CALLIGRAPHY: [Required] Applicants must provide a calligraphed introduction to their persona. Information in this must include the information noted above (in category #1). Only a 8�" x 11" sheet of the introduction must be calligraphed. The criteria listed here is a minimum standard, it is not designed to limit creativity. Other persona information can be typed (double spaced) or legibly printed.
EVERYDAY LIFE: [Required] Applicants must demonstrate a knowledge of everyday occurrences in the life of their personas such as hobbies, pastimes, religious observances, household duties (e.g. meal planning, entertainment, accommodations for visiting dignitaries and entourage etc.), community obligations, and other personal duties/needs of their persona
* Judging in this competition might be based on an informal gathering where personas might discuss the visit of a reigning monarch, the guild they belong to, anticipation of a coming holiday, their position in society. EXAMPLES ARE ENDLESS.
COSTUMING: [Required] Applicants must make a complete and detailed costume for their persona, including undergarment/s, overgarment/s, and headwear. NOTE: footwear and accessories need not be made by the applicant, but must be provided.
* Judging will be based on construction and design; the applicants may be asked to show the inside of their clothing. (If this is done, it WILL be done in a discreet manner and will not include the last layer of clothing).
NEEDLEWORK(EMBELLISHMENT): [Required] Applicants must make a hand stitched favour to present at court and a utilitarian article. Suggested applications: embroidery, needlepoint, applique, lace making, weaving, Bullion work, spinning/weaving, sprang or other "needlework" appropriate to persona. "Needlework" may be incorporated into the persona's costume or accessories.
* Applicant must be prepared to document form of "Needlework" if asked to do so. (Asking must be done well before applicant arrives in Appledore)..
SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGY: [Required] Each applicant is given a chance to display and demonstrate a skill or proficiency appropriate to their persona that is not covered in the other categories. Possible examples: falconry, jewelry making, herbalism, wood carving, detailed working knowledge of weaving. judging is done through a display and/or demonstration to the judges, and a discussion between judges and the applicant.
Applicant must inform the autocrat of any special needs at the time of application. Documentation of technique, materials, elements specific to persona, may be required.
COURTESY AND ETIQUETTE IN THE SCA: [Required] Applicants must demonstrate a working knowledge of SCA courtesy and etiquette throughout the event by their deportment. A brief oral quiz will also take place. Topics will include addressing nobility, officers, peers and servants; table manners (for your persona); recognition of kingdom awards and devices; and, of course, courtliness and common consideration and politeness.
INSPIRATIONAL BEHAVIOR: [Required] Each applicant must have a lord to fight for her in a prize tourney. A lord for the event will be provided if needed. The applicant will be judged on her behavior towards her lord throughout the tourney and feast. The applicant is expected to be present while her lord is fighting for her in the lists. (Sable Veil performances will be allowed and encouraged if the applicant feels that it would be appropriate to her persona.)
GAMES AND PASTIMES: [Optional] Applicants must show proficiency in, and ability to teach, one indoor and one outdoor game, where appropriate to their persona. Suggested indoor games: chess, nine-men's-morris. Suggested outdoor games: jeu-de-boules (Bocce), Prisoner's Base. These are considered the "standard games" for this category. Candidate may substitute another game, indoor, outdoor or both, that is appropriate to her time period or culture.
Where appropriate for the persona, other pastimes may be substituted. Examples might include: riddles, string games or figures, word games.
Documentation is required for all games and pastimes of choice. It may be necessary for the candidate to discuss methods of judging for any non-standard pastimes.
BARDIC ENTERTAINMENT: [Optional] Applicants must memorize and perform a period song, story, or poem of reasonable length. Performances will take place at the potluck feast on Saturday night. A maximum time limit of 5 minutes per contestant will be imposed. If time permits, other songs (SCA, etc.) will be allowed after all applicants have performed.
SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES: [Optional] Applicants must prove their ability to survive a hostile situation. Techniques should coincide (loosely) with what is appropriate to their persona. This is not an entirely serious competition.
Techniques may include any of those below, but if you can convince the autocrat of a feasible method of testing, others may be chosen. If a technique other than those listed is chosen, the candidate must be prepared to demonstrate proficiency should the judges decide they are not convinced of the persona's ability to survive.
Documentation is required. It should include the availability of specific weapons or methods, and that it was acceptable or possible for a woman of this culture and time period to use and practice this skill. Knowledge of weaponry specific to the persona should be indicated, but demonstration and testing will be confined to SCA-legal weapons, protection and procedures.
Standard Survival Skills: any of the following:
a] Poisoning--the universal "woman's weapon". It is assumed that most women will have access to common poisons and knowledge of, or access to knowledge of, their use in any time period or culture. Documentation must include availability of poison specified, symptoms and results, methods of preparation and application. This will be judged by a "poisoning" at the feast on Saturday night. Victims will be assigned and a poison substitute (usually green Tic Tacs or other hard candies) will be provided. Bribing pr coercion of witnesses and other parties will be considered in terms of their effectiveness in furthering the survival of the persona.
b] Archery and Thrown Weapons: will be judged on the range in a standard format.
c] Sword and Shield: will be judged in the eric in a tournament style situation. The candidate may be entered in the tournament of the day, or a special combat or series of bouts may be arranged, depending on schedule and the candidate's preference.
FOOD: [Optional] The candidate should be able to discuss food and diet in general. Should have knowledge of sources of food (grown on own lands, imported, trade, etc.), preparation and storage methods, the equipment used for these, fast and feast days and customs for persona, restrictions on diet, any philosophy of food common to the era or culture. Cooking or food preparation can form part of this category but is not required.
HABITAT: [Optional] This category overlaps that of Everyday Life, but is not identical. The candidate must display a working knowledge of the persona's home such as that displayed during the Everyday Life discussion. She should also have good overall knowledge of shelter in general in her time period and culture, the geography of her home and any other areas she should be familiar with, climate, who lives with or near her, sources of water, disposal of waste. (NOTE: Habitat and Food are judged in a round-table discussion. Since they overlap and intertwine so thoroughly with Everyday Life, we have decided that the best way of judging these categories is to combine the round-table discussion of Everyday Life, a Required category, with the round-table discussions of these categories.)
