Good Gentles pray attend!!

In a parallel universe there exists a kingdom known as the Matrix.  This kingdom has the same borders and laws of Northshield.  The only exception is that in the Lands of the Matrix the monarch is determined not by a tournament of rattan combat, but one by rapier fencing.

To that end, please enter your sword into the ring to contend to be the next Matrix Monarch.

To enter the tournament each fencer must:

·        Submit a letter of intent by 11:59pm CST, May 31^st,2025 to bazyli1592@gmail.com.  The letter must include:

1. Their SCA name and rank, and their consort’s name.  Each fighter must have a consort.  Fighter’s can fight for each other, and consorts may have more than one champion.   

2. Name of the group in which they play.

3. Two photographs including one of themselves and their consort, and one of themselves in their fighting kit to help the populace recognize the fighter on the field.

4. A written description of what they would like to accomplish during their reign as an SCA monarch.

·        Shall have read both SCA corpora and the Kingdom of Northshield laws concerning the crown.

·        Shall be an authorized fighter in at minimum single sword rapier, and bring their fighter’s card to the event.

·        Be prepared to be heralded into court for the final eight fighters.  This could be by means of a speech (aka brag herald), music, song, or poem, etc.

·        To come in your finest grab and/or kit for the Grand Procession. 

The format is as follows:

The tournament will begin with all entrants and their consorts lining up as if they were about to enter a grand gala.  A herald will announce each of them for all and sundry to hear. Each entrant and consort will walk to the front of the event area.

Introductions and announcements will be made. Fencers will then be split into two or four pools depending on number of participants.  The pools will fight round robin.  Bouts will be bring your best, best two out of three.  It cannot be stressed enough that in each bout the loser must Die Magnificently so that the audience may clearly see who won and lost.

The top winners from each pool will seed into a final eight double elimination tourney.  At this time ,the fencers will get a small break. They will then be introduced one at a time to the populace.  Fencers will be prepared to have a herald “brag them in” by speech, poem, song, etc. 

The final eight will then fight a standard double elimination tournament to determine the final winner with the winner being crowned the Monarch.

Other features:

An informal bean count vote will be open to the populace during the event. Each entrant will have a bowl with their picture displayed. The populace will vote to determine such important items as:

·        Most gracious fighter

·        Best death

·        Prettiest garb

·        Most period kit/garb

·        Cutest couple

·        Most gregarious

·        And other categories that may present themselves

The event will provide an award scroll for each category, as well as an award for the winner.

And finally, there will be a court to crown the winner of the day.  With the help of the heralds and scribes, the new monarch and consort will then present the awards from the bean count from the populace vote.

Food:

The site is dry.

Outside food and drink are allowed.

Please bring a picnic meal for an Off board feast to complete the faire day.

Schedule:

8am: site opens to staff

9am: site opens to populous

10am: opening ceremonies and grand gala introductions

11am: tournament begins

230pm: court, awards, and much pomp.

330pm: off board feast and merriment. 

5pm: clean up

6pm: site closes.

Site fee:

$25, adult non-members

$15 adult members

Children 17 and under are free.

Pre-registration will be from May 1^st to May 31^st,2025

Only service animals are allowed in the building.

Questions: 

Please direct any questions to the event steward. Baron Bazyli Boleslaw z Krakowa (Markus Olfson) bazyi1592@gmail.com

Note:

This is intended to be a mock rapier crown.  There are a few reasons for this.  With the East kingdom’s rapier crown coming, it would do the rapier community well to have a practice round, but with a fun theme.  Also, Northshield historically has had small crown lists due to the philosophy that one should only fight in crown if they seriously think they have a chance of winning and are materially and financially prepared to take on the role. As this is a mock crown, I hope that many people send in their letter of intent.  The experience is a unique one.  It has been suggested that other mock crowns could take place in the future not only rapier, but also archery, thrown weapons, equestrian, or even rattan. Arts & sciences is possible, but we will need to come up with a plausible format.

We look forward to seeing you in the Matrix. 

Take the Blue pill!!