Newcomers to the SCA

Lady Franceska of Stormwall

Chatelain for the Canton of Stormwall

We LOVE newcomers in Stormwall and Hawkwood!

Welcome to the Society for Creative Anachronism, also known as the SCA! (For more information, please go to www.sca.org) You will be attending an event in the Canton of Stormwall which is a part of Barony of Hawkwood (www.baronyofhawkwood.org) , part of the Kingdom of Atlantia (atlantia.sca.org). Our events are completely interactive. There is no audience, no actors, and no script. Each person is playing a persona they have chosen. You are part of the experience. Here are a few tips to make your day as enjoyable as possible:

Garb Lending

All attendees are asked to make an attempt at wearing clothing that might have been feasible during the era of 600 to 1600. It is a requirement of attending most SCA events. You are not attending a Renaissance Faire-style event where you are the audience and we are the entertainers. Rather, you are part of the experience. We all work together to create an anachronistic environment. Most of us favor European fashions, but some members dress in Mongolian, Turkish, Japanese, Russian, etc. An easy way to dress "period" is to wear a long shirt with a belt over top and a pair of dark pants (preferably not blue jeans) or a long skirt. Honestly, that would get you by for your first event. If you want to have a little more fun with it, look for examples online.

To help you enjoy your event we will have a wide variety of sizes and styles of garb (another word for period attire) available for newcomers to borrow and wear during the event. The library will be located at Newcomers Point (near where you check in) and will open at 5pm on Friday, and close Saturday around 3:30. We ask that you sign out the items you borrow and return them no later than Saturday evening at 10:00 pm. We will wash the garb after the event. If you are bringing someone who is new to the SCA, we suggest you help your newcomers pick out garb.

Other Suggestions:

Bring a mug, cup or goblet to drink from, something that doesn't have modern logos or text on it would be preferred. It feels more authentic drinking from a non-modern vessel. Igloo coolers of water and gatorade are usually available near the fighting field.

Bring some lunch. Pack a basket or small cooler for your lunch. There will also be some hospitality available near the fighting field in the Baronial Pavilion.

Bring chairs or a blanket. There are a lot of cool things to do and watch. You will want something to sit on. Sunscreen is highly recommended. Day shades and parasols are also great ways to stay out of the sun.

Go to an SCA 101 Tour. This walking tour, lasting about an hour, gives an overview of what the SCA is, how things are set up at this event, who wears what shiny hats, how to present yourself when called into court, etc. It is entertaining, educational and HIGHLY recommended to enhance your experience. Tours will leave on the half hour mark of each hour from 11:30 to 2:30 on Saturday from Newcomers' Point. If you are unable to walk with us, please let us know and we will be happy to arrange a sit down SCA 101 Class to suit your needs.

Sign up for feast! It is a wonderful experience and a great way to get to know some new people. You will need to provide your own plates and utensils, but if you don't have any, please let us know. We have things you can borrow for the evening. WARNING: Feast usually sells out quick, so pre-registration is recommended.

Newcomers' Baldrics and Belt Favors

To gently indicate that you are new to the SCA, we offer a solid blue baldric or belt favor to wear during the event. These will be available at the check-in table ("Troll"). This serves as an signal to others that you may not be aware of certain customs or courtesies and they should make you feel welcome. That being said, feel free to ask LOTS of questions! There is a lot to learn about our society and the Known World and most SCA-dians will enthusiastically share their knowledge and experiences with you.

Thanks,

Lady Franceska of Stormwall - Chatelaine

GOLD KEY - For this Day Event - the Canton will have it's Gold Key on site where you can choose what you would like to wear from our Gold Key collection.

What is the SCA?

The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) is an international non-profit volunteer educational organization. The SCA is devoted to the research and re-creation of pre-17th century skills, arts, combat, culture, and employing knowledge of world history to enrich the lives of participants through events, demonstrations, and other educational presentations and activities.

In pursuing its mission, the SCA is committed to excellence in its programs, communications, and activities.

SCA Core Values:

• To act in accordance with the chivalric virtues of honor and service in all interactions with SCA members and participants;

• To be a responsible steward of SCA resources;

• To deal fairly with others, and value and respect the worth and dignity of all individuals,

• To practice inclusiveness and respect diversity;

• To promote a safe and respectful environment for all SCA members and participants;

• To act with transparency, fairness, integrity, and honesty;

• To maintain a harassment-free environment in SCA spaces; and,

• To avoid behavior that reflects adversely on the SCA or other SCA members and participants.

People in the SCA study and re-create martial activities including armored combat, fencing, archery, siege weapons and more. Our artisans research, create and teach music, poetry, cooking, singing, dancing, metal-smithing, tailoring, armoring, etc. Through the hard work of dozens and even hundreds of volunteers, we host events all over the country every weekend.

The SCA encompasses all of the “Knowne World”, twenty Kingdoms across the globe. The Kingdom of Atlantia encompasses all of Maryland, the District of Columbia, North Carolina, South Carolina, most of Virginia and a small portion of Georgia. Atlantia is in turn divided into a number of local groups: Baronies, Shires, and Strongholds; and even further into Cantons and Colleges.

Getting Involved

The first step is to find your local group. Next, contact your local chatelain. Your local Chatelain will help you discover all the opportunities to get involved in your area, assist you with information and garb for your first event, and introduce you to people who share your interests.

And speaking of Newcomers:

Remember that you will receive a ticket when you Troll in which will make you eligible to win a Feast Basket to carry to all of your SCA Events.