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Elen Alswyth of Eriskay

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Photo
CC-atBirka.jpg
Alswyth at Birka
Information
Resides: Riding of Giggleswick, Province of Malagentia
Status:
Awards: Order of Precedence
Heraldry
Device needed.jpg
Argent, three passion nails and on a chief indented gules an estoile of seven rays argent
Award & Office Badges
Award of Arms Mid willow.gif Companion of the Order of the Maunche

Introduction

I came into the SCA because a college friend read about it in a Poul Anderson book, and knowing I was into medieval stuff, asked me if I had heard of it. As it happens, I had, because a good friend of mine had been a member, though he was no longer active. Under his guidance, a group of us decided to form the group known as Myrkfaelinn, and I became Seneschal. Being ignorant of political niceties, such as the differences between Baronies and Shires, I made some gaffes, which resulted in the group becoming a Dominion. (Most of us had Icelandic Norse personae, and we didn't understand these Courtly distinctions). But I acknowledged that the King of the East was a good guy, and in the name of the Dominion of Myrkfaelinn, swore eternal friendship to him.

One day a group of us set off to go to the Pennsic War, and because we were in a very small vehicle, we stopped to change position every couple of hours. At each stop, we laid claim to the surrounding area, creating a corridor all the way from Myrkfaelinn to the Pennsic war site. Apparently it worked; I see that to this day that corridor is part of a new Kingdom.

Anyway. A few years later, I went to the Middle Kingdom to study, in the Barony of Three Rivers. There I fell in with a Welsh household, Caer Digon Rhaff. The household encouraged me in both metalwork and music, which led to some minor accomplishments - I made a coronet for the Prince, and won a bardic competition. This led to me being inducted into the Midrealm Order of the Willow, and it became necessary to add a sobriquet to my name. Apparently, single names, however unique, were not longer acceptable. And so, I became known as Alsvid (or Alsvith) Annarin. This simply meant "the other one"; I adopted it because people kept mishearing "Alsvi∂" as "Elspeth".

After completing my studies in the Midrealm, I moved back to the East, to the Barony of Carolingia. After a year I moved north to the Shire of Vatnaskva∂sta∂ir, which soon joined with two other Shires to form the Barony of Stonemarche. I joined Haus Eberhorn, enjoyed trying things out with the Dabbler's Guild, but focused on Archery, Dance, and the Scribal Arts. As a scribe, I am apprenticed to Mistress Sunniva Ormstunge.

My household urged me to register my arms, and in the process found that Alsvi∂ (Anglicized as Alswyth) was not considered a "real" name. It was, however, acceptable as a sobriquet, so I became Elen Alswyth of Eriskay.

I still, however, prefer to be called Alswyth (pronounced ALL-svith. For the sv- sound, just think of the name Sven. Same sound.)

More recently, I have taken up rapier, which has been completely transformed my SCA experience. I now have many new friends to stab (and who stab me)!

Persona

This has evolved over the years.

Alsvi∂ - my original name - lived in Iceland in the early 12th century CE. Being literate, studious, and desirous of adventure, I was recruited by Ari the Wise to collect information for his writings. This gave me the opportunity to travel. At times I served as an envoy, and at other times earned my keep as a traveling musician and scribe. When in Scotland - my mother's homeland - I learned bad habits such as playing the bagpipes.

I soon found myself in the second half of the 13th century, where I am support myself as a lay scribe in Northumbria, not far from York. I had apparently retreated for a century or so to the isle of Eriskay, in the Outer Hebrides, where my mother was from. Anyway, I took the name Elen Alswyth (or Alswith) of Eriskay.

Because of interests in later music, dance, and more recently fencing, I have been finding myself migrating to a later period, and experimenting with different nationalities.

Offices & Positions

Currently Herald of the Riding of Giggleswick, in the Province of Malagentia.

I am apprenticed to Mistress Sunniva Ormstung. (Is that a position? Does that go here?)

Founding Seneschal of the Dominion of Myrkfaelinn. Our first event occurred when Asbjorn was King of the East. (At the time, Myrkfaelinn was part of the East Kingdom. Now, the group is in the Kingdom of Aethelmearc.)

Event Staff

  • Name of Position, Name of Event, mm/dd/yyyy
  • List in Chronological order, oldest to newest

Projects & Publications

  • Name of Project/Publication, Other info, mm/dd/yyyy
  • List in Chronological order, oldest to newest

In Case of Court

In case of court - Uh,I guess notify Baroness Aine Callaghan. She'll make sure I'm there, at least.

More Information