As the Shire's Castellan, it is my priveledge and honor to welcome newcomers and visitors to our shire. Among my many duties, the Castellan is both a recruiter and welcoming committee all in one. So, if you have questions about anything you see on our site, please let me know at castellan@nomountain.org.

A Brief Intro to the SCA and NoMountain

In 1966, at UCLA Berkeley, a group of students held a medieval theme party to celebrate the end of classes, complete with trounaments and feast. The Society for Creative Anachronism went on to become an international organization devoted to reliving the Middle Ages, "as they should have been," meaning no plagues, no peasant classes, no pestilence... For more detailed information, click on "What the SCA Is".

Organization
Today, the SCA is divided into 17 regions called "kingdoms", each headed by a ceremonial King and Queen. Our kingdom is Calontir, from an old Welsh phrase meaning "heart land," and includes Iowa, Missouri, and parts of Nebraska, Kansas, and Arkansas. Our King is chosen in Crown Tourney, where the winner of the tournament becomes the crown prince for six months, after which he is crowned King along with his chosen Queen. He rules for six months, and steps down as the next crown prince is crowned. Our current monarchs are known within the SCA as Their Majesties Joe Angus and Phaedra. The crown prince and princess are known as Royal Highnesses Siridean and Sile.

Personae
Members of the Society choose a personal name typical of the time period (between the years 600 and 1600). Often they also develop an entire history and lifestyle to go with their name, called a persona. Some very creative members will devise multiple personae and use different ones at various times. The persona is typically based on a member's interest in a particular region or skill from the middle ages, and many have fun researching and re-creating that lifestyle.

Garb
After choosing a name, the next step is making garb. Whenever groups get together, members dress in clothing like that worn in the Middle Ages. Usually, designing garb involves looking through history books or literature of the Middle Ages, choosing something, and then making it. The garb does not have to match a persona, but it does add to the fun if it does match. Garb can be as simple or ornate as you wish and makes a great venue for expressing one's research.

Gathering, Tournaments and Fun
Besides having regular meetings, groups host events, open to any group in the kingdom or even from other kingdoms. Often, events may even be open to the general public. Most events include some sort of tournament. Fighters wear armour and use weapons of rattan made to resemble such weapons of old as bastard swords, pole arms, axes, spears, maces, and great swords, to "kill" opponents. The last fighter alive is declared the winner of the tourney.

The tournament is usually the best-known part of events, but events can also include classes or competitions in the arts and sciences. Many times an event includes a feast; a supper of two or three courses of medieval foods that is often accompanied by the entertainment of musicians, dancers, bards, and magicians. A feast may be followed by Court, in which the King and Queen (or their representative) recognize the services and skills of members by presenting them with awards.

Between events, SCA members find many fun things to do. Probably the most common is the practice and development of fighting skills. But there is so much more to the Middle Ages... Projects can include music, dance, calligraphy and illumination, bardic work, heraldry, cooking, herbalism, brewing, needlework, garbing, armouring, wood, metal, or leatherworking -- the list is almost endless. Since we are trying to recreate the Middle Ages, anything done in medieval times is fair game. Also, each group must have certain officers to keep everything running smoothly, and interested members can become deputies and then serve in an office, usually for a two-year period.

Membership
Becoming a part of the SCA is easy. We always welcome all those interested to come to meetings and events, asking only that they wear garb. Our group here in Grinnell, known in the SCA as NoMountain, does have "loaner" garb for those wanting to see what we're like before deciding to join. You can attend our meetings even without membership, and we are more than happy to discuss all the "ins-and-outs" of reliving the Middle Ages with you. As I said before, if you have any questions, please contact me at castellan@nomountain.org