Klauss Luinstra

Photo
Beltane 2022
Information
Registered Name: Resides: Wiesenfeuer Status: Active Joined SCA: 2015
Order of Precedence
Klauss Luinstra
Heraldry
'

Jonkheer Klauss Luinstra

Nickname(s): Ollie, Mustache-Man, Klauss the Mouse Lord (Coined by Signore Mattheo de Genoa) Previously Known As: Gawain
Pronouns: He/They (no preference)

Note on Title: Jonkheer means 'Young Lord' in Dutch

Born: 20 December 1995

Additional Registered Heraldry:

The blazon is as follows:

Azure a mouse rampant, bearing in its dexter forepaw a rapier and atop its head a hat with a panache of ostrich plumes argent, in chief 3 marigolds 1 and 2 or

Offices:

• Local Offices Held
  • Hospitaler of Wiesenfeuer (August 1st, 2023 - Present)
  • Deputy Hospitaler of Wiesenfeuer
  • Deputy Herald of Wiesenfeuer

• Regional Offices Held

• Kingdom Offices Held

Persona History:

Klauss selected the 16th Century as his inspiration from period history, specifically during the Eighty Years War (Dutch Revolution from Spain). Klauss is heavily inspired by the artists and leaders of the Dutch revolutionaries, and he hopes to bring some of that history to life as he continues his adventures in the SCA.

In 19th Century Holland, there was a man named Klaas Luinstra, who, with his wife Ida, owned a merchant vessel. They sailed throughout the Dutch waterways, originating from the village of Kollum. Klaas is Klauss' great(x3) grandfather in the Mundane setting, and he is the inspiration for the story and theme of Klauss' persona.

In the Society, Klauss has taken a shining to the Musketeer style and format, but rather than focusing specifically on the "protect the king" mentality found with the Three Musketeers narrative, he translates this into the culture that surrounds the Rapier community. With every aspiration of becoming a Cadet and eventually a member of the Order of the White Scarf, Klauss hopes to someday be a Queen's man. Whether a rubber band musket is officially implemented into this plan is considered a shenanigan in the making.

Klauss has taken to learning the Dutch language in an attempt to reconnect with his Dutch roots.

Interests:

• Bardic
• Archery
• Armoured Combat
• Rapier Combat
• Brewing
• Armouring
• Weaponcraft
• Cooking
• Herpetology (reptiles)
• Thrown Weapons
• Voice Heraldry

Klauss performs a bardic composition at Northkeep's Castellan, 2022. Photo by Shelby Wyatt

Timeline of Activity:

2015: Klauss was originally named Gawain when he first started playing.

2017: Went from chivalric to rapier before leaving for a college-to-pandemic hiatus.

2022

April 2022: Returned to the Society, taking the name Klauss. At his return, he focused on chivalric fighting.

May 2022: Klauss was made Green Man at Namron Beltane.

June 2022: He found a deeper passion in rapier combat and bardic performance.

Protectorate 2022: Klauss won his first match in an official rapier tournament after receiving his Award of Arms, becoming Jonkheer (Young Lord) Klauss Luinstra van (of) Wiesenfeuer, given to him by Queen Toryn Seven-Stitches II.

Northern Border Skirmishes: Klauss was asked to run his first official court as Herald by Their Excellencies Perrin and Jehanne of Northkeep and fought in his first official melee tournament in rapier.

Skorragarðr Axeman 2022: Klauss helped judge Bardic for the first time with Baron Yancy and Baroness Kolfinna under the guidance of Áshildr inn Hárfagri.

Yule 2022: Klauss was one of the autocrats for this event. This was actually his first event as autocrat. At this event, he received his Flint and Steel, Brazier of Vindheim, and made it to the final round of a Black Blade Tournament for the first time.

2023

Queen's Champion (January 2023): Klauss achieved 3 victories in his first ever Queen's Champion in Vidol, Texas.

February 6th: Wiesenfeuer Populace: Klauss publicly accepted the position as Deputy to the office of Wiesenfeuer Hospitaler.

Gulf War 2023: Klauss fought in his first ever Gulf War. During this time, he accepted the red scarf and role as Doña Áshildr inn Hárfagri's premier Cadet. Klauss was requested by Their Majesties Gabriel and Sonja III to fight as an Up-And-Comer in the first match of the Champions Tournament, emerging victorious using short blade and cane. He then proceeded to win two awards in the Verona Street Brawl: Best Insult and Most Flamboyant.

Wiesenfeuer Baronial 2023: Klauss won 4/5 of his matches in the dagger-only Tournament.

Beltane 2023: While he was neither Bardic Champion nor Fool of Namron, Klauss ran both competitions at the request of Their Excellencies in lieu of their champions being unable to attend that day. Klauss also received the Torsade of Namron from Baron Yancy and Hersirkona Kolfinna Egilsdóttir, both made by Her Excellency. Later that night, Klauss proposed to his beloved, the Lady Ismena Swann, and she said yes.

August 2023: "A year ago, I finally got to purchase my first rapiers ! One particular sword was originally owned by the dearly departed Master Aethelstan Aethelmearson, but it circulated throughout the Populace for a time until I purchased it at Vindheim Missile Academy, where I fought in my first Black Blade and generally had an absolute blast! Since buying this beautiful classic sword, I have hardly been able to put the thing down. It's simply too darn nice! I've received offers for trade and money, but this beautiful blade is staying with yours truly. The day the blade becomes unfit for service is when I'll consider how to affectionately retire it, but until then, this sword is my martial pride and joy and a beautiful piece of SCA history.

Does it have a name? Why yes! Yes it does! And thank you for asking! The name of this blade, as a tribute to its original owner, is named Oudzanger, or "old singer/bard" in Dutch, my persona's language. I love this sword so much that I commissioned a second one from Castille Armory, and I couldn't be happier to have two fraternal twins for swords! Though Oudzanger is a 36" diamond-blade and the new lovely is a 37" oval set on a newer model, I call them twin blades as they're pretty darn close and modeled after each other.

This is one of the things I love about the SCA: the history that comes with each item and the stories made with every event. I won my bout in the 2023 Champions Tournament at Gulf War with this sword, and it served me extraordinarily well as I helped mend the flanks to give my allies more time to dress the lines during the various battles fought against Trimaris and her allies. I delivered a headshot to the King of Trimaris during the Ravine Battle with this and fought alongside Her Majesty Queen Sonja with blade and cane.

I will be frank. My goal is to become a Master of Defense someday, and it is my sincerest hope that will be able to raise Oudzanger in arch-salute of many Queens and Royal Consorts in the future. My Doña has helped me tremendously, and my dear community has continued to do so as well.

I may not have my Talon yet, and I'm years from the Blade of Merit and White Scarf, but I'm beyond eager to see my back finally healed from its injuries so I can get back to showing the world just how much fun consensual sword-fighting truly is.

Long live the Dream!

In honour, service, panache, and hope, Lord Klauss "The Mouse-Lord" Luinstra van Wiesenfeuer

Hospitaler of Wiesenfeuer Deputy Herald of Wiesenfeuer Cadet to Doña Áshildr Inn Hárfagri"

Prior Groups:

The Ring - a polypropylene sword fighting group in college that Klauss founded.

Event Missives:

Northen Border Skirmishes

Northern Border Skirmishes was a fantastic event! East Oklahoma is beautiful this time of year, but nothing is more beautiful than to see the people of Ansteorra in bright and hearty fellowship, crossing blades with smiles on their faces, and using a rubber chicken (hehe) to parry away said blades. Thank you, Facon du Pray, for your gracious gift, guidance, and glorious display at and after the Melee Tournament!

Their Excellencies of Northkeep, Baron Perrin de Beaujeu and Baroness Jehanne de Montauban allowed me the honour and privilege of being their Court Herald, which means I got to run my first official court! Thank you so much for your patience and understanding as I learned what to and not to do as an emergency stand-in Court Herald. This opportunity to learn and grow as a courtier is more valued than you know, even if I mispronounced some names ... some multiple times... and forgot myself on a few occasions. I certainly have room to grow in this form of service, and grow I shall. To your patience and grace, dear Populace and Excellencies, I not only praise, but extend my gratitude to you as extensively and wholeheartedly as this bardic heart may express.

A rousing and marvelous huzzah to my dear friends Grimbjorn Sigmundsson, Maryann Childress, Owen ap Aeddan, and Cornelius Meriläinen: each of whom are as splendid and creative and each of whom performed splendidly and achieved victory in the fields of interest in which they participated. Huzzah! To the newest Lady in Northkeep, Milokhna d'Riga, Vivat! To those who also won awards and competitions that I have not listed here, to you also I raise a hearty huzzah! Feel free to post your victory in the comments and I will praise you forthwith!

To the feast stewards and the autocrats, who made such a marvelous and delectable feast and ran such a marvelously fun and relaxing event, huzzah! Such a splendid and marvelous group of individuals deserves splendid and marvelous praise!

Long live the Dream!

Populace Provided Information:

Milokhna of Northkeep

From Word Fame Wednesday on the Ansteorra Facebook Group: Klaus the Mouse is deserving of wordfame. He has started playing in Wiesenfeuer rather recently and has taken up the office of Hospitaler. He is jovial and cares *deeply* about his populace. His kindness and determination are an inspiration.

Notable Contributions or Accomplishments:

• Reached the Finals in the Bardic Competition at Wiesenfeuer Baronial, 2022
• Reached the Finals in the Bardic Competition at Northkeep Castellan, 2022
• Appointed the Green Man by the Event Steward at Namron Beltane, 2022
• Autocrat (one of 3) at Wiesenfeuer Yule 2022
• Won the first victory of the day (rapier) in the Champions Tournament at Gulf War 2023, which was Klauss' first Gulf War.

Non-Armigerous Awards and Recognitions:

Award of Arms - Fun fact: In Dutch, a Lord with no major holdings is referred to as a Jonkheer, or a Young Lord. - Given at Protectorate 2022 by Her Majesty Queen Toryn Seven-Stitches II of Ansteorra.

Given a gift of inspiration by Her Majesty, Queen Toryn Seven-Stitches II of Ansteorra at Protectorate 2022 for making her laugh with "the worst puns she had ever heard." While this is not an award or anything befitting a scroll, it is still a fond memory and was the result of a great shenanigan. "Ask Klauss about it!"

Brazier of Vindheim - Given by Prince Micaulay Morrison and Princess Caterina Giovanni: 3rd Coronet of Vindheim at Yule 2022. Klauss was also autocrat of that event.

Wiesenfeuer Flint and Steel- Given by Baroness Muirenn Ingen Chernaig and Mistress (Baroness) Beatrix Alfray at Yule 2022.

Namron Torsade - Given by Baron Yancy Alfson and Hershikona Kolfinna Egilsdóttir at Namron Beltane 2023.

Affiliations:

• Lady Ismena Swann - Fiancé
• Clan Blue Feather
• Legion of Swashbucklers
• Wiesenfeuer - Deputy Herald and Deputy Hospitaler. Klauss lives here.
• Namron - Eager neighbour
• Salle de Stormweasels
• Undisclosed House/Faction - In the works
• Goblin Keep
• Áshildr inn Hárfagri - Klauss' Doña

Mundane Information:

Special Needs:

Though his legal name is Trevor, please do not call him this as it is considered a "dead name." His chosen mundane name is Ollie (or Oliver).

Klauss has been disabled in the past, unable to walk without a cane and brace due to two accounts of being hit by vehicles (motorcycle accidents). He is happy to talk about it if it helps raise awareness for disabled/formerly disabled gentles or to aid in the understanding of others. - Written by Klauss himself in 3rd person for narrative purposes.

In Case of Court:

The surname "Luinstra" is pronounced: Lw-inn-struh, with the "w" sound being more of a curve for the L. Hopefully, this is helpful.

Klauss prefers Herr over Lord, but is okay either way.