Greetings guys. Only 3 months late finding this. Not bad for me... *g*

To belatedly answer many questions. Raedwulf is the germanic original of Ralph, my maternal grandfather's first name, & consequently my middle name. The elements have been correctly identified by HuwG, so the name is "wolf counsel". Or plain 'cunning' if you prefer... *Evil Grin*

Any of the 'catters who've been to Festival At The Edge will at least know me by sight - yes I'm the Strange One wandering around in saxon garb. And yes I've got a very big horn (& yes it's quality too, & yes so is what goes into it, especially if it's me been brewing it - The Magician will testify in due course when he gets around to drinking his payment!). And FATE is of course where I know the Rincewynd crew, Tig & etc, from. And also an utterly mad Dorset/Cornishman (so, no greg, you're not the first! *g*) called Hawk who plays a saw & promptly named me Raven. Which is probably also kind of appropriate...

I'm London born & bred, but have paternal roots down in Dorset, so can claim to be Wessex in origin (possibly). Mind you the maternal side goes back to Leics & ultimately to the Normans, but I try not to admit to tha... Bugger, bugger, bugger... :( *g*

I can't speak Anglo-Saxon, although I do know the various alleged pronounciations for the weird combinations. So I was quite gobsmacked to find that, yes, I think did just about what understand what you said to me Adam! I won't attempt an A/S reply, but yes, there's something of wisdom in me, perhaps, & something of the wolf, & plenty of the cunning. As to the wolf's head... Mmmmm... I'll let someone who's seen me decide on that one (especially if they've seen me with full beard & in mad mood...).

I'm most definitely English, if not the full Saxon band Mr. B. Never thought that much of 'em, Motorhead are vastly superior! *g* Have been acquiring a taste for folk over the last few years, inevitably starting with Steeleye Span, I guess! I used play electric guitar (shredding a la Van Halen/Malmsteen only not *quite* that good), but it's mostly been pre-17thC music on classical guitar over the last few years.

That's all gone to pot this year with the advent of A) my lute being fixed, & B) starting 15thC re-enactment (mostly in SE England, though I was also at Tewkesbury this year). Lute tuning is as per guitar, except the G is an F#, for those who don't know. This, of course, knackers all those reflexively placed chord shapes. Aaaaargh! *g*

Oh & I acquired a big F-off rope tensioned side drum from Marcus Music at Tewkes & it makes lots of noise!! *BBG* Yes that was me leading the King out (or following behind him, I forget which) on the Saturday. And making more noise than the six drummers who were standing together on the rebel scum side during the battle... *g*

Anytime any of you celtic types (mustn't say scum, musn't say scum, mustn't etc... *bg*) want a fight, feel free. Words, swords, staves, axes, yep I do the fighting thing too. Am also getting to be a pretty seriously good archer (longbow, did you need to ask? *g*).

Funnily enough, although I've been Raedwulf in a non-show group for very many years, I've never done any shows as a Saxon. 'Musical' recreation is a bit difficult, going that far back, which is one reason I'm currently doing 15thC - at least I can find the music! Also working on English Airs, folk songs & various fragments such as "Miri it is". I do do storytelling, though, & have been known to break into such tales as The Making of the Mead of Inspiration, & the Lay of Thrym (in saga style verse, making half of it up as I'm going along *g*), and am also Germanic pagan.

And now you know far more about me than you ever wanted to, I'll shut up, except to say, thanks for the warm welcome, even though I was just a little late spotting it! *bg*