Avelyn Wexcombe of Great Bedwyn

Persona

Baroness Avelyn (pronounced: Ăh-veh-lin; she/her) was born in the hamlet of Wexcombe in the borough of Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire. Her birth occurred at the height of the summer hay-making season, after Saint James’ Day (July 25) and a fortnight after the coronation of England’s boy-king Richard II (July 16, 1377). She is the sixth child of the lord of Wexcombe manor and his late wife, who died in the days after Avelyn was born. She has two living brothers and a sister.

Given a liberal upbringing in the years following the fourth wave of the plague in England, Avelyn was indulged by her father as the “baby” and allowed to pursue an education. She was tutored by local clergy from the nearby priory of Marlborough, and developed a love of books and learning. As a result she speaks English, Latin and some courtly French.

Raised in an environment paranoid of further plagues ravaging the land, Avelyn was encouraged to pursue an early interest in the healing arts. As a young woman, she became locally renowned for her skills as a midwife and wise woman. It is thought her grief at the loss of her mother in childbirth inspired her to help other women in their confinement.

Though closely tied to the neighbouring Benedictine abbeys at Wilton and Amesbury, Avelyn has never been interested in becoming a nun herself. Instead, she wishes to help improve the family’s reputation and wealth by finding a good marriage, raising a family, and continuing her work protecting the health of the people of Wexcombe.

Avelyn’s life spans the years closing the 14th century in England and the early years of the 15th century; into the reign of Richard’s successor, King Henry IV. She is often seen in the company of a scruffy-looking “nerf” herder named Dafydd, who is rumoured to be from the wildlands of Wales. What exactly a “nerf” is, that's anyone's guess; those Welsh records burned during one of the many skirmishes with the English…

Whereabouts

Avelyn currently resides in the Barony of Ramshaven with her husband, Dafydd ap Alan.

Personal Heraldry

Device: Purpure, a comet bendwise sinister Or and a sinister gore lozengy sable and argent.
Badge: Lozengy purpure and argent, a comet bendwise sinister Or.
Motto: Omnia aut nihil (Everything or Nothing)

Offices and Appointments

Current Offices

Pursuivant (at-large)
Thrown Weapons Marshal (at-large)
Media Relations Deputy (since 2012)

Past Offices

Territorial Baroness - Barony of Skraeling Althing (2018 - 2021)
Armoured Combat Marshal in Training
Arts & Science Champion - Barony of Skraeling Althing
Clerk Register – Barony of Skraeling Althing (October 2013 – April 2016)
Social Media Coordinator – Kingdom of Ealdormere (February 2013 – November 2014)
Chirurgeon (at-large) – Kingdom of Ealdormere (July 2012 - ~2014)
Exchequer – Canton of Harrowgate Heath (April 2009 - September 2010)
Chatelaine – Canton of Harrowgate Heath (April 2008 – June 2009)
Deputy Seneschal – Canton of Greyfells (~1998)
Chronicler – Canton of Greyfells (~1997)

SCA History

Avelyn has been in the SCA for about 17 years (as of 2022). Avelyn reflects on her early SCA days:

“I discovered the SCA during my first year of college in Kingston, about 1997. The first SCAdian I met was Her Excellency of Skraeling Althing, (then) Baroness Xristinia. She welcomed me with her warm smile to a dazzling event in Greyfells. It didn’t take long before I was hooked. I played in Greyfells for a little over two years before life moved me to Ottawa and I took a long hiatus from the SCA.

While in Greyfells, I adopted the name 'Cassandra Brightrich' but never had it registered. I enjoyed spending time with new friends in the canton, and took up fencing, choir, and Creative Foot Stomping (dancing, but I wasn’t very good at it). I also helped with demos in the area and assisted in the kitchens of feasts for a few canton events. As a student, most of play was limited to either Greyfells or Caldrithig events. During this time I received my first Bunny Tail from Their Excellencies Xristinia and Erec.

In 2007 I returned to the SCA via the Canton of Harrowgate Heath, this time bringing along my husband and introducing him to the hobby. I have been a member continuously since then. I received my second Bunny Tail not long after joining the canton, from Xristinia again but this time as Vicaress of the Barony. It was a wonderful welcome back into the SCA fold.”

SCA Affiliations

Avelyn married Baron Dafydd ap Alan, with whom she, and best friend Meisterin Emelote of Calais (O.L.), run the Inn of the Surly Mermaid (a household).

She is an apprentice of Mistress Siglinde Harfnerstochter (O.L., O.P.)

Avelyn is a past protégé of Dame TSivia bas Tamara v'Amberview (O.L, O.P). Avelyn's belt from Dame TSivia is amicably retired.

Her unofficial status as Governess on the Council of the Isles was established following her peaceful acquisition of the deeds to a large number of islands in the Thousand Islands realm of Skraeling Althing, as distributed by Their Excellences of Ben Dunfirth in A.S. 52.*

*an auction benefiting the Ealdormere Regalia Fund.

Interests

Currently Avelyn enjoys various SCA activities and providing behind-the-scenes support for events, groups, etc. She's learning rapier. She also chucks axes and hurls thrown weapons. She's served in different offices from canton to kingdom levels. Avelyn is working on exploring her path on arts and sciences by tinkering with different projects.

Astronomy, chemistry and sciences in period
Court heraldry
Bardic (mainly silly filks) and singing
Costuming
English medieval life and culture, especially 14th century and related persona research
Hiberno-Norse culture
Medieval medicine, midwifery and herbalism
Research
Glass painting
Silk banner painting
Scroll wordsmithy
Thrown weapons
Fencing
Writing
Reading about medieval history (and in general)

Awards

Court Barony - November 13th, 2021
Order of the Friends of the Hare - November 13th, 2021
Award of the King's Favour - February 25th, 2017
Award of the Queen's Favour- February 25th, 2017
Order of the Wain - February 20th, 2016
Scroll of Honour - September 19th, 2020 (for service in running “A Mystery in Ealdormere”)
Scroll of Honour - November 5th, 2016 (for contributions to the “Rick Mercer Report” affair)
Award of the Scarlet Banner - March 29th, 2014
Award of the Maiden’s Heart - November 19th, 2011
Order of the Hare Salient - April 9th, 2011
Award of Arms - November 1st, 2008
Bunny Tail - 2007
Bunny Tail - 1997

Other Activities

Avelyn's SCA aspirations include:

Finishing many A&S Works in Progress scattered around the house
Reviving the dispensation of Pez in court
Attending all the really big Wars at least once (Pennsic achieved!)
Having authentic personal and camping presences

Highlights

Invested as Territorial Baroness of Skraeling Althing (Feast of the Hare, November 2018)
Coordinated the appearance of Ealdormere/SCA on CBC’s national television show “The Rick Mercer Report” (Feast of the Hare, November 2016)
Successfully built Ealdormere’s Social Media policy and platform accounts from the ground-up, and transitioned in the first permanent Social Media Deputy into office (2013-2014)
Received a beginner-level prize for her A&S project experimenting with saltpetre (see below)
Contributed various articles to the Skraeling Althing Chronicle including the regular “Avelyn’s Book Nook” column (2010-2014)
Contributing cook: Hallowmas (2007) and Border Spat (2012)
Was part of the lunch team for Feast of the Hare 2009 that raised $145 for the baronial camping regalia fund; a profit that exceeded that of the rest of the event’s net revenue!

Teaching Experience/Classes

Your Persona as a History Lighthouse - War of the Trillium 2018, Skrael's Baronial Muster 2018
Media Relations for the SCA: Good, Bad and Ugly – Service Symposium 2017 (with Dafydd ap Alan)
From Baseball Cap to Viking Cap – Practicum 2017

A&S Submissions

10th Century Anglo-Saxon Men’s Outfit – Queen’s Prize Tourney 2016
SCA Accessories: Baronial Entourage Bag – QPT 2014
Period chemistry experiment and paper: “An Investigation into Reviving the use of Saltpetre for Refrigeration: a Period Technique” – Kingdom A&S 2011 (Paper link: https://goo.gl/lrqBLl)