Koke Gan

Photo
Standing guard at Vincenti da Murano's Vigil at Ansteorra 40th Year Celebration Event.
Information
Registered Name: Koke Gan Resides: Vindheim / Namron Status: Active Joined SCA: 1990
Order of Precedence
Koke Gan
Heraldry
Per bend sinister vert and sable.

Koke Gan ši

Previously Known As: Ciarra, daughter of Zenobia (of House Wizard's Keep)
Nickname(s): Cocaine - given by Meg Sterling when we met (sounds like Koke)
Pronouns: She/her
Pronunciation: koh-kay gahn shee (Please see In Case Of Court note below)

Offices:

• Local Offices Held
  • Webminister, Barony of Northkeep - August 2018 through March 2021
  • Webminister, Barony of Namron - January 2021 through January 2023

• Regional Offices Held

• Principality Offices Held
  • Webminister, Principality of Vindheim - December 2022 to present

• Kingdom Offices Held

Persona History:

13th C. Mongolian

Interests:

• Clan Blue Feather
• Socializing!
• Entourage Service
• Fiber Arts
  • Kumihimo
  • Inkle Weaving
  • Tablet Weaving
  • Finger Braiding
• Juggling
• Thrown Weapons
• Illumination
• Running various errands for folks at events

Gallery:

• 

  1990

• 

  2017 - That time Koke decided to try Chivalric Combat

• 

  2018 - Namron Beltane - Deel commissioned from Giggling Wenches

• 

  2019 - First Deel made by Koke

• 

  2019 - Second attempt at a Deel by Koke

• 

  2019 - Gulf Wars Scribal Point - One of the first scrolls I ever illuminated

• 

  2019 - Coronation of 81st Crown

• 

  2020 - Clan Blue Feather Tattoo with Bi-Pride

• 

  2021 - My first Kumihimo on the 64 slot disk - RAINBOW!

• 

  2021 - Castellan A&S Entry

• 

  2023 - Learned Inkle Weaving from Nimmira Valeria (left) and Card Weaving from Eadwyn seo Gathyrde (right) at Wiesenfeuer Baronial

• 

  2023 - Dairy Free Lembas wrapped in "Mallorn Leaf" paper for competition at Northkeep Castellan XXXIII

• 

  2024 - First 4 Centurion Garters woven and embroidered

Timeline of Activity:

• Attended first event in or around 1989 and was briefly involved as Ciarra.
• Life took her away from the SCA until Northkeep Castellan 2017, although she did sneak in one or two events in that long span, here and there.
• 2018
  • WInterKingdom
  • Mooneschadowe Provincial Games (where Kitty helped Koke complete her name and design her device)
  • Gulf Wars XXVII
  • Namron Beltane XXXII
  • Northkeep Castellan XXIX (where Koke accepted a whelp Sash from Úallach inghean Uí Dhubhshláine of House Wolfstar)
  • Sun Fest Demo in Chemin Noir
  • Kiefer Medieval Faire
• 2019 - what a full year!
  • Thorvald Egilsson Memorial Potluck
  • WInterKingdom (where she received her AoA!)
  • Mooneschadowe Provincial Games
  • Wolfstar Winter Melee
  • Gulf Wars XXVIII
  • Fort Work Days at Will Rogers Scout Reservation
  • Norman Medieval Fair (SCA Demo)
  • Spring Coronation for 81st Crown (of TRHs Prince Vladislav Strelec & Princess Margaret ny Connor)
  • Wiesenfeuer Baronial
  • Namron Beltane XXXIII
  • Northkeep Castellan XXX
  • Steppes Warlord
  • Demos:
    • Sun Fest demo in Chemin Noir
    • A Midsummer Faire, A Medieval Fair in Enid
    • The All Thing in Haldtre (Elk City)
    • OSU Campus demo with Mooneschadowe
  • Wolfstar Summer Fling
  • Valor in Calontir - first trip to that kingdom! (see missive below)
  • Ansteorra 40th Year Celebration - 4 full nights, including volunteering at the Wiki booth (do you have a page yet?) and Gate
  • Three Centurions.
  • Fall Coronation and present a gift to His Excellency, Vladislav Strelec.
  • Northern Border Skirmishes was amazing! Koke enjoyed the thrown weapons & archery competitions as well as listening in on the Bardic competition.
  • Bonwicke's 27th Annual Champions Tournament. The melee there with Tarvos the prize bull was hilarious!
  • Weisenfeuer Yule
• 2020
  • WInterKingdom - where the 82nd Crown awarded Koke with a Sable Flur for her work in Cord Braiding (Kumihimo)
  • Wolfstar Winter Melee
  • Mooneschadowe Provincial Games
  • Covid-19 cancelled Koke's plans to attend Gulf Wars XXIX, Norman Medieval Fair, and any further events for the year. In July, Koke relinquished her House Wolfstar whelp sash back to Uallach Dhubhshlaine. Koke has not, as of yet, attended any virtual events outside of meetings
• 2021
  • Relocated and accepted the Webminister position with The Barony Of Namron
  • Sun Fest Demo in Chemin Noir
  • Northkeep Castellan, which was postponed to the Summer months
  • Premier Coronet Tourney for Vindheim where the 84th Crown awarded Koke with a Sable Thistle in Cord Braiding (Kumihimo)
• 2022
  • WInterKingdom - virtually
  • Gulf Wars XXX
  • Norman Medieval Fair (SCA Demo)
  • Wiesenfeuer Baronial
  • Namron Beltane
  • Northkeep Castellan XXXII (see missive below)
  • King's College
  • Vindheim Coronet Tourney
  • Namron Protectorate XLVI (see missive below)
  • Northern Border Skirmishes
  • Vindheim Winter Coronet Tournament
  • Wiesenfeuer Yule, with the Clan Blue Feather information table
• 2023
  • Koke attended wInterKingdom, hosting a Clan Blue Feather Salon for several hours.
  • Mooneschadowe Provincial Games
  • Norman Medieval Fair (SCA Demo)
  • Wiesenfeuer Baronial: A Song of Iduna
  • Namron Beltane: a Beltane Completely Different
  • Northkeep Castellan XXXIII: The Two Towers, hosting "Gambling for Preciouses" as Clan Blue Feather of Vindheim
  • Steppes 50th Warlord
  • Summer Vindheim Coronet
  • Summer Round Table
  • Mooneschadowe Trade Days
  • Northern Border Skirmishes
  • Vindheim Winter Coronet Tournament
• 2024
  • Winter Round Table (as Tech Lead!)
  • wInterKingdom - where Koke taught a class on Beginning & Ending Woven Bands to Prevent Unraveling and hosted a Clan Blue Feather Salon
  • Gulf Wars XXXII, where Koke organized Pirate Gambling in the BFT (hosted as Clan Blue Feather of Vindheim)! Koke also stepped into the Deputy role for Ansteorran Liaison at Volunteer Point.
  • Norman Medieval Fair (SCA Demo) - this year Koke spent most of her time under the Living History pavilion, but also delivered lunch and snacks around site.
  • Wiesenfeuer Baronial: Flames of Sherwood where Their Serene Highnesses Romanius Vesperianus II and Deanna della Penna II named Koke one of the Vindheim Dancers for the duration of their reign.
  • Namron Beltane: Spang Around the World - hosted Pirate Gambling as Clan Blue Feather of Vindheim at the request of the Baroness & Baroness of Namron. Also attended a lovely class on back strap weaving taught by Bethesda.
  • Northkeep Castellan XXXIV: Return of the Prince - hosted "Gambling for Preciouses" as Clan Blue Feather of Vindheim (for the 2nd time at Castellan! 1st anniversary). Also competed in Bardic - made finals! And competed in A&S with two inkle weaving entries. Was awarded a Sable Crane (from February)!
  • Koke was unable to attend the SunFest Demo in Chemin Noir this year, due to a family medical emergency.
  • Koke brought her children in the morning and late afternoon to Summer Crown Tournament, where they participated in Children's Activities together.
• Upcoming: Koke also plans to Vindheim Summer Coronet Tournament. She will be Tech Lead for Summer Round Table. She also plans to attend Eldern Hills Another Day at the Park.

Event Missives:

Valor XL, September 2019

I traveled with Aesa North out of the beautiful lands of Ansteorra into the kingdom of Calontir. Vatavia was very welcoming and we quickly found our spot with House Wolfstar and some bonus Ansteorran brethren. Camp set (in the dark) and off we went to see who else made the trek as well as meet some of our Northern neighbors. I did not stay up as late as I normally would, but was ready to rest after a long and busy day.

Saturday morning found me as entourage to "His Fabulancy," Dimitri of Vatavia. Ansteorra made a FINE showing in the Valor melees! Our troops were so well honed to work together as one that our hosts had to split them up to avoid losing in such great measure. The Bardic competition was to be "something different" and performed during Feast. I stepped up to offer something different to Their Royal Majesties of Calontir and Their Excellencies of Vatavia, but wanted to include a bit of Calontir in my performance. For this I had collected three black walnuts from the grounds and tucked them away into my sash. I pulled them out one at a time and began to juggle. After dropping the walnuts a couple of times, I advised that this was actually quite dangerous. For when the walnuts collide in the air, they fire away from each other in opposite directions! I had hit someone earlier in the day. I caught 40 times and offered that it was in celebration of my own Kingdom turning 40... but it was also the 40th year for Valor. The crowd seemed to enjoy my humor and my performance. After feasting with friends and enjoying the other competitors, there was much fun to be had with House Wolfstar. Again I did not stay up as late as I tend to do as events.

On Sunday morning, I again was entourage to "His Fabulancy," Dimitri - who by now had become a brother of mine in House Wolfstar! Many of our Ansteorran fighters participated in the tourneys on Sunday. The Guardian Shield returned to Ansteorra again, thanks (once again) to His Excellency, Morgan Black Dragon of Northkeep. Matthew MacGilleFhaoláin of Northkeep won the Arts & Sciences competition, which was no surprise at all. His icon was a glorious display of Opulence, the theme for the competition. I did not win the Bardic competition, but was excited to have participated.

Their Excellencies, the Baron and Baroness of Vatavia did make a point to let me know they enjoyed my performance. This third and final night of Valor XL, our hosts did provide a great spread of things to eat, drink and entertain. Still, most spent much of the night at our household camp. It was this final night that I actually refilled my cup with very late night conversation with my brethren, not retiring until nearly morning.

Monday morning found everyone breaking camp and heading homeward. Aesa and I had obligations so we began our travel fairly early in the day. I knew we were nearing our blessed lands of Ansteorra when I saw the giant sky flowers on the horizon! This inspired me to send word to His Royal Majesty, Sultan Vladislav Strelec of our victories and to share my joy to be returning home.

Castellan XXXII, May 2022

Castellan is my Homecoming event and it was SUCH a joy! Arriving at the same time as Castellana de Andalusia, it was nice to be setting up camp side-by-side together. And as one of my highlights was generally getting to help friends, I was thankful to get to help with the tent and keeping an eye on Kellan as we both wrestled our tents.

Side Note: the Site Tokens, Feast Tokens, the verbiage, the map... everything was beautiful and clearly a lot of thought and work went into all of it.

Teaching Jutte VonderBerg how to work gate Friday night was amusing. 😆 Over the course of the event I got to assist in several Kindness Shenanigans™ as well as some of my very own. 🥰

Saturday breakfast tavern was just as delicious as I knew it would be! I'm so glad I made a point of getting up early enough to catch that! Alas, I had NOT rested well Friday night, though, including A-Fib and the thunderstorms, so after breakfast I actually took care of myself with a nap! (This meant missing Morning Court.)

Chasing (aka "entourage duty") Baron Perrin de Beaujeu ALL OVER THE PLACE was great and meant watching the Bridge Battle, which I'd never seen... it was SUCH A JOY! Oh my goodness - the hilarity and also seeing how much the fighters (including HSH Romanius Vesperianus) enjoyed themselves. I also got to watch Round 1 of the Bardic competition. AND I got a quick break to check out the Elevenses Tavern! It was a VERY busy 2 hour shift!

While on Entourage duty, I received The Hero's Portion... of Chocolate [card] from Rebekah Aleyn - I was honored. I got to collect my portion once I was off duty: one of Zubeydah Al-Badawiyyah's *perfect* chocolate chip cookies! I made a point of taking time to celebrate a few of my own heroes, thanking them for doing things that have mattered a great deal to me - directly and indirectly. They know who they are.

I wound up trekking back and forth between the hall and the field for multiple reasons, not the least of which was arriving half an hour early to judge the Children's Bardic competition. Oops! lol This site (Will Rogers Scout Camp in Cleveland, OK) is so big! And we don't even use very much of it!

Judging the Children's Bardic competition... I haven't judged any SCA competitions before, but when the request posted - something told me this was something I could manage. It was an experience! lol I was glad I could help, including creating a form to help us judges keep track of what turned out to be TEN competitors! I'm also thankful to her Excellency Jehanne de Montauban, HE Ismet al Din Bithia & HE Damon Hroarson for help with judging. I was in awe of how well Muirenn Nia ingen Nath-I managed to keep all those kids corralled and busy all day! There were a LOT of kids at the event!

Afternoon Tea Tavern! That's right, there were THREE taverns on Saturday (plus Feast!). I think this was brilliant and honestly Yzabeau Brossier and Emmelina de Meadelande just did such a wonderful job as Event Stewards! Then... I decided to try for another nap. Honestly, all the walking and the chasing His Excellency... I needed the rest. But only managed to doze a very little bit due to noise before it was time to dress for FEAST!

Feast, my friends! I had shared how much I was looking forward to Feast and it was absolutely everything I knew it would be! Sharing a table with Úallach inghean Uí Dhubhshláine and Sarah & Kevin and family... a very upbeat, friendly, chatty table. Everyone had a good attitude and I do so enjoy their company. The FOOD. Y'all. Kiah knocked it OUT OF THE PARK like we all knew she could! And right on the theme! The Feast Removes included Breakfast, Second Breakfast, Elevenses, Luncheon, Afternoon Tea, Dinner, Supper and Dessert! Klauss Luinstra was a very attentive and amusing server in all the ways you would expect from someone who is a bard through and through. 🙂 I believe Francois de Beaujeu did a fantastic job as his first time being a Feast Hall Steward.

Court was good and amusing, I love court antics! You must be present to win. Time to change clothes again to prepare for an evening of fellowship in the cold! I added a hot pack for my shoulder (and for the cold night).

Over the course of the event, I got to spend some one-on-one time with a few people. I appreciate their trust in me for confiding the things that have troubled them as of late AND the new joys in their lives. I am honored that some even sought out my input / advice. You know who you are. I *also* got to laugh it up until the wee hours of the morning with the likes of (among others) Jason Drysdale, Jean Paul de Sens, Margherita de Mantua, Michelle Chantal de Charente, Turpin Tyme, Nalka Um Al-Jafna, Belgutei Batar and Haley's Comet (AKA Vigge Jonsson / Viggen)! (some later than others) It has been MANY moons since I stayed up until 4 in the morning with friends! (Yes, I totally realized this is part of why I was so exhausted Sunday.)

Whoever decided off-site time should be 2pm was GENIUS! It was such a relief to know I wouldn't have to hit the ground running at dawn, esp since my phone wouldn't hold a charge. I got to take my time having a bite to eat and packing up - and am SO thankful for Skeggi berbeinn Sebbason ins sterka coming to help me at the perfect time. Folding my tent and loading the heavy items... my struggle was much reduced thanks to him!

While they weren't limited into a specific time mentioned above, I also very much enjoyed the time I spent with Milokhna d'Riga & Vitalis d'Mare. I got to know him a bit better and he is hilarious! I am so pleased to see both of them jumping RIGHT into the SCA and they seemed to have had a great time serving Feast.

The Fellowship of Castellan was just incredible! It left me excited for my next event, which unfortunately will probably not be until King's College... but that's only a few weeks away. 🙂

Namron Protectorate XLVI, October 2022

I had trouble getting excited for Protectorate (I can't put a finger on why), but was compelled to attend. I did not want to miss the step down of Baron Micolay Haiduk & Baronova Uliana Haiduk as well as the investiture of our new landed nobility.

Traveling with Castellana de Andalusia was fantastic! And we talked about so very many topics, from our past to our personas to special needs stuff to hyper focuses and more.

I had the BEST friggin' time at Protectorate XLVI: A Baronial Investiture!

I was honored to have the very first entourage shift for our new Baron Yancy Mani Alfsson & Hersirkona Kolfinna Egilsdóttir! I watched tourneys by their side, all were well fought. The children fighting were a particular delight to me.

My health held out and I enjoyed what I could eat of feast. Orlando Giovanni de Gilead & Dýrfinna Mikaelsdóttir (and their team) did an INCREDIBLE job! And even the "Polite Food Fight" turned out to be pretty funny.

I had an INCREDIBLE time at the Dark Horse Tavern / Revel! I never felt pressured to drink alcohol, a choice I had made for my health for the night. I stayed up laughing and enjoying the company of other weirdos until about 3 in the morning.

There are so many other people I would name, but honestly the list is too long and I'm still tired from the event. So very much fun!

One more thing of note, however: The monarch butterflies were migrating directly through the site! They would flutter through the field throughout the day, but we also got to see *hundreds* of them resting in the woods behind our cabin. It was breathtaking!

Prior Groups:

• Barony of Namron
• House Wolfstar

Populace Provided Information:

Kolfinna Egilsdóttir

This good gentle marches to the beat of a drum that few can hear. She has a kind soul and has worked her way into my heart as a trusted friend and confidant. I am glad that the SCA afforded me the opportunity to meet her.

Zubeydah Al-Badawiyyah

Koke has been a welcome addition to the Wiki team - I appreciate her creativity and drive to help chronicle her own SCA experience and to help others to do the same! On a personal note, she gives EPIC hugs that have the magical ability to make All Right With the World, and I value her kindness and generosity of spirit, and treasure her friendship.

Kyna Terricsdottir

Koke Gan is a literal butterfly. I have seen her emerge from her brightly colored cocoon each morning, only to flitter about an event site bringing joy where she goes. Her brightly colored… everything spread far and wide, infecting those around her. Maybe she is a hummingbird, all a twitter with excitement, passing blue feathers to all she sees? I'm not really sure, but I know that Koke Gan is one of the most caring, thoughtful persons I have ever met.

Milokhna d'Riga

Before Castellan this May, I had never seen Koke do bardic before. This girl comes in with not one but two stories from ancient Mongolia. The one that stuck with me was the Moth and the Flame. Her descriptions of the steppe and the sense of mystery she built was so evocative. She took me from where I was, 10 AM and already 90 degrees, and put me in a world of night and endless plains. She is a wonderful storyteller.
Those performances were incredible and so is she.

Notable Contributions or Accomplishments:

• 2017
  • Competed in A&S with an unfinished embroidery piece at Northkeep Castellan, her first event back to the SCA.
• 2018
  • Competed in A&S with same unfinished embroidery piece at Northkeep Castellan.
• 2020
  • Taught classes on juggling and square disk Kumihimo at wInterkingdom
• 2021
  • Competed in A&S with Cord Braids in 2021 at Northkeep Castellan.
• 2022
  • Competed in Bardic for the first time at Beltane.
  • Competed and won both panel judged as well as Populace Choice in Beltane 2022's themed Fire Competition.
  • Received a shout out in The Black Star (August 2022 issue) for revamping the Namron Pavilions page.
  • Took on outreach of Clan Blue Feather to make sure all LGBTQIA+ people know they are welcome in Vindheim and Ansteorra as they ARE. (Beginning in the Fall of 2022).
  • See Creppin and Toryn's event post for Vindheim Coronet Tournament for Their Royal Majesty's words and a photo regarding Clan Blue Feather allyship.
• 2023
  • Hosted Clan Blue Feather Salon at wInterkingdom for several hours, offering snacks and acceptance to all
  • Continued outreach via Clan Blue Feather at various events (essentially everywhere she went!)
  • Northkeep Castellan
    • Hosted Clan Blue Feather "Gambling for Preciouses" (Pirate Dice) for trinkets. All ages were welcome and a fabulous time was had by many!
    • Competed in A&S with her very first Inkle Weave project (see photo in gallery)
    • Entered the Lembas / Dairy Free Lembas competitions. Koke's Dairy Free Lembas was chosen by Baroness Jehanne de Montauban as the dairy free winner! The prize was a lovely green and silver Mallorn Leaf pin.
  • ** Received a shout out from the Bastion Herald Meadhbh inghean Rois in Vindheim's Whispers on the Wind (June 2023 issue) for assistance with the new Vindheim College of Heralds site.
  • Hosted a Clan Blue Feather Salon by request at Northern Border Skirmishes - the one year anniversary of the first CBF table! Hosted Pirate Gambling late in the evening. A good time was had by all!
• 2024
  • Served as Tech Lead for January Round Table
  • Taught "Beginning and Ending Woven Bands for no Unraveling" and hosted another Clan Blue Feather Salon at wInterkingdom

• Entourage
  • Their Royal Majesties, Jason Drysdale & Margherita de Mantua
  • Their Royal Majesties, Flokki Geirrekkson & Elizabeth Caton
  • Their Excellencies, Beorhlic Folcwineson and Elisaveta af Isefjord, Baron & Baroness of Northkeep
  • Their Excellencies, Perrin de Beaujeu and Jehanne de Montauban, Baron & Baroness of Northkeep
  • Their Excellencies, Baron Yancy & Hersirkona Kolfinna Egilsdóttir of Namron
  • Their Serene Highnesses, Micauley Morison and Caterina Giovanni
  • Their Royal Majesties, Gabriel of Maccuswell III & Sonja Ryzaja III
  • Their Sanguine Highnesses, skeggi Berbeinn Sebbason ins Sterka and Emmelina de Medeland
  • His Excellency, Baron Isaac Bane of Wiesenfeuer
  • Her Serene Highness, Deanna della Penna II
  • Head of Entourage for a day at Northkeep Castellan XXXIV for Their Excellencies, Perrin de Beaujeu and Jehanne de Montauban, Baron & Baroness of Northkeep

Non-Armigerous Awards and Recognitions:

• 2019
  • As a whelp, received a Fang for service to House Wolfstar at Gulf Wars XXVIII. Award presented by Alpha Kate.
    Please note that Koke is no longer a member as of 2020.
• 2020
  • Awarded a Sable Flur of Ansteorra at wInterkingtom by HRM Cristyana Lambrecht for teaching classes that day.
  • Named a Merlon of Northkeep by Baron Beorhlic Folcwineson and Baroness Elisaveta af Isefjord at Can't-stellan virtual event on May 16.
    Koke's name was not called during virtual court because she could not be in attendance that day. Rather, she was surprised when Jehanne de Montauban delivered the scroll!
• 2021
  • Awarded a Sable Thistle of Ansteorra for Cord Braiding in December at Vindheim Premier Coronet Tourney by the 84th Crown.
• 2022
  • Won the Fire Competition (both judged and populace choice) at Namron Beltane with a firey deel and hair (and attitude)!
  • Received The Hero's Portion... of Chocolate at Northkeep Castellan XXXII from Rebekah Aleyn
  • Received The Torsade of Namron from Baron Yancy & Hersirkona Kolfinna Egilsdóttir at the Barony's December Populace Meeting & Presentation Court.
• 2023
  • Received a scroll of thanks from Baron Yancy & Hersirkona Kolfinna Egilsdóttir for work as Webminister of Namron.
  • Received The Hero's Portion from Milokhna d'Riga at Northkeep wInterkingdom.
  • Named a Pillar of Vindheim by Their Serene Highnesses, Micauley Morison and Caterina Giovanni at Wiesenfeuer Baronial for service to the arts by way of the Vindheim website.
  • Received The Hero's Portion... of Chocolate at Northkeep Castellan XXXIII from Vitalis d'Mare for dedication to Clan Blue Feather outreach and bringing fun and joy to others. (paraphrased)
  • Received the Clavis of Vindheim award (the key) from Their Sanguine Highnesses, Skeggi Berbeinn Sebbason ins Sterka and Emmelina de Medeland at Vindheim Winter Coronet Tournament.
• 2024
  • Their Serene Highnesses Romanius Vesperianus II and Deanna della Penna II named Koke one of the Vindheim Dancers for the duration of their reign during Feast at Weiesenfeuer Baronial: Flames of Sherwood

Affiliations:

• Member of Clan Blue Feather

Mundane Information:

Mundanely known as Jorje (George), she works as a Virtual Assistant and does whatever else to make ends meet. She is available as a Wedding Officiant in Oklahoma. She spends most of her time as a Family Manager over many appointments, activities and interests for her children. She is a passionate patient advocate for her children and friends. She is a staunch and fierce advocate for children with special needs and can be found on Facebook and Instagram.

Special Needs:

Lactose Intolerance

In Case of Court:

koh-kay gahn shee
Koke uses the Mongolian "ši" suffix rather than "Lady"
Koke prefers to be surprised (rather than invited ahead of time).