Geographically the shire is based in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago, and is a canton of the Incipient Barony of Ayreton which covers all of Cook, Dupage, Will and Kane counties. Every week we join our companions from Tree-Girt-Sea, Grey Gargoyles, Rokkehealden and Foxvale in all manner of activities, including song, dance, heavy and rapier combat, youth combat, scribal arts, brewing, vinting and sewing. Let it not be said that there is ever a dull moment in Ayreton! To find out more about what's happening in the area, listen very carefully and you will hear the frequent proclamations and announcements from the Ayreton Town Crier.

Our northern border is protected by our friends in the Shire of Ravenslake, and to our west lies the Barony of Carraig Ban, a source of great learning centered around the city of DeKalb. Together we are part of the Midlands Region of the Middle Kingdom - the third oldest Kingdom in the Known World.

Become a Part of History

Anyone is free to join and participate in the SCA, and as a group, we always welcome pilgrims seeking refuge from the monotony of everyday life. You will find that the SCA is a great way to make new friends, to discover skills you never thought you had, and partake in the thrill that is medieval armed combat. It is also a fun and engaging way to learn about mediaeval and renaissance history. Not only do members of the society make their own period costumes, they also study the art of calligraphy, illumination, woodworking, armoring, archery, swordfighting, brewing, vinting, singing, dancing, cooking, jewelry making, gardening and gaming.

If you wish to learn more, then pay a visit to the Chaumburgh Castle, where you will find our chatelain eagerly awaiting your arrival. You can also delve into the wealth of information found on both the Middle Kingdom and SCA websites. Alternatively, you may shoot an email to any of the Shire officers, join our online discussion group or attend one of our various meetings.

In the following pages, the intrepid traveler will take a virtual tour of the shire, meeting various people and hopefully discover a thing or two. Like a medieval town, you have to wander about in each of the locales, and by exploring, you will find a host of links and articles to related Medieval topics that we think would be of interest to you. It is our hope to make your exploring both fanciful and informational, as is the Society itself, and we hope to continually update and expand these pages as we go.

So pack your bags and take up your walking stick and follow the guide to the ever shrinking groves of Vanished Wood.