The SCA is a non-profit, educational organization (recognized as such by the IRS) whose purpose is to study and recreate Western European society as it was from before 1600 CE. The Society has been in existence for more than thirty-five years and we now have groups throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Korea.

You may be wondering, "What is an anachronism?" An anachronism is anything that is out of place in time, such as a horse-drawn buggy on the interstate highway, or a jet airplane in a western movie. In our case it might be men in armor battling in a city park. We selectively recreate the Middle Ages, leaving out the bad aspects such as famine, plague, and lack of personal hygiene.

In order to help recreate the period, we practice the crafts and skills of the time, such as costuming, cooking, brewing, glass-blowing, fighting and many, many more. New members can learn these activities with the help of more experienced members. We also demonstrate these skills to educate and entertain non-SCA members, such as grade school classes, church groups and the general public. In addition we hold special events, limited in attendance to SCA members and their guests, so we can trade ideas and learn more about certain activities the SCA has to offer. These events offer a chance for members to step back in time for a while and try to live as people of the Middle Ages.

The SCA is a group of people who enjoy the chivalry and romance of the Middle Ages and early Renaissance periods. If you would like to learn more about the time period, or if you would like to learn or teach a skill, the SCA might be the very organization you have been wanting to join. We have members of all ages, from small children whose parents are members, through teenagers and college students, right on up to senior citizens. To participate in our activities all you have to do is talk to a local representative or member and tell them you are interested. They will tell you what your local group has to offer. If you have not been able to make contact with a branch near you, this guide will help.

The Kingdom of Calontir consists of the states of Kansas and Missouri, most of Iowa and Nebraska, and the northwest comer of Arkansas (Fayetteville). If you live within these boundaries then YOU are in Calontir. We hope you will find the information here useful to answer some of your questions. It will probably generate additional questions; please feel free to ask experienced SCA members any further questions you may have.

As of May 1, 2000, Calontir has more than thirty local groups. There are six large groups (baronies), twenty-six smaller groups (shires, cantons, etc.), and two "incipient" or forming groups. The groups are in: ARKANSAS: Fayetteville; IOWA: Ames, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Grinnell, Iowa City, Mason City & Forest City, Waterloo & Cedar Falls; KANSAS: Emporia, Great Bend & Hays, Lawrence, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Salina, Pittsburg, Olathe, Topeka, Wichita; MISSOURI: Columbia, Independence, Jefferson City, Jefferson County, Joplin, Kansas City, Kirksville, Rolla, Sedalia & Knob Noster, Saint Joseph, Saint Louis, Springfield; NEBRASKA: Lincoln, Grand Island & Kearney, Omaha.

A persona is a person's SCA identity. It is the person you would have liked to be had you really lived in the Middle Ages. The basics of choosing a persona are selecting a medieval name, a time period, and the country or place you are from. For some people, this is all the identity their persona will ever have. For others, this is just a beginning, and they work up elaborate persona histories, including genealogies. Most people are somewhere in between these two extremes. A person is not permitted to use the name of any historical or literary (including TV and movies) figure (i.e. Eleanor of Aquitaine or Arthur Pendragon, Connor MacLeod) and one may not give oneself any title that implies nobility or landedness. In the SCA such titles as “knight,” “lady,” “count” and “duchess” are earned and their use is restricted to those who have been granted the privilege of using them by the Crown. The title restriction does not mean a persona must be a peasant or slave. On the contrary, everyone in the SCA is assumed to be of the gentler classes unless they, themselves, specify otherwise. A person may not adopt a persona of non-mortal, non-human lineage (son of Thor, elves, etc.) and may not take a name which implies such lineage. Within these restrictions one may choose any country, time period, etc. that they like.

Besides the General Populous, which you as a member would be a part of, there are roughly two other types of people in the SCA. These people help create the Medieval atmosphere of our events and also take care of the administrative details of our huge organization. They are Nobles and Officers.

NOBLES are the people who help create the illusion for us. They have earned the right, one way or another, to wear coronets or crowns and usually carry themselves in a regal manner. Some have different jurisdictions to rule where they are responsible for the Medieval aspects of our Society. Other nobles once were rulers but are not any longer. Some of the various types of nobles are:

KING AND QUEEN: Chosen in a tournament every six months, the King and Queen rule the entire Kingdom. Together they are called "The Crown." They can make new laws or change old ones (as long as they don't conflict with modem laws or the “Corpora” of the Society). In Calontir they wear crowns with Calontir Crosses on them. They are addressed as “Their Royal Majesties” or “Your Majesty.”

PRINCE AND PRINCESS: The Prince and Princess are heirs to the throne of their kingdom. They have won Crown Tournament and when the current King and Queen step down they will take their place as King and Queen. In Calontir their coronets have a single Calontir Cross in the front. They are addressed as “Their Royal Highnesses” or “Your Highness.”

COUNT AND COUNTESS: These people have ruled as King and Queen once. They wear coronets with “embattlements” (squared-off projections) on them. They are addressed as “Your Excellency.”

DUKE AND DUCHESS: These people have ruled as King and Queen twice. Their coronets are decorated with strawberry leaves. They are addressed as “Your Grace.”

VISCOUNTS AND VISCOUNTESSES: These people have been Prince and Princess of a Principality and stepped down. They wear embattled coronets and are addressed as “Your Excellency.”

BARON AND BARONESS: Ruling over a large local group (a Barony) as the representatives of the Crown, the Baron and Baroness help make local activities more “regal.” They wear coronets with six spheres on them, and are addressed as “Your Excellency.”

COURT BARON AND BARONESS: These people are not “landed” nobles as territorial baronages are, but are people who have had honors bestowed on them by the “Crown” (King and Queen); a territorial Baron and Baroness who step down or a person who has given especially great amounts of service. They are still addressed as “Your Excellency” and wear coronets, though usually their coronets are silver instead of gold.

OFFICERS are the bureaucracy of our organization. They help keep things running and make sure people at various levels have the information they need. There are local officers, Kingdom officers and Society officers. Since most people deal mostly with local officers, we will describe their functions here:

SENESCHAL acts as the spokesperson and chief administrative officer for the group. Their duties usually include: local contact for other groups, presides at local meetings, supervises other officers, and tracks paperwork.

CHATELAINE or CASTELLAN keeps track of membership lists, Gold Key (loaner gear), and acts as a demo coordinator. This person also coordinates recruitment efforts and helps new people get the information they need when they join the group.

PURSUIVANT or HERALD is the local officer of the College of Heralds. This person makes announcements, helps people choosing and registering names and heraldic devices, and organizes court and/or feast business for the nobility. Can be very helpful in researching information for your persona, etc.

MARSHAL is the officer who oversees fighting and/or archery to make sure they are conducted safely and in compliance with SCA rules. They help train fighters/archers as well as constables. They may have a deputy to handle archery, another deputy to handle list table functions at a tournament, and maybe another to oversee the “waterbearing.” See your Marshal for any questions regarding fighting, archery, SCA armor and/or weapons, working the list, or waterbearing.

MINISTER OF ARTS and MINISTER OF SCIENCES are in charge of the study and practice of medieval arts and sciences. These people organize and supervise competitions, displays and learning seminars as well as training judges for the same. In some groups both offices are handled by one person - the MoAS. These are the people to see with questions regarding anything practiced as an art or science in the Middle Ages.

TREASURER or EXCHEQUER is the person who is the chief financial officer. They keep track of the group's money and makes reports to various people.

CHRONICLER publishes a group's newsletter, which may be anything from a schedule of upcoming activities to a booklet of articles by local members. Chroniclers usually love to receive artwork, borders, and/or articles from you.

CHIRURGEON are certified first aid persons, usually available at events to handle minor injuries, etc.

MINISTER OF CHILDREN is the person that coordinates children’s activities. This person is not a baby-sitter. Parents should lend a hand in the activities of the MoC.