March 27th-29th, 2026 – Belton,TX
Located in the Central Lands of our Stellar Kingdom at:
Fort Hood Training area 36, Belton, TX 76513
Camp Arrowhead Boy Scout Camp
*Camp Arrowhead is a primitive site! There is a water source, but no electricity or flushing toilets.
*Site is on a military base with active training. While unlikely, firearms or artillery may be audible during the event.
*GPS coordinates= 31.12519°N, 97.55672°W
*Site Directions: Make your way to I-35 in Belton, TX. Take the US-190 W/I-14 W exit. Follow signs for Killeen/Fort
Cavazos. Merge on to US 190 Frontage Rd. Turn right on to Loop 121 North. Turn left (West) on Sparta
Rd, follow for 7.3 miles, you will cross a cattle guard entering Fort Cavazos. Continue straight for approx.
another 3 miles. Turn left onto a dirt road at a sign for Camp Arrowhead. If you pass BLORA then you
have gone too far.
Site Fees:
Adult Registration- $30
Adult Member discount registration price- $20
Children under 18- Free
Feast- Included
Bring a picnic for lunch, snacks available
Make checks payable to: SCA Inc, Stronghold of Hellsgate
Paypal is not available for this event
Site Rules:
All minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. They may also attend with a 21 year or older adult with a signed and notarized Minor Event Waiver form from the parents.
Dogs must be on a leash at all times
Site is wet. Beverages in period containers.
Site opens 5PM Friday March 27th, closes 2PM Sunday March 29th.
- Event Stewards
~ Master Havaar Ericsson – 254-931-1821 (Please text first)
havaar.ericsson1052@gmail.com
Feast Stewards
~ Lady Taura Blackwell – 254-289-2433 (Please text first)
~ Lady Thyra av Helsgatt
~ Aided by Lord Pierre Blackwell
Saturday: The tourney will start with round robin pools with the top fighters (number dependent on entrants) going into another round robin with the top two from there commanding melees in the afternoon.
Commander Crucible Melees:
First scenario: Capture the flag – get their banner back to your banner to score. First team to 3 points wins the point for this scenario. Depending upon numbers, may add a resurrection feature to this battle.
Second scenario: Deliver a message behind enemy lines. Get a scroll or some item to the list rope on the other side of the field. Messenger does not have to be identified to the other side. Run this best of three.
Third scenario (if needed): A straight-up last-man battle, run three times.
Sunday: 10am-12pm – Ice Axe (Details to follow)
Commanders Crucible: Double elimination tournament with the top 2 leading melee teams.
Guardian of the Gauntlet – The Guardian of the Gauntlet is an occasional rapier tournament held in Ansteorra. When it was started, it was intended to be a grand, kingdom-wide tournament that was not tied to the championship of a particular group. The winner gets bragging rights for the tournament, a fancy gauntlet, and the responsibility of holding the next tournament. There is no set schedule for when it is held, but typically it’s one to three years after the previous one.
Two Royal round shoots with the top shooters going into an undisclosed shootout (number of shooters going on will be determined by the number of entrants)
Activities will be sponsored by Master Goldweard of St Golias and tournaments will be decided the day of.
- A missive from the Current Commander:
As the current A&S Commander of Hellsgate, I invite all of the Artisans to compete to be the next Commander at the Commander’s Crucible on March 28th. Their Excellencies Bryn Gwlad, Lord and Lady of Hellsgate, will choose their next Commander from the competitors.
I welcome the Peers of the realm to provide commentary, and will arrange the appropriate judging forms.
As Commander, I have decided to issue an additional challenge. While I cannot provide a title or reward as generous as Their Excellencies, I can offer a simple leather item crafted at my shop.
I issue this challenge to the novices – those who have not won a Baronial or higher level competition in the SCA. I believe this is an excellent event to start displaying your work.
Every entry will be competing to be the next Commander, but if three or more competitors tell me they are novices, I will provide my prize. Why three? So you will also encourage your friends to compete.
This is an outdoor event and I expect a pavilion and 3-4 tables will be provided. Please bring an entry that will fit within a 2x3ft area on a table. One thing I learned last year – even on a bright, sunny day there are wind gusts that can knock lightweight displays over, so I recommend keeping that in mind (or you might be resetting things every few hours).
In Service,
Claudio de Cassiopi
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Friday
Barwn Maelgwyn Birthday Bardic:
Barwn Maelgwyn will host Birthday Bardic Friday March 27 8-10 PM or when we run out of performers and mead. At the fire circle in the camping area straight ahead and up the hill as you drive into site.
Saturday
Forged from the Crucible:
Round 1: Group Renga on Spring Each contestant will write a Tanka on the topic of Spring. This Tanka may be written prior to the event or during the event before the competition begins. The Renga will be completed by combining each contestant’s Tanka. (instructions available at the gate)
Round 2: A song, story or poem that is SCA related: Ansteorra, Vindheim, Hellsgate, or someone who has inspired you. Round
Round 3: Bring your best/personal favorite.
- Bread and butter (standard white bread and honey butter)
- Split Green Pea Soup (green split peas, vegetable flavor Better than Bouillon, onions, carrots, celery, salt and white pepper) (-vegetarian-)
- Assorted Cheeses (white and yellow cheese yet to be determined)
- Honey Parmesan Pork (honey, parmesan cheese, spice mix)
- Grilled Whole Chicken (Simple grilled chickens with minimal spicing)
(mushroom based vegetarian meat offering is available) - Pickled Vegetables (carrots, turnips, beets, brussels sprouts, purple cauliflower, and possibly pickled peaches)
- Grilled Vegetables (Zucchini, and other root vegetables grilled over open flames, basted with olive oil.)
- Butter Beans (large white butter beans cooked with ham and chicken broth)
- Fruit Salad (apples, oranges, grapes, various berries and dried cranberries)
- Mersu (Mesopotamian cookie, dates, pistachios, butter) and Shortbread cookies (honey, flour, sugar, baking soda)
- Bring your best brew (additional points for a process using heat to make).
Friday:
5:00pm – Site Opens
7:00pm – Gate Opens
8:00pm – Barwn Maelgwyn Birthday Bardic
11:00pm – Gate Closes
10:00pm – Birthday Bardic ends (unless they run out of mead and bards)
Saturday:
8:00am – Gate Opens
9:00am – Morning Court
9:30am – Armor inspections begin, Archery begins
10:00am – Chiv/Rapier Morning tournament begin
11:30am – Set up A&S and Brewing Competitions
12:00pm – Gate CLOSES, A&S/Brewing Judging
12:30pm – Lunch (bring a picnic for lunch, snacks available)
1:30pm – Start Chiv/Rapier Melees
3:00pm – A&S/Brewing judging complete, Guardian of the Gauntlet, Bardic Competition
4:30pm – Gate briefly opens
5:00pm – Feast
6:30pm – Court
Sunday
10:00am – 12pm Iceaxe, archery practice, and teardown
2:00pm – Offsite