Audny Refsdottir

Persona:

Audny is the daughter of Refr (Raef), a Danish tradesman who lives near 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 several miles north of her birthplace and still follows the old religion.

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, 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 card 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, keeping accounts and caring for the farm when her husband travels, etc.

(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 and continuing to the present.

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.

SCA awards and acheivements:

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.

SCA/Mundane History:

I started in the SCA at a Fort Lewis Demo with friends. June Faire XXXVIII/2003 was my first camping event. I was hooked, but I was without higher education and funds to continue school, so I was stuck in a dead-end job. I decided to change my fate and join 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 have been a continuous 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 decided to maintain a paid membership from then on, no matter what, because I have grown to love the society and I want to be able to hold officer positions and be an event steward.

I created a Norse persona once I returned in 2008, but I'm also a big fan of the Tudor era and 14th century France, so I may create personas for them in the future. (And I will link them here when/if that happens). Currently I'm studying to become a Courtier of Blatha An Oir.

Classes I can teach or have taught:

Embroidery (couching, basic stitches, etc.)

Norse Seam treatments

Beginning Naalbinding

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 had great fun.