Category: Baron and Baroness

Scroll & Award Tour of the Debatable Lands – 6/20

From the vibrant mind of Lady Tierrany Rose Orre:

On Saturday, June 20th at 1pm, we’d love to invite all to participate in a virtual show-and-tell Scroll and Award Tour, via Zoom!

We invite everyone to come and watch, but hope lots will participate in the tour!

If you’d like to join the fun, please choose anywhere from one to five of your favorite scrolls, tokens, and/or awards to share via your webcam, then bring us all on a little trip down Memory Lane, telling us a bit about where, when, and how you received them. It can be as simple as a token received from your favorite Queen’s hand or as ornate as a treasured scroll crafted by a friend. We’d love to see and hear about your items of honor!

We hope this will be a fun chance for our populace to learn a bit about each other, revisit pleasant times past, and view some of the beautiful pieces of artistry the members of our Kingdom (and perhaps others!) have created. Chances are pretty good that you have an item made by one of our barony’s gifted artists… imagine how seeing it once again will make your scribe’s day!

We envision this as a great opportunity to create deeper connections in these disconnected times. Hope to see you there!

Zoom link, when available, will be provided as a reply on the email list, and in the Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/848414322318730/

On the Pennsic Postponement

Salve Accolens Debatable Lands,

By now, you may have heard the announcement that Pennsic 49 has been postponed to 2021 for the safety of the populace. You can read the words of King Maynard and Queen Liadain on this here. As Their Majesties say, we applaud this difficult decision and the people that agonized over it, including the Pennsic Mayor and staff, and the Primary Kingdom Seneschals, and particularly our own hardworking Kingdom Seneschal, Master Illadore de Bedegrayne.

Our dear friends… we, like you, have heavy hearts today. Like many of you, we feel Pennsic is more than just a convention for a cool hobby…. it’s home. It’s a place to create space outside the mundanities of modern life. A place where strangers and friends alike greet each other with genuine affection. A place where, when you need ANY kind of help, strong hands and smiling faces greet you at every turn. Pennsic is a distillation, in two weeks, in the fields and hills of Western Aethelmearc, of a great part of the love and happiness in our lives. Our hearts ache today. Truly ache.

And yet, we remember today, too, that that happiness and love and joy does not stem from a field in Pennsylvania. It doesn’t come from tents or even camps and fires. It comes from YOU. The peace and well-being of Pennsic is, at its heart, you. Chosen family and friends, joining together in joy and love common interests to stimulate the heart and mind. We are still here!

Dearest Barony, your safety is more important than anything. We can still join in joy and laughter through these strange and difficult times. It’s just going to look a little different for a little while.

We will eventually gather in smaller groups when it is safe to do so. Until then, let us gather aethereally this Sunday, in the Kingdom Zoom Rooms, from 2pm to 4pm. Link to follow. See you there.

With all our love and affection,
In Levitate et Caritate, and Cheers,
Baron Brandubh and Baroness Hilda

THL Guillaume Named as Jewel – and more!

Today, Their Majesties held an Æthereal Court – Kingdom Court via Zoom, a video conferencing program. Over 250 people attended, and Their Majesties recognized many worth people. But here, we give our hearty congratulations to the Debatable Landers (and former Debatable Landers):

THL Guillaume le Noir – 48th Jewel of Æthelmearc… Vivat!
Lady Sorcha McKenzie – Order of the Cornelian… Vivat!
THL Gesa von Wellenstein – Queen’s Award of Excellence… Vivat!
Master Illadore de Bedegrayne – Augmentation of Arms… Vivat!
THL Sumayya al Ghaziyyah – Golden Escarbuncle… Vivat!
Baroness Hilderun Hugelmann – Golden Escarbuncle

Congratulations, All!

Note that this Æthereal Court was held on the Kingdom’s new Zoom account, which has 8 channels able to hold simultaneous meetings. Anyone wishing to hold an eSCA activity (personally-hosted or branch-hosted) can request a Zoom Room online here:
http://aethelmearc.org/zoom-room-availability-sign-ups/

If you’re hosting an eSCA activity (personal or official), on ANY platform, and want to be on the Kingdom calendar, use the form here:
http://ae.scaforms.org/view.php?id=53679

See yinz in the Æther!


From Their Majesties

Unto home bound Aethelmerac do Timothy and Gabrielle send greetings,

Things in the world around us are filled with chaos and uncertainty. We have all seen the horror stories of people hoarding things and price gouging things, not caring for their fellow man. However, here in the SCA, we see, hear and read story after story of people looking after the people in their community, whether scadian or mundane. It is very reassuring to be shown time and time again the quality of people who make up the circle of friends we call Aethelmearc and indeed the Society.

While there is a small part of us that is sad that the remaining royal progress events we had scheduled have all been canceled or postponed, We would much rather do what is in the best interests of all our members, and indeed the mundane world around us. We have had a phenomenal time serving this kingdom, and know that these decisions are for the best.

Since so many of you have asked, as of now, the plans for Coronation are still fluid. As of now, Coronation still is planned for April 4th, but it will be very limited, but plans may change, so that the event and ceremony can be a grand celebration worthy of them. They have both always served our Kingdom in with every ounce of energy once could ask for, and we hope their special day can be glorious and memorable.

Most of the items on our court dockets will be absorbed by TRHs, but there are a few that they have graciously allowed us to do as regency courts in their name once things return to normal.

Keep doing those things that make Aethelmearc a model of kindness and generosity that we only wish the world around us would follow. We have been honored and privileged to count ourselves amongst your numbers for many years, and will continue to do so until we no longer walk the earthy,

Timothy and Gabrielle

A&S and Bardic Championships at 12th Night!

Just a quick reminder that both the Baronial Bardic Championship and the Baronial Arts & Sciences Championship are at 12th Night on Saturday!

Any Debatable Lander, or gentle who’s been awarded a friendship (green) Comet is eligible to win, although anyone can display/perform. The new Champions are asked to represent the Barony at the Seven Pearls Champions’ event in the Rhydderich Hael after Pennsic, and to run the Championship next year. They are also asked to display the regalia of their achievement and to stand with us in Baronial Court, if they prefer.

We can’t wait to see your arts!

In Levitate et Caritate, and Cheers,
Baron Brandubh and Baroness Hilda

And here’s a little more about each Championship:

From Lady Argentia, current Baronial A&S Champ –
Call for entries for the Baronial A&S Display! Show off your latest creations or your current study obsession. If you’re wearing it, just leave a card with what it is that says to see you. Also, it need not be a tangible thing! Are you really into early astrology and divination? Do you have impeccable table manners for an Angelo-Saxon? Can you tell us the signs farmers looked for to know it was safe to plant their seeds? Perhaps you’d just like to set a period table? If so, do a little write up and maybe bring some source materials for us to peruse. It counts! Even a work-in-progress can be put in the display. We want to see your works! Please enter by 1pm.

From Lady Beatrix, current Baronial Bard –
Calling all bards!!    Join me, Beatrix, your Baronial Bardic Champion at Debatable Lands 12th night.  
I will be hosting this year’s competition, but more importantly, we are going to fill the hall with music and poetry and merriment all day long.  Open Bardic Circle from 10-12 and again after 2pm. 
Please join me on my cushions and carpets with your favorite song book to share your talents.  All are welcome to join in the singing, playing, recitation and any other performance art, regardless of skill and talent (or confidence).  Let’s sing together and make a joyful noise.  
If you want to participate in the competition, there will be a sign up from 10am to noon and the competition to perform for Their Excellencies will begin at 12:30.    There are no particular rules, but please limit your performance to 5-7 minutes to accommodate all interested participants in the allotted time. 
See you there!  


Motto Poll

Hello Debatable Lands!

We’d love your input on a new Baronial Motto! Last month, we asked for suggestions from the populace, and here they are! Feel free to write in, too!

https://forms.gle/YFFzy4eey4yEimwk7

A couple notes:

  • A few suggestions have some additional context, reasoning and/or information provided by the submitter – click on the links in the poll for those.
  • Fair warning… I did not check any of the Latin except for my own suggestion.
  • Remember that creating and using mottoes in the SCA is always completely optional – just for fun! – and unofficial.

Those reading from the email list can open the link to the blog below to see the active poll link, or just copy and paste it.

If you prefer, feel free to send me feedback and/or your choices to baroness@debatablelands.org .

In Levitate et Caritate (with Levity and Affection),
Baroness Hilda

Giving Thanks

To our beloved Barony:

For your warm welcomes and wide smiles;
For sharing your songs and stories around the campfire, real and figurative;
For your generosity with time, skill, and spirit;
For laughing with each other in mirth and joys;
For holding each other in hearts and minds and arms in sorrows;
For your passion and interest in everything medieval;
For challenging each other and yourselves on field and in hall;
For teaching each other;
For supporting each other;
For having forgiving and open hearts;
For standing and walking with each other;
For creating “found families”;
For seeing the very best in each other;
For creating and participating in this vibrant, generous, compassionate, and fun community we know as the Debatable Lands;

For all that and more – Thank You!

In Levitate et Caritate, and Cheers!
Baron Brandubh and Baroness Hilda

Salve Accolens! A Motto for the Debatable Lands

Note to those reading from the email list, click on the link below to see a formatted version with live links at the blog website.

On this, the eve of our third Debatable Lands Equestrian Championship (details, and schedule), we’d like to introduce to you our new Baronial motto!

SALVE ACCOLENS!

What does it mean?

HELLO NEIGHBORS!

It is the week of World Kindness Day, embodied by the greatest modern champion of kindness and courtesy, especially toward oneself and their neighbors: Mr. Fred Rogers. The Debatable Lands is his home Barony, and we hope that all our people will strive toward these ideals: kindness, courtesy, generous and open hearts, mindfulness to feelings, and to be helping and loving and welcoming. All these, we feel, are encompassed by “Hello Neighbors” – “Salve Accolens”.

We hope to enact these these ideals in word and deed, and hope you all will join us. We are ALL each others’ neighbors.

SALVE ACCOLENS!

Please use this new Baronial motto with gusto and verity.

(Also, it’s Latin, so you can say it the other way: ACCOLENS SALVE!)

See you at Baronial Equestrian Champs tomorrow!

In Levitate et Caritate, and Cheers,
Baron Brandubh and Baroness Hilda

“Listening is where love begins: listening to ourselves and then to our neighbors.” -Fred Rogers

PIE CONTEST! At the Harvest Revel Barony Meeting 11/3

Pie Pie Pie! Oh boy, what flavor?

Our Barony Annual PIE Contest is on for the Harvest Revel on Sunday 11/3! Who can enter? EVERYONE! And if you’ve never encountered the Debatable Lands Harvest Revel Meeting PIE contest before – just about anything counts as pie, if you can name it pie…. Pumpkin roll? Spatially challenged pie. Cookies? Crustless mini-pies. Pork roast? Deconstructed meat pie. A bowl of apples? Procrastinated Pie. BRING IT ALL! Sweet, savory, and everything in between!

The categories this this for the pie contest are (drumroll…): Signature Pie, Showstopper Pie, and Period Pie 

How does it work? You make a pie, you decide the category (don’t worry, it’s super informal and just-for-fun), we all feast like Confectionary Royalty! Make sure to bring enough or cut it small, since the judges are YOU! Yup, it’s populace vote (tokens in a cup)! Each meeting attendee gets 3 tokens – one vote per category. Gluten free pies always go over well if you are so inclined. The prize is GLORY and your recipe in the ALTHING (and maybe some trinket)!!

Please be mindful of common allergens, and make a note on the provided card if you use them. Folks in the barony are allergic/sensitive to gluten/wheat, nuts of various types, onions and garlic, among other things. Thanks!

Contest will run from noon to around 3pm.

[Here’s the Facebook event for the meeting, if you have Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/566290307444855/