Asa Gormsdottir

Persona(s)

Dame Asa Gormsdottir (she/her) is a 9th century Hedeby Norsewoman who likes to slum as a 1495 CE Venetian lady. Asa is also interested in 16th century Persian dress and Japanese culture of the Muromachi “Warring States” and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. She is (slowly) developing a Japanese samurai fencing persona, Nishio Akame (西尾赤女 “Western Limit” + Red/Bright/Happy).

Whereabouts

Asa currently resides in the Canton Der Welfengau, in the Barony of Ramshaven.

Heraldry

The flaming altar is for sacrifice. It is a reference to the stone altars in Mary Stewart's Arthurian cycle, one that conceals Macsen's sword (along with the grail and the spear point that pierced Christ's side), and the second, at the Chapel Perilous, where the sword is veiled in unquenchable flame until the true king shall come. The golden bezants (coins) represent Asa's family.

The augmentation of a wolf bearing a feather (or quill) is for scribal services to the Kingdom of Ealdormere.

Current Office(s)

Past Offices

SCA History

Asa first encountered the SCA at a University of Toronto demo and joined the Canton of Eoforwic in 1995. She autocratted her first event six months later. After ten years service in Eoforwic, she moved to the Barony of Ramshaven where she resides today.

Asa's journey to the Order of the Laurel was mentored by Baroness Rachael Catherine McLellan, OL; Duchess Tangwystl D'Courci, OL; and Magistra Nika Dmitrieva doch’ Zvezdina, OL, OP.

Interests

Asa is a kingdom scribe who also takes on commission scribal work. Recognized for her dramatic and unique early-period illuminations inspired by Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Migration era jewellery, metalwork and carving, Asa favours Lindisfarne carpet and incipit page layouts, capitals and half-uncial script, but produces works in other styles as well.

Asa is a stealth bard who writes poetry and evocative scroll wordings that others perform. Her published works include non-fiction books, articles and creative writing. She has taught at Pennsic, Known World Heraldic & Scribal Symposium (KWHSS), Practicum, Masque of Courtly Love, Winter War, Trilliums, etc. and has served as a judge/reviewer at Pentathlon and Queen's Prize Tourney for many years.

Asa likes to make hand-sewn clothing in various periods for her family and loved ones. While she is unskilled in fibre arts (“string theory”) and dyeing, she happily cheerleads others as a patron. She is also accidentally learning about pottery.

Articles, Classes, Presentations

Several of the above are available in the Archive of St. Etienne.

Event/Demo Steward

Awards

Other Activities

Asa loves Master Albrecht Stampfer, her kids, her cats, and feeding people à la Hobbit.

Contact Information

Asa is active on Facebook. She prefers Messenger.

Augmentation: Per chevron sable and gules, four bezants in chevron and an altar argent enflamed Or, and for augmentation in chief in fess a feather sustained by a wolf rampant argent.
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