Roric Rainerson
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 Steppes Warlord, 2023 Photo by Steve Herring, Permission on file. | ||||||||
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 Gules, an elk rampant contourny and on a chief Or three valknuts sable. |
Centurion Roric Rainerson
Previously Known As: Rhorik Raynarson
Nickname: Jon Snow
Pronouns: He/Him
Offices:
- Local Offices Held
- Exchequer, Shire of Ffynnon Gath
- Knight Marshal, Shire of Ffynnon Gath
Persona History:
No specific persona or time/place, yet, but I do stick to the "Viking Age" with my kit.
Interests:
- Bardic: Skaldic Poetry The Collected Works of Roric Rainerson
Timeline of Activity:
- I joined the Society in the year 2014 and began heavy fighting in that same year.
- In 2016 I was given my Award of Arms. I changed the spelling of my name shortly after being given this award. My original spelling was Rhorik Raynarson, but when I went to register my name and device I could not find evidence for this spelling, so I changed it to Roric Rainerson.
- In 2017 I tore my ACL and had to take a break fighting. That year at WotR/BAM I entered my first Bardic Competition. While I didn't win that competition, it eventually led me to learning a style of Skaldic Poetry called dróttkvætt (courtly meter) that I have started to be known for.
- In 2018 I won my first Bardic competition and was named The Premier Skald of Bjornsborg. The Baron and Baroness of Bjornsborg asked me to write a Skaldic Poem about the event I won and I did calling it Bears Of Bjornsborg.
- In 2018 I became a Squire to Sir Corwin von Xanten at WotR/BAM. At this event His Grace, Duke Miguel Sebastian de Oporto was King and during His court there was a break and He asked for someone to perform. Even though I was very drunk, I volunteered to perform the poem which won me the title of Skald of Bjornsborg. The poem was well received and a few days later I was contacted by Jarl |Timotheos Kalamanos and asked to create a Skaldic Poem based on the story of how a single Knight and Squire won all of Gulf War by themselves. I took me a few years to finish the poem, but I debuted the poem at the 85th Crown Tournament in Bjornsborg. The poem is my longest one I've written to date at a grand total of fifty two verses.
- In 2019 I was given the first and only Sable Thistle in Skaldic Poetry given out so far.
- In 2021 I was given a Sable Talon in Chivalric Combat and
- In 2022 I was given a Sable Comet for my work as Exchequer for the Shire of Ffynnon Gath. I also won my second barony bardic championship and was named the Bard of Bordermarch.
- In 2023 I became Apprentice to Kennari Rónán Fionn Ó Dubáin and a few months later I was named the Premier Bard of Ansteorra. This was later changed to Royal Bard and since my focus on bardic is Skaldic Poetry I refer to myself as Royal Skald or sometimes Hǫfuðskáld (Head skald) of Ansteorra.
- At Pennsic Fifty in the year 2023 I was part of the Ansteorran Ten Man Melee Team. Because of the teams actions and response to an injured fighter on our team, everyone on the team were awarded with a Sable Falcon. I wrote a poem about their story called "The Pennsic Ten."
- In the spring of 2024, I began working on a new original story based on the invasion of England by the "great heathen army." According to legend, the army was supposed to be led by the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok. I presented this story, which I named The Young Pigs at Stepps Warlord 51 later in the spring by performing in the Steppes Bardic Championship. As a result, I was named the Bardic Champion of the Steppes.
Notable Contributions or Accomplishments:
- The Collected Works of Roric Rainerson
- Named Kingdom Artisan, 2024
Classes Taught
The main class I teach currently is an intro to writing Skaldic Poetry. I've taught this class about four times now at various events, including teaching it once at Kingdom A&S. The class gives a brief introduction to Old Norse Poetry, Skaldic Poetry, and focuses on one specific subset of Skaldic Poetry called Dróttkvætt. The class briefly explains the history of this style, but its main focus is the many complex rules and requirements associated with Dróttkvætt and how to write a Dróttkvætt poem. The class is designed to teach a basic introduction to the style, a basic introduction to kennings, and to present a way to write a "simplified or basic version" of the style. The class also briefly covers the more advanced rules and how to write a poem that features all of the rules of the style. The class is heavily inspired by a similar class taught by my Laurel Rónán Fionn Ó Dubáin, but I've added my own research into Dróttkvætt and present some of his talking points in my own way.
Non-Armigerous Awards and Recognitions:
- Skald of Bjornsborg (2018-2019)
- Bard of Bordermarch (2022-2023)
Affiliations:
- Squire to Sir Corwin von Xanten
- Apprentice to Kennari Rónán Fionn Ó Dubáin
