The Quest for Wit & Wisdom XXXIX: Quest for the Quill!

In honour of the recent 400th year anniversary of Shakespeare’s Folio, it would seem that this spring the Barony of Settmour Swamp finds itself nestled in an area that greatly resembles Elizabethan England– and the Vice District no less!  Such is the life of a thespian, it’s all fun and games, until someone mistakes the bear pit for the theatre… That’s right, the 39th Quest for Wit and Wisdom will be a raucous adventure through the literary works and worlds created by Master Shakespeare himself!

Join us for a weekend of fun, fellowship, and, of course, a little theatre! 

In addition to the Quest itself, the weekend will feature a variety of activities for our martial community, an A&S competition and Artisans Row, a Bardic Circle, and our first Baronial Brewing Championship! 

A Midsummer Night's Feast:  Revelry and Repast will delight our tastebuds and provide us with an evening's entertainment.  During our feast, The Lady Chamberlain's players are happy to present their interpretation of Shakespeare's "Pyramus and Thisbe".  It will make you laugh; it will make you cry (likely from laughing so hard).

FEAST MENU
To begin each table will be provided with a healthy portion of fruit, cheese, and crackers.

First Pass
Honey Orange Tart
Spring Salad
Honey Wheat Rolls
Mincemeat Pie
Vegetarian Mincemeat Pie

Second Pass
Roast Boar and Vegetables
Sourdough Bread
Pottage

Dessert
Shrewsbury Cake
Gooseberry Pudding
Shortbread

Beverages
Rosewater
Tea, Chamomile and Green

More details about HEAVY COMBAT, FENCING, ARCHERY, and THROWN WEAPONS forthcoming.

BARONIAL ARTS ANS SCIENCES COMPETITION
On Saturday, we are exciting to host our annual Baronial Arts and Sciences Competition.  In the rich tapestry of Shakespeare's narratives, we find profound insights into the essence and purpose of art.  Hamlet, in his soliloquy to the players, articulates that art serves as a mirror to nature, revealing its virtues, exposing its follies, and capturing the zeitgeist of the age.  Similarly, A Midsummer Night's Dream suggests that art shapes the formless essence of life itself.
As artists, it is incumbent upon us to reflect on the truths our creations reveal.  For the upcoming competition, we invite submissions that embody your observations and emotions concerning nature, life, or love.  Your project should endeavor to give shape to existence, offering a glimpse into its complexities and beauty.
In the process of creation, artists often unearth profound insights about the interconnectedness of existence, the ebb and flow of life's rhythms, and the enduring power of human emotion.  Each brushstroke, each note played, becomes a conduit for understanding the mysteries of existence.
In homage to Shakespeare's enduring legacy, we ask that along with your project submission, you provide a brief written reflection on your work.  This reflection should encapsulate the essence of your creation, drawing inspiration from Shakespeare's timeless wisdom on the purpose of art.
May your submissions not only captivate the eye and stir the soul but also pay homage to the Bard's profound understanding of the human experience through the medium of art.

INAUGURAL BARONIAL BREWING COMPETITION!  (More details to follow)

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
Fri 5/24: 
4:00pm:  Site opens
Gate Friday:  4-8pm

Sat 5/25:
Gate open Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm
10:30am Archery and Thrown Weapons setup
11:00am Archery and Thrown Weapons open
11:00am Shopping opens
11:00am Heavy authorizations begin, be in armor at this time
11:30am Heavy weapons inspections open
12:00pm Kubb tournament begins
12:00pm Heavy weapons tourney begins
1:00pm Artisans' Row opens
1:00pm Arts & Sciences Competition opens
2:00pm Fencing tourney begins
3:00pm Brewing Championship Competition begins
3:30pm Archery Competition begins
4:00pm Arts & Sciences Champions Judging
4:30pm Thrown Weapons Baronial Championship Competition begins
4:30pm Artisans' Row closes down
5:00pm Archery & Thrown Weapons close
6:00pm Shopping closes
6:30pm Feast begins
7:00pm Presentation of Shakespeare's "Pyramus and Thisbe"

Sunday 5/26:
Gate 10:00am-3:00pm
8:30-11am Breakfast
12:00-4:00pm Quest for the Quill!
5:00pm Baronial Court
6:30pm Pennsic Camp Planning meeting

Monday 5/27:
11:00 am Site closes

SITE RULES:
● Pets:  Pets are permitted, and must be kept on a leash at all times.  Certain areas will be off limits to pets.
● Alcohol:  No alcoholic beverages may be brought on site.  There will be a site-run bar available, and open until 12:00am.  This policy will be strictly enforced by event staff.  Anyone in violation of this policy will be removed from the site.
● Pond:  There is a pond on site but is NOT for swimming.

MISCELLANEOUS:
Children:
Children are most welcome, but please supervise your children at all times.  Anyone under the age of eighteen must be accompanied to the event by a parent or legal guardian.  The SCA youth waiver policy will be enforced.

PLEASE NOTE - NOT COMPLYING WITH THE ABOVE RULES WILL RESULT IN REMOVAL FROM THE EVENT.

LOCAL HOTELS:
For those of you who do not camp, there are two near-by hotels in Clinton, New Jersey.
Hampton Inn Clinton (near the Walmart)
16 Frontage Drive
Clinton, NJ 08809
TEL:  +1-908-713-4800

SHOPPING:
A Walmart is approximately 3 miles from the site on Route 513.

Site Opens: 4:00pm Friday
Site Closes: 11:00am Monday