Heroes of the realm

[msmemory_archive]

Peregrinne asked who are the heroes of the East Kingdom. I am cross-posting in the interests of rounding up additional opinions/lists.

Like P., I choose not to define "hero," since that can be in the eye of the beholder -- but I will add one hint here: don't feel the need to limit yourselves to the present East. Do remember that the East used to include all of Atlantia, Drachenwald, and AEthelmearc, and some of our heroes probably did or do live in one of those principalities.

(herooftheage, madamebuttery, duchessmel, I am especially interested in who you would list.)

Comments

[greatsword.livejournal.com]

My list goes back quite a way, and is chosen for people who had an early, positive influence on my time in the SCA. I'm ommitting titles, and apologize if I spell any names wrong.

Aelfwine
Arastorm
Marian
Vissevald
Lark
Mari

... I've realized I could go on quite a bit. I'll stop there; those were the ones I thought of first.

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

I know everyone on your list except Mari. Do you mean Countess Mara?

[greatsword.livejournal.com]

Oops, I did. Mari is the current Queen of the West, and a very cool person, but I was thinking of Mara.

People who know me might wonder that I left of James the Fair. The people listed above were mentioned for things they did when they didn't really know me at all - it was just the way they treated everyone. And like I said, there are many others.

[elektra.livejournal.com]

I know it's been a while (and then a while) since I've been active, but I feel obliged to but in my $.02. Even if he at times can lack in the social graces, your list would not be complete without John the Pell.

[dlevey.livejournal.com]

I would submit my woefully incomplete list:

Michael (of course)
Cariadoc
Vis
Mara
Marian

...and, of course, Patri.

[crolevey.livejournal.com]

Having reviewed the lists others have made - and agreed completely, I would add Catrin and then go away to think some...

[jducoeur]

I would echo Patri, and add Bish...

[eclecticmagpie.livejournal.com]

I'm looking for people who haven't already been mentioned - NOT disagreeing with those who HAVE been mentioned.

I'll mention Patri again, just 'cause.

I'm going for a classic-influenced definition; morality is not implied -- great strength, courage, other abilities, possibly due to divine descent. One who has done great deeds; whose life is writ large.

Angus. I didn't like the man, but he fits the term, at least for his activities within the SCA. I don't hold with this business of pretending he never existed.

Morgan Elandris.
El of the Two Knives

Andreas de Vulpes. As with Angus, his influence on the history of the East Kingdom seems to me sufficient reason to include him on the list, even if one doesn't think that it was a POSITIVE influence.

Siegfried von Halstern
Hanno
Cunegunda

Taliesin of Nordovest. Perhaps only a personal hero; he was the first archer I ever saw use a proper quiver and a longbow. He also hit the target with every arrow, and shot, as I recall, at least 50% more arrows than anyone else on the line. I'm derating what my memory tells me, which insists that he shot twice as many and that they were all bullseyes. Mind you, the standards for archery in the east were pretty low back then. His name should probably be replaced by several more recent archers.

Speaking of which, Geoffrey deWygan comes to mind.

Sebastian Nightwind
Fernando & Ianthe
Kobayashi
Strykar
Johann von Traubenberg
Fast Eddie
Ian of Clan Mitchel
Salamalah the Corpulent
Flieg

I am probably forgetting some people. It's also probably the case that some winnowing of my list should be done. Of course, with each of us choosing our own definitions, we're all right...

[eclecticmagpie.livejournal.com]

Looking at some stats, I see I probably should have listed Ailean (first Ludicrous Bowman) rather than Geoffrey. I hadn't realized that there were several Ludicrous Bowmen before Geoffrey.

My intention was to list at least one person who epitomized each of the martial arts forms in the East Kingdom. Reputation is as important as skill, in my opinion, for the "hero" designation. I am not sure who to add in fencing forms; I havne't been keeping up. From when I was active, I would have listed Fulk, but probably should list others as well.

Ideally, it should be someone whose fame breaks out of their own group -- not a chirurgeon JUST known to other chirurgeons, for example, but one whom non-chirurgeons think of when the time comes to talk about great chirurgeons, and yet whom the chirurgeons also agree is a great chirurgeon. Fame and skill running together.

Boy, my two cents sure is long-winded on this topic! That reminds me, I left out Steffan, for Heraldry. And Alfgar, for Sententiousness.

So, once we've selected the EK Heroes, do we send them off to the Mists to bring back the Golden Gate XXX I mean Fleece?

[(Anonymous)]

That reminds me, I left out Steffan, for Heraldry.

I'm honored. And a little stunned.

These lists are dangerous: there's always the question of definition, and the matter of "hero to me" vs. "hero to the East". That being said, I agree re: those already mentioned. If we're talking about folks who made the East the East, then, yes, we have to include Aonghais, but that is rather stretching the definition of "hero". But I'd add folks like Duke Akbar, Frederick of Feolildwyn, Kathryn Goodwyn, Siegfried and Wanda (did you mention them?), David MacDougalls, Ogami Akira, Moira Maureen u'a Seamus, Alisoun MacCoul, Yosef Alaric, Harold von Auerbach, Marieke van de Dal, Johannes von Narrenstein, Barak Elandris Hasdrubal, James O'Neill (a/k/a B.E. Hannibal), Arianna of Winthrope (ariannawyn). And Caitlin Davies (msmemory).

I'll probably think of lots more tomorrow.

--- Steffan