The Creakings July 2010

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Their Royal Majesties of An Tir

Kingdom of An-Tir

Their Royal Majesties of An Tir, King Owain and Queen Wrenn

Central Region The Shire of Dregate Their Royal Highnesses of An Tir Crown Prince Tiernan and Crown Princess Miranda

Creakings Summer 2010

Dregate Shire officers Seneschal: Honorable Lord, Sir Lochlan MacLean Exchequer: Master Killian Carrick Chatelaine: The Shire of Dregate Herald: Lord, Squire Dalbach MacDara Arts & Sciences: Companion Osagarow of Karokorum Meeting Chronicler: Companion Osagarow of Karokorum Print Chronicler: Open Master of Stables, Equestrian, List: Lady Nora of Dregate Chamberlain: Open Iron Key: Lord Broc Aillig Gold Key: Lady Thorhalla Great Boke: Lady Mellisa MacCampbell Warlord: Honorable Lord Conual the Carrick Chirurgeon: Open Water Bearer: Open Web Master: Honorable Lord Cerdic Stuart

Contents Upcoming Meeting Minutes Food History Misc.

Quick T-Tunic Sept. Revel Game Corner Arts & Science

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Articles donated by: Lord Squire Dalbach MacDara Honorable Lady Runa

Shire Champions Heavy Armored Combat: Honorable Lord, Sir Lochlan MacLean Arts and Sciences: Lord Squire Dalbach McDara Bardic: Honorable Lord, Squire Ihon Macfearn Archery: Honorable Lord Senesu Rapier: Lord Squire Dalbach McDara Equestrian: Lady Nora of Dregate

This is a publication of the Shire of Dregate and is not an official publication of the SCA. As such it does not delineate official policies of the SCA.

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Upcoming Events July An-Tir West War Folk-Life Festival July Coronation Tournament of Armies

July 01-15 July 10 July 18 July 30-Aug 2

West Kingdom Vulcanfeldt Vulcanfeldt Lions Gate

August 13-15 August 20-22

Lions Gate Wealdsmere

September 03-06 September 10-12 September 10-12 September 17-19

Glymm Mere Wealdsmere Dregate Krakenfjord

August Sergeant Trials Sergeant Trials

September September Crown Border War September Revel Summers End

Announcements Congratulations to our newest Peerage Companion Oso, Master Killian, Sir Lochlan and Don Andrew. These awards are well deserved!

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Page 4 Dregate General Meeting Minutes

Financial Meeting Minutes

5-30-10 Present: Aelfwynn, Kit, Dalbach, Conual, Oso and two guests from Okanogan.

Meeting was called to order at 1:10 by Oso. Lochlan was called to work at the last minute and Oso ran the meeting in his stead.

Two guests were welcomed, Ryan and Shelby, who have interest in various SCA activities, and will be added to the shire emailing list at their request.

Reports: Seneschal : meeting at Crown, minutes posted separately on website. Of note, memberships will increase by a couple bucks and NMS will go up to $5, as of July 1st. So, if your membership is due to renew, try to do it sooner than later to save a couple of dollars per person.

Herald: Dalbach has compiled a list of helpful books that he would like to order for the Heralds office, we will present the proposal at the next financial meeting.

Exchequer: Ihon has stepped down from the Exchequer office, Killian and Runa teaming together to work on current reports.

Financial committee needs to meet in the next week or so. If you have interest serving on this committee, please contact Killian.

A&S: cowl/hood workshop still in the works. No date set, but Oso will get back on this organization.

Equestrian: A good non official practice was held May 2, 2 members of Cranehaven joined in, and have become jr eq. marshals. Oso will be stepping up to Kingdom Equestrian Contingency deputy as soon as it meets the needs of current KEO, but this should have little bearing on local activities.

Events: Revel: Kai not present for a report.

Champions Tourney: Oso asked for discussion regarding keeping Championships separate and putting defender tourneys at our annual events. After some discussion, people agreed with consensus at recent charter meetings that it is not reasonable to run both championship and defenders tourneys in one weekend, and that we will put a heavy and archery Defenders tourney at Revel, Bardic defender at Red Lantern, and hopefully resurrect Fur and Feather for Rapier and Equestrian. Unless someone not already having input presents persuasive arguments against this, this will be tried for the coming year.

Oso will make a point to invite all Honorary members to the Champions tourney and all should invite others to the respective events hosting Defender tourneys.

Conscious Festival- wants to rent wall and pavilions for 650$, noting that this is their first year of running a big event, and hope to be able to rent them again next year for closer to what we normally ask. It was agreed to go ahead with this and we need volunteers to help transport items to Barter Faire site Tuesday June 8th after work and back to storage Sunday June 13th. Contact Oso if you are willing to help with this.

Calendar: noting that the last weekend of June is Lioness, and other weekends of June and most of July have conflicts, it was agreed to combine a June/July meeting at Tonasket Soccer fields (far south end under cover) on July 25th.

Other practices to be posted to website by Marshal.

There being no further business, Oso adjourned the meeting at 2:30.

6-22-10 Present:Killian, Lochlan, Conual, Dalbach, Kai, Runa, Cerdic, Oso, Nora Killian reported that the ‘09 Doomesday report was sent to and received by Kingdom, first quarter is almost final.

The setup of the new bank account was not complete, Killian ordered a box of checks, we procured a PO Box for bank statements. Killian has been in constant communication with current and the most recent Kingdom Exchequers.

Discussion occurred about the NCNB account. Killian made a motion to include Roberta Tower, Kingdom Exchequer; Shannon Bedard, Lois Campbell, Kelly Cariker, Kim Legg Jacobs, John Fitchett, Brian MacLean and David M. Campbell Jr. to the account. Cerdic seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.

Killian made a motion that once the NCNB account is fully open, we will close the account at Coulee Dam Credit union. Lachlan seconded the motion, all were in favor and the motion passed.

Kelly Cariker has authority to complete this process.

Currently we have $1243.12 in the NCNB account, 153.85 in checking and $5 in savings.

Wall and pavilions were rented to the Culture Festival, check is in the mail, for at least $650.

September Revel: Dalbach has volunteered to do the feast with help from other squires, 500$ was allocated for food budget.

Gate fees will be set at $12, youth 6-16 $6, 5 and under free Family cap $36.

Feast tickets $10; 5 and under free Site tokens $50 Dregate heavy defender prize-Lachlan will make tombstone armor for around $25.

Dregate archery defender prize - $25 allocated ChampionshipSite fee $200 Equestrian insurance $50 Main dish food for potluck $30 Site fee will be $10 for adults, 12 and under $5 Financial policy: has been out layed in Charter, sections 12 and 13.

Dalbach motioned that no one may sign a check that is made out to them. Two other signers are required. For keeping of the books no check shall be made out to “cash”.

Runa seconded that, and all were in favor. Charter will be revised to have a financial section including this and previous financial procedures.

Dregate.com was close to expiring, Killian paid for the three year contract renewal. Hosting $201.38, Domain name $28.11.

Killian was reimbursed by check.

Next financial meeting was set for September.

Meeting adjourned 9:08

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A bit of food history Trenchers One of the most vital features of medieval feasts were trenchers, plates cut from stale loaves of bread and which were used to hold food, salt, and even candles during the feast. Every diner ate off one, and there were even servants whose specific task during mealtime was the carving and presentation of trenchers, the finest and most delicate given to the king or ranking nobility. Used trenchers, full of sauces and covered in bits of food, were given to the festal dogs or presented to the poor, who waited hungrily outside, as alms. Sadly, in today's recreated dinners the trencher is more often than not replaced by the bread bowl, which is a sorry substitution for the real thing.

Bridget Ann Henisch, author of Fast and Feast, reveals these important facts on the trenchers of the Middle Ages: "After its importance as food, the most useful role bread played at table was as a plate, or trencher.

A trencher could be made of many different materials, earthenware, wood, or metal, but well into the sixteenth century it was often made of bread. The word is derived from the French verb trenchier or trancher, to cut, and the plate was made freshly for each meal by cutting off a slice from the loaf. It soaked up gravy, and could be eaten by the diner, tossed to a favorite dog, or tidied away with all the other remains and given to the poor. A clean trencher was prepared once or twice during an elaborate meal as the table was swept clean between each course, the servants removing 'all broke cromys, bonys and trenchours before the secunde cours and servise be served.'

"Any man who ate his own trencher must have been particularly hungry, as the bread used was rather coarse and stale, to make it solid enough for the purpose. The flour was unbolted and the loaf itself several days old: 'trencher bred iii dayes (old) is convenyent and agreable.'

The Goodman of Paris adds the information that a trencher should be 'half a foot wide and four inches high.'

In texture it was close and firm enough to be used sometimes as a candle holder.

"An ordinary diner made his own trencher after he sat down at the table, by cutting off a slice from the nearest loaf, but the most important people present expected to be served. Once again, the bread bore silent witness to their status. One manual suggests three trenchers for the master of the household, two for his son, and one for the least distinguished at the table.

Another, more lavish, proposes four for the lord, 'and soo iii or ii after her (their) degree.'

"To prepare a trencher for someone else was a courtesy. In the Holkham Bible Picture Book, Jesus may be seen, as a young boy, cutting bread for Mary and Joseph. A person sufficiently distinguished to receive several trenchers would find them presented to him on the blade of the server's knife and then ranged before him, sometimes side by side or in a square, sometimes in a little pile. One might be set out on its own to act as a personal saltcellar.

"If at no other stage in a meal, a clean trencher was expected at the very end, when cheese and little delicacies were brought in.

The child addressed in The Babees Book is given this advice: 'Whanne chese ys brouhte, A trenchoure ha (have) ye clene On whiche withe clene knyf ye your chese mowe kerve.'

"From these 'dessert' trenchers developed miniature wooden plates, charmingly decorated on one side with flowers and improving texts, of which a few sixteenth and seventeenth examples still survive."

Bridget Ann Henisch, Fast and Feast, pp 160-161 Borrowed from the Boke of Good Cookery website http://www.godecookery.com/how2cook/howto07.htm (Try the recipe on following page)

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Trenchers Makes 2 trenchers - 3 cup unbleached flour - 1/3 c whole wheat flour - salt - 1 packet yeast - ½ cup water - ¾ cup milk - 1 egg white Special equipment a bread knife (don't try splitting such a large loaf with any other knife) Method Heat milk and water in a small bowl (1 minute in the microwave on high is perfect). Dissolve in the yeast. Measure the flour into a large bowl. Add salt. Slowly stir in the yeast mixture; knead in the egg white (it adds elasticity to the dough).

Let it rise in a warm place for 45 minutes. Punch down and form into one large plate-sized disc. Let it rise again, about 30 minutes. Bake in preheated 450° oven for 30 minu tes.

Cool, slice in half horizontally to yield two trenchers. Like any bread, trenchers freeze well, however, freeze before slicing.

Notes This recipe yields trenchers slightly larger than life. True medieval trenchers were small affairs, perhaps only 5 inches across, sometimes round but more often square. If smaller still, 2 or 4 were abutted against one another and an additional trencher on top covered the seams. The advantage of our design is not only that everyone gets the ‘upper crust’ but our trenchers can indeed be used in the place of plates without worrying about gravies soaking through to the tablecloth. Makes cleanup a breeze: no plates to wash!

Trenchers can be colored green by parsley, yellow by saffron, or rose by saunders (sandalwood). The lord's panter was in charge of the ceremonial slicing of the trenchers with his four special knifes: chaffer, parer, trencher and mensal knives.

Suggestions This is really just a basic French Bread reshaped into a trencher loaf. Some households used whole wheat loaves, others whiter bread. Use your favorite bread recipe. Color the traditional way, or cheat with food coloring. www.fraxinus.com/cookbook/cwchbwch.html

Seneschal Report Hi everyone!!! Eat sheep. . . it's what's for dinner!!!

Dregate Champions Tourney October 1-3, Tonasket Rodeo Grounds.

More information coming soon.

For all the latest information and schedules visit:

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How to make a quick-and-dirty T-tunic‌ First, obtain your material. Most t-tunics go to just above the knees, but they can also go right to the floor. The length of the cloth should be just a bit more than twice the distance from your shoulder to where you want it to hang to. The width (ideally) will be at least the distance between your wrists when your arms are held out to your sides. Pick a material that's easy to work with. Wool is easiest to work with, since you don't have to treat the edges to keep it from fraying too badly. An old army blanket in olive drab or deep red (not orange!) is ideal. A grey blanket can be left as-is or dyed blue. Alternatively, you can use broadcloth or whatever you find in the remnants bin. Strong, primary colors are best, with browns and tans less usual. The concept of "matching" was unheard of in the early Middle Ages, and it was common to wear red with green and yellow.

Second, fold the cloth in quarters, raw edges together first and selvedges together second. Note the corner that corresponds with the centre of the fabric.

Third, take a loose fitting sweatshirt or tee-shirt and fold it in half, lengthwise. Lay it on the folded fabric with the lengthwise folds together and the neck at the corner that corresponds with the centre of the cloth. Mark the outline of the t-tunic using your shirt as a guide.

Leave an inch or more for seam allowance and to allow a bit of looseness in the fit. Extend the sleeve line out to the edge of the fabric.

Choose either a close fitting sleeve (solid line) or a wide, hanging sleeve (dashed line, usually for women).

Extend the sides into a skirt

and mark the bottom in an arc.

Fourth, take your shirt off the cloth and cut where you've marked.

Fifth, make the neck hole. Be careful! Most people don't know how tiny their neck really is... measure the thing, first. Open the

cloth out by one fold and make a "D" shape centered on the fold and as big as your neck. Your neck sort-of grows out of the front of your chest, not straight up between your shoulders. The neck hole must reflect this or your garb will ride against the front of your neck and be uncomfortable. Flip the cloth over and mark a MUCH shallower "D" on the back. Cut this out.

To get it over your head, you need a hole bigger than your neck. Cut a slit down the front of the tunic from the neck hole just far enough so that you can get your head through. Cut this by degrees until it's just right. Since this makes the neck look a bit like a keyhole, it's called a keyhole neck.

Sixth, sew up the sides and down the sleeves (dotted lines).

Finally, turn the thing right side out and it's ready to wear. Cinch the waist in with a belt and wear tight fitting pants and you're all dressed to come to your first event!

(Borrowed from the Canton of Wolfsgate)

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Annual September Revel 15 September 10-12, 2010 Camp Ortoha, Washington Autocrat: Lord Kai Dregate welcomes you to our annual revel, commemorating our shire's first event. Come find fellowship, relaxation and acquaint yourself with old friends and new. We will have Heavy fighting, archery, and our famous Dregate Feast and bardic. Feast tickets sold onsite Saturday.

The site has bunk-style beds in communal cabins. For reservations contact us. Hot showers and bathrooms are on site. Please note there is a lake nearby so be cautious.

The site is somewhat remote, please bring any special dietary items or meds that you require. The site is discreetly wet. Quiet pets, which are leashed and picked up after are welcome.

AUTOCRAT: Lord Kai (Darius Thorne) CABIN RESERVATIONS: HL Killian Carrick (Kelly Cariker) SITE OPENS: 4:00 PM on September 10th and closes at 3:00 PM on the 12th.

SITE FEE: Adults $12, 6-16 $6, and under 6 are FREE. Family cap of $36. SCA non member surcharge of $3 will apply. Make Checks payable to: Shire of Dregate SCA. FEAST FEE: $10. Children under 5 are free.

SITE ADDRESS: Camp Ortoha- 8 Lost Lake Rd. Tonasket WA 98855 (note this address will not work on GPS or on the net- many signs will be posted) DIRECTIONS: There will be plenty of SCA signage! From the West, make your way to Tonasket WA. From Tonasket, follow HWY 20 East for 16 miles and turn left at the Bonaparte Lakes Recreation Area.

From the East, Republic side, follow HWY 20 West for 19 miles towards Tonasket and turn right at the Bonaparte Lakes Recreation Area sign.

Follow the winding road for 7 plus miles. STAY ON THE PAVEMENT! Turn Left at the fork on the road towards Lost Lake then Left at the T intersection and Left again at Camp Ortoha.

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Game Corner Gluckhaus This game is played with 2 dice and three or more players (can be played with two players but it gets a bit dull).

Note: There is no 4. Rolling 4 is effectively a pass.

All players start the game by putting a coin on 7.

The player rolls the dice. If a 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 is rolled, the player checks the number for a coin. If there is a coin there, the player takes it. If there is no coin, the player puts one down on that number.

Number 7 is the wedding. If a 7 is rolled, the player puts a coin in (the pile coins on 7 could get quite large).

If a two is rolled, (the pig) the player takes the coins on all numbers except 7 because the pig wouldnt take from a wedding.

If the player rolls 12, (The King) the player takes all coins.

After the player rolls, the dice are passed to the left. The game ends when everyone is poor. People can join and drop out at any time.

Tablero de Jesus Tablero is a 15th century Spanish gambling game.

The board is seven rows by seven columns, similar to a chess board, but with one fewer row and column. The board is completely undifferentiated, but may be decorated as lavishly as the owner wishes. Two standard dice are used.

Players roll the die to determine who goes first. High roller places one coin in each of the two right-most columns in his home row. Low roller places one coin in each of the remaining columns in his own home row and goes first. The object of the game is to form rows of coins in the center of the board in order to remove them.

On his turn, each player throws the dice and moves any two coins either forward or backward in their own columns the number of spaces indicated by the dice. Each die must control a separate coin. If, for example, the dice were to come up 6 & 3, you couldn't move one coin five spaces and the other four, nor could you move one coin six spaces forward and three back.

When a player succeeds in getting two or more coins in ADJACENT columns on the same row, other than either home row, he may either remove them from the board and end his turn, or continue to throw the dice hoping to make the row longer and capture more coins. VARIATION: If a player succeeds in lining up all seven coins, he not only collects those coins, but an eighth coin from his opponent as well.

If a player throws 7, 11 or 12, he must immediately surrender the dice to his opponent without removing any coins from the board. Mathematically, the probability of this occurring is exactly 1 chance in 4. If a player throws a roll which cannot be made, for example, a six with no coins on either home row, he must also surrender the dice.

When a player removes coins from the board, his turn ends and he hands the dice to his opponent. His opponent must fill the empty columns by placing his own coins in those columns in his own home row. If a player is forced to surrender the dice when there is a row of coins on the board, his opponent may take the coins and return the dice without ever making a throw. When a player no longer has enough coins to fill empty columns, he has lost the game.

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A&S Champions Theme Greetings all, First The idea; I would like to see a tool that your persona would use. I will want some light documentation. that being said this is what I propose; Pick a tool that you persona would use, and give us a little bit about your persona (culture, time period, etc) then for the documentation, show how this tool fits your persona. you can define "tool" any way you think. ie; if you are a Norseman and your tool is a boat oar, that sounds good, or if you are a Celtic cavalry warrior and your tool is a horse bridal, then that could work too. The big emphasis should be on a tool your persona would use. The extra benefit to this competition is that every one who enters wins! One person is made Champion but every contestant has a new period piece to add to their kit, complete with some documentation, and what a great thing to have for later Demos.

So I will recap ; - make a tool your persona would use - give a brief synopsis of your persona - document how the tool fits your persona - Have a blast making something that you can show of there after.

LAST THING...I know documentation of any kind can be scary. As your Champion I will make myself available to anyone that needs help putting this together. If you need some help organizing your thoughts on Paper, I will help, If you need help defining your persona, I will point you in the direction of help, if I cannot help myself or if you just need some clarification about these expectations, I will happily do what I can to make this easy as possible as I want you to spend more of your artist talents on the tool you make. If anyone has any questions about this Please email me.

Lord Dalbach MacDara, Arts & Science Champion of Dregate _____________ Greetings unto my Dread Brothers and Sisters, I your Arts and Sciences Champion have a Challenge for any who have ever been a Champion in Dregate, you know who you are...

The Challenge is simple, When you competed for what ever you won part of that deal was that you put your mark on which ever regalia that went with that Championship. So I challenge all of the former Champions to Embroider their arms to go on which ever cloak or tabard you once bore as this Shires Champion. I myself am taking this challenge as I too have been remiss. Lets catch up and show our pride in this our great home shire. For those of you that may not be as handy with a needle as you are with a sword, or horse, of arrow, or song; send me an email and I will make arrangements to help show you how, or better have a person so much more qualified show you. for Dregate, Dalbach MacDara