This is the January 2025 issue of Across the Hills, a publication of the Barony of Endless Hills of the Society of Creative Anachronism, Inc. (SCA, Inc.). Across the Hills is made available from Endless Hills Chronicler- Lady Matilda of the Endless Hills. Contact at chronicler@endlesshills.aethelmearc.org. It is not a corporate publication of SCA, Inc., and does not delineate SCA, Inc. policies. Opinions are those of the authors and may not reflect or imply the view of Across the Hills or any member of its staff. Content is used with permission. Copyright (c) 2025. Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. For information on reprinting photographs, articles, or artwork from this publication, please contact the chronicler, who will assist you in contacting the original creator of the piece. Please respect the legal rights of our contributors.
Welcome Letter from the Baron & Baroness of Endless Hills
Another year has gone and another begins anew, bringing changes and new opportunities. This spring we will see their Nextelencies, Lady Kolfina and Lady Revna, step up with fresh excitement to become our first pair of Baronesses.
New champions will be chosen, events will be held. All things will need volunteers to run smoothly. People should step out of their comfort zone and learn new things. Learn about how Troll works, become a deputy for an office or write articles for the newsletter.
Every person who learns something new makes our hobby more sustainable. It is a gift of your time that allows the SCA to prosper. We wish you all a healthy and successful new year, filled with learning and fun.
Yours in service,
Nicolo and Magge.
Who’s Who of the Barony? Get to Know the Seneschal
What is your SCA name? And how did you find out about the SCA as an organization in general?
My SCA name is The Honorable Julianna Woolworth and I found out about the SCA in high school through my cousin.
Which part of the SCA intrigues you the most?
I love the history aspect of the organization. The time and patience people take to learn a new skill or sport.
When did you become the Seneschal of the Barony of Endless Hills?
I became Seneschal over 20 years ago with a couple year break in between my two terms.
What does the Seneschal position do, and any advice on how to become one?
Seneschal is the president of the group. I’m in charge of any legal matters like signing contracts and running the elections. And my advice for anyone who would be interested is to come to the meetings and ask lots of questions.
Advice for newcomers of the Barony?
And my advice for newcomers is to have fun, do what interests you and start small.
Post Elections- Officers Get Ready to Tackle the New Year
As the end of the year came to a close the Barony of Endless Hills held its election in November. During this election, the positions of Herald, Exchequer, Minister of Lists, Chronicler, Minister of Youth, Webminister, and Marshal of Youth Combat were up for nominations and a vote.
Leading up to the November meeting, members of the Barony nominated potential candidates for these positions in September and October. Members of the Barony logged onto the Zoom Meeting and the goal was set.
The following is a list of the incoming officers that won the election.
- Herald- Master Po Silvertop
- Exchequer- Dame Kateryna Ty Isaf
- Minister of Lists- Lord Gregory Hillson
- Chronicler- Lady Matilda
- Minister of Youth- currently vacant
- Webminister- Lady Birna Hakadottir
- Marshal of Youth Combat- THL Julianna Woolworth
Please congratulate all these new officers if you see them out and about at practices and/or events. If you have any questions or concerns about anything related to the Barony, you can contact all officers directly at their emails.
More information about the SCA on a Kingdom level and the Barony of Endless Hills can be found on the following websites:
Barony of Endless Hills: https://endlesshills.aethelmearc.org
Kingdom of Aethelmearc: https://aethelmearc.org
Adventures in the SCA – Rapier
Rapier fencing is a strong aspect for the Barony of Endless Hills. Ages young and old are welcomed to pick up a blade and learn how to fence according to the society standards.
Newcomers are greeted by all members of our Rapier community, but especially from our Captain of Rapier, Lady Kolfinna. As Captain of Rapier, she is responsible for promoting rapier activities within the Barony. This responsibility includes making sure a rapier practice is run on a regular basis, and that equipment is readily available for any persons that need to borrow gear. This position goes to any Rapier Marshal in the barony. The captain encourages and provides resources to all that are
interested as well as files the quarterly marshal reports to the Kingdom level.
A recent addition to our practices held every Tuesday are monthly tournaments. They are held every 3rd Tuesday of the month, weather dependent. As a collective whole, members decided to bring back the tournaments to prepare for larger scaled tournaments at events within the barony and Kingdom level. Each month, whoever wins said tournament gets the chance to plan and run the tournament the following month. With the help of our MOL, Lady Revna, members have been able to understand how to report wins and losses of bouts fought properly.
Another aspect that we have been able to learn is how to get in the right mental headspace for tournaments. When the thought of tournaments is brought up, some can get overwhelmed with a feeling of stress. Monthly tournaments have been helping relieve that feeling of stress. Overall, it has been a nice addition to our practices, and we will definitely keep that tradition going.
Additionally, the Barony has also been able to include C&T fencing at our practices. Both Lord Daven & Lord Dauidh have received their C&T marshalate and are planning on teaching members the interesting world of cut & thrust. More armor is included for this aspect of fencing. With the use of added protection, it will allow members to be shown more varieties of fencing styles that use weapons from different arts of fencing that haven’t been normally available to learn. Stay tuned for more ideas to come for that.
The Endless Hills fencing community is always welcoming newcomers. If you have any questions, concerns, thoughts, or ideas, please reach out. Come visit us at
our practices held on Tuesdays at 7. We would be happy to share the love of fencing with all!
tournament ran by Lord Geoffrey.
Christmas tournament ran by THL Tufa
Crafting Corners of the Barony of Endless Hills: How Angharad verch Morgan ap Morgan is tackling on an A&S project for the New Years
Experimenting with Wax and Lucetting
By: Angharad verch Morgan ap Morgan
I’m learning to lucet weave, and the process has not been going smoothly.
I’m too rough. The fibers will catch and snag, wearing the yarn thin as I work. And then I’ll accidentally jerk on the yarn, making the woven cord uneven, and frequently
snapping the yarn altogether.
My finished lucet cord is inevitably uneven, ragged, and short.
At one point, as I was waxing my thread to stitch a skirt together, I had a thought. What if—hear me out—what if I waxed the yarn for my lucetting? After all, we know that Europeans had and used wax for a wide variety of purposes throughout the Middle Ages, and use of wax is far less disputable than the historicity of the lucet itself.
Why not? Why not try it?
So, I did. I waxed the yarn as I worked. And what a difference it did make!
The yarn was sturdier, far less “sticky,” and slid almost effortlessly through the loops and knots. It didn’t snap once, tug as I would, and the resultant cordage was smooth and tidy.
Perhaps best of all, the wax removed nearly all of the cat hair that inevitably finds its way into my fiber projects!
I plan on trying this with a few other types of yarn, and a few other lucetting weaves. As of right now, though, I’m quite pleased with the results.
Past Meeting Minutes
- October 2024 Meeting
- November 2024 Meeting
History of Endless Hills
History of New Year’s Resolutions
By: Master Po Silvertop the Rogue
Early 2005 saw two changes in the Baronial fencing community. Almost simultaneously the Hills that were Endless gained a Marshal (some guy) and lost its unofficial fencing practice location (the Luzerne County Community College gym). After a few months of public park-hopping practices the now official practice found a new home in the basement of the Forty Fort borough building (through the auspices of then-Baron Robert, who was a borough representative).
No longer calling itself the Luzerne County College fencing club, the practice began referring to itself as Steel Therapy. And with the cooperation of Baron Robert and the borough the initial steel therapy NYD party occurred January 1st, 2006. It wasn’t an official event at the start. It didn’t appear on the Kingdom calendar nor did we
charge entry or pass the hat (as we didn’t need to pay for the space in the basement of the borough building…) all that was needed was for the Marshal (some guy) to confirm with the building maintenance staff that we could have the extra time in the space, and to post the unofficial invitation online along with the call for contributions for the covered dish potluck…
Thus a tradition began…
Even from the beginning, NYD/NYR was a multi group/multi-Kingdom occurrence, with friends invading from all directions. By 2015 the NYD “non-event” had outgrown the space in the basement of the borough building and was moved to the Jenkins Township Fire Hall for two years (’15 and’ 16)- at this point it became necessary to actually finance the use of a space for New Year’s, which we accomplished by adding a “pass the hat”. When we lost the borough building as a weekly practice location and moved to the Jackson Township firehouse in 2016, the NYD party (with associated hat pass) moved into that space as well. NYD remained there four years, culminating in NYD 2020 which included both a Baronial as well as a Kingdom level court.
The 2021 plague year saw Steel Therapy lose its space at the Jackson Township location, and during that year a few, small, scarce, unofficial, masked and isolated practices were held at scattered multiple locations, including an unofficial NYD that drew less than a handful of people. 2022- with the plague beginning to taper allowing the return of NYD, and with the Barony now partnered with Ovation Theatre (using Ovation’s prop and costume space for Tuesday Steel Therapy), it seemed a natural follow-up to utilize Ovation’s performance space in the Wyoming Valley Mall for the final NYD party…
A shift in attitude amongst a number of the Baronial officers in 2023 led to the redefinition of NYD into an official SCA Baronial level event. With a bid process, gate fees, and Lady Kolfinna added as Co-autocrat coordinating, etc. Ovation Theatre having lost its Mall location, the Barony rented a fire hall in Ashley, Pa. And for the second time, a Baronial court with awards occurred at NYD.
2024 saw NYD (with the same event staff) hosted at the Coal Valley Sports Complex in Kingston. And finally, most recently, NYD/NYR ’25 (with Baronial court and the continuing event staff) at the Glen Lyon American Legion Hall. NYD/NYR has not always hosted the Baronial Rapier championship tourney, though it has certainly done so a good portion of the time, at the whim of the seated Baronage. In addition, when the Barony celebrated its 20-year anniversary with its “Year of Tourneys” throughout 2018,
the series of Rapier and Rattan tourneys culminated with the invitational finals on NYD 2019.
While space has always been made available for rattan and A&S activities, some NYD’s have not had sufficient interest in showcasing those facets. Plans are already afoot for NYD/NYR ’26 (the 20th anniversary) again at the Legion Hall… With rapier, rattan and A&S activities alongside the traditional potluck buffet.
Add it to your calendars now!
Past Court Reports- New Year’s Resolutions 2025
Being the Court report of Her Excellency, Baroness Magge Illfoster of the Endless Hills, January 1st AS 59 at Steel Therapy New Year’s Resolutions, (Master Po Silvertop the Rogue, Zule Herald and Voice of the Hills reporting.
Her Excellency welcomed and thanked all for joining in the day’s spirit of mirth and camaraderie. Her Excellency then permitted the event Autocrats, Lady Kolfinna Jodisardottir and some guy in a hat, to make announcements and thank the event staff.
The MoLstaff, Meisterin Amalie Reinhardt and Lady Revna Lunaris were invited forward to discuss the day’s martial activities and announce the winners. Meisterin Amalie named Baron Eliyahu al-Talhi of the East the winner of the Rapier Magnetic Poetry Tourney, and Lord Heero Himoura’s ghostwriter (alleged to be Dona Ania Mhoireach) to
be Baroness Maggie’s chosen Tourney Poet du Jour.
Lady Revna announced the day’s Cut and Thrust winner to be Mistress Gytha Oggsdottir and the day’s Rattan tourney winner to be Lord Frey Gore, who had also just successfully newly authorized as a fencer. When Lord Frey came forward to be acknowledged, Her Excellency Magge recalled long outstanding business pertaining to Lord Frey and called forth Her Order of the Red Thunderbolt and caused him to be inducted into that dangerous Order due to his prowess.
There being no further business, Court was then closed.
There being no further business, Court was then closed.
Please consider submitting an award recommendation for our Barony!
A listing of all baronial awards and their descriptions can be found here: https://endlesshills.aethelmearc.org/herald-news/
The recommendation form can be found here: https://aethelmearc.org/award-recommendation-form/
Any questions can be brought to the Heralds attention at: herald@endlesshills.aethelmearc.org
Closing Chronicler Remarks
Hello lovely members of the Endless Hills. It is I, Lady Matilda, your new chronicler.
First, thank you for reading my first Across the Hills edition as the newly elected Chronicler for the Endless Hills! Much appreciated. Sending virtual hugs to all of you.
Next, I want to give you this goal to start out the New Year.
Make this the year of new experiences and opportunities.
If you have been curious about any martial activities, go to their practices and ask questions. If you want to learn how A&S projects happen, ask anyone. There are email addresses on all baronial and kingdom websites.
People love to talk about what they are passionate about!
Also, reach out and introduce yourself to someone you may not know. Some members might be intrigued about an A&S project you are working on. Or even how you managed to parry that blade out of the way. Look around at your surroundings and show others your skills. We are all here for the same reason. We love the goals, ideas, and mission of the Society of Creative Anachronism! We all want to have fun and appreciate the hobbies set forth for us to participate in.
As times change, both mentally and physically, we have to remember to stay close to our SCA friends. Reach out to those who are close to you. Teach others that may be interested in what you are doing. Make this the best year yet!
Upcoming Events for the Barony
Baronial Meetings & Practices
- Barony Meeting
- Sunday, January 19th on Zoom, at 7:30 p.m.
- Heavy Weapons Practice
- Every Monday evening at 6:30-8:30 p.m.
- The Julie Ardito School of Dance, 648 South Main Street, Old Forge PA 18518
- Rapier Practice
- Every Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m.
- Ovation Playhouse, 75 Stark St, Hudson PA 18705, 2nd floor
- Cooks Guild
- Every other Monday evening at 5:30 p.m.
- Locations will be announced on the baronial Facebook group for each meeting
If you have anything you would like to share with the rest of the Barony, please forward it to me at chronicler@endlesshills.aethelmearc.org. Any articles, poems, thoughts, feelings, projects are welcomed! Fellow members of the barony who are receiving an award, please forward to me! Your input is always appreciated and will be added. Any critiques and/or suggestions are also appreciated. Please send to the baronial chronicler email at chronicler@endlesshills.aethelmearc.org. Thanks!