So as many of you…okay well some of you…know i belong to a reenactment group known as the Society for Creative Anachronism (go check it out http://www.sca.org/), I belong to the Kingdom of Caid. The society itself was started by a bunch of Berkley students (go figure) and since then has taken on a life of its own, we stress (or try to at any rate) historical research and authenticity as well as having fun. I’ve been playing since before I could walk, a fact which certain friends love to remind me of. Since all of my family lives out on the east coast my household and our group of friends have really taken on the roles of aunts and uncles for me and they are very important in my life (also its how I understand all the geeky jokes). I have lots of friends there also, most of them adults, and they are the ones who have really molded me into the person I am today. As I’m getting older and getting ready to go to college I’m really starting to appreciate this more and more and so I’m becoming more active. Maybe it’s me finally understanding what is important to me in my life.
Every six months or so we need to find a new heir to the throne (its complicated folks) and so we hold a tournament called appropriately Crown Tourney. Its a big deal and everyone comes out for it so that was this weekend in Santa Barbara. For the past like month or two months I’ve been working on making my first piece of garb, which was a 15th Century Fitted Gothic Gown, based off of the depiction of April in Les Tres Riches Heures du Duc du Berry…
(Its the under-gown, under the pink hooplon (thats next))
Well I finally finished the gown and the shift (although the shift has problems, that the lovely annie is going to help me fix). I was very proud of myself, although you can’t see all of it in the picture below because it was cold and I was wearing a hood to stay warm.
Me, Esther, and Annie
This is all a preface to explain the fact that I’m truly trying to work on my persona lately and become more ummm….’accurate’ because I’ve decided that it is important to me. I’m working on trying different things, which I will get to later don’t you worry. So this means that I’m picking a new name, a new coat of arms, new badges, and a new style, and I’m trying to do it all myself. I’m also researching what would be appropriate for my persona. So today spurred by a discussion between Muns and his squirrel I’ve been looking at Rosaries. I’ve found some interesting examples like a painting by Van Eyck and a 15th century German engraving. Here is an interesting fact…did you know Marigolds are name after Mary?
Do you see the beads in the Christ Child’s hands…those are rosary beads…15th century style. Oh this is called Virgin of the Fountain by Jan Van Eyck
(you need to blow it up to see them)
Well awhile ago I had picked a new set of arms. Which I am very happy with (although sewing them…project for this summer…onto a bedspread is going to suck)…too many ermine spots.
So coat of arms check. As for the new name and badges thats a current work in progress. Right now I am in the process of documenting the name Elisabetta (found that, florence did a census, ordered by the medici family, in the 15th century and it is one of the top ten names) Lucrezia (we have Lucrezia Borgia but I want another example) di Medici (Italian names are different then french so I’m not sure it isn’t just Medici, but they had a huge!!!! family so that helps). Oh I suppose I should explain that I’m look for a 15th century persona that allows me to do Italian and Northern European. This is why the Medici family is good for this (also I enjoy it) because they were bankers they went everywhere…you’ve all seen Giovanni Arnolfini and his bride right? well he is a medici banker in the Netherlands in the 15th century beat that!
So that means coat of arms and name check…as for the badges I’m working on that…I like my arms so I want something to connect with my arms but also to play a little bit on my name….we will see. But to give you a hint it has something to do with this painting…moowhahahaha
I’m working on clothes too. My first project is that outfit from Les Tres Riches Heures, and I’m in the process of another fitted gown (its red).
Here is my rant though. I went to crown today and numerous people have been complaining about fighters hitting too hard and not taking the blows when they are supposed to. I didn’t really understand it until today when I counted, in only one fight, at least two killing shots that the guy just ignored and i mean they were hard hits. and then then the guy who should have won, actually took a shot and died because of it. Sigh…I mean this is a problem and maybe its just now coming to my attention because I’m just now actually paying attention but seriously I mean the knights should deal with it, but its hard because some of these men are knights. And then in the finals I mean it was bad…one of the men was just pounding away on the other it was ridiculous, unchivalric and bad juju. I know of one fighter today who was actually hit so hard (and I mean he was wearing armor) that he blacked out and had to be taken to the emergency room. Its ridiculous that the knights, of all people, are hitting that hard it is hard to believe and I think that it shows a serious decline in the level of the knighthood that a) the marshalls and knight in the erik were just watching it and not actively trying to nip it in the but and b) that the knights themselves are being that dishonorable. But that’s just me and I’m not a peer and I don’t fight. But it makes me sad to see that.
Oh but like I was saying before, so I’m working on costuming and I’ve been trying to start fencing for awhile and I think heaveys might be fun to do, but this problem with the people hitting so hard scares the sh$$%$% out of me. I think I might talk to Eichling the Vikling about it and about women fighting. Which brings me to an interesting story about Caid…oh remind me about principalities later…anywho. We’ve had one women queen who was a queen in her own right. Very cool! also I learned (from the lovely angelina who I had a great time hanging out with today) about principalities and how we used to be a principality of the west. yup yup…so if I go to Mills or University of San Fransisco (oh i got accepted btw) I would be in the Principality of the Mists…how awesome is that!
Which reminds me of the fact that Caid has two more peers…one of whom was informed today in Court and then elevated on the spot. I know numerous peers were not happy about the in court informing so it interests me. yup yup…idk food to think about. Should a candidate for the Order of the Laurel, Pelican, and Chivalry (knighthood) be informed in private or is it okay to do it in front of everyone. It kinda makes me think about asking someone to marry you in front of millions of people…hmmm. Also this talk of elevations makes me wonder why fencers can’t become members of the order of the chivalry…so much food for thought…alright I’m finished for the night…good night…
