Being the online web log for the Southwestern Pennsylvania branch of the SCA, Inc.
Reminder: martial practices are not occurring at Highland Park this week. Instead, all of them will be held at the Harvest Revel barony meeting at the castle. Archery and Thrown Weapons start at 11, Fencing and Fighting start at 2:15ish (after the barony meeting)
Details in the calendar: https://debatablelands.aethelmearc.org/calendar.php
Yours in Service,
Robert MacEwin of Thornhill
Debatable Lands Fencing Marshal
See the original post for the annoucement with the address and details https://debatablelands.aethelmearc.org/blog/?p=7613
Here is the schedule for the day
11:00-3:00 Pie contest inside in the period kitchen
11ish – 1:30 Archery & Thrown weapons range setup and practice outside in the driveway.
1:00-1:45 – Dancing in great hall
2:00 – Short Barony Meeting in the great hall
2:20ish – Choir performance in the great hall
2:45 foresters guild meeting
3:00ish – Pie contest winners announced
??:?? Pumpkin toss from castle roof
When folks are dancing in the great hall, please be considerate and avoid walking through the hall or sitting and talking there. The dancers need to hear the caller and have room to dance. There are plenty of other places to hang out and socialize.
I
Hello, Fencers!
This month, we’ll be shifting to our winter practice site and time. Please read below for details on that, as well as the fencing activities in and around BMDL in November.
Sunday, November 2nd, we’ll hold practice at the Harvest Revel barony meeting, starting at 2pm. Details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/755-stonegate-dr-wexford-pa-15090-7593-united-states/harvest-revel-and-november-barony-meeting/1333364725185414/
Sunday, November 9th will be our first indoor practice. We’ll hold armored and fencing practices every week from 1-5pm, at Become Better Sport Performance and Personal Training (5372 Enterprise Blvd, Bethel Park, PA 15102, https://maps.app.goo.gl/CC5pkqTVAHnBM3QJ7), until mid-April.
Saturday, November 15th is Fall Academy (https://aethelmearc.org/event/fall-aethelmearc-academy-suggested-date-region-2/), which will include pickups and classes on many topics, including fencing
Yours in Service,
Robert MacEwin of Thornhill
Debatable Lands Fencing Marshal
Hi everybody! I’m sorry to last-minute cancel, but it looks like it’s going to thunderstorm for most of our practice time today, so I’m cancelling fencing practice today.
Due to many of our fighters attending the Region 2 Muster in Franklin, PA, Heavy Weapons practice for Sunday, October 19th is canceled.
There are a few fun things in the next couple weeks here in the Barony and in nearby lands. Next weekend the Barony is holding Agincourt event on Saturday, October 25th, in the Shire of Steltonwald.
Here is the kingdom accouncement: https://aethelmearc.org/event/agincourt-xviii/
The following weekend on Sunday November 2nd, we are holding Harvest Revel and November Barony Meeting from 11:00am to 4:00pm. The martial practices will be held at Harvest Revel. That will be the last outdoor heavy and fencing practice for this year. Indoor heavy and fencing practice starts the following week. Archery may continue outdoors at Washington Blvd for a little while longer. See the following information about the Revel:
Join us for a celebration of the autumn at Duke Byron and Duchess Ariella’s castle in Wexford (755 Stonegate Dr, Wexford, PA). A big thanks to them for opening their home to us again! And what better way to celebrate than thwacking, tossing, singing, and PIE! That’s right, we’ll have fighting (heavy and youth), thrown weapons, and archery, plus throwing pumpkins from the parapets (BYOP, no rotten ones – learned that the hard way!).
There will be a PIE CONTEST
If you’ve never encountered the Debatable Lands Harvest Revel Meeting PIE contest before – just about anything counts as pie, if you can name it pie…. “Pumpkin roll? Spatially challenged pie. Cookies? Crustless mini-pies. Pork roast? Deconstructed meat pie. Deviled eggs? Cursed baby chicken pies. We are flexible.
Bring it and a list of its ingredients for our baronage to taste and judge! If you want both our lovely judges to taste your entry, please keep in mind that Praetoria Prima cannot eat mammal meat, including lard, but dairy and poultry are fine.
As many barony members have food sensitivities please have the ingredient list for your contributions to the potluck and the contest. We will have index cards if you need them. No one is required to follow any food guidelines- information is provided for those who choose to go the extra step to make their contributions accessible. Gluten free pies always go over well if you are so inclined. Make sure to bring enough or cut it small, since the judges are YOU!
Come have fun with your friends, eat well, fight, fence, throw, shoot, hang inside with A&S… And of course, a short barony meeting.
SCHEDULE
The traditional schedule is:
Thrown Weapons and Archery starts at 11am.
Pie contest runs from noon to 3pm
2pm ish Barony Meeting / announcements
Fighting (Heavy and Youth) will start after announcements, about 2:15ish.
Pumpkin tossing will happen at such time as feels appropriate. ??
NOTES: No garb. Some activities are weather-dependent. BRING PIE and pumpkins!
I hope to see you soon.
Our final Sky List Stellar Tournament of the archery season will be held during martial practice tomorrow. The qualifier will run on its own line during regular practice, with the finals happening at 1:30 pm.
YIS,
Niall mac Raedwulf
Unto the populace of the Barony-Marche of the Debatable Lands, greetings from Gwendolyn the Graceful, Comet Pursuivant!
My term as Herald ends at Twelfth Night and I do not plan on seeking another. I am therefore calling for letters for a replacement. Letters should be sent to myself (herald @ debatablelands.org) and to the Seneschal (seneschal @ debatablelands.org) by November 30. The selection will be made at the December business meeting, Wednesday, December 3.
If you are planning to submit a letter, please be prepared to attend the December 3rd meeting, to discuss your qualifications and plans. The office will change over at Baronial 12th Night, so whomever is selected should plan to attend that as well.
What Does the Pursuivant Do?
The Comet Pursuivant is in charge of all official heraldic business, such as Baronial Courts, Court Reports, and verbal announcements, and nominally has responsibility to assist members of the populace with the design and submission of names and arms (book heraldry). For Court, you will work closely with the Signet and the Baronage to prepare the docket, and you will need to generate and post Court Reports in a timely manner. Luckily, there are a lot of people in the Barony who have expertise in all aspects of heraldry, so candidates do not need to be experts! We will all support whomever gets the position and make sure you have everything you need.
The Comet Pursuivant should also take ownership of the ongoing projects that impact the office. These include: commissioning a replacement tabard and hood, and helping with the ongoing submission of the names and devices of the Baronial awards. The other major project that has been on hold is updating the Baronial Order of Precedence, which will occur through the website transition.
The Comet Pursuivant is one of the offices required to maintain the Barony. They serve on the Financial Committee, and should plan to attend business and social meetings throughout the term whenever possible, as well as events such as Seven Pearls, Pennsic, War Practice, and Coronations, in order to support the Baronage at those events. As with any office, you need to be a paying member of the Society in good standing. You will also need to be a warranted Herald, which is a simple matter of an online form, approved by Silver Buccle. All heralds are expected to submit a brief quarterly report to Silver Buccle, which is also done online.
The most important thing you need is the willingness to do the job! I am happy to continue to support the office’s successor, so if you are interested, please submit a letter of intent to me and the Seneschal no later than November 30!
Looking forward,
Gwen