Category: Uncategorized

Champs This Weekend, and Important Inclusivity Info (Twelfth Night)

Hello Debatable Lands and Friends! Salve Accolens!

First, His Excellency Baron Brandubh has recovered and is testing negative from his bout with CoVID, and can attend 12th Night without restriction, according to CDC regulations! Hooray! His illness does serve as a good reminder to please stay home if you have symptoms, to home test before you come if at all possible, and to maintain the required people-density requirements in the no-mask zone at the event. Let’s keep each other safe!

Below read about important information about:
— Entering the Baronial A&S Champs virtually or in person
— Entering the Baronial Bardic Champs virtually or in person
— A note on streaming activities to social media
— A note about masks with see-through sections for better communication
— A note for people with sensory issues, and parents of small children

We are incredibly excited to finally be able to host, along with our current Champions THL Rachel and Master William, the Baronial A&S Championship, and the Baronial Bardic Championship! Because attendance at the event is limited, you may enter these Championships without being physically present. Note that only Debatable Landers or those with Green/Amicus comets (by our whim) are eligible to be Baronial Champions. But also remember that much of Gryffyn’s Keep’s old territory between Pittsburgh or Greensburg is now Debatable Lands! Welcome neighbors!

For A&S, you can send in your entry with someone, drop off and pick up with permission from the event staff, or send an electronic entry to baron@debatablelands.aethelmearc.org by Friday morning (make sure you get a confirmation email from him, or we didn’t get it). The theme is “plague projects” (stuff you’ve worked on since 2020), but feel free to enter what you like. Documentation is nice, but not required. For entries in person, please make sure to enter by 1:30pm at the latest! Contact us directly if that timing won’t work for you. Also, if you’d like to display your A&S pieces without entering, please do! Let’s show off! Just note “Display Only” on the paperwork, and we will not consider it part of the competition

For bardic not in person, well, that’s trickier. Please email us at baron@debatablelands.aethelmearc.org ASAP and at least by Tuesday to make arrangements (apologies for the short turnaround). For those entering who are physically in attendance, GREAT news! Our Seneschal, Muirgheal, has arranged permission for performers to perform maskless for this competition (with filter fans and social distancing)!

We know the attendance cap has caused some disappointment, and with us, too. HOWEVER, the Courts will the streamed to the Kingdom Facebook page (accessible to those without Facebook), thanks to Lord Niall. I (Baroness Hilda) will additionally be streaming some slice-of-event snippets throughout the day (as I am able) to the Facebook event (contact me if you want me to be careful to avoid you, or tell me at the event). Both links below. And don’t forget to add yourself to the waitlist if you’re interested in attending! Link at event announcement (link below).

So, while there will be a large room that’s maskless, much of the event is in masked areas. We’ve been talking to folks about how the lack of seeing people’s mouths makes it more difficult to communicate, from people like Baroness Hilda (who has minor a auditory processing issue), to folks that need to read lips to communicate. With this in mind, we are providing some masks with clear plastic by the lips. For those interested in wearing these as an inclusive adjustment, we’ll about about 50 at troll. Help yourselves, first come, first served. Baroness Hilda will have a couple extra on her if those run out and you find yourself if need of one.

The event steward, Lady Forveleth, has kindly set aside the kitchen downstairs for a Baronial Royalty Room, since we don’t have event food this year. Because it’s so big, and it’s not a public space, we the Baron and Baroness, would like to invite folks that have sensory issues that need a break, or parents with babes-in-arms/children who need feeding or a break, to join us in our room (kitchen) while you need some quiet time. You may use it without us present. Please do respect the quiet, and understand that we may need to ask you to leave for Court prep or if we otherwise need privacy.

Keep and eye our for more event info coming from the event staff and our Seneschal.

We are so excited to see everyone, both in person and virtually!

In Levitate et Caritate and Cheers!
Baron Brandubh and Baroness Hilda

Kingdom Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AEthelmearc

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/5755712804475639/ (go to Discussion tab)

Event announcement: http://debatablelands.org/events/2023-01-14%20Barony%2012th%20Night.php

Debatable Lands Twelfth Night – Covid Compliance & No Masked Area

Greetings Noble Populace,

The Debatable Lands Twelfth Night has received approval for two safety plans that will happen independently of each other.

There will be a no mask required area for socialization only; it has a limit of 64 guests that can visit it at one time so the Event Staff and I ask everyone to keep that in mind and plan to allow others the opportunity to visit that area throughout the day. There will be no eating indoors.

All arrivals will enter through the masked area, all bathrooms are in the masked area, All scheduled activities will happen in masked areas; plan accordingly. [There will be masks available at troll.]

The Bardic championship will happen in the masked area with the provision that the performer only may be in a marked area 6 feet away from the crowd between two Corsi-Rosenthal boxes which will serve as the performance space.

The No Mask Required area will close at 3:30 pm.

At this time; we will set up of a masked vocal performance area. The performance by I Genesii will happen at 4 pm followed by The Debatable Choir and Court.

Site closes directly after Court.

I understand this is not our usual Twelfth Night and there are many things that we have needed to do which we have not required in previous years. The Event Staff and I are committed to following the Kingdom Law and Policy and will be enforcing them but we hope that all of you will work with us to ensure a triumphant return to an in person Twelfth Night.

If I can assist with any questions or concerns in regard to the Covid-19 plan or No Mask Required Area, please reach out to me directly at seneschal@debatablelands.aethelmearc.org If you have questions for the Autocrat, please reach out to Lady Forveleth Dunde at exchequer@debatablelands.aethelmearc.org

In Service,
Baroness Muirgheal inghean Dubhghaill, Seneschal of The Barony-Marche of The Debatable Lands

Greetings from the Head Tollner for Debatable Lands 12th Night!

Greetings from the Head Tollner for Debatable Lands 12th Night!

Debatable Lands 12th Night is one week away and we are excited about seeing you there! There are lots of fun activities planned. Please check out the schedule on posted on the Debatable Lands website:

http://debatablelands.org/events/2023-01-14%20Barony%2012th%20Night.php

As mentioned in previous announcements, we have reached our attendance cap. Those gentles on the wait list have been contacted to let them know the procedure should space become available due to a cancellation.

If you have registered for the event and find that you are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so your space can be made available for a person on the wait list. You can do this by answering “No :(” from the following form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScrohwjL41VhIi5IX2TN_suDnNXNDyWHNLeqVxLYWTyG3Ddmw/viewform

Please reach out if there are any questions.

In Service,

Baron Alaric
Head Tollner
Debatable Lands 12th Night

Sunday Practices at Ace’s Axe Throwing – Rattan Combat, Rapier Combat, and Thrown Weapons – Masks Optional

Greetings Noble Populace,

We have worked with the Kingdom Covid Safety plan team and come up with an approved plan to allow for Mask Optional Practices on Sunday at Ace’s Axe Throwing, as your comfort dictates.

There are a few caveats that must be followed:

*If you are not feeling well, please do not attend. Stay home and get better.
*You must wear your mask to use the elevator.
*You must wear your mask to use the restrooms.
* Any participant may request that their opponents wear masks when competing against them.

This practice is welcoming to participants and spectators who wish to remain masked. There will be an area adjacent to the combat spaces designated as “masked”.

All current SCA COVID policies and Æthelmearc Covid Policies will be enforced.

If you have questions about these policies or the plan for this site, please contact me at seneschal@debatablelands.aethelmearc.org

In Service,
Baroness Muirgheal inghean Dubhghaill, Seneschal Barony-Marche of The Debatable Lands

When and Where:
Ace’s Axe Throwing
145 E 8th Avenue Homestead, PA 15120
Sundays 11 am to 3 pm EST.

Please watch updates from The Knight Marshal; Sir Guillaume le Noir du Bordeaux for Rattan and weather or site related cancellations; THLMeinolf Grímsson for Thrown Weapons and Drottin Jorundr hinn Rotinn for Rapier.

If you require loaner gear or have questions about practices, please contact the appropriate Marshal:
Thrownweapons@debatablelands.aethelmearc.org
Fencingmarshal@debatablelands.aethelmearc.org
Knightmarshal@debatablelands.aethelmearc.org

Although the SCA complies with all applicable laws to ensure the health and safety of our event participants, we cannot eliminate the risk of exposure to infectious diseases during in-person events. By participating in the in-person events of the SCA, you acknowledge and accept the potential risks. You agree to take any additional steps to protect your own health and safety and those under your control as you believe to be necessary.

Debatable Lands 12th Night in two weeks!

Salve Accolens! 12th Night is fast approaching!
We have an awesome collection of festivities coming up:
– The Baronial Bardic Championship
– The Baronial A&S Championship
– Kingdom Largesse Derby, going on all day
– The Auction of Forgotten and Highly Desirable Items
– A performance by I Genesii
– A performance by the Debatable Choir
– Tasty beverages provided by the Brewer’s Guild
The event staff have been working out the details of the covid precautions; watch this space for a future post with the details. Please send any questions to forveleth@gmail.com
See you all on January 14th at North Park Lodge for a day of art, song, merriment, and fun!
Forveleth Dunde
12th Night Autocrat

Sunday 1/1/2023 – Rattan, Fencing, and Throwing Practice 11 AM

Greetings Good Gentles,

The Rattan, Fencing, and Throwing Marshals and I submitted a mask-less practice plan to the Kingdom that was approved. Baron Alaric, Dame Elsbeth and I have done all that we can to obtain the supplies but… We are dreadfully sorry to report that we do not control the shipping routes in the local area.

We are having practice tomorrow at Ace’s Axes but masks are required.

The Marshals and I are resolved to get the last 4 necessary 20 x 20 box fans to create our corsi -rosenthal filters for next week’s practice on 1/8/2023.

THIS WEEK, 1/1/2023 You must mask.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

In Service,
Muirgheal, Seneschal Debatable

Japanese Iris Festival and Baronial Equestrian Champs

In a little less than 6 months the Barony will host its second Japanese Iris Festival. “What is that?” you may ask. In Japan it is also called Tango no Sekku or Ayame no hi and was one of the five festival held at the Japanese imperial court. Originally it was on the fifth day of the fifth month or moon in the Chinese lunar calendar. When Japan switched to the Gregorian calendar the date was set to May 5th. Our festival is in early June due to the busy May calendar. Other countries in Asia have a similar festival on the same day. The festival marks the beginning of summer rainy season. Formerly the festival was known as Boys’ Day and the corresponding Girls’ Day was March 3th. After World War II, the two holidays were combined to be Children’s Day and was renamed to Kodomo no Hi. You will typically see carp-shaped banner displayed, one for each child. Treats that are traditional on this day are rice cakes called mochi rapped in oak leaves called kashiwa. The kashiwa-mochi are filled with red bean paste. Another traditional treat is chimaki, which is a sweet rice paste wrapped in an iris or bamboo leaf.

Our festival will include demonstrations and classes of various Japanese arts and skills. The demonstrations and classes include taiko drumming, shibori make and take gift cloths, kumihimo, and tea ceremony. All are welcome to come watch and learn. If you want to wear traditional Japanese kosode with an obi, or hakama and kosode there will be in-person supervised sewing workshops to help you sew your own. There will be pre-packaged bento boxes that can be purchased at event preregistration.

The traditional festival name Tango no Sekku has meaning in Japanese. Tan means beginning and go is the simified character for horse. Horse is the Chinese zodiac sign for the fifth month. Sekku means festival. So the basic translation would be first day of horse month festival. But in Japanese go is the word for five so the double meaning of go means it’s the fifth day of the horse month. Well then, horses are the perfect addition to the Iris festival. We will be holding a number of games for the equestrians and the horses. There will be Baronial Equestrian Champs. But we will have more game than just the champs. These are great fun to watch.

The event will be held on Saturday, June 10th, from 9 am to 7 pm at the Horse Arena at Bradys Run Park, 121 Bradys Run Road, Beaver Falls, PA, 15010. The autocrat for this event is the Honorable Lady Hara Kikumatsu, mka Sharon Booth, 1105 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232. sbooth@sbooth.net, 412-441-1607. This is a land-line with answering machine. Please leave a message. No calls after 9pm.

Event cost:
Adult Event Registration $15
Adult Member Registration $10
Youth 17 and under are free
Bento box lunch $5

There are a limited number of prepared bento boxes. Preregister to ensure you get a lunch box. Send email to the bento box lunch lady, the Honorable Elss of Augsburg, elss.of.augsburg@gmail.com with dietary restrictions, allergies, or if you want vegetarian or vegan box.

To preregister for the event and to purchase a bento box lunch, send a check payable to SCA PA, Inc. – BMDL, to the head trollner, Lady Forveleth Dunde: Miranda Gavrin, 326 Lincoln Avenue, Carnegie, PA 15106.

For folks who would like to come to in-person sewing, the sessions will be on the following Saturdays in February: 11th, 18th, and 25th. There is limited space at my house, so please contact me at sewing@debatablelands.aethelmearc.org if you want to attend. You will need to have fabric washed, pressed, and cut before you arrive so you can just pin, sew, and press while there. I can advise on about fabric choices, and recommended amounts, as well as cutting instructions.

You will need to be masked in the house. However, I will arrange for air filters in a heated garage so there is a space where food and drink are allowed. In addition, there will be sewing at the March barony meeting on Sunday March 5th. There will be more information about this meeting posted in the blog.