Kelan McBride of Arainn
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 Kelan McBride of Arainn being subtle  Queen’s Championship in Starkhafn, 6-01-03
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 Gules, a dragon's head couped contourny within an annulet Or | ||||||||||
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Baron Kelan McBride of Arainn originally found out about the SCA from a friend at work after his lady and he had attended the Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Southern California (Devore, just north of San Bernardino). The friend said, “If you liked that, come and see what I do. We do the same kind of thing year round.” His first SCA event was Estrella War VI in February 1990. Kelan enjoyed the war and decided to get more involved. Little did he know how involved.
Kelan started as an archer and moved into rapier when it restarted in Caid. He was honored to be made the Premier of the newly established Order of the White Scarf of Caid (Edric I and Albra Katerine), made a Court Baron (Edric II and Battista), and recently elevated to the Order of the Pelican (Edric V and Faizeh II). Hm-m-m, there seems to be a pattern there. He is also one of the founders of the Companions of The Cross and Dragon (he’s the dragon).
At Opening Court of Spring Crown Tourney 2016, Don Kelan was invited by TRM Conrad III and A'isha II to join the Order of Defense and chose to be elevated on the spot.
Persona
Kelan McBride is an Irishman born in the vicinity of Dun Uabhair (Donore or Dun Or) but didn’t want to be a farmer like his father, so he took to travel. He visited The Pale and stayed in Dublin long enough to marry the daughter of a trader. When he heard about the opportunity to Galway Bay from the pirate Grainne O’Malley he entered into the employ of Queen Elisabeth and moved to Arainn island and the newly built Arkin castle as a sword master and teacher of those seeking to improve their skills.
Offices & Positions
- Queen’s Archery Champion for Ristil ingen Cathail
- Queen’s Rapier Champion for Albra Katerine
- Baronial Herald for Dreiburgen, 1993-1994
- Dun Or Rapier Marshal, 1997-present
- Demo Coordinator, Dun Or, 1998-1999
- Kingdom Rapier Marshal, 11/8/2008-9/2010
- Baron of Dun Or, 10/2/2010-4/18/2015
Event Staff
- Rapier Autocrat for Great Western War I and II
- Rapier Autocrat for too many Darkwell Wars to list
- Dun Or Demo Autocrat for the Dragon Fest demo at the Antelope Valley Mall
- Dun Or Demo Autocrat for one of the Poppy Festival demos
Classes Taught
- Rapier Marshaling 101, Collegium Caidis 2010
Rapier Teaching Dossier
Questionnaire:
Q: Are you more comfortable with beginners, advanced...etc.?
A: I am most comfortable with beginners and middle-level fighters.
Q: Are you willing to take students; are you a tourney teacher or a melee teacher?
A: I am willing to take on students, but am slow to do so. I teach tourney and melee.
Q: Do you prefer foot work over speed?
A: I prefer defense over attack. I do work with movement, not necessarily footwork. Speed left my game a long time ago.
Q: Are you aggressive in teaching, do you like to watch and critique or fight and critique?
A: I’m a non-aggressive. I tend to watch and critique any more do to various injuries, but do grab a blade (or two) and fight when I can.
Q: Are you uncomfortable teaching females, lefties, tall people, short people, large people, slow people...what do you prefer and who can you offer the most too?
A: I’ll teach anyone who wants to learn. I don’t have much experience teaching lefties, but I will do so.
Q: Do you travel to other practices?
A: I don’t travel much and with the economy what it is I don’t see that changing soon.
Q: Are you approachable, will you make them cry?
A: I never make students cry. I use encouragement and reinforcement.
Q: Are you willing to commit so much time, how far are you willing to travel, how active are you?
A: I attend a lot of events every year, especially now that I am the Baron of Dun Or. I am willing to teach at events but travel during the week isn’t likely.
