Unlock the Power of the Calontiri Wiki: A Must for SCA Participants

Don’t Overlook the Calontiri Wiki – It’s More Useful Than You Think

The Calontiri Wiki might not be the flashiest corner of the internet. However, if you’ve ever tried to make an award recommendation, you know it’s pure gold. Writing a peerage scroll or planning a gift for someone’s vigil also reveals its value.

I know, I know… wikis can feel a little intimidating if you’re not used to editing them. But honestly, even if you never touch the “edit” button, just having a page is a gift to everyone else. Encourage your household, group, or shire to have one. It is a gift to those trying to celebrate you or document our kingdom’s rich history.

Let me walk you through why I think the Calontiri Wiki is one of our best underused resources.

What’s On the Calontiri Wiki?

First, let’s talk about what’s even on this thing.

The Calontiri Wiki holds a surprising treasure trove:

• Individual people’s pages (Laurels, Pelicans, fighters, artisans, heralds—everyone’s welcome!)
• Households, guilds, groups, shires, baronies
• Event histories and legends
• Class handouts and A&S project info
• Awards and their recipients
• Photos, device artwork, heraldry, and links to documentation

Think of it like a living scrapbook of the Kingdom. Except instead of being in one person’s closet, it’s available to all of us, at all hours.

Why Should You Have a Personal Page?

If you’re shy, or if you tend to not talk about yourself, this approach is humble. It is especially helpful for newcomers or Royals who may not know you yet. so, let me tell you why I did it.

I’ve used the Calontiri Wiki many times when I wanted to make an award recommendation. It helped me get a better sense of someone’s contributions and remember details about a person. My memory has died like an SCA fighter, especially of a person I only see at Lilies or Coronation. A page with a couple of simple sentences can be enough to nudge my memory. For example, “teaches blackwork embroidery in the Barony of Forgotten Dyes” or “regular water bearer and event cleanup helper.” These can confirm what I’ve heard.

I’ve also used it while writing texts for scrolls—especially Grants of Arms and Peerage awards. A Wiki page can include favorite colors, heraldic themes, and personas. It also covers hobbies, feasting quirks, and SCA partner names. You can even find quotes or poetry preferences. You have no idea how much that can help a scribe or wordsmith personalize the experience.

But perhaps one of the most meaningful reasons? It helps us relive.

Our Kingdom has had some amazing people—some who’ve taken a break, moved away, or passed on. Their stories, their art, their contributions shouldn’t vanish just because they’re not at events right now. Having a page on the Wiki lets us keep a little candle burning for them. It reminds us of the time they fought, sang, taught, crafted, or served beside us.

Even a small note like “Moved Out of Calontir”, “On hiatus” or “Passed in 2022”. Notes like those help future readers understand the legacy left behind.

Household or Group Pages Are Just as Important

Are you part of a household, group, or shire that’s been around a while? Even if nobody’s keeping a scrapbook at home, your group probably has a story worth recording.

• Who started it and when?
• What is your heraldry or badge?
• Who are the members and what kinds of things do you do together?
• Do you host an annual event or display something together at Kingdom A&S?
• Got an inside joke, motto, or song? This is your place to put it.

It’s also helpful for Royalty and voice heralds when someone receives an award. They often want to include a nod to the household or guild. And a social media page might share enough. The best people can’t glean enough details if there’s no public wiki page about you!

What Should You Put on Your Page?

Here are a few ideas to get you started—just pick and choose what feels right:

• SCA name (and mundane name if you want)
• Persona (time/place, or a short blurb)
• What you do in the SCA (fighting, cooking, weaving, heralding, service, teaching, etc.)
• Projects you’re working on
• Awards you’ve received
• Events or groups you’re associated with
• A nice photo or device artwork
• How to pronounce your name (seriously helpful!)
• A quote that captures your SCA vibe

You don’t have to write an autobiography. Even a short paragraph makes a difference.

Not Sure Where to Start?

Here’s a good place: Calontiri Wiki home
Look up people you know and see how their pages are structured. Then click “Create” (or “Edit”) and go from there.

Still nervous? Ask a friend who knows their way around wikis to help. Or offer to create a page for someone else you admire—just get their permission first. Trust me, it’s a kindness they may not know they needed.

In short, the Calontiri Wiki isn’t just a digital filing cabinet—it’s a way we honor and remember each other. And that, my friends, is very much in the spirit of Calontir.

It also helps us hold on to the memory of those who no longer play. Whether they’ve stepped away for a time, they are held in our memories. And some have crossed over to the great feast hall beyond. Their names, their deeds, their friendships—they deserve to be remembered. And this is one way we can keep that thread alive.