Clyde's Travels - Meridian Grand Tournament 2026

Camp Discovery
Gainesboro, TN
25-27 September 2026

Readers,

In the following recounting, I am going to outline my experience as a member of staff for the Meridian Grand Tournament event. In this instance, I was the marshal-in-charge. This event is a kingdom level tournament here in Meridies for SCA armored combat participants. The event hosts 6 tournaments held on a single day. You can expect anywhere from 50 to over 200 fighters in attendance. There were approximately 75 fighters that participated this year. This retelling is going to focus solely on my experience in this capacity.

In the fall of 2025, after my elevation to the Order of the Pelican I was approached by the event steward for the 2026 Meridian Grand Tournament (MGT), Sir Erik Martel. His Excellency asked if I would consider being the marshal-in-charge (MiC) for the 2026 event. I asked him if he could wait a bit while before I gave my answer and he consented.

I have been event steward for several events over the years and I have been marshal-in-charge for several events as well. But, I had some hesitancy in regards to MGT as it is a much larger spectacle than what I had done in the past. Such a decision, I felt, should not be blindly made.

The marshal-in-charge for MGT (or any SCA event) is responsible for combat activity that occurs. All the reporting and operational tasks for the associated combat disciple are the responsibility of the MiC.

I discussed with my wife, Ellen. I was given her support if I wanted to do it. 

I sought counsel from previous marshals for the event. I asked about the pros and cons. I asked about the lessons learned from their experience.

I read the MGT guide. Yes, the event has a guide in how to run it. There is a section for the marshal-in-charge and how to conduct the 6 tournaments held there.

Thus informed and not learning anything that gave me pause, I contacted Sir Erik and told him that I accepted and would assume the role of marshal-in-charge for MGT 2026.

Time passed. I was announced and elevated to the Order of Chivalry. Sir Erik would occasionally reach out with reminders and ask for status updates.

It was over this summer, that I started to realize something that I had not thought much of from Sir Erik's messaging. Where are the list fixtures at? I use the term 'list fixtures' to refer to the posts and rails used as barriers for the eric. This term also covers the list trees and champions tree used for the tournaments.

After checking around, I discovered that the list fixtures were in the possession of Sir Conal MacDale in north Alabama and would need to be transported to eastern middle Tennessee where Camp Discovery is. While it is not a lot of material in general, the sum of all the parts is more that any vehicle I have would be able to handle easily. This gave me my first bit of uncertainty. Luckily for me, Sir Conal offered to deliver the list fixtures and I rested a little easier while mentally preparing myself to be the emergency backup should he not be able to make it. I wasn’t honestly sure how I would be able to be the backup, but I would figure something out if I had to. 

As the event got closer, Sir Conal found out he would not be able to attend. This put me into now having figure out how I was going to get the list fixtures moved up here. Lucky for me, Sir Conal was able to talk to some people in his region and Duke Barthelemy of Illyria stepped in to fill the vacancy and granting me the peace of mind that I would not have to solution the delivery problem on my own.

Two months out, I turned my attention to the practical aspect of what the responsibilities were for the MiC at this event.  I consulted the MGT guide again and contacted people who have done the job previously and those with close attachment to the event.

What I gleaned from my preparations was that the MiC for the event has a primary job of time management. The one goal of the event is to complete all 6 tournaments in one day. This goal does is not superseded by attendance. So, regardless of how many participants you have present. You have one day to accomplish the deed.

The time management responsibility is on top of the routine work of an event MiC. By routine work, I mean kit inspections, field marshalling, authorizations etc. 

It is a lot. Through talking to several recent MiC for the event and Graf Ulrich, a founder of the event, I learned that there are built in 'flex' periods that can be used to gain time should something run longer that it planned. I also learned that if you can get ahead of schedule, you should do it. Especially if it doesn't cause detrimental harm of the overall body of work.

For the marshal related specific tasks, I sought out some people to be my second's on the field and made announcements for volunteers to marshal on the day of. I was fortunate to have several agree ahead of time to help fill the ranks, but knowing that until the day of, you really don't know for certain who you are going to have available to help. Another factor here is that of the 5 seed tournaments, each order will provide 'X' number of marshals to support their sponsored activity. That 'X' is an unknown value. There is no answer to 'How many marshals will I have?'. I can say what we need for the most part. 

The Armatura, a 3v3 timed bear pit tournament needs around 4 personnel per eric  to run effectively. This includes the scorekeepers, field marshals and the fighter managers that keeps things flowing.

The Chalice, Single Sword, and Great Weapon tournaments need 1 to 2 personnel per eric in use. These three tournaments are single elimination and are run as a normal bracket. The chalice and single sword will almost always use all 4 erics when they start. So, 4 marshals minimum are needed, 8 is ideal. The Great Weapon is at the end of the day and usually has a lighter participation. But, it is best to have at least 2 marshals per eric for it if you have the people for it.

The William Marshal tournament is best with 6 to 8 marshals. These marshals will post on the perimeter and center of the eric to help keep fighters in the eric and off the barriers.

All of this being said, I set myself to the concept of checking with the orders at the start of their responsible tournament to see what support was being provided by them and where I need to fill in vacancies to keep things running safely.

The Champions tournament is a 16 seat single-elimination activity run one fight at a time and really only needs 2 marshals to be sufficiently staffed.

Having the above figured out, I set to reviewing the armored-combat rules for society and kingdom. I gathered the forms I needed (event report, authorization, injury reports) and printed them out for my marshals kit. I also got a couple of marshals gauges and tape measure in the kit for inspections. I finished out my marshal's kit to include marshal's staves and hand protectors to support the single sword tournament and 'armed' combatants.

As the event got closer, I kept open lines of communication with Sir Conal and Duke Bart regarding the list fixture delivery. I kept Sir Erik up to speed on my status and preparation where appropriate. I came up with a pre-event communication to the fighter community to help them be aware of what was expected and what they should prepare for. A screen shot of this communication is below.

Screen shot of my post on Facebook.

On the day before the tournament, I arrived when the site opened to work on the field layout. This was the first job I had to get done as part of my duties. I knew an approximate time for when Duke Barthelemy would arrive with the list fixtures. I had several hours to work with. I also had the pavilion map from Duchess Paraskova, who was handling the pavilion reservations for the field.

I had a bundle survey marker flags (75 or so), a 25' tape measure and a 165' tape reel for layout. The field area at Camp Discovery is next to the shore of Flynn's Creek, a tributary of the nearby Cumberland River. It is a large flat area. The creek is on southern side. There is a significant slope on the eastern side. There is a bridge and more water to the western side and some trees in the northwestern end.

The blue square is the rough location of the field. Note the bridge on the lower left.

From talking to previous marshals, I leveraged the end of the bridge as my reference point for the field layout. The overall eric is recommended to be 80' x 80' per the guide. The eric is then divided into 4 equal squares of 40' x 40'. There is a 10' walkway around the perimeter and two rows of pavilions beyond that. (I would end up walking something close to 20 miles in and around that eric over the weekend according to my fitbit.) 

Before I got to work Lord Hragnar the Red showed up and offered to assist until the rest of his party arrived. Thankful for the help, we got started. It took us a couple of hours I guess to get things figured out. I used the survey flags to mark points of reference on the field. We first measured off the bridge to set the first corner of the field closest to it. From there we extended out to set the northwest and southeast corners. Then the final corner in the north east from those points. Once the corners were set, Hragnar came up with the magic figures to find the center of the field and we marked it. It seems a squire who's good at his figures is handy and I made a mental note to include that as a requirement for any of my future associates. Once we had the eric corners, we added flags for the walkway and the front row of pavilions as a starter for when Her Grace arrived to take over the pavilion mapping. 

Having a good map of the field and a helper for the measuring made it all relatively simple. Using the end of the bridge as a permanent landmark there at Camp Discovery worked well. I think we started set the southwest corner at 45' to the north from that end of the bridge. We checked another 45 feet from that point to make sure we far enough away from the western water hazard. Everything else laid out well from there.

From this point I was waiting for the list fixtures. Sir Erik and 'Guido' delivered the list ministers shade and a shade for the heralds. I them up (since I had the map and knew where they went). I also setup my own shade then went over to setup my tent for the weekend. In the early evening, the kingdom pavilion and the list fixtures arrived. I jumped in and helped get those setup with the assistance of many others that had arrived to the site. Before the sun had completely set, we had the field ready for the start of the tournament the next day.

The next morning, I was on the field about 7:15. Inspections started about 7:30 on the schedule. Earl Benen arrived to assist me. I also had other volunteers around that would help me at different times. I had determined that for my tour of duty at MiC for the event, I would adhere to the following guidelines for all inspections. Authorization card or paperwork would come first. This was the fighter's ticket to get in the show. Second would be a solid kit inspection. Once this was done, the fighter would be sent to the list table to turn in their list tree shield for the tournaments. Overall, this worked well. My first lesson here was that I should have deputized someone to take this responsibility. While I was able to be fully involved at 7:30, as we got closer to the first tournament I was getting pulled away from it. A delegate was necessary. While I had plenty of volunteers and inspections got done, delegating that responsibility and setting guidance for my expectations would have been more efficient use of my time. Afterward, I also think that we may have had some fighter's bypass the process entirely. We should have established some tracking methods for inspections just like we do for wars.

The next thing up was opening remarks and the first tournament, the Armatura hosted by the Legio Ursi. It was set to start at 8:45 by the schedule. We got off to a late start at 8:55. It may not seem like much, but it is an exponential problem that can get out of control if not managed. I made up some time by shortening the time limit for the tournament from 45 minutes allotted to 35 minutes. The Armatura was staffed well and ran without much direct involvement on my part. 

My first lesson on the day happened about halfway through the course of the Armatura. I had a marshal get caught up in the action and take a hit during an engagement. This type of safety failure is rare, but can happen in a contact sport such as ours. As I became aware of what happened, I focused on the injury in the moment and did not dig into the circumstances that caused it. As MiC, I need to follow the threads that caused a problem and get answers. I needed to change gears after the injury was managed and seek to reconstruct at picture of how it happened. Not only for my knowledge but for any corrective actions or future reporting that may arise.

The Armatura completed ~9:30am. I was back on schedule. The Single Sword tournament, sponsored by the Order of the Blade, was scheduled to start at 9:45. I had several marshal volunteers helping run the 4 erics for the tournament and coverage was good. One of the neat time savers built into the Single Sword tournament is that double-kills are lethal to both fighters. In a normal tournament, a double-kill would be refought. No so in this tournament. Why is this a time saver? Well, when fighting single sword there are a lot of double kills. So, the pool of participants diminishes rapidly as it progresses. The tournament finished in about an hour (10:45). This really put me ahead of things.

The next tournament was scheduled for 11:30am. I discussed things with list mistress, Mistress Caristiona. From that, we agreed to an 11:00 start for the Order of Chalice Tournament. We had gained 30 minutes in our timetable and would be firmly in the green on time for the rest of the day.

The Chalice tournament wrapped up around 12:30. We took a short break then started the Sable Swords William Marshal tournament at 1:00pm instead of 1:30. And the Order of Rose Great Weapons Tournament at 2:00pm instead of 2:45. The Great Weapons tournament finished at 2:45.

I had no marshal shortages for the Chalice. I did have to find a couple of marshals to help with the Great Weapons tournament.

The time savings gained through the day got us into the Champions procession and Tournament starting at about 3:30pm, almost an hour ahead of schedule.

At this point in the day, I stopped tracking time. The time management portion of my job was done.

Throughout, close work with the list table, heralds and keeping Their Majesties in the loop done. No changes were presented to any of the default formats for the tournaments. Everything ran well and was completed with time to spare. For this, I have received some great feedback on a job well done.

I want not forget to thank all of those that helped me marshal the eric throughout the day. There were many. I wanted to name you all but, I know I'll for get some folks. So, know that I saw you and I am grateful for the honor of services to provided to our Kingdom of Meridies.

The day after the tournaments was devoted to tear down and pack out. The site was clean and pristine at the time I left at around 11am or so on Sunday.

A marshal's badge.

But, dear readers, that was not my only job. There are other areas where I feel I dropped the ball. Other that the lesson earlier references involving a marshal's safety and the need for delegating the inspections I also feel that my stewardship of the fighting body was less that warranted. 

There were some issues during the day, while not overly big on the surface that desire more follow through on my part. I am not a heavy-handed administrator when it comes to fighter management. My perspective has mostly been one of monitoring safety of the combatants and allowing the fighter's collective sense of honor guide the fights (self-policing) in a tournament. I now believe that I need to embellish this philosophy and add a bit of solidity to lines that a fighter's honor may not be enough to curb. 

The concepts of calibration can be fluid, but there is an agreed upon standard in the community. When questions the proper response should be for a person to try to do better. Repeated offences are habitual, not one-off problems. If a fighter fails respond to correction, the MIC or any marshal witnessing the occurrence needs to be there to offer the input and in the most egregious cases, a solution. There were cases during the day where I could have stepped in to this role of authority but did not. In the after event talk I am seeing, I see the shortcoming. I will be working on this aspect of my skillset.

There were two cases of fighter injury where I, once again, got caught up in the moment of dealing with the injured and failed to seek answers to how it happened. As MiC, this is part of the job that I did not provide enough attention to. I did not do enough in this regard. I recognize it and will do better should I be in the same situation again.

Regardless of the problems I have identified in my performance as marshal-in-charge for the 2026 Meridian Grand Tournament, the day was a success. The event was held. Our populace enjoyed themselves and everyone appears satisfied with the result.

My takeaways are as follows:

1. Delegation - I should have identified and delegated responsibility for inspections before the event. There are other things I could also have delegated, but I need to think on it some more.
2. Inspections - We needed a better way to track who's been inspected and ensure that everyone is following the same process.
3. Marshal Safety - In hindsight, I should have called a general hold and gave all the fighter's a moment to pause and something to consider when a marshal was injured. I did not. The opportunity was correction was missed. There can be no exceptions for this happenstance and it deserved a response. 
4. Fighter injuries - I realize you cannot force someone to report an injury. It falls to the injured party to report. I did not do enough though to encourage the reporting and I did not do enough to gather the details of the occurrences I am aware of.
5. Questions of honor on the field - I am reading commentary after the event about different fighters. I am seeing complaints on conduct. Some I was aware of and some I was not. There is room for me to be more active in a role of mediator and enforcement of rule compliance in the regard to the conventions of combat that the SCA has established. My self-assessment is that I am too passive. I need to find some balance between being a good administrator of the activity and a good constable for those that are unable to adhere to the standards. The fighting community is an unpredictable thing in how it will act overall from one day to the next. But, the standards are there for how we conduct ourselves in armor on the field. I need to become a better trustee of the activity.

The commentary here is a combination of things. It is a self-assessment. It is lessons learned. It is a documentation of what I experienced for those that follow me in this role the next time around. I hope those of you that read this far got something from it of use. I see successes and shortcomings in my performance as marshal-in-charge. I hope to learn from it.

Well met friends. Safe journey to thee!

Syr Eoin Mac Cana called 'Clyde', OP

Warden of the Northern Plateau

Shire of Easaraigh

Kingdom of Meridies

20260523 A note of gratitude from the Event Steward for the the Kingdom of Meridies Artsy Crown event.

Earlier in the year while I was at Gulf Wars with Earl Benen, an opportunity found its way to our doorstep back at home for our shire. The Kingdom had sent messengers that it was in need of a host for the Spring Crown List and Arts and Sciences Faire (Artsy Crown) in May. Mistress Ellen, our seneschal, got to work trying to figure out if it would be possible for us to be of service to our beloved kingdom.

Our shire,  in good order and well attended, is strong and full of good folk but we were already obligated for a rescheduled Kingdom's War College and Fighter's Collegium event in June which (originally slated for January 2026). For this reason, we needed some help if we were to host another Kingdom event in such a short time period.  

It was at this point, seeking a partnership to help us, that the Shire of Vulpine Reach was approached and graciously accepted our request for assistance. Meetings were held with both groups and membership of both agreed that we would answer the Kingdom's call. The Shire of Easaraigh in partnership with the Shire of Vulpine Reach would host Artsy Crown. But, there was a caveat…

The event is structured as a 2 day event, held over the Memorial Day weekend. The A&S Faire is held on Saturday. The Crown List is held on Sunday. The site that we would bid the event for is a day trip site. It doesn’t have the amenities for an overnight event. So, we bid the 2 day even as a 1 day event.

Our great Kingdom of Meridies accepted our bid with a compressed 1 day structure for Artsy Crown. This was the event I accepted the honor of stewarding for our two shires.

A lot of rapid, fast planning went into it. The two group seneschals, Zayn al-Munajjima known as Mittens and Ellen Delacey, got to work on getting the two groups merged into one event team. Easaraigh taking the lead in some areas, Vulpine Reach led in others. Together, we moved forward and together we pulled it off. This was a first event behind the curtain for many of our members. Mentoring was the rule of the day. Everyone that could, pitched in and a lot was learned in the process.

In the compressed timeline, our Kingdom held its Crown List and secured its legacy with new heirs in TRH Conrad and Genevieve. The Rose Tea was held with Mistress Katherine Spencer and the Valkyries providing support to that effort.  Mistress Ellen managed the hall where A&S Faire entrants showed their work for both judging and display after which the Queen chose her new champion in M. Ysabel de Sancte Croix and a Writ for Order of the Laurel was presented to Master Rodrigo Luis de Alburquerque. 

And then there was the usual event stuff that was done while everything else was going on. Mistress Zayn (Mittens) and crew served a filling lunch for everyone that attended. Cecily, Kilat and Kira supported many newcomers at the first event with help from The Oloye Kehinde running guided tours. Lord Ronan of Axbridge oversaw the pavilion activities for us while the list was happening then he and HL Ignatius Xavier Cortez Galeno de Compostella oversaw pickups for armored and rapier in the afternoon. All day long, Duke Lawrence of Ashana hosted a thrown weapons range (he would be asked to join the Order of the Mark later in the day). Ldy Eleri uxor Ronani and her staff managed an orderly check in and registration. Ldy Constance Saxham ran children's activities for all the children present. So many people chipped in to fill out the staff teams and make it happen. My appreciation to all of you.

It was a busy day. For my part as event steward, there were no issues of note. My role was that of a fireman. I was there to put out fires. But, there were none. The train ran on time. We hit our checkpoints. The kingdom and populace was served. It just worked. I could not have asked for things to have run much better than it did.

For those that attended and shared the day with us, Thank You! All day long, people were jumping up to help us with this and that. The assistance of the populace as we went through our plan was the intangible thing that really made light work of the whole thing in the end. 

An event is not easy. I do not want to make light of the work and effort that went into bringing this to completion. But, every hand, contribution, word of advice, and the support of our kingdom made the hard, possible and seem like it was routine.

Please know that these words are the truth that I believe, my part in this affair was nothing but that of a figurehead. 

Many people came to me during the event and took time to thank me for the work the team did. It was the work of both shires and Kingdom officers that made all this happen and gave us a successful result. Every word of thanks and comment of appreciation I received goes to them. 

For the Shires of Easaraigh and Vulpine Reach, I say Thank You! I applaud you and will sing your praises for all to hear. 

To TRM Randver and Arianne and the Kingdom Seneschal, Duke Wulfstan  - Thank you for placing your faith in us. 

Ad Astra!

Syr Eoin Mac Cana, OP
Warden of the Northern Plateau
Event Steward for the Kingdom of Meridies Spring Crown List and Arts and Sciences Faire

Reflections on my elevation to the Order of Chivalry

Now a few weeks removed from my second elevation, I am pondering where to go from here.

I have earned two peerages now in the SCA. Order of the Pelican first. Order of the Chivalry second. Both, quite suddenly I might add.

The road to the Order of Pelican was accidental. I did not purposefully seek recognition. I did things that I thought needed to be done. I did things I wanted to do. I supported folks around me doing things that they were doing. Add in a lot of time of repeating these actions and someone noticing. Viola! The Order took me in. I do feel like I earned it. I don’t feel like I trained for it… if that makes any sense. I was never a protégé. I never sought the attention of anyone in the Order. I just did ‘my thing’.  Doing ‘my thing’ is the only thing I know how to do. I expect that won’t change. I’d have to deliberately turn off that mannerism, and I don’t think I know how. That part of my participation in our hobby, just doing things that need doing when I can do them, is the part I like and is the part that fulfills my SCA when nothing else has my attention. 

Will I seek to train future Pelicans? Can’t say for sure. As I said, I never was a protégé. Im not sure I know how to help someone become a Pelican. Telling someone to just ‘do what I do’ isn’t very intuitive or informative. Training someone else on how to serve and be of service… well, Ill need to think on that. 

Now, I am a Knight of the Society for Creative Anachronism. I am no longer a squire. I was a squire for about 34 years at the time of this writing. It was part of my identity in the SCA. That is gone. Finished. I ask myself, what kind of knight will I be? I honestly never delved into that question before. I expect I will be answering this question from now until the end of time. This achievement was a reward of pursuit. I am still the same person I was before. I am the same fighter as I was before. That idea best expressed in the movie ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ keeps coming to mind. Will I be a better fighter? Will I be a better person? I don’t think those are things I can answer for myself. Those are matters of franchise where perceptions of others set the tone. But none the less I am dubbed ‘knight’ and that means a lot of things to different people. I am not certain that I know what being a knight means to me yet.  I feel the intangible weight of it. The Order accepted me for who I am now, but I feel like I need to be better somehow for those on the outside looking at me and for that matter, maybe myself. I feel this more now with the Chivalry than I did with the Pelican. I attribute that feeling to the difference in how I found these achievements.  I’ll need to revisit these thoughts later to see is this perception I am feeling is true or just something ethereal in my mind. 

Will I take on squires? I think I could after I have worn the mantle for a bit. I think I understand how to support and manage someone on the chivalric path. If someone comes along seeking that guidance and the relationship feels right, I will probably take them on. Time and circumstance will dictate where my path goes from here.

Am I in some sort of SCA limbo now? Where I sit now in my SCA journey is unexplored territory for me. There are plenty around me that have done the same. But this is a first for me. This is the start of a time where I choose the direction my path takes without the subtle nudges of others helping me decide. This will be an adventure of my making. Much like when I started in this hobby back in 1987, the whole of the SCA is laid before me to discover. I am in some small way, starting anew. I think I will be wandering a bit. A ‘walkabout’ is in order. I’ll get into some things I have been putting off for various reasons and maybe just enjoy not having the gentle pressure that wearing a red belt put on me. This hobby has so much to offer and my small participation in it barely scratches the surface. I look forward to whatever comes next.

I’ll see all you dreamers out there soon, there’s fun to be had.

Well met friends. Safe journey to thee!

Syr Eoin Mac Cana called 'Clyde', OP
Warden of the Northern Plateau
Shire of Easaraigh
Kingdom of Meridies

Clyde's Travels - Elevation to Chivalry at Meridies Spring Coronation at Iris Faire

Meridies Spring Coronation at Iris Faire
Montgomery Bell State Park
Burns, TN
17-19 April 2026

What follows is a correspondence sent to my good friend, Figimund of Faraway.

My elevation scroll on a shield by Ld Ronon of Axbridge

Unto the most esteemed Figimund of Faraway glad tidings and fond greetings from his Easaraigh hearth and home, Eoin Mac Cana, Meistr of the Pelican, Warden of the Northern Plateau and Knight of the Society for Creative Anachronism.

My good man, it has been some time since last I put quill to parchment for your eye to view. Please forgive my lack of attentiveness to our kinship. I hope the excellent news and retelling of recent events that follow will fill your soul with warmth and joy to make the missed time nothing of consequence.

I hope that you had heard the news from this past Fall, where the Good Earl, Benen MacTire, had announced during the Fall Crown List court that I, his squire, was to be elevated to the rank of Knight of the Society for Creative Anachronism. With the acknowledgement of the Order of Chivalry and the acceptance of the recommendation by Their Majesties, Chinua Khan and Jacqueline Khatun, I was called before court. There, in front of the Knights of Meridies and the populace present, I was commanded to sit vigil to contemplate the accolade (at a future date of my choosing).

Well, we had intended that the vigil and elevation for my ascension unto the Order of Chivalry would occur at the Kingdom War College and Fighter's Collegium in the month of January. Unfortunately, the north winds set in and old man winter did blow a gale of ice and snow upon our heads causing the event to be cancelled. But, I held onto my virtues of patience and humility tightly. I did not lament or find sorrow. 

We were able to reschedule to a future date and the Iris Faire and Coronation event would be the new venue of choice. I've been a squire of the chivalric path for a long time, as you well know. What is a couple more months in the bucket after all.

Squiring ceremony at Border Raids in 1993.

You were there that day in the summer of Anno Societatis XXVIII (1993). Do you remember? On the field at Border Raids in front of the Middle and Meridian Royalty. I got my award of arms that day. Count Hadi and Countess Ameraulde and the Aspiring household in attendance came to the front of court. Hadi read a script, the words escape me. But I remember the day and the bright sun and the happiness. He put the red belt of a squire on me along with the silver chain. That was a good day that brings me a smile still.

Many years past. I wasn't as true to the path as I would have liked to have been. My brothers, Griffin and Kyppyn, went on to become knights and Carlwyn would join the Pelican. Neglect overtook my squire's path. Griffin and Kyppyn would go on to make squires and knights of their own. Hadi would move away and, as you recall, we lost him in A.S. XLIX (2015). That loss was felt deeply.

One of my favorite pictures of Hadi and I.

He was my friend, my brother, my knight. I do not regret the time I spent with him as wasted. My relationship with him was more of friendship that anything else. I think that I valued his company more than the potential knighthood he could have helped me attain with his guidance. He and Ameraulde taught me much during those years. I learned the joy of service that would provide the foundation upon which I now stand. I learned to work with my hands and the pleasure of making things. I learned the comportment of a knight, whether I realized it or not. Those lessons and more were laid before me then. It was these teachings that I leaned into the most after he left us. That is where I found comfort as I slowly cleared the weeds from my squire's path and began to move forward again.

It was in this state, and the beginning of my return to the path, that the Good Earl Benen MacTire, as fate would have it, found me and accepted me into his house as a squire. It was the spring of A.S. LI (2017) at Gulf Wars. You know the man. He found fame and fortune in the land of Trimaris before moving to his holdings near our small Shire of Easaraigh. He was the first triple peer of his former kingdom. His renown is vast. And yet, I did not know of him nor had I ever heard of him. Goes to show how small my world was in the grand society as a whole. But, I came to know him after he arrived in our region. I would learn of his nobility and see the great franchise of his works. I would learn of the high esteem that those around him held. That night in his tent, with the good Countess Rosabel, his wife, present I would accept his offer and bond of kinship. A houndsman, the Good Earl sniffed out my shortfalls over the following months. With a gentle nudge here and a stiff reminder there, he sorted me out. My martial prowess rose. I learned of the wider world of the society. I took the skills I had and added to them under his tutelage. I developed into a good kings man and I did my best to be a good squire. These efforts and others led to the Order of the Pelican asking for me to join and I accepted.

Benen and I in 2017, finding our way and a good laugh in the process.

Being made a Pelican is something I cherish. It is an amazing recognition. But, it is the Chivalric path that I still sought and I stayed the course as a squire. A year later, my efforts found justification. When I least expected it, the words I wasn't sure if I would ever hear were said, 'Will you join us?' The Good Earl, true to his word and oath, advocated for me to the Order and they asked me to join them as a Knight.

Figimund, my journey was not a simple one to this accolade, as you well know. I did not come to it easily, nor timely. I was inattentive in the early days, appreciating the comradery over the potential reward. It took the loss of my dear friend to find my focus. With that focus, the fates put the Good Earl before me. His attention and direction helped me find the goal. I have been lucky to know two great mentors and share this journey with them. Great men that I am better for the knowing.

Benen and I in 2025 prior to my announcement for Chivalry.

So, we come to the Iris Faire and Coronation event this past weekend. I was placed on vigil during the vespers of Frīgedæg. There were three others also placed on vigil - Iain MacArthur (OP), Ricard of Glaedenfeld (OM) and Katerina of Soroya(OM). Many people came to see the four vigilants and share counsel.

TRMs Chinua Khan and Jacqueline Khatun along with TRHs Randver and Arianne sent us off to contemplate as the torches were lit around camp. Prior to me taking a seat, the Good Earl released me from my oath as a squire and I returned his belt and chain. Also at that time, We bade Countess Ameraulde forward, she was not expecting this. I then returned the belt, chain and spurs Hadi had given me all those years ago to her and asked for release from the oath to their house which she did. Thus, released from my oaths, I sat my vigil.

Countess Ameraulde, Earl Benen and I as the oaths where released.

I was grateful Mistress Fionnabhair and Ldy Isabetta di Rossi. They provided victuals and libations for the gathering late into the eve. While I did not partake, fasting as I was, I heard that it was a sumptuous offering.

My guards controlled the flow of visitors. I could not have asked for better protection from the throngs of gentles that were there jockeying for a chance to visit me. Many people came to offer counsel as I sat. It gave me much to consider. Good stories and laughter were also shared.

The was night was long. The crowd dwindled down to just me and the Good Earl. It was the early morning hours at this point. Much like the start of our relationship, it was he and I under canvas and a night sky. He left me there to contemplate and I did so the rest of the night. I watched the sun rise and the clouds flow across the sky. In the gentle dawns light, I heard the clanking of armor in the darkness approaching. As I held up my touch and saw an Armadillo approaching me in full kit. The animal moved with purpose. Our eyes met. He did not have much to say but continued past my vigil his message clear, the sound of his plate armor echoing in the glade. 

An armadillo.

Follow me knight… The journey is not over.

With the morning light setting in, I broke fast in the main hall then tore down my vigil tent and put everything away to prepare for the coming ceremony. I had quite a wait before I was called into court. The last court of Chinua Khan and Jacqueline Khatun was busy with many of the populace asked to attend and receive recognition. I, dressed in my elevation tunic that Ellen made for me, waited nervously outside the hall.

For my ceremony, there was only the basics of a script which the Good Earl maintained. He was called to court first.

He asked for the Order of Chivalry to attend. And they did. They then bade me to attend and I took my place kneeling at the feet of the great Khan and Khatun.

The worthies were then called to speak. Earl Robert Glendon of Auk spoke with humor and sincerity in equal parts. My knight, Earl Benen MacTire, spoke of pride and happiness. The Oloye Kehinde, Laurel, eloquently surprised and humbled me to my core with realizations I never knew about my effect on those around me. Baron Valdrikr Albriktsson, spoke to of this elevation being a recognition for what I already was. Masters Izzy and Corbin, for the Order of Defense, spoke of my perseverance and joy in what I do. Sir Griffin, for the Mark, humbled me further stating that I was 'the best of us'. And Padraig Brun, the man who was there at the start and taught me how to fight, told those in attendance I was a knight both in and out of the society. 

I can tell you, Figimund, that I have never known such humility as what was laid upon me by these fine, honorable people. I was raw with emotion. I laughed and shed tears. I trembled from the effort. My family there to witness with tears of their own in their eyes. It was then that the ceremony continued and I was reborn as knight.

The accoutrements were brought forth. First came my helmet by Lord Marek followed by my sword, made and delivered by Lord Sindri. Then my ax, justice, carried by Ld Sigmund.  Sir Mandin put on my spurs that Ld Sindri made for me. My banner was displayed for all to see by Duke Timothy and Duchess Ysmay. My wife Ellen, placed the white belt of a knight upon me. My brother, Ld Ronan of Axbridge then brought up my shield, which was also my knighting scroll (to my astonishment). Then the chain was placed upon me by the Khan. One from Benen, passed from his knight to me and one from Valdrikr. My fealty was given, Chinua Khan and Jacqueline Khatun responded in kind. Chinua Khan dubbed me a knight with the sword of state. Thus, I was girded and rose a Knight of the Society for Creative Anachronism. The ceremony was completed with the buffet, administered by the Good Earl as is his tradition. A kiss to either cheek and a strike to my chest that rocked me back a step. The deed was done. I probably have the order of events out of sequence, but I do not think I missed anything. 

His Majesty, Chinua Khan, performs the accolade.

I was asked during my vigil time a question concerning worth. 'What does this accolade mean to you?'. The first thing that came to mind was a quote attributed to Saladin during the siege of Jerusalem (from the movie Kingdom of Heaven) and I responded in kind, 'Nothing… Everything.' In this grand society we have created, we seek to make a world as it should be not how it is. This is the Dream we speak of.  Being recognized a knight in the Society means nothing, but everything. It is a statement of who I am, what I try to be and who people see me to be. All these things within the realms of the Society only exist because we believe they do. I am a knight because people believe that I am. Outside of the confines of our Dream, I am not any lesser of a man than I am within. I am many things and I am not perfect. But, the people believe me to be a knight and I will honor and safeguard their belief in me both within and without.

The remainer my day was spent with family and friends. We relived tales of 'back in the day' and rekindled friendships. It was a great day that I will not soon forget. I wish you could have been there my friend. It was a spectacle to behold. I will close with a list of gratitude for those who supported me in this effort and others. Should you see these people in the future, you will know their worth. I have much love and adoration for all of these gentles.

Thank you…

Mistress Ellen Delacey is my heart, clothier, and love. With her, all things are possible. I would not be a knight without her there supporting and encouraging me.

Count Hadi al Hadad and Countess Ameraulde the Honourable met me in the early days of my journey. They provided the sound footing that anchors my SCA presence. They are with me always, cherished.

Thank you to Elliot, son of Hadi, for giving me the chains and spurs from Hadi. These legacy accoutrements will hold a place of honor in my possession. Much love to you, nephew.

Hadi's chain and spurs.

Earl Benen MacTire and Countess Rosabel de Burgandy took me in from the wilderness and welcomed me into their house. They became my second SCA family. It is through them that I found my path again and attained this accolade. Thankful is not a strong enough sentiment.

To those who supported my night on vigil and my elevation ceremony, thank you. You will always be welcome at my hearth.

• Mistress Fionnabhair
• Ldy Isabetta
• Ld Ronan of Axbridge
• Ld Sindri Brynjarsson
• Ld Sigmund Nacht
• Ld Mongo Blackheart
• Kilat sa Mindanao
• Ldy Valka
• THL Martin de Bernay
• Ld Marek Arthurson
• Elliot of House Aspring
• THL Cassandra of Boseham
• THL Alessandra Sartor
• THL Medb with the Wolfdog
• Duke Timothy of Longbeddington
• Duchess Ysmay of Branston
• Sir Mandin Leon

For my worthies, your words of witness before the crown and populace took my breath away. Through your commentary, I know humility more intimately than I thought possible. I am grateful.

• Royal - Earl Robert Glendon of Auk
• Chivalry - Earl Benen Mactire
• Laurel -  The Oloye Omokehindegbegbon Ayoka Opo (Kehinde)
• Pelican - Sir Valdrikr Albriktsson.
• Defense - M. Jean-Azriel de Corbiner and M. Ysabel de Sancte Croix
• Mark - Sir Griffin O'Suaird
• Populace - ld Padraig Brun

To Ld Ronan of Axbridge, who in a legendary act of regifting of a shield blank I gave to him, gave me back a work of art that is amazing and beautiful. The full item is displayed in the first image of this entry. Below are some of the details and easter eggs contained within.

Mistress Caterina Angelique Coeur Noir presented a reliquary scroll to me in honor of my elevation. It was unexpected and an outstanding creation that is breathtaking to see. 

A reliquary scroll made by Mistress Caterina.

Ld Sindri Brynjarsson, blacksmith and artist, created a sword and spurs for me. With collaboration from Earl Benen, a scabbard was made for the sword and historical accuracy was achieved in the production. The creation of these gifts for me left me dumbfounded. I really don't know what to say as words seem to be inadequate. You both are amazing.

A replica of the Cawood sword made by Ld Sindri with a scabbard made by Earl Benen.

12th c prick spurs made by Ld Sindri.

To all the gift-givers and advisors who took time for me, thank you. I am wealthier for your attentiveness.

Here is a video of my elevation ceremony that Ellen captured.

 

Well met friends. Safe journey to thee!

Syr Eoin Mac Cana called 'Clyde', OP
Warden of the Northern Plateau
Shire of Easaraigh
Kingdom of Meridies

Clyde's Travels - Gulf Wars XXXIV

King's Arrow Ranch
Lumberton, MS
14-22 MARCH 2026

A sun sets on the Gleann Abhann highway.

Gulf Wars XXXIV Day 1

In the pre-dawn darkness did the Good Earl and I, Eoin, Warden of the Northern Plateau and squire of his house, set forth on an adventure to the lands of Gleann Abhann to attend the Gulf Wars camp held there annually by the Kingdoms of Ansteorra, Trimaris, Meridies and the land holder, Gleann Abhann in order to settle debts, renew friendships and rekindle rivalries. 

Our travel was peaceable until we noted that one of our mares was showing signs of illness. Soon thereafter, the animal went completely lame leaving us in a bad way on the southern reaches of the Barony of Iron Mountain. To our good fortune, we were able to get our wagon to a nearby stable, just off the highway and after some haggling the Good Earl found us a replacement animal locally from a farmer willing to loan us the beast.  In short order, we had the new draft hitched up and were back on the highway to the camp, leaving the ill horse behind in the care of the stable in hopes that it can be healed. 

Several hours had passed and we found the road we normally take was obstructed due to some unknown cause so we detoured to an unfamiliar route that pushed us even later into the evening, arriving at site just before the registrar scribes closed for the day. 

Our day, routinely for this event, would have had us onsite in around 8 to 9 hours from Easaraigh to the war camp. The obstacles presented to us today made the journey almost 16 hours. We both, are tired. 

Still with our camp to be established we headed to our designated spot to find a crowd had gathered. A call went out to the camp and many came to lend aid and help us. The Good Earl was moved to emotion at the sight of so many smiling faces who came in a time of need. In no time at all our tent was raised and trailer was unloaded. We are so grateful. 

The wealth of friendship is the most valuable thing in the world. 

Thus ends our day. As I listen to the Good Earl fast to sleep in his cot, my heart is full in the knowledge that tomorrow a new day dawns. We are in camp. We have been welcomed with arms wide open. And will now rest better, for the help of others.

A wealth of friendship greeted us.

Gulf Wars XXXIV Day 2

Not to bore you with the details, we worked today.

There was a lot to do to make up for the lost time yesterday. But, with help from Lord Sindri we were able to get the booth open for business late in the afternoon and had brisk sales for several hours. 

I made us a meal of chicken stew of supper. It was good and filling. 

An added bonus of our first 'after hours social' behind the tent rewarded our day. Time spent in these quiet moments sharing stories and ideas behind the tent by lantern light is the best part of the day.

Open for business.

Gulf Wars XXXIV Day 3

I spent today working the booth with the Good Earl. Our first full day of sales, there was still a lot of things to be done to get things in order to make the operation efficient. 

Business was brisk most of the day. This was good. Took the both of us at times to keep things moving along. 

I didn’t get much sleep last night due to a dazzling display of lightning that accompanied a storm that came through early in the morning. Luckily it was not very impactful to the working of the Gulf Wars camp. 

The following weather was much cooler. It was in the 40’s when we got up this morning. I was going to go to opening ceremony this morning but did not once I saw that we had mixed precipitation. Yes, we had rain and ice coming down after and 80 degree day yesterday. 

Just as well with the volume of customers that came through the booth once we opened.

There was a cold wind all day and once the sun went down a hard cold set in the night air. 

I delivered 2 shields this evening. With the Good Earl, I went to Southern Consortium camp to deliver a shield to Duke Timothy (pictured) that my wife Ellen had painted. He was ecstatic. This was a prize he earned through winning the Armatura Tournament at MGT 2025. Our second stop was at the GTG camp to deliver a war kite shield there. 

The walk was good and warmed us up as the cold settled in for the evening. We kept running into Earl Robert as we made our way through camp. Once at the Green Dragon and again as we entered GTG. Jovial banter was exchanged at each encounter. This ended when we stopped at the privy near 5 points and Earl Robert came out of a porta john and nearly bowled into me and accused us of stalking him. We all laughed. 

We made our was back to our refuge behind the tent. Tonight’s visitor was an associate seeking wisdom from the Good Earl. The discussion ran late into the evening. Knowledge shared. Wisdom was imparted. Another great end to a good day.

Duke Timothy and his prize shield.

Gulf Wars XXXIV Day 4

I worked in the shop today making adjustments and make sure the stock was where it could be found and sorted according. 

One of the cool aspects of working in a merchant booth is all the interesting people we meet and all of the stories I get to hear. I really like this aspect of it. It’s a good time with a lot of laughter throughout the day. But, as I said before, it is the quiet times before open and after the close that I really find the most enjoyment in. 

The slow start to the day in camp allows me to ease into the day and take my time getting going. The end of the day here ends in an impromptu social behind the tent and you don’t always know who is going to show up. It’s a very pleasant experience to be part of. These times in camp allow me to recharge from the mundane. 

Another cold and clear night here. Supposed to start warming up over the next few days. That will be a welcomed by all.

Duke Kurn and Earl Benen escort Duchess Maisie at the start of her elevation ceremony

Gulf Wars XXXIV Day 5

Hump day!  Today started early. The Good Earl went with me to deliver Allessandra Sartor’s A&S entry to the main hall for today’s competition. Her entry represented the Kingdom well and received good scores in the judging. 

After dropping off the A&S entry, we went by the Goode Bakery and got fresh baked goods for breakfast. That place always smells great. We sat and talked in camp for a bit then headed to the field.

The Good Earl took part in the ceremony for Duchess Maisie’s elevation to Chivalry. There were many friends there for the elevation. We socialized some the bore witness to the elevation. 

Afterward, back to the shop and opened for business. Good traffic in the shop over the day. During dinner break, we ate a meal brought to us by Master Thorkel. It was generous and very good. 

We reopened for midnight madness. Duchess Rebecca joined us and off we went. It was a fairly typical example of the affair. Many happy people, crowded tent and product going home with new owners. 

I’m tired now. Goodnight everyone.

The Good Earl, Duchess Rebecca and I at the start of Midnight Madness.

Gulf Wars XXXIV Day 6

I started my day with a trek over to the ravine, where a pre-battle court was held by Their Majesties. There, I saw Martin get inducted into the Legion of the Bear and I passed to him the bronze Madach bear claw that Sir Hrothgar passed to me when I was inducted. The passing of legacy regalia is a tradition of the order. It is a tie that binds us. I also witnessed the new members of the Order of the Sable Sword added to their rolls. 

The midday hours were spent in the booth selling wares. It was a slow, lazy day. Friends came by occasionally to visit, but it was mostly quiet. 

This evening I attended Their Excellencies Glaedenfeld in my capacity as a Baronial Champion for evening court. Many gentles received recognition including a ‘drive by’ elevation of Eric Martel into the Order of the Laurel. 

Our day closed with a salad for dinner from the local canteen and socialising behind the tent. Got to meet some new gentles attending their Gulf Wars and listened to deep discussions on chivalric virtues. 

Good night, friends.

Martin and I after the ravine court.

Gulf Wars XXXIV Day 7

The last full day of the war. Started off with coffee and relaxing behind the tent. The Good Earl and I sharing the morning sun and conversation. 

Started doing some preliminary packing of non-essential items in preparation of load out tomorrow. If I have used it yet, I won’t need it. Dirty laundry in one tote. Anything else that wasn’t worn in another. 

Shoes. If anything I’ve learned about these long SCA events is that shoes are important. And not just the cool period kind. You need some good modern kind too. The modern foot, in most cases, isn’t built for the medieval shoe that has zero support. Good socks are also important. Change them a lot. I brought both period and modern shoes. By the end of the event, my period shoes are back in a box. My feet have had enough and need the comfort of a modern insole and materials. Mileage may vary, but for me the cool period shoe is for short trips only. 

Pretty good amount of activity in the booth today. Most of the GW inventory has been sold. Means less to pack up and that we’ve had a successful endeavor. 

Warmed up a lot today. Heat became an issue for the fighting and non-fighting activities today. Hydration is your friend. Do it. Do it often. 

We’ll start packing tomorrow in earnest. Will be a busy day. 

Get some rest. Good night all.

My view from behind the thrones at Meridian court.

Gulf Wars XXXIV Day 8

Bonus edition. 

So, due to having to wait for a programmer of transmissions to bless the rebuilt transmission that is now installed in the Good Earls steed, we are still onsite at KAR for the night. 

Sequestered in the big tent, the trailer is loaded. We’ll load the tent in the morning and head back to Bessemer to a hotel with hopes of retrieving the repaired vehicle on Monday. 

I’ve not been here this late on the load out day before. It is interesting to note that it is not a complete ghost town, but it is mostly vacant. 

The good people of Crawhere invited us to their camp for a ‘potluck’ meal of weaponized hot dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches. Food and conversation were excellent of equal parts. We were thankful for the invite. 

The camp is quiet and dark now. Tonight we rest and will wake tomorrow and head north for a good meal and shower and a soft bed.

Merchants row at close.

Gulf Wars XXXIV Day 9

Bonus edition! Continued...

Beetles attack!! Last night we attracted the attention of all the beetles in our area with the light of our torches. With many of our neighbor campers gone from site, our light proved to be a beacon call to the determined creatures. As we sat listening to Dungeon Crawler Carl, more and more of the beetles appeared. Inside the tent then dove at the light and buzzed against the canvas. Outside the tent we could hear them diving on the canvas trying to get in. It sounded like a hail storm at one point. I even tried to entice them out the door with a hand held light. No matter how much Pied Piping and Snow White persuading I applied with my light, they kept coming. The only solution was to go dark. And that is what we did. To our relief, that worked. The swarm calmed and peace was restored. 

We had our breakfast meal in the KAR canteen. Coffee and danish. Took a last look at the main hall and bid farewell. 

We packed up the last of our camp and hit the road to our lodging in McCalla for the evening. Publix deli for dinner, a shower and Dune movies on the TV. 

Hope to be home sometime tomorrow.

The main hall at KAR.

Gulf Wars XXXIV Day 10

Bonus edition! Continued...

Today we waited for the quest giver to reward us the phat transmission loot we know they have. But, we were disappointed. He reminded us that we need to lean into our patience virtue and wait until tomorrow morning. 

So, here we are …

Again. 

While we wait, here are a couple of thoughts I put down today for sharing. 

My time in the military taught me many things. Many were consciously instructed with defined goals. Some, were the effect of various causes. Of those subliminal lessons, the ability to accept and embrace circumstance outside of my control are one of the lessons that continues to bear fruit. I don’t relish chaos. No. But, when presented a situation or event that is anomalous I have the ability accept it and make the best of the situation. It’s an ability that many people lack and I seem to have in spades. Adaptability would be what some call it. I think it’s just living in the moment and applying what control I can on what comes next. If I stress about the situation, it is after the fact in an episodic rehashing of events in my head. A personal AAR if you will. This happens less and less these days. I just catalogue an unforeseen happenstance as a minor side quest in the current adventure and move onward, one foot in front of another. 

Customer service is a skill that few master. Many fail completely. One of the many rules of the art involves making commitments that you can keep. Work in absolutes. Not possibility. When someone depends on you to provide the thing you are selling you have to be sure about your ability to deliver. When you fail, you impact your client. Do this enough times and you no longer have a client. You may even face some punitive response from the disappointed client. In the end, it does not matter how good you are at the thing you do if you alienate your clientele with vague promises and failed delivery. Oh, and never, never open end something where a definitive is required. That just makes folks mad.

Safe journey all.

Cat prints in concrete outside the repair shop.

Gulf Wars XXXIV Day 11

Bonus edition! Finally heading home!

Today, we made it home. 

In a tale as old as time, two intrepid adventurers endured a series of trials. Their temper put to the test time and time again, with only their wits to guide them. They overcame the obstacles laid before them. Over and over again, their determination was tried. Eventually, in the battle of wills they saw the opposition falter. Success was achieved. The journey home the reward. 

With the voice of Carl and Donut resonating in their ears, they did make their way north. Back upon the northern plateau of Meridies, they returned. 

Peace be the journey. The journey home even more so.

2 weary adventurers.