Caravan Raids: Road to Byzantium
(2024-09-13 - 2024-09-15 - Site opens at 4:00 PM & Closes at 12:00 PM)
Windmasters' Hill
Event Info
Name:
Caravan Raids: Road to Byzantium
Website:
Date(s):
2024-09-13 @4:00 PM to 2024-09-15 @ 12:00 PM
Group:
Windmasters' Hill
Virtual?:
No
Site Info
Site Name:
Optimist Farm
Address:
2908 Optimist Farm Road, Apex, NC, 27539
Directions:
From areas North: Make your best way to I-885 S towards Raleigh, then keep right on NC-885S towards Sandford. Take exit 54B onto NC-55 Bypass East toward Holy Springs, Fuquay-Varina. In .7 miles make a U-turn and then in 900 ft a right onto Old Smithfield Rd. Turn left onto Optimist Farm Rd and go 3.4 miles. From Areas East: Make your best way to I-40 E towards Raleigh. Take Exit 279A onto Triangle Expwy, NC-885S. Stay on NC-885 S toward Sandord, NC 540 S. Take exit 54B onto NC-55 bypass East toward Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, make a U turn. In 900 ft turn right onto Old Smithfield Rd. In 3.4 miles, turn left onto Optimist Farm Rd. From areas West: Make your best way to US-70 East, US-401 S toward Garner. Turn Right on S Saunders Street. Keep right onto Fayetteville Rd toward Fuquay-Varina, Fayetteville. Turn Right on Ten-Ten Road. Turn Left onto Lake Wheeler Road. Turn right onto Optimist Farm Rd. Go one mile. From areas South: Make your best way to I-95 BS N then take exit 81 to merge onto I-40 towards Raleigh. Take the exit onto Cleveland Road, keep right to stay on Cleveland Rd. Bear left to stay on Cleveland Rd. Turn Right onto Benson Rd. Turn left onto Ten-Ten Rd. Turn left onto Lake Wheeler Rd. Turn Right onto Optimist Farm Rd.
Restrictions:
Please use the fire pit on site for any fires.
This is a wet site but please keep beverages in non-modern containers.
Accessibility:
This is a primative site but fairly level.
There is gravel, grass, and some sloping areas, mostly near the pond and tree lines.
Event Steward
SCA Name:
Email:
Description:
In the year 602, after helping the Sasanian King Khosrow II regain his throne, Emperor Maurice was murdered by his political rival Phocas. Khosrow declared wasr to avenge the death o f the deposed Emperor Maurice.
This became a decades-long conflict, the longest war in the series, and was fought throughout the MIddle East: in Egypt, the Levant, Mesopotamia, the Caucasus, Anatolia, Armenia, the Aegean Sea and before the walls of Constantinople itself.
Our story begins with Narses, governor of the Byzantine province in Mesopotamia. He has rebelled against Phocas and seized Edessa, major city of the province. Emperor Phocas has instructed general Germanus to besiege Edessa.
Narses is now prompted to beseech the Persian King Khosrow II. Khosrow was willing to help avenge Maurice and use this opportunity to attack the Byzantine Empire, in an attempt to reconquer Armenia and Mesopotamia.
Cost Info
| Day-Trip | Feast | Camping | |
| Adult, Member Discount Event Registration | 20 | 15 | 5 |
| Adult, Event Registration | 30 | 15 | 5 |
| Youth (6 - 17) | 10 | 15 | 5 |
| Child (0-5) | 0 | 15 | 5 |
Checks Payable To:
SCA, Inc., Barony of Windmasters' Hill
Cost Notes:
Please include your modern and SCA name, membership number if applicable and what is included in your payment.
If camping, please indicate the group you are camping with is applicable.
Cancellation policy - any cancellation/request for refund made prior to the event date will be honored. All cancellations/requests for refunds must be submitted in writing (email is acceptable). No refunds are issued until the event books have been closed and/or all checks have cleared.
Please send your registration payments, if not using SCORES to pre-register, to:
SCORES information is coming!
General Activities
Martial Activities:
Event MIC - Sir Alain de la Rochelle
Heavy MIC - Lord Klaf inn Kaldradi
Combat Archery MIC - Noble Maeve Herbertson
Minister of the List - Lady Dyrfinna Freyvidardottir
The Road to Byzantium can be full of perils. It has been said taht raiders and thieves have been seen recently...
You're being ambushed, defend your caravan! Can you stop them from taking your goods? Evey item they steal has points attached, and it can be recovered from the field of play ONLY if hasn't crossed the home borders!
In one scenario, the caravan is being attacked from both sides on an open plain. In another, raiders attack while you're traveling along a winding road along the mountain pass - caught between a barricade and the thieving bandits!
Thrown Weapons - Baron Eadulf Beornwalds sunu
Axe, Knife & Javelin a skirmisher used. Accurate and quick on their feet they must be. Can you be a skirmisher or are you just a hold the line shield person?
Come find out at the Thrown Weapons range where your skills will be put to the test. Royal Rounds will be available as well as the knight killing spear clout.
Are you skilled enough to patrol the Byzantine Roads?
A&S:
Master Ciaran Mac Breandan
The Road to Byzantium is plagued with theives and highwaymen. Caravans are routinely pillaged during their journey. In order to commemorate these brave travelers, we are hosting TWO A&S competitions.
Competition I - Static Arts
Make a replica version of a trade good that might have been pilfered from a trade caravan traveling on a route to 10th century Constantinople. These items are for display and will be judged on QUALITY OF CRAFTSMANSHIP. Documentation, while not required, is encouraged.
Competition II -
Make a "stuffed sack" version of any good that might have been stolen from a trade caravan on a route to 10th century Constantinople.
The sacks are meant to look like the "thing" they portray, (i.e. a stuffed sack sown in the shape of a sack of tea). These sacks will be used on the battlefield for points, and so may be damaged during fighting. The sacks should be small enough that they can be grabbed by a heavy fighter and taken back tot he home base, yet large enough that the fighter has to think about how they will manage it with their weapons in hand. The winner will be based on the quantity of items produced.
Gamer's Corner
Dame Mor the Merry
Come one, come all to Dame Mor's Gaming Hall! There will be games for all ages. Board games to test your strategy skills, dice and cards to test your luck!
In the evening, there will be games to test your strength and your coordination! A Hunker Haus Tourney and the Viking Fish Slap Game. The winner of these two competitions will receive prizes.
Newcomer's Point
Baroness Isabeau de Valle
Stay tuned for information from Baroness Isabaue!
Feast:
Magister Gaelan Mac Cuinnega'in
lordgaelan@gmail.com
Information is coming soon...but in the mean time, check out the website for images for dishes such as Roasted chicken served with Broccolni with a cumin wine sauce or peaches and apples cooked in cream with honey and nutmeg.
Please email Magister Gaelan as soon as possible with any dietary restrictions or allergies you may have at lordgaelan@gmail.c
Merchants:
Other:
Field space for pop-ups or camping: Sir Alain de la Rochelle at allengeorgeblanchette@gmail.com
To contact anyone on the event staff, please email caravanraids2024@gmail.com
Please address the staff member in the subject line - (Subject: Feast Steward)