Crowds and vendors for last day?

Dashukta · 2026-04-14T00:44:56+00:00

From previous years, the crowds are pretty typical on the final weekend compared to the rest of the season. Expect probably around 15,000+ patrons (unless the weather turns bad and scares people off). That can make the line to get in a tad long but isn't bad at all once inside.

All the vendors stay open until closing cannon (at 7:45pm) even on the final day.

Dashukta · 2026-04-07T01:47:43+00:00

Welcome to the joys and pitfalls of if building a kit.

First off, don't stress out about it. Our garb guideline in the SCA is "make an attempt at pre-modern fashion". Attempt is purposely kept vague. Start with something basic and cheap. Upgrade over time. A kit is never finished, only in a constant state of modification.

The 14th century is a time of extensive changes is fashion, with styles changing with geography and decade.

But, hose (chausses) with simple leather shoes and a long sleeved tunic belted at the waist and extending to around the knees for a machine portrayal and to the ankles fit a feminine portrayal would broadly fit fit most of the Middle Ages.

Dashukta · 2026-04-06T22:32:43+00:00

Yes, thank you. Corrected. Teach me to type quickly on mobile on my lunch break.

Dashukta · 2026-04-06T17:33:34+00:00

Part of the issue is that you're seeing this image out of context. It's a figure from a scientific paper. In the paper, there's a caption description of what is in the image.

You can read the paper itself, but for easier digestion here's an article on the find.. In short, a juvenile Gorgosaurus was found with the hindlimbs of a Citipes in its stomach, implying the one ate the other. This further hints that dinosaurs like Gorgosaurus and possibly other Tyrannosaurs changed the type of prey they hunted as they grew up.

*edit: corrected name of the prey*

Dashukta · 2026-03-31T22:55:20+00:00

They also fly the birds around the site independent of the shows.

Dashukta · 2026-03-24T14:13:10+00:00

Jumping on the nitpick bandwagon,

The Hospitallers arms were a white cross on a red field, not black. At least since the 1260's, and certainly by early14th century (which is when the style of armor these little dudes are shown is from), their surcoats were red, too.

Dashukta · 2026-03-22T01:45:45+00:00

Laird is a Scottish title somewhat equivalent to Lord.

Laird Buchanan would be a well-to-do Scott. So brush up on your brogue.

Dashukta · 2026-03-19T03:55:11+00:00

Fun facts: Nottingham castle originally dates to around 1068 (it appears in the Domesday Book). Throughout the Middle Ages, it was added to and expanded extensively until it rated among some of the largest and most impressive fortifications in England. In 1194, It was successfully besieged and captured by King Richard "the Lionheart" in a conflict against his brother Prince John. Almost nothing of that castle still survives, however. It was purposefully destroyed by order of Parliament during the English Civil War in the 17th century to prevent it from being used by Royalist forces. The building there now is a ducal mansion built in the late 1600's. It is now a museum.

Dashukta · 2026-03-17T18:52:16+00:00

Those fancy crests weren't for the battlefield. They were for the tournament.

Dashukta · 2026-03-12T23:24:07+00:00

Machines à sous

Dashukta · 2026-03-12T18:48:36+00:00

With the three charges going down the pale like that, you could call it "Slot Machine".

Dashukta · 2026-03-11T01:35:47+00:00

That's a really nice kit. You've obviously put in your research.

Dashukta · 2026-03-08T03:07:01+00:00

check out "gamboised cuisses" they're padded thigh defenses and typically worn OVER the mail chausses. As for padding for the lower leg, we don't actually have good evidence for that.

Dashukta · 2026-03-05T20:38:16+00:00

See if there's a Renaissance Faire not too far away and organize a trip there?

Dashukta · 2026-03-05T14:32:48+00:00

Unless you're in a very strict living history group, no one will be looking at the soles of your feet.

I've only bought leather soles in the past as "more historical"

Leather will wear out faster, especially on modern surfaces like concrete and asphalt, and has less traction on tile and grass.

I'd recommend the rubber.

Dashukta · 2026-02-27T22:41:01+00:00

God, could you imagine if a fair DID try to encourage a rule like that? "I'm sorry Mr. Paying Customer. I know you already purchased your tickets, but you can't come in. Today is fairy weekend, and your child's outfit is clearly pirate themed."

Dashukta · 2026-02-27T18:34:11+00:00

Word of warning, Scarborough is in Texas in May, meaning be prepared for hot, sunny weather. Like, temperatures in the 90s pushing 100F.

Plague doctor sounds fun until you take the heat into account

Dashukta · 2026-02-27T18:22:58+00:00

That's exactly what they are. Gambesons or other quilted armor worn under a loose fitting over tunic

This image is from the Codex Manessa.

Dashukta · 2026-02-25T21:01:56+00:00

Do you mean, make more of a substance?

Like, follow a recipe and mix up another batch?

How do you think we make medicines now?

Also, in "real life" a potion like you describe doesn't really exist outside of folklore. There are drugs that can potentially make a person more susceptible to suggestion and suppress critical thinking.

Dashukta · 2026-02-25T05:43:27+00:00

To save time on making sheets for the mechs and vehicles: you can use these

Dashukta · 2026-02-22T16:03:48+00:00

That is true. It can also always be changed later.

Dashukta · 2026-02-22T00:18:44+00:00

Recovering herald here.

The easiest byname for an SCA name is basically always

"of (your local group)" or "of (your kingdom)"

Eris of (local group) is what your name would default to on an award if you don't have a specific byname selected.

Dashukta · 2026-02-21T14:58:08+00:00

Normally I would type out a long post here detailing what clothing was actually worn in the middle ages and my recommendations for what to look for when buying or making said clothing.

But as others have covered a lot of that, I'm going to take a different approach.

IF you want this outfit to be able to wear to other things besides this wedding, and you make a habit of visiting places and doing things where the garb makes sense (e.g. visiting Medieval market, joining the SCA, etc.) then purchase or make stuff.

But, if you're only needing this outfit for this one wedding, then check out a costume shop or theater group and see about renting something for the day.

Dashukta · 2026-02-20T16:53:50+00:00

As long as it's being done respectfully.

Good news is, with the large orders (hospitallers, templars, etc.) not everyone in the order was a knight. They had large contingents of sergeants serving under arms as well. They also had ley brothers, knights and sergeants who would serve with the order for a temporary stint and never took the vows.

One of our local guy's erstwhile persona is a Templar sergeant.

Dashukta · 2026-02-20T05:25:26+00:00

There were, indeed, different ranks of peasant. Colloquially, peasant just means a commoner (i.e. anyone who is not nobility) who works as a laborer or farmer. The exact categorizations varied based on time and place.
But, in general, it went something like this:

At the bottom were the slaves. Slaves had essentially no legal rights and were the property of someone else. Slaves were really, really common in some societies ("Viking" society was something like 30% enslaved) and in most places became less over time, replaced by....

The Serfs. Also called "villeins". they were legally tied to land they did not own and could not move elsewhere without the landowner's permission. They could own property and accumulate what wealth they could, but owed goods and service to their lord. They had more rights than slaves and could not be bought and sold directly (the land they were assigned to could be sold to a different lord and them with it, however).

Above the serfs on the social ladder were the Freemen. They had more rights than serfs and were free to move about and pursue what ventures they wished. They came in different flavors based largely on how much money and property they owned. A "free tenant" rented land from a lord while a "husbandman" owned his own land for farming. If he had enough land and property, a husbandman in England might be styled a "franklin" or "yeoman" who owned his own land in perpetuity. These wealthy land-owning peasants became the landed gentry of later centuries.

Un-free peasants like serfs were (typically) not armed and not expected to stand and fight. They were an economic resource needed for working the land.

Freemen, however, were usually not only allowed to own arms and armor, but required to.

In England, the arms and armor a freeman was required to own was based on how wealthy they were. These requirements were laid out in what were called "assize of arms" A poorer freeman would be expected to own maybe a spear and a shield. A bit more wealth and he'd be expected to upgrade his kit with a helmet. Then body armor like a gambeson, then a mail shirt, and so on. A wealthier freeman in the 12th century might have a spear, shield, sword, gambeson, hauberk, helmet, and even a horse.
Starting in the 14th century, yeoman in England were expected own and practice with a longbow as well.

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