Satiera of GrandChester Meadows
Satiera of GrandChester Meadows is a nice Jewish girl (now of 'a certain age') who has traveled the length and breadth of the contiguous Knowne World. Rescued by travelers, and later given sanctuary in Madrone by House Shadygrove and its diverse inhabitants during the darkest winter months of AS XIII, she considers An Tir to be her home.
The first court event Satiera attended was the 12th Night Coronation of Manfred and Koressa in the winter of AS XIII.[[[[1]] Here it became clear to many of those attending, that she needed extensive help in learning the social graces that would enable her to fit into Society. Much to the horror of bystanders, Satiera raced across the great hall calling out to the one soul she recognized from her earlier travelings - using a name this gentle woman did Not use in our Society! Only the intercession of this Kind and Incredibly Gracious Lady spared Satiera, and she was allowed to stay in the hall for Her Coronation as Princess of An Tir!
To the great amazement of all, in AS XIV Satiera was asked to serve as a lady in waiting to HRH Dorthea of the Dunes.[[2]] Thus are explained the images of Satiera in courtly dress instead of her habitual traveling garb. She is visible in a few of the court scenes as one of the unknown retinue members, the others being Robert MacFlandry, and the lady known as JoAnna the dancer. Thanks Be to TRH Sir Edward Zifran of Gendy and Dorethea of the Dunes for allowing Satiera this opportunity to show that 'she does clean up nicely'.
Still remembered by many (who were there in the long ago before times), as being part of Lord Daniel Shadygrove's house, she was busy during her first years in the Society. She was often found assisting with The Crier, attending fighting practices, traveling extensively for events and to participate in demonstration tournaments ; Satiera also helped Shadygrove organize events for the College of St. Bunstable. It was with Daniel Shadygrove, that she did roam far from An Tir to see wondrous new places. During these travels, Satiera met and was befriended by Nobles and folks from one coast to the other, some distance into the North, and deep into the fiery Southern desert regions. From AS XIV - AS XVI, Satiera fought as a mercenary in the Pennsic Wars along side her lord Shadygrove, returning to An Tir with diverse goods from the East and Middle Kingdoms and with many stories to tell. She would like to think that others were encouraged to make the trek to this incredible event after hearing the tales of their adventures.
At the Edward/Aonghais/Gerhard War of AS XV Satiera swore her fealty to Sir Seamus MacChluraidh of Glenrochaidh[[3]], who was also known as Sir Seamus the Peacemaker. She was accepted as his first squire and welcomed into House Peaceful by his wife Lady Bolverk of Momchilovich.[[4]] Following the ceremony, most of those who attended went out to fight in this annual conflict - which in later years came to be called the An Tir/West War.
As a squire, Satiera worked doubly hard to improve herself. From Baroness Amanda Kendal and others she took a wide variety of Ithra classes in courtly love, social mores and customs; she also attended numerous war workshops and fighting classes taught by Baron Gerhard Kendal and Duke Paul of Bellatrix. Through the encouragement of her Knight and his Lady Bolverk many of Satiera's rough edges were smoothed. She began her assimilation into a Norse-like person, while holding onto her Jewish culture.
On 06 Sept in the year AS XVI, Satiera was given her Award of Arms (one of the last from the West Kingdom before An Tir separated). This honor was presented by Their Highnesses Ulfred Drommjfell and Sumingo while she was still in absentia for the annual Pennsic tour. Satiera served as the head marshal for the Barony of Madrone briefly during this time, until health concerns necessitated resigning the office. It was for this and other work in the Barony, that the Green Leaf of Madrone was awarded her in the year AS XVII.
Reluctantly giving up tournaments and wars for research and learning, Satiera absorbed all that others were willing to teach. Through the study of older maps and journals she was able to find connections between House Peaceful and peoples of the north and eastern trade routes. She listened and tried to understand the customs and cultures of places far from An Tir. Lady Satiera also acquired knowledge in those subjects of which all gentlewomen should be well versed.
A friend of her youth, Torgul Bahadur, had long encouraged Satiera in her studies of Northern cultures. Acknowledged as Torgul Steingrimsson, heir to a true and noble lineage; it is his passion for knowledge and the sharing of what he had learned that greatly inspired her efforts. Satiera frequently spent time with the Northern folk known to Torgul and absorbed all she was able of their ways. Sir Torgul did most graciously and formally introduce her to his squire Dak, who also helped further her understanding of the Northern trade routes and the people of these regions. Sir Dak (now known as Jarl Dak Ulfredsson) even carried Satiera's favor in the Crown event, known as "Crownation" Juli As XVIII.[[5]] Knighted before the Lists began that day - for his valor on the field Sir Dak was additionally honored by TRM Ulfred and Adara, as was Lady Satiera.
Adrift following the dissolution of House Peaceful, Satiera wandered throughout the Kingdom of An Tir. Moving frequently to support herself, she continued her studies at every opportunity. Knowledge of the northern nomadic peoples, enabled Satiera to make her life more comfortable by adopting many of their ways. Unfortunately, the occasions became few and far between that she could attend events.
From the hand of HRM Erin, Satiera received the Forget-me-not. The token given, she was told later, for the help which she and Lord Guillaume d' Vin Vert offered Their Royal Majesties during Their reign. This was in the year AS XX, when Duke Torgul Steingrimsson and Lady Erin did serve as our King and Queen.[[6]] During Their time on the Thrones, the Arts and Learning were greatly encouraged, therefore it was a season filled with the joyful outpouring of theatrical and other artistic endeavors.
Satiera resided in the Shire of Briaroak, in the Principality of the Summits from AS XXXI until AS XXXVII. While there Satiera was ecstatic to find kith and kin at two Egils tourneys she attended. Heartened by this, she braved great mountain peaks for the momentous occasion of the 25th An Tir/ West War. For the first time in many long years, Satiera was reunited at the war with her Knight and Liege Lord, now known as Duke Thorin Njalsson. It was wondrous to behold the goodly number of folks who came from the far reaches of the West and An Tir for this event; and Satiera was able to spend time with many friends from both kingdoms she had thought were lost to her.
In AS XXXVIII, she once again found herself on the move - this time into the Middle Kingdom, very near the traditional site of Pennsic. Far from home and alone, Satiera bravely attended two Pennsic Wars in these more recent years... Since she last had traveled there, Pennsic had grown incredibly; still Satiera was able to reconnect with several friends from her youth. Truely, the Pennsic Wars are something not to be missed!
Lady Satiera remains in transit at this time. She currently resides somewhere in the Middle Kingdom; although she counts herself among the residents of An Tir. Her studies of the trade cultures in the north and east continue to this day; as does her study of Judaism and how trade carried her faith to far and distant lands.
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Satiera as a lady in waiting to HRH Dorethea. AS XIV.
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Satiera and Daniel Shadygrove in the Wastelands with Prince Johann. AS XV.
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Satiera of GrandChester Meadows and Sir Seamus. AS XIV before becoming squire to her Knight.
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Satiera's squiring ceremony to Sir Seamus during the weekend of Edward/Aonghais/Gerhardt War, Juli AS XV. Bolverk of Momchilovich and Sir Seamus, with Sir Edward Zifran[[7]] attending on the right.
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Officially being made a squire to Sir Seamus, Satiera is welcomed into House Peaceful by receiving her squire's belt from Bolverk of Momchilovich. Duke Aonghais also attended the ceremony and is seated on the far left. Juli AS XV.
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Sir Dak[[8]] is rewarded for his valor on the field by TRM Ulfred and Adara. Dak was Knighted before this tourney, the Juli AS XVIII,"Crownation" tourney. Satiera is also honored as his inspiration that day.