Role
Love
Added Wed Apr 24 19:13:33 2024 at level 6:
Yes, I moved here from Darsylon. A bit of a rogue I am, I suppose. I
did indeed get in a little bit of trouble back home. But I mean, a
thief as I am - I make no attempt to deceive. I am not what you think.
Many would spread falsehoods about me, as if I am some scoundrel
out to steal love and break hearts.
But nothing could be further from the truth.
Love... is the link so many seek, yet so many fear to find.
Do not laugh!
I am not so fearful of love. It is a gift I am glad to share. And surely,
gifts are not meant to be bound and limited. None moreso than love! For
so many suffer from such loneliness, such despair, such... longing. And
the world somehow has taught everyone that they deserve not simple
affection, simple warmth, simple joy and pleasure? What more powerfully
dispels the pain than the simple touch of another? Likewise, what is
more joyful than the feeling of admiration, appreciation, another can
bestow to you?
Love is easy for me. I make no apologies for sharing it so freely. For it
is a gift that I believe, so radically, apparently, that should not be
bound to only two souls.
You, of course, are to be prized. Do they not appreciate you? Perhaps you
have not appreciated yourself? But you and they are not seeing what I see.
You are more than pretty, you are more than a mere token to marry off
to some sort of suitor. You deserve more out of this life, yes?
We all do!
So let us not deny ourselves moments of joy, just because we are taught
to fear the very loss of it. Must we all be perpetually joyless, then?
I am sincere! I sense you also have much love to give, and much love to
receive. I know it is dull here, in this devout city, full of demands
and rules and burdens. So let's you and I enjoy today, for tomorrow will
take us where it will.
Oh, yes, could you kindly cover the wine? Sorry, I actually am very poor
at this moment, running from a high house as I am, I did not have time to
gather any of my fortune before making flight.
I assure you, in time, I will be very wealthy, and I shall return
with a case of the rarest vintages just for you. Until then, let us
enjoy our present.
Me
Added Wed Apr 24 19:45:17 2024 at level 7:
* My hair is a glowing golden blonde, a notable trait of the House
Rothlin'dryn, but out of my three brothers, I'm the only one who
got it.
* My eyes are green. Let's call them "Emerald," to be dramatic. A flair
for the dramatic is essential - half the folks resent you, true, but those
tend to not be the ones you are worried with.
* I love to sing. I am gifted with a strong range, and a soft tone. I
surely could have excelled in the bard's guild. I will sing you a song one
day, when you are feeling down.
* My hair takes a lot of cleaning and combing. It is very fine, and very
fickle, so I do need to manage it a great deal, but don't tell anyone that.
* I am very good with magic. I think if I'd not gotten in trouble in
Darsylon, I could have excelled as a transmuter or invoker. I will show
you some tricks some time!
* It is true that I ran from home. But let's not say run, let's say moved
on. I needed to move on. Folks in Darsylon are just too set in their ways,
and a bright spirit like me just can't be expected to restrain all he has
to offer!
* I am indeed a dangerous rogue. Skilled at sneaking in and out of places,
and I've the quietest stride of any elf. I probably could have made a good
assassin, if, you know, I liked killing people. But I'm more into spreading
love, not loss.
* I have the same hair as my mother. My mother's hair, she would let grow
waist length, then cut it just above shoulder length, and all the strands she
would braid and sell to the palace. Royalty would use her hair for wigs and
extensions and whatnot. But she wouldn't let me do that with mine, though the
Princess said she would buy it from me if I did.
* Yes, the Princess and I were great friends! No easy thing, sneaking into
that palace, let me tell you.
* I think I am going to be very successful in Thera. I've never had trouble
making money, but moreover, there are many lonely, loveless people out in
the world, especially women (who are most oppressed, if you ask me), and I
am sure I can very much brighten their spirits.
* Some say that I should pull my hair back, more formal, and if I get in a
scuffle it won't get in the way. But I like it over my shoulders.
The Inn
Added Tue May 21 09:00:39 2024 at level 45:
Ask Sylvia to pass me that bottle, I fear I need more. Sylvia!
She certainly did not see much in me. Didn't even want to hear me sing! She
fed me uncooked desserts, and just assaulted me with trick questions.
I literally could not figure out what was figurative or literal from her
mouth.
Yes, yes, that's very interesting. Hold on with all that, I am not finished.
Oh, are you going to eat that?
I don't know why I thought that the most reknown entertainment hall in the
land, which just happenened to be sorely understaffed, would be managed by
someone competent enough to recognize talent. Instead, no, the whole thing
is a ruse, we all are just her entertainment! Really explains the turnover
there.
No, she was not impressed by me at all. Really asked some nosy questions,
too. Then, she sent me away. Said she'll talk to me again *if* she wants me
to sing for her. And let me tell you, I was quite fine NOT going back there.
But, you know, when she did ask me the next day, I guess it was spite that
led me to sing for her. I, naively, was thinking I could calm her wicked
spirit with a gentle ballad, perhaps. But as soon I as got on that stage,
she boooed and hissed at me!
But I sang, as sweetly as I do, and if the heartfelt notes from my
mandolin did not diminish her need to mock, something affected her,
because she inducted me right there on the spot. I had a mind to be
offered a position, then walk out, you know?? That would have taught
"Raveghna, Apex Predator," as she calls herself.
But nope. Before I knew it, I was part of her troupe, and party to all
the uncooked cookie dough I could wish.
Hey, where are you going?
Theft, part 1
Added Fri May 24 10:19:26 2024 at level 51:
You devious harlot! Come here, come set upon my lap.
Oh, you certainly are a lot to love, aren't you? Maybe just next
to me is fine.
You want to know about me? Hah. Well, all the stories are true, I
assure you.
Yes, I am from Darsylon! Not those ratty woods in front of it, but from a
highly noble house, famous for its long history of music and art. I was
originally offered a position in the palace, in fact, as an artist-in-
residence. But let's be honest, can you see an artist as talented as me
bound to merely one audience? Yes, so, I turned down the opportunity.
Boy did that ruffle some feathers, but all the same, I set out to pursue
my own stardom.
What do you mean you don't believe me??
Yes, yes, you have me, good on you, Rothlin'dryn is a made up name. But,
ah, yes, I confess, I AM a bit of a dangerous rogue. One can't get by in
this wide world just on looks, no? I mean, you of course, yes, you've got
a good thing going here, your fair form will take you far, no doubt.
What do you mean you don't think me to even be a real thief???
I have stolen finery, jewelery and more from the very Darsylon Palace,
thank you!
Why would an elf steal from other elves? No, I'm not an evil elf! Why are
you laughing? Fine, I'll tell you why: Love.
--continued in part 2
Theft, part 2
Added Fri May 24 10:22:57 2024 at level 51:
So. You may not realize this, but in the very city of Darsylon there is
dangerously evil thieves' guild, and I indeed was part of it. Who knows
how a duergar like Markus manages to keep that operation running there,
perhaps because of roguish elves like me.
But it was love that made me like this, my dear harlot.
I have told some that I had a romance with Princess Ilyiniella, and while
it is most true that I loved her, that is pretty much where the story ends.
So, I'll start at the beginning.
One day, whence singing and being merry by the stream in Arendyl, a royal
caravan came through, leaving Darsylon. It was the Queen and her two
daughters, as well as the high elf bethrothed to the oldest of the two,
Princess Elaeriella.
I instinctiviely played a small song regaling them. They pretty much
ignored me, but as they passed by, my song was halted as soon as I saw
the younger, Princess Ilyiniella. To put it plainly, her beauty was
arresting. She wore a green sundress that matched her sage green eyes,
dressed far more casually than her old sister. The sun shined through
the trees down in a radiant beam upon her. Her hair was wavy and brown,
her face fair and mischievous.
And she turned to me, and called out playfully, "Don't stop on my account!"
Well, needless to say, then and there my heart was stolen. Every day after,
I would sneak off to the palace in hopes of catching a glimpse of her. But
never could I find her.
And then, heartstruck as I was, I took up with that duergar, Markus. But,
he offered to teach me how to pick locks, how to hide in the shadows, and
basically how to sneak into the palace. I had to swipe a few things for him,
in exchange, but he told me where her chambers were, what entrances to use,
everything.
And I found her. Lying in bed in her nightshirt, arms splayed apart, head
sideways, a half-smile revealing some pleasant dream. Another day,
sitting at her vanity, brushing her brown hair in the morning light.
Another, trying on dresses, laughing with her servants. She had the most
enchanting laugh. A sort of inviting sigh and giggle.
And so, of course, it was not enough to watch her. I had to know her! I had
to hold her! How I dreamed of her each day, how my mind raced, how could I
meet her? And I know, it was so wrong, to be there inside her chambers,
where I had no right. But what can I say, I was in love!
And what a dangerously wonderful intoxicant love is.
--continued in part3
Theft, conclusion
Added Fri May 24 10:24:35 2024 at level 51:
One evening, I'd found a spot safe from the light of the fireplace, and
patiently waited. Eventually she came into her room, but as soon as she
entered she burst into tears! She yanked out a hairpin, threw it to the
ground, and let out a scream. She ripped off her gown, and collapsed
onto her bed in only her slip. Her face in her pillow, she cried and
pounded on the bed with her fists.
Not thinking what I was doing, I instinctively stepped out, and went to
her. I had to console her. She simply looked at me and said, confused,
"You?"
Then, that mischievous smile returned, and my heart pounding in fear and
adoration, I stood there next to her, frozen. One long bare arm reached to
me, and pulled me into her bed, and she gave me the most wonderful,
heavenly kiss.
But before I knew it, her chamber doors opened, and all sorts of chaos
unfolded. An older servant screamed at her, then guards were called, and I
tried to run out, but... she held me! She gripped my wrist, most
desperately... did she need me?
I barely remember the rest. They yelled, "Get him out! Get him out!" I
remember looking at her, and never meeting her eyes. She only bore a
defiant smirk, aimed at the guards and maids.
I was dragged down to the cellar, thrown into a chair, and before I could
even sit up, a stern, exceedingly well-dressed guard came up to me, yanked
me back up, and put a small purse in my hand. And he told me to leave
Darsylon, to leave Arendyl. To never come back, or it would be the end
of me.
And... that's what I did.
Hey, where are you going?
Longing
Added Thu Aug 15 11:18:22 2024 at level 51:
I admit it, when I decided to try to join the Heralds, I really thought
I'd have a pretty easy time finding love! And I have met so many
amazing, beautiful women.
There are these three Battleragers, all demure and sweet, and completely
deadly. And I know they are kind of using me, because thieves are useful,
but I don't know, maybe not. One, Nymira, I thought I'd won her heart
before she too high in her guild and influenced by everyone. I was about
to kiss her right there in the bar, when, just my luck, the immortal God
of Honor himself pops in out of thin air and starts talking to her!
Well that was the end of that with Nymira.
And Maytisae, a woodsy elf like Nymira, she's always looking for flowers
for her hair, and acting so sweet. And then the azure-touched minstrel,
Llyrre, wow. Just completely enchanting. She danced with me in the streets
of Galadon, just waltzed me wherever she pleased! I wrote a song about
the three of them, they are like three angels of magic-hating! Good thing
I haven't let them find out how much I like magic!
But none compare to Larishae... I was too intimidated... too afraid. She
could see right through me, that possessed priestess. But, as war-
priestesses tend to do, she died.
I've been talking a lot to this really nice shapeshifter, Shalendra, she
not as pretty as Llyrre, but she talks to me and drinks with me. She's a
good friend, I tell her all about the different girls' hearts I'm trying
to win.
And oh wow, there is this one Herald, I've only met her twice, but her
name is Winya, and she is soooo gorgeous, and has the most amazing laugh.
She said we could go on a date sometime, and work on a joint performance
with her dancing bears! I hope I don't mess this one up!
Rejection
Added Thu Aug 15 11:21:20 2024 at level 51:
I messed everything up.
But she was so mean. Is so mean. Is always so mean. But I never thought
Raveghna would just kick me out.
Now what will I do?
"I have a special Heraldic task for you. Search high and low for something
else to do."
I just wanted to help. I just wanted to be involved. Instead, that's what
she said to me. She wouldn't let me do anything! I had an idea for an event,
and she told me it was stupid. She asked me what I thought of her missive,
and I told her some ideas to improve it, and she got so mad.
I guess when you wear your heart on your sleeve like I do, it's too easy
for it to be crushed.
After she said that to me, I kind of cried, and then Relliq and Thuii
asked for some help and I told them I was mad at Raveghna, and what she
said to me, and that I wasn't going to talk to her anymore and well...
Somehow she found out.
She called me to her kitchen and lectured me, and made me name all the
cabals and I guess in other cabals they don't talk back to the leaders
or they get anathemated, and then that was that. No longer a performer.
Not even Godfather of Voralia anymore, so great is her influence.
I'm just the same fake elf I was when I ran from Darsylon and Arendyl.
Esteem
Added Thu Aug 15 11:23:59 2024 at level 51:
The Cardinal had been helping me. Others too! Not the girls I thought
all liked me, but Resfra, and Keawruek, and a few of the magistrates.
The battleragers, Resfra and Keawruek, they want me to stand up for myself.
They told me that I was right, and she was wrong, and what she did to me
was wrong, and what's she's doing to the Inn is wrong.
Travanz told me to be myself. I confessed to him that I'm always performing,
trying to be loved - who myself is, that's someone who is a coward and a
liar. But he is so nice. He always flies up to me as that terrifying
griffon, scares me to death, but he checks on me.
Travanz thought maybe I might make a good acolyte, but I think when I told
him how much I loved Elowen and Larishae that wasn't what he wanted to hear.
Keawruek liked my idea of starting my own troupe. But I didn't really think
I would do that.
But then Raveghna announced a new event, and she got new heralds, and I
knew... I needed to pretend to be great again, I needed to try. Travanz
agreed. Keawruek was really insistent. So, if my remaining friends
believed in me, if I managed to convince them I wasn't a fraud, maybe
I could convince myself too.
And so was born the HeRadicals. The HeRadical Performers of the Voralian
Sun. I reclaimed my Godfather title, I organized the few thieves in my
guild, and they bought in! And I scheduled an event right at the same
time as Raveghna's.
And then it kind of took on a life of its own. I didn't want to be
mean, I didn't want to put down the Inn. I still love Winya, and the
new Heralds seem nice. But Raveghna is not good.
Travanz is right. I deserve to be loved, because even if I make lots of
mistakes, my heart is in the right place.
If I'm not a warrior, or ranger or whatever, I am at least a thief. And
I can steal back the stage.
Cold, sad, comfort
Added Thu Aug 15 11:27:34 2024 at level 51:
So this was really odd. I might be possessed like Larishae? I don't know?
Let me back up.
I still haven't talked to Winya after getting kicked out of the Heralds.
Who knows what Raveghna has said to her? Every time I spy her, Winya is
with Raveghna. Sometimes I have been trying to leave little messages
in her cellar, that I'm thinking of her. I left a gift basket of seafood.
I left some perfume, because she always smells like bear poop and wet dog
but she is still wonderful anyway.
But I couldn't tell if she was finding them. One day she was down there
with Raveghna, and I planted a poem in her pocket. I ran out, hid, then
came back, and the poem wasn't on her anymore. Did she throw it away?
She leaves animals with boats all in the Inn. So I thought I'd swap one
of those boats with a letter. But it turns out it's not easy to steal
from satyrs in the inn, and Raveghna heard me get caught! She then told
me she's going to tell Rarywey on me and have me banned!
I was so worried, I got sad again. I hadn't seen any of my friends in
awhile, and what if no one was going to come to my event?
Then something really freaky happened.
This voice, this sad, melancholy voice, echoed from the shadows. I
thought it was maybe the dandelion wine I stole from those picnicking
gnomes, but, I'm no stranger to foreign substances in my system, and
this... this was real.
She listened to everything.
She told me to kill Raveghna, too, but I don't think she meant it.
She told me she could always be with me, even when no one else is.
I liked the sound of that, because... I was very alone, and was worried
I was going to be in the middle of a stage with no audience in sight.
Then... something cold and sad, but comforting, seemed to creep into my
very soul. She let me name her. I called her Melancia. (Melania didn't
sound quite right).
Do I have an angel in me like Larishae did?
Give and Take
Added Thu Aug 29 10:09:50 2024 at level 51:
Well. Again it's just me, this wine, and you harlots.
Things HAD been looking up! I had freedom to do as I wish, I had new
friends, I didn't have to worry about what Raveghna always thought.
I found Winya finally, and she was so nice, and still herself. She
even grew out her bangs like I suggested! She invited me to do a show
with her. I was so happy!
Then, even crazier, one day my water bag talking to me. It was
Rarywey! She's not only the goddess of poetry, but water, too! My water
bag listened to my whole side of things, and it told me that I was
not going to be banned from the Inn, like Raveghna wanted. I think I
might have been able to make a case to be a Herald again if I had wanted.
It felt so good to know she wasn't mad at me like I had feared.
But how swiftly things change. Shalendra, Travanz, Resfra and Keawruek
are dead. I thought I had a good friend in that enchanting new elf at the
Inn, Tamurah. And the beautiful Battlerager girls I love so much, they don't
want to listen like those friends did. My mother always told me not to fall
so easily for the most beautiful women - they often get what they want so
easily that they have little interest in giving back. I guess she didn't
want me to get hurt.
But I never listened. I mean, I've always loved nothing more than making
a pretty girl smile.
But I never expected Tamurah to be so cruel. I guess there is a fine line
between giving love and just having it stolen.
Tough Love
Added Thu Aug 29 11:08:13 2024 at level 51:
Oh, Mom, you always told me not to just follow any pretty girl like a puppy
cooshee.
Just, Mom, I'm a grown elf, and I keep messing up. But I never believed
that people out there could be so cruel. In fact, I thought with just a
little love and trust, everyone could come around. I know that's why you
always worried for me so.
I'm not crying! Just let me tell you what happened?
I mean, imagine walking into a room with your friends, only to hear them
making fun of you? I was so excited to see Tamurah and Phili. I know, I
know, a wood elf and a gnome. I should have known. Yes.
But would you have expected a friend to break into your home and go
through your things? Kill your door guard? Then she turned it around on
me for overreacting, and for always "acting like a fool."
You think I do? I do always act like a fool?? How could you say, that, Mom?
Please, tell me. I don't do anything but be nice to people-
Oh - you know about the thief training.
- and the incident with the princess at the Darsylon palace??
- and no one coming to my secret fundraising event?
- and me getting kicked out of the Eternal Star.
- and hardly anyone coming to my own event I tried.
okay- umm- - that's enough... - I got it.
MOM!
I don't know why I came back here. Why can't you ever just listen, just
help me? No, I know you don't have any money! Mom, I don't need money, I
have tons of money! No, it's not "dirty"!
MOM!
No, I'm not in trouble with the law. I just wanted to talk. I just
want someone to care about me.
Respect
Added Tue Sep 10 13:15:25 2024 at level 51:
"You used to be much sweeter, Trystien."
"Aye. It was before life was so bitter."
"I can make things sweet again for you, hon'"
"For the right price? Like everyone else?"
"That's how the world works, sweetie."
"Only for those with no respect."
"Well, what do you want?"
"You know what I want. But I'm not paying for it. You'll show me the respect I
deserve, hm?"
"I, hon, you have to-"
"Don't look over at her. Look at me."
"okay... I'm, I'm looking at you."
"Go ahead."
"okay... "
"There. That was a very good hug! A hug a day keeps the riff-raff away, aye?"
"Aye?"
"Aye."
"I liked you better when you were sad."
"How easily you lie. What an upside-down world this is, where kindness is
but an invitation for cruelty, and sadness is but a sign of submission.
No, dear, I think you actually like me far better right side up."