What exactly IS the SCA?

"The SCA recreates the Middle Ages 'as they should have been.' In the SCA, therefore, we try to recreate ourselves as we should have been, in a fantasy world where nobility, honor, and courtesy are the ideals for everyone. We speak to each other in the language of high fantasy, a language spoken in stories by heroes larger than life.

"We're not really heroes. To heroes, only nobility, courage, honor, courtesy and the other dramatic virtues matter. Heroes endure hunger, pain, loneliness, even ridicule with fortitude as long as they know they are living up to their ideals. Every day in what we call the mundane world we comprimise, tell white lies, and avoid rocking the boat. We're not really heroes, are we?

"Could we be heroes if we dared to try? The SCA lets us play at being our best selves, the selves we could be in a perfect, fantasy world, perhaps the selves we really are and never dare to show. In the SCA we're supposed to act nobly and to say we're acting nobly. In the real world (we) feel uncomfortable saying that (we) did something because it was the right thing to do. (We'd) certainly never say (we) did it because it was the noble thing to do."

[By Alura the Twinn, from "The Known World Handbook" (20th yr Edition)]

Mundanely...

"The Society for Creative Anachronism is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to researching and recreating the customs, combat, and courtesy of the Middle Ages. We build weapons, armor and shields -- and fight with them. We hold medieval tournaments and revels. Our guilds study and practice brewing, armoury, dance, calligraphy, and many other 'lost' arts and sciences..."

Who am I in the SCA?

I am (Lord) Berenger (Barin) Dun, my father's second son, born in or around 1153 AD in the region of Northumberland, England. Being the second son of a minor Norman landholder, I did not stand to gain very much should my father pass, and so I chose to seek my own fortune in the world. During my travels, I spent my time as a Forester and a Mercenary, picking up many skills along the way, including leather-working and calligraphy (although I'm no master at either). While I travelled to many places, I found my time wandering with the Celtic people (especially the woman) to be the most enjoyable overall and preferred to wander in the woodlands whenever I possibly could.

I received my Award of Arms on November 26th AS XXIII, signed by His Majesty, King Reynard.

My device is; "Azure, a unicorn rampant sinister argent, on a chief dove- tailed argent, three crescents azure." (Un-Registered)

How do you find the SCA?

The SCA has groups all over the world, with large concentrations in the USA and Canada, and can probably be found wherever you live...

SCA Internet Resources;

• Society for Creative Anachronism Homepage
  - The main SCA page.
• SCA - Midrealm
  - The "Midrealm" is a large chunk of Canada
     and many Northern States.
• The Principality of Ealdormere Homepage
  - Which covers most of Ontario.
• Footwear of the Middle Ages
  - Everything you wanted to know about
     Medieval shoes and footwear.
• Greg Lindahl's Home Page
  - Several good links on many subjects
     from Medieval to mundane.