no room in their faith for unbelievers. Meanwhile, in the other Jaddite kingdoms to the north of Esperana, a crusade is being organized to recapture the Jaddite holy land in the east from the Asharites. Priests from Ferrieres come to encourage the Esperanan kings to cease their own conflicts and fight their common Asharite enemy in their own midst. The kings of Esperana, being more pragmatic than their fellow religious from the north, are suspicious of these priests as they realize it is one thing to conquer in the name of religion and another thing to rebuild and rule after the conquest is complete. As the story progresses, their are pogroms against the Kindath, massacres by both Asharites and Jaddites, and the eventual passing of convivencia. Meanwhile our heroes attempt to maintain friendships amidst divided loyalties of kingdom and faith.
The Lions of Al-Rassan
Guy Gavriel Kay
(HarperCollins 1995, epub 2012)
Guy Gavriel Kay is one of my favorite authors. I think I may have even reviewed one of his more recent works back when I was doing the review in the Revelry. Kay is a Canadian author of fantasy. One of his earliest works of "high fantasy" is the trilogy The Fionavar Tapestry which may be familiar to some readers. I read this series and found it entertaining but the books of his I most enjoy are the ones where he uses history to inspire his characters and stories. However, rather than writing and out and out historical fiction, he has created an alternate world that is unapologetically inspired by medieval Europe and the Mediterranean world. In Kay, Al-Rassan is a parallel to Andalusia, Esperana is Spain, Ferrieres is France, Batiara is Italy, Sarantium parallel to the Byzantine Empire. He has also created parallels to the three major religions of the middle ages. Thus, the Jaddites who worship the "Sun" are the stand-ins for Christians, the Asharites are the people of the desert parallel to the Muslims, and the the Kindath are the 'Wanderers" and this world's Jews. While there are some few fantasy elements in these historically inspired novels, such as brief encounters with the Fey or old gods, or in this novel a character with an unreliable power of prophecy, the historical is much more important to Kay. By setting his novels in a fantasy setting he has more freedom to address medieval individuals and cultures without having to adhere to specific events. Kay also states in an essay he wrote on this subject (Home and Away 1999, http://brightweavings.ca/ggk/globe/) that he feels he can better relate these themes from the past to his modern readers by means of fantasy.
The Lions of Al-Rassan is inspired by Moorish Spain. In this story, Asharite Caliphate that once dominated the peninsula has broken up into mini-kingdoms and city states while the once native Jaddites, driven into the north and northwest, and themselves split into competing kingdoms, have in the intervening centuries begun to reconquer lost territory and assert rising dominance over the Asharite statelets. Meanwhile the Kindath minority lives on the fringes, given grudging acceptance among the Asharites as long as they pay their taxes and otherwise keep to theirselves. This is the period that modern scholars call the Convivencia, a time when at least among the elite there was some tolerance and respect among the peoples and cultures even amidst their political and religious conflicts. However, the convivencia is not so much enlightened idealism but a function of the fact that in this fractured land no one people or kingdom is powerful enough to assert absolute dominance so that a kind of cultural equilibrium.
Their are four main characters that dominate the story. The first is Rodrigo, the Jaddite captain from one of the Esperanan kingdoms, whom the author bases on the historic El Cid. Due to the politics of Esperana, he has been exiled and he and his company are now serving as mercenaries in the Asharite city-state of Ragosa. Ragosa represents the ideal of the convivencia (perhaps as Cordoba did in the days of the Calipahate...), rich, jaded, a cultured trading city where an Asharite king rules with the assistance of a Kindath chancellor defended by both Asharite and Jaddite mercenaries. Enter Ammar ibn Khairan, assassin and statesman, also exiled after a coup has overthrown the Asharite king he served. These two men, the best and most talented of their peoples, should be natural enemies but are throne together in a doomed friendship that you know at the outset cannot last. The third major character is Jehane bet Ishak, a Kindath physician in service to both Ragosa and the mercenary company, who admires and is admired by these two champions. Finally the fourth major character is Alvar de Pellino. Son of a minor knight living in the rural borderlands, he has grown up on stories of knightly glory, of vanquishing the Asharites and restoring the glory of Jad to Esperana. He is new to Rodrigo's company where he develops a crush on the Kindath doctor and while living amongst the mercenaries in a cosmopolitan city learns that the world is not as black and white as he thought it was.
Outside forces are active that will disrupt this equilibrium. The Jaddite Esperanan kingdoms are growing in power and the petty Asharite states are forced to pay them tribute. In order to hold onto their power, the largest of the Asharite states invite in fundamentalist Asharite tribesmen from across the straits from Al-Rassan. These tribesmen, living in the deserts and mountains, consider their own fellow Asharites pampered and decadent and their is no room in their faith for unbelievers. Meanwhile, in the other Jaddite kingdoms to the north of Esperana, a crusade is being organized to recapture the Jaddite holy land in the east from the Asharites. Priests from Ferrieres come to encourage the Esperanan kings to cease their own conflicts and fight their common Asharite enemy in their own midst. The kings of Esperana, being more pragmatic than their fellow religious from the north, are suspicious of these priests as they realize it is one thing to conquer in the name of religion and another thing to rebuild and rule after the conquest is complete. As the story progresses, their are pogroms against the Kindath, massacres by both Asharites and Jaddites, and the eventual passing of convivencia. Meanwhile our heroes attempt to maintain friendships amidst divided loyalties of kingdom and faith.
Monday, August 20, 2018
Around the Knowne World
Greetings good gentles! Today I bring to you a new series that we are going to try out. Our Society spans the globe, with amazing SCAdians in all sorts of places. Many have created blogs to share information, tips, and their adventures. This series will focus on sharing great posts from other blogs, so that we can all have a peek into what others are doing around the world. If you would like to recommend a blog that you follow, please email a link to trident-times@baronyofdarkwater.org.
Today's post comes to you from The Compleatly Dressed Anachronist. Master Edyth Miller has written a lovely article on how to continue participating and investing in your game when the budget has other ideas. Enjoy!
The Compleatly Dressed Anachronist - How to Invest in Your Medieval Recreation When You Are Broke
Today's post comes to you from The Compleatly Dressed Anachronist. Master Edyth Miller has written a lovely article on how to continue participating and investing in your game when the budget has other ideas. Enjoy!
The Compleatly Dressed Anachronist - How to Invest in Your Medieval Recreation When You Are Broke
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)