Shire of Blackwater Keep
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The Shire Blackwater Keep is a Society for Creative Anachronism group located in Clovis / Cannon AFB, NM. The Shire lies on the Eastern border of the Society's Kingdom of the Outlands.
[edit] History
Blackwater Keep was originally established September 20, 1986 as the Shire of Scorpions Hollow. The original name was registered in March of 1987, with the meaning "A Place of Scorpions." The original device registered in March of 1987: Gules, eight scorpions in annulo, facing outward, all within a laurel wreath Or.
The earliest SCA group in this area was originally called La Plaine Jalonné, meaning "The Staked Plains," (literally - 'the plains marked out'), hence the Shire's annual Fall war event called "War of the Staked Plains."
A New Beginning in the Shire
The Shire voted to change the name and device in late 2003. Various names were submitted and voted on by the members of the Shire. Shortly thereafter, various device designs were submitted and voted on by the members of the Shire. Blackwater Keep was chosen for the new name and "Or, a tower within a laurel wreath gules and a base engrailed sable scaly Or" was chosen as the new device. Submissions were made, with the new name becoming official in May of 2005 and the new device in July 2005. The Shire's old device was retained as an historic badge.
