Blodeuwedd y Gath

Blodeuwedd was born in Castell Nedd in Wales but raised in London by her mother, Denise of Mile End. As a young woman she journeyed to the Principality of Lochac, to study at the University in the Barony of Innilgard. Wandering the grounds of the University, musing on her need to find teachers, she came across some fine looking students who quickly convinced her that the College of Blessed Herman the Cripple had the greatest of all teachers, the finest halls and the best of companions. She joined their ranks, and never doubted her decision. She quickly became the Chronicler of the College, and would later be their Hospitaller.

To celebrate the new University year, and to welcome new scholars, the College annually held a great feast which all scholars past and present were invited, as were the nobles, worthies and burghers of the Barony of Innilgard. Blodeuwedd met several stalwart folk at that feast, and listened to them speak of a great pilgrimage many of the Barony were going to make to something called the Rowany Festival. They spoke so enthusiastically of this event and were so eager to go, she asked if she might go too. For a moment, there was silence about the hall, then much welcoming of this poor innocent who was to take such a great plunge. The events that took place on her journey to that Festival have entered into the legends of Innilgard; When We First Got The Truck and the Rewengee on Groo.

After several years of cooking feasts, writing and singing songs, welcoming newcomers and volunteering for demos, Blodeuwedd decided to throw chance to the winds, and set off to travel the world. Travelling first to London, and then to Cardiff, the tale of how she made contact with the Kingdom of Drachenwald has also passed into legend. While living there, she helped found the Shire of Mynydd Gwyn, and served as its first Chateleine. After four and half years, she felt it was time to return home. Her last event in Drachenwald was a feast held in Caerphilly Castle she helped run, which proved so successful and impressed British Heritage, the custodians of the castle, so much that a strong relationship was forged between the SCA and British Heritage that lasts to this day. The Crown of Drachenwald recognised the mark she had made on that Kingdom, and as a parting gift invested her in the Popular Company of Sojourners.

She returned to Lochac, to take up residence in the Barony of Stormhold, and to learn that her old friend, Portia Vincenzo, was now Queen of the West. Queen Portia asked her to be the Queen’s Harper, a role she was delighted to accept, and for which she was given the Queen’s cypher. The coming change of Lochac’s status from Principality to Kingdom was an emotional one, and Blodeuwedd’s poem “The Leaving of Lochac” was held by many to capture the feelings of the populace.

Love led her to leave Stormhold for Politachopolis and the arms of Master Drake Morgan. For a year they lived together there, where Blodeuwedd took on the role of Chronicler for the Griffin’s Tale. A change in financial circumstances allowed them to return to her home town; a few week’s before there move, the thrid Baron and Baroness of Innilgard, Dai Bach and Alycie of Stirling, announced their intention to step down. Drake and Blodeuwedd put themselves forward as candidates, and the following year, having the support of the populace and the Crown, they stood up as the fourth Baron and Baroness of Innilgard, invested by King Stephen and Queen Mathilde. Blodeuwedd had already taken up her favourite office again, that of Chronicler, and she continued in that role for the first year and a half of her time as Baroness.

During their time as Baron and Baroness, Blodeuwedd and Drake worked hard to encourage the growth of Innilgard, focussing on the need to make new members feel welcome and wanted, and encouraging the populace of the Barony to expand their endeavours, to take on new roles and new ideas. They encouraged and promoted interstate travel, working to bring the lights of the Barony out from underneath their bushells and to the notice of others. The Barons and Baronesses of the new Kingdom had to learn new ways to lead their Baronies; the King and Queen were no longer shadowy figures across the sea, and the role of Baron and Baroness changed considerably. Drake and Blodeuwedd found kindred spirits in their fellow landed Barons and Baronesses, and strong bonds of friendship were forged between this group of Servants to the Crown as they shared their experiences of leading and nurturing their baronies.

Sadly, the many demands of life proved too much for Blodeuwedd and Drake, and with sorrow but still with friendship, they parted company, and stepped down as Baron and Baroness after three years. At their divestiture, Blodeuwedd’s service to Innilgard and the Kingdom was recognised by King Berengar and Queen Bethan with a Court Barony and a Grant of Arms.

Recognising her need for some time to reflect and heal her heart, and the need of her successors to have space to make their mark, Blodeuwedd retreated from the Society for a year, and concentrated on her studies, having returned once more to where she began, the University in Innilgard. Older and wiser, she took on a mothering role to the College of Blessed Herman, and later took on the role of Baronial Herald. She was given the Golden Tear by King Henri and Queen Beatrice at their Coronation.

As always, Blodeuwedd still has a love of music and performance, of games and entertainment, and is still busy encouraging more people to become Court Heralds and performers of all kinds.