Rowena Jade of the Lion Isles

Rowena Jade of the Lion Isles

Wordsmith Rowena Jade of the Lion Isles discovered the Society for Creative Anachronism in Richmond, Virginia (Barony of Caer Mear, Kingdom of Atlantia). Riding her bicycle through the Fan district to the library at the Virginia Commonwealth University, she passed an SCA demo on the lawn of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, celebrating the opening of their "Glory of the Page: Medieval and Renaissance Illuminated Manuscripts from the University of Glasgow Library" Exhibit in June of 1988.

She has lived in the Barony of the Flaming Gryphon in the Middle Kingdom, and landed on the shores of An Tir in mid 2004. She participated in several local events and Kingdom Arts & Sciences Competition before taking another leave of absence from the SCA.

Her interests include Poetry and Storytelling; both the writing and teaching of the arts. She has written award texts for the Baronies of Aquaterra and Madrone, and also texts in Poetry form for original award scrolls. She has presented her original poetry at An Tir Kingdom Arts & Sciences as well as stories from the Norse Edda.

She lives on the eastern side of Seattle in the Canton of Porte d’Leau and is currently the Chronicler for the Barony of Madrone, as well as the Envoi of the Incipient Poets of An Tir Guild.

Name and Persona:

When she joined the SCA, developing a persona was not large in the “what you do in the SCA.” She did not develop one as she tends to scurry down rabbit holes and get influenced by the next Opera she attends with beautiful costumes. Originally known as Jade of the Lion Isles – Jade being her Chinese name, and Lion Isles as a homage to Singapore where she spent her formative years. She did play with a couple early on in her SCA career to see how they would suit.

• 10th Century Anglo-Saxon in the British Isles – hence the addition of the name “Rowena”
• 14th century Persian/Turkish as the household father was a Janissary - Imran Yusof le Scorpion and the persona story was that she was a baby he brought home from the crusades, and a second name was picked, Yašm ibna Imran – Yašm, meaning “Jade” in Ottoman Persian, daughter of Imran.

Coming back into the SCA, in An Tir, she added Norse garb to her tee-tunics and Italian Renn (don't ask) outfits, having long outgrown the dance outfits of her youth.

• 
  Jade in Gawazee Circa 1990
• 
  Clan Cambion Facemask
• 
  12th Night, 2024

Poets of An Tir

The Incipient Poets of An Tir Guild Facebook Group was formed in 2023 for SCA poets to share their works, their questions, their research, and their creative ideas as they strive to write in diverse poetic forms from many medieval and ancient cultures. In order to promote poetry throughout the Kingdom, members of the guild run Poets Point – a table at events where they encourage discussion and sharing of poetry.

Poets Point has been run at small branch events up to large Kingdom events including 12th Night. Rowena Jade has been actively participating and promoting Poets Point since 2023 and became the Envoi of the incipient guild in 2024.

• 
  Poets Point Aquaterra Yule 2023
• 
  Poets Point Ursulmas 2024
• 
  Two Poets BaO 2024

Bardic Performances

Bardic Performance 2025

As a poet and storyteller, Wordsmith Rowena Jade enjoys entertaining at SCA events and demos. She has also inadvertently won bardic competitions as she had not realized they were competitions when she signed up!

• Bardic winner - Baroness Tea 2025 - Barony of Vulcanfeldt
• Bardic winner - Crows Feast 2024 - Shire of Fire Mountain Keep
• Entertainment at Ursulmas Demo 2024
• Entertainment at June Faire Demo 2023

Wordsmith

Rowena Jade enjoys the challenge of writing words to a theme - such as those for original scrolls.

• Text for Porte Chalice - Canton of Porte d'Leau 2024
• Texts for Red Branch - Barony of Madrone 2023 & 2024
• Texts for Award Scrolls Kingdom Awards Library - AoA, Goutte & Sable Gauntlet 2023 (Athos & Alianora)
• Texts for Award Scrolls - Barony of Madrone 2023
• Texts for Award Scrolls - Barony of Aquaterra 2019

Offices Held

• Chronicler – Barony of Madrone (2023 - present)
• Bardic Champion – Barony of Madrone (2023 & 2024)
• Exchequer – College of Yarnvid (1992 – 1993)
• Seneschal – Barony of Caer Mear (1990-1992)
• Archer Marshal – Kingdom of Atlantia (1990 – 1993)
• Minister of Arts & Sciences – Barony of Caer Mear (1989 – 1990)

Awards

• Mantle of Madrone (Service) – 2025 Barony of Madrone, An Tir
• Wordsmith – 2024 Kingdom of An Tir
• Jambe de Lion – 2023 Kingdom of An Tir
• Tsveti (Arts & Sciences) Purple for scribal - 2023
• Green Leaf (Service) – 2023 Barony of Madrone, An Tir
• Scholar of An Tir – 2022, 2023, 2024 (Poetry and Storytelling)
• Companion of La Brise de Mer (Arts & Sciences) – 1993 Barony of Caer Mear, Atlantia
• Award of Arms – 1991 Kingdom of Atlantia
• Award of Arms – 1990 Kingdom of Atlantia
• Companion of the Pharos (Service) - 1989 Barony of Caer Mear, Atlantia

Classes taught

• Storytelling workshop: Working your story - Vulkanfeldt Baroness’ War 2025
• Story Circle: How to get started in storytelling - Wastekeep Collegium 2024
• Poetry 101: Rhyme, Rhythm and Meter - Wastekeep Collegium 2024
• Story Circle: How to get started in storytelling - Madrone Spring Colloquium 2024
• Music: Simple rounds for everyone - Madrone Autumn Colloquium 2023
• Poetry 101: Rhyme, Rhythm and Meter - Madrone Lionhearts 2023
• Story Circle: How to get started in storytelling - Blatha an Oir Autumn War 2023
• Poetry 101: Rhyme, Rhythm and Meter - Blatha an Oir Embers & Ambrosia – 2023

Event Steward

Another one of Rowena Jade's joys in the SCA is running events! She loves to pull together a staff of competent folk and encourages them run with their ideas to create fun, well organized events.

• Madrone Lionhears & Wyewood Day of Archery - 2025 (Co-Steward)
• Good Yule - Porte d'Leau 2024
• Lionhearts in the Park - Madrone 2024
• Emerald Joust - Caer Mear 1992
• Baronial Birthday - Caer Mear 1990
• Baronial Yule - Caer Mear 1989

Infamy

Wordsmith Rowena Jade of the Lion Isles likes to write contrafacta - otherwise known modernly as "filk" - songs and enjoys informing bards that it is a perfectly historically correct practice and encourages them to practice the art form as well.

Some "SCA adjacent" songs she has written include:

• Voodoo Doll - sung to "When you wish upon a star"
• An Tir Man - sung to "Barbie Girl" by Aqua and winner of Funniest Filk, Great An Tir Filk Competition 2023
• Fluffy Ellen - sung to "Barbara Ellen"
• and other little ditties.