Calontir Legends 2 - Rhianwen ferch Bran ap Gruffydd
2 - Rhianwen ferch Bran ap Gruffydd Joan Steurer
On a cold day in January 1987 (AS XXI), the Shire of Standing Stones hosted a meeting to recruit new members to the Society for Creative Anachronism. The shire was in a period of growth, and many of the folk who led and joined the shire around that time are still active in Calontir today. Rhianwen came to that January meeting and began her journey in the SCA. I know because I started my SCA journey at that meeting as well. It was obvious to everyone in the shire that Rhianwen had found her home. She absorbed knowledge from all the Calon folk she came across and took up the sword. While she tried her hand at many things, the delight she took in armored combat was apparent to all. When Rhianwen joined the Society, Calontir was a young Kingdom, and many of the traditions we hold dear now were just beginning to take shape. Rhianwen threw herself into thick of things, quickly becoming a fixture of Standing Stones. Rhianwen was awarded arms by King Thorvald and Queen Branwynn on April 23, AS XXII. During her time as a student at the Great University in Standing Stones, she could be found at every meeting and every fighter practice. She was also at almost every event in Calontir.
When her studies concluded, she moved to the Barony of Vatavia, and was as enthusiastic there as she had been in Standing Stones. At some point in these early years, she began making tents. King Roderick and Queen Brayden awarded Rhianwen the Leather Mallet for her skill at making tents. As her skill and knowledge with pavilions grew, so did her skill on the field of battle. On September 7, AS XXVI, she joined the ranks of the Iren-Fyrd. Her prowess on the field and her tentmaking grew. She has built several Calontir "Purple Pavilions" over the years. On January 25, AS XXVI, King Conn and Queen Cadfael inducted Rhianwen into the Order the Silver Hammer. As she served her Kingdom, she also served the Barony of Vatavia. On November 12, AS XXIX, Rhianwen was invested as the Baroness of Vatavia alongside His Grace Baron Gabriel ap Morgan ap Hywel. Gabriel and Rhianwen led their Barony in times of peace and of war. Through this all she made tents, and taught others the skill. King Cuthbert (Cathyn Fitzgerald) and Queen Branwen invited Rhianwen to join the Order of Laurel at Lilies War in AS XXXII. A month later, her deeds at war led that same Calontir Crown to induct Rhianwen into the Order of the Sword of Calontir.
Such was Rhianwen's leadership on the field and as Baroness that King Valens and Queen Susannuh named her their Thegn on the day of their Coronation in April of AS XXXII. While King Valens and Queen Susannuh sat the throne, Rhianwen's service to Vatavia and to Calontir came to the notice of the Order of the Cross of Calontir. Recognizing great leadership and service, Valens and Susannuh invited Rhianwen into that Order at Lilies on June 20, AS XXXIII. As with all those who wear the coronet of a Barony, Gabriel and Rhianwen began to feel it was time to turn the stewardship of Vatavia over to other hands. In August of AS XXXIII, Gabriel and Rhianwen resigned the Coronet of Vatavia and accepted Court Baronies from the Crown which Rhianwen served as Thegn.
While deeds of valor and skill in the Arts and Sciences are vital parts of our Kingdom, King Valens and Queen Susannuh also appreciated that having fun is just as important as lofty ideals. So, in the spirit of that fun, they inducted Rhianwen into the Order of the Archaic Fewmet. Now an OAF, the lowest of the low, Rhianwen keeps Calontir's tradition of having a great deal of fun while pursuing serious matters. For all the lofty honors King Valens and Queen Susannuh bestowed on Rhianwen. The Order of the Archaic Fewmet and the OAFs of Calontir, remind us that it is important that having fun as we pursue the high ideals of chivalry is what makes Calontir home to so many of us. If one looks at Rhianwen's entry in Calontir's Order of the Precedence, the list of awards and honors is one the longest entries there. Master Pavel Iosovich begged the boon for Rhianwen to be entered into the Order of the Pelican and sponsored her vigil on Lilies battlefield in AS XXXIV. She was given the Queen's Endorsement by Queen Katrine and the King's Favor by King Donngal. King Anton and Queen Isabeau augmented her arms with the ensign of Calontir. These honors show Rhianwen's commitment to Calontir and its ideals. Rhianwen has embraced all that is the culture of Calontir. She raised her voice with Falcon Host at foreign wars and leads us in song around the campfire.
In the grand Calontir tradition, Rhianwen was martyred on April 12th AS XLVIII. <Since Gryphon's Fest this weekend honors the saints, I wanted to get this post up before everyone left for the event>
What can this humble recorder of Calontir's lore give the lady who has everything? I can only acknowledge that Rhianwen ferch Bran ap Gruffydd is indeed, a Calontir legend!