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East Kingdom Gazette

Covering the Eastern Realm of the SCA

Using Google Earth in the SCA

January 23, 2014 by East Kingdom Gazette

Google Earth ImageThe following article was written by Master Ulric von der Insel and is published here as part of the Gazette’s ongoing “How to…” series.

There’s a handy tool that the current military uses regularly to scope out the lay of the land called Google Earth. It’s an easy download that gives a layered look at the globe. Those of us using it have enjoyed the pictures that people upload of the places across the Earth as they appear in uploaded photos. So how can we use this to help us out with our medieval selves? The two biggest ways are by seeing the shape of the land and by seeing the sights in the places.

I should make a big caveat right now, that with the change of sea levels and the silting of rivers and all, that the lay of the land isn’t exactly what it used to be. That’s okay – we’re not using Google Earth as documentation, just as a starting point for further persona story research (rather like Wikipedia, eh? Use cautiously!)

Maybe an example would be appropriate at this moment. We fly to the Tyrolean Alps south of Munich and there we are. Type the place name “Innsbruck, Austria” into the search box in the upper left. Modern-day, it’s a cosmopolitan center with autobahns zipping by. But look at the lay of the land: mountains around a sheltered valley and the Inn River. Follow the road south, and you get to see the Brenner Pass to Milan and Venice. Follow the road northeast and you get to Munich. This was a major European artery of traffic since the Neolithic Age! Zoom right into the mountains to appreciate what it would take to travel this route with a wagon or a caravan of wagons laden with goodies for the market. This gives you a feel for scale that you can’t get from text alone.

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Feast of the Gaunt Days Update

January 23, 2014 by East Kingdom Gazette

Feast of the Gaunt Days Update from the Butler of the Day, Meister Ulric von der Insel: Foodies have been challenged to come up with proper February fare, and they have been responding! Of the twelve categories of food one may enter (The Choice of the People, February Fruits, Check Out that Pickle! Meat Me in …

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Birka Royal Court update

January 23, 2014 by East Kingdom Gazette

From Rowen Cloteworthy, Vox Regis Herald: At A Market Day at Birka, Their Majesties Kenric II and Avelina II will be holding a Morning Court at 10:15am in the ballroom before the tourney begins. Their Majesties will be on a very tight schedule and They ask for prompt attendance of those who wish to view that Court. …

Class Schedule for St. Aegir

January 22, 2014 by East Kingdom Gazette

On February 22 at the Reading Archery Club in Mohnton, PA, the Incipient Shire of Archers Ford will be holding St. Aegir, an event for brewers to teach, learn, or simply socialize while discussing this well-beloved topic. There will be a number of classes for brewers of all skill levels. Additionally, the East Kingdom Brewers …

King’s and Queen’s Bardic: Rules Clarification

January 20, 2014 by East Kingdom Gazette

What constitutes an “SCA Theme”? The competition outline for the Kings and Queen’s Bardic Champions event asks each competitor to perform at least one work “written on an SCA theme”. Later, the outline states: “For this competition, an ‘SCA theme’ may be broadly interpreted as any work written about SCA persons, events, or culture, and …

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Period or Not… Names

January 20, 2014 by East Kingdom Gazette

This is a recurring series by Mistress Alys Mackyntoich on whether certain names currently can be documented to period based on existing evidence..  There are a lot of names that people think are medieval, but actually aren’t, and others which people think are modern, but in fact are found in the SCA’s period.  If you …

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Announcement Regarding the Society Chirurgeonate Request for Comments

January 19, 2014 by East Kingdom Gazette

SCA shieldThe SCA Board of Directors seeks commentary on a proposal to eliminate the official Office of the Chirurgeonate, and the associated changes to Corpora necessary to accomplish this action.

 

badge ChirurgeonThe Office of the Society Chirurgeon has been providing exemplary service to the Society since 1986. The Society and Board of Directors are tremendously grateful for the sterling service the Office of the Society Chirurgeon has provided over the years, and hope to continue to allow licensed first aid providers to provide such service, while needing to take into account the realities of the climate in which the SCA currently operates.

 

The Board of Directors has been advised by its outside counsel, as well as by its insurance company, that having officers of the Corporation acting as emergency services providers and warranting them as official Chirurgeons represents an unacceptable assumption of liability by the Corporation for the actions of these individuals. The SCA can allow individual medical professionals to provide emergency care under their own licenses and the various Good Samaritan laws. Such services can also be provided by professional emergency services organizations and companies that provide such services. However, having corporate officers and warranted officials do so represents an unacceptable risk according to both our outside counsel and our insurance company.

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Market Day at Birka Bardic Challenge from Aildreda de Tamwurthe

January 17, 2014 by East Kingdom Gazette

Greetings to the singers, poets, drinkers, and wits of the East Kingdom! Lady Aildreda de Tamwurthe issues unto you a convivial challenge for the festival season, now to be answered at the Market Day at Birka in the Barony of Stonemarche.

The cheerful poets of Beuern have left us many jolly songs and poems about the simple pleasures of drinking and good cheer, and one of the most familiar is “Bache Bene Venies”. Like all good drinking songs, it has many many verses – each long enough to be clever, but short enough to let everyone who only knows the refrain sing it often and boisterously.
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“Did you know?” Tir Mara

January 17, 2014 by ekgazette

arms Tir MaraMost everyone knows that the East Kingdom in the SCA includes parts of two modern countries, the United States of America and Canada, but how much do you really know about the Huge East Kingdom Crown Principality to the North East?

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In Memoriam: Lord Ragnarr Dragonheart

January 16, 2014 by East Kingdom Gazette

ragnarrIt is with great sadness that the Gazette reports on the passing of Lord Ragnarr Dragonheart.  He passed away on January 3rd, 2014. He is survived by his lady, Lady Fionnghuala Na Lamh Bann.

Lord Ragnarr joined the SCA in the fall of 1993 and was an active member of the Barony of Settmour Swamp for over 20 years, serving as the Seneschal of Gryphonwald for a number of years, and as a warranted Marshal.  He was granted both a Bronze and Iron Tower from Settmour Swamp for his service and martial prowess. Following his passing, Their Excellencies Erec and Jehannine of Settmour Swamp had the following to say:

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