Panther Vale is a branch of the Society for Creative Anachronism located in the Northeast quadrant of Vermont. We are devoted to bringing the Middle Ages to life, both for the enjoyment of those of us who enjoy historical re-creation and role-play, and for the children in the many elementary schools where we do demonstrations of the skills practiced throughout the medieval period. We invite any and all with an interest in medieval history to join us in our play and in our dream.

Learn more about the Society for Creative Anachronism and the Shire of Panther Vale.

The Shire of Panther Vale will be holding a number of demonstrations and displays of the activities of the Society for Creative Anachronism through out the Shire during the summer months. Youth Combat, Heavy List Fighting, Arts and Sciences, Bardic Arts, Thrown Weapons, and Archery will all be included among the activities that will be on display. Usually there will be an opportunity for children in attendance to try on some chain mail, to play medieval games, and to make a small blunt arrow. Adults will be able to enjoy talking with knowledgeable artisans about such medieval crafts as cloisonné, naalbinding, illumination, brewing, cooking, silk painting, embroidery and other needle arts, as well as about the mission and purposes of the Society. No demonstrations are presently scheduled.  However,  demonstrations are expected to be scheduled in the near future. Please come and join us!

You can learn more about the SCA by reviewing some of the links on the Links page of this web site.

A Series About the Members of Panther Vale

Lord Dafydd o Cwellyn (mka David O'Vitt), is a long-time member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) and is the present Exchequer of Panther Vale.

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Lord Dafydd first became aware of the SCA from an article in either Time or Life magazine in 1975.  He says his first thought was “What a cool group!”  He attended his first SCA event while visiting a friend in Austin, Texas during the summer of 1978.  The next year, as a freshman at the University of Vermont (UVM), he learned that a SCA group was being formed at UVM and immediately became a member.  And has been very active ever since.

Initially he was a heavy list fighter and was a founding member of Mountain Freehold.  In 1981, the UVM Medieval Club was part of the UVM Living Learning Center and Dafyyd participated for 3 years.  During that time he dabbled in everything, and in fact, became known as the great dabbler.  His approach was to try to do everything that a person in the Middle Ages would have to do, whether it was cooking, fighting, singing or a host of other everyday tasks.

In 1981, Dafyyd attended his first of many Pennsic Wars.  He attended with a group of his fellow Freehold members and they travel in a red $50.00 van dubbed Eric the Red.  Upon returning to Burlington it was called Eric the Dead, for obvious reasons.  He claims his first memory of Pennsic was seeing a large woman in a leopard skin leotard on top of a knoll with a skull in one hand and a whip in the other and she appeared to be railing to the Gods.  After his ultra-authentic introduction to the SCA at UVM, this was an eye-opener.

Serving in the Royal Household of Randal and Marieke in the late 1980’s introduced Dafyyd to the hierarchy of the SCA in general and the East Kingdom, in particular.  During this time and for several years afterward, he continued his involvement with Mountain Freehold, often as an officer, but Nursing School and other mundane activities occupied most of his time.

In 1997 Owen, his son arrived on the scene, and he was all of a month old when he attended a Shire demonstration at Oak Ledge Park.  In 1999 Dafyyd and Owen were members of the Royal Household of Lucan I and Marieke.  Owen was just old enough to serve as cupbearer.  2006 saw a move to Panther Vale where he became Exchequer and still is.  Just before moving to Panther Vale, Dafyyd received his Silver Crescent and became a Protégé of Duchess Marieke.

Dafyyd’s persona is a 10th century Welshman with a strong connection to the last of the Saxons.  He saw the Battle of Hastings, which he reconnoitered for the Welsh.  It is know he was there because the Bayeau Tapestry shows a Jervold the Welshman.  Obviously the wrong name, but at least we now know the truth of the matter.  Dafyyd’s stated aim in the SCA is to experience what he would have experienced in 10th century Wales.  He indicates that when this truly happens, it is a magical moment.

One interesting side light is that Lady Siubhan and Lord Dafyyd were both squired to Sir Randal d'Artneual in the 1980’s, but they never really knew each other until they met here in Panther Vale three years ago.