Maerquin ALV and Barnight
Jan. 17th, 2010 02:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
janestarzFirst there was joy and food and knieperdies with Nathreee and Remco.
Then there was an ALV, in which all the members of Maerquin could come and discuss the future of Maerquin. It was a bit of a difficult year, where some people of the orga did not come through, and now the new people are left to mop up the pieces. The financial status of Maerquin is pretty foggy, but I have good hopes and the 31 (!!) people there all felt hopeful about the coming year.
With 60 people at an average event, having half of them show up for the ALV is a sure sign of a very healthy, committed group of people, I think.
And after that, we all dressed up in our costumes and made fun for a night.
The cloister of Eleena at Driekant.
WARNING: This might contain spoilers!
Special guest for the evening was Polomeus, priest of Eleena for many years now, and he was welcomed happily by all the priests and priestesses of Eleena, none but the Mother Superior being any older than 15 years of age. The children, Bobby and Niels and whatnot, all bounced around happily.
I was less pleased to see an old acquaintance from Wateringen there: Theo Twijgsnijder. Last I saw him he handed me a dagger to slice my wrists, with a gleam in his eye and a half-smile on his face. Now he joined me in the shadowed corner of the room the children chose to ignore for a while, at least. He remarked on how long it had been -- as if I needed reminding -- and spoke of how he found the sanctuary he was looking for here at the temple of Eleena. It was strange talking to Twijgsnijder again, as friendly as he was, I could not help but remember our first encounters, and feared he might hold my actions against me. Always there is a hint of predator in his smile, to me at least.
But Twijgsnijder also spoke of the new Pantheon and asked if I had seen any signs of Septis followers. I replied I hadn't, except for that one ritual after Ranon's death, when I heard the voice of that terrible woman, Alséma.
"I haven't done any magic since." Twijgsnijder confided in me. "Because always, before, you would draw the attention of only one God."
"Which one?" I asked, puzzled. Nobody ever taught me things like this during my education. It wasn't deemed necessary.
"Why, Dinea, of course. But now you draw also the eye of Septis. There isn't a ritual or magic spell he does not look down upon."
I frowned at my hands, keeping my eyes downcast, but soon after Twijgsnijder left me to my thoughts and Victor took a seat near me. "Have you thought of what you wanted to do? How you wanted to serve our Lord better?"
His questions were incessant, and I couldn't answer any of them. I've always served our Master, but never in such a manner that I thought of my future. Victor seemed to want to pry, wanted me to grow beyond what I was now, and I hadn't the first clue on how to go about it.
Again, like many times before, I wondered where Theodoor was. If anything, he is my mentor, and can steer me ever so gently in the right direction.
But Victor's questions came to an end as Polomeus started his ritual to thank Eleena for sending her luck into the world, to us. That we survived the battles with the orks, and that once again they were denied access to our Barony. Victor took my shoulders. "Come now, why don't you join?" I looked over my shoulders at him, remembering the last two rituals I had done with Polomeus. In one, I had awoken from a deep slumber, my head in Polomeus' lap. In the other, I had necessarily revealed more of myself than I had wanted, but for a good cause, and I remember how worried Theodoor looked at me when I did.
But I acquiesced anyway. It never hurts to show thanks to the Gods, even if I have little understanding of the teachings of Eleena.
I was one of the last to join the circle of chairs, and Polomeus sat me down and closed the circle. Jinni, Hugo, Claudius and Roosje were also there, but some of the priest and priestess children also joined. Polomeus handed us each a scrap of paper, and we had to write down something that made us happy. Carefully, I wrote "When Victor brings me a cup of tea." and folded my hands over the paper. One by one, Polomeus gathered the scraps of happiness, and the person was asked to speak aloud. Fedor and Ellenora's happiness had to do with one another, and also Jinni and Hugo. Claudius looked back on his time when Delma was still at his side, whereas the children had smaller things, such as games they enjoyed most.
Polomeus handed us each a blindfold, alternating between coloured ribbons and deepest black. I folded my black blindfold double, blocking out all the light, and we stood. Musiscians played a tune, and we had to fumble our way around the circle, finding an empty chair as soon as the music stopped. The first round was easy enough. I remembered my training, carefully feeling around, and ended up two chairs to the right of my previous seat. The next round I returned to my initial seat. But then I heard a soft voice, a whisper that was so known to me before. "Cheat."
I opened my eyes. It reminded me who I was, and the fun was suddenly gone for me. We never played games in my childhood, spending all our times on chores and lessons. And now I was reminded of who I was, and who I served.
I could peer underneath the blindfold and see the floor. If I were to tilt my head backwards, I could see more, but people would know I was cheating. I played my part well. I startled when Hugo's hands brushed my arms, throwing my hands up over my head to 'hide' myself from his blindfolded stare. Another round I found a seat. Another, and another. It went well. One by one, players failed. Hugo failed, Ellenora. Some of the children.
Then was the round I was next to an empty chair with another person when the music stopped. I wedged myself into the seat firmly, feigning being captured in the game. Cheating to win? Or cheating not to be eliminated? It was a hard choice, but I knew that I probably could win if I played it well. Another round where I found a seat, and more followed.
But then there was failure. I realised that it would be too easy to win, too obvious. Of course people would think I was cheating, and that would be why I won. I realised that with the people eliminated from the game taking their blindfolds off, I would stand out in the end. And so I found myself nearly in the middle of the circle, where Polomeus sat to direct the game, when the music stopped.
Instantly I dropped myself into his lap. Cheating was fine, and it would serve me well, unless I betrayed myself. Again I pretended to be caught up in the game. Again I humiliated myself in a ritual with Polomeus. Always, with him, there is danger.
I took off my blindfold, and the other two girls left played for the last seat. It was Jinni who won, standing with her head bowed next to Polomeus.
But we all lost, all of us lost our happy moments. Except for Jinni, whose happiness in Hugo would now never fade. I felt sadness. Sadness of never being able to enjoy the brotherly gesture of Victor bringing me tea.
Afterwards, after the children presented Polomeus with a large pie, I spoke to him. "If you're not prepared to lose, you can't play." he said, or something quite similar. I nodded, but it was still hard. I asked him about why children were priests and priestesses of Eleena, and he reminded me of this motto. "They are not afraid to play. Somewhere along the line, many people lose it."
"You didn't." I said. I shifted in my seat. We were sitting next to eachother in the dark corner of the cloister. I hoped the shadows surrounding us would mask my change in demeanor towards Polomeus. There was not a hint of shyness in my bodylanguage, and my eyes darted over his features unabashedly.
"I was always different. And you know how I was before Wateringen."
"Oh, I hardly knew you before." I said.
"There was a time when I would have killed anyone like you, because of what happened in Houthof. Theodoor, a simple priest of Kharnun, changed a lot. But other things changed me to."
"I am glad Hugo is here then. He would not allow it." I said, sure of myself.
"He wouldn't lift a finger against me. He trusts my judgement."
I swallowed. I looked at Polomeus. There was not a hint of the darkness I have seen in him before, but I knew he was deadly serious. "That scares me." I admitted.
"But that all changed." Polomeus said, turning to the children and telling a story about knights for them.
Again...Theodoor. I sometimes wonder why it always comes down to him.
I spent most of the rest of the night in that dark corner, sometimes listening to Polomeus' stories for the children, but also trying to follow the conversations around me. At some point, Polomeus excused himself to go to sleep, and Fedor took the empty seat later. We spoke politely, and I touched his arm, apologising for the gesture immediately. "I should not have been so forward."
"You are in no way out of bounds, my lady." he said gallantly. "I do not take offense. I've travelled the world, and have met many people who were less well educated then you are."
I blushed. We spoke of where he came from, and he told me of how he had travelled far to find Jinni, the priestess of Shelindra who cured him.
"May I ask you something personal? Is there a god you follow?" Fedor asked. His blue eyes peered at me.
"Oh!" I said. "Now it you who makes me blush with your question."
"I apologise. I meant no disrespect." he replied.
"May I ask which god you follow?" I asked in return.
"Shelindra. I find much beauty, both inside people and out. I find much beauty in you as well." Fedor said, and I blushed, hiding a shy smile behind my hand. I was quite speechless.
I changed the subject. Joris the bard was playing a guitar in the corner, and I asked Fedor if he did not want to dance with his lady, Ellenora. But Fedor was not easily convinced. When he finally did kneel in front of the seated Ellenora to ask her hand for a dance, I observed them closely. Ellenora leaned forward, just like so. Her face softened and she smiled warmly at the man.
In the end, several people got up to dance. I had lied about my education, and danced a waltz with the priest of Eleena who managed the steps. I even bowed to Hugo, who knew better than to deny me, and we danced a small jig -- quite badly. Hugo was afraid to lead, afraid to stumble, or to even come close to my feet in fear of squashing my toes, and it did not improve his dancing skills.
I even managed a bit of a court dance with Claudius, wrists barely touching and a stately dance of peacocks amidst the ducks.
Earlier that evening, I had spoken to Claudius. I encountered him talking to the dwarves in the hallway, and Dar had extended a hand, saying "please too mgggeet you." in dwarvish-accented common. I smiled shyly, and Claudius explained that he was teaching the dwarf.
I had asked Claudius to join me at a table, and when we were seated, I spoke to him about etiquette. "Rest assured my lord, that should the need arise to dispense with proper etiquette, that I shall not take it amiss." His constant bowing whenever I was close by was getting a little on my nerves, although it did speak highly of his character. "I know that you are always a perfect gentleman, and I realise that there might be some instances that proper conduct suffers under the necessity of haste."
Later, when Fedor had left my side, Claudius and I talked. I asked him about his education, and he told me he is one of two sons of a rich merchant. Privately schooled, no less, in finance and lore, but his true heart lies with ancient artifacts. I sighed inwardly, and said to Claudius he would probably enjoy talking to Theodoor.
Again, Theodoor.
In the end, I bade Claudius a good night and went to sleep, afraid of the sound of a lot of happy children far too early in the morning.
-----
I am satisfied with what we did last night, though Marianne in some ways interferes with my personal happiness. I am glad I decided that she was thoroughly schooled in etiquette that she does know how to dance, and that people got up to dance with me (Marianne would never presume to set the trend by being the first on the dancefloor!). I am interested to see if I can convince Remco to study a simple "court dance" with me for future use in the setting.
However, the mystic side of things is very vexing, IC. I need my mentor back, and the Search for Theodoor reminds me of that age-old DOS-game 'Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?'. But then, Life Happens, and I don't begrudge him the lack of roleplay.
I'm still a little stumped by the age-old dilemma. My character's alignment is a little out of synch with my own alignment, allowing for some really awkward situations, and a lot of food for thought. It comes much more naturally for Indewarrus (Victor), and we seem to be clashing a bit because of it. Nothing that can't be fixed, of course.
I have to wait until May for the next Maerquin adventure, and looking very much forward to it indeed, and I have inspiration for costumes to donate to Maerquin as I promised earlier.
If you're still reading by this time: Maerquin needs new NPC's, and it's one of the best games to play NPC at I know. Indoor sleeping, Zwijgende bask catering, prognosed cost: € 50,-- (Short adventures are free for NPCs!). Enlist now!
Then there was an ALV, in which all the members of Maerquin could come and discuss the future of Maerquin. It was a bit of a difficult year, where some people of the orga did not come through, and now the new people are left to mop up the pieces. The financial status of Maerquin is pretty foggy, but I have good hopes and the 31 (!!) people there all felt hopeful about the coming year.
With 60 people at an average event, having half of them show up for the ALV is a sure sign of a very healthy, committed group of people, I think.
And after that, we all dressed up in our costumes and made fun for a night.
The cloister of Eleena at Driekant.
WARNING: This might contain spoilers!
Special guest for the evening was Polomeus, priest of Eleena for many years now, and he was welcomed happily by all the priests and priestesses of Eleena, none but the Mother Superior being any older than 15 years of age. The children, Bobby and Niels and whatnot, all bounced around happily.
I was less pleased to see an old acquaintance from Wateringen there: Theo Twijgsnijder. Last I saw him he handed me a dagger to slice my wrists, with a gleam in his eye and a half-smile on his face. Now he joined me in the shadowed corner of the room the children chose to ignore for a while, at least. He remarked on how long it had been -- as if I needed reminding -- and spoke of how he found the sanctuary he was looking for here at the temple of Eleena. It was strange talking to Twijgsnijder again, as friendly as he was, I could not help but remember our first encounters, and feared he might hold my actions against me. Always there is a hint of predator in his smile, to me at least.
But Twijgsnijder also spoke of the new Pantheon and asked if I had seen any signs of Septis followers. I replied I hadn't, except for that one ritual after Ranon's death, when I heard the voice of that terrible woman, Alséma.
"I haven't done any magic since." Twijgsnijder confided in me. "Because always, before, you would draw the attention of only one God."
"Which one?" I asked, puzzled. Nobody ever taught me things like this during my education. It wasn't deemed necessary.
"Why, Dinea, of course. But now you draw also the eye of Septis. There isn't a ritual or magic spell he does not look down upon."
I frowned at my hands, keeping my eyes downcast, but soon after Twijgsnijder left me to my thoughts and Victor took a seat near me. "Have you thought of what you wanted to do? How you wanted to serve our Lord better?"
His questions were incessant, and I couldn't answer any of them. I've always served our Master, but never in such a manner that I thought of my future. Victor seemed to want to pry, wanted me to grow beyond what I was now, and I hadn't the first clue on how to go about it.
Again, like many times before, I wondered where Theodoor was. If anything, he is my mentor, and can steer me ever so gently in the right direction.
But Victor's questions came to an end as Polomeus started his ritual to thank Eleena for sending her luck into the world, to us. That we survived the battles with the orks, and that once again they were denied access to our Barony. Victor took my shoulders. "Come now, why don't you join?" I looked over my shoulders at him, remembering the last two rituals I had done with Polomeus. In one, I had awoken from a deep slumber, my head in Polomeus' lap. In the other, I had necessarily revealed more of myself than I had wanted, but for a good cause, and I remember how worried Theodoor looked at me when I did.
But I acquiesced anyway. It never hurts to show thanks to the Gods, even if I have little understanding of the teachings of Eleena.
I was one of the last to join the circle of chairs, and Polomeus sat me down and closed the circle. Jinni, Hugo, Claudius and Roosje were also there, but some of the priest and priestess children also joined. Polomeus handed us each a scrap of paper, and we had to write down something that made us happy. Carefully, I wrote "When Victor brings me a cup of tea." and folded my hands over the paper. One by one, Polomeus gathered the scraps of happiness, and the person was asked to speak aloud. Fedor and Ellenora's happiness had to do with one another, and also Jinni and Hugo. Claudius looked back on his time when Delma was still at his side, whereas the children had smaller things, such as games they enjoyed most.
Polomeus handed us each a blindfold, alternating between coloured ribbons and deepest black. I folded my black blindfold double, blocking out all the light, and we stood. Musiscians played a tune, and we had to fumble our way around the circle, finding an empty chair as soon as the music stopped. The first round was easy enough. I remembered my training, carefully feeling around, and ended up two chairs to the right of my previous seat. The next round I returned to my initial seat. But then I heard a soft voice, a whisper that was so known to me before. "Cheat."
I opened my eyes. It reminded me who I was, and the fun was suddenly gone for me. We never played games in my childhood, spending all our times on chores and lessons. And now I was reminded of who I was, and who I served.
I could peer underneath the blindfold and see the floor. If I were to tilt my head backwards, I could see more, but people would know I was cheating. I played my part well. I startled when Hugo's hands brushed my arms, throwing my hands up over my head to 'hide' myself from his blindfolded stare. Another round I found a seat. Another, and another. It went well. One by one, players failed. Hugo failed, Ellenora. Some of the children.
Then was the round I was next to an empty chair with another person when the music stopped. I wedged myself into the seat firmly, feigning being captured in the game. Cheating to win? Or cheating not to be eliminated? It was a hard choice, but I knew that I probably could win if I played it well. Another round where I found a seat, and more followed.
But then there was failure. I realised that it would be too easy to win, too obvious. Of course people would think I was cheating, and that would be why I won. I realised that with the people eliminated from the game taking their blindfolds off, I would stand out in the end. And so I found myself nearly in the middle of the circle, where Polomeus sat to direct the game, when the music stopped.
Instantly I dropped myself into his lap. Cheating was fine, and it would serve me well, unless I betrayed myself. Again I pretended to be caught up in the game. Again I humiliated myself in a ritual with Polomeus. Always, with him, there is danger.
I took off my blindfold, and the other two girls left played for the last seat. It was Jinni who won, standing with her head bowed next to Polomeus.
But we all lost, all of us lost our happy moments. Except for Jinni, whose happiness in Hugo would now never fade. I felt sadness. Sadness of never being able to enjoy the brotherly gesture of Victor bringing me tea.
Afterwards, after the children presented Polomeus with a large pie, I spoke to him. "If you're not prepared to lose, you can't play." he said, or something quite similar. I nodded, but it was still hard. I asked him about why children were priests and priestesses of Eleena, and he reminded me of this motto. "They are not afraid to play. Somewhere along the line, many people lose it."
"You didn't." I said. I shifted in my seat. We were sitting next to eachother in the dark corner of the cloister. I hoped the shadows surrounding us would mask my change in demeanor towards Polomeus. There was not a hint of shyness in my bodylanguage, and my eyes darted over his features unabashedly.
"I was always different. And you know how I was before Wateringen."
"Oh, I hardly knew you before." I said.
"There was a time when I would have killed anyone like you, because of what happened in Houthof. Theodoor, a simple priest of Kharnun, changed a lot. But other things changed me to."
"I am glad Hugo is here then. He would not allow it." I said, sure of myself.
"He wouldn't lift a finger against me. He trusts my judgement."
I swallowed. I looked at Polomeus. There was not a hint of the darkness I have seen in him before, but I knew he was deadly serious. "That scares me." I admitted.
"But that all changed." Polomeus said, turning to the children and telling a story about knights for them.
Again...Theodoor. I sometimes wonder why it always comes down to him.
I spent most of the rest of the night in that dark corner, sometimes listening to Polomeus' stories for the children, but also trying to follow the conversations around me. At some point, Polomeus excused himself to go to sleep, and Fedor took the empty seat later. We spoke politely, and I touched his arm, apologising for the gesture immediately. "I should not have been so forward."
"You are in no way out of bounds, my lady." he said gallantly. "I do not take offense. I've travelled the world, and have met many people who were less well educated then you are."
I blushed. We spoke of where he came from, and he told me of how he had travelled far to find Jinni, the priestess of Shelindra who cured him.
"May I ask you something personal? Is there a god you follow?" Fedor asked. His blue eyes peered at me.
"Oh!" I said. "Now it you who makes me blush with your question."
"I apologise. I meant no disrespect." he replied.
"May I ask which god you follow?" I asked in return.
"Shelindra. I find much beauty, both inside people and out. I find much beauty in you as well." Fedor said, and I blushed, hiding a shy smile behind my hand. I was quite speechless.
I changed the subject. Joris the bard was playing a guitar in the corner, and I asked Fedor if he did not want to dance with his lady, Ellenora. But Fedor was not easily convinced. When he finally did kneel in front of the seated Ellenora to ask her hand for a dance, I observed them closely. Ellenora leaned forward, just like so. Her face softened and she smiled warmly at the man.
In the end, several people got up to dance. I had lied about my education, and danced a waltz with the priest of Eleena who managed the steps. I even bowed to Hugo, who knew better than to deny me, and we danced a small jig -- quite badly. Hugo was afraid to lead, afraid to stumble, or to even come close to my feet in fear of squashing my toes, and it did not improve his dancing skills.
I even managed a bit of a court dance with Claudius, wrists barely touching and a stately dance of peacocks amidst the ducks.
Earlier that evening, I had spoken to Claudius. I encountered him talking to the dwarves in the hallway, and Dar had extended a hand, saying "please too mgggeet you." in dwarvish-accented common. I smiled shyly, and Claudius explained that he was teaching the dwarf.
I had asked Claudius to join me at a table, and when we were seated, I spoke to him about etiquette. "Rest assured my lord, that should the need arise to dispense with proper etiquette, that I shall not take it amiss." His constant bowing whenever I was close by was getting a little on my nerves, although it did speak highly of his character. "I know that you are always a perfect gentleman, and I realise that there might be some instances that proper conduct suffers under the necessity of haste."
Later, when Fedor had left my side, Claudius and I talked. I asked him about his education, and he told me he is one of two sons of a rich merchant. Privately schooled, no less, in finance and lore, but his true heart lies with ancient artifacts. I sighed inwardly, and said to Claudius he would probably enjoy talking to Theodoor.
Again, Theodoor.
In the end, I bade Claudius a good night and went to sleep, afraid of the sound of a lot of happy children far too early in the morning.
-----
I am satisfied with what we did last night, though Marianne in some ways interferes with my personal happiness. I am glad I decided that she was thoroughly schooled in etiquette that she does know how to dance, and that people got up to dance with me (Marianne would never presume to set the trend by being the first on the dancefloor!). I am interested to see if I can convince Remco to study a simple "court dance" with me for future use in the setting.
However, the mystic side of things is very vexing, IC. I need my mentor back, and the Search for Theodoor reminds me of that age-old DOS-game 'Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?'. But then, Life Happens, and I don't begrudge him the lack of roleplay.
I'm still a little stumped by the age-old dilemma. My character's alignment is a little out of synch with my own alignment, allowing for some really awkward situations, and a lot of food for thought. It comes much more naturally for Indewarrus (Victor), and we seem to be clashing a bit because of it. Nothing that can't be fixed, of course.
I have to wait until May for the next Maerquin adventure, and looking very much forward to it indeed, and I have inspiration for costumes to donate to Maerquin as I promised earlier.
If you're still reading by this time: Maerquin needs new NPC's, and it's one of the best games to play NPC at I know. Indoor sleeping, Zwijgende bask catering, prognosed cost: € 50,-- (Short adventures are free for NPCs!). Enlist now!
