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New to the SCA?

Welcome to the Barony of Darkwater! We are a group within the Society for 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. We are one of five active baronies in the Kingdom of Trimaris, which 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.

Our Barony is divided into 4 areas:

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

How To Get Started And Meetings

You can contact the Hospitaller, Adelheid Leinwater (or in modern life, Cyndi Maners scmaners@mpinet.net 407-341-8659). She is the person who welcomes new participants into the SCA by not only introducing them to experienced members, but also by teaching them about SCA and Kingdom traditions, customs and rules and helping new participants fit in.

Also, you can (and should) attend a meeting or fighter practice. In the Barony of Darkwater, 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.

Most weeks we have a planned class or activity. See our art/sci page for a list of classes. 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 or gold key, 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

Fashion Square Mall is located at 3201 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803. (map)
*The Community Room can be found near Sears and the parking garage. To reach it, park in the parking garage on the back side of the mall, then enter via the mall entrance to the left of Sears. The community room is directly on your left, down the hallway by the restrooms.

Darkwater Officers' Meetings - 3rd Tuesday 7:00-8:30 PM at the Fashion Square Mall Panera Bread
Red Bug Lake Fighter Practices - Wednesdays 7 PM at Red Bug Park
Kissimmee Fighter Practices - Sundays 11 AM at Lakefront Park

Discussion Group
The Barony of Darkwater also has a discussion group for easy communication between all of it's members. It is a Yahoo! group, and does require a Yahoo! account in order to join. The group can be found at: Darkwater.



Terms You Should Know

Garb
Medieval/Renaissance Clothing worn at events.
Period
Any point in time between the year 600 CE to 1600 CE, the time frame that the SCA operates within.
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.
Troll or Gate
the place when you check in at an event and fill out your NCR forms
Reservations
the place at events where you pay any monies due and receive your site token (it is required that everyone check in at ALL events)
Day Tripping
not camping overnight, may or may not be eating feast.
HOLD!
call of the Marshalls for everyone to stop. Failure to do so may result in someone being injured.
Feast
Dinner, usually served in the feast hall at events. There is a separate fee and space is limited.



Courtesy in the Current Middle Ages

The SCA strives to reproduce and recreate the best aspects of the middle ages and renaissance, especially the ideals of courtesy, chivalry and personal honor. 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 King and Queen are addressed as "Your Majesty", the Prince and Princess as "Your Highness", and The Baron and Baroness as "Your Excellency,". 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 challenging to change it as that is who we all met you by! 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.

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 have feast. 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 SCA 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 soda or beer can at an event). Some feast prices include lunch and breakfast, others do not, check the event announcement/flyer/website 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 is 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.

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.
For ideas please see the link http://www.costumepage.org/tcpmake2.html

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.
Visit our Minister of Children page for more details.