Largesse and Starting Over

Expanding on this idea, I thought it might be a good idea to bring some form of largesse to the landed nobility of each realm I visit! If it's a local event, to the Baron and Baroness. If it's a larger event, to the King and Queen. I can make one of several forms of crafts--chain necklaces, fingerloop cords, leather tokens--but I think they should all have a common thread or symbol, something that says, "This largess is part of the Fifty States of the SCA progress!"

A '50'? An 'L'? My own badge? Perhaps a mug with my badge and an 'L', stuffed full of cords or chains in the Baronial/Kingdom colors. Or a pouch, instead of a mug! That seems more practical. Instead of my badge, a new design to represent my pilgrimage? I shall have to think of one fitting the quest.

If this is the case, though, I should begin my Progress from scratch--the realms I have already visited have received no largesse from my hand. I could present it retroactively, I suppose ... but I think I like the notion of starting over better.

If I am starting over, though, I scant have time to produce largesse before my very first stop: Northern Region War Camp, held in the East Kingdom, which will make New York the first of my fifty states!

An escallop shell heraldically signifies one who has made long journeys or voyages to foreign countries. That seems particularly fitting.

Ivy represents strong and lasting friendship ... that may be appropriate as well.

(Fieldless) An escallop argent within an orle of ivy proper.

I think that would be very pretty! I hope there's no conflict with an already-registered device or badge.

 

Edited to add: Alas, the badge is not registerable like that. Because it is fieldless, the escallop and the orle must be touching. I don't like it touching, though.

I guess I could use it unregistered. Or I could move the escallop so it's dependant from the orle, maybe.

Editing again!

I had added a torch behind the ivy and escallop, and I actually REALLY liked the design.

Alas, you can't have two items surmounting the base item ... so it's unregisterable that way. Back to the drawing board yet again...

(Also, that's not an orle of ivy ... it's an annulet of ivy. I've learned something new!)

I can put the original design on an argent field and call it good ... but now I'm kinda attached to the torch! I'm thinking of twining the ivy around the torch and surmounting it all with the escallop.

Event Itinierary: July - September 2015

July 3-4: Northern Region War Camp
Greenwich, NY (East Kingdom)

July 18: Collegium
Columbia, SC (Atlantia) **NEW STATE**
Blog Post

August 29: Lost Tip Archer's Gathering
St. Johnsbury, VT (East Kingdom) **NEW STATE**
Blog Post

September 5: Hunter's Moon
East Greenbush, NY (East Kingdom)

September 12: Battle on the Bay
Upper Marlboro, MD (Atlantia)

The Idea

As I was driving home from an event in Connecticut yesterday, I had time to think about my SCA experiences. I realized that I've had the opportunity to play in many different locations around the country, and since I had just added Connecticut to the list, I thought it would be interesting to tally up how many different states I'd attended events in.

This is my map so far. I've attended events in Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Then the idea began to form. A self-assigned quest of sorts: could I attend an SCA event in each of the fifty states? I work for an airline, so this should be more feasible for me than it may be for most other SCAdians. Moreover, I've always been fascinated by inter-kingdom anthropology, and it would be really neat to experience the differences of culture and tradition across our country.

And how fitting, to undertake a 50-state challenge in this, the 50th year of the Society!

Each time I check a new state off the list, I will chronicle the event here. I hope to include photos and stories of the experiences and the people I will meet. And when my quest is complete, I will always have this record of all I have seen and learned.

Come along with me on this journey! =) Come virtually by following my blog, or come in real life by traveling to these events and meeting me! I hope to meet many, many of you wonderful SCAdians out there!