Hector of the Black Height

Persona

Hector is a West Islands Scot. He was born around 1273 C.E. and was taught his letters by the long-suffering monks in the Abbey on the Holy Island of Iona, just across the Sound of Iona from his home on the Island of Mull. A young Hector wandered out of the Highlands in 1297, falling in with the train of Sir William Wallace, whom he saw once, from a distance in a dark hall, where Hector marvelled at t'Wallace's large hair and blue-painted face. After Wallace's defeat at Falkirk in 1298, Hector escaped the English and needing gainful employment, sold his indenture to a Norseman named Sylard of Eagleshaven. Thus did Hector find his way into the Barony of Septentria, then part of the Middle Kingdom.

While in service to Master Sylard, Hector was taught to fight heavy, first with sword and roundshield (for real fighters use rounds). In addition, he honed his skills as an ingeniator, much of which involved intensive wielding of a shovel. In his spare time, he realized he liked to sing songs and write poetry. At this time he first used the phrase guaranteed to strike terror in the hearts of future generations; “That reminds me of a story…”

Hector is now a mid-14th Century Scot. However, he remains very much a simple West Islands man, which means he really isn't aware of much development, socially or sartorially, since the 8th Century; had he lived in the 8th Century, he would have been adjudged badly-dressed then too. He likes the improved 14th C. armament, though. When anywhere near a body of salt water he still posts sentries in case of Viking tourists.

Whereabouts

Hector is a resident of the Royal Citie of Eoforwic, within the Barony of Septentria, within the Laurel Kingdom of Ealdormere.

Heraldry

Hector's fabulous and complex inventory of heraldry is presently being considered by Laurel Sovereign at Arms. Stay tuned.

Current Office(s)

Hector is pending confirmation as a Chronicler within the Canton of Eoforwic, working as a staff minion on “The Eoforing”.

Past Offices

Bard to the Courts of the Princes and Kings of Ealdormere on various occasions.King's Ingeniator to Comar II of the Midrealm. GMIT in the College of Skeldergate. Constable to Prince Gunther I of Ealdormere, Pennsic XXIII. Co-Autocrat of Pennsic XXIV.

SCA History

Hector of the Black Height joined the SCA in 1985 (Anno Societatis XXI), brought into the Society by friends, military and ex-military, who were members of House Eagleshaven. This planted the new guy smack-dab in the midst of a bunch of mercenary free-thinkers, from which he never has recovered. Hector's second SCA event was the Feast of the Passing of the Ice Dragon in the Rhydderich Hael, when the Midrealm's Crown Prince announced that Kingdom's proscription of the name “Ealdormere”. That was on Saturday; the next day he attended a meeting of concerned North-folk at Sylard and Mortraeth's house, where the Lady Katerina de Turenna agreed to lead the formal process of Ealdormere becoming a Crown Principality within the Midrealm, and Master Sylard, among others, launched the resistance movement that created the Ealdormeran mythos of the North-wolf. So, regarding the history of the Kingdom of Ealdormere, Hector got in on the ground floor and had a great vantage point as history happened.

Hector first sucked awe in the shield wall at Pennsic War XV, under the command of Baron Aeden o Kincora and Baroness Kaffa Muraith, and in service as a mercenary to House Eagleshaven.

Regarding Hector's great passion, what he came to understand was called Bardic Arts, he had been a choral singer since boyhood and liked to write poetry. Being too lazy to learn other people's lyrics, he started writing his own songs, while importing some marching songs for Pennsic service, particularly the WWII song “Glenwhorple”. People liked the songs he sang, newsletters published the poetry he wrote, and he received a lot of positive reinforcement.

And then it all changed.

At Ealdormere's very first Coronet Tournament, won by Sir David Martin Failsworth for Lady Tangwystl Siwan, Hector met one of the official delegation from the Kingdom of Calontir, Mistress Morgana bro Morganwg. Until that day, Hector was unaware that there was such a thing as Bardic Arts within the Society. Soon after meeting Mistress Morgana, Hector resolved to grow up and become a short, red-haired Jewish lady.

A week or two after Coronet I, at Principality A&S, Princess Tangwystl asked Hector to become the first Bard to the Court of the Coronet of Ealdormere. That was huge; what was even more huge was the second question Princess Tangwystl asked him. Upon being offered the appointment, Hector asked, “What does that mean?” and Tangwystl replied, “What do you think it means?” This licence to write his own job description, in conjunction with Their Serene Highnesses, meant that Hector was allowed to figure out what he thought a Court Bard should do, based on historical precedent, and then try to do it.

Morgana provided inspiration and example. David and Tangwystl provided opportunity and encouragement. This led to completion, that Pennsic XIX, of the Ansteorran Bardic Challenge and subsequent publication of The Book of the Reign of David and Tangwystl. Hector loved what he was doing and did what he loved. He learned to work to deadlines and on requests from patrons, which forced use of different styles, forms, cultures and periods. He practiced and practiced, and at Pennsic XXI, Mistress Morgana begged the boon of his elevation to the Order of the Laurel, granted by Queen Katya and King Ronin of the Midrealm. Hector is the first Bardic Arts Laurel ever made in the Middle Kingdom, Ealdormere's parent Kingdom.

While first Bard to the Court, and mindful of his roots as a Celt, Hector compiled and presented the initial Line of the North. He figured it'd be of passing interest; who knew?

Hector was elevated to the Order of the Pelican by King Thorbjorn Osis and Queen Valthjona of the Midrealm, at the War Practice before Pennsic XXIV, at the behest of Master Trelogin Tavistock.

While at Pennsic XXIV he ended up serving three roles, two of which he expected; Disaster Services Co-ordinator (a.k.a. Master of Disaster), Spouse of the Troll and, after being activated the Saturday of Land-Grab as a Drop Dead Deputy, one of three co-Autocrats of that Pennsic. For those with an interest in trivia, Hector is the first non-American to Autocrat a Pennsic. He will NEVER do that again.

Hector has published two CDs, both produced by the amazing Mistress Marian of Heatherdale; primarily songs in The Red Album and mostly prose in That Reminds Me Of A Story… They are currently out of production; a kind friend has offered to assist in setting up his material for download. Stay tuned; Hector remains a techno-peasant. And it is suspected Mistress Marian has another CD's worth of prose in her archives…

In 2014 (A.S. XLIX) Hector began what turned out to be an eleven year hiatus from the Society; fois ann an sìth, a ghràidh Aeveanna. In 2025 (A.S. LX) he was invited to attend Eoforwic's fifty-year celebration event. He showed up, and enjoyed himself so much he has stayed.

Since 2006 Hector has been married to the Lady Sara of Swordcliff, with whom he swept away from the Midlands in the Middle Kingdom. They have three sons; an 11th C. Byzantine fighter-in-training named Gavriel, and two less historically-defined sons, Lachlan and Noe. They also have a strapping adult son, Calum, from Hector's previous marriage.

Interests

Writing and reciting poetry. Writing and singing songs. Writing and telling stories. Compiling and presenting genealogy. Dressing badly.

Awards

Bestowed the by-name “Aedenesmun” (“the memory of Aeden”) by Hlaford Cynred For others, please refer to the Ealdormere Order of Precedence.

Other Activities

Fought at Pennsic about thirty summers. His armour is in working condition; his knees and thumbs, nae so much the noo. Stay tuned.

Contact Information

How would you like people to contact you?

External Links

Add a link to your blog or other external website.