House Blackrune and the Blackrune Free Company were both founded on September 24th AS XVII (1983), in the Barony of the Angels, during the baronial reign of Baron Taliesin de Acre. Their area of origin is the Canton of the Canyons, in the Barony of Angels, in the Kingdom of Caid , within the Society for Creative Anachronism. Both groups were founded by Stromburg Blackrune, Gulliver Blackrune, Erickson Blackrune and Hanse Darkona Blackrune. The groups began meeting at Arcadia Regional County Park on Tuesday, January 3, 1984. Members of House Blackrune were encouraged to fight with the BFC, but were not required to and participated in many other fighting units in Caid, West, East, Trimaris, and midrealms. Fighters in the BFC could join for a single war or for differant terms of service as fit thier interests. Membership in the BFC did not confer membership in the household. Many members also have membership in other groups such as the Bloody Harlequins, Temple's Hope, the Indigo Rose , House Blackspear, and Sietch Persistent. Members participate in many areas of the SCA including brewing, music, cooking, metalwork, leatherwork, costuming and calligraphy. Members of Blackrune also have a long history of active participation running events and giving service to the society on many levels. Members have held office on the Cantonial, Baronial and Kingdom levels. The BFC has had 5 Captains over it's history; Stromburg Blackrune, Gulliver Blackrune, Torin Ribsplitter, Ivan Blackrune and it's current Captain Caspian Blackrune. The Blackrune Free Company is a mercenary group originally sponsored by House Blackrune. The BFC is a fighting unit designed to give lone fighters and small groups a place to fight, without having to dedicate themselves to long term service to a territorial group. This flexible design arose when we noticed that each of the territorial based groups, at the time, would receive preferential treatment when it came to the ordering of battle on the field. The lone fighters would be grouped together with little regard for their abilities. By grouping together we became more of a force on the field. Some notable warbands that spent time with Blackrune in their early days include the Bloody Harlequins and the Romani. The Blackrune Free Company was awarded the Order of the Crossed Swords for valor on the battlefield in 1994 by His Majesty Ivan III. We traditionally fight in the Third Brigade though we still hire out as mercenaries occasionally. Today the Blackrune Free Company is enjoying a renewal of purpose, manpower and spirit with the addition of the new camping group The Bjoys of Blackrune; a vibrant, enthusiastic generation of new members.
