September - October 2009
Volume VIII
The Pelican and the Enfield
Photo by Raquel Bednar
www.Ballachlagan.org
Ballachlagan Officers
Seneschal
Julianah Ravenshaw
Julie Schultz
[email protected]
Herald and Chronicler
Lord Ælric Ravenshaw
Russ Schultz
[email protected]
Exchequer
Rachel McLaughlin
Minister of Arts and SciencesOrn Thorinson
Dr. Darrin Cox
[email protected]
Knight Marshal and Exchequer
Kevin Lucas
Webminister
Ruland Burckhart
Ed Bednar
[email protected]
Ballachlagan is sponsored
by the Shire of Kings Crossing
This is the Lamplighter, a publication of the Incipient
Shire of Ballachlagan of the Society for Creative
Anachronism. Inc. The Lamplighter is available from
Russ Schultz, 107 N. 10th St. Wheeling, WV, 26003. It
is not a corporate publication of the Society for
Creative Anachronism, Inc. and does not delineate
SCA policies.
Anyone wanting a hardcopy of the Lamplighter
should contact the chronicler. Hardcopies are printed
in black and white ink
It was wonderful seeing everyone at Pennsic. I hope everyone
had a great time in the sopping mud and the beating sun! Now that
Pennsic is over it is time to train our thoughts to our own events. This
is a wonderful time to be involved with Ballachlagan. Our shire is
gearing up to host two events that should put us on the map. There are
many things happening all over our area, not just within our own
shire.
I encourage everybody to participate in any events they choose
and to share their experiences with the rest of the shire.
Contact me if there is anything certain you would like our shire
to do for an evening meeting, be it martially inclined, artistically
inclined, or socially inclined. We have a wonderful shire and I look
forward to seeing how it will grow this year.
-Juliana
Ballachlagan Appoints new Minister of Arts and Sciences
Congratulations to Orn Thorinson, our new A&S officer! Orn is a great Viking who in his
pillages has accumulated much knowledge of how things are made and done. He has returned
from all over the world with vast trinkets to show and teach about.
Orn’s secret identity is Dr. Darrin Cox. Dr. Cox is a history professor at West Liberty
University. His specialty is medieval history. Dr. Cox has also started a history club at WLU.
One of their first endeavors was to invite our shire to campus for a demo. Dr. Cox and
Ballachlagan foresee a future where both groups will be mutually beneficial to one another.
He already offers workshops to his students at WLU about several topics that he has invited
the shire to as well. Not bad for a Norseman!
Ballachlagan welcomes Orn and his family to our area. He brings a beautiful wife,
Karen, their son, and another son (who may arrive by the time this goes to print!)
Congratulations! We are all excited about the prospects of what may come to pass.
Al Hafla – A Winter Oasis
Kings ‘ Crossing and the Incipient Shire of Ballachlagan
January 23, 2010
Through winter's bleak silence comes a Bedouin's plaintive call. Harken! Harken to the call of the
desert sands. Hear the music call you to Al-Hafla! Come, let your spirit soar on the wings of dance.
Experience the art of henna. Let the savory food of the sand's denizens fill your belly and senses.
Glory in the warmth of friends, old and new.
The incipient Shire of Ballachlagan and the Shire of Kings Crossing invite you to join in celebrating all
things Middle Eastern at our Al Hafla -A Winter Oasis.
Many will be the day's activities. Classes on all things Middle-Eastern shall be held for your
edification. An A&S display of the talent and work of Middle Eastern crafts persons shall dazzle your
mind. The beauty of the music and dancers will enthrall you. Solicitous merchants will await you
seeking to fulfill your desires.
Al-Hafla's feastocrat is Master Creador Twinedragon. Master Creador is engaging cooks of renown
from throughout the known world for your gustatory delight. Many and wonderful will be the
delicacies created in the style of the Middle East. This all-day side board promises to be larger
than most feasts.
Al Hafla site is at Warwood School in Wheeling, WV. It is bone dry and smoke free.
Those wishing to teach a class should contact Juliana Ravenshaw at [email protected] or(
304) 639-4775.
Those wishing to merchant should contact sionn the lost at [email protected] or (304) 2813819.
Those with dietary concerns should contact Master Creador Twynedragon at
[email protected]
All other questions can be fielded by the Autocrat, Lord AElric Ravenshaw at
[email protected] or (304) 639-2477. Please, no calls after 10pm (est.) to any of Al Hafla staff.
Troll will open at 10:00 and the site closes at 9:00.
Fees: A side-board is included with each entrance. Fees for Adults are $20 if POSTMARKED
before January 1, 2010, $25 if POSTMARKED between January 1, and 16, 2010, and $30 if
POSTMARKED AFTER January 16, 2010. Fees for children ages 6-17 are $10 if POSTMARKED
th
before January 1, 2010, $12.50 if POSTMARKED between January 1 and 16 , and $15 if
POSTMARKED AFTER before January 16, 2010. Children 5 and under are free. A non-membership
surcharge of$3 will be assessed as well. Reservations can be sent by check to Lord AElric
th
Ravenshaw (Russ Schultz) 107 N. 10 St., Wheeling, WV, 26003. Please make checks to the Shire
of Kings’ Crossing, SCA Inc.
Ballachlagan
lands
first
Peer
First Donnan the Solitary, then
Don Donnan MacDubhsidhe,
now MASTER Don Donnan
MacDubhsidhe the Solitary.
Donnan has been involved in
the SCA for several years.
Through these years he has
made
several
accomplishments.
On
Tuesday of War Week at
Pennsic 38, Donnan achieved
perhaps the highest status
possible in the SCA: He was
elevated to the Order of the
Pelican, a peerage level for
service to the SCA.
Donnan has a long list
of services rendered to the
East Kingdom, the Principality
His Royal Majesty King Manard congratulates Donnan
during his elevation.
Photo by Raquel Bednar.
of
AEthelmearc,
and
eventually to the great sylvan
AEthelmearc. His list of achievements is remarkable. One of his most
noticeable acts of service has been to the fencing community. He was
instrumental in bringing fencing to the western borders of the East kingdom
to a shire called Afenegara nearly 16 years ago. He created the Southern
Watch, and under his direction, AEthelmearc now has one of the most
successful and organized rapier armies in the Known Worlde. Donnan was
the first White Scarf in AEthelmearc. He currently is the AEthelmearc
Kingdom Marshal of Fence. This Pennsic he served as the AEthelmearc
Warlord, and 2nd in command of the Allied Forces. From all of us in
Ballachlagan, we offer our most sincere congratulations, admiration, and
above all else - thanks.
Ballachlagan Readies for Donnan Party
The shire is readying again to host the Donnan Party on March 20, 2010. Lady Juliana
Ravenshaw will autocrat her first event. This year will add heavy weapons to the mix,
but the event will still focus on late period fencing techniques. As usual for the Donnan
Party, there will be plenty of Birthday smacks. This year’s feastocrat will be Gareth
Whitebull, who is planning a lunch with traditional Irish recipes. There will be plenty of
fun for all.
Talon Youth Experience Pennsic Through
Service
Though family oriented, some children still have a hard time finding their place
while at Pennsic. Several kingdoms and households have begun to help children get a
release with the Children’s Fete and the Water Battle at the Castle. Some spend their days
boffing one another on the head preparing for their day when they will sometime raise
their sword to become King. Some spend the day on Beggars Row strumming their harps,
juggling, singing, and any other activity their brains create.
There is yet another avenue that many people overlook – service. Those people
who pull their selves out of bed early on a Pennsic morning and drag their slumbering
bodies near the Cooper Store would be amazed of what they would see…urchins
everywhere! Some drag heavy wagonloads of ice. Some usher the news of the Pennsic
Independent. It is truly a remarkable spectacle.
The children in House Silver Talon experience service of all kinds. Every day
they can be seen trudging along while pulling the camp garbage to the dumpsters. They
stand alongside the road offering pickles, Gatorade, water, olives, and chairs to rest to the
weary fighters returning from the Woods Battle.
Through service while at Pennsic the children learn skills that will help them in
their SCAdians and mundane life. By serving in the SCA, the children begin to take
ownership of the Society and they have a vested interest in the success of it. All of the
“Talon Kids,” Connor Ravenshaw, Sianna Ravenshaw, Elizabeth Wayland, and Lyllyan
Wayland, all worked very hard during Pennsic XXXVIII.
To them we offer a hearty Vivat!
Elizabeth Wayland learns cooking
skills while helping to prepare
breakfast for the camp.
Sianna Ravenshaw learns about
running a business as she delivers
the Pennsic Independent on a windy
morning.
Photos by AElric Ravenshaw. Images and names used with parental permission.
Calendar of Events
September
Sun’s Day
6
Ballachlagan
fighting and
fencing
Moon’s Day
7
Tyr’s Day
Woden’s Day
Thor’s Day
Freya’s Day
Saturn’s Day
1
2
WLSC
Demo
3 KC
Fencing
practice
4 Kings
Crossing
Meeting
and
Fighter
Practice
5
8
9
10 KC
Fencing
practice
11 KC
Fighter
Practice
12
Battle of Misty
Highlands
13
Ballachlagan
fighting and
fencing
14
15
16
17 KC
Fencing
practice
18
24 KC
Fencing
practice
25 KC
Fighter
Practice
Shire Meeting
19
Coronation
of Henri and
Elena
Battle of Misty
Highlands
20
Ballachlagan
fighting and
fencing
21
22
23
27
Ballachlagan
fighting and
fencing
28
29
30
26
Calendar of Events
October
Sun’s Day
Moon’s Day
Tyr’s Day
Woden’s Day
Thor’s Day
KC
Fencing
practice
1
4
Ballachlagan
fighting and
fencing
3
Queens
Rapier
Champions
7
8
KC
Fencing
practice
9
KC
Fighter
Practice
10
12
13
14
15
KC
Fencing
practice
16
17
Shire Meeting
Crown
Tourney
19
20
21
22 KC
Fencing
practice
23
KC
Fighter
Practice
24 Agincourt
26
27
28
KC
Fencing
practice
30
KC
Fighter
Practice
31
Ballachlagan
fighting and
fencing
25
2
Kings
Crossing
Meeting
and
Fighter
Practice
6
Ballachlagan
fighting and
fencing
18
Saturn’s Day
5
Ballachlagan
fighting and
fencing
11
Freya’s Day
29
Hallow
een