Greetings!
For those of you who are new to the Arte of Defense, welcome! I hope you have many enjoyable years ahead of you studying and playing rapier.
I am Her Ladyship Selene O' Malley, the current Kingdom Rapier Marshal for Atenveldt. I--along with my deputies, the Baronial and territorial marshals, authorized marshals, and Marshals at Large--am responsible for overseeing the safety of the Atenveldt rapier fighters and the promotion of the Arte of Defense in our kingdom.\par \par No matter what practice you may attend, you should be able to find members of the marshallate present. Please avail yourself of them as a resource in your learning and respect their judgement in issues of Kingdom and Society law. They are there to help you learn and keep you safe. Marshalling is not an easy job. Please do not make it any more difficult.
When you first begin studying rapier, it will usually take several months of practice before you are tested for authorization. This training is necessary to help you develop basic skills, verse you in kingdom and society rules, acquaint you with SCA customs, and help you develop good habits that will serve you well in your future development. Rushing the process will only hurt you later as a fighter.
You are required to be an authorized fighter to participate in all tourneys and melees (group fights). Fighters between the ages of 16 and 18 can authorize to participate in tourneys, with the consent of their legal guardian. You must be at least 18 years of age to participate in melees. In order to authorize, you must also be a paid member of the SCA.
Please keep in mind that authorization is only the beginning of the process not the end. It is possible to lose your authorization if you conduct yourself unsafely or exhibit a temperament unsuited for the field. Fighting rapier is a privilege you earn not something you are entitled to receive. It is possible to seriously injure an opponent if you are not careful with what you are doing. Always keep this in mind.
As you continue to develop as a fighter, I would encourage you to learn other kingdom\rquote s rules and history of rapier fighting. In the SCA, there is not one "right" way to play our game. At large events, you will be meeting gentles from other kingdoms. Understanding the differences between kingdoms will go a long way in making new friends.
By learning how rapier is played in other kingdoms, you will also come to understand how fortunate we are to be in Atenveldt. Sadly, in many areas of the SCA rapier has a precarious position at best. Never fail to appreciate our good fortune or forget that what we do in this kingdom can seriously effect how the game is played in other areas.
I wish you joy and safety in your fighting. Please feel free to contact my deputies or me at any time with questions.
Her Ladyship Selene O' Malley
Kingdom Rapier Marshal, Atenveldt
miladyblade@hotmail.com (mka Stephanie Maynard)
8502 N. 67th Ave. #270
Glendale, AZ 85302 602-931-8737 (please no calls
after 9 PM)
Buon Jorno.
My name is Meistr Gwylym ab Owain and I am the Premiere of the Order of the Defender of the White Scarf of Atenveldt. Given that title one may ask just what is a Defender of the White Scarf. In essense the person holding this award is a courtier (i.e. a cavalier) as described by Castiglione and in the SCA is a person who excels int he art of defense with rapier and can handle themselves well in courtly circles. One may also ask where does rapier fit into the SCA ? Rapier combat in the SCA is an emulation of civilian combat as performed in the renaissance whereas armored combat emulates military style combat of the period. Given that we have so much material available to us (existant period manuals), I as the Premiere would ask all in the Kingdom to study the art of defense and make our Kingdom the central point for knowledge of period technique in the Known World. Enjoy your rapier play and always feel free to come to me with questions or concerns.
Ciao!
Meistr Gwylym ab Owain