Q: What does S.C.A. stand for?
A: Society for Creative Anachronism.

Q: Ok, what does Anachronism mean?
A: Simply, something out of it’s own time and place. For example, the Space Shuttle back before the Wright Brothers flew, and vice-versa.

Q: What is the timeframe and regions of Europe do you recreate?
A: Roughly the timeframe is from 600-1600. The region is Europe and any society that was directly affected by or had affects on Europe. This is where it gets a little grey because that can be open to interpretation.  However, if you have the facts to back it up, you won’t have many problems.

Q: What regions does your group include?
A: The Shire of Crescent Moon includes the Topeka, Kansas and surrounding areas. The Kingdom of Calontir encompases Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, and Northwest Arkansas.

Q: Your combat is rehearsed right?
A: No. Nothing you see has been rehearsed or choreographed. Unlike what you may see on TV, at the Movies, or even at local Renaissance Faires, our combat is real and no one knows the outcome before it is over. Our goal is authanticity and it wouldn’t be authentic if we knew what the other was going to do, would it?

Q: What do you use for your weapons? You don’t use real steel do you?
A: We use a material similar to bamboo called rattan.  It is commonly made into furniture. Rattan is technically a grass, not a wood.  Rattan is soft and absorbs a lot of the energy from a blow, but it is strong and still provides some whallop. Steel is illegal for fighting in the SCA. We do have real weapons, but those are just for decoration.  Safety is our biggest concern!

Q: During combat, is there a minimum standard of what you have to wear or is it up the to individual?
A: The SCA has a minimum standard that every fighter must obey if they are to fight. Beyond that, every Kingdom has their standards that enhance the Society standards. The standards vary from Kingdom to Kingdom, but they usually follow along the same lines. You can see to the right, our minimum standard includes the Head, Neck, Wrists, Hands, Elbows, Kidneys, Groin, and Knees. Anything beyond that is optional and up to the individual fighter.

Q: It looks like it hurts. Does it?
A: That is probably the most asked question, and hardest one to answer.  I would be lying if I said you would not get an ouchy every once in awhile.  But normally you will not encounter anything more than you would with any other active sport (baseball, soccer, basketball, football, etc.). Actually, in our history, we have fewer serious injuries than any other major sport in one year. Depending on your amor and your pain threshold, whether it hurts or not is relative.  The average person does not have a problem with it at all.  Armor is a big factor and we take it seriously!

Q: How can I tell if fighting is for me?
A: Easy, come to a fighter practice sometime.  You can get a good and upclose look at what we do and how we protect ourselves. Fighters can answer any questions you have and calm any fears. If available, we may have some loaner armor you could borrow and see what it feels like at a fraction of the intensity.

Q: What if I am not interested in fighting, can I do something else?
A: Absolutely! Check out a partial list of activities that you can do. If you have any questions, just ask.

Q: Do you provide demos for groups?
A: Yes we do.  We are a teaching organization and we love to do demos. If you would like us to show up at your event and put on a demo, you can contact our Seneschal or Chatelaine.

Q: Does it cost anything to do this?
A: Technically, no.  We are a volunteer organization and you can play without paying.  However, since we are a not-for-profit organization, we encourage those who want to play with us, to pay a yearly membership fee so we can continue as a Society. With the membership, you do get a monthly Kingdom newsletter (The Mews) and a discount at events.  Starting January 1, 2003, a $3 fee will be enforced at all events for non-members. For more information about fees, you should check with the SCA Membership page.

Q: Can I be a Wizard, Elf, or Hobbit?
A: No. We are not playing in the fantasy genre that you read in popular books or see on screen. We are recreating the actual Middle Ages, not a fantasy world with dragons and magical beasts.  There are other groups that do play in the fantasy arena, but we are not affiliated with any of them.

Q: Is there a certain age I have to be before I can fight?
A: Yes.  You have to be at least 16 with parent’s written consent, or 18 without.  You can still play in other areas of the SCA if you are a minor, but not fighting. For a list of possible activities, go here.

Q: I’m a woman and I am interested in fighting.  Is that allowed?
A: Of course!  In the SCA everyone, regardless of sex, is encouraged to be on the field.

Q: I’m interested, but I am not sure what I want to do.  How do I decide?
A: That is the beauty of the SCA.  You can do as much or as little as you like.  If you don’t know if you will like something, try it and if you don’t want to do it anymore, don’t. If you don’t know what to do or can’t decide, then ask someone.  For every activity, there is someone you can talk to that would help you make an informed decision.  All you have to do is ask.

Q: I’m interested in doing Calligraphy.  How do I start?
A: Regardless what you are interested in, you will always have ample supply of people who you can talk with on how to get started. You can also do research on your own at the library or on the internet.  The best bet is to go to an event and just talk to someone.

Q: I’ve seen people wearing medallions with different pictures on them.  What do they mean?
A: Those are medallions given in recognition of something. We have a award structure set-up in Calontir that awards people for their efforts. A cheat-sheet of what the awards are and how they are ranked are located here.  This is a good starting place to learn what awards are out there and for what.

Q: Do you vote on your next King or Queen?
A: No. We do not have elections or such to determine who our Royalty are. Just like in the Middle Ages, they fought for it.  In Calontir, we have a tournament, called Crown Tourney, twice a year.  The winner of this tournament are crowned Prince or Pincess. The winner’s consort is crowned the opposite.  The Prince and Princess (Their Highnesses) are the next to ascend the throne, usually in a couple of months. They are crowned King and Queen (Their Majesties) at an event called Coronation, where the previous King and Queen step down.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We get asked a lot of questions. Many of the questions that we get asked are listed here for your information.  After looking through this page, and you still do not have your question answered, please contact us.  We want to help.

This is the recognized website for the Shire of Crescent Moon in the Kingdom of Calontir of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. and is maintained by Yamashiro Kato’.  This site may contain electronic versions of the group’s governing documents.  Any discrepancies between the electronic version of any information on this site and the printed version that is available from the originating office will be decided in favor of the printed version.

Copyright (C) 2006 Shire of Crescent Moon.  The original contributers retain the copyright of certain portions of thi ssite.

For information on using photographs, articles, or artwork from this website, please contact the Web Minister at WebMinister@shireofcrescentmoon.org. They will assist you in contacting the original creator of the piece.  Please respect the legal rights of our contributers.

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