Name: Cynara deWakelegh of Thorncombe

Title: Knight-Archer

Rank: Mercenary

Land of Residence: the Far-Flung Lands of Sun and Snow

Occupation: Lady of the Gray Mountain Manor and sometime mercenary archer

Loyalty: Black Falcon Mercenary Company

Favored Weapon: Longbow

Favored Style of Swordsmanship: Sword and buckler

Armor Preference: Ringed Brigandine, Norman Helm

Motto: Verum, Honor, Fidelitas, "Truth, Honor, Loyalty"

Accomplishments: MMCG Member since 1993
      SCA Heavy Fighter 1994-1996
      Introduced Treasure-Hunting to Mercenary Wars (MW V)
      Organized the Quest of Six Bridges
      Organized Pirate Day
      Organized the Quest of Pulpit Rock
      Organized the First Quest of Ute Valley
      Organized the Quest of the Book of Souls
      Organized the Quest of the Flower Stone
      Organized the Quest of the La Tene Dragon Talisman
      Garb Seamstress

Tourney Record
Mercenary Wars I: 1st--Polearm
Mercenary Wars VI: 2nd--Champions' Tourney
Mercenary Wars VIII: 1st--Archery
Mercenary Wars IX: 2nd--Archery
Mercenary Wars X: 2rd--Archery
Mercenary Wars XI: 1st--Archery

History: I was born in the year of our Lord 1193 at the small Hertfordshire manor of Wakelegh in the southeast of England. The name "wakelegh" means soft or wet meadow. My father, Sir Roger de Wakelegh, fought in the third crusade under Richard Coeur de Lion, carrying the coat of arms blazoned with three eagles and three crescents that I now also bear.

We are of Norman descent. Our ancestor, having fought with William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings, was given Wakelegh Manor and its surrounding farms as a reward for his courage and loyalty. Previously, these lands had belonged to three Saxon brothers.

My mother died early in my life, and my father--happy to have left his life of soldiery--retired to his books. Bereft of any proper womanly influence, I learned swordsmanship alongside my younger brother, Richard. This served me well when later I was to join a mercenary band captained by a young Welshman, Ser Maelgrim Crowther.

Our older brother John inherited Wakelegh, so when Richard emigrated to establish lands for himself near the parish of Thorncombe in Devon, I went with him. It was in the rolling hills of Thorncombe that I learned archery and falconry, and--with the patient assistance of John's wife Celia--stitchery and herb lore.