Ariana verch Gwenllian

Photo
Ariana at Calafia Anniversary 2016
Information
Preferred title: Barwnes/ Master Their Pronouns: she/her Resides: Calafia Status: Active Awards: Visit the Caid Order of Precedence
Heraldry
Argent, a pile bendwise Or.
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Barwnes Ariana verch Gwenllian^RRE is a Herald Extraordinary of Caid, a Companion of the Laurel, and a member of the ship Iron Maiden.

Ariana was granted a Court Barony from Alexander and Tahira during the year of the Great Plague, and elevated as a Master of the Laurel by Their Majesties Valrik and Drada at Potrero War 2022.

Her pronouns are She/Her or They/Them, and prefers the titles Barwnes or Master as they apply in context.

Persona

Ariana verch Gwenllian was born around the turn of the 15th century in the cantref of Cedewain in Powys Wenwynwyn (modernly northern Wales) to a wool merchant named Ieuan ap Thomas and his wife, Gwenllian ferch Owain. Shortly before the birth of Ariana, Ieuan was killed, causing Gwenllian to sell the farm and move back to her native lands of Powys Fadog. When Ariana was born without a father, she was given the metronymic "verch Gwenllian".

Ariana was raised during the Last War of Independence - a time of tumult and strife as Owain ap Gruffydd had proclaimed himself Prince of Wales in revolt against the English crown. Gwenllian was an active member of the rebellion, aiding the Welsh efforts alongside her family. Too young to have any political inclinations, Ariana spent most of her time reading any book that she could get her hands on (but preferred stories of Knights and Ladies, and books on lineages). One day while in town, Ariana crossed paths with a young Baron by the name of Cormac Mór, who was on a diplomatic mission from Scotland. Over several lively discourses, the two became fast friends.

Looking to keep her daughter safe from any recourse from her actions as a rebel, Gwenllian approached Thegn Cormac to negotiate terms of service wherein he would supply Ariana with an education and training to become a herald of the court - a new and burgeoning field. He agreed, and with the terms set, Thegn Cormac and Ariana returned to his lands in Scotland where her education was continued.

After many years of tutelage, and thanks to the friendly Scottish-French relations allowed by the Auld Alliance, Ariana was placed as a court herald and herald-painter in the French court. In this capacity, she was recognized with the rank of Herald Extraordinary.

More on her life is still unknown at this time, and will be updated as new information is discovered.

Offices & Positions

College of Heralds - Offices

• Herald officer, College of Saint Artemas, 04/2012 - 09/2012
• Deputy Trident, Barony of Calafia, 02/2013 - 11/2013
• Trident, Barony of Calafia 11/2013 - 11/2017
• Golden Rose, Conrad III and A'isha II
• Golden Rose, Adam and Stæina
• Golden Rose, Adam II and Stæina II
• Chancellor of the College Exchequer, Kingdom of Caid 07/2015 - 12/2017
• Recorder, Kingdom of Caid 09/2015 - 02/2018
• Increscent, Kingdom of Caid 01/2018 - 06/2018
• Crescent Principal Herald, Kingdom of Caid 06/2018 - 01/2021
• Webwright, College of Heralds Caid, 09/2019 - Present
• Decrescent, Kingdom of Caid 01/2021 - 01/2023
• Trident, Barony of Calafia 11/2022 - 11/2023

College of Heralds - Rank

• Macer herald, Kingdom of Caid, 04/2011
• Pursuivant herald, Kingdom of Caid, 11/2013
• Herald, Kingdom of Caid, 05/2016
• Herald Extraordinary, Kingdom of Caid, 01/2023

Senechausie

• Seneschal, College of Saint Artemas, 09/2012 - 04/2014
• Deputy Seneschal, Barony of Calafia, 05/2021 - 11/2022

Royal Court

• Lady in Waiting for Baron Oliver and Baroness Kate of Calafia, 11/2011 - 11/2013
• Lady in Waiting for Mansur and Eilidh, 11/2012 - 06/2013

Event Staff

• Event Steward, Saint Artemas Anniversary 2013
• Logistics Staff, Potrero War 2013
• Server and Scullery staff, Twelfth Night 2014
• Event Steward, Saint Artemas Anniversary 2014
• Event Staff, KWHSS 2014
• Base Camp Co-Steward, Potrero War 2014
• War Herald, Potrero War 2014
• War Herald, Potrero War 2015
• Logistics Staff, Potrero War 2015
• War Herald, Potrero War 2016
• Royal Liaison, Potrero War 2016
• War Herald, Potrero War 2017
• Deputy Event Steward, Potrero War 2017
• Logistics Staff, Potrero War 2018
• Event Co-Steward, Heraldic and Scribal Play Date, July 2018
• Head plater and Kitchen staff, Winter Arts Feast 2018
• Logistics Co-Steward, Potrero War 2019
• War Herald, Virtual Potrero War 2020
• AV Team, Summer Coronation July 2021
• Event Staff, Calafia Anniversary 2021
• Logistics Staff, Potrero War 2022
• Event Steward, Potrero War 2023
• Head plater and AV Team, Summer Coronation July 2023

Projects & Publications

Classes Taught

• Basic Chainmaille - College of St. Artemas Campus (March 2013)
• Heraldic Armory Design - Household Meeting (August 2013)
• Heraldic Display: Beyond the Banner - Calafia Winter Arts (December 2013)
• Heraldry 101 - Calafia Household Meeting (February 2014)
• Heraldic Display: Beyond the Banner - Calafia Winter Arts (December 2015)
• Heraldic Standard Design - Baronial Fighter Practice (February 2015)
• Order of Precedence and Court Etiquette - Calafia Household Meeting (September 2016)
• Field Heraldry Basics and Practicum - Leif Ericsson Tournament (October 2016)
• Heraldry 101 - Calafia Household Meeting (January 2017)
• Territorial Herald Officer Requirements and Responsibilities - Altavia Anniversary (May 2019)
• Heraldic Officer live Q&A - Online forum (March 2020)
• Contestation of the Cross (of Caid) - KWHSS Mid-year Online (January 2021)
• Heraldry for Scribes - Online Kingdom Scriptorium (October 2022)

Heraldic Research Publications and Contributions

• First Metal on Metal Individually Attested Pattern in the Society (December 2013 LoAR)
• Provided documentation to overturn Dolphin Orientation precedent (December 2013 LoAR)
• Provided extended documentation to overturn "Cross of Caid" precedent, and allow all Kingdoms of the Known World a single, permanent named motif (November 2020 LoAR)
• The Contestation of the Cross (of Caid) (May 2021) - Documentation from the "Cross of Caid" precedent re-worked to a stand alone article.
• Regional Style Report: Analysis of the Scheibler Roll HRE 1450-1600 (April 2021)
• Court Heraldry 102: How to Run a Court (June 2021)
• Court Heraldry 101: The Court Herald (August 2021)
• Court Heraldry 103: Preparing Court and the Dais (September 2021)
• Badges: We Do Need Stinkin’ Badges (October 2021)
• Court Heraldry 104: The Docket (January 2022)

Featured Artwork

(Click image thumbnail for more information)

Image Preview	Publication
	Cover Image, Crown Prints (May 2020) Featured Image, Caidan Chronicles (May 2020)
	Cover Image, Crown Prints (October 2020)

Scrolls

(Click scroll thumbnail for more information)

Image Preview	Award	Recipient
	County	Eilidh na Tire Dharigh
	County	Mansur ibn al-Sha'bi ibn Rafi'
‎	Court Barony	Eridana Ambra Dragotta
‎	Detail of Court Barony	Eridana Ambra Dragotta
‎	Detail of Court Barony	Eridana Ambra Dragotta
‎	Golden Trident	Bruce MacDonald
‎	Golden Trident	Theresa Al Kin
‎	Golden Trident	Sakan bint al-Kimiya'i
‎	Serpent's Flame	Sabyna of Aydon
‎	Serpent's Flame	Parlane of Glenord

External Links

• Ariana's entry in the Order of Precedence
• Inn of the Tyger, a repository of Ariana's articles and artwork.