Welcome to

Caravan Raids: On the Road to Byzantium

Golden Star | Christmas Star

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 war to avenge the death of 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, a 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.

Event Information

Date: Friday 9/13 - Saturday 9/14

Time: Site opens at 4 PM on 9/13 and Closes at 12 Noon on 9/15

Location: Optimist Farm Club, 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.


Accessibility: This is a primative site but fairly level. There is gravel, grass, and some sloping areas, mostly near the pond and tree lines.


Registration Information

Lord Edward Perry & Beatrice Little


Adult Member Pre-Registration

Adult Member Registration

Adult Non-Member Registration

Youth (6-17)

Child (0-5)

Day Trip

$20.00

$20.00

$30.00

$10.00

$0.00

Feast

$15.00

$15.00

$15.00

$15.00

$15.00

Camping

$5.00

$5.00

$5.00

Make Checks Payable To: SCA, Inc., Barony of Windmasters’ Hill

Registration 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 if 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.

Event Staff

Event Steward

Lady Jonet Nycholl

Deputy Event Steward

Ollam Keelin O’Duinn

Registration

Lord Edward Perry & Beatrice Little

Magister Gaelan Mac Cuinnega'in

Master Ciaran Mac Breandan

Sir Alain de la Rochelle

Lady Dýrfinna Freyviðardóttir

Hall Steward

Mistress Murienne la aloiere

Newcomer’s Point

Baroness Isabeau de Valle

Gamer’s Corner

Dame Mor the Merry

Thrown Weapons

Baron Eadulf Beornwalds sunu

When sending your email, please put the staff member you need ​to reach in the subject line.

(Subject: Feast Steward)

Schedule

Friday 9/13

Site Opens

5 PM

Torchlight Tourney

TBA

Saturday 9/14

Martial Combat

10 AM - 2 PM

A&S

all day

Games

all day

Court

4 PM

Feast

5 PM

Sunday 9/15

Site Closes

12 PM

Martial Activities

Sir Alain de la Rochelle

Heavy MIC: Lord Kalfr inn Kaldráði

Combat Archery MIC: Noble Maeve Herbertson

The road to Byzantium can be full of perils. It has ​been said that raiders and thieves have been ​seen recently...


You’re being ambushed, defend your caravan! ​Can you stop them from taking all your goods? ​Every item they steal has points attached, and ​can be recovered from the field of play ONLY if it ​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 on the mountain pass - caught ​between a barricade and the thieving bandits!

Thrown Weapons

Baron Eadulf Beornwalds sunu

Ax, 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?

Feast

Magister Gaelan Mac Cuinnega'in

Broccolini with cumin wine sauce; ​Black eyed peas with sumac and ​cilantro; Roasted chicken with ​herbed quince sauce

Ante Cena (anti-pasta)

Hard boiled eggs with a vinaigrette

Pickled cucumber

Pickled honeydew melon

Salad with simple vinaigrette

Olive paste (olive tamponade) with bread

Smoked sausages


Mensa Prima (First Course)

Roasted chicken with quince sauce

Black-eyed peas with cilantro and sumac sauce

Broccoli with wine sauce

Roasted lamb with herb sauce

Carrots with cumin sauce

Grilled marinaded asparagus with wine sauce


Mensa Secunda (Second Course)

Poached apples with honey and nutmeg

Egg and cream souffle with honey and spices

Peaches and apples cooked in ​cream with honey and nutmeg

Arts & Sciences

Master Ciaran Mac Breandan

The Road to Byzantium is plagued with thieves and highwaymen. Caravans are routinely pillaged during ​their journey. In order to commemorate these brave travelers, we are hosting two A&S competitions: ​display/static and active.

Competition 1

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.


The prize for this A&S competition is a spice basket ​provided by Mistress Michel of Oak City Spice Blends.

Competition 2

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 to 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. The ​prize for this A&S competition is a lovely pair of goblets donated by ​Lady Jonet Nycholl.

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 winners of these two ​competitions will receive prizes!

Newcomer’s Point

Baroness Isabeau de Valle

The Caravan Road is full of adventure! For those new to the journey, there is much to ​learn and see.


Newcomers Point is here to help you travel to new lands. There will be activities to spark ​your interest, games to play and a feast to stimulate your senses. Gold Key (loaner ​clothing) can be provided if needed.


Come travel the Caravan Roads with the SCA!