Many of our readership will be joining our noble King and valorous Queen on the fields at Pennsic.  Those of us who will remain at home to tend homesteads and fend off bandits and otherwise maintain the King’s peace throughout the realm will be eager for news from the battlefields and parties and courts and classes.

All Eastern Pennsic attendees are hereby invited to become remote reporters for the Gazette during their sojourn. Submit your news to us via email at eastkingdomgazette@gmail.com. Anyone with access to email can submit news from the front and the daily editors will assemble, collate and publish a collection of reports received to the news-starved populace at home. Please take a moment now to read our submission guidelines so that the editors will have everything that they need to make your news known.

Disclaimer: Submission is not a guarantee of publication and any content submitted may be edited for grammar, clarity, length or suitability for the Gazette audience.

This is a series of Q&A articles the Gazette is conducting with members of the Pennsic staff.

Q&A with The Honorable Lady Helena Sibylla, Deputy Mayor of Cultural Affairs for Pennsic War 42

What Pennsic activities does your office cover?

Cultural Affairs includes most of the non-martial activities at Pennsic.  We include Performing Arts, Pennsic University, European Dance, and Middle Eastern Arts.  The Period Games Tent, Artisans’ Row, and the A&S Display are also part of this division.

Do you need volunteers?  What kind of skills would be useful for them to have?

Yes, we always need volunteers!  The most needed section is the University, where we need volunteers to help staff University Point throughout the War.  It would be useful for volunteers here to have some basic knowledge of the layout of the Pennsic grounds so people can be directed to all the different locations where we have classes and activities.  Being patient is also helpful – people have lots of questions!

Is there a particular activity or change to an activity that you’re excited is happening?

I’m always excited about the University – this is where I got my start as part of the Pennsic staff team – the sheer number and variety of classes we offer is really amazing.  The new arrangement of the University and Performing Arts block will also be interesting to see this year, since there will be something of an enclosed courtyard that is different from the previous arrangement.

What one thing do you wish people knew about your activity?

I wish more people realized the amount of activities we offer throughout Pennsic!  I think sometimes people get focused on their one particular area of interest and miss out on fun stuff happening elsewhere.  Come and see a performance!  Take a dance class!  There’s lots more to Pennsic than just fighting or parties. 

What about your area of responsibility  interests you?

I really like the variety of Cultural Affairs.  It’s a big division with a lot going on, so it keeps me on my toes!

What advice would you give someone who wants to hold your position in the future?

Familiarize yourself with as much of the Cultural Affairs division as you can.  Try to volunteer in some different places to get a look behind the scenes and see how each department functions and what’s needed.  There are always things you won’t find out until you’re the one responsible for solving a problem, but it helps to have some understanding of how things work.

On a personal note, what part of Pennsic do you most look forward to?

I really enjoy the camaraderie of our camp and its neighbors – we all work together on many things to make the Pennsic experience enjoyable for all of us.  It’s also nice to get away from many of the electronic demands on our daily lives.  Finally, I really, REALLY love it when the big military airplanes do their flyovers!

This is a series of Q&A articles the Gazette is conducting with members of the Pennsic staff.

Lady Erlan Nordenskald is a Director Emeritus of the Known World Choir, and this year she is in charge of the choirs that are organized to perform as part of Pennsic.  The Pennsic Choir was originally started over 20 years ago and was a single performing group.  The program expanded to include other inter-kingdom wars and events, so renamed itself The Knowne World Choir.  These are the four groups that rehearse at Pennsic.

• The Adult Choir is open to everyone and ranges from 60-80 participants yearly.
• The Children’s Choir is for children 12 and under and is in its second year.
• The Youth Choir is for ages 13-17.
• Chorulus Pennsicus is an adult choir.  This smaller select group is in its second year and participation is by audition only.

Gazette: What Pennsic activities does your office cover?
The choir rehearsals and concert arrangements for vocal music by the Known World Choirs

Gazette: Do you need volunteers?  What kind of skills would be useful for them to have?
YES!!!  We need volunteers to help with the set up and break down of the Performance tents.  We also need voices to sing in all of the groups particularly in the new youth choir.  It’s a great place for teens to gather and have a great time.  The Adult Choir really could use a few good men

Gazette: Is there a particular activity or change to an activity that you’re excited is happening?
The Concert is going to be amazing.  [It will be] Thursday August 1st at 6 PM in the Performing Arts Pavillion.  We’re also VERY excited for the new Performing Arts Rehearsal Tent.  This new tent that will be located behind the  Bath House will be filled with music all day.  Folks are welcome to stop by and sing or just listen.

Gazette: What one thing do you wish people knew about your activity?
That it happens.  Over 75 adults participate in this Adult Choir.  They rehearse for 2 hours a day for 5 days and then do a major concert.  It’s the only place where one can learn about Medieval and Renaissance vocal music.  The directors teach about polyphonic music and educate as well as direct.  We can recreate music like it was meant to be done which isn’t always an option in smaller shires and baronies. Each year, the Royalty of almost every Kingdom make an effort to come by and thank the participants in this endeavor. This is a special moment for the performers, and I hope to see every Kingdom represented this year!

Gazette: What about your area of responsibility interests you?
As Director Emeritus and co-ordinator I get to do the outreach for participants. I also am very proud to say that the directors this year have been preparing for this for almost a year, choosing music and preparing for rehearsals and I am very proud to be a part of this.  For many years I was the only director and had to keep this group alive and now we have many people participating in doing this.

Gazette: What advice would you give someone who wants to hold your position in the future?
Start singing now and get involved this year.  See how the different choirs work and see how the scheduling works.

Gazette: On a personal note, what part of Pennsic do you most look forward to?
The music.  The East Kingdom is very wide spread so the opportunity to recreate real Renaissance music, vocal or instrumental, doesn’t happen often – so at Pennsic the Eastern musicians can meet those from other Kingdoms and recreate music that is just impossible to do with a small group.

The Director of the Known World Youth Choir, Lady Rachel Dalicieux, has put out a call to youth ages 12 and older to participate in the choir’s inaugural year.  “I have over 15 years of experience working with middle and high school students in both choir and band,” wrote Lady Rachel. “I love kids and teaching and I think this is going to be an awesome experience. I am looking forward to making some amazing music this year at Pennsic.”

Participants do not need to register in advance or have singing experience.  The rehearsals start on Saturday, July 27 from 1-2 pm in the rehearsal tent and will continue every day from 1-2 pm through Wednesday.  Dress Rehearsal with all thel Known World Choirs is on Thursday, August 8 from Noon to 2 in the Performing Arts Pavilion, and the concert will be Thursday evening at 5:30 in the same place. Music will be provided and can also be found online at http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/KWChoir/files/

If you have any questions, you can contact Lady Rachel via email.

Greetings Loyal Subjects of the Mighty East Kingdom from Baroness Ástríðr Sigrun Úlfkelsdóttir.

I call upon you during this time of war to help maintain the safety of our most wonderful Majesties and of their encampment.We are seeking your help to guard the East Kingdom Royal encampment at its gates.  Duties include; helping lost souls deliver messages to Their Majesties, keeping riff-raff and roughians from stealing our treasures and generally just being an all around helpful greeter to all who seek entrance into the encampment.  Please see below for duty roster and Thank You for your loyal service!

Please email me directly if you or your group can help and put “Gate Guard: in the subject line.

There will be a sign up sheet at EK Royal Gate starting Saturday 7/27 in the morning but I would love to get as many volunteers signed up before we all leave for Pennsic.

Continuing with our Pennsic Theme, Baroness Leonete D’Angely tells us a little bit about the East Kingdom Teen Party and how it began:

It was April 2003, and Leonete D’Angely, then 16 and known as Nicola Angelini, was the only person under the age of 25 at the Speckled Trout Inn, an event in Northern Vermont. Chancellor Minor, Ardenia  aRuadh was there as well, and they started talking about the lack of activities for teenagers in the SCA, specifically at Pennsic.

Children had the Children’s Fete, Youth Point classes geared at them, and many parents would coordinate play dates. Adults could attend a party any night of the week. But teenagers were relegated to youth combat or hanging out in camp. By the end of their conversation, the idea to throw a party at Pennsic specifically for teenagers was born. The two spent the next few months putting their plans in motion. Ardenia asked Their Majesties for permission to host the party in East Kingdom Royal, and sent out letters to Walmart and Giant Eagle asking for food donations, while Leonete got some of her friends together to set up and staff the party, created flyers, and trekked throughout Pennsic to distribute them.

Four months later, the first East Kingdom Teen Party was held in EK Royal. About 50 teenagers showed up, and the next year, most of them returned, with friends. Throughout its life, the party has fluctuated between dates, often being held on the Sunday of middle weekend, but stretching as late as the Thursday of War Week. The size of the party has grown to almost 150 teens in its biggest year.

The team putting the party together experimented early on with performances, activities, and structure, but found over the years that what the teenagers of the SCA really want is some space, some snacks, and a chance to socialize with each other in peace. The year that Leonete got all knights to chaperone was a big hit, however, with avid youth fighters asking question after question about style, technique, and how exactly to throw that wrap shot. Another year, future arts and science aficionados gathered around a chaperone who had brought her embroidery to the party.

This year’s party will be held on Monday, July 29^th, in East Kingdom Royal, from 7-10pm. All gentles at Pennsic between the ages of 13-17 are welcome to attend. 

Reported from the fields of Pennsic (updated by Martyn de Halliwell)

“You can go from I-79 N to 422. It’s only the 422 to I-79 N ramp that’s blocked, everything else works.

To get to Rt 80, take 19N, do not follow the detour exactly, it tries to put you back on 79N before 80.

If you’re going somewhere on 79 that is south of the entrance to rt 80, get on 79 S and go three miles to the Portersville exit, and turn around to get on I79 N. The traffic doesn’t get nearly as bad in that direction it seems. “

Traffic continues to be heavily backed-up on I-79S before exit 422, causing up to an hour’s delay.

As of 9:48pm Tuesday, the on-site attendance at Pennsic was 5028!

Land agents began checking-in on Friday, July 19. Saturday morning at 9am thousands of attendees once again began flooding into  Cooper’s Lake Campground in Butler, PA for the 42nd Annual Pennsic War.  By 8:30am on Sunday, the official Pennsic Twitter account was reporting that 3887 people had passed through the gate.

Installation of perimeter fencing posts around the main battlefield began on Monday. Set-up of the archery and thrown weapons ranges was finished Tuesday. The War is off to a quick start!

In a year of many changes at Pennsic, one of the biggest changes is the transformation of the ‘old barn’ — a space which has for decades hosted courts, dancing, and other large events at Pennsic, into an expanded market, bringing more access to fresh, local foods to Pennsic attendees without needing to leave the campground.

Although both the original camp store and smaller “Pennsic Produce” market located in the food court both still exist to serve customers, the expanded marketplace is called Penn Market, and features fresh produce (some of which is sourced from local, Amish-owned farms), fresh baked breads and other baked goods, a selection of organic packaged foods and organic produce, frozen meats (including locally-sourced flank steaks, hams, and hamburger), and bulk items.

In addition to the expanded store, the restaurant formerly known as Cornucopia has moved into the barn and is now called Aunt Pat’s Place. The menu remains similar to previous years, and the move allows for increased covered seating. An additional ice cream stand has also been added on the far left side of the old barn, as you look at it from the open side.

Activities formerly hosted in the Old Barn have largely moved to a newly constructed building (called by some the New Barn or Great Hall), located in block N01.

This year’s Pennsic medallion has an important message on it, reminding everyone to enjoy their war:

Don’t Panic

Image provided by Decimus Aurelius

Filed under: Pennsic Tagged: pennsic 42

Our intrepid reporters on-scene at the Pennsic War went to Information Point to gather more info on this year’s Pennsic medallion.

According to the staff at Information point, the image on the medallion is a bowl of petunias, which along with the phrase, “Don’t Panic”, refer to the book, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, by Douglas Adams. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe series the book is part of repeatedly refers to 42 as being the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.

As this is Pennsic 42, the reference fits.

Starting at 10 am this morning, the Pennsic Battlefield saw the annual Champions battles fought.

The first battle scheduled was the Allied Champions battle, in which all Kingdoms attending Pennsic, except the East and the Middle, selected 80 fighters per side to fight a 1 hour resurrection battle. Sir Tanaka Raiko, reporting for the Gazette, has let us know that in “the allied champions battle…our side is dominating.” More information about the Allied Champons battle is available online here from the Pennsic Independent.

Following the Allied Champions battle, the Unbelted Champions took the field. The Unbelted Champions is a “last man standing” melee battle between 35 Eastern Fighters and 35 Midrealm fighters, selected from all fighters who have not been elevated to the Order of Chivalry. Prior to this battle, Her Majesty Kiena addressed the assembled Champions on the Field and had a song sung to them that was specially composed for the Champions by Baroness Aneleda Falconbridge, entitled Forsaking All Others.

Sir Tanaka reports that “the East’s unbelts lost a tight and hotly contested battle. They fought with chivalry and honor.”

Next scheduled was the Belted Champions battle, with sides composed of 20 members of the Order of Chivalry from the East and 2 from the Middle Kingdom. Sir Tanaka reports to us that “The belted champions won their 26th in a row. The mid came in the same way and we killed them the same way.”

In court, Baron Brennan mac Fearghus, a member of the Unbelted Champions Team, was given a writ to be sent to vigil for induction into the Order of Chivalry.

As we write, the fourth champions battle scheduled for the day, the heroic champions battle, is in progress. We will update you with the results as soon as they become available.

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The East Kingdom Gazette welcomes anyone at Pennsic to send in reports and photos “from the field”. Email reports and news items to us at eastkingdomgazette@gmail.com. Please read our submission guidelines so that the editors will have everything that they need to make your news known.

Disclaimer: Submission is not a guarantee of publication and any content submitted may be edited for grammar, clarity, length or suitability for the Gazette audience.

On Saturday evening, despite the intermittent rain, the 42nd annual Pennsic War was officially declared, as delegations from all 19 SCA Kingdoms, plus the Kingdom of Acre and the Great Dark Horde, declared if they would fight with the forces of the East or the forces of the Middle.

According to sources on site and the Pennsic Independent, the kingdoms declared as follows:

West – Declared for the Middle Kingdom
Æthelmearc – The host Kingdom declared for the East
Atenveldt – Declared for the Middle Kingdom
Caid – Declared for the Middle Kingdom
Ansteorra – Declared for the Middle Kingdom
Atlantia – Declared for the East Kingdom
An Tir – Declared for the Middle Kingdom
Calontir – Declared for the Middle Kingdom
Trimaris – Declared for the East Kingdom
the Outlands – Declared to fight with Calontir, for the Middle Kingdom
Drachenwald – Declared for the East Kingdom
Artemisia – Declared for the East Kingdom
Ealdormere – Declared for the East Kingdom
Lochac – Declared for the Middle Kingdom
Northshield – Declared for the Middle Kingdom
Kingdom of Acre – Declared for the East Kingdom
Great Dark Horde – Declared for the Middle Kingdom

The allegiance of the Kingdoms of Meridies and Gleann Abhann are unknown to us at the time of publication, but we will update as further information becomes available.

The Field Battle at the Pennsic war is among the most spectacular sights in the Society. With more than a thousand armored combatants on each side, and hundreds of spectators lining the edges of the field, it is an event that is eagerly awaited by young and old alike.

This year, the format for the Pennsic War field battle was actually a total of 5 battles, each worth one war point. The field battle is fought to the “last man standing” – that is, the battle continues until all the fighters on one side have been defeated.

The Eastern King’s Champion, Duke Konrad der Lowe Von Ulm, fights on the field at Pennsic War 42.

Combat archery and siege engines were allowed in the fifth of the five battles. The battles were set to begin at 10 am.

The Eastern Armies, including allies, were victorious in each of the first three battles fought.  Reports indicate that the East had overwhelming numbers, despite the armies of Aethelmearc, as well as the Black Talon and Tuchux households moving from the Eastern to the Midrealm side. The Midrealm armies were the victors in both battles four and five.

Other war points scheduled for today include the Rapier Champions at 1 pm, the Archery populace shoot, and the siege contest. We will bring you updates as they become available.

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The East Kingdom Gazette welcomes anyone at Pennsic to send in reports and photos “from the field”. Email reports and news items to us at eastkingdomgazette@gmail.com. Please read our submission guidelines so that the editors will have everything that they need to make your news known.

Disclaimer: Submission is not a guarantee of publication and any content submitted may be edited for grammar, clarity, length or suitability for the Gazette audience.

Rapier Field Battle was Sunday, July 28, and the East won all three battles! No further details at hand, but the East took that war point.

Rapier Champions Battle was Monday, July 28, and Midrealm took that War Point, though it was close.

Of 21 total bouts, the Midrealm won 11 with East only winning 10. East won the 20-on-20 Melee, but during the 20 separate One-on-One bouts, Midrealm won 11, with the East and Allies winning only 9, for a total score of 11 to 10 Mid.

Of special note, Don Orlando of the East took on the His Majesty Damien, King Calontir, using cut and thrust weapons and rules, as that is the only form used in Calontir.

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The East Kingdom Gazette welcomes anyone at Pennsic to send in reports and photos “from the field”. Email reports and news items to us at eastkingdomgazette@gmail.com. Please read our submission guidelines so that the editors will have everything that they need to make your news known.

Disclaimer: Submission is not a guarantee of publication and any content submitted may be edited for grammar, clarity, length or suitability for the Gazette audience.

While the field battle is the dramatic centerpiece of Pennsic, the woods battles are possibly more loved by the combatants themselves. Many appreciate the additional challenges that combat without sight lines bring.  Strategies must be drawn up differently, tactics must be executed with precision, and moments of heroic combat take place continually throughout the battle. In a dramatic day of combat both the heavy and rapier armies took to the woods of Pennsic for a series of war point battles.

Our sources tell us that the East won all woods battle war points for both the heavy and rapier combat.

Reports are coming in that in many battles this year at Pennsic the Eastern side is fielding a significantly larger force than the Midrealm side.  This was reportedly the case in these woods battles.

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The East Kingdom Gazette welcomes anyone at Pennsic to send in reports and photos “from the field”. Email reports and news items to us at eastkingdomgazette@gmail.com. Please read our submission guidelines so that the editors will have everything that they need to make your news known.

Disclaimer: Submission is not a guarantee of publication and any content submitted may be edited for grammar, clarity, length or suitability for the Gazette audience.

Teams of 40 champions (and 4 alternates) each for the East and for the Midrealm took the field today for the Pennsic Archery Champions’ Tournament, and the Eastern team won the war point!

Before the start of the tournament, King Gregor and Queen Kiena addressed the archers and wished them well, then convened a short Court, where they presented a Bowman badge to Lady Alexandra Krakkensdottir, and inducted Lady Siobhan Inghean Cormaic into the Order of the Sagittarius.

The competition consisted of three parts: a ten station roving range, a friend/foe shoot, and a long-distance shoot. The Royalty of the East all participated in the shooting throughout most of the day. Groups of four archers from each side went through the roving course, where they were faced with such creative shoots as apples, a swimming fish, candleabras, fox and sheep, and other challenges. The East scored a total of 4371 points to the Midrealm’s 3489.

While the Midrealm archers shot at the long-distance shoot, the archers of the Eastern team shot the friend/foe shoot. This year the target depicted Merida (from “Brave”) and the object was to shoot wisps or the moon and witch for positive points, and to avoid hitting Merida for negative points. The East netted 82 points (after deducting 11 negatives) to the Midrealm’s 54 points (with 18 negatives).

The final shoot for the East was at the long distances. Each archer shot 3 arrows or bolts from each of 4 lines, at a castle turret containing two archer guards. The farthest line was estimated at about 120 yards, and the closest about approximately 50 yards. The East scored a total of 421 points, and the Midrealm earned 328 points.

The Eastern Champions took all three parts of the competition, thus earning one war point for the Eastern War effort. Vivant! Each member of the victorious team contributed an arrow or bolt which will be presented to the Queen later in Court.

(Photo by Duke Edward Grey)

photo taken by Vincent Amelia

Sir Tanaka Reiko, Master of the Pelican, has been named as the 17th Tyger of the East, joining a long line of distinguished citizens of the East Kingdom. The SCA.org award explanation website defines the award as the following:

The Tyger of the East: given to those who most embody and personify the ideals of the East Kingdom. No more than one person may be so recognized during a reign; a person may receive this honor only once. Established April 26, A.S. 37 by Darius II and Roxane II.

Liam St Liam, twelfth Tyger of the East has been known to say, “This is a list of the people in the kingdom that you should seek out and learn from. These people are the heart and spirit of the East.” The previous recipients of the Tyger of the East are as follows:

1.  Harold von Auerbach
2.  Ernst Nuss von Kitzingen
3.  Marieke van de Dal
4.  Katherine Barr
5.  Brid nic Shearlais
6.  Randal of the Dark
7.  Edward Zifran of Gendy
8.  Caitlin Davies
9.  Lucan von Drachenklaue
10.  Katherine Stanhope
11.  Alys Mackyntoich
12. William O Donovan of Monmouth, called Liam St Liam
13.  Feral von Halstern
14.  Vissevald Selkirkson
15. Krakken Gnashbone
16. Alexandre Lerot D’Anvigne

Sources:
East Kingdom Awards on SCA.org
The EK Order of Precedence

Mistress Kay Leigh Mac Whyte, East Kingdom Tyger Sygnet, was inducted into the Order of the Pelican last night for her long service to the Kingdom.

The calligraphy of Mistress Kay Leigh’s scroll was done by Lady Ro Honig von Sommerfeldt. Calligraphy by Mistress Carolyne de la Pointe. Photo provided by Ryan McWhyte.

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Baron Jibril was sent on vigil last night to consider the accolade of knighthood, which he accepted today on the field.

Photo taken by Baroness Astridr Sigrun Ulfkelsdottir

Sir Tanaka Raiko, who on Wednesday was named as the 17th Tyger of the East, has generously shared with Gazette readers his memories of his induction into the order.  Established April 26, A.S. 37 by Darius II and Roxane II, the Tyger of the East is an award ” given to those who most embody and personify the ideals of the East Kingdom.” It is given only once per reign.

“Some hours ago I was named the 17th Tyger of the East.

I have to be honest with you, the reality of what that means didn’t dawn on me at the time. I mean here I am in the Pennsic Court of Gregor and Kiena with the 404, the fighting unit of the East that I have the honor to co-command with Sir Albrecht von Halstern. We marched in at their majesties’ request. We are Her Majesties army, Queen Kiena explains, as She had selected my squire, Ryuokojin of the Iron Skies, to be Her champion some months before.

I smiled with pride as She talked about how She was honored and pleased with getting to know Ryuokojin and the members of the 404, how they not only fought to support their Kingdom but how they have fun with all they undertake. She asked those in attendance to try to get to know us, for the 404 are her pleasure to be associated with.

The familiar unit call “four oh four” followed by the recognition call “ah whoo” barked by the unit members echoed throughout the pavilion as we proceeded out column of twos.

Then, His Majesty called me – “Sir Tanaka”. I stopped and faced my king. suspicious of the reason for the call. “What could he want of me?” I am his man, he need but ask and if it is in my power to do I will. My King and I have known each other for years. I regard him as one of the Great Kings of the East.

Gregor speaks in detail of our relationship over those years, as King to subject, as brother Knights, and men. That litany of events and efforts, although a matter of record, are presented as my personal history of relationship with the East. It has always been a matter of “if I can do it for the Kingdom then it shall be done.” but it was never ever just “me” — there was always those around who made it happen, who became the living embodiment of Their Majesties’ will; whether it be the residents of my home shire of Rusted Woodlands, the fighters of the East, I’ve always had generous support in my efforts to do the “needful”. My King continued to extol the things that He sees as my efforts, and all I can think of is all the people who made those things happen. In my mind they are the Tygers of the East. They are the ones who answered the call.

I teared up when a piece of artwork is presented to me, commissioned by my King and made by my squire’s hand – a gunsen (a war fan). My squire read the poem that is imprinted on the fan. The line “my scars are the stripes of the tiger of the East” brings me to open weeping. Damn squires… The scroll is read… more tears… it is shown to the audience, It is beautiful and heartfelt and crushes me once again for the little details are what bring my emotions up again. The words are by Mariette de Bretagne, the “tombo” (Japanese for dragonfly) perched on a blade of grass is symbolic of my daughter whose SCA name is the same, and the arms of the “tako” or octopus represent my wife for she does so much she must have many arms.

Once again it is the works of many who honor me. I turn from Their Majesties to see the Tygers present. Kraken Gnashbone shares quiet words of encouragement with me. I fall into the embrace of the members of the order. people who have filled me with wonderment and pride for my association with them. I am not worthy of them but I will endeavor to do so.”