...Well, more or less at any rate.<br><br> I'm afraid I have been lurking here for a while now, but have never managed to get around to properly introducing myself. I thought it was about time I fixed that. My name is Lady Ayla von Dahauua (Carrie Carlson), and I am new to your Barony. I have been living in Pittsburgh (Oakland) for roughly ten months and am a graduate student of German Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. (A few of you met me a few months ago in Posvar Hall at one of your Schola sessions.) With regard to the SCA, I hail originally from Calontir (Iowa) and was very heavily involved prior to moving away. I have missed the SCA terribly since leaving Calontir and regret that I have been largely unable to participate in the last year and a half, but would very much like to fix that! I cannot, however, promise how involved I will be able to be. Long (or very spontaneous) periods of complete absence and 'radio silence' are highly likely (particularly while the university is open), so please do not be surprised or offended if I disappear randomly!<br>
<br> As to my interests - My focus has thus far been on 11th - 13th century German, but I also have a strong interest in very early period Germanic and would love to try my hand at it sometime. My specific areas of interest include archery (foremost) - both target and combat - and some thrown weapons, followed by needlework (embroidery/handsewing, etc.), and (more recently) rapier combat. I had been an authorized fighter in Calontir, but have not geared up in a very long time (and was also never terribly good :-p). I had also been within just a couple of signatures of authorizing as an archery/thrown weapons marshal and spent a couple of years serving as Chatelaine to the Canton of Axed Root (Ames, IA) (if either of those things help at all). Archery was the love of my life prior to moving, and I had been training very hard and very consistently with it, but have lost that in the last year and a half or so, which makes that my primary goal here, if I am unable to do anything else. I would, however, also love to connect with anyone focusing on any of the other things mentioned. I am, as mentioned, also interested in giving rapier combat a try. Would there be opportunities for this? I've never tried it before, and would have no gear for it at all (unless any of my heavy combat gear could be recycled).<br>
<br> I would very much like to come to at least some of your activities and events for as long as I can, including your archery/rapier combat practice, but I'm afraid I have no car. Would there be any way for me to work out some sort of carpooling arrangement with someone? I would be willing to help pay for gas if desired. I should be around and mostly free for much of the summer through the end of August (except for the month of July) and would love to meet you all! <br>
<br>Thank you in advance for all of your help!<br><br>Yours in Service,<br> <br> - Lady Ayla<br>