# The Vigil

# Barony Of Middle Marches

##

Volume XVIII Issue V AS XXXII November 1997

Contents

- Letter from the Editor page 1
- Baronial Royalty and Officers page 2
- Baronial Groups and their officers page 3
- Musing from Mugmort by Lady Kathren of Mugmort page 5
- Watered Steel, Wootz and True Damascus, Part II by Lord Mikal Isernfocar called Ironhawk page 5
- Event Calendar page 7
- Midrealm Officer Reporting Schedules page 7

##

Letter From the Editor

Greetings unto the Barony of the Middle Marches. On October the 25th the Baronial Championships were held in the Shire of Mugmort. The champions will be listed in a report from the MOAS and the Herald. During the event, Lady Saradwen remarked on how many excellent items were entered, and the judges had a great challenge reviewing the results of the hard work of the contestants.

A meeting of the Baronial officers was held, as the Seneschal wanted to meet with all of us personally, to remind us that he expects office goals and reports. Additionally he also wants to start having Baronial sponsored events, and is looking for suggestions. Any ideas out there ?

We have found the Vigils subscription list and are working on bringing it current, contacting those who are listed and arriving at new expiration dates. Your patience is greatly appreciated.

On a more somber note, the Baron and Baroness announced that after many years of service that they are asking their Majesties to find suitable replacements. The position of Baron and Baroness is an important one, involving a commitment to the Society, its goals and the populace that reside here. Please be thinking about this subject and suitable candidates.

As many of you are aware, Crown Tournament was held on November the 1st at the Barony of Sternfeld. The new Prince and Princess are Jafar al-Safa and Kenna Harve. Congratulations go out to them as they prepare for their Coronation.

Joseph

For those of you with Internet access who are looking for copies of Midrealm documents, try the Midrealm Website at http://www.midrealm.org/. Some of the items you will find there are:

www.midrealm.org/midrealm_origins history of the Midrealm

www.midrealm.org/midrealm_mhb Marshalls Handbook

www.midrealm.org/midrealm_law Kingdom Law

www.midrealm.org/midrealm_artsci_list List of Arts and Sciences Categories

Back to the Table of Contents

##

Baronial Royalty and Their Officers

The Baron and Baroness:

Baron Syr Thomas ap Llewellyn & Baroness Mistress Margaret von dem Schwartzwald

Thomas and Andrea Williams, 10160 Allen Road, Pickerington, OH 43137 (614) 837-5868

E:Mail: Baron: tjw@lucent.com Baroness: Andrea.S.Williams@lucent.com

Seneschal: Lord Patraic O Docartaigh

Pat Dougherty. 1329 Pondview Avenue, Akron, OH 44305 (330) 733-2211

Exchequer: Lord Tetsuo Akira

Mike Johnson, 1507 Riverside Dr., Akron Oh 44313 (330) 945-6773

Knight Marshall: Lord Ragnar Ironhand

Dan Mickels, 446 East Park Blvd. Akron, OH 44305 (330) 733-5344

Archery Captain: Lord Nigel FitzMaurice de CaerAnor

Bruce R. Gordon. 866 Beardsley, Apt. 1, Akron,OH 44331 (216) (330) 535-8065

E:Mail: em029@cleveland.freenet.edu

MOA/S: Lady Saradwen Ariandalen

Sally Burnell, 114 University Dr., #2, Kent, OH 44240-2554 (330) 678-4097

Herald: Lady Anna of the Western Hill

Monti Grunwald, 6383 Chelsea Glen Dr., Cancl Winchester, Oh 43110 (614) 833-4246

Chirurgeon: Lord Myrddin ap Maelgwyn Coed Du

Jay Weiss, 3612 Blanche Rd., Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 (216) 321-2381

Signet: Lord Kinto Ashikagi

Richard Purvis, 543 W. Brown St., New Lexington, OH 43764 (614) 342-2215

Chronicler: Lord Joseph Grunwald of York

Joe Gibbs, 69 East Lincoln Street, Westerville, OH 43081 (614) 899-1021

E:Mail: Joe_Gibbs@mail.bankone.com

Chatelaine: This office is currently vacant. Contact the Seneschal if you have any questions.

Back to the Table of Contents

##

Official Disclaimer

This is the Vigil, a publication of the Barony of the Middle Marches of the Society for Creating Anachronism, Inc. The Vigil is available from Joseph Gibbs, 69 East Lincoln Street, Westerville, OH 43081. It is not a corporate publication of the Society for Creative Anachronism inc., and does not delineate SCA policy.

The Vigil is published every month, with a subscription rate of $6.00 a year. Make checks payable to "SCA - Barony of Middle Marches". It accepts (nay, relys upon) submissions for inclusion. historical articles, persona biographies, how-to articles, pseudo historical fiction, artwork, calligraphy, cartoons and notices to the Barony will all be considered. All articles need to be readable by the editor, and electronic submissions are preferred. They may be forwarded to other publications, with the authors permissions, as the chronicler sees fit.

The official newsletter for the Middle Kingdom is the 'Pale', membership and subscriptions are available from the Office of the Registry at SCA, INC., P.O. Box 743, Milipitas, CA 95035. Sustaining memberships include subscriptions to the Pale and Tournaments Illuminated.

Back to the Table of Contents

Baronial Groups, and their Officers

Alderford

Meetings: 2nd & 4th Tuesday, Stark Tech. College, 7pm, Main Bldg, Frank Rd., N. Canton. See the information desk or an officer regarding the meeting room.

Website: http://www.imperium.net/~aldrford/

Seneschal: Lord Justinos Tekton called Justin, mka Scott Courtney, 1709 Yale Ave NW, Canton, Oh 44703, (216) 456-8502, justin@4th.com

Exchequer: Hugh the Silent, mka Hugh Storms, (216) 494-5004, tempest@cannet.com

Pursuivant: Undewyn de Maccuswell, mka Les Pletcher, (330) 877-0282

MoS/A: Ailith Makintosh, mka Kate Soehnlen, (216) 874-4081, ailith@cannet.com

Chatelaine: Meredydd, mka Danielle Dugan, (216) 484-5392, supergld@cannet.com

Knights Marshal: Lord James, mka James Kral, (330) 455-8099

Archery Marshal: Lord Olaf the Grey, mka Eldon Eddy, (330) 821-6664 olafthgre@aol.com

Chronicler: Lady Milica of Varna, mka Kathie Courtney, (216) 456-8502, milica@4th.com

Canton of Caer Frig

Meetings: Contact Seneschal

Seneschal: Lady Deirdre ni Coinin, mka Betty Russett, 1245 Blue Ave, Zanesville, Ohio 43701, (614) 454-1886, BRussett@aol.com

Exchequer: mka Becky Riggs, (614) 453-0914

Marshal: William Wilblood, mka Jim Pandy (614) 453-0914, druid@clover.net

Herald: Grym Beckum, mka Bill Robinson (614) 962-3228

Archery Marshal: Lord Kinto Ashikagi, mka Richard Purvis, (614) 342-2215

Fencing Marshal: Dirk Maelstrom, mka Tom Lahna, (614) 545-5114, tlahna@coshocton.com

Shire of Dernhealde

Meetings: Tuesdays, 8:00pm, Morton 201, Ohio University, Athens

* Seneschal: Erica Carlson, 159 Mill Street Athens, Oh 45701, (614) 589-2078

Exchequer: Eleanor MacLaren mka Becky Cunningham, (614) 597-7763

Marshal: Mutsura Ishikago no Ishido, mka Ben Pyles, (614) 594-8456

Herald: Alyna of the Ilex, mka Holly Lang, (614) 597-8605

Chatelaine/MoA: Celine de Montelimar, mka Lorna Blackburn, (614) 589-4310

Dance: Seadach O'Malley, mka Tarra Gallagher, 589-4310

March of Gwyntarian

Meetings: Thursdays, United Presbyterian, Goodyear Blvd, Akron

Website: http://www.imperium.net/~beven/gwyntarian.html

Seneschal: Katarina Peregrin, mka Karen Johnson, 1507 Riverside Dr, Akron, Ohio 44313, (330) 945-6773

Exchequer: Johan Wagenfahrer the Cripple, mka John Husvar, (330) 325-2849

Marshal: Silverthorne, mka Steve Moorehouse, (330) 673-7514

Fencing Marshal: Geoffrey of Dryganwicke, Jeffrey L. Buckey, 434-7833

MoS: Saradwen Ariandalen, mka Sally Burnell 678-4097

MoA: Emma Dutton of Witherley, mka Virginia Beringer 724-9860

Herald: Lord Nigel Fitzmaurice Caeranor, mka Bruce R. Gordon, 535-8065

Chatelaine: Siobhan ni Bhrighde, mka M. Bridget Jump, 724-1252

Chronicler: Morcant Mawr of Ashcroft, Jerod J. Husvar, 325-2849

Shire of Mugmort

Meetings: 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month, Contact any officer for location.

Seneschal: Lord Mikal Isernfocar (Ironhawk), mka Bruce Webb, 2585 Brushy Fork Rd., Sugar Grove, Oh 43155, (614) 746-9342

Marshal: Master Baron Arundel the Hawkmaster, mka Doug Baden (614) 927-0610

Exchequer: Lady Kathryn of Mugmort, mka Kitty Guinsler (614) 927-1364

SAM: Lady Lisette da l'Abbe St. Tronde., 2585 Brushy Fork Rd., Sugar Grove, Oh 43155, (614) 746-9342

Herald: Lord James of ?

March of the Thistle

Meetings: Wednesdays, Contact any officer for directions.

Seneschal: Lord Patrick MacPhalan, mka Robert Cripps, 3214 Styx Hill Rd., Medina, Oh 44526, (330) 336-5832

Marshal: Lord Alexander of Hawkwood, mka Michael Gerlach, (330) 669-2586

Exchequer: Fredrick Der Schnieder, mka Stan McPherson, (330) 456-9341

MoA: Lady Catriona nic Hugh MacLaey, mka Marti Smith

MoS: Lord Alastaire, mka Dan Millard, (330) 875-0711

Herald: Lord John of Dragonwood, mka John Woods, (330) 683-6212

Chronicler: Gwendolyn the Graceful, mka Lee Hillman, (330) 287-3401

Marche Three Towers

Meetings: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of the month, St. Lukes Lutheran church, Mansfield

Seneschal: Lady Aine Dreamseeker, mka Carolyn Dollish, 41 Western Ave., Mansfield, Oh 44906, (419) 524-1656, carolyn_dollish@freenet.richland.oh.us

Marshal: Lord Conan de Kirketun of Wyverns Reach, mka Mike Conant,

Herald: Lord Dabhaidh Earmorer the Tiny, mka David Conant, (419) 524-9785

Exchequer: Truffledino, mka Douglas Kehl

MoS/A: Lord Conan de Kirketun of Wyverns Reach, mka Mike Conant,

Chronicler: Lord Alaric de Navarre, mka Randall York, (419) 522-5285, randall_york@freenet.richland.oh.us

Chatelaine: Lord Og the Redbeard, mka Michael Wells, (419) 529-4083

March of Tirnewydd

Meetings: Wednesdays, 7:30pm, Drake Union, OSU, Columbus

Seneschal: Lord Dylan MacAnTsaior, mka Joe Weible, 156 Beechtree Rd, Columbus, Oh 43213. (614) 231-9649

Exchequer: Rebecca auf Worms, mka Becky Frank, (614) 529-9538

Marshal: Lord Dermot Lachlann MacDermot, mka Brent Jones, (614) 861-5714

MoS: Lord John Quill of Reedsmouth, mka Robert Smith, (614) 475-7275

MoA: Lady Erriil du Fauconor, mka Janet VanMeter, (614) 263-4805

Herald: Lady Betony an Myrddin ap Emrys, mka Becky Needham, (614) 274-0769

Chatelaine: Lady Babette Vitre de Dinan, mka Melinda Kindsvatter, (614)421-0399

Chronicler: Lady Bronwyn MacLaren, mka Jamy Coulson, (614) 846-7034

Incipient Shires [sponsors]

Falcons Quarry (Middle Marches?)

Meetings: Tuesdays, 8pm, 201 W. Main St (S. Amherst 1st United Methodist Church), South Amherst

Seneschal: Lady Adrianna de la Telarana, mka Patricia Wozniak, 1310 Highbridge Road, Vermilion, Oh 44089, (216) 967-7475

Dep. Seneschal: Helca of the Greenlands, mka Chris Green, (216) 949-5286

Exchequer: Kezia Bernadone, mka Mary Lou Castellani, (216) 835-9758

MoA: Morgan Silverlocke, mka Morgan Knox, (216) 529-1073

MoS: Lady Catherine of Haga, mka Cathy Chato, (216) 333-0773

Herald: Lady Solveig Gunnadottir or Ulfey, mka Gail Ann Gnizak, (216) 791-0051

Canton of Gleann Iarainn (Tirnawydd)

Meetings: 2nd & 4th Mondays, 7pm, Briggs Library, Ironton, Oh

* Senescha l: Lady Greye, mka Anne Stratton, 252 County Road 59., Chesapeake, Oh 45619, (614) 894-4836

Exchequer: Antonia Batista, mka Deborah Toney, (614) 867-8641

MoS/A: Joseff the Tinker, mka Joseph Lett, (614) 867-8641

Herald: Aline Kilgerran, mka Sarah Weaver, (614) 886-7690

Chatelaine: Antonia Batista, mka Deborah Toney, (614) 867-8641

Proto-Incipient Shires

Canton of Wind's Reach

Seneschal: Kasia, mka SarahScott Brett, P.O Box 1038, Gambier, Ohio 43022 (614) 427-6577, bretts@kenyon.edu

Canton of Burning Towers (Middle Marches)

Seneschal: Isabel of Kent, mka Elizabeth Ozborne, 137 Emerald Lane, Lima, Ohio 45805, (419) 331-0026

Canton of Verdencourte

Seneschal: Gavin mac Craig, mka PJ Cunningham, 2860 Lansing Dr, Dayton, Ohio 45420-1718, (513) 256-0158

Back to the Table of Contents

Musing from Mugmort

by Lady Kathren of Mugmort

Part II of What Is In a Name?

Wind' Reach

According to Lady Kasia, mka Sara Scott, she took a list of suggestions and members voted on the name. Although, as it turns out Wind's Reach was her suggestion. She chose the name because she is originally from Barony of Windmaster's Hill in Atlantia.

Caer Frig

The name was chosen because of the Y bridge in Zanesville. Caer Brigg meaning fortress on the bridge. Unfortunately the Heralds' would not pass Brigg, therefore they became Frig. Since the Shire of Mugmort sponsored this group, we affectionately refer to them as the Friggin Briggins.

Ed Note: This is the first in a series of short aricles on how the various groups in the Barony arrived at their names. If yours is missing send an update to Vigal, it will be passed on to Lady Kathren and will be published for all to enjoy. Thanks to Lady Kathren for her research.

Back to the Table of Contents

WATERED STEEL, WOOTZ AND TRUE DAMASCUS

by Lord Mikal Isernfocar called Ironhawk

Part II

The final method to be discussed here is true Damascus. The most famous and misunderstood of all production methods, damascus steel gained its fame in Europe and later world wide due to encounters with the Crusaders. There are many legends surrounding the famed Damascus steel, all of them dealing with its fantastic flexibility and ability to a razor edge. One such story tells of a meeting between Richard Lion-Heart and Saladin (by the way, they never did meet). As the story goes, Richard, to impress the Muslims, cut though a thick iron bar mounted on a stand with a single blow from his broadsword. Saladin, rather than showing any awe at this feat, threw a silk pillow into the air and sliced it to ribbons with his damascus blade. According to another legend, the common damascus blade was so flexible that a man could take the hilt in one hand and the point in the other and bend the blade in a circle around his body and when released, the blade would spring straight again. So what is different about the production of this steel from that of pattern welded or wootz?

True damascus steel, as made in the vicinity of the city of Damascus, was produced in this manner. Low carbon wrought iron was hammered into very thin sheets. A stack of these sheets was wired together in a tight bundle. A batch of high carbon caste iron was heated until molten. The bundles of low carbon wrought iron were plunged into the vat of high carbon caste iron. The cold wrought iron would 'suck' the molten caste iron into the spaces of the bundle by a process called capillary action. This would partially remelt the wrought iron, 'welding' the bundle together into one solid mass. This mass was forgable for a short time, so it was hammered into rough shape while it was still hot. One major problem with pieces made this way is that they cannot be reheated and reforged like pattern welded and wootz steel can. Due to the caste iron content, when a piece of true damascus is reheated, a blow with a hammer causes it to splatter into numerous pieces, as European smiths found out when they tried to reshape some of the weapons brought home by the Crusaders. Therefore, after the rough shaping as the initial heat cooled, all of the work done on true damascus blades was done by filing, grinding and polishing. As the pieces were shaped by removal of metal, layers were revealed creating the distinctive pattern which creates the confusion in identifying these processes.

Three additional facts are pertinent in discussing blades made by these processes:

First, in true damascus, the cutting edge is actually not a single razor edge but a serrated edge. The 'watering' in these blades is caused by layers of hard and soft (high carbon and low carbon) metal. In sharpening the alternating layers of hard and soft metals created by these processes, the softer layers grind away quicker than the harder layers, leaving a microscopic, toothed edge. This edge slices soft items better than a single edge but does not stand up as well to hitting armor as it has a tendency for the tiny teeth to break off and so the edge dulls quickly.

Second, the iron ore in the vicinity of the city of Damascus has a 7% content of a mineral which was called Wolfram in the Middle Ages. Today we call that mineral Tungsten and it is used to make some of the best metal alloys in the world. In retrospect, it means that the smiths in the vicinity of Damascus unwittingly produced some of the worlds first mass produced composite alloy steels.

Thirdly, true damascus stopped being produced in the 14th century when the Tartar conqueror Timur Leng raided the city of Damascus and took all of the swordsmiths to work for his army. The city never did recover as a metal working center after that.

I would also like to clarify one further point. True damascus production was stopped by the invasion of Timur Leng and wootz continued to be made in India but what happened to Europe? The pattern welded blade went out of favor rapidly in Europe with the invention of the Catalan furnace in the 1300's in Spain. The Catalan furnace was an early blast furnace which increased the carbon content and lowered the impurity content of whole batches of steel by blowing hot furnace gases up through the molten metal. It was the first method used to directly produce large amounts of steel with a uniform carbon content and it made possible for the first time the forging of weapons and armor from one large uniform piece of steel.

Now that you know a little more about the processes, look a little closer at the next damascus sword you pick up. You might be surprised at what you now see.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Wrought Iron - James Aston and Edward Story - A.M. Byers Co., Pittsburgh, PA 1939

Introduction to Ore Deposits - Ludwig Baumann - Wyly Press, 1976 ISBN-0470059370

The Art of Blacksmithing - Alex W. Bealer - Funk and Wagnall's, NY 1969

The Making, Shaping and Treating of Steel - Dr.William T. Langford - United States Steel Corporation Publishers, 1964 ISBN 0930767004

Decorative and Sculptural Ironwork - Dona Meilach - Crown Publishers, Inc., NY 1977

Stone's Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor - George C. Stone - Jack Brussel Publishing, NY 1961

Metal Techniques for Craftsmen - Oppi Untracht - Doubleday & Co., Inc., NY 1975

Compton's Encyclopedia - Volume D - Compton Publishing, 1960

The Metalsmiths - The Emergence of Man Series - Time-Life Books,1974, ISBN 0705400581

The New Book of Knowledge - Volume 18 - "T"

Lord Mikal Isernfocar called Ironhawk is a 16th C. Irishman, a second son who had to leave home during one of the "troubles" with the English. He had started classical training as a bard (which is one of the reasons he had to leave Ireland) but that training was interrupted. For several years, he wandered around Europe, making his living mostly as a caravan guard. As such, he was able to collect music from many places and to observe the mode of dress in many lands. Most recently, he has settled down in Wales with a beautiful French woman he met while on his travels.

Mundanely, Michael Labbe-Webb works as a development associate for BalletMet Columbus in Ohio

Ed Note: This is part II and concludes an article provided by Lord Mikal Isernfocar called Ironhawk. Lord Mikal can be reached via his address under the Shire of Mugmort.

Back to the Table of Contents

Baronial Event Calendar

November 1997

1 - Pale deadline for December

15 - Saturday "Royal University of the Midrealm" (RUM) College of St. Joan (Dayton).

15 - Vigil Deadline for December

22 - "Si Habes, Ostenata" at Gwyntarian, Akron Ohio

- Flaming Gryphen's Baronial Championship, Oxford Ohio

December 1997

1 - Pale deadline for January

13 - Flame Christmas Tourney, Barony of the Flame, Louisville, KY

January 1997

1 - Pale deadline for February

10 - Twelth Night in Havenhold, Springfield, OH

31 - A regular Event in Cleftlands, Of Course! in Cleftlands, Cleveland OH

Back to the Table of Contents

Midrealm Officer Reporting Schedules

Seneschals •All groups: December 31 (Domesday)

•Full Status groups: 1st Tuesday of October

•Incipient & Proto-incipient:1st Tuesday of every month except January

Exchequer •All Exchequers: October 31, January 31 (Domesday)

Marshal •Group Marshals: September 1

•Marshals of the Field: December 1

Herald •Heralds: October 1

MoAS •MoASs: October 1

Chirurgeon •Chirurgeons: September 1

•Regional Chirurgeons: September 8

Chronicler •All Chroniclers: January 1 (Domesday)

•Regional Chroniclers: October 15

Marshal of Fence

•Group MOF: November 15 (Domesday)

•MOF of the Field: November 15

Chatelaine •Regional Chatelains: September 15

•Local Chatelains: September 1

ED Note: This was based on information contained on the Midrealm Web site.

Back to the Table of Contents