Buckston Birthday 2025

A Day of Dungeons & Dragons

Hear ye, Hear ye!  A new dungeon hath appeared in the realm, and it is rumored to reach even unto the Abyss.  The soothsayers and augurers have informed the Local Baronies that an adventuring party must be selected to traverse the dangerous dungeon and end the threat that it spreads over the realm.  The portents that the party must be 8 in number (and the number must be eight, do not count to seven unless thou proceedest directly to 8, 9 is right out).   

The Baron and Baroness of Windmaster’s Hill hath decided that a grand festival shall be held to determine the party (and rumor states that a foreign Barony may be attempting to do likewise).  

There shall be a melee to find a stalwart fighter, a grand duel to find a master fencer, and an archery contest to locate a worthy archer to join their number.

But a true party cannot exist by force of arms alone, and as such, we shall have a competition to discover which bard shall be included to inspire them to greatness.

We shall see if our masters of the arts and sciences can produce a worthy sage, and of course, every party requires a healer to tend to injuries received in battle. All are welcome to come and test their mettle or simply to cheer on as we uncover our champions!

Dates

Friday, November 21 at 5pm – Sunday, November 23 at 11 am

Martial Competitions

Heavy Fighting Scenario

Are you a noble Paladin, a Raging Berserker, a Taciturn Ranger, or a Master of the Sword and Shield? We shall have a melee in which fighters shall attempt to determine who among them is most suited to provide the raw strength and defense that our burgeoning party will require.

Heavy Melee Scenarios PDF can be downloaded here

Fencing Scenario

Are you a musketeer or a dasher dandy with a blade? We require a master fencer to aid our party. And so we shall hold a grand free-for-all. The last three fencers standing will then engage in a round robin competition to determine who among them is worthy to join the party

Archery Scenario

Are you a disciple of Uller or an elven master archer? Come and prove your skills. Can you hit a rope (cutting not required…yet)? Can you hit a lever to lower the drawbridge? Can you shoot an apple off of a target’s head (actual person’s head not required)? Come and show us your skills and see if you can be chosen for the party.

Thrown Weapons Expert Scenario

Can you be counted upon to hit the target when the party’s fate is on the line? Can you hit the heart of the charging beast with your dagger or axe before it can close with your teammates? Show us your skill.

A&S Competitions

Healer Scenario

As our courageous adventuring party prepares to take on this dungeon that has emerged, they realize they are in need of a chirurgeon, a healer, who can bravely face the travels of the road and the dangers of the dungeon that lie ahead. Our healer needs to be quick of thought and knowledgeable in ways of improvisation when out in the wild. They will need to be resourceful in the differences between human, elf, orc or whatever members make up their group.

To this end, suggestions for your entry can include:

  • Best improvised device – an example would be a veil used as a sling
  • Best way to treat abrasions after an encounter – what can you find that is not in your healers kit (required plant identification). Examples of natural pain killers, burn salves, natural bug repellents, et cetera.
  • How would you set a splint on the road or after combat – hands on demonstration
  • What race/species are you and how does that determine what you carry in your kit – bring a display of what your would have in a period kit, i.e. cloth bandages, poultice, tinctures for poison, etc – ingredient lists will be required.
  • A research display on the medical device known as the fleam.

Take on any of these ideas or create your own, but remember that you will be asked to describe your display, show your skills, and convince the Baronage and Chirurgeons you have what it takes to be THE adventuring healer.

Druid Scenario

Have you been deep in the forests, making your through the brambles and over the
rushing streams and creeks?  You have you heard the cry from adventuring parties in
the nearby town who need your skills but you’re just not sure, until you felt that
something was happening but you did not know what.  Then the cry went out from the
Barony that a company of the most skilled adventures must band together to defend the
lands from this “new dungeon”.

To this end, suggestions for your entry can include:

Backpacking/Medieval Camp kit – What race/species are you and how does
that determine what you carry in your kit?  The kit should be a hands on display.

The Outlaw Druid – your persona is being run out of town for….reasons. Maybe
they were rightly accused and would rather take their chances as an outlaw than
face the punishment for their crime, or maybe they are unwilling to risk the
judgement of a legal system they feel they cannot trust. Either way, they only
have time to grab three (3) items on their way out – what are those three items
and why would they be helpful?

Entries should include:

  • a brief description of the entrant’s persona (minimum time period and
    region)
  • why they are on the run (preferably based on the legal system of the time
    period and region selected)
  • the three items selected with documentation (EZ Doc accepted) and
    rationale behind selecting them

Can you live off the land? Can you safely lead your party through difficult terrain and
guide them to safe food? Come show off your ability to light fires (Maybe even when the
wood is wet). Show off your ability to identify edible mushrooms and berries. Other
woodcraft skills to be determined. Rubric for Druid Outlaw Competition downloadable PDF

Outlaw Judging Form

Period Fire Making – Fire may no longer be the everyday necessity it once was, but practicing period fire
making methods is an immersive (and fun!) way to learn more about those whose lives
depended on it.  Show off your skills by racing to light a candle using period methods in
a competition sponsored by the Kingdom of Atlantia Royal Forestry Guild.

What do I need to participate? In order to compete, you need (see below for details):
1.  A period fire making kit
2.  A candle (preferably beeswax) that has not been previously lit

Period Fire Making Instructions 

Bardic Scenario

Every group needs a Bard.  One who will inspire courage, lift the heart, and entertain
around the fire during times of peace.  This is true of Windmasters’ Hill, the first Barony
of Atlantia and an area well known for it’s bardic tradition.  In an effort to find that bard
will I, Dunstan LeHeryngmongere, be sponsoring a competition to determine who will be
the Windmaster’s Warband Bard.


At 2:00pm on Saturday (weather allowing around the fire pit) on November 22 at the
event Buckston’s Birthday this competition shall take place.  One piece per
participant.  It does not necessarily have to be a song- a story, a poem, interpretive
dance, juggling and any other performance art are acceptable as well.  The winner may
be asked in the future to represent Windmaster’s Hill, so participants competing should
be willing to do that.  Having said that, if you would like to perform but do not wish to
compete come out and if time allows we would love to include you.


The winner will win a prize and be announced in court.  There will be a sign up sheet in
the A&S hall but last-minute entrants will be welcome as well.
Directly after the competition you are welcome to come with me to the tents of House
Bayard.  There the Household of Valdemar Bayard will take up Marcus Tremayne as an
official household member and shortly thereafter I will be taking him up as an
apprentice.  Please join us to celebrate this joyous occasion.  Light snacks will be
provided. After feast around the firepit we will have a Bardic circle.  All are welcome.

In service,
Master Dunstan LeHeryngmongere, OL,OGD, LMNOP, LOL.

Wizard Scenario

Calling all Alchemists and Artificers, the time has come to wow the populace with your marvelous transformations and transmutations! Bring forth exemplars of your raw materials, demonstrations of your process, and, of course, your final result.


This competition focuses on the changing of materials into something new and will be judged as such, so the process is important! Document and demonstrate that to the best of your ability and you’ll be golden! However, you’ll sink like a lead weight if you only show up with the final product!

Other Competitions

Spell Scrolls

The Windmaster’s Hill Scribal Guild invites the populace to create spell scrolls. The scrolls can be in any shape, but they must be a spell that can help an adventuring party. These can be offensive spells (Fire bolt, ray of frost, create undead) or defensive spells (Healing, shields, and protections). The spells can be made of any material; spells are magic, and these scrolls should carry magic inside them.

This competition will be judged by either of the heads of the Scribal Guild.

Kids A&S Competition

Art by Eleanor D’Ivori

Every adventurer searches the world for magical items. We’d like to ask the younger population to create magical items and write up how it would have been made in the appropriate time period. The written portion would need the following questions answered:

  • How did you make the object?
  • How would the item be made in period?
  • What materials did you use and are they different than how they would have been made
  • What magical effect does the object have?

Sources would give bonus points. Dame Mor the Merry, or Eleanor D’Ivori, Armiger will judge this competition.

Costume Contest

There will be a costume contest, so come as your favorite D&D character (or Tolkien, or whatever, we don’t judge, actually we do judge as it is a contest, we just don’t exclude…).  

All participants will receive a unique bag at the gate, all guests will receive a token for which they can vote for their favorite costume by giving said token to the participant!  Participants will be required to bring their collected tokens at a designated time so that an official count can be made.

General Competition

Bring your D & D inspired creation! It could be a monster, a setting, or something magical.  We want to see your creations.

Green Dragon Tavern

Tent accessible for folks 21 and over. 

Other Activities

D20 Bocce 

Bocce with a D&D Twist involving a large D20 – more info to come!

D & D Table Adults

There will be short campaign D&D games hosted throughout the day.  D&D In Person – ages 18+

  • Schedule of Play:  Start time: 10:30 AM
  • Requirements: Whatever you would normally bring to a D&D game. If you haven’t played before or don’t know, just show up with paper and a pencil (preferably)
  • ALL ARE INVITED TO WATCH. If you are watching and decide you want to participate, that can probably be arranged. DM has final say.
  • Game Play:
    • Your character will start at -500 xp and 9’s in all stats.
    • Choose a race and a simple weapon proficiency (dagger, dart, sling, staff, club, rapier, short sword, or other small weapon, nothing with more than d6 damage). Then just do whatever you would do.
    • When your character gets to 0 xp you will then be allowed to choose a class
      BUT the game is not going to stop for you to do it unless everybody is ok with a break.
    • Premise of the module: You stir on the hard wooden seat, rocking back and forth. It’s dark and smelly. You realize you’re chained to the wall, which you also realize is the hull of a ship. You don’t remember how you got here. There are other people around, but it’s too dark to make out how many, who, or even what race they are.
    • Days pass. Sometimes a hatch over your head opens and a few loaves of bread and a waterskin hit the deck beside you. You share with whoever you can see to get the food and water to. You have no memory of how you got here or where here is. More time passes.
    • Then one day you feel the boat start to rock harder from side to side, pitching up and down. You hear the sounds of a storm outside. A few people vomit on the deck. More hours pass.
    • Then you feel the horrible scraping of a boat, your boat, running aground. A terrible collision happens, and suddenly the entire bow of the ship is ripped off. A few people, still chained to the bow, fall screaming into the water. You do not see them again.
    • Then the ship slams into a sandy shoreline.
    • You manage to pull the chains on your arms free from the metal staples embedded in the wall. You pick up a piece of wood and start leveraging chains from the hull, freeing the rest of the now ex-slaves.
    • You can dimly see out the front of the boat; there’s an orc walking up and down the beach. It’s cold, the water is slowly rising, it’s raining outside.
    • Now what?

We want to hear from you!  Please help us with planning by sharing your interests in the game by filling out a survey.  D & D Survey

D & D Table Kids

This game is for ages 12-17.
This scenario will run in 3 one hour sessions:

  • 11 am – 12 pm
  • 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
  • 2 pm – 3 pm
  • Premade character sheets await. Be sure to complete the gamer’s survey on the
    website (see above)!

Liche Castle:

  • Rouge Adventures have heard rumor of the legendary stockpile of magic items created
    by the lich Ela’evar. Little do they know most of the magic items go to the guilds…
  • whoops!. They stormed the liche’s castle and without the proper paperwork. Now the
    guilds number one seller of magic items is up in arms, furiously threatening to send
    their undead hoard to destroy the guild for breach of contract!
  • As this deal was made in secret by the higher authorities, they can’t send anyone
    important to remove the problem, so your team drew the short straw; sent to mend
    relationships how ever the lich sees fit.
  • After a long journey, you now find yourselves in the role of dungeon cleaners having to
    clean up the previous groups messes. All while the lich takes out their anger and take
    pity on you while you work.
  • Join the party of five as they try and survive the liches castle while trying to make right
    what’s been wronged in this narrative driven campaign that’s been designed so the unconventional is rewarded.

Comedia

i Firenzi delights us again with a twist on our theme! If you want to learn more about them visit ifirenzi.com.

Volunteers

We are recruiting volunteers for our event!  Openings listed below (please reach out to the contact listed if you can help).

  • Brute Squad – we will need to aid of folks willing to help set up pavilions, do a shed run prior to the event, and other general moving/lifting chores.  Please contact caitrinasca [at] gmail.com.

Merchants

Merchants, please reach out to the Merchant Coordinator in the staff list below. 

  • Pottery By Jane 
  • Shrike and Sundry –  Purveyor of wire-wrapped jewelry, inspired by a love of D&D and fantasy. Dice and wire wrapped dice pendants for sale, and if good gentles bring their own sentimental dice to the booth, wrapping services will be offered.
  • Red Tree Leatherworks – Assorted handcrafted and tooled leather gear for all your medieval kit needs. 

 

A Day of Feasting

Breakfast and Lunch will be included as part of your entry fee.  The dinner feast will be a separate fee.  More details as they become available.  Each course will be a separate team working together.  Ingredient lists to come!

Note: Kitchen is off-limits to the general populace. ALSO, while disposables will be provided for breakfast and lunch, it is recommended that Gentles bring their own feast gear for dinner. 

Breakfast

Recipes from Flavors of the Multiverse:

  • Golden Stars  (open pastry with sausage, potato & leek and the vegan option is potato, leek, spinach & mushroom)
  • Green Dragon Blackbread Muffins
  • Halfling Iron Rations  (granola)
  • Selection of seasonal fruits

Lunch

  • ROC Sausages (chicken and feta)
  • Fried Eye of the Beholder w/Shambling Mound Salad Greens (falafel with dressed green salad)
  • Cockatrice-pea Salad  (chickpea salad)
  • Dryad’s Blessing Cakes  (apple cinnamon muffins)

Feast

Course 1:

  • Elven Bread
  • High Harvest puree  (butternut squash melange)
  • Gurdats (stuffed mushrooms)

Course 2:

  • Otik’s Skillet Fried Potatoes
  • Tavern Steak  (grilled meats served with buns)
  • Sembian Honey – Glazed Rothe Ribs  (baby back ribs)

Course 3:

  • Meal’s End  (cream & fruit meringue)
  • Halfling Oatmeal Sweet Nibbles  (oatmeal cookies with chocolate and butterscotch chips)

Schedule

Coming Soon!

Newcomers

New to the SCA and joining us for your first event?  Head on over to our Newcomer page .  If you have general questions about being a newcomer feel free to send an email to chatelain@buckston.atlantia.sca.org.  If you have questions specific to our event please send an email to the autocrat or deputy autocrat (emails listed below). 

Costs

Day TripFeastCamping
Adult (with membership)$15$20$10
Adult$25$20$10
Youth (6-18)$5$20
Child (0-5)$0$20
Day Trip cost includes Breakfast and Lunch: Feast is a separate cost (served at dinner).
Please indicate if you will be attending for breakfast and/or lunch.
Camping is charged per tent/RV/etc and not per person.

Camping is limited to 6 modern RVs – parking at far side of parking area. See Map
MINORS ATTENDING
WITHOUT THEIR PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN
A minor (under 18 years of age) attending an event or engaging in fighting activities without their parent or legal
guardian present must bring:
1) an adult responsible for the minor
2) AND a MMA (minor medical authorizatio form).
This form MUST be NOTARIZED in advance of the event!
more information on this

Registration

  • On-site registration will also be allowed. 
  • FEAST (dinner) will be pre-registration ONLY.  This page will be updated when the Feast spots have sold out.

Refund Policy

Event refunds shall be provided as follows:

  • No refunds shall be provided if the event does not make profit. This requirement may be waived for any single event if so approved by a simple majority vote of the regular Financial Committee according to the procedures and definitions stated in section 4.
  • There are no refunds on the pre-registered meals.
  • The Exchequer must receive refund requests in writing no later than 5 days after the event.
  • All refunds shall be paid by check from the group’s checking account.
  • No refund shall be issued until the event books have been closed and all reservation checks have been cleared or returned for insufficient funds.

Site Information

Optimist Farm Club
2908 Optimist Farm Road, Apex, NC, 27539

Directions:

From I-40 East – take Exit 295 (Gorman Street). Turn Right onto Gorman Street. Turn Left onto Tryon Blvd. Turn Right onto Lake Wheeler Road. Turn Right onto Optimist Farm Road. Use the 2nd entrance (Gate B) on the Right to turn into Optimist Farm. Take the road to the building.

 

Accessibility:

This is a primitive site.  Gravel, grass, uneven terrain.  Seems to be “scooter” friendly.

Restrictions:

  • the kitchen is off-limits to the populace
  • no explosive ordinances (sparklers only)
  • no firearms 
  • no firepits except the inground firepit already on site
  • no smoking in building – no butts or unused tobacco left on ground 
  • all garbage is to be taken with you at the end of the event
  • Only service animals and/or well-behaved and leashed pets allowed on property. 
  • Pets that also qualify as farm animals are not permitted per the policy of the venue.

Staff

MundaneSCA NamePhoneEmail
AutocratWayne PennachiLord Karl Hohn919-597-9720wayne.pennachi[at]duke.edu
Deputy AutocratSuzanne StaceyLady Una Gylðir336-392-8709suzzsunshine11[at]gmail.com
RegistrarAmy PennachiLady Ríoghnach inghean Uí Clérigh919-594-0879apennachi[at]yahoo.com
MICEdward HaddicanLord Declán mac Aodhagáinwarlord[at]windmastershill.org
Martial Field CoordinatorEdward HaddicanLord Declán mac Aodhagáinwarlord[at]windmastershill.org
Non-Martial Field CoordinatorWayne PennachiLord Karl Hohnwayne.pennachi[at]duke.edu
Feast CoordinatorVeronica YoshidaBaroness Caitrina inghean Fhearghuis919-433-6033caitrinasca[at]gmail.com
Hall StewardAmy GibsonCordelia Dowrishamylg2012[at]gmail.com
MOL
A&S CoordinatorMistress Murienne la aloieredragonfly78[at]gmail.com
Merchant CoordinatorSuzanne StaceyLady Una Gylðirsuzzsunshine11[at]gmail.com
Kids CoordinatorGrissel Dhai, Armigerredkiteflying[at]gmail.com
Newcomers Point/ Gold KeyBrian ToweyLord Charles Flemingchatelain[at]buckston.atlantia.sca.org
Schedule Registration Event Staff
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