Royal Progress:

Shire of Hunters Home
June 6, 2025, 3pm
June 8, 2025, 1pm
Fraternal Order of Eagles #965
1050 Eagle’s Nest Road Brockway PA 15824

For this, the tenth iteration of our event, we will see the return of the Iron Tassel challenge. To commemorate this being the 10th Scarlet Guard Inn, and since completing the challenge is a Herculean feat, the theme for Saturday’s shooting will be The “10” Labors of Hercules, which will of course actually be 12 Labors. These Labors will include three walkthrough ranges (one of which will be Archery Golf), a clout range, and a plethora of novelty targets. Still on theme, The Iron Tassel will include one other task. Since Hercules had to return to King Eurystheus between each Labor, it has been decided that archers must also make a return to Royalty… in the form of completing a Royal Round at the practice range. The 12 Labors plus this Royal Round will comprise the entirety of the Iron Tassel Challenge.

Those familiar with the myth may recall that Hercules was forced to do 12 instead of 10 Labors because two of his feats were disqualified; one because he had help, and the other because he was otherwise paid for it. In keeping with that theme, we will be offering an opportunity to “get back” some of those feats. Pre-registering for the event will count as “paying back” the payment, and earn you a Labor token (which you will receive at Troll when you check-in). To return the “help,” Juan Miguel will be accepting charitable donations for cancer research (the specific charity is tbd, we will update this blurb once it is decided), and a donation of $5 or more will also earn you a Labor token. An archer may trade in up to two Labor tokens at the completion of the Labors in order to count as credit towards the Iron Tassel. It takes one token to be excused from the “standing” targets, but two tokens to be excused from a walkthrough. Unspent tokens are yours to keep as souvenirs.

Scarlet Guard Challenge!
After the Iron Tassel / 12 Labors, the Scarlet Guard Challenge will once again be held. Any group with a seneschal may send a representative, as long as that representative is not a member of the Scarlet Guard or equivalent order. Take notice that there are new requirements if you desire to compete this year as your group’s Representative/Champion in the Scarlet Guard Challenge. We are asking that you have your group’s Seneschal contact Scarlet Guard Member, Baroness Thalia Papillon at v_girl15@hotmail.com, with the kingdom you hail from, the name of the local group you are representing, the name of the group’s Seneschal, and your SCA name to add to the roster. The Challenge Registration will close on Wednesday, June 4th, 2025, to allow time to organize our paperwork for the event.
For all those archers participating in the challenge please bring a gift for the Winner’s basket to help celebrate their accomplishments and joy of the day’s events. Please bring the gift and your letter of support from your group’s Seneschal and present it to one of the following: Scarlet Guard Members Baroness Thalia Papillon or THL Máirin Ó Nialláin, or previous Champion of the Scarlet Guard Challenge, Baroness Marina Aragones de Navarra, no later than 12 o’clock Noon on Saturday, June 7th, 2025, the day of the Challenge. This will allow us to verify entries and begin the challenge in a timely manner.
The Challenge will begin promptly at the scheduled time that is published, and letters of support that do not match our registration records OR cannot be verified will not be accepted at that time.
We are looking forward to seeing you all there in the very near future.

Archers can also look forward to Friday evening, which boasts the Flight Shoot (take advantage of our large field and see just how far we can fling our arrows) as well as the Night Shoot (try to hit glow-in-the-dark targets when the only light is, well, the targets).
For any questions about the Iron Tassel Challenge, contact Juan Miguel (Terry Belles).

We have exciting news for this year’s Inn! As many of you know, Aethelmearc now knows who shall be our three Premiers for the new Order of the Mark. All three will be elevated during the evening court, and will be sitting vigil throughout the day. All 3 vigils will be held at the same location, but in the tradition of the other martial Peerages, there will a chance to partake of the martial activity with each candidate.

Those who wish to speak with Rosalia about her elevation are invited to learn more about siege, and if you wish to shoot with her, there will be a ballista and range available!

Godzimir has issued a similar invitation. Stop by his vigil tent and you will have the chance to not only shoot the breeze with him, but a few arrows as well. Bring your own bow and arrows if you have them, but fear not, he has offered loaner gear if needed!

Morien has also asked not just for advice, congratulations, and well wishes, but also for those who are interested to learn more about combat archery to seek him out during his vigil. Bring your armor and any combat archery equipment you can, but there will also be loaner gear for those wishing to try for the first time. Master Morien has also offered to conduct authorizations!

In addition to sharing his martial talents during his vigil, Master Morien also wishes to share his bardic talents. He invites anyone who wishes to enjoy or, better yet, partake of the bardic arts to join him in a bardic circle around the bonfire each evening, starting at 8pm.

Notes:
Your equipment will need to be inspected before you can shoot. If you are day tripping make sure to be there early enough to get it out of the way so you and our inspectors can enjoy a full day’s activities. Inspections are at the small building near the pavilion.
Don’t forget sunscreen and tick/bug spray, this is an outdoor event and some ranges take you through deep woods.

Thrown Weapons:
Since there will already be plenty of arrows flying through the air we might as well set up some thrown weapons butts too. Bring your axes and knives, maybe a spear or two and give them a throw.

Merchants:
Hunters Home invites merchants to set up their wares at no additional charge. We had many great items for sale at our last event. Please inform the autocrat so that we can reserve a space for you.

Camping:
Camping is free! Please feel free to stay Friday and Saturday night. There is plenty of camping space and some already have regular spots but it is first come first serve. There is space for RVs but it is limited and there are no hookups and no dumping allowed, please contact the autocrat ahead of time. Enjoy your own campfire or be sociable and join us at the common fire. We will have the main fire provided for socializing, feel free to join in front of the pavilion or have your own fire. But please leave the site as you found it.

The Tavern:
The Food: There will be no feast at this event, however there will be a modest sideboard open Friday evening and throughout the day on Saturday in the tavern.
The Games:
Want to compete off the field as well? Two gaming tables will be set aside in the tavern with an assortment of games to choose from. We welcome any additions.
The Bards:
We always invite the bards of the kingdom to come share their talents. Please add to the atmosphere and join us in the tavern and around the common fire day and night!
The site is discreetly wet. Pets Welcome On Leash and Well Behaved, clean up after your animal.

Adult Event Registration is $30,
Adult Member Discount Event Registration is $20,
Children 6-17: $5,
Children 5 and under: Free.
Make checks payable to SCA-PA, Inc. – Shire of Hunters Home. Reservations may be sent to the Autocrat.
AUTOCRAT for this event will be Thorfinnr y Elsfiord (Tod Elford) PO Box 1, Utica, PA 16362, 814-720-9017, thorfinnr.elsfiord@gmail.com
CO-AUTOCRAT is Alrekr Bergsson (David Bessler) bessler128@gmail.com