Blazon: Argent, three Chevronels Braced purpure, within an oriel purpure;
bearing a crest of a Midrealm Dragon.
Emblazon: (This emblazon was done by Baron Daibhid ruah MacLachlan of
Cynnabar, the Middle.)
History
Siobhan was born Medhbh O'Roarke in Connacht in Ireland in about 1050;
since the Normans Conquested in 1066 she was eventually re-baptised into
Norman Catholicism, given a good Norman-Celticized Christian name and married
off to a second son of a Good Norman Family. Being landless, the squire
to whom she was married took service in Vienna and took Siobhan with him,
a common thing to do.
About 1075 her lord took service with Robert Guiscard to conquer
Southern Italy, leaving Siobhan and their child in Vienna. (Many wives,
widows, and women of those who went to fight in the crusades ended up left
behind when this particular Crusade began, leaving an economic pocket of
uncertainty for the women left unsupported.) An illness took the lives
of the Jarl and Jarla who had sheltered her when he departed; their son,
who inherited, was not inclined to support two more mouths. Siobhan took
service with a prosperous innkeeper; as she was literate, skilled in accounts,
and well acquainted with feeding and housing vast numbers of people on
a moment's notice, she soon was virtually running the inn.
When the innkeeper died, two or three years later, Siobhan bought
the inn from his widow, whom she pensioned off and allowed to stay at the
inn for local color. Her Norman lord never reappeared; Siobhan assumed
he either died or found a nice Tuscan girl and settled down. A short time
later Syr Aldric Northmark, a Scoti who claims he is too mean to die, and
is, besides, a First Son with his own estates, married her. They spent
15 years together before going their separate ways.
Siobhan took her settlement from him and moved to live near Edinburgh, in Scotland.
Kingdom of Allegiance
West, (but is an import (1993) from
the Middle.) Siobhan has
written a song
about her original kingdom.
Joined the SCA
April, AS XIII (1979), in the city of the Gods, (NorthWoods, to the non-cognoscenti
;-) )
January 12th, Twelfth Night, AS XV (1981); Bestowed by Sir Thorvald in
Grimni, Baron Northwoods, for service to the Barony, increasing the
population of the Barony by one, and for autocratting two Twelfth Nights in a
row.
GOA
Pennsic XIII, August 18th, AS XIX (1984); Granted by
TRM Eli and Elen of the Middle, sitting on their thrones in the Debateable
Lands, for managing to put out a little newsletter in the Middle for 6 months
without screwing up. This means people can (although they do so at risk of
their lives) call me Her Ladyship and admire the nice scroll on the wall. I
also get to put a dragon on top of my arms. (For the
non-Middle-Kingdomers among us: In the Middle, the GOA at that time was
only given to those
poor fools who don't say no fast enough and become kingdom officers, and it is
given at the end of their six-month probationary period. This is a naked GOA,
given only as a grant, and it carries with it a dragon crest to enhance one's
device.)
Coronation, May 4, AS XX (1985); bestowed by TRM
Corin and Myfanwy II, sitting on their thrones in Sternfeld, for
"Distinguished Service as Chronicler of the Middle, and particular Service to
the Crown." This translated means I didn't print a particularly obnoxious
portrait of them that was given as a cover for the Pale. This award also
confirms what everybody knew already -- that I have a cold, green, scaly
heart. Squires Beware!
Caer Anterth Baronial Court, July, AS XX (1985);
Bestowed by Dughall Stuart mac an Aisleann and Countess Myfanwy ar Ysgall an
Pelydrau, Baron and Baroness Caer Anterth Mawr, for "Distinguished Service
above and beyond the call to the Barony of Caer Anterth Mawr." I went to Crown
Tourney in someone else's group and butted in. When their Chief Server disappeared, I
organized their servers and
worked their and my tails off getting the feast out. I also spent the day at
Dughall and Anne's (then his Lady Wife) the day before washing dishes,
cleaning house, and fending off phone calls while the autocrat got his sleep.
(This last after keeping him up til 4 am drinking beer, solving the problems
of the world, and being introduced to several strangers, including the man who
would someday sweep my sister off her feet and carry her away to the wilds of
Northshield to become it's first princess..) At a Boar's Head the next year, the Chief
Cook vanished mid-morning, and so I cooked the feast, along with some truly heroic locals.
Coronation, October 8, AS xxiii (1988); Bestowed by
TRM Reynard and Brynhildr, sitting on their Thrones in the Barony of
Andelcrag. They tell me this is because of long service as a chronicler of
local groups, Kingdoms, and Society. I'm still pretty amazed at this one, and
not entirely certain I deserve it. It did result in the most amazing messages
being left on our answering machine by Mistress Hilary, who squawked most
fetchingly, Baron Charles, and other notables of the feathered kind.
March Crown, AS xxix (1995); From the cook's guild of
the West Kingdom, for puddings. Since then I've taken several more contests;
drop by and see my collection of pretty wooden spoons sometime!
Beltane Coronation, May 3, AS XXXII (1997); Bestowed
by TRM John and Gabriele, Sitting on their thrones in the West. At March Crown
TRM Cybi and Victoria stunned me by offering me this accolade; I accepted, and
decided to spend the time on vigil considering what peerage meant to me, and
rededicating my peerage. Watch this space for the ceremony soon.
Coronet Tourney, July 17, AS XXXIV (1999); Bestowed
by TRH Thomas & Gwendolyn (Prince and Princess of Cynagua). The description says, "It
is the prerogative of the Coronet to honor those who have opened their hearts and their
doors to the stranger, and so was established the right noble Order of the Friendly Castle.
And the badge of the Order is a Cynaguan swan displayed above a castle with its portcullis
raised which, in heraldic parlance, is known as a friendly castle. We give you this award
because of your cheerful willingness to shelter, feed and clothe your fellows to your
fullest extent, and by your gracious sharing with any who would seek information."
Personal data
Children:
Arlyna, mka Jennie. Born May 29, 1980. Member of the Order of the Dragon's
Treasure, a Middle Kingdom award for children who have contributed greatly
but who are too young for an award of arms. Given by TRM Tadashi Fuyuzuru
and Ariake, Twelfth Night, AS xxiv,(1990), in the Barony of the Northwoods.
Duncan mac Aldric, aka Duncan Alisdair Odum McGregor, born March
24, 1989. Duncan is currently page to Sir John Theophilous, OL. He received an AOA
on May 30, AS XXXIX (2004), from Gunther & Keisha (Prince and Princess of Cynagua).
Household:
My household currently consists of Baronness
Cynthia Du Pre Argent, OL, who is currently living in the East,
but maintains her title of "Minister of Funny Hats" for the Shire of Crosston (a San Francisco South Bay group -- think Santa Clara as a center-point);
and Cordelia Toser, who excels in spinning, cooking, cordials, and anything else she puts her mind to. She also lives in Crosston.
Associated members of the Household are Cynthia's spouse, Francois,
and my former consort, Aaron of Buckminster.
White Wolf
Dragon's Heart
Baronial Brassard
Pelican
Laurel
Order of the Friendly
Castle