Crimson Sanctum
A Shire of Westmarch under Dragonspine, located in La Cañada, California. The chapter meets twice a week in the Los Angeles area.
History
The story of Crimson Sanctum began in August 2004, when Lalailom Risteska and Anberon Nole (both college students at Azusa Pacific University; see right) took up residence in Azusa, California. Activity that first semester was low key, limited to small-scale sparring on the college’s Trinity Lawn by the new group’s scarce equipment.
In January 2005, the group managed to acquire a dozen loaner swords, which enabled them to start holding larger and regular Saturday sessions. Early members came mostly from two campus groups with which the founders were involved, marching band and Japanese class.
In April 2005, the group held its first althing. After much debate, both the group’s name and heraldry were chosen (see left). The in-game story was that Lalailom had founded the Sanctum as a place where the weary fighters of the world could come to escape their pasts and focus on bettering themselves for the future.
In May 2005, the group finally sought official Amtgard status, submitting a contract to the kingdom of The Burning Lands in Texas just before summer break. With most of its members gone for the summer, the group went on a several-month hiatus.
In August 2005, the group became an official Amtgard shire when the signed contract came back. That month also saw deeper changes, as the new shire’s growth and a stricter stance from campus security made it necessary to relocate. The shire chose Northside Park in Azusa as its new Saturday location.
In February 2006, a member of the Azusa group invited her brother Terrance Winters to play. He liked it enough to invite some friends from La Cañada High School. Over the next year several of these players joined, notably Thorin Njalsson in August.
In December 2006, in order to play closer to home, Thorin and Terrence (see right) founded an Amtgard club at the high school. The new club began holding a separate practice on Friday at Hahamongna Watershed Park in La Cañada/Pasadena. The club grew quickly, and in February 2007 was formally incorporated into the shire as the “La Cañada subshire.” Thorin was elected as the subshire’s first deputy.
In February 2007, Shadowraith Lykaios joined the subshire. He would later become an important part of the shire’s monarchy and a major contributor to its weapon construction technology.
In February 2008, wishing to gain the benefits of kingdom affiliation and become closer to other chapters in the area, the shire petitioned the closest kingdom, Dragonspine in New Mexico, for membership. Soon thereafter, it joined the Principality of Westmarch in California as a sponsored land.
In June 2008, the Azusa group, which had lost many members to graduation and real life, finally closed down after four long years. This left the La Cañada group as the main entity. To compensate for the loss of the Northside Park, the shire moved its Friday practice to Memorial Park in La Cañada.
In July 2008, the shire revised and updated their heraldry (see left) to include several new elements. Later that month, the chapter's co-founders Lalailom and Abernon departed for another land.
In August 2008, Crimson Sanctum hosted their first major event, Northern Invasion. During this epic conflict, the shire -- with the aid of their southern allies Siar Geata -- fought and defeated the Westmarch core lands in a castle-style battle.
In September 2008, the shire held its most recent elections, confirming Shadowraith as Monarch and adding Barspurk as Regent, Uranaga as Chancellor, and Gaku as Champion (see right). (For a list of previous monarchies, please refer here. That same month, the shire was graced by the addition of pair of squires from foreign lands: Morrzania Felbin Lacqueri from Dragonspine and Arcie Midnight from Mourningwood Glen. Later that month, the subshire’s co-founder Thorin departed for another land.
As of today, the shire has ambitious plans to better organize and expand for the future.
People
Crimson Sanctum has been blessed with a wide variety of talented and dedicated players over the years. The current group is as follows:
- Alkaris Ravenor
- Arcie Midnight: really more of a frequent visitor while she attends college
- Ardariel
- Barspurk
- Beboman
- Ben L.
- Eric L.
- Gaku Fyreice
- Gemma
- Gyle
- Hedric Lanscap: page to Shadowraith
- Kain
- Lothar: "hero of the Sanctum"
- Morrzania Felbin Lacqueri
- Rygg
- Shadowraith Lykaios
- Terrence Winters: cofounder of the La Cañada subshire
- Uranaga
- Vdar
- Victor
- WaAg
- Zen
Additional honored members from the shire's past can be found on the Azusa and La Cañada subpages.
Locations
Crimson Sanctum currently plays twice per week. The first session, on Fridays, is held at Hahamongna Watershed Park in La Cañada/Pasadena; start time is 2:45PM. The second session, on Saturdays, is held at Memorial Park in La Cañada; start time is 1:00PM. Detailed information on both locations follows:
Hahamongna Watershed Park
The chapter’s third park, Hahamongna is where the group currently holds Friday meetings. The chapter has used it since 2006.
Description: Link
Address: None, as the park is *huge*; nearest structure is La Cañada High School at 4463 Oak Grove Drive, La Cañada CA
Directions: Exit the 210 freeway at Berkshire Pl. (exit 22A) Turn Right (East) onto Berkshire Pl. Turn Left (North) onto Oak Grove Dr. Turn Right (East) into Hahamongna Watershed (Oak Grove) Park. Turn Left - deeper into the park. Turn Right at the stop sign. Turn Right into the parking lot. We will be across the field by the fire hydrant. Google maps coordinates: Unknown road @34.193000, -118.175260
Map: Link.
Phone: (626) 744-7275
Memorial Park
The chapter’s fourth park, Memorial is where the group currently holds Saturday meetings. The chapter has used it since 2008.
Description: Link
Address: 4469 Chevy Case Drive, La Cañada CA (the intersection of La Cañada Blvd. and Foothill Blvd.)
Directions: Exit the 210 freeway at Angeles Crest Highway in La Cañada and turn South. Turn Right (West) onto Foothill. Go for about 2 blocks. Memorial Park is on the right with a gazebo. There is ample parking along both La Cañada Blvd. and Foothill. Google Maps coordinates 34.20666,-118.204957
Map: Link.
Phone: (818) 790-4353
In addition to its currently active parks, the chapter has used two other parks in the past.
Northside Park
The chapter’s second park, Northside is where the Azusa arm of the shire held meetings during most of its four-year existence. The chapter used it from 2005-2008, before transferring over to Memorial Park. Please note that Northside Park is no longer in use by the chapter; it is included here merely for historical purposes.
Trinity Lawn
The park where it all began, Trinity is located in center of the East Campus of Azusa Pacific University, in between Trinity Hall and Engstrom Hall. The chapter used it from 2004-2005, before transferring over to Northside Park. Please note that Trinity Lawn is no longer in use by the chapter; it is included here merely for historical purposes.
Multimedia
In August 2007, these photographs (Album 1) were shot by Rangor's Wench at the Northern Invasion event.
In September 2007, these short videos (Clip 1, Clip 2, Clip 3) were shot by a passerby at the old Northside Park location.
More Information
Crimson Sanctum website (link to come)
Crimson Sanctum Forum on CAAmtgard.com, the Westmarch website
For more information, please contact Shadowraith Lykaios by e-mail or phone (818) 577-5842
