Nykera Drago D'Argento
Nykera Drago D'Argento
Quick Facts
- **SCA Name:** Nykera Drago D'Argento
- **Pronouns:** She/Her
- **Kingdom:** An Tir
- **Primary Branch:** Blatha An Oir
- **Persona:** Venetian Pirate / Privateer, circa 1540
- **Interests:** Scribal arts, bead art, fur fiber arts
Persona Overview
Nykera Drago D’Argento began her Society journey in the Kingdom of An Tir and continues to reside and serve within the Kingdom. She is a wandering Venetian privateer of the mid-16th century, shaped by the maritime power, mercantile ambition, and political intrigue of Renaissance Venice. Neither wholly outlaw nor fully sanctioned, she moves between ports, courts, and coastlines, carrying knowledge, stories, and craft alongside trade goods.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Nykera is recognized for fostering large-scale scribal community engagement both within An Tir and internationally through education-focused and service-oriented creative initiatives.
Name & Meaning
The name Nykera was chosen for its strong, distinctive sound and adaptability across cultures. Drago evokes both personal ferocity and Venetian symbolism, while D’Argento (“of silver”) reflects ties to trade, craftsmanship, and the shifting light of the sea.
Persona Details
Time Period & Region
- **Date:** circa 1540
- **Region:** Venice, Italy (with Mediterranean travel)
- **Role:** Privateer, artisan, and itinerant craftswoman
Backstory
Operating under Venetian letters of marque, Nykera balances loyalty to her city-state with the practical freedoms of a wanderer. Between voyages, she turns her hands to meticulous arts—scribal work, beadwork, and fiber—skills refined during long periods ashore and through exposure to diverse regional traditions.
Awards & Recognition
| Award/Order | Kingdom/Branch | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Blossom | Blatha An Oir | Apr 27, 2019 (AS LIII) | |
| Royal Service Token | An Tir | Jul 19, 2019 (AS LIV) | |
| Award of Arms | An Tir | Aug 9, 2019 (AS LIV) | |
| Baroness' Favor | Blatha An Oir | Sep 18, 2021 (AS LVI) | |
| Royal Service Token | An Tir | Jan 8, 2022 (AS LVI) | |
| Jambe de Lion | An Tir | Feb 19, 2022 (AS LVI) | |
| Panther's Torch | Blatha An Oir | Feb 19, 2022 (AS LVI) | |
| Forget-me-not | An Tir | Jul 9, 2022 (AS LVII) | |
| Sable Scrivener | An Tir | Dec 3, 2022 (AS LVII) | |
| Baroness' Favor | Aquaterra | Jan 28, 2023 (AS LVII) | |
| Briar | Blatha An Oir | May 27, 2023 (AS LVIII) | |
| Sanguine Thorn | An Tir | Aug 20, 2023 (AS LVIII) | |
| Forget-me-not | An Tir | Jan 12, 2024 (AS LVIII) | |
| Goutte de Sang | An Tir | Jun 29, 2024 (AS LIX) | |
| Bountiful Hand | An Tir | Jan 10, 2025 (AS LIX) |
Activities
Arts & Sciences
- Scribal arts
- Bead art
- Fur and fiber arts
Service
- Artistic and organizational service to branch and kingdom
- Community education and creative facilitation
Community Leadership & Founding Projects
Nykera Drago D’Argento is the founder of several long-running scribal community initiatives that support education, creative accountability, skill development, and community connection across the Society. Seeking to inspire artist to create at whatever level they are- seeking to break thru the Gatekeeping to provide a safe welcoming supportive space for growth, education and community.
ScribeTober
ScribeTober [[1]] is an annual, month-long scribal challenge founded by Nykera to encourage daily creative practice within the scribal arts. Modeled loosely after other creative prompt challenges, ScribeTober provides themed prompts designed to be accessible to scribes of all experience levels. The project emphasizes consistency, exploration of historical techniques, and mutual encouragement rather than competition. The prompts are provided at the begining of the month and each day the a definition and example for each word is given as well as historical information. Daily prompts are given for each of the following caregories: Scribal trading card, Calligraphy, Inspiration and Zentangle- providing a multitude of options and creating a "no pressure" approach to inspiring art.
Scribal trading card Prompt- explore themes, words etc found in the scribal world- designed to both educate and inspire
Calligraphy- provide prompts that include exercise techniques, hands, tips for practice, and other calligraphy related educational and inspiration information
Inspirational- Focused on providing daily reminders in a busy world that can often stifle creativity- prompts encouraging breathing, meditation, taking a break, etc. to education on activities that can help and artist regain focus, find relacation and encrouage joy and harmony
Zentangle- a creative way that has become main stream of getting creative ideas flowing and to break free of artisit blocks while also exercising the creative part of our brain
The group remains available all year for people to add- as well as engage. In addition all ages and all experience levels welcome- current youngest scribe to participate is 7 years old.
Hosted primarily through Facebook, the ScribeTober community has grown to include over 600 members worldwide and regularly attracts participants from multiple kingdoms.
100 Days a Scribe
100 Days a Scribe is an extended creative accountability project founded and organized by Nykera. Participants commit to 100 days of scribal practice within a year, with flexibility in medium, style, and skill focus. The project is designed to support long-term habit-building, skill refinement, and resilience through sustained creative work. The realization that as an artist we commit 1/3 of our year to our art- while we may not be able to engage the muse 100 days in a row we do engage at least 100 days in a year. The purpose of the accountability project is to encourage artists to appreciate their own efforts, to encourage the efforts of others, to inspire new and experienced scribes and to foster a community of growth, education and support for many who may feel alone in their craft. The community provides not just emotional support, but educational support and endless resources and broadens access to other atists world wide. Creating an environment of shared experiences and knowledge.
The challenge is hosted concurrently across Facebook, Discord, and Instagram, allowing participants to engage at varying levels of visibility and interaction. Emphasis is placed on encouragement, process-focused sharing, and community support rather than output volume.
Rebellious Mercenary Scribal Guild
The Rebellious Mercenary Scribal Guild [Mercenary Scribal Guild] is an independent scribal collective founded by Nykera to support nontraditional, exploratory, and service-oriented approaches to scribal arts. The guild encourages experimentation across media, the blending of historical and modern techniques, and the reclamation of scribal practice as both functional service and personal expression. A safe place for those who have been negatively impacted by the gatekeeping in the SCA around the Scribal arts, and encouraging it's members to find their passion and to pursue their arts with other like minded uplifting artists while sharing resources, and inspiration wth one another.
The guild operates as a flexible community rather than a formal order, providing a space for collaboration, peer mentorship, and creative autonomy for scribes both within and outside the Kingdom of An Tir.
Heraldry
Device
- **Status:** Unregistered
- **Notes:** Personal device reflecting individual symbolism and artistic identity.
Companion & Affiliated Orders
Nykera is frequently accompanied by her trusted fur companion, Baxter the Black, a Newfoundland–Poodle mix often referred to as her partner in crime. While not formally titled within the Kingdom, Baxter remains a recognizable presence alongside Nykera at events and within creative projects.
Together, Nykera and Baxter founded the Order of the Golden Paw, along with its sister orders, the Order of the Golden Hoof and the Order of the Golden Claw. These informal recognitions honor the companionship and contributions of animal companions—both living and passed—who support members of the Society.