Audny Refsdottir
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| https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1017413_10152159597559774_1449065837_n.jpg?oh=2de19c0d98f105173e8b097b61a4c098&oe=583F221D Autumn War 2013, retinue step-up garb | ||||||
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| http://rollofarms.antirheralds.org/arms/AudnyRefsdottir.gif Argent, a clew of yarn purpure, and on a chief vert three goats statant, regardant, argent. |
Persona:
Audny is the daughter of Refr (Raef), a Danish tradesman who lives north of Hedeby on the Jutland peninsula. She was born in the second decade of the 10th century during the "Viking" era. As the middle of the century comes round, a time of change as much of Scandinavia starts converting to Christianity, she is married to a successful farmer who lives north of her birthplace (closer to Jelling) and still follows the old religion. She has a sister, Signy Refsdottir.
She doesn't have any children of her own (yet), but as she is her husband's third wife (he her second husband), and he has several children from his first two, children aren't as important in their relationship as her social connections through her father, who provides a market for the goods the farm produces that they wouldn't normally have access to.
She dwells with him and his extended family on their farm where they grow everything they need for day-to-day living, including flax, wheat, cows, goats, sheep, and chickens. Like so many other people of Scandinavia they also supplement their diets with fish and local game. They produce enough extra cloth and goods to sell through her father's trading endeavors. She is a skilled spinner and weaver, and with her husband's mother, sisters, sister-in-laws, and daughters, (as well as the occasional foster child that other families send to her for training), she creates linen and wool cloth and tablet woven trims that fetch a good price. Her duties as her husband's wife include taking care of his children, directing slaves and thralls to maintain the farm, welcoming guests and being a proper hostess, and keeping accounts and caring for the farm when her husband travels.
(He also makes certain she washes and dresses his hair before he leaves to show her how much he regards her.)
SCA Service:
Retinue for Their Excellencies Hengist Helgason and Marike Sigrunasdotter starting the summer of A.S. XLVIII (September 2013) to A.S. LI (August 2016).
Assistant head of retinue starting July 1, 2015 to August 21, 2016.
Part of the clothier team for Their Royal Majesties Styrkarr Jarlsskald and Dagrun Stjarna A.S. XLIX (June-December 2014).
Gate and volunteer for Embers and Ambrosia 2014
Event Steward for Embers and Ambrosia 2015
Created embroidered retinue sash for Their Royal Majesties Eirik Daegarsson and Drifinna Ulfgarsdottir
Event Steward for Embers and Ambrosia 2016
Created embroidered Black Lion Sash for His Majesty Eirik Daegarsson's retinue
Volunteer coordinator for Elizabeth FittzWilliam of Carlisle's Vigil and step-up ceremony
Event Steward for Embers and Ambrosia 2017
Worked with the Baronial Coronet Cloak team to make two cloaks that were presented at Autumn War LII/2017.
Co-Sergeant Major of Blatha An Oir November 5th, 2022 to present.
Arts and Sciences officer of Blatha an Oir from November 1st, 2023 to present.
SCA awards and achievements:
Awarded the Golden Blossom by HE Hengist Helgason and HE Marike Sigrunasdotter at BAO Lord Defenders 2013 (A.S. XLVIII).
Awarded an Award of Arms by Their Royal Majesties Eirik Daegarsson and Drifinna Ulfgarsdottir at June Faire XLVIX/2014.
Awarded a Forget-Me-Not and a Bountiful Hand by Her Royal Majesty Dagrun Stjarna at Twelfth Night Coronation XLIX/2015 for her work on the royal clothier team.
Accepted and elevated into the Order of the Jambe de Lion by Their Royal Majesties Havordh Ættarbani and Mary Grace of Gatland on August 15th at Autumn War L/2015.
Accepted and elevated into the Order of the Panther's Torch by HE Hengist Helgason and HE Marike Sigrunasdotter on August 16th at Autumn War L/2015
Arts and Sciences Champion 19 September 2015-29 April 2017
Courtier of Blatha An Oir 03 October 2015 at Blatha an Oir Sergeants Trials L/2015.
Awarded a Bountiful Hand by His Royal Majesty Eirik Daegarsson at evening court of Kingdom A&S/Bardic Championship L 2016 for her work on the embroidered sashes made for the royal retinue team.
Awarded the Briar by HE Hengist Helgason and HE Marike Sigrunasdotter at Embers and Ambrosia 2016
Awarded a Baron and Baroness Favor by HE Hengist Helgason and HE Marike Sigrunasdotter at Autumn War LI/2016
Added to the Daughters of Loki by HE Marike Sigrunasdotter at her final court as Baroness of Blatha An Oir (I have since decided to leave the order due to differences of opinion with older, dissatisfied members.)
Awarded the Goutte de Sang by His Royal Majesty Styrkarr Jarlsskald at Embers and Ambrosia 2017
Awarded a Baroness Favor from HE Ayse al Zahra for my contributions to the Baronial Cloak team at Autumn War LII/2017
Awarded the Flamme de Or from HE Ayse al Zahra and HE Gernon Valletort du Harfleur at Candlemas 2019 AS 53
SCA/Mundane History:
I started in the SCA at a Fort Lewis Demo with friends 4th of July 2002. Lord Defender 2002 was my first camping event. I was hooked, but I joined the military. I left the Land of the Golden Blossom for several years early in 2004. I didn't find any other lands to my liking, so I returned home late 2007 and returned to the SCA in 2008. I started putting together armor for heavy fighting that year, but after deploying to Iraq and returning I acquired chronic pain in the shoulder and arm which forced me to concentrate on the Arts and Sciences instead (My favorite hobbies anyways!).
I am a member of House Skulk and have been since 2008.
I have been a paid member of the SCA since June 2013, I had paid for membership a couple times before but had allowed it to lapse until Their Excellences Marike and Hengist asked my better half and I to be a part of their Retinue. I have tried to maintain a paid membership continuously so that I could hold officer positions and help run events.
I created a Norse persona once I returned in 2008, but I'm also a big fan of other time periods, and I am currently working to create garb for them. I have sent in my German name, Cunigunde Frankenstainin, and am currently waiting to hear if it will pass.
My name and Device were passed and added to the An Tir Roll of Arms in June of 2015. The Blazoning is "Argent, A clew of yarn purpure and on a chief vert three goats statant, regardant, argent."
I became a Courtier of Blatha An Oir at Sergeant's Trials AS L (2015). It was a long and rewarding challenge filled with months of studying and work. This coupled with becoming Blatha An Oir's Arts and Sciences champion just a month earlier spurs on my goals of helping to improve my barony and my over-all goals of self-improvement. I received my belt from Maitresse Melusine d'Argent, who received it from Yeoman Gwalchwyn ap Gryffyn who received it from Yeoman Knut Skytja Thorngundobald who received it from Baron Cairbre macc Eochada micc Fedelmid who received it from Baroness Rowan O'Ceallachain of Muscraidhe. I passed my belt to HL Maire Blakater when she became a Courtier on October 5th, 2019. I received my Courtier pin from Courtier Angharat verch Reynulf who received it from Courtier Katheryn de Gonneville. I passed my pin to Mistress Elizabeth FittzWilliam when she became a Courtier on October 5, 2019. My cloak is a new edition and I made the Courtier patch for it, as well as tablet-weaving trim for the front opening. Since passing on regalia to new members I have obtained a new cloak pin created by Sir Warren Fletcher in 2023. I replaced my buckle with one from our collection.
I was named a Daughter of Loki on Saturday evening of Autumn War 2016 by Her Excellency Marike along with my dear friends Andromacha of Lesbos and Zahra bint al-Rammah. (I have since decided to leave the order due to differences of opinion with older, dissatisfied members.)
I helped create the new BAO Coronet cloaks starting in 2016, and presented the finished cloaks to their Excellencies of Blatha An Oir at Autumn War of 2017.
I was accepted as an apprentice to Dame Madrun y Gwehyddes at Collegium II/2017. She is a marvelous tablet weaver and has become a dear friend and mentor that I love a great deal. I learn new things from her all the time and I'm excited to push the boundaries of my weaving ability and research.
Classes I can teach or have taught:
- Embroidery (couching, basic stitches, etc.)
- Norse Seam treatments
- Beginning Tablet Weaving
- Knitting: Beginning, Double-Knitting, colorwork, lace
- Sewing, both machine and hand
- I'm comfortable teaching and taking care of children as well, I volunteered to help teach a couple youth classes at Autumn War 2014 and a class at Autumn War 2015 and had great fun.