First Eastern Writs Given for Order of Defense
The writs for the first three Eastern members of the Order of Defense were delivered today by Their Majesties Omega and Etheldreda. The Order of Defense recognizes superior prowess and contributions in rapier combat with a patent level award, more commonly known in the SCA as a peerage. This peerage order was created by the SCA’s Board of Directors in February. The peerage may be awarded beginning on May 1st. The writs notified the first three candidates that they were instructed to appear at Crown Tourney on May 2nd and answer Their Majesties as to whether they are willing to be accepted into the Order.
Sir Antonio Patrasso has been active in the East Kingdom Rapier community for twenty five years, and served as East Kingdom Marshal of Fence from 2004 to 2008. In addition to being a companion of the Order of Chivalry and the Order of the Pelican, he was the 26th inductee to the East Kingdom Order of the Golden Rapier. Sir Antonio also holds the Order of the Silver Crescent, the Order of the Tygers Combattant, the Queen’s Cypher, the Order of the Iron Tower (Settmour Swamp). He currently serves as King’s Rapier Champion and and is a Past Queen’s Rapier Champion. In addition to his duties as a marshal, he also serves the Seneschalate as New Groups Deputy, and serves the office of the Tyger Clerk as Backlog Scroll deputy. He lives in the Barony of Settmour Swamp.
Don Donovan Shinnock has been active in the East Kingdom Rapier community for over twenty years and was a cadet of Don Martin Quicksilver. He has served twice in the East as King’s Champion of Rapier and as Queen’s Champion of Rapier. Don Donovan is a Companion of the Order of the Silver Rapier and the Order of the Golden Rapier. He is also a Companion of the Maunche for his research on rapier combat, received the King’s Esteem of Merit from King Edward II, King Kenric II and King Brennan and is a Companion of the Carolingian Orders of the Perseus and the Daystar. He currently lives in the Shire of Quintavia.
THL Fraiser Macleod currently serves as the East Kingdom Marshal of Fence. He has been active in the East Kingdom Rapier community for twenty six years, beginning his SCA career in Endewearde as a student of Master Gregory Finche before moving to AEthelmearc and then returning to the East. He is the 8th White Scarf of Aethelmearc and the 31st Companion of the Golden Rapier, and has fought as a Rapier Champion at Pennsic for both the East and AEthelmearc. He has previously served as Queen’s Rapier Champion of the East. Don Fraiser is also a Companion of the Silver Crescent, the King’s Esteem of Merit, and the Portcullis of endewearde, and is one of the founding members of the Northguard Rapier Company. He currently lives in the Barony of Endwearde.