Todd's experiences with the Society for Creative Anachronism
Like many people, we had seen the ocassional TV news stories about the medieval reenactors and thought "wouldn't that be fun?" Then we mostly forgot about it and went back to our daily business. That all changed in the summer of 2002 when a coworker invited me to stop by the local fighter practice. The very idea of being able to go to the local park and beat the crap out of people with sticks had a certian appeal. Before long I found myself in Otuell's workshop building a helm, and I knew there was no going back.

me Within the society I am known as Tomaso da Barbiano. I was born in the year 1380 in a small town in the Romagna (central Italy) to an Italian father and a Swiss mother. I make my living by following the family tradition as a condotierre, or professional soldier for hire.

My primary contract is with Venice, within whose territory I have a modest estate. In peacful times I make beers and wines from my land, and life is good. Italy is a troubled land though, and I must spend much of my time in armor, traveling where fortune takes me.

 arms

We live in the Barony of Angels, which lies within the Kingdom of Caid. We are also active with the College of the Voyagers as Caltech is known in the SCA.

So, what exactly do we do in the SCA?

There is a huge array of activities available in the SCA. I am currently doing heavy fighting, brewing, leatherworking, basic research, and serving as the Exchequer and webmaster for the College of the Voyagers. I have dabbled in (an intend to do much more in) blacksmithing, pewter and bronze casting, wood working, and playing the recorder. I also want to try my hand at pottery, jewelry making, archery, and about a hundred other things that I can't remember at the moment.