[BNW] Speaking of the SCA

[Kirk Monsen <munchwolf@yahoo.com>]

--- Caias Brian Ward <talespinner@mindspring.com>
wrote:
> I'm working.
> 
> And since Matt proclaimed the the word from on high,
> think about pulling
> your own punch in a heat of battle.  I fight in the
> SCA and martial arts,
> and when you are fighting full out, it takes some
> effort to slow yourself
> down or aim for a let vital area.  Hence, the trick.
> 
> Caias Brian Ward

For those who don't know the SCA (Society for Creative
Anacronisms) is a fun group of people who dress up in
medieval clothes and beat each other up with sticks
(well, not all use sticks, there's also cloven fruit).
 In the past I've heard various other definitions for
the anacronym SCA, from Satanic Church of America to
Society for Creative Anarchy (SJ: Illuminati).  Well
here's a twist for the group the exists in the BNW
universe.

Society for Creative Animation:  Unlike our universe,
the Japanese Animation (Anime) movement started
earlier due to the heavy influnce of Deltas running
around.  People found it easier to relate to stories
having characters with unusual powers.  The biggest
impact of this was the creation of the SCA.  Instead
of dressing up in medieval clothes, and celebrating
life during a simplier time, some folks in Berkley
(this is 30 years ago, pre Big Boom) decided to
re-enact living life as Anime characters.  The
movement quickly spread as SCA groups popped up around
the globe (mostly appearing near US military bases, no
this isn't a sinister plot, it's just how US citizens
carried this aspect of culture to other countries),
and in modern times this group has accepted all forms
of animation as allowable personas.  
For those who don't know, the SCA is not a LARP.  It
entails several like minded individuals coming
together at planned events and enjoying an escape from
reality by pretending they are someone who they are
not in a world they don't live 24/7 in.  Most members
of the group are non-deltas, but there is a
significant presence of deltas around to help aid this
illusionary world (it's easier to pretend you're in a
cartoon when you are holding a conversation with a
green haired floating female wearing a tiger style
bikini).  Deltas are given no special privalages nor
perks, neither are the discriminated against with this
group (aiding the higher percentage of deltas).  No
one ever checks Delta Registration cards (nor do
people say the word delta very often, everyone is
equal), nor care who you really are, which is
extremely odd considering there is also a high
percentage of military/government types in the group
(hey, they need to escape too).  SCA types tend to be
more open minded.
So aspects of this SCA are similar to our world SCA. 
Everyone has a persona (a character who isn't a real
anime character) which now-a-days can be any type of
animated being (including furries), and they still
create garb (no they are not called costumes) for that
persona. Consider everyone attending to have a secret
identity (but you are allowed to tell people who you
are, just oddly not many members know the real names
of some of their best SCA buddies).  They still have
parties, crafts, and fighting (oh yes, drinking and
dancing too ... and clove lemons oddly, dunno why). 
The still have competitions: archery, battles, and
dodging dropped anvils - no they arn't real, they're
rubber wrapped in duct tape (yes, duct tape is also
still big with the group).  To be allowed to
participate in these more physical events takes years
of practice and passing a qualifing test (this is the
only registration card most members carry around at
events).
As mentioned, there are all types of people in this
group, and they have several common bonds (desire for
escape, love of anime), so the loyalty factor between
members in this group is slightly higher than would be
found in most other organizations (hey when you can
get 10,000 people who don't know each other together,
living in tents with no locks for 1 week in
pennsylviania (of all places) without really having a
fear of theft/personal harm/danger ... well, that's
pretty darn impressive).
Finally on a Delta Prime note: They are aware of this
group, and the great potential it has for finding
unregistered deltas, but mostly ignore it.  They might
harass smaller gatherings (if they know for certain
someone they want is there), but completely avoid the
larger events.  There are rumors that several
higher-up Delta Primers (and Defiance) are members of
this group, but no one admits to it.

-Munch Wolf
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