Katrusha the Skomorokh

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Boyarina Katrusha the Skomorokh
Information
Resides: Shire of Anglespur, East Kingdom
Status: Active
Awards: Order of Precedence
Heraldry
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Introduction

Katrusha the Skomorokh.

Full name: Katrusha Skomorokha Negodieva 'doch.

Living in Shire of Anglespur in the East Kingdom.

Laura is a woman who takes pride in her cooking, spinning, scribal arts, mask making, and bardic arts. She has a son named Johann who is her pride and joy. She adores helping wherever she can, especially if it means making a moment special for someone. She is more than happy to cheer anyone up with a story, a song, or just an ear to listen. She's very giving, more than happy to teach what she knows. She adores cooking/baking for as many people as you can shove at her, forever a hostess. Anything you can teach her, she is willing to learn. Having picked up stone carving, many aspects of metal work, and some glass work, there are still many talents she is itching to get her hands on.

Mundanely, Laura is a molecular biology/biochemistry graduate who works in an immunology laboratory. Laura is an avid gamer, both board/card, computer, and RPG and will happily jump at the chance to teach a game or get into one. She feels she is a perfectionist when it comes to baklava and is more than willing to prove her worth with her baked goods.

Apprenticed to Master William the Alchemist.

Awards up to date:

• AoA, East Kingdom
• Order of the Friends, Concordia of the Snows
• Troubador, East Kingdom
• Order of the Emerald, Concordia of the Snows
• King's Order of Excellence, East Kingdom
• Maunche, East Kingdom
• Order of the Sapphire, Concordia of the Snows

Persona

A resident of Novgorod from 1565, Katrusha is far from your average woman. Though proud and self sufficient, she does still keep a happy home and enjoys baking and cooking for any who happen to be traveling through and need to be fed. She sings songs and tells stories that delight children in the day hours and can be known to get a little bawdy during the evening hours when the children are asleep. She spins fleece from her stock of animals into yarn to weave into fine fabrics. She keeps her household clothed, fed, and forever happy with her tales. Having so many natural talents, it is no wonder she moved from her small home town to the thriving streets of Novgorod which sits on the silk and spice trails. Owner of a restaurant that will happily trade for tales or trinkets from travelers, she is known to have many exotic items that she supplies for her family. A second life as a skomorokh keeps her busy and happy. Katrusha knows how to read and write and teaches her child these same skills.

Katrusha's mother died during child birth, so she did not fully learn all the skills necessary to a woman and was taught various things by her father and brother as well, such as how to shoot a bow or forge metal or work leather. She was taught many skills of courtly musics from a local Guslari and has recently acquired a bear in order to train for the purposes of divining and entertainment.

Offices & Positions

• Arts and Sciences Champion, Concordia of the Snows, May 2011 to May 2012.
• Secretary of the East Kingdom College of Performers, July 2013 to present.
• Minister of Arts and Sciences, Shire of Anglespur, East Kingdom, September 2013 to present.
• Co-founder of Le Mezze Luna (commedia troupe), September 2013.
• Co-founder of Vox Angelus (vocal group), 2013.
• Co-Director of Commedia All Stars Pennsic cast, 2015. All hail Isabella, the Pirate Queen!

Event Staff

• Sideboard, Summer Archery Shoote 2009
• Sideboard, Saint Nick's 2009
• Feast, Hunter's Moon 2010
• Sideboard, Crystal Snowflake 2012
• Feast, Winter Storm 2013
• Sideboard, Known World Music and Dance Symposium, 2013
• Feast, Sumer Archery Shoote, 2014
• Feast, Masquerade, 2015

Households/Groups Involved With

• Member of Vestfell Farmstead.
• Member of Dione Sidhe Household.
• Member of Silverkeep Household.

Personal Memories

Work in progress.

First memory of the SCA: I used to go to dance practice at RPI when I was much younger. I didn't really know what the SCA was. I just went to dance practice. If I had known more, I would have joined much earlier than I did. But that was definitely my first real memory of the SCA.

First event: My first event was Sign of the Dancing Fox with my now husband. Memorable in many ways to me, from needing to wake up at the crack of dawn to take a bus from NYC to the event to how wonderful the actual event was. My first love in the SCA was dancing, since that was how I started. This was also my first feast, and I don't think any feast could live up to what is offered at Sign of the Dancing Fox.

More Information

For further information on the workings of Katrusha, please visit her blog, scroll gallery, papercutting gallery, or You Inspire Me project.