sabanet

ദ്ദി◝ ⩊ ◜.ᐟ

I joined the SCA in April of 2025. My focus is in equestrian sports, specifically jousting and roßfechten. I work on horsemanship and jousting with my mentor, and I work on fencing at regular practise in my barony (along with scribal/illumination stuff, cooking, Welsh studies, and whatever else my mind demands mastery of).

What the heck is the SCA? Tldr; it's medieval reenactment, heavy on the research and community. It is a global club, free to enter and participate, with kingdoms just about anywhere. Currently I'm in the kingdom of Ansteorra, with plans to move to Insulae Draconis. It is super duper easy to look up your nearby group (down to the principality/barony/shire/canton) from the SCA website! Each group varies in size, and they decide individually when to meet and where.

FAQ

Before anything, I just want to state that you do NOT have to be anything but yourself to join this group. Marathon runner, out of shape, POC, femme, masc, nonbinary. WHATEVER. And if anyone gives you trouble, I guarantee there is always someone who will have your back. Like me! Give me a chance to make my persona's ancestors (and mine) proud, lol. I could not give a shit if the problem ^tm is a brick shithouse, there's a weasel on my heraldry for a reason.

Do you need any equipment/gear?
Although this can depend on your local group, the easy answer is no. There is often loaner gear available to get you started in whatever strikes your fancy. (e.g., armour and gear for heavy fighting, rapier or cut & thrust / art supplies provided for scribal activities)

What activities are there to do?
Also depends on your group! Mine is rather large, so we have heavy fighting or "chiv", rapier, cut & thrust, thrown weapons (axes, knives, spears), scribal, fiber arts, book binding, dance, cooking, brewing, and more. I am currently working with my mentor to integrate equestrian activities as well.

What do you...do?
My barony has a weekly practise. Some groups have a bimonthly or monthly practise - just depends on the size and how active everyone is/wants to be. There are also events that range from local to national. I just attended an event that included several kingdoms!

Is this LARPing?
Sorta kinda...you can "play" as little or as much as you like. Some folks create a persona and do LARP, some people make a persona and don't roleplay, some of us just kinda putz around and enjoy the nerdery. I have a 15th century Welsh persona and land somewhere in the middle of dedication to my that persona.

What if my group is all super "alpha" dudes who just want to fight?
That's buhurt. Lol! JK. All fighting in armour is valid. ;) My experience in the SCA has been very inclusive. There is even a queer/LGBTQ+ group called the Blue Feather Clan that is not bound by geography, so you can be a part of it from wherever you are. While I'm sure it depends on location, I believe that a lot of people who join the SCA do so primarily to widen their horizons, be amongst fellow historical enthusiasts, and just...chill and have hobbies!

Did I convince you? Are you already part of the SCA? I'm known as Dafydd ap Ivanhoe. May we one day meet and share love and laughs!