Glossary

An SCA Babblefish
By
Lord Todde mac Donnell

This list first appeared as an amusing one-page mini-glossary for Isles Newcomers. It is hoped this bias will be understood, if not forgiven, by those whose opinions differ…

 

A Glossary Of SCA-Babble

In Order to recreate the flavor of the middle ages, we frequently substitute our own terms for officers, cities, awards, and events. Which has the unfortunate consequence of making the newcomer wish for a Magic Decoder Ring. In order to fit everything on one page, I’ve been awfully brief. Feel free to ask any of us what the hell we’re talking about. I did.

Officers

Arts & Sciences:
Plans crafts, classes, contests ad infinitum
Autocrat:
Runs a particular event. Usually hires many deputies
Chatelaine/Castellan:
Assists newcomers & visitors.
Chirurgeon:
First Aid. Fixes broken heavy fighters.
Chronicler:
Grovels articles & produces the newsletter
Constable:
Takes care of shire pavilion etc, lost & found
Exchequer:
Our treasurer. Keep all your receipts!!
Herald:
Submits names and armorial devices. Expert artist
List Mistress:
Figures out who fights whom in the tourneys
Marshal:
Observes & organizes combat. Authorizes fighters
Seneschal:
Our president. Runs meetings & has final say

 

Nearby & Major Groups

Altavia:
San Fernando Valley and areas to the north.
Angels:
Central Los Angeles, minus the coast.
Calafia:
San Diego county. Very Very Big.
Carreg Wen:
Lompoc & Vandenburg AFB
Darach:
Ventura County (Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, etc)
Dreiburgen:
San Bernardino & Riverside Counties
Dun Or:
Lancaster & Palmdale
Gyldenholt:
Orange County
Isles:
Home sweet home. Santa Barbara County.
Kingdom of Atenveldt:
Arizona. Hosts Estrella War
Kingdom of Caid:
Southern Cal, Vegas, Hawaii, N.Z.
Kingdom of the West:
Northern California & Nevada
Lyondemere:
LA Coastal area, Malibu to Long Beach.
Naevejaem:
Barstow. Way up there.
Nordwache:
Fresno & Vicinity. Further up there.
Starkhafn:
Las Vegas. Out in the Kuiper belt somewhere

 

Events

Collegium:
Classes for crafts & officers. Mar & Oct.
Coronation:
New King & Queen crowned, get gifts. June & Nov.
Crown Tourney:
Winner gets the crown. Apr & Sept.
Festival of the Rose:
Queen’s arts showcase: Feb & July.
Local Events:
plus occasional Kingdom-level events

  • Revel without a Cause in January,
  • Weekend Event & Feast in March,
  • Isles’ Anniversary in April or May,
  • Festival of the Rose is ours this July!
  • Isles-Darach Enmity in October.
Make-a-Wish:
Make unlucky kids a prince for a day.
Queen’s Champion:
Tourneys for rapier and heavies.
Twelfth Night:
Dress up in finery, dine & give gifts. Jan.
Wars:
Fight all day, party all night, sleep on the way home

  • Estrella on President’s Day weekend near Phoenix,
  • Great Western on Columbus Day weekend in LA,
  • Potrero on Labor & Memorial Day weekends in SD.

 

Titles and Awards

Award of Arms:
First level. Lord or Lady Whoever. “AoA”

  • Dolphin / Harp Argent / Crescent Sword / Duelist / Argent Arrow for
  • Service / Arts & Sciences / Armored Combat / Rapier / Archery
Grant of Arms:
The Honorable Lord/Lady; Your Lordship, etc.

  • Crescent / Lux Caidis / Gauntlet / White Scarf / Chiron
  • White Scarf: Grant for rapier. Don or Dona Whoever.
Patent of Arms:
Highest Level. The title varies as below:

  • Knights: For armored combat. Sir or Dame Whoever.
  • Laurels: For Arts & Sciences. Master or Mistress
  • Pelicans: For Service. Master or Mistress
Kings & Such:
Previous kings and queens also wear crowns

  • The Crowns of Caid are silver with large lapis lazuli disks in front
  • King/Queen: Yes, Your Majesty.
  • Prince(ss): About to take the throne. Your Highness.
  • Earl/Count(ess): Ruled once. Your Excellency.
  • Duke/Duchess: Ruled twice or more: Your Grace.
Baron(ess):
Figure head of a Barony. Your Excellency.
General Rule:
If wearing other than the royal crown, try Your Excellency.

 

Etcetera

Authorized:
Checked out by a marshal for combat tourneys.
Barony:
A large area group, presided over by a Baron.
Canton:
A smaller subdivision of a barony.
Crown Prints:
Caid’s monthly newsletter. “the CP”
Device:
Your coat of arms. Consult the Herald.
Eric:
The ring in which the fighting occurs.
Favor:
A token given and worn to denote friendship or more.
Heavy:
Armored combat with rattan swords and testosterone.
Helpful Hint:
Always pre-wash your fabric!!
Kingdom:
16 of them throughout the world. Yours is Caid.
Period:
Roughly 400-1600, the time the Society recreates
Presentations:
Gifts, as in: from us, to the Royalty.
Rapier:
Elizabethan fencing, with secondary weapons.
Shinai:
Unarmored combat with bamboo swords. “Lights”
Shire:
A smaller local group, without a baron. Yours is Isles.
Troll:
The person to whom, or where, you pay your event fee
White Belt:
Symbol of a knight, along with spurs & fealty chain
White Scarf:
Symbol of a Don, the highest rank in rapier.

 

First compiled by Lord Todde mac Donnell, September 25, 1998.
Webbed by the same on July 5, 1999, and not updated much since.