the shadow knows - kingdom of ansteorrashadowlands.ansteorra.org/shadow/2016/16-11_shadow.pdf ·...

THE SHADOW KNOWS

Newsletter of the Shire of the Shadowlands Capital of Ansteorra

AS LI November 2016

The Crown of Ansteorra: Their Stellar Majesties

King Jason Dryfesdale Queen Margherita de Mantua

[email protected]

Shire of the Shadowlands 2 The Shadow Knows

News this Month After a few days of fall, Indian summer is back, though we hope not for too long. Fall events are in full swing and we are all taking advantage of the sunny weather, even if it is not as cool as we’d like. Chivalric has added a practice coinciding with rapier’s Wednesday evening practice in Bee Creek Park. Chivalric does still meet on Sundays in Caldwell, but somewhat sporadically depending on availability; contact Guillaume to be sure. Archery and thrown weapons have moved back to 12 PM on Sundays. As it cools down, this should become pleasant, but for now it is still quite warm. Bring water! We hope to accommodate some who could not make the earlier time, and we may go for food afterwards. Dance, charter painting, and metals guild all have meetings planned. Make sure to check the calendar and the Facebook group in case anything unexpected comes up. Brewing guild does not have a meeting planned, but was deciding on the next project. Contact Nicholas if you would like to brew. Kaitlyn is hosting another Krown Krafty Day on the 8th. The last one was a success; plan to help with this one, too! A newcomer meeting on award structure and etiquette will be held on the 15th. This one isn’t just for the newbies. Anyone who still forgets what to call the people in which hats should attend – I know I will! BAM is a Shire Goes To. If you need gear of any kind, talk to Lady Livia or the requisite marshal to get it before the event.

Where in the Shire are the Shadowlanders?

To locate activities in the Shadowlands, visit www.shadowlands.ansteorra.org. On the home page, under the heading “Map,” click the link (shockingly also titled MAP). This will open up a customized Google map, with “pins” for many Shadowlanders’ homes. Use the list on the left to find the location you’re looking for. You can also add your own marker: click on the appropriate button at the top of the page.

What is a “Shire Goes To” Event? These are events which many Shadowlanders will likely attend. They are usually nearby, and are preapproved for the use of loaner equipment of all types. Depending on the event, Shadowlands may also set up a group space. Contact Lady Livia, the Hospitaler, if you have questions.

For the most current information on all activities, always check the Shire calendar at: http://shadowlands.ansteorra.org/index.php#calendar


Activities in the Shire

Weekly Happenings

Chivalric Practice Wednesday evenings, 7 PM Bee Creek Park Sunday mornings, 11 AM, Davidson Creek Park, Caldwell: 11/12 only [email protected] Come learn armored combat! Loaner equipment is available. Bring water, men wear a cup, wear closed-toed shoes; long sleeves and pants strongly encouraged.

Rapier Practice Wednesday evenings, 7:30 PM Bee Creek Park [email protected] Come learn late-period light combat techniques. Loaner equipment is available. Bring water, men wear a cup; wear long sleeves, pants, socks that cover ankles, and close-toed shoes.

Archery Practice Sundays 12-2 PM: Note new time Austin’s Colony Park [email protected] Come try target archery! Loaner equipment available. Bring water and sunscreen.

Thrown Weapons Practice Sundays 12-2 PM: Note new time Austin’s Colony Park [email protected] Come throw sharp objects! Loaner knives and axes available. Bring water and wear close-toed shoes. Archery begins directly afterwards.

Monthly Happenings

Populace Meeting 1st Tuesday, 7 PM Room 1035, Emerging Technologies Building, TAMU campus [email protected] This is the monthly meeting where decisions and plans are made. Those who show up have input into what we do during the month (even new people)!

Renaissance Dance Practice 4th Wednesday, 6:30-9 PM Ringer Library, 1818 Harvey Mitchell Pkwy Contact Morina Come learn period group dances! Guys and gals welcome. NO dance experience or skill needed!

Charter Painting 2nd and 4th Fridays, 7-10 PM Asta and Ashley’s Apartment 3628 S Hampton Ct. #111 Come paint illuminations on award scrolls. No experience needed; supplies provided.

Metals Guild Saturday 11/12, 10 AM – 2 PM Josef and Morina’s House Contact Joe Come play with metal. Wear natural fibers, and closed-toed shoes that are not synthetic. Bring leather work gloves if you have.


Special Activities

Newcomer Meeting: Etiquette and Rank in the SCA November 15, 7 PM Room 1035, Emerging Technologies Building, TAMU campus [email protected] Kaitlyn will help us become less confused about SCA award structures, and will give tips on etiquette in general as well as when dealing with “brass hats.”

Kaitlyn’s Krown Krafty Day Tuesday, November 8, 7-10 PM Kaitlyn and Rhodri’s House 1215 Harrisonburg Ln Help make decorations and other projects for January crown tourney.

Shire Goes To: War of the Rams (BAM) November 17-20 Bordermarch Autumn Melees/War of the Rams is a well-attended event the weekend before Thanksgiving. It is well known for its melee events, but there are also classes, A&S, merchants, equestrian, archery, and more.


Creating a Persona By Kyria Anna Maleine

Persona development need not intimidate. Each person has the basic skills needed to develop

their own unique persona for playing in the SCA already in them! The real trick is to discover

yourself.

We have discussed starting points in the past. You know, the usual, dress, historical period,

historical figure, language, culture, geographic area, etc.

Now it is time to apply that to yourself. Let’s be concrete.

First, you need to write down the ONE thing you find the most awesome in the SCA. Go

ahead, you can do this, we’ll wait.

Done? Good.

Are you doing that thing yet? If not, then you need to get started!

Go to the practice and use the loaner gear. Go to the charter painting and help color in a scroll.

Go to the brewing guild and learn to make your own. Go to dance and break in those dance shoes!

Ask someone to teach you how to use a loom. Go to the library and grab a book on that person or

place you always wanted to know more about.

Getting going on the doing is a huge step in persona development.

WHY? Well, glad you asked.

Getting going on the doing tells you something about who you are in the SCA.

Did you grab a book? Or did you jump into charter painting? Right off, you are either a person

who begins with research or a person who begins with creation. Either will do the job.

A person who begins by studying the many possible cultures will eventually find one they like

more than the others, and so they will decide to create a persona to fit their studies.

A person who begins by diving into fighter practice or taking a class on the use of a loom, will

likely find an activity that they especially love and begin persona building there.

Let’s begin with activities available in our shire.

Assuming you have an activity you are doing already. Each week you go and love doing it

even more.

What portion of the wide time period covered by the SCA fits that activity? Which cultures

have versions of that activity?

Do you just count the days until Rapier practice? That is late period, but several cultures were

doing it – which is yours?


Do you don the heavy armor and swing a heavy sword, and can hardly wait until you get to

buy your own helmet? Well, you are early and mid-period! Have you done any reading on types of

helmets? Styles of armor? These things go along with that fighting you are already doing.

So, if you dream of the swish of the rapier or the clang of sword on metal, you can use that

starting point for your persona.

The rapier fighter isn’t going to be a Varangian guard in the service of Emperor Basil II. But a

Viking persona can do so and even get to trim their dressy garb with a nice Byzantine brocade.

Are you into hammering on hot metal to make useful things? Imagine yourself back in time, an

essential member of society, creating objects of value. What might your persona wear? What colors?

Are you making Viking drops for site tokens? Does it make you want to keep going and make

really awesome stuff to wear? Well, this is another starting point-- you are doing something you love,

so let it guide you in developing your persona.

Begin with yourself, what you like doing, and build from there.


From the Officers

From the Minister of Arts and Sciences: Last month we held a Newcomers A&S show and tell with two newcomers attending. Charter painting met twice, with 2 - 3 in attendance. Metalworking met once. Dance was canceled due to poor attendance. Two project nights were held in preparation for Winter Crown.

In service,

Paedric

From the Chronicler: This month, Anna gave us an excellent article with some thoughts on persona development. Thanks to her for that! Nina’s printer is still in use for one more month, but we will shortly be transitioning to printing that is not free. Many thanks to her for her ink. Enjoy the color pictures while they’re still here!

In service,

Miriel

From the Historian: In October did Angie of the Shadowlands win her age bracket in a youth bardic competition in Gate's Edge. Also in October did Jeremiah of the Pale Dragons win the Tournament of the King's Hope at Coronation.

In service,

Paedric

From the Treasurer: Shire of the Shadowlands September 28, 2016

Financial Committee Meeting Minutes

Rapier and Chivalric marshals absent; quorum achieved for vote. Items voted on:

Use of rapier loaner gear at Bryn Gwlad Fall Baronial All Approved


Shadowlands’ Officers Seneschal: Honorable Lady Isabelot di Firenze

[Modern name: Anna Lichorad]

The Seneschal acts as the local business manager for the group, helps facilitate answers to SCA questions, schedules Shire activities, and helps keep the group on course. Contact at: [email protected] Honorable Lady Isabelot di Firenze is 13th century French lady from Burgundy. Her father died with no male heirs but was enlightened and left his lands to his only daughter to manage. She enjoys cooking, managing the household accounts, dance and shooting archery.

Knight Marshal: Lord Guillaume of Shadowlands [Modern name: Mark Dinhobl]

The Knight Marshal is in charge of the Chivalric activities for the shire. This includes heavy fighting, armor, developing safe habits while fighting, and learning about chivalry (which is after all, one of the major reasons why anyone would choose to join our society). Contact at [email protected] or talk to the brown curly-haired kid who speaks way too fast.

Guillaume is a 14th century French nobleman who enjoys dying in combat and clumsily dancing to flirt with the finer gender at Gulf Wars. He has participated primarily in Shadowlands (College Station) and Stargate-Loch (Houston/Clear Lake) areas. Mundanely Mark Dinhobl is (hopefully) on his last year as an Economics major. Outside of the SCA, he enjoys procrastinating by playing video games (recently Overwatch/Paradox Games), procrastinating by watching far too much anime, and procrastinating by ranting about random topics.

Rapier Marshal: Don Stephen Blakeley (Staltus) [Modern name: Steve Herring]

The Rapier Marshal over-sees all aspects of Rapier fighting. This includes helping each participant develop or acquire his or her own gear (he also carries the loaner gear to practices for new participants). The Rapier Marshal’s job is also to ensure that fighters obey the safety rules of the Kingdom and are not presenting a danger to themselves or others. In light of that, go to http://rapier.ansteorra.org and read the current Rapier Rules for Ansteorra. It is CRUCIAL that all the fighters make themselves intimately familiar with these rules. Fun must be done safely as possible! Contact at: [email protected]

Don Stephen Blakeley, also called STALTUS, is an edgy blade, certainly sharp enough for the task of teaching the safe handling of pointy objects; Lord Stephen instructs all comers in the duck and thrust of rapier fighting. He is the proud holder of the Sable Thistle for Juggling, Sable Talon, and winner of Queens Rapier. Enjoy learning from this fine swordsman!

Herald: Lord Gaius Artorius Germanus

Heralds make announcements and help members work out their names and devices. They will suggest sources for documenting your chosen name to period and also help you fill out the applications to register those names and devices. Contact at: [email protected] Gaius Artorius Germanus is a 2nd century Roman legionary. He stationed in Britain. Artorius enjoys bardic, archery, heavy fighting and heraldry.


Historian: Honorable Lord Paedric O’Mullan [Modern name: Pat Mullins]

The historian keeps track of the old tales of past members, adventures and misadventures of the populace of the Shire of the Shadowlands. He keeps documents, photos and other items of interest so they can be placed on display to illustrate the long and honorable history of this Shire. Contact at: [email protected] or 979-575-0670

Honorable Lord Pædric O’Mullan is a late Elizabethan street performer and sometime Shakespearean actor. He has, in the past, been a jester, but now he’s unemployed, so he is nobody’s fool. He usually wears some combination of red, blue, and/or yellow, the colors of his arms. Pædric is Historian for the Shire of the Shadowlands and holder of a Star of Merit. His interests include (but are not limited to) Bardic (performance arts), Heraldry, calligraphy and illumination, pewter casting and drumming.

Archery Marshal: Mistress Kaitlyn McKenna

[Modern name: Robbin Foster] The Archery Marshal supervises the safety of all official shire archery activities, as well as helping new archers get started with archery. Marshal training is currently happening. If you are interested in target archery or combat archery, please contact [email protected]. Loaner gear is available at practice. Mistress (or Baroness) Kaitlyn McKenna is a 15th Century Burgundian lady trapped in marriage with an old Welsh knight. She is recognized in the Arts and Sciences by the Order of Laurel and in many officer positions, but especially as an Exchequer, by the Order of the Pelican. Her interests include costuming, weaving, fiber arts, dance, archery, and anything to do with the 15th century. Kaitlyn is a master instigator, inspiring and helping others to achieve their own goals. Look for a friendly lady with very nice garb. Kaitlyn McKenna participates in target and combat archery. She can help you make bow strings, bolts, arrows, leather chivalric armor, and general leather working.

Exchequer: Lady Morina O'Donovan [Modern name: Renee Bolduk]

The Exchequer is treasurer and keeps the ledger of expenses up-to-date and in agreement with the bank statements, sends reports monthly, quarterly, and yearly to the Regional Exchequer, runs all financial committee meetings(typically after Populace meetings), and maintains an up-to-date inventory list including that which is available for loan. To borrow inventory (usually armor or garb) for an event, contact the Hospitaler and then the Exchequer to sign it out. Contact at: [email protected] Lady Morina O'Donovan is an Irish woman from the mid-14th century. She enjoys music, dance, cooking, garbing, and various other fibers arts. She also has a strong interest in Japanese arts, particularly early period.

Hospitaler: Lady Livia Collari [Modern name: Calee McCallum]

The hospitaler is the keeper of the loaner garb and general go-to person for getting started. They greet newcomers and help them become oriented to and involved in the present middle ages. The Hospitaler helps them to check out loaner items. Contact at: [email protected] or [email protected] Livia Collari has a small son and an interest in the education of young people and the welcoming of newcomers to the Shadowlands. She enjoys archery, sewing, and Bardic. She is Italian.

Webminister: Mistress Nina of the Lost Caverns [Modern name: Kim Schreuders]

The Webminister manages the Shire’s web presence, including the website at: http://shadowlands.ansteorra.org and the Yahoo Group at: http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/shadowlandssca. If you have any problems or suggestions relating to either of these tools, please let me know. Contact at: [email protected] Mistress Nina of the Lost Caverns is an indeterminate (vaguely 5th century) Gaul with a much later period name. The Gauls were the “barbarians” that the Romans tried to bring into their fold, with only marginal success, as they slowly migrated west across most of Europe. Nina has interest in many, many aspects of the SCA with an especially strong interest in weaving and other historic technologies, history of the SCA and administering the SCA so that everyone can have fun. Mistress Nina hosts the Movie and Project Night on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.


Chronicler: Lady Miriel [Modern name: Kelsey McCleskey]

Produces a newsletter each month to be handed out at the Populace meetings. Everyone is welcome to contribute to make our newsletter wonderful. Contact at: [email protected] Lady Miriel likes to spin. Her hands are always busy as a good woman's ought to be. In a crowd she stands out for her lap is full of wool and yarn, and her face wears a smile as bright as the white feathers of a dove fluttering in a sunlit morning.

SCA Student officers and advisors at TX A&M

TAMU Advisor: Sir Rhodri ap Gwythyr [Modern name: Paul Foster]

The TAMU advisor is a member of the staff at TX A&M and makes possible the existence of this group on campus. Without this person, the local student body might never know the fun that can be had through the SCA. Contact at: [email protected] Sir (or Baron) Rhodri ap Gwythyr is an old Welsh Knight who has been in the SCA many years, done many brave deeds, and is a reliable source of answers if you are interested in Chivalry! He is also a Knight, Pelican, Baron, and Lion.

TAMU Student President/Seneschal: Andrew of the Shadowlands [Modern name: Andrew Graf]

The TAMU SCA President is in charge of getting rooms for the SCA to use on campus. The President is a contact person for students and the other student officers. This is an important position and looks good on a resume! Contact at: Andrew is a student in the Entomology department. He participates in rapier.

TAMU Student Treasurer: Þorbjôrn orðlokarr (Thorbjorn orthlokarr) [Modern name: Jeffery Demieville]

The TAMU SCA Treasurer is in charge of handling the money for the on campus group. It is an essential office and looks good on a resume! Contact at: [email protected] Thorbjorn is interested in Norse and Rus culture. He spends his time away from studies practicing archery, working metal and leather, and trying a bit of everything. Jeffery is a 3rd year Agricultural/Biological Engineering student.


Calendar of Events (from the Ansterorran calendar)

November 2016 (AS LI)

4-6 11-13 18-20

• Three Tales... A Canterbury Pilgrimage - Rosenfeld (Tyler, TX) Axeman -- Skorragardr (Shawnee, OK)

• Queen's Champion - Kingdom of Ansteorra (Texas and Oklahoma) Known World Fiber Arts Symposium - Kingdom of Calontir (Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, N. Arkansas)

• War of the Rams - Bordermarch (Beaumont, TX) (11/17-11/20)

December 2016 (AS LI)

2-4 9-11

• Yule - Dragonsfire Tor (Stephenville, TX) Wiesenfeuer Yule Revel – Wiesenfeuer (Oklahoma City, OK)

• Tournament of Champions & Stargate Yule - Stargate (Houston, TX)

January 2017 (AS LI)

6-8 13-15 20-22 27-29

• Steppes Twelfth Night - Steppes (Dallas, TX) • Crown Tournament - Shadowlands (College Station, TX) • Roundtable - Kingdom of Ansteorra (Texas and Oklahoma) – Mooneschadowe (Stillwater, OK) • Sable Soldier Project II - Chivalry of Ansteorra (Texas and Oklahoma)

Winterkingdom – Northkeep (Tulsa, OK)

February 2017 (AS LI)

3-5 10-12 17-19

• Candlemas - Bryn Gwlad (Austin, TX) Provincial Games – Mooneschadowe (Stillwater, OK)

• Kingdom A&S – Rosenfeld (Tyler, TX) • War College - Raven's Fort (Huntsville, TX)

March 2017 (AS LI)

10-12 17-19 24-26

• Out of Kingdom: Gulf Wars XXVI - Kingdom of Gleann Abhann ( Mississippi, Louisiana, S.Arkansas, Memphis) March 12-19

• Out of Kingdom: Gulf Wars XXVI - Kingdom of Gleann Abhann ( Mississippi, Louisiana, S.Arkansas, Memphis) March 12-19

• Commanders Crucible - Hellsgate (Ft. Hood, TX)

April 2017 (AS LI)

7-9 14-16 21-23 28-30

• Coronation and King’s Champion - Kingdom of Ansteorra (Texas and Oklahoma) - TBD • Wiesenfeuer Baronial - Wiesenfeuer (Oklahoma City, OK)

Stargate Baronial - Stargate (Houston, TX) • Defender of the Flame - Glaslyn (Denton, TX) • Elfsea Defender - Elfsea (Ft. Worth, TX)


Thanks and Credits All artwork by HL Pædric OMullan (William P. Mullins) – all rights reserved. “Creating a Persona” by Kyria Anna Maleine (Ann Seeton). All items used with permission from the original creators.

Fine Print This is The Shadow Knows, a publication of the Shire of the Shadowlands of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. (SCA). The Shadow Knows is available from Kelsey McCleskey, 58 Red Sable Drive, Spring, TX 77380, or online at http://shadowlands.ansteorra.org/. It is not a corporate publication of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. (SCA) and does not delineate SCA policies. Copyright © 2016 Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. For information on reprinting articles, photographs, and artwork from this publication, please contact the editor, who will assist you in contacting the original creator of the piece. Please respect the legal rights of our contributors.

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