95 lines
5.1 KiB
Plaintext
95 lines
5.1 KiB
Plaintext
TO: Newcomers
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FROM: Ciorstan Macamhlaidh
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SUBJECT: Going to your first event
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written by Lady Alisky MacKyven Raizel, as published in the
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Crown Prints, newsletter to Caid
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There are many different kinds of SCA events, and going to your first
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event can be a bit scary. You might wonder what the event will be like
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and what things you will need to bring. In general, there a indoor
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events (Coronation/12th Night) and outdoor events (Tournaments). ther
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are, of course, other events that don't fit these general categories
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(Game tourneys, picnics, The Festival of the Rose, etc.). Check the
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Newsletter for information about the day's activities; call the Autocrat
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if you have any questions.
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Outdoor events:
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Planning: Check the schedule for the event. Most SCA Tournaments last
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all day, from set-up in the morning to Closing Court in the (late)
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afternooe and on to a Revel in the evening. What do you need to plan
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for? Something youSonething to wear, a place to sit during the day, lunch
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and some activity that interests you. Something to wear-- the basic
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tenet of the SCA is that everyone makes an attempt to wear a medieval or
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renaissance costume. For a Tournament this can be as fancy or as simple
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as you wish. Clothing for outdoor events is often termed Field Costume or
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Field Garb. This means the outfit is easily washable but can range from a
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simple tunic through Elizabethan. Simple costumes for your first event
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can be obtained from Gold Key or you can construct your own. There are
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costuming articles in the Known World Handbook as well as in the Compleat
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Anachronist pamphlet series.
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A Place to Sit-- In some parks, all you need is a blandket to spead
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out under the trees; in others you will need some type of a sunshade an
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your own chair (a director's chair is pretty standard). Find out if
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there are others going to the event who will let you share their sunshade
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or pavilion. If not, a simple sunshade with aluminum poles can be
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cheaply purchased. Eventually you will want to replace the poles with
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wood poles or replace the sunshade with a more period pavilion.
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Lunch: occasionally there is food for sale at at Tournament but usually
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you will need to provide lunch for yourself. A satisfying lunch can be
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made form lunch meats, bead rools, cheese, raw vegetables, dessert and
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something to drink. All of this can be purchased in a market and carried
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to the event in a small cooler or ice chest (Covered!-C). Of course,
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more elaborate meals can also be planned (see the Known World Handbook
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for articles) You will also need some basic utensils; a plate, goblet,
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bowl and eating utensils. These can be obtained at Cost Plus and other
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similar stores at a reasonable cost (C:- a local chain akin to Pier One
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Imports).
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Activities- While you may be perfectly content at your first event to
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sit and watch, you may also want to bring something to do during slow
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moments. You may want to bring some type of needlework to work on or
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other type of handwork (leatherwork, macrame), a game board such as
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backgammon or chess, or a sketch pad. You may also wnat to get involved
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in the events going on. Volunteer to help the Mistress of Lists, learn
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Field Heraldry, be a Marshall in Training, offer to help the Autocrat.
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Opening Court-- This is when the King and Queen (and/or Baron and
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Baroness) address the populace, announcements for the day are made,
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awards given out and presentations are done. Everyone should attend
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court and should be as quiet as possible out of respect for the Crown
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and in order to hear what's going on.
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Lists-- this is a term you will see in the schedule for the day. It has
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several different (but connected) meanings. it is another term for the
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fighting competition, as in 'fighting in lists' or 'the winner of the
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lists'. It also refers to signing up in order to fight in the
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competition as in "Lists will open at 9:00' and 'Lists are now closed'.
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Lastly, it refers also to the order of combat in the competition.
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Fighting begins-- The fighting portion of the Tournament starts.
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Tourneys are generally double-eliminations (which means a fighter has two
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deaths before he or she is eliminated from the competition) and are held
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in rounds. Often there is an opening general melee in which all the
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fighters participate.
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Closing court-- At the end of the day, after the final round of the
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fighting portion of the day, closing court is held. Again the King and
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Queen (and/or Baron and Baroness) address the populace, announcements are
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made, contest winners are named and generally the winner of the fighting
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is honored.
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Revel-- this is an SCA-style party. It is usually held several hourse
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after the end of a Tourney, giving people time to go out to dinner. The
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revel is often held at a separate site away from the Tourney location.
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There may be dancing, entertainment, contests, a bardic circle, and
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evening court and light refreshments. It's a wonderful time to meet new
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people, talk and relax.
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Ciorstan here: more when my tired fingers permit.
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---
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* Origin: The Astro-Net, Not Just For Witches And Pagans. (Opus 1:103/903)
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