Charm XVII

[janestarz]

There was some initial confusion about the transport means, with Twi offering a ride, but me passing on the ride so Yvon could have a spot in the TQR bus. I was fine with the train trip, a simple one-switch ride to Arnhem, where Nathreee and Remco would pick me up.
The suitcase was stuffed and rather heavy, and the only thing that didn't fit in there was the tent, but it held my sleeping bag and air matrass as well as the wool patchwork quilt.
NoKey carried the suitcase down the stairs and dragged it to the station for me, where we said goodbye and I boarded the train. I decided to stay in third class, the small folding seats near the doors, as it was a little after five and the train was packed. The suitcase would be another complication and even if I dislike riding third class it's better if you stick with your luggage at all times.
The switch at Utrecht went smoothly and though the connecting train was a bit late, I was in Arnhem quickly enough. The Arnhem station is still being remodeled, though. I had some trouble finding Nathreee, but in the end we all (including an unexpected Gwen) got in their car and we arrived at the Trappershorst not half an hour later.

Saying hi to people, pitching the tent, inflating the air matress, and hugs ensued.


Dramatis Personae
Airë Tari (Queen) Melissandra - a wind elf, played by Dotje;
Camthalion Sindanarië - a wind elf, Lord High Commander, High Judge, Couselor to her Majesty the Queen and all that jazz -- played by Arno
Kemen Aras - a wood elf, Conservative Council member, played by the Admiral;
Olosta Ithil - a moon elf, Neutral Council member, played by anemoona;
Vanya Ardhon - a sun elf, Empathist Coucnil member, played by me;
Inanna - a blood elf, played by ningyomatsuri;
Artemir - a wind elf, played by omdathetkan;
Uriël - a human, played by Petra;
Amelie - a human, played by nathreee;
Anarion - a sun elf, played by Maurice;
Angus - a human, played by Brian;
Kilian - a human healer, played by lupijn;

And many others... but I can't name everyone here.
All pictures in this post are thanks to and © kainelslor and Joris! More pics are forthcoming!

Friday
As an NPC, I was expected in the monster room for a briefing, but because we had semi-permanent roles, the four of us were briefed seperately. Camthalion, Kemen, Olosta and myself would be working on the political plot, the main plot of the weekend, trying to get the players involved and trying to break the stalemate in the Elven Council.
And boy, did they get involved...

Almost immediately after we entered the game we called a meeting of the councilmembers to order. Camthalion spoke to the players, inviting and and all who wanted to join us, to join us. I had written down a short but heart-felt speech about my points of view, using many adjectives and praise for the players.
Olosta spoke shortly about how more research was needed and Kemen was his usual self: he swept my arguments from the table, taking care to be grumpy along the way. But then the players came into action and the discussion really got underway. Uriël, Amelie, and Anarion all spoke against Kemen, and I was sure to step in at times as well. Locus was there too, taking care to speak at times as well, though he really didn't show much of choosing a side.
After a while, Kemen started to get agitated. I guess he was tired of being told he was wrong. But my plea that perhaps he shouldn't be so happy to point towards the bloodelves as a source of everything that is wrong when there were also beastlings around, was probably the last drop. "I don't have to listen to this." he said curtly, and he got up from the table and stormed out, leaving me with my mouth hanging open in shock.

The meeting broke up slowly, and I went to see Kemen in private. However, he was immediately offended again, and stormed away yet again. I sighed and went to find some help from the others, first speaking to Uriël and then to Inanna in the hope either or both could persuade Kemen to come to his senses. I explained again the situation in the council, giving them the nubmers (135 for Conservatives, 135 for Empathists, and 33 that remained Neutral) and how we could break the impasse. I set their goals high, believing that Kemen should be able to see reason. Perhaps they would be able to convince not only Olosta but Kemen to come to the Empathist side as well. After all, I was on the player's side!

My bed was cold and even a bit wet as I rolled into it. The tent, being barely 2 meters long had pushed the inner canvas onto the outer canvas and my pillow was slightly damp. Luckily the sleeping bag (even though the zipper gave me trouble and wouldn't close) and the quilt were warm and dry, and I slept well enough.

Saturday
I was awake early, but I figured it was time to get up. Only after getting dressed and opening the tent flap did I notice it was still early. "Gee...those shadows are still really long..."
It was a quarter to nine and luckily I wasn't the first one up or to crave coffee. I used the facilities and brushed my teeth, washed my face, and finally once I worked up the courage, I brushed my hair. (I just didn't feel like it.)
Breakfast was scrambled eggs and coffee, and white bread with cheese. I had a good breakfast and then started to assemble interested people for some yoga.
Vanya is a Sun Elf and in this setting all Sun Elves are a kind of hippie. Last Charm I had shocked Inanna by taking off my shoes and walking barefoot in the grass. This Charm I would go above and beyond the call of hippie-dom and to a yoga exercise we call a Sun Greeting.

I got the quilt from my bed and was very glad I hadn't put on my corset yet. Anarion sat in the sunshine, meditating, and I sat next to him, waiting for Vargynja to finish her very own Sun Greeting -- very different from ours -- and for Maurice to finish meditating. His white costume shon when the sun broke through the clouds, and his features were very peaceful.


From left to right: Xeonikes (erwinl), Vargynja (anastaszia), Anarion (Maurice), Vanya (me), Unnamed Elf #11 (twilightbanana) and Unnamed Elf #12 (Remco).

After yoga, which left me feeling an additional inch or three taller than I am (it always does that, weird that I happen to be so tall, eh?), the political talks continued. I saw both Kemen and Olosta being cornered by several players and I spent time with many players that supported my point of view: that their Gods, the Gods of the Night, should be allowed in the Elven Kingdom.
What happened is that I asked two players, Inanna and Uriël for help, and then they must have recruted some others, because five players have been talking with the two politicians that needed some persuading.


Kemen being cornered by Inanna and Vanya.

By noon, it was clear the Queen would arrive soon. Members of the Dragon Regiment had already arrived and swept the location, but now preparations were nearly frantic. People ordered new clothes from the harassed tailor, the housekeeper was running left and right, already dressed in her most beautiful gown.
Anarion came hurrying back from meeting the procession. "They're on their way!" he announced, and we all lined up to greet the queen. Everyone exchanged nervous glances as one of the feline beastlings lay down in the middle of the path to the palace, but she got up without the queen ever seeing it. When they finally did arrive, we could hardly see the petite Queen Melissandra between the tall and armoured Dragon Regiment. We all bowed low, following the procession into the palace, but the queen went into her chambers and everyone had to wait.

I did get an invitation to walk with the queen, along with Olosta and Kemen, and she asked me how things had progressed. Once Olosta joined us, the queen said in no uncertain terms that it would be good if Olosta were to side with me. I could hardly believe what I heard, but Olosta only bowed her head and didn't reply.

There was still the small matter of the trial of Artemir and Alcániël.
Artemir had been posted as an undercover agent of the Pegasus regiment, and had despite all this still started a relationship with Inanna, one of the Blood elves he was sent to investigate. Alcániël was a praised and respected captain of the Dolphin regiment who had abandoned her passengers on an island to follow the man she loved (a human, no less) before returning to them. She had also failed to arrest two men who were suspected of murdering her own quartermaster.
Of course it was Kemen, the elf we all love to hate, who had told Camthalion of their crimes. Camthalion looked like he'd been slapped; Artemir was his son, and he had expected better of him. Now he was supposed to judge him for being prejudiced during active duty.

Artemir and Alcániël had both asked others for help. Uriël, Amelie, Inanna and Anarion were all present at the trial and they spoke in favour of the two defendants. Uriël spoke of how she had hated Artemir's guts when she found out he had betrayed them all, pretending to be but a simple writer, reading their letters before sending them on, and spying on their every move. Amelie and Inanna spoke to the same respect. However, Camthalion frowned upon their testimonies.
Alcániël's case was no less complicated. Anarion said that perhaps we should not judge her so harshly, since it all turned out alright, but Camthalion was seemingly deaf to his arguments.
In the end, Camthalion spoke. Normally, these cases would be decided instantaneously. But in this case, because the accused were so closely connected to the case that had held the elven council in its thrall for so long, judgment would be postponed, depending de decision of the council.

Now the Bloodelves and Uriël had even more reasons to influence and convince Kemen and Olosta of their case.


Camthalion (center back, with the enormous fur collar) presiding over the trial.

I spoke to Camthalion in private, outside, but it seemed I had little effect trying to persuade him to show the love for his son and grant Artamir freedom. I knew that whatever the council decided would also swing the high judge, for if the blood elves were accepted the reports would no longer matter, and Artamir would be free to have a relationship with Inanna if he so wished.

That night I also played Indil, a young acolyte of Helena, goddess of healing and protection. We took the talented Kilian and Merel along with Angus and some others (two mercenaries and a Sun elf of Manos) to the temple of Helena in the woods. There we saw the chalice of Helena disappear, and the priest sent me and the adventurous others to retrieve it.
It was a test of Helena, and we encountered people that needed our help. The first ones were a young boy and his mother, who fed him a slight poison so he would not run away. After helping them we continued our walk, and found a man whose bowels had spilled from his abdomen. Kilian and Merel spent some time cleaning and sewing him up while I held bandages to the bleeding wound (yay for fake, sticky blood!). Finally we helped a man who was dying, not by ending his misery but by being around him and comforting him. Indil cried when the man was gone, until she picked up the chalice that had appeared next to the man, and offered the healing waters of Helena to each in turn.

I returned as Vanya that night too. The Queen had asked to hear the councilmembers' opinions on the subject that had torn the council in three pieces, creating the deadlock situation we were there to resolve. I had not spoken with Kemen or Olosta on the subject, but I suspected that Inanna and Uriël had continued their talks with them both if they could.
Slowly, very slowly, the people filtered into the throneroom. The queen was seated on her throne, staring at each of the people in turn and requesting refreshments and someone to fix her dress for her while the humans were searched. One of the dragon regiment tasted the grapes to see if they had been poisoned, but his face was sour as if he didn't like them. After tasting a few grapes and having found no ill effects, he offered the bowl of grapes to the queen, who declined. (hee hee!)


Left to right: Anne as a member of the Dragon Regiment, Vince (ditto), Queen Melissandra by Dotje on the throne, with Locus kneeling before her, Erik as member of the Dragon Regiment and Ignis (ditto).

When at last everyone was seated, the Queen spoke and said Camthalion would open the meeting and what the rules were. Camthalion continued, asking each of the council members to tell the queen what their point of view on the subject was.
I had an excellent view of the Blood elves, for whom so much depended on the view of the council, from where I was sitting, and I watched them closely as we recounted our points of view.
But they were not as they had been before...

When Kemen told the Queen and all present his opinion, you could see the Blood elves blink a few times. Tension drained from their faces somewhat. Then Olosta stood to give her opion. With the pressure from the Queen and the endless talks with all present, she had decided she could no longer stall and had to accept that perhaps the 3000 year old information she was looking for, was no longer known to Elves. She suggested a trial period of a hundred years, in which the Gods of the Night should be calmly introduced in the Elven Kingdom.

The queen spoke next. She said that with this information, she would gladly welcome and accept the Blood Elves as our brothers and sisters, offering them aid in their war against the undead.
The blood elves were now smiling at eachother. It had worked! They would get the help they needed!
Then Kemen stood again, with the permission of the Queen. He said that he would like to drop the charges, since there was no longer a case against either Artamir nor Alcániël.
I thought Inanna might faint then and there, but she just placed her slender hand on her heaving chest in shock at this good news.

We were excused, bowed, and everyone left the room. I was smiling broadly, unwilling and unable to hide my pleasure at my fellow coucilor's decisions. When I reached the common room, I saw Artemir and Inanna hugging, kissing, him lifting her up and turning them around. I started applauding, glad at this display of affection from a wind elf, and some other sun elves joined in.
But our cheer was quickly ended when a member of the Pegasus regiment came inside, demanded to see the queen and have the order to release Alcániël rescinded. New evidence had surfaced, and the woman wanted another trial.
"Quick!" Arno said to me. "This is bad timing, because all of the players have left. Get them in here NOW!"
I ran outside, finding Diego, Alcániël's lover, Bram his friend, Uriël and others who would want to be present or witness the trial.

The trial was very emotional. Though the investigator from the Pegasus Regiment had not yet had time to build a case, Alcániël chose to speak on her own behalf, telling the woman, and the Queen who was still present, what exactly had happened and why she did not turn the suspected murderers in. Camthalion guided the process, reminding everyone this was not an actual trial.
In the end, Alcániël, crying and sorrowful, laid down her commission, her Dolphin Regiment badge, and her captain's hat, begging leave of the queen and asking Diego if she could join his crew, and the trial was cancelled.

After all the emotional rollercoasters of the evening I thought to finish the night with heart-felt congratulations and thanks to all parties involved, but Kemen brought more disturbing news. Ocato, leader of the conservatives, had sent him a letter saying that if Vanya (me) and Olosta would concoct a deal, there would be a second letter with instructions. Contingency plans, basically, and it all boiled down to an attempted coup. There were signs of wood elves in the forest, but they didn't come out or identify themselves to any of us. They did send arrows flying at us, but they went intentionally wide and no-one was hurt, even when I ran after Anarion, who was freaking out at a vision, or when I walked forward with two members of the dragon regiment and demanded to know who they were.

I was cornered by Angus, a human who spoke Elvish with a rather thick accent, but fluently enough that I could understand him well. It was already after time-out, but I don't think I could have passed up the chance for roleplay at that time. Kilian joined us outside, and we moved inside at some point when it started raining.
Angus was very interested in the political situation, because he'd just witnessed the Queen's decision, and wanted to hear the whole story. Luckily I had two events to get used to what had been happening, all the ins and outs of this political plot and I could relate it perfectly in a lovely lilting elvish (British English).

The Elves have a council of 303, made up of all the four races of elves: wind, wood, moon and sun. But the arrival of the blood elves stirred up trouble. They were a new race of elves, who had embraced the gods of the night and had been fighting a war against undead for 3000 years. They were originally sent from our own lands, and so they were our brethren. But how could they be, for worship of the gods of the night had been prohibited since before time?
The council had been devided (as mentioned above) into three parties, and when a group of adventurers, closely followed and reported upon by Artemir who was at first undercover, found information that each elven race had a representative called a Grey elf at the end of the world, the parties decided to sent representatives of their own to the group of adventurers to find out more information, so that perhaps they could decide on whether to allow the gods of the night.

The documents, which I had held in my hands, spoke of the gold elves, who worshipped Anata (a goddess of the night), who had perished because the grey elf of the gold elves had been murdered by another grey elf, one of the races who worshipped gods of the day. (I know this is confusing, and it took me a while to figure everything out myself!)

Another race of elves was found: the ivory elves, whose grey elf had fled to an island in the mists to a prison where he slept for thousands of years. And now he was freed, and in doubt whether to return to the island at the end of the world.
All of these facts and the decision of the council became more urgent, because the grey elf of the sun elves was dying, the sun elf race winking in and out of existence.

After an hour, I had explained all this in excruciating detail to Angus, and we moved inside, only to be joined by Kilian. Though Angus was adamant that we made a mistake in allowing the gods of the night back, Kilian said Angus was prejudiced because of his own experiences with Anata.

Around half past three we finally dropped OC and I spend the rest of the time until 7 am on the couch with, as time progressed, less and less people, until finally I went to bed. I didn't have any trouble finding my tent this night as it was already light!

Sunday
Having finished the political plotline I was offered the choice whether I wanted to return into the game. First I wanted to help out with the Marching twelve, a bit of plot where 12 'spirits' roam around. The players could attack them, or let them go. It was really hard to get them to attack us, but in the end they did and we vanished as we died.

After this, I decided I wanted to wear my Beriadanwen armour myself and I dressed up as a woodelf. The situation with the woodelves would deteriorate quickly, and I longed for some nice guerilla-action. And we had instructions: kidnap any lone players in the woods, and plan an ambush at a bridge nearby.
I borrowed a bow from sneeuw_chan and took him and anemoona, also recently de-policalised, into the woods. We took the long road to the bridge and arrived in time to plan the ambush. There were two large fern fields near the bridge, and when some 8 or 9 woodelves had gathered there, we were quite ready for the ambush.

Angus and another elf were unlucky enough to run into our men during their search for herbs. We thought they were scouts. The elf laid down his weapons, but Angus got away because I fumbled with my arrow. We subdued the sun elf, took his weapons and tied him to a tree in the middle of the fern field before returning to our positions. There's nothing more exciting than waiting in an ambush and being completely invisible...and then taking out two more scouts!

The players arrived, but they took a different route. A GM came to tell us the bad news. "You have to drive them back here."
We abandoned the initial plan and any idea of stealth and I started running, trying to circle wide around but finding out the players had taken a right turn and were coming at me. I was followed for a while, hearing cries of "watch out!" behind me. Diego was close, but didn't see me (crossing a path, turning a corner, and falling blindly into a fern patch IS a way to shake off pursuit!), and I managed to end up on the right side of the players and kind of force them in some sort of direction.

The players had disguised one of the queen's handmaidens as decoy, but we did not know that. Wood elves sprouted from the undergrowth, and we demanded they hand over the queen, but instead the priests started casting. Uriël used a particularly nasty spell (choke) on my character, and Pluis (who dropped in for the day) quickly finished my archer off with four swipes of a dagger over my throat. (I guess two would have done me for, but oh well...)

I got to go again, and though the GMs were not at all clear about the bridge and what it represented, I ran onto the bridge, holding my bow aimed full-pull at the queen.
Luthine shouted "You can't shoot from there!" (it was far too dangerous!) and I replied "I know, but I can sure scare them!" and then I was killed again, nearly as quickly as the first time.

There's one thing, though: Charm really needs to learn how to call time-out. Because after Time-out was called, CJ decided it would be cool to have our escaped prisoners be chased up until the city walls... so we went in again. I very nearly shot Vince's feet out from under him (take that, tower shield!) and then it was really over, a rush of adrenaline all that remained from such a wonderful event.


There are some loose ends to tidy up, though. I didn't get to finish my plot with Anarion, and then there's the insatiable thirst for more. I really really enjoyed NPC'ing at Charm and I am happy Rob (Locus in above pic), Wendy, Lenny, and omdathetkan did their puppy-eyes on me last Midwinterfair.

I am currently harassing NoKey in the vain hope he will join us next time...because I know where the plot might be headed towards and I just know he'll love it!

Comments

[omdathetkan.livejournal.com]

Nice report! And glad you enjoyed it. We will definitely prepare something nice for next event :-)

[janestarz.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I had a wonderful time and I really hope I can convince NoKey to come along next time!

[(Anonymous)]

Great report!
I love reading the plot from someone elses perspective. You did a great job with the political plot, it really came alive this event.

Margriet aka Luthine aka Alcániel

[armhart.livejournal.com]

I totally missed the political plot. So it's great read what was happening while we where is the woods and in the dungeon.

[janestarz.livejournal.com]

That is a great userpic you've got there! It certainly was fun seeing you again ;-)

[armhart.livejournal.com]

You must be kidding. It was the only I could find.

[kainelslor.livejournal.com]

I had a lot of fun as well.
just need the damn time to right it down :-(

[janestarz.livejournal.com]

I had sent you a pm through the Charm forum as well!