Practice Novice and Cadet Tournaments Next Sunday (July 19th)

Hi folks! With Pennsic right around the corner, I want to bring back a favorite from last year. This Sunday, we’ll run practice versions of the Novice Tournament and the Cadet Tournament, two wonderful beginner/intermediate tournaments at Pennsic.

Folks who are not eligible to participate in one or both of those tournaments are encouraged to join in and help the newer fencers prep by putting on their best impression of a novice or cadet.

Last year we did this for the Novice Tournament, and everybody had a blast. Looking forward to running it again with y’all!

Baronial upcoming events, news, and election updates

There is plenty of Baronial news to share and some upcoming meetings, events, performances, that you may want to attend.

First, let’s start with the Baronial champion updates: Our archery champion is THL Arthes MacLeod. Our heavy champion is Lord Ingvar Sviatoslavich, and our Fencing Champion is Duke Thomas Byron of Haverford. Our thrown weapons champion will be selected this coming weekend at Sunday practice on Washington Blvd. Our champions compete at 7 Pearls. They may also represent our barony at Pennsic in barony tournaments.

Next, yesterday we had the annual garb swap and barony social. Thank you once again to Baroness Constance for organizing the swap, and her helpers Arthes, Skjoldr, Fine, as well as all the donors. We had clothing, fabric, accessories, cooking stuff, and camping equipment donations. Furthermore, hardly anything was left at the end. Also special thanks to Arthes and Skjoldr for car relocation services and to Elinor for letting us use the post-it flip chart and note taking.

Some barony related happenings at Pennsic. Please forgive me if I forgot some of the things mentioned yesterday:

Sat Jul 25th – camp setup for Barony camp – help set-up the common areas
Thurs Jul 30 1pm Stick to Sword Rattan Weaponmaking 101
Thurs Jul 30 9am, Sun Aug 2 11am Mounted to Ground
Fri Jul 31 6pm – Aethelmearc court (in AE royal?) Robert pour Maintnon send out to vigil 
Fri Jul 31 6:30pm – vigil for Robert in Polyhymia (camp just next to Barony camp)
Sat Aug 1st Opening Ceremonies – 4pm Assemble in Aethelmearc Royal. Ceremonies are at 6pm on field or in great hall (weather dependent)
Sun Aug 2nd noon-4pm barony reception in Aethelmearc Royal w/ Elevation for Robert and Marcus around 3:15
Sun Aug 2nd after 4pm – party for Marcus in the Warren. That is the camp behind/across the street from barony camp.
Sun Aug 2nd 1pm A&S display – Great Hall
Sun Aug 2nd 1pm Foresters Guild meeting – tent 4 just outside the great hall
Mon Aug 3rd 9am A&S war point competition – Great Hall
Mon Aug 3rd 7pm Performing Arts Tent – Debatable Choir performance
Mon Aug 3rd 9:30pm Performing Arts Tent –  I Genesii performance
Thurs Aug 6th 9pm Aethelmearc Royal – bardic circle

Here is the barony calendar: https://debatablelands.aethelmearc.org/calendar.php and here are some upcoming meetings and events.

Next business meetings: All are hybrid – in person at Hara Kikumatsu’s house and online via google meet. Link published day before meeting.

Monday August 17th 8pm – note that it is Monday to avoid conflict with curia.
Wed Oct 7th 8pm
Wed Dec 2nd 8pm

Upcoming events:
A Tasting Faire – August 29th at the Castle, 755 Stonegate Drive, Wexford, PA 15090 – 20 cooks make samples, 80 people eat samples, brewers will be adding their contributions as well. Preregistration required for cooks and food eaters. Here is more information including a registration link: https://debatablelands.aethelmearc.org/events/2026-08-29%20A%20Tasting%20Faire.php

Barony Social – Saturday Sep 5th North Park Miller Shelter: https://maps.app.goo.gl/syMUrDffvivkvVvy5
Post pennsic potluck, cookout, meet candidates for Baronial election and Q&A. You are welcome to hang out all day starting at noon. If you want to cook things on the grill you should bring charcoal, lighter fluid, lighter, food and utensils. There is just one small grill. I recommend you bring your own grill or propane stove if you want to be sure that you have ability to cook. Time for meet candidate Q&A TBD. Probably mid afternoon.

Barony Social, Potluck, A&S, Heavy& Fencing practice, Ballot count – Sunday Oct 18th Buffalo Inn South Park. https://maps.app.goo.gl/gqpDG2yXHa6ShwG37
Potluck. Come hang out inside to do A&S or perhaps go outside for fencing or heavy fighting. Meanwhile the selection committee will be tallying votes.  Votes must be turned in by noon if hand carrying.

Agincount – Sat Oct 24 – Big Knob Grange – heavy, fencing, archery, thrown weapons, siege, A&S all day event is held in neighboring Steltonwald: https://aethelmearc.org/event/agincourt-xix/

Harvest Revel – Sunday Nov 15 at the Castle, 755 Stonegate Drive, Wexford, PA 15090, Potluck, barony social, garb encouraged, pie contest, There will be fencing, archery, and heavy fighter weather permitting. A&S hanging out as well.

Baronial Election Update
We had the nomination meeting yesterday. Here are the candidates:
Owen and Elinor
Gwen and Maghnus
Ceindrech and Libby
Hara and Ishiyama
Arthes and Skjoldr
Ghaliya and Robert MacEwin
Sebastian and Isabel
Jorundr and Muirgheal
Byron and Ariella
Ts’vee’a
Ts’vee’a and Byron
Arianna and Robert pour Maintnon
Turlough and Fíne
Alaric and Rachel
Godzimir and Ran
Elinor and Michi
Niall and Reinhard
Elss and Elsa
Robert MacEwin and Faye
Gwen
Ingvar and Kolfinna
Aydamur and Robert MacEwin
Brandubh and Hilda
Brandubh and Jorundr
Hilda and Muirgheal
Elss
Ghaliya and Faye
Charles and Graidhne
Alaric
Owen and Kattera

Here’s the next steps and the rules

  • Note that a person can only run in one candidate combination (single or pair). Also if someone was nominated in a pair, but not as an individual, that person cannot run as an individual.
  • Candidates must be barony resident or formally registered non-resident, be at least 18 years old as of Oct 18th, and be a paid member of the SCA as of Oct 18th.
  • Any nominated candidate that has not already submitted written response at the nominating meeting, will receive a letter saying they were nominated. That person should submit response in writing saying whether they will accept the nomination. The response can be mailed or handed to me in person.
  • All nominated responses are due Monday Aug17th. If you are mailing a response, please mail by Aug 10th to ensure your response is received by Aug 17th.
  • After Aug 17th, the list of running candidates will be announced.
  • Ballots will be printed and mailed once we have the final candidate list. The ballots will be printed on special (color) paper and will have a unique number. So don’t copy a ballot. Ballots can be mailed or returned in-person, BUT they must be in a sealed envelope. 
  • Ballots must be received by Sunday Oct18th. You will need to arrive early on Oct 18th if handing ballot in that day. Once counting starts no more ballots will be accepted.
  • The ballot will contain a group status question, that the voter must answer. The groups status question asks if the Barony should remain a barony. Then it will contain a list of candidates be ranked in order of preference with 1 being the favorite candidate. A voter can leave a candidate blank or unranked. A voter can also mark a candidate unacceptable, UA. 
  • A duplicate, invalid, or missing ballot number will be considered invalid ballot and not counted. If the ballot doesn’t have unambiguous and legible ranking of candidates including UA and blank responses it will be considered invalid.
  • Any candidate receiving unacceptable, UA, votes from more than 33% of the valid ballots will be eliminated.
  • General Summary of Tallying. The voters rank candidates from most favorite to least favorite. Take the ballots and make a pile for each candidate, based on just the first-place votes (ignoring all the other rankings on the ballots). Then eliminate the candidate with the fewest votes and re-distribute those ballots to the other piles, using the second-place votes. Keep eliminating the candidate with the fewest votes until one candidate is left. This is a summary only.

Practice at Garb Swap

A reminder that armored combat practice will be taking place at garb swap this Sunday, and will not be at our usual site in the park.

Event Site: https://www.google.com/maps/place/40%C2%B036’40.1%22N+80%C2%B001’08.5%22W/@40.6111429,-80.0216027,550m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d40.6111389!4d-80.0190278?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDcwNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Parking: https://www.google.com/maps/place/40%C2%B036’40.1%22N+80%C2%B001’08.5%22W/@40.6111429,-80.0216027,550m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d40.6111389!4d-80.0190278?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDcwNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Baronial Fencing Champs at the Garb Swap this Sunday

Hi folks! This Sunday, there will be no fencing at Highland Park because we’ll be at the Garb Swap! Fencing starts at 11am, and the tournament for selecting our next fencing champion starts at noon. Practice will continue into the afternoon until folks are done. We may pause for a bit in the afternoon for the garb swap and barony meeting.

Event site: https://www.google.com/maps/search/40.611144,+-80.019026?entry=tts&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYwNC4wIPu8ASoASAFQAw%3D%3D&skid=26196756-c3ec-4a98-b30e-6645a69311ae

Parking: https://www.google.com/maps/search/40.607734,+-80.016320?entry=tts&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDYwNC4wIPu8ASoASAFQAw%3D%3D&skid=0dc2b205-9fba-4a7a-880d-1536c2d4f7b9

Practice 07/05/26

As of right now, we are planning to have practice on 07/05/26. I may or may not be there due to some non-SCA issues that have come up this week, The same is true of the loaner gear. If I am able to attend, I will bring it, if not, there may not be loaner gear available.

I have arranged for other Marshals to be on site and run practice in my stead, so there will be practice in the usual place at the usual time unless the heat index exceeds the safety guidelines noted below.

This is also a reminder that, per Society Regulations, as the Kingdom Earl Marshal was kind enough to remind us this week, practice, and all other marital activities can and will be canceled and/or stopped if the Heat Index is over 103, for safety reasons. I keep the NIOSH Heat Index app on my phone for this reason, and WILL be checking.

Regardless, remember to bring something to keep yourself hydrated, appropriate clothing for the heat, sunscreen, a place to sit, and additional shade if you need it.

I want to practice and acclimate to the heat for Pennsic as much as anyone out there, but I will not hold a practice at heat levels deemed unsafe.

YIS,

Patrokles Athenaios, Baronial KM

A Weekend of A&S in the Barony

All across our lands, guilds of artisans gathered this past weekend to work on large projects together, to turn tedium into fun and spread the work across multiple people. On Saturday, Fiber Guild came together at the home of Lady Ilsa to extract dyes from a number of locally foraged plants. On Sunday, the Debatable Brewers’ Guild set out to make nearly 9 gallons of sekanjabin syrup in preparation for Pennsic. Despite two very different goals, brewers and dyers alike spent the weekend chopping plants, watching pots of simmering liquid, and pouring off hot colorful liquids into jars and bottles (and onto the hands of their A&S Minister on both days).

It was a group task from start to finish, even in the pouring off of dye liquid

Under the expertise and direction of Lady Ilsa, Fiber Guild processed and extracted several gallons of dye from jewelweed stalks and leaves, avocado skins, dyer’s chamomile flowers, a mix of coreopsis flowers, and dried black walnut husks. These plants were locally harvested by Lady Ilsa and Lady Fíne, which was part of their appeal! All the plants were chopped up or ground to increase their surface area and cooked in 180 degree water for a few hours to extract the color from the various dyestuff. After straining out the solid plant mass, we were left with gallons of dye ready for scoured and mordanted fiber! I was surprised at the range of colors we ended the day with, as the green stalks of jewelweed resulted in a bright “Gatorade orange” and the dark frozen avocado skins turned the water a beautiful pink color.

May be an image of tea
Natural dyes from (left to right) jewelweed stalks and leaves, avocado skins, dyer’s chamomile flowers, a blend of coreopsis flowers, and dried black walnut husks

The actual dyeing of fiber is another step entirely, but every attendee left with gallons of natural dye to try on their own projects. Consider visiting the Open A&S Display at Pennsic to check out Lady Ilsa’s full range of dyed fibers from plants harvested from the natural lands of Pennsic before European contact!

Thank you to Sym, Owen, Michi, Fíne, Alric, and Ilsa for all the work you did at Dye Day! Photo credits to Alric Smith and Ilsa Starling

On Sunday, an entirely different group of artisans took on the task of harvesting plants and cooking them into useful liquids, this time for our collective hydration! Baron Alaric MacConnal led the charge for the production of many gallons of sekanjabin syrup, mainly for the Royal Hospitality Tent at Pennsic. The recipe has been tested and refined over a number of decades, originating from Cariadoc himself. Alaric harvested lemon balm from his own garden, Master Alastar provided dried spearmint, and the apple cider vinegar and sugar came from the collective pantries of the Guild. By the end of the day, over 30 pounds of sugar were used in the production process!

Baron Alaric harvesting lemon balm from his own garden

Following the ancient and venerable sekanjabin recipe, the fresh and dried herbs were simmered in a solution of water, sugar, and vinegar to produce a few different varieties of syrup. For Royal needs, the Brewers’ Guild made 6.5 gallons of apple cider and spearmint sekanjabin syrup for all to enjoy. For Debatable Lands activities, additional batches were made of apple cider and lemon balm syrup, both with white sugar for a refreshing taste and dark brown sugar for the more indulgent palette. Because the Guild can’t make anything without including an experiment for science, they also infused frozen berries (provided by Thora and Dofinn-Hallr – thank you!) in apple cider and red wine vinegars for a shrub-inspired syrup to be made in a few weeks.

Three different varieties of sekanjabin syrup and two shrub experiments!

The process of making sekanjabin syrup resulted in a lot of group effort to pick leaves from stems, prepare so many pots of sugar water, and wash dozens of containers in which to store all the finished syrup. Like Dye Day, the afternoon proved that tedious A&S tasks are much more fun in the company of friends, as no one wants to do brewing dishes alone. With the efforts of Dofinn-Hallr Morrisson, Thora Sharptooth, Alastar Scott McCrummin, Elsbeth Anne Roth, Myfanwy verch Rhiannon, and Alaric MacConnal, all three syrups were prepped, made, and bottled for Pennsic – totaling over 9 gallons of syrup by the end of the day!

Thank you to Alaric and Elsbeth for hosting the Brewers Guild Sekanjabin Day!

At the end of the day, all of the pots were washed, the bottles were stored away, and the friends traveled home. Thank you to everyone who supported the efforts of our baronial guilds and we can’t wait to see what becomes of all the fun! For me, it was amazing to see just a small selection of the many arts and sciences going on across our barony in just one weekend as we all enjoyed the summer weather and activities.

YIS, THLady Elinor Walden

A&S Minister of the Barony-Marche of the Debatable Lands