Persona StoryI have been a participant in fantastic victories and a survivor of horrible defeats. I have traveled across Outremer and beyond, to the green vales of my father’s homeland. I have been in the service of kings and at the service of paupers. I am what I am: a simple serjeant in the Order of the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon--the Templars. I was the illegitimate son of a Norman Welsh father and an Christian Armenian mother. They did later marry, but not before my conception nor birth. Father traveled to Outremer to provide service to the Cross and stayed on. Mother was the daughter of a traveling merchant. My childhood was not so bad. I was pretty much raised in a normal fashion. Most of my time was spent experiencing life. I spent plenty of time at the blacksmith, watching him work and learning some basic skills. I’m not as good as he was, but I still try from time to time. I was fortunate enough to get a chance to learn to read and write. Many of the local populace being Muslim, I learned to speak Arabic. Many influences were to run through my young life, but only one dream was in my mind: the Order--to protect pilgrims from bands of murdering cutthroats. I knew there were tensions between Christian and Muslim, but I believed, like all children, that they could be overcome for the mutual benefit of survival. I still believe this to this day; I have many friends of both religions. I admire and respect both, but I do not have the power to do anything about it. I have been asked for my advice from time to time by both sides, but I am not sure it is considered. When I was old enough, I joined the Order. One of my first victories was the 25th day of November, in the Year of Our Lord 1177. My squadron was sent to Gaza to defend against Sultan Salah ad Din’s forces moving up from Egypt. These forces bypassed our defenses and kept moving. We rode out and met up with King Baudouin the IV (The Leper King) at Ascalon. With the combined forces we punched through Salah ad Din’s blocking force to intercept the Sultan’s main force . The majority of his force was crossing a ravine near Ramleh when we came upon them. Though outnumbered, we charged headlong into the mass of troops. It was a fantastic route--the invaders fleeing home, the Sultan just escaping capture by the skin of his teeth. I have wondered if the capture of such a learned man would have really changed things for the better or made them worse. Life was lived on patrol and in prayer, day after day, but I loved it. Occasionally I would be sent out to find out what information I could of the Sultan’s movements and traveling gossip. Most of us who can speak Arabic do this duty from time to time. In August 1179 we suffered a terrible defeat. Our newly constructed keep at Jacob’s Ford was razed to the ground by the Sultan’s forces. But still worse, Grand Master Odo was captured and taken to Damascus. When offered ransom, he told the Sultan that he had nothing but his knife and his belt. Odo was a good and noble man. He died sick in that prison. Outside, our lives went on. |
This is the recognized website for the Shire of Loch Cairn, of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc., and is maintained by Edain ingen Raghailligh ben MacDonald (Keri Peardon). This site may contain electronic versions of the group's governing documents. Any discrepancies between the electronic version of any information on this site and the printed version that is available from the originating office will be decided in favor of the printed version. Copyright © 2009 Shire of Loch Cairn. The original contributors retain the copyright of certain portions of this site. For information on using photographs, articles, or artwork from this website, please contact the web minister at webminister@lochcairn.org. She will assist you in contacting the original creator of the piece. Please respect the legal rights of our contributors. |
The Venerable Brother Owain Fitzmarshall |
SCA ResumeCurrent Shire Office(s): Past Shire Office(s): Service and Leadership Kingdom-Level Awards Shire-Level Awards and Misc. Awards Misc. |
Personal InformationI began participating in SCA activities in 1981. John Rhudle was the person who actually introduced me to the SCA (God bless his Saxon soul). He started me out by selling me a chainmaille shirt, 12 gauge wire, which weighed a ton. I added to it making it knee-length, with full-length sleeves. Total revised weight: 2 tons. I was still pretty busy playing mountainman with my father at the time, but still spent some time working on projects and researching. I was a freshman at Motlow State Community College in 1983 and attempted to get a group started there, however between wanderlust and GPA I was soon out of the school. In 1984 I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. My first duty station was in New Jersey. I took time to attend one event there. I continued working on projects and researching. After 3 years I found myself at home: the Fleet Marine Force. From 1987 to August of 1995 I bounced around the 2nd Marine Regiment. I went to Okinawa, Japan and Subic Bay, Rebublic of the Phillipines with both 3rd Bn and 2nd Bn. I was on the ground with 2nd Bn during the Gulf War. I was always working on projects and researching. During the War, a few of us SCA-types got together, and Micalovich told us about the shire he belonged to back home. When I returned to Camp Lejeune, I looked up the local shire, Raven’s Cove, and started to play again. I was given a 1 year deployment break and sent to Cherry Point, where I joined the local group, Cathanar. I heard the most fantastic stories about Aegir John from Lady Anna, and Baron Trigvey was a great mentor and friend as well. The seneschal, Kay, was the greatest help. She took me to meet people to help me figure out more about the way I wanted to do things. Thanks Kay. Also thanks to Thorbian Thorson. After my year there, I returned to Raven’s Cove. Soon I was on Float again, but I had a friend on ship with me that kept me going--thanks Anshelm (Chris). When in Somalia, I “talked” some blacksmithing with a local smith. (I did some of this in the Phillipines too.) While on ship, we worked on research and various projects. When we got back to the States, I tried to keep on, but everyone in the shire was going away. Soon after, I got my notice: Reenlistment code RE1B. Mr. Clinton, needing to save money, discharged me from the service. I returned to the fair Kingdom of Meridies. I thought, “Now I have some time, I can really get into this.” It was August 1995, and I started calling every phone number I could get my hands on, with no luck. Finally, the seneschal for Vulpine’s Reach answers, and this wonderful Lady reminds me that everyone who can has gone to Pennsic. I went ahead and send in my membership (1st time). The following month I attend my first business meeting in the Incipient Shire of Loch Cairn (it was Lochland Vale at that time). I was super hooked. I miss those biz meetings but I have grown since then (as has the Shire). Those people were the saving grace that helped me readjust to civilian society. Since then, some have come and some gone, but all have had an influence on my life and helped me to be a better person for it. Thank you all in this shire, the populace of Meridies, and the Society as a whole. |
