I have been crowned!

Well, the last week or so has been a whirlwind of activity, what with the holidays spontaneously arriving and all. In the past week or so I've gotten a crown, done facepainting AND videography for the Kara Nomadica show, broken a crown, seen Tenacious D live in concert, spent time with my family for Thanksgiving, attended an awesome Hafla, and gotten a second crown. Hopefully this one won't break.

I feel like I'm spending far too much time at the dentist. But I'm celebrating having dental insurance for the first time in, uh...five years? So I'm a little behind in my dental health. Having all that time in the chair with my mouth open gave me time to think up some funny comparisons between dental 'crowns' and SCA 'Crowns'.


Dental crowns are supposedly permanent. SCA Crowns change every 6-8 months. When you first receive a dental crown, it may feel weird for a few days until you get used to it. When you first receive an SCA Crown, it may take a few months before the weirdness subsides. A dental crown becomes physically part of you forever. An SCA Crown becomes psychologically part of you forever.

After receiving a dental crown, you may experience some speech impairment for a short period of time. After receiving an SCA Crown, you may experience chronic speech impairment for a much longer period of time.(I'm not saying that Crowns can't be eloquent. But that they cannot always say what is really on their minds)

Dental crowns are worn on the inside. SCA crowns are worn on the outside. Coincidently, both types of crowns can be made of precious metal.


Yeah, the things I think of to distract myself are pretty darn weird. But then it made me want to find information about medieval dentistry! And lo, the internet speweth forth many a source for such knowledge:

Medieval and Renaissance Dental Hygiene has many recipies and remedies with thoughtful commentary by the author, who has personally tried most of them. Braver than I would be, with some of those ingredients...... mmmmm........ charcoal....

The American Dental Association has a few pages of dental history on their website. Erroneously thinking that crowns were a somewhat 'modern' invention, I'm shocked to find out that the Etruscans were doings crowns AND bridgework almost 2000 years ago. More research into this brought me to The Dental HiWay's History page, with it's drop-down menu of more dental history than you can shake a willow stick at. Only seven of the selections are pre 1600ad, but what is there, is quite informative. Another good history page can be found at Idakerala.org, where the subjects are broken up into an outline form.

I've also found that the patron Saint of dentists is Saint Apollonia. She got her job as a saint because, during an uprising against Christians in Alexandria, she had all of her teeth smashed out while she was being tortured. Rather than speak against her own religion (and thus save her own life) she threw herself into a pyre.

I might have done that, too if I had just had all my teeth smashed out. More out of vanity than for faith, though. Maybe she didn't know that Etruscan bridgework was available...

More Crown Tournament Photo links and A Mighty Skirmish

Links to more Outlands Crown Tournament photos, as promised!

Outlands Fall Crown '06 Created by Deerbourne

Fall Crown 06 Created by arwensouth

This one by pryor includes photos from Baronial Investiture as well!

And here's fresh video from melee practice in the Barony of Caerthe, in the Outlands that pits 5 against 8. I think all of the 5 are Knights...

It's a mighty skirmish that finishes off with the classic 'everyone gang up on one guy' attack!

Also, audience participation archery mades this an exciting melee for everyone. But this is why you see no audience in the side seating. Arrows were bouncing off into the bleachers.

No fighters were injured during the making of this film!

Crown Tournament and Vintage SCA photos

Well, I don't know about you all, but I sure seemed to cram a whole bunch of stuff into this last weekend. Yes, I know I missed a good Crown. Oh, yes - and congratulations go to Duke Artan and Duchess Aziza, the new Outlands Crown Prince and Princess! This will be Duke Artan's 6th reign as King of the Outlands. When he steps down, will that make him the Duke Cubed? (Duke3)

Speaking of Crown Tournament, don't miss THL Robert Marchet's website, where there are glorious photos of the day, such as this 'moment of reflection' shown here. There are several wonderfully captured moments you'll want to see. I've taken the liberty of coming up with some catchy titles for a few of my favorites: 'just like whack-a-mole', 'nice dodge' and 'oooooh, that looks painful.'

But seriously. I only jest so much because I love them. They're really, really that good.

Another great photo gallery (and SCA historical reference) is Vintage SCA Photos! It's a Flickr photo page where you can upload pre-1986 SCA photos. And just look who is already in there...pre-Outlands, I'm guessing.

Flickr is a free service if you have any old incriminating photos of the Dark Ages you'd like to upload...

Fencing Fun at Outlands Coronation

Though I missed Saturday of Outlands Coronation, on Sunday, the Protector of the Queen's Heart Tournament was wonderful!

Having not entered the tourney myself and with nothing pressing to do, I bore fruit to the weary fighters on the list field. I got a little exercise, and of course the opportunity to ask everyone to 'sample my melons' was just too juicy to resist.

I got literally ringside seats, and witnessed Don Charles overtake Baron Sir Chronos in the final round. Both fine men, and I was torn during their last fight as to who I thought would best the other.

A good surprise of the day turned out to be the new Queen's choice for the Rapier of Chivalry - Darbuka's own Marcos. That, my friend, is a damn fine sword you are holding there. Mabrouk!

And now for something completely different.

It appears that Secret Jedi Fencing Techniques are being learned somewhere in the Northern Outlands. Evidence of this was accidentally captured with a digital camera. Clearly, The Force is strong in this one...

I can't even get point control. Now I gotta do MIND CONTROL to keep up?

....ooops....almost forgot! Photos taken by Aleksi with Caoilinn's camera...

Les Tres Belles Heures de Baron de Caer Galen

I wanted to post about this event coming up, but I was pretty nervous about it. You see, I was TOLD to be there. Then I thought: Oh, no. The only time one is TOLD to attend is when you've done something very wrong, or very right. Either way, you are called into court.

Silly me thinking that this was all about me! Turns out that my fencer friend Cecily was elevated into the order of the White Scarf. Huzzah for the newest lady Donya of the Outlands!

And I even wore a nice dress just in case. My Don, Talan, just wanted to make sure I was there to see it. There has been only two women in the Outlands made White Scarves since I started fencing, and I didn't get to see the other ceremony. It was fabulous, and of course many people cried. I even got a little misty.

Even though court was long, it was punctuated with much humor, and Kamadevi's harp playing during the slow parts. We were well entertained. Caer Galen has found their successors to the Baronial thrones, war plans are being made and there is much to do for this Reign.

Speaking of the King, do you know how funny it is to get caught by His Royal Majesty sneaking out of the Royal Room, following closely behind Don Dio? Kind of makes you guilty no matter WHAT anyone thinks we were doing in there. Trust me, it was very serious business indeed. Even though His Maj gave me THAT look. But if you ARE reading this, I did eat three dates off your food table. In that I am guilty. But look on the bright side: I can honestly say that your food had not been poisoned.

Ah, but I just love the Crowns. It's hard NOT to want to do great things for them. And, as it seems I'll be experiencing a great deal of free time in the next two months, I'll be able to work hard on an updated version of the Outlands Map, which will be ready for Estrella War.

This is the 20th anniversary of the Outlands. I had shown up on the doorstep of the Barony of Dragonsspine in 1993, when she was only 8 years old. Hard to imagine the last twelve years have made me what I am now in the SCA.

Heh. And I'm STILL nervous about the possibility of being called into court.

Especially now.

Outlands Coronation report

It seemed we got off to a fitful start, as many roadtrips do. More like herding cats, really. But, finally, off we sped, southward into the raging storm. Myself, Dons Dio and Talan, and Talans' lady Kamadevi.

Don Dio (my grandfather Don, if you feel like drawing a flow chart) had been talking about winning the Protector of the Queens Heart tournament since the very moment King Hrorek won Crown Tourney. Actually, since long before that. He vowed years ago that he would win it if Hrorek was ever King.

So I had to go along and witness that he would indeed win. I really never had any doubt, because I knew Don Dio in the old days, when his powers were at their peak. So he stopped playing for what, five years? The Force is still strong in him.

Oh, yes. A side note. Spending six hours in a vehicle with Don Dio can feel like six minutes or six weeks. And no, you can't sleep through it.

After arriving at our stopping place for the night, we settled down to a get some sleep in the house of another Don, who shall for now remain nameless. His collection of sharp and deadly weapons rivals that of most museums I've seen, and I wouldn't want anyone to get any ideas. Not that you'd EVER find his house anyway, with an 11 mile driveway. It's not often that I've been able to step out of a house and not see ANY signs of civilization. Anywhere. It occurred to me that if I lived there, I'd save a ton of money on not doing laundry.

Anyway, morning arrives bright and sunny, and I recall why I don't like the southern Outlands. They've got their dayball set on kill. And if that don't kill you, the wind will. I started squinting immediately. Then came the telltale grit in my teeth. Mmmm. Dusty.

We get there in time for court, to see the the two other things I did not want to miss: Elijah Tynker's Knighting ceremony and the investiture of King Hrorek and his Queen (yeah, I'm skipping her name because it's one of those celtic ones with about sixteen extra letters).

I had heard that the fencing scenario was supposed to be a dance card draw, but it got changed to a one hour epee only speed tourney. Ouch. I'm suddenly very glad I'm not fighting in it. So Don Talan, Kamadevi and I settle in the watch the fights. Don Dio told me two months ago he was going to win it. I never really had any doubts, but it was glorious to watch....even with the wardrobe malfunctions...

We stayed for Court, but since we didn't have feast reservations, we decided to go to an Indian restaurant instead. I somehow succeeded in finding this place I've been to ONCE, two years ago, without the aid of a map or an address. In Santa Fe. Which is more confusing to me than Boston. All that adobe just looks the same to me. And I found our way back to the site, where we picked up a map to the post revel...

...and my GOD, Santiago's house is awesome. He wins the 'best bathroom of the year' award. You could fit five people in that shower. And hanging around the fire pit and smelling that wonderful pinon smoke that I miss so much, reminded me that I haven't traveled to the desert since Outlandish 2 years ago. Remember when all of our garb had "Eau de Outlandish"? There were times when I hated washing my garb because then that smoky musk would vanish.

At the post revel I drank something called a "Citrovia" which is Nostrovia using citrus rum instead of brandy. Call me a heathen, but it wasn't bad. And Cailean's Mead was good too.

The next morning we went back to the event briefly to let the Dons attend a White Scarf meeting, while us ladies got to watch a little War Practice. That stuff really gets your blood moving.

I thought about the last 12 years of my SCA life and how it seems to be coming full circle. People who played 10 years ago are re-appearing. A new map or two is on the horizon... and I have an opportunity to see the SCA through a fresh pair of newbie eyes.

It's three months to War. Time to get busy old school.

It's going to be a Great Reign.

Outlands Crown Tournament

Fierce gales could not dampen our spirits as our Outlands fighters took the field. Banners flew and danced, tents swayed and snapped. The brutal sun glinted upon polished helms, bright scales of steel. And the wind whipped our banners so high!

Warriors all, sweat and dirt staining their faces, panting breath like feral beasts. One by one, the fallen gracefully accepted defeat, and stood watch to see who would next wear the crown.

Children gathered and made their own game of victory with softer swords, bright flames in their hearts, mimicking the deeds of the day. And I wondered: who of these young men will someday stand in front of Our King, and swear the oath of Crown Tournament?

Fine acts of chivalry made the gathered crowd gasp in awe. We beheld the power and glory of these men, and while our hearts sang like harps, their blood pounded like drums. We were swept away in the music of the battle.

The Final Round! Two Bengal Knights faced one another, brothers until the end. The crowd hushed, intent, while even the wind briefly gave us respite. All eyes turned toward these two Outlanders, though we must have seemed far away to them.

Quickly came the rush, and swords flying, they clashed like steel and stone. Circling like tigers, running madly, dancing like dervishes. Time stretched out, but all too soon it was over. Sir Jaxarticus, cleanly wounded twice, fell under the shining sword of Sir Hrorec. Victorious Bengal, this day is yours!

A long break and Coronation goodness!

Well, I'm certainly glad I got my computer demons banished and I'm able to connect to the internet again. I can't tell you how hard it was for me not to be able to post! I've only done this journalism thing for about six months now, but it's really disturbing to be cut off entirely from the internet.

Anyway, I've been very busy in the past few weeks with packing and getting ready to move out, processing my unemployment claim and basically having almost everything in my life break all at once.

I did get a chance to go to Outlands Coronation on May 14th in the wet and drizzly Barony of Dragonsspine. I went with Don Talan and his lady to see morning court and watch the tournaments. Talan was able to move around pretty fast on his crutches, but that didn't stop several Outlanders from catching up to him to chat him up about his injuries and healing process.

The generosity of this Kingdom is STILL showing itself to this well-loved gentleman. Two of the merchants at Coronation gave Don Talan significant discounts on some new garb. One, the Rose and the Crown, had a stunning blue doublet on display that seemed like it was made just for Talan. Thanks to them for the awesome discount on a quality item! Also, Sebastian the tailor, from the southern portion of our Realm, has just started making venetian pants for us cavalier types. And there was a pair in the exact shade of blue of the doublet.

I won't tell you how much of a deal was made, because it's almost embarrasing. But I KNOW that you all will want a pair. They even have a cute little codpiece attached. You know you can't resist a cute little codpiece...

The Outlands has a new Sultan and Sultana!

Congratulations to their Majesties of the Outlands, Sultan Ibrahim and Sultana Ileana. I read the accounts of the tournament and wish greatly that I could have seen it with my own eyes.

Yay! I just love it when we get a good middle eastern court! I have it on VERY good authority that there will be fine middle eastern music to accompany these courts as well.

Better than the "Jeopardy" theme everyone hums during the great basket exchanges...