FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
PAGE 1
From The Tower
Barony of Southron Gaard
December AS L (2015)
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
PAGE 2
Chronic Rumblings
Inside this issue
Welcome to another From The Tower,
I would love to see your stuff in FTT – pictures, original artwork, reviews,
articles, poems, recipes etc. Please send your contributions to the
[email protected] email address by the 25th of each month. Late
contributions may be published in the following issue.
If you’re a regular at practices on Sundays please check the calendar
carefully as A&S in particular will be quite disrupted in the next couple of
months between a Games event, Christmas, New Year and then
coronation/ Canterbury Faire. If you are not sure please ask on the SG list.
Yours, in service to Southron Gaard,
Eleanora
News Flash: WAR practice
Sir Philippe just caught us before going to print to tell us of war practice
in preparation for Canterbury Faire – Be at the normal fighter’s practice
on Sunday 13th December and be geared up for some war fighting.
Contact Sir Philippe for details.
Chronic Ramblings
2
Their Excellencies
Speak
3
Seneschal’s
Comments
4
From the Officers
5
Council Minutes
1112
Regnum
15
Other Groups’
Contacts
17
SCANZ membership
form
18
What’s On
Art and Sciences
planned activities
5
Games Day
6
Event: 12th Night at
Canterbury Faire
7
Wildmoor Spring
Hunt report
8-9
Calendar of Events & 13Meetings
14
Special features
Resource of the
Month
10
This is the December 2015 issue of From the Tower, a publication of the Barony of Southron
Gaard of the Society for Creative Anachronism New Zealand, Inc. (SCANZ, Inc.). From the
Tower is only available online on the Southron Gaard website at
http://sg.lochac.sca.org/docs/ftt/. It is not a corporate publication of SCANZ, Inc., and does
not delineate SCANZ, Inc. policies.
Credits for this issue:
Cover Art: Nativity, unknown artists, Germany, 1170s in the J.P.Getty Museum Open Content collection.
http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/105405/unknown-maker-the-nativity-german-probably-1170s/
Games Day: Wikimedia Commons, The Chess Game by Sofonisba Anguissola, 1555, Wikipedia, Libro de los juegos, 1286
Coronation at Faire logo: edited by Peter Grooby, based on Virgo from a Book of hours, Italy, probably Milan, ca. 1473 MS G.14 (fol. 12r)
http://www.themorgan.org/collection/medieval-and-renaissance/manuscript/msg14fol12r
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
PAGE 3
Kingdom of Lochac
King & Queen: Steffan Glaube and Branwen verch Lewis ap Thomas
Please send award recommendations to [email protected] with a courtesy copy to B&[email protected]
Additional information can be found on the Kingdom website: www.lochac.sca.org.
Their Excellencies Speak
Unto the populace of Southron Gaard do Isabel
Maria and Oswyn send greetings and best wishes.
It is with glad hearts we name for the official
chronicles of our barony our successors, the
Honourable Lady Ginevra Serafina della Visconti
and the Honourable Lord Richard d’Allier. We
wish them all good fortune during their time in
office and entreat all of you to extend to them the
same great courtesy and good will you so kindly
bestowed on us. It has been a pleasure and an
honour to serve you in this role, an we know it
shall be for them.
We again thank Baroness Agnes and Lady Elena,
and The Honourable Lady Aveline and Lady
Chunegund, for offering themselves for
consideration as Baronesses of Southron Gaard. It
is a brave thing to declare yourself for so public a
role, knowing that you may not be chosen. Let
every gentle of the Barony do them honour in
their hearts as they would any fighter in Crown
Tourney, for they have contested all with their
good names.
We thank all of you who made submissions in the
Baronial poll. It is by your efforts and input that
we arrive at any understanding of the will of the
populace. Only by what is spoken do we know
what people feel. We believe also that Southron
Gaard and Lochac should be a place where people
are held accountable for what they say, and its
effects. But we also hope Southron Gaard shall be
a place where people feel they can make a
In service to the populace, Crown and Kingdom
Oswyn and Isabel Maria
Baron and Baroness of
Southron Gaard
difference by speaking their mind - that it actually
does some good, and that they will not feel
persecuted or harried for doing so.
We thank those who are giving up their precious
holiday time to asset with preparation for and
working at Canterbury Faire. We are a voluntary
society, and cannot afford to take offers of service
from anyone for granted.
That said, some jobs attract more volunteers than
others. It is the service in low-profile, long hours,
stressful jobs, where you only get feedback if
people are most happy with it - cooking, cleaning,
wrestling with mundane logistics, and treating with
the general populace or all comers rather than just
Royalty - which in our eyes confer the greatest
esteem.
Long live the cooks and washerwomen, the
scullions and wagoners, and the people who rise to
the occasions when we say ‘Damn I forgot that
one thing it’s back in the tent’, or worse, in
Christchurch.
(Thank you Elena!)
Also - our Chirurgeon Kotek has been in office far
beyond the natural term. We urge you to consider
applying for the role so that he can at last have a
rest. Or that of Seneschal . . . which of these jobs
is the scarier?
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
PAGE 4
Seneschal’s Comments
Greetings All,
This month has been a great month. Firstly the
Hororata Highland Games were a grand success. I
was immensely pleased to have so many people
contribute to and support this endeavour. Particular
thanks go to Eleanora, Sigurd, Elena, Melisande,
Ginevra, Chunegund, Ragnar, Brian, Ivan, Margreit,
Bartholemew, Katherine Kerr, Callum, Katherine
Stewart, Rosanella, Philippe, Lowrens, and Vitale for
either being there on the day, or logistical support.
The display we put up was very flash and having
people working on crafts really drew people in to
check out what was going on. Some photos are
available at
https://www.flickr.com/photos/simonehindin/sets/721
57660956332271. To then follow this effort up with
the open day last weekend and have huge support for
that as well was simply fantastic. We can never know
how many people we might get along to such things,
but we do know that if we don’t run them at all we’ll
certainly get zero, and if we don’t put effort into them
we probably won’t see anyone twice. Judging from
the comments we got from people that did come to
the open day it seems very likely we’ll see them
again, and THAT’S what it’s all about.
So, again, huge thanks to everyone that supported
these events.
Golden Flight was also a great event. The weather
gods played ball and held back on the much-forecast
Kind regards,
THL Richard d'Allier
Seneschal of Southron Gaard
rain for the most part and the activities during the
event were fun and well-paced. Congratulations to
Lord Ceallach and Hilda for a job well done. I
particularly enjoyed the varied archery shoots, and
the feast cooked by Lord Timothy was mighty fine.
The Baronial Poll has concluded, and a decision
made. THL Ginevra and I are honoured and excited
to have been selected to be the next Baron and
Baroness and as such this will be my penultimate
Seneschal’s column. YAY! No more columns for me
to wri ..... what’s that you say? There’s a Baronial
column??Gorammit!
Ahem. THL Ginevra and I are honoured and excited
to have been selected to be the next Baron and
Baroness. 12th Night Coronation/Canterbury Faire is
fast approaching and all efforts now shift into high
gear as final preparations are made. This is where the
stewarding team needs the most support so if you
think there is something you can help with, such as
maybe getting some gear to the event, helping with
the publications or the like then please ask. If you’re
not sure what you might help with just have a think
about all the little things that happen at Faire and
consider what needs to go on to make them happen.
Schedules do not magically appear around the site by
themselves, tables do not magically move, shuttles do
not drive themselves. All offers of assistance will be
gratefully received.
.
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
PAGE 5
From the Officers
Arts and Sciences for December
The coming couple of months are disrupted a bit for A&S in central Southron Gaard and Wildmoor
have stopped A&S for the holidays.
Sunday 6th
Sewing and stuff: get those last weeks before faire projects finished (or underway)
Sunday 13th
Games day event.
The following two Sundays the hall will be closed but it will reopen on 3rd January for panicky last
minute before faire stuff.
Vacancies
Captain of Archers
Lord Bjorn Svartsson has been proposed for the position of Southron Gaard Captain of Archers.
Confirmation of this appointment is subject to the usual commentary period.
If you have any comments or concerns regarding this appointment, please send them to Lady Angele de
Savigny ([email protected]) by Sunday the 13th of December.
If you are interested in a role please review the job outline at http://sg.lochac.sca.org/regnum.shtml
Seneschal
We will shortly require a new Seneschal. If you think that you might be interested in the job please see the
job description as above and talk to the current or previous seneschals.
Email your application to: [email protected], [email protected] &
[email protected].
Chirurgeon
Have you got a First Aid Certificate? Do you want to be the new Chirurgeon?
Email your application to: [email protected] with copies to [email protected] &
[email protected].
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
PAGE 6
Southron Gaard Games Day
Sunday, 13 December, 11 am - 2.30 pm
A garbed day of learning and playing medieval board games and variants, with outdoor games if
weather permits. Children and adults welcome! Feel free to bring any of your own medieval
games along.
Free Entry
Redwood Scout Den
20 Sturrocks Road, Redwood
Steward: Herrin Chunegund Screivogelin
Picture Credits:
Wikimedia Commons: The Chess Game by Sofonisba Anguissola, 1555
Wikipedia, Libro de los juegos, 1286
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
TWELFTH NIGHT
at Canterbury Faire 2016
Paradiso y Purgatorio
Southron Gaard hosts Canterbury Faire with all the added splendour of
a Lochac Coronation including; Champions Tournaments, Masked Ball,
celebratory Feast, Court, Carnivale, and the Coronation of the new
King and Queen
Coronation Festivities:
Fri 15 – Sun 17 January
Canterbury Faire:
Thu 14 – Fri 22 January
(Thursday 14th available for set up of event crew and large
encampments by prior arrangement)
Location:
Steward:
137 Darnley Road, Waipara, New Zealand
Isabel Maria del Aguila, [email protected]
Pricing:
Full Event:
after 1 Dec
Adult $155.00,
Child $75.00
Day trip (24hour):
Adult $20.00,
Child $10.00
Meal Plan:
Adult $80.00,
Child $45.00
Feast:
Adult $30.00,
Child $15.00
Repast:
Adult $12.00,
Child $10.00
Tent Hire:
$35.00
Bunkrooms:
$ 2.50 (per night)
Mattresses:
$12.00 (whole event)
T-shirt:
$25.00
Script Bag:
$15.00
Bookings and more information at http://sg.lochac.sca.org/cf/
PAGE 7
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
PAGE 8
Wildmoor
Spring
Hunt
Over the Labour Day long weekend of 2015, the Incipient
Canton of Wildmoor hosted a hunting themed camping
event at the idyllic location of Bridge Field, part of Waiora
Scout Camp. With a stream and tiny waterfall chuckling
beside the campsite, an enormous field for archery and
other activities, participants enjoyed camp cooking, heavy
fighting, archery, painting, and all-round good fellowship.
Here, young Olivier turns the chickens for dinner over a
camp cooking setup created by Damian for the event, a
task that was traded off amongst several people over the
course of a few hours.
Meanwhile, Master Brian, THL
Richard and Lord Leonhart take a
well-earned rest after enjoying
some heavy fighting.
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
PAGE 9
The weather for the event was sunny (for the most part) but cool, and all were grateful for their cloaks,
hoods, and the fire. Wildmoor is indeed an excellent place to get good value from your woollen garb.
While sitting around chatting, singing, and attempting to identify the tracks of various animals via an
exercise prepared by Lord Leonhart were indeed popular activities at the event, several attendees made
use of His Lordship Richard’s tent to enjoy a quieter activity, that of painting pre-drawn dags for the
Known World Tapestry Tour fundraiser. Lady’s Edith, Eyja and Bencelina were amongst those who did
a wonderful job of painting the heraldic dags that had been brought to the event.
All in all, it was a wonderfully relaxed event, and a good time was had by all.
By: THL Aveline Goupil
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
PAGE 10
Resource of the Month
Medievalists.net
Medievalists.net is a ‘blog’, email newsletter and more recently an online magazine. Started by a pair of
University Students fascinated with the medieval era it’s grown into a bit of a one-stop-shop. They cover
pretty much anything do to with the medieval world – from fun quizzes and polls to academic papers, to
books and videos.
The general approach is short summary article followed by a link to the main resource so it’s primarily a
medievalist news site. If you like you can just read the short summary and get the gist of the item – these are
great for news items - or click on through to read the full report. Articles are tagged with various subjects so
you can explore a topic and you’ll be surprised how deep you can get, for example a video “Medieval
Animation: The Founding of Lithuania’s capital Vilnius” had one subject tag: Lithuania which found me
several articles about medieval Lithuania including “The Legal Status of Female Guardians in 1530s
Lithuania”, “The Battle of Tannenberg in 1410: Strategic Interests and Tactical Implementation” and
“Mobilisation of the European Periphery against the Mongols”.
If that sounds all a bit heavy going for you you might want to start with their click-bait style lists e.g.



Top 10 Viking Movies – which fails for me by missing out Eric the Viking!
Movie Review: Knights of Badassdom – “When the people behind Knights of Badassdom wanted
us to promote the film, I asked if they wanted us to review it. They said no. After watching it, I
can understand why.”
Ten Strange Medieval Nicknames – useful for persona maybe?
Or try a fun quiz:



Quiz: Historical or Fictional?
What sword would you use in the Medieval or Renaissance eras?
Do You Know Your Renaissance History?
The main site is at medievalists.net (obviously) however they are on a range of social media sites including
facebook, twitter, pinterest, tumblr, youtube etc so you can probably follow them on whatever you favourite
platform is, or simply subscribe to the email newsletter.
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
PAGE 11
Southron Gaard Council Meeting Minutes – 14/10/2015
Meeting Opened: 7:30pm
Present: Aveline (Sandra), Chunegund (Jo), Elena (Niamh), Raffe (Shaun), Agnes (Robyn), Ginevra (Beth),
Richard (Richard), Eleanora (Simone)
Apologies: Isabel Maria (Miriam), Oswyn (Carl)
Minutes: Read and accepted. Moved: Elena. Seconded: Aveline. Carried with no objections.
Officer Reports:
B&B: No report
Seneschal: Did demo at Sevenoaks school with Philippe, talk, archery and fighting. Organising Hororata
Highland Games demo – had 2 responses for more volunteers. Contacted organisers and filled in risk
assessment, requested tickets and details of times. Worked on baronial succession stuff before handing over
to Lowrens.
Herald: Attending Spring thing, heralded court. Spoke to people re device submissions. One (Richard’s) in
progress.
Marshal: talked to Chatelaine re helmets for youth combat. Need ice hockey helmets. Went to Spring Thing.
Capt of Rapier: Practices sparsely attended. Venue location an issue. Attended sword symposium. One
person ready to authorise rapier, another C&T at CF. Will be doing own authorising marshal authorisation at
CF.
Capt of Archers: Bjorn authorised as TAM now. Waiting on application for office.
A&S: classes continuing with minimal enthusiasm, but then did column in FtT and lots of people came to
chemise class. BYO project/Eleanora’s weaving demo also went well. Next class is making wax seals. Will
sort out classes for Nov and put into FtT. Received more CF A&S class bookings. Fixed access to CF
website calendar and have uploaded tentative schedule. Will contact people to check times suit.
Quartermaster: Went to Spring Thing. Transported stuff. Got 3 sticks for loaners swords and working on 3
shields. Also working on getting shelving units for container (Sigurd). Found a bowl which might be good for
replacing feast gear as current stocks are running low. Bowl is $7.90 which is a good price. Proposed to buy
12. Richard suggests more (20, $160 approx total). Moved by Richard, Seconded Elena. Carried unanimously.
Discussed sunshades. Last 3 we made are either gone or dead. Discussed and agreed to look into costs to fix
or replace. Could be made at an A&S practice. Wildmoor would be interested in one as well. Raffe has access
to industrial sewing machine. Raffe to investigate.
Chronicler: FtT + 2 special succession editions published. Website updated for succession stuff.
Constable: Mace being repaired. CF Steward contacted re plans.
Webwright: dealt with mailing lists and access to CF A&S calendar.
Reeve: no report
Chatelaine: no report
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
PAGE 12
Event Reports
Spring Thing (Eleanora): Final report submitted. $55 profit. 1 injury (Raffe – non fighting). Have 1 sign and
lost and found. Need more signs made. Ideally one with a moveable arrow.
Spring Hunt (Aveline): ~20 people booked. Appreciate offers of stuff to transport. Richard taking his tent,
so don’t need Baronial Pavillion.
Golden Flight: Bookings slow, but FB event page has indicated more interest. Site booked, looking for one
more cook. Everything ok.
Canterbury Faire: feast filled. Bookings progressing well. Camping arrangements still being settled.
Teenagers household campsite still no. Mobile eftpos - $99 fee to set up merchant account + rental of eftpos
device. 3% surcharge will apply to credit card transactions. No fee for debit card. Timetable not yet adjusted
for Baronial Succession as it’s at TRM’s discretion.
Baronial Anniversary: going fine. Permission granted to pay a deposit for the hall. Going to CCC to book
the park.
Chess Demo: financial budget presented by Chunegund to make chess pieces with plywood base and
cardboard. Discussed size and required plywood. Can make the pieces at A&S practice. Demo would be done
at Botanical Gardens (or somewhere), hoping to attract new people. Following week would be games day at
normal practice (in garb). Can we borrow chess set from CCC? May be worth asking CCC. Can purchase sets
online for about $250. Discussed making them out of plywood (and other options) and getting people to
jigsaw them out (do as A&S project)? Board would be made from tarpaulin. Discussed dates, perhaps do
Games day as Xmas revel? No food.
General idea for event approved. Later discussion suggested making the pieces at CF and leading demo into
BA instead. Chunegunde thinks it’s important to do the lead up to CF, but not necessarily this next CF. Can
also just run a games day regardless of having the chess set made. General agreement that stretching out the
process has a lot of advantages. Revised plan is to not do demo before CF, games day in Dec, buy plywood
and make templates before December, cut in December, get paint and paint at CF, continue and finish after
CF. Do demos during the year and lead up to CF 2017. Need to re-price plywood to make 2d slotted pieces.
Discussed using tough (marine) plywood so that it’s durable in weather. Think the budget for paint is a bit
light need more like 4l of each colour (red and yellow) not 0.5l. Purchased plastic set wouldn’t achieve the
result of having a period set or involving A&S.
General Business
Enthusiastic Consent: put blurb in booklet and notices in privies. Jo to draft a blurb.
Meeting Closed: 8:37 pm.
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
PAGE 13
December 2015
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
4
5
11
12
18
19
25
26
Fight practice
6
7
Heavy Combat
A&S
Rapier
Archery
UCMRS Dance
13
14
Games day
event
UCMRS Dance
20
21
8
9
15
16
28
17
Fight practice
22
23
Scout Hall
UCMRS Dance
closed
Heavy Combat?
Rapier?
Archery?
27
10
Council Meeting Fight practice
24
FTT
contributions
due
29
30
31
Scout Hall
UCMRS Dance?
closed
Heavy Combat?
Rapier?
Archery?
Over Christmas / New Year
The Redwood Scout hall won’t be opened on Sundays 20th & 27th. Outdoors activities may go ahead in the
park but the wise would consult the lists and/or Facebook to check whether anyone is going.
MARTIAL PRACTICES
ARTS GATHERINGS
ORGANISATIONAL MEETING
Armoured Combat
Arts & Sciences
Council Meeting
Sundays 10am–noon at
Redwood Scout Hall.
Thursdays 6-8pm in the park at
the end of Jasmine Place, Wigram
Sundays from 11:00am at
Redwood Scout Hall.
Topics or projects to be
announced on SG list and
Facebook.
Second Wednesday of the
month, from 7:30pm.
Upper Riccarton Library,
71 Main South Road.
Or join online: details posted to
the SG list
Rapier
Sundays from noon at Redwood
Scout Hall.
Archery
Fine Sundays at Northcote
School grounds, meet at
Redwood Scout Hall.
Email: [email protected]
Wildmoor
Wildmoor Arts and Sciences
meetings have stopped for
summer holidays.
UCMRS Dance
Mondays 7pm -8:30pm in KF08.
Kirkwood Village.
All welcome
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
PAGE 14
January 2016
Sun
3
Mon
4
Tue
5
6
Thu
Fri
1
2
7
8
9
11
12
13
14
15
16
Canterbury
Faire
Canterbury
Faire
23
A&S
Heavy Combat
Rapier
Archery
17
18
19
20
21
22
Canterbury
Faire
Canterbury
Faire
Canterbury
Faire
Canterbury
Faire
Canterbury
Faire
Canterbury
Faire
24
25
26
27
28
29
Scout Hall
closed
Heavy Combat?
Rapier?
Archery?
31
A&S
Heavy Combat
Rapier
Archery
Sat
Council Meeting
ONLINE only
A&S
Heavy Combat
Rapier
Archery
10
Wed
30
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
PAGE 15
Southron Gaard Regnum
(Being a list of the current Baronial Officers and their official email addresses)
Baron & Baroness:
Seneschal:
Tour d’Or Herald:
Reeve:
Knight Marshal:
Arts & Sciences:
Chronicler:
Chatelaine:
Chirurgeon
Constable:
Crescents Officer
Librarian
Quartermaster:
Web scribe:
Captain of Archers:
Captain of Rapier:
Lists Officer:
* Seeking replacement
Oswyn Carolus and Isabel Maria del Aguila
Richard d'Allier *
Aveline Goupil
James of Southron Gaard
Elena Sophia Luciano de Medici
Agnes ðe kyrii
Eleanora van den Bogaerde
Phillipe de Tournay
Kotek Torzhokskoi *
Raffe de Massard
Lady Csperka
Melisande de Massard
Raffe de Massard
Ginevra de Serafino Visconti
Currently Vacant
James of Southron Gaard
Melisande de Massard
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
SCA (NZ) Inc. Membership
There are two different types of membership available to event
participants in New Zealand:
Subscribing Membership:
Grants full rights of participation in the SCA (including voting,
entering Crown Tournaments, holding office and affiliate
membership with overseas branches).
Subscribing membership also includes a subscription to Pegasus, the
Lochac Kingdom Newsletter in either electronic or paper form.
1 Year with E-Pegasus
$ 15.00
3 Years with E-Pegasus
$ 30.00
1 Year with Pegasus
$ 45.00
3 years with Pegasus
$105.00
Event Membership:
PAGE 16
SCA Groups in
New Zealand
(see websites for more details)
OTAGO
Incipient Canton of
Wildmoor
College of St Kessog
(dormant)
http://kessog.lochac.sca.org
WELLINGTON
Shire of Darton
http://darton.lochac.sca.org
Sun: Fight Practice
Tues: Arts & Sciences
For all non-members aged 18 years or over attending an event.
Event membership lasts for the duration of that event only and is
not sufficient to hold office or fight in Crown Tournament etc.
If the event has a cost, and it is not held by a College, the levy will be
charged.
Per event
$ 2.00
A SCA(NZ) Inc. membership form is included on the final page of
this newsletter, or can be accessed on the SCA(NZ) website.
For further information visit the official SCA(NZ) Inc. website at:
www.sca.org.nz
College of St Aemigdius
(dormant)
http://aemigdius.lochac.sca.org
AUCKLAND
Barony of Ildhafn
http://ildhafn.lochac.sca.org
Sunday:
Monday:
(biweekly)
Wednesday:
Thursday:
A & S, Singing
Sewing
Fencing
Dance
College of St Dionysius
(dormant)
http://stdionysius.lochac.sca.org
HAMILTON
Canton of Cluain
http://cluain.lochac.sca.org
Wed: Fight Practice (non SCA)
3rd Sat: Hastilude
3rd Sun: Archery
FROM THE TOWER
DECEMBER 2015
PAGE 17