The Barony of Darkwater

Welcome to the Barony of Darkwater, a group within the Society of Creative Anachronism Inc, or the SCA. The SCA divides the Known World into kingdoms based upon geographic location. Kingdoms are further broken down into principalities, baronies, shires and cantons.

We are located in Central Florida, encompassing most of the Greater Orlando area and all of Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Lake Counties and we are one of five active baronies in the kingdom of Trimaris. The Kingdom of Trimaris is composed of the State of Florida from approximately Tallahassee eastward to the Atlantic Ocean and all of the peninsula, Antarctica, and the Panama Canal Zone.

You do not have to live in Darkwater to attend meetings and events in Darkwater or in any other area.

Terms You Should Know
Before we go any further there are a few terms you should be familiar with:

Garb- Clothing/Costumes worn at events.
Period- Any point in time between the year 600 CE to 1600 CE, the time frame that the SCA operates within.
Troll or Gate- the place when you check in at an event and pay any monies due and receive your site token (it is required that everyone check in at ALL events)
On-Board- eating feast.
Off-Board- not eating feast.
Day Tripping- not camping overnight, may or may not be eating feast.
Guilds- groups dedicated to a particular art or science.
HOLD!- call of the Marshalls for everyone to stop. Failure to do so may result in someone being injured.
Persona- A character that might have lived in the SCA period that a member pretends to be at events; personas can be very simple or quite complex, it's up to the person.

How To Get Started And Meetings
You can contact the Hospitaller (Cathar of Colquhoun - Kay Gonzalez - 407-929-7087 - kay@pizzazztheatrical.com) who is more than willing to discuss any SCA related subjects with you. Also, you can (and should) attend a thursday night meeting or fighter practice . These meetings are casual and we don't usually dress in garb unless it is the fifth thursday of a month and then we hold a small court/social and show up in garb. Some people bring projects they are working on while others just like to hang out and talk with friends. This is a good place to meet the people of the Barony in a casual setting. The Hospitaller also has available a limited amount of garb and equipment that can be borrowed for events. Please contact them in advance to insure they have a size that would fit you or the equipment that you need.

Darkwater Meetings - Thursdays 7:00 PM at the Community Room in the Fashion Square Mall
- Business Meeting - 1st Thursday 7:00 PM at the Community Room in the Fashion Square Mall
- Curia - 5th Thursday 7:00 PM at the Community Room in the Fashion Square Mall
Darkwater Officers' Meetings - 3rd Tuesday 7:00-8:30 PM at the Fashion Square Mall Panera Bread
Kissimmee Fighter Practices - Sundays 11 AM at Lakefront Park
Red Bug Lake Fighter Practices - Wednesdays 7 PM at Red Bug Park

Courtesy in the Current Middle Ages
The SCA strives to be extremely polite. We address one another as "My Lord" or "My Lady." If someone holds a higher title they will gently correct you. When someone wearing a crown walks past, it's polite to bow your head or give a small curtsy. The Baron and Baroness are addressed as "Your Excellency," the King and Queen as "Your Majesty" and the Prince and Princess as "Your Highness". If you are unsure how to address someone, just ask.

Choosing a Persona
You do not have to choose a persona right away. Attend a few events first, try out different garb and talk to all kinds of people. You may find something more interesting than you originally planned. Once you pick a name and people start calling you by it, it is very difficult to change it. One way to avoid this is to pick a first name that was common to several areas you are interested in, and decide on a last name at a later date. You cannot use the name of a real historical person or a fictional character, or a name that implies a relationship to either. A good web site to check out for ideas for and the rules of SCA name construction is the Medieval Names Archive located at http://www.panix.com/~mittle/names/

Events
When many people think of the SCA, they think of people in costume, fighters battling, contests, feasts and dancing. This is actually a pretty good description of an SCA event. It is always a good idea to pre-register for an event if you wish to be on-board. For a list of up-coming events check out the Upcoming Events page.

What to bring with you to an event?
If you have not pre-registered, you should bring enough money to cover the cost of the event. You might also want to bring extra money as there are often many merchants with various medieval and medievalish items for sale. You should also bring feast gear consisting of a plate, a bowl, a cup, a fork (if you prefer), a spoon, and a knife. Many people bring candles and tablecloths. You should also bring your own drinks. Please check the site restrictions on alcohol. Drinks should be drunk from your cup, not original containers (no one likes to see a Coke or Budwiser can at an event). Some on-board prices include lunch, others do not, check the event announcement to see if you need to bring lunch. A hat, sunscreen, and insect repellant are all good to bring with you. During the spring and fall it�s a good idea to dress in layers or bring a cloak for morning and evening wear when it gets cooler. During the hottest months, you might want to dress lightly during the day and bring a change of garb for the feast.

Costuming or Garb
This is the most visible of all our activities and is the only requirement in the SCA. Everyone is asked to make an attempt at pre-1600 clothing. Your garb can be as simple as a "T" tunic or as elaborate as Elizabethan garb. Please don't feel as though you have to be dressed perfectly. We understand that you may not have the knowledge or means to do a complete outfit. If you're not sure what to wear, ask someone. They will be more than willing to help. Another misconception is that if you wear one style of clothing, you always have to dress that way. After attending several events, you will see that this is not true. Many people see a costume and think they might like it, but after wearing it to their first event they find that the clothes are too uncomfortable, too wieldy, or not flattering to your figure. You can also use commercial patterns or purchase your garb. PLEASE ask someone if you need help. A good resource is The History of Costume, By Braun & Schneider. It has a number of images from an historical costome book from the 1800�s.

Children
Children are very welcome at events. There are often children's activities available throughout the day, BUT they are not a baby-sitting service and will not watch your child all day. Please keep an eye on your child and be aware of their location at all times (for safety reasons). Young children are often fascinated by the fighting and should be instructed to stay away from the lysts fields without your accompaniment. You should also teach them what "HOLD" means.

Children should be dressed in layers of clothing, using sturdy, washable fabrics. Simple "T" Tunics work well and can be worn over sweat pants or jeans in cooler weather and with or without shorts in warmer weather. You can check with the hospitaller for loaner garb.

Please take into account your child's eating habits and ability to sit through long meals at table when planning on eating the feast.

Remember, children should follow the same rules of courtesy as adults.

Web Resources
Other SCA and or Medieval Information Sites

* Information for SCA Newcomers - http://www.sca.org/newcomers.html
* Forward into the Past, an Introductory Guide to the SCA - http://www.trimaris.org/index.php?q=hospitaller-forward