Beorn of the Northern Sea
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 Beorn at Queen's Champion for Cassandra II, 2013 | ||||||||||
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 Per bend sinister embattled grady GU and AR, a lyre and a dolphin urinant counterchanged, within a double-tressure sable | ||||||||||
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Baron Beorn of the Northern Sea was awarded a Velvet Owl for Bardic Performance in Meridies, a Harp Argent for performance and a Gauntlet, and a Court Barony (Gleann Abhann).
Persona History
Baron Beorn of the Northern Sea, known at various times as Giuseppe Lorenzo Domenico Angelo de Medici, Brother Johannes, and Ito Nobunaga was born in 1270 of the common reckoning. His mother, a dark impish maiden with a golden voice, had fallen for a Norse adventurer and their forbidden tryst led to fleeing the Kingdom of Dublin. Traveling the North Sea in summer, as her birthing time approached, they landed at the Shetland monastery on Lerwick. She was both very close to her time, and very ill. Beorn's father said he would go to fetch help from his family in Norway.
He never returned...
She delivered up her son and they asked her to name the child, she said Beorn, though he was baptized Johannes so as to not remain named of the Heathen. She held him in her arms and sang to him until she died a few hours later. A ruddy, powerfully built Irishman arrived a month after, claiming to be the girl's father. He saw the child, said for the monks to keep him, turned on his heel and never looked back. It was then Beorn became an oblate of the church.
He was raised to be a priest; trained in music, letters, medicine and husbandry. Before taking his final vows he was sent to the conflict happening on the main of Scotland, ostensibly as the Latin tutor for Robert the Bruce. He saw English knights running down unarmed commoners, and an anger rose in him; with his shepherd's crook he smote one of the riders clean off of his horse. The remaining English wheeled and turned to kill this upstart cloister, when Duke John Bearkiller and a small Welsh contingent crested the hill, intent on ridding the whole of the Island from English tyranny.
John liked this giant youth, gave him his seal, lent him some coin and told him to leave Scotland and find out who he really was, seeing as the priesthood was unsuitable. Beorn spent the next fifteen years engaging in a series of adventures hiring out as a minstrel, a mercenary, a clerk, a physic, and cook.
After settling in Meridies, Beorn, now a bard of some renown, apprenticed to the great Mistress Vashti. In his heady moments he then eloped with a minor lady from the Danish Kingdoms (apparently against the wishes of everyone, family and friend) and fled to Caid. Immediately after having a daughter, he was kidnapped by a merchant raider bound for the Orient. It was there Beorn's great size and strength was again put to the test, as he was sold to a wrestler's stable and he fought for the entertainment of the crowds for seven years, before escaping and making the long trek back to Caid.
Upon his return, he had been given up for dead, his lady remarried, and all his lands were seized in oath-price for the illegal elopement. He was battered, scarred, and unlanded... But, he was not broken. He seeks to reclaim his lands, his honor, and serve the kingdom as best he may.
Offices & Positions
- A&S Officer, Shire of Hammerhold, Meridies (now Gleann Abhann) 1990-1991
- Ollamph Bard, College of Bards, Meridies, 1992 to present (Emeritus status)
- Member, Queen's Guard, Stephen III and Jacqueline III, Meridies, 1995-1996
- Member, Queen's Guard, Gareth II and Rhiannon, Meridies, 1996-1997
- Member, Royal Entourage, Padruig and Linnet, Meridies, 1996-1997
- (Deputy) Earl Marshal for Rapier, Meridies, 1996-1998
- Marshal, Canton of Gallavally (past)
- Member, Queen's Guard, Ivan V and Ciar Lasse
- Member, Queen's Guard, Edric III and Catalina
- Member, Queen's Guard, Dirk V and Chamayn II
- Member, Queen's Guard, Sven and Kolfinna
- Member, Queen's Guard, Edric IV and Faizah
Event Staff
- Feast Steward, Kingdom A&S, Meridies, 1998
- Autocrat: Gallavally Anniversary 2000
- Autocrat: Gallavally Anniversary 2001
- Feast Steward: Dreiburgen Yule 2001
Associations
- Apprentice to Her Excellency Mistress Sarita Vashti d'Alcoy, Gleann Abhann
- Squire to His Grace Duke John the Bearkiller, OP, Gleann Abhann
- A Pawn in Clan Gambit, Glean Abhann
- Member of Fifth Brigade
- A Founding Member of The Island of Rhodes
Classes Taught
- How to Write an Award Letter Recommendation, several times from 1993 to present
- How to Transcribe Gregorian Chant, 1994, 1996
- A Brief History of Music of the Middle Ages, 1995, 1997
- Instruments of the Medieval and Renaissance Eras, 1996
- Co-Instructor with Duke Dietrich von Vogelsang, "A History of The Minnesingers", 2005
Assorted Poems
Crown Poem for Agrippa Morris
"Surrounded by Greatness" the Song of Agrippa
"As one of war, to stand still is to court death. Yet to wage peace, one must be still."
The mighty ship's bow cuts through sheets of grey water
Just like a new blade hews through curtains of steel
Caid sends a call in the search for a Sovereign
The greatest shall travel to endure the ordeal.
Agrippa the warrior stands at the forecastle
While Bridget the warrior stands by his side
Sailing towards the most daunting adventure
Arriving with quickness upon Neptune's tide.
"Strike true and show mettle," the baroness whispered
Agrippa then nodded and strode to the field
Sir Helgi was waiting and drew down in earnest
Agrippa moved forward; the raven did yield.
The Saracen Mountain, Count Mansur, stood ready
Once more did Agrippa move to the next round
Athanaric's most knightly presence blockaded
For naught as Agrippa still held to his ground.
His Honor, good Oz of the Rus braced for contest
Agrippa continued unfettered by loss
Sir Thorin, though bathed in the pure Persian sunlight
Kneeled down with respect to the Saint Brigid's Cross.
A calm in the battle, a respite of sorts
Allowed our Agrippa to marshal his nerve
Wise Bridget was ready to defend should he need her
Such prowess is comforting when in reserve.
And thus came the battle to Crown Caid's Sovereign
Sir Kjartan was ready, Agrippa as well
The contest was mighty, the fighting was noble
Agrippa remained as the great lion fell.
Then Bridget said, "please turn and look there behind you,
These fallen, the vanquished, those seeking the Crown
These nobles, these warriors; no longer your foemen
As they lift you up, you must not let them down."
Agrippa could see, with the eyes of a hunter
The battle to rule is preparing to fight
And now the true contest lays gleaming about you
To serve as The King of the Blue and the White!
Photos
Beorn fighting at Highland War. 2010 Photo by Shanna Franklin
Beorn performing at Potrero Bardic. 2011 Photo by Shanna Franklin
Beorn at Gyldenholt Unbelted. 2011 Photo by Drach
