the Druid, Gypsy, Fae and the Beast, Part IV

   Once upon a time there was a Druid, a Gypsy a Fae and a Beast. Now, this is no ordinary tale as one might think; but, rather a tale of friendships found and forged, a tale of bravery unspoken and by some purposely unseen. We have shared some of our tale, but it is far from over and the good intentions of the the Druid and the Gypsy has turned them villainous in the eyes of friends and allies.

   This adventure begins where all good adventures begin - at the beginning - or rather for some of us in the middle. As we all know by now, the Druid and the Gypsy are possessed and from moment to moment, capable of some extreme insanity and unscrupulous actions. They share the possession, the two of them. And momentarily, the Gypsy has the creature grumbling and grumping about in her being as the Druid tries to keep her safe from herself and, well, others.

   The Gypsy awoke on this particular day; well, if she slept at all and was beside herself, confused, angry and in pain. And her only rationale was to go to the beginning where it all started and kill it.

Excerpt from the Role play: Kathena Mavendorf grabs a dagger and hides it her skirts, then goes downstairs and starts to make her way out of the castle in search of ....something

   So, she escaped the castle, little silver dagger in hand, and made her way to the home of the fairies and the Mother Tree wherein stories would have it all fairies are born.

   Shortly after leaving the castle, the Druid realized she was gone. 

Except from the Role play: Jaekob Faolan swallows and pales remembering the night before. He had given her the Shadow so he could visit the Dragon and she was NOT in the castle. He began running through the castle, snatching up his staff as he rushed out of the door, two elven guards in pursuit behind him as they run down the mountain looking for signs of her.

   The Druid and his elven guards track her to the fairy grove where she is being confronted by one of the citizens of the grove. What a sight! The gypsy trying to make her way to the tree and the fae accusing her of insanity and bringing this upon her people. You would think a Druid could have just interceded and put a stop to this, yes? Well, he tried, truly he did. 

   But, suddenly the great tree begin to quiver and out stepped the Beast. Oh, it must have been some fifty foot tall and just about as ugly and scary as anything one could imagine. The Druid's guards rushed it, their spears something akin to a needle puncturing our finger. The beast swayed and dipped and swallowed a guard. And it advanced on them. The gypsy was beside herself and lost the little dagger and, well, the fairy fell unconscious. The Druid did what Druids do and summoned the elements and as he rode a tidal wave toward the beast, he braced his stance and his staff and knew he rode to his death.

   But, wouldn't you know it? I guess the three were boring the beast because it just turned and did what beasts do and disappeared from the fairy grove. The Gypsy and the fairy survived, of course. The one madder than ever in her mind and the other was just downright MAD.

   The story continues and from day to day this thing and that happens. The Druid and the Gypsy are not very popular among the people because, after all, they ARE possessed. But, sometimes when you try to do good, well you just got to take it as it comes. Surely, they will be vindicated in time, surely.

If you are interested in medieval fantasy role play, please contact me and I will give you a tour of the River Lands, InWorldz. Maybe I will introduce you to the Gypsy hmmmmm or are you afraid? Until next time.....

   

Eric and Katya (Kathena Mavendorf of Inworldz), Our sincerest condolences

   It is a rare gift when fate brings two souls together that were separated by time and space, no matter the distance or situation. Eric and Katya met very late in life, but their souls were mated in eternity. Their love for each other was and is forever. He went home to God yesterday, February 19th, and left her soul ripped in half yearning to be with him once more. Please pray in your own way for his safe passage home, and for her to have the strength to go on without him.

Eric and Katya on their wedding day!

How Fragile Life Is

   One moment, you are role playing with friends. And then, something so tragic happens that gives you pause and you take a step back to wrap your mind around it. Surely, the world at large views us virtual world folk with some skepticism. But, until you have dared the unknown, dared risk possibility, you cannot fathom the richness of virtual worlds.
   Jaekob's typist has always been insecure, shy and, honestly, a bit afraid of the real world. So he discovered gaming (Everquest) which obsessed him for some thirteen or fourteen years. And even there, he was that insecure, shy kinda guy and spent much of his time alone.  But then, a little over two years ago, a friend who knew he loved to role play suggested he try Second Life. Well, that was the end of Everquest, I tellya. Within a few days, it was stripped off his computer and he had a life, a family and began to really experience people.
   But, again, he kept them at bay as he began to experience something new in virtual worlds. He thought he was in love, but it was a rollercoaster ride or two I tellya and to make a long story short, he escaped to Inworldz.
   Overtime, he created a wonderful medi fantasy role play environment (or so he thinks). It wasn't an easy task because he had never done such a thing. But, he had a dream of a role play community which was healthy and, well, a family. About then, he was clueless, he had role played a year in Second Life and the experience was tremendous and he learned a lot from some of the best role players on the grid. But, things were coming together, things were happening and the River Lands was beginning to grow. That's when the Duchess of Chanwood happened along and a friendship was formed that has been tested a time or two, but, in his opinion, has only grown stronger. Today, the River Lands is one of a handful of sims that make up the Unfied Lands of the North Sea and it grows and it prospers and his dream has reached fruition and he is more than pleased.
   But, I veer from my original intent. I wanted to talk about people, the typists behind the players, be they medi fantasy role players, tinies, pirates or just average folk. I want to tell the world that we, those virtual world folk are healthy and happy and quite content in our *make believe* world.
   There is something about getting to know a person here, something that seems to strip away the insecurities and the shyness. In this environment, you first get to know the avatar and, if lucky, a friendship develops and bits and pieces of the typists life come to the table and a friendship is born that is beyond anything that can one can experience in the real world.
   No one cares if you are twenty or seventy. No one cares if you are overweight, your hair is receding and you are toothless. We get to know people in their purest forms, we get to know their hearts first and all other is irrelevant.
   And just so you know, he did find true love in this venue. She ran from him for about six months, but he was patient because, after all, anything good is worth being patient for. I won't mention names; she might spank him. Well, he might like THAT, but that is another story.
   Yesterday, one of our role players suffered a tremendous loss. And while she waited for family to arrive, avatars began to gather around her and sat and waited so the typist behind that avatar would feel supported and loved. And, no, it wasn't just avatars; there was a real sense of every typist sitting there with her just as we would have in any small community. THAT, my friends, is the truth of virtual worlds.
   So I have rambled a lot when all I really wanted to say is this, *Thank you Inworldz. Thank you to all the people who have strolled casually into my life and stayed and made a tremendous difference in my life and made me a better person.

Market Day in the River Lands - An In Character Event

   Typical of medieval communities, markets played a primary role in the everyday life of the community. In the River Lands (Inworldz Grid), we have Market Day every Thursday at 9 a.m. iwt. This is a time for roleplayers in the Unified Lands to come together to ICly (In Character) to learn the latest gossip in the lands. This is a time for players to hawk their wares or purchase those things necessary for everyday existence in this rugged medieval existence.

   Typical of the time, most people lived in the country. They raised their own food, made their own clothes. And they would gather for Market Day, a rather social but necessary event of the time. Markets were not necessarily run by the people. Sometimes it was the church or the noblemen of that particular land. Shelters were built (stalls) and some countries even marked them with a market cross for market traders. But, not all could afford to rent such a wondrous thing as a stall and might simply spread a blanket and place their wares on it or even sell from a basket.

  So today as every Thursday, the River Lands is happy to recreate the medieval Market Day. The atmosphere changes from week to week. Sometimes, it is a quiet day with nothing more than the usual idle gossip of shoppers, shoppers trying to barter and trade, merchants trying to suss out the best deals they can.

  All are invited. But, a visit to the River Lands Medieval Mall and Welcome Center is necessary for newcomers. Ground level does have some requirements: medieval clothing, a Unity meter and an approved race. All of those things and information galore is available in the River Lands Mall. Interested in roleplaying with us? Contact one of the online people on the admin board. We would love to meet you in character.

An Interview With the Gypsy - Kathena Mavendorf

Jaekob Faolan: Good morning, Kathena and thank you for sitting down with me today to discuss yourself and how you conceptualize your character

Kathena Mavendorf grins, "My pleasure Jaek"

Jaekob Faolan: So, we have been roleplay acquaintances for a bit now But Jaek and Kathena never had the opportunity for any roleplay dynamics. Now we are off on a whirlwind, chasing and being chased all over the Unified Lands. How are you feeling about this possession that has you and Jaekob in its grips?

Kathena Mavendorf: That's a great question!

Jaekob Faolan leans back into the overstuffed chair, listening.

Kathena Mavendorf: Well, I am absolutely loving the excitement of it all. I enjoy RP that is challenging in it's scope and theme. Dealing with tough villains, major problems for my character and having to figure out what my character would do in such a situation is a wonderful way to explore your imagination.

Jaekob Faolan: Our readers are curious am sure, how much of what is currently happening in the Unified Lands with Jaekob and Kathena is preplanned? Is there a script of sorts?

Kathena Mavendorf ponders for a moment, "Well, there is an overarching goal that is set up by our villain in this case. However, Jaekob and Kathena don't know what it is. We are both reacting to what is put in front of us. Therefore, it is primarily unscripted and improvised. The key is, to know our characters well enough to know how they would handle any given situation and see where it goes."

Jaekob Faolan nods and bites his lip, *I am sure readers are wondering. What is the relationship between Jaek and Kathena?

Kathena Mavendorf giggles, "Well, it's complicated. They are friends and care deeply for each other. She might have feelings for him, but she feels like she would never be worthy of him, so she keeps her distance"

Jaekob Faolan: Fair enough, *he smiles and nods.* Now moving on from the Druid and Gypsy roleplay, let's talk more about Kathena. Can you tell us a little bit about Kathena, the gypsy.

Kathena Mavendorf nods, "Not much to tell, really. She was born in the hot lands to the south to gypsy parents. They moved around a lot growing up. Her mother taught her how to read fortunes and belly dance, but died when she was just 13 years old. Her father taught her how to pick pockets. He was not a good person. He sold Kathena to a man for a few coins and a vardo when she was 15. Thankfully, she knew how to pick a lock and escaped her captor. She has been on her own ever since."

Jaekob Faolan: A seemingly tragic story. Is that typical for roleplayers? And do they actually sit down and create their history as you have?

Kathena Mavendorf nods, "Many roleplayers chose tragic stories as backgrounds for their characters, because they feel it gives them depth. There is no experience without some heartache behind it. Though it doesn't apply to ALL. Some characters do have happy and positive pasts. It all depends on what kind of character you want to play."

Jaekob Faolan: So, how do you personally separate your character from the typist? Is that difficult?

Kathena Mavendorf thinks on it for a moment, "I won't lie, sometimes when my character is hurt emotionally, I feel the pain. However, I keep it strictly to my character. Just because my character might hate or love someone IC does not mean that I the person behind it does. I have many years experience in RP so I have learned how to keep real life and IC life separate. "

Jaekob Faolan: I imagine that is very difficult. I confess I have much less experience than you or some of our friends and it is not always an easy task. Does one learn over time to separate what is out of character and what is in character do you think?

Kathena Mavendorf nods, "For example, in another "life" I had on a different character, my avatar was in a madly passionate love affair with a pirate. In the RP they were crazy about each other and were like fire. While RPing, I was in IMs with my very good friend (LOL who was a girl playing him) laughing about the scene while discussing what we were going to make for dinner. The trick is to keep one foot in REALITY at all times. Of course, we also would check in private IM if it was OK for our characters to go down this road and how far to go into details."

Jaekob Faolan: Is that normal, being in IM talking out situations with those in a current scene with you?

Kathena Mavendorf: Absolutely! Keeping in mind that the scenes are improvised, sometimes you want to check with the other players if it's ok for you to take a certain action or if they prefer to go a different direction. You have to remember that the story belongs to all of you not just yourself, so be polite and share the space. Let others have some say in the direction and make sure everyone agrees before doing something that changes the dynamic of a relationship.

Jaekob Faolan: I could not have said it better, *smile softly.* Tell me Kathena, where do you roleplay?

Kathena Mavendorf: This character plays in the Unified Lands and makes her home currently in Chanwood.

Jaekob Faolan: Can you tell me a bit about Chanwood and the Unified Lands?

Kathena Mavendorf: Of course. The Unified Lands is a co-op of fantasy sims that are connected in their roleplay, giving the players a vast world in which to play and explore. Chanwood is one of the realms in the Unified Lands. It is a medieval fantasy city with amazing players that make it a blast to roleplay there.

Jaekob Faolan: And lastly, what is your advice to our readers, well anyone, who has a curiosity about roleplay?

Kathena Mavendorf smiles, "Just try it! No one starts out an expert. We all started at zero. Just decide what life you would like to live today and go explore the possibilities!"

Jaekob Faolan: Well, I thank you for taking the time to talk to us today. One last question and you can get back to your roleplay, *Are the Druid and the gypsy really possessed? I know folks are dieing to know.

Kathena Mavendorf grins wickedly, "I guess you'll have to wait and see!"

the Druid and the Gypsy, Part III

   Bored yet hmmm? Well, let me share some of yesterday's happenings using the actual text from the roleplay. So, to set the scene, the gypsy had left the castle and returned to Chanwood (her actual home in the Unified Lands of the North Sea) and removed her vardo to the farthest reaches of the Austurwood forests.  At the time, she possessed the entity I have mentioned earlier or should I say, IT possessed her. But, it was apparently reeking havoc with her mind.
   The Druid worried about her safety, left his home and began a journey, trudging through heavy snows of mountains and then forests. He sailed across the North Sea Straits toward Chanwood veering toward the east as his small skiff maneuvered the shoreline. And there begins the roleplay!

Jaekob Faolan makes his way through the underbrush, using his staff to dig into the snow and pull him forward with each slow step. His nostrils flare as he catches the scent of smoldering wood and he hastens his approach to Kathena's campsite

Jaekob Faolan: Kathena *he gasps, letting her name pour out quickly as he tosses his staff down and rushes to her crumpled, unconscious body, now covered here and there with a fine mist of snow

Kathena Mavendorf moans in her sleep, unable to open her eyes

Jaekob Faolan jerks off his cloak, muttering her name over and over again, *Kathena, Kathena....* and he begins to brush away the snow and kneels down to cradle her in his arms as he wraps the cloak around her

Kathena Mavendorf hears Jaekob's voice in the distance and fights to awaken, finally opening her eyes slowly

Kathena Mavendorf is shivering cold, and barely able to move.

Jaekob Faolan: My ghods, what has happened here, *his eyes dart to the burned vardo as he leans in close to see if she is breathing when she opens her eyes

Jaekob Faolan lifts her, taking her closer to the fire, the pit but embers. He settles her down, his cloak tight about her and manages to toss some logs onto the fire

Kathena Mavendorf: Jaek?...she whispers, "Is that you?"

Kathena Mavendorf she blinks a couple of times trying to focus on his face, then she thinks back, "The shadow tried to get me" she says very softly

Kathena Mavendorf:  The warmth of his cloak and nearness to the fire, she starts to thaw out and slows down her shivering.

Jaekob Faolan nods, his face paling like the snow that lays in drifts about the burned vardo. His hands rub briskly up and down her arms trying to warm her, *What do you mean the shadow tried to get you

Kathena Mavendorf still in her confusion, "It was everywhere! In the woods, behind me, in front, in my vardo." she pauses looking confused, her eyes tear up as she looks up at him, "I tried to kill it with the knife but it wouldn't work."

Jaekob Faolan sighs and shakes his head, strands of red hair falling into his face. He brushes them behind his ear, *Well that just does not make sense. It has never tried to harm us before.

Kathena Mavendorf looks over his shoulder and thinks she sees it in the puff of smoke coming from what is left of her home and she gasps...."It's there! It's back!"

Kathena Mavendorf cries, "but I burnt it! I burnt it in my vardo"

Jaekob Faolan jerks his head in the direction she is looking and reaches for his staff, realizing he dropped it some too many feet away. Then he looks harder and realizes there is nothing there, *Kathena, there...is......you are safe, I promise you.

Kathena Mavendorf scrambles backwards terrified, "Don't you see it?!"

Jaekob Faolan: We have to get you fit for travel, You are returning to Calenhad with me, *he stutters looking yet again.* I see nothing. Now sit there stay warm and I am going to make you some tea and and....
(Excepts from a roleplay printed with permission of all participants!)

   More? you want more, hmmm. Well, that would be something akin to telling you the end before you read the book would it not? Their tale has not ended surely and there is much more to be told, but I would invite you to participate in the excitement to know all the details of everything hmmm? Until the next time then, *A smile curls onto the Druid's lips and he gives his readers a wink, walking away to begin his day in the River Lands.
 

the Druid, the Gypsy and the Dragon, Part II

  Seriously, did you like that cliffhanger? A druid and a gypsy riding a tidal wave out of town to escape the mob mentality is pretty epic eh? Well, settle back, there is more to this tale and I am ready to share it.
   Well, it just so happens, the Druid lives in a magnificent shimmering city - in a castle, no less. Okay, well he IS a Druid and has a very modest cottage in the River Lands and he prefers that. But, to make this story rock, the Druid and the gypsy made their getaway and went to the castle in the Elven city of Calenhad. There they begin to recoup from their perceived ill treatment and set out to devise a plan to convince the masses, *Hey, we are not crazy. We are just.... well... not crazy.* (And, no, when I am roleplaying I do not talk like that. Jaekob is a bit smoother and blends style and language into his medi fantasy environment.) But, this is for fun and well..... I can tell my story as I wish.
   So the two devise a plot with a third person who shall remain nameless. It is a very simple plot. First you make a poison and put it in your tea tin, next you have someone of good authority vouch for the poison. And now you find someone with a good sniffer (in our environment that would be a Lycan or a Faun) to determine who has been touching your tea tin. And then, DRINK some of the poison. Yes, you drink it. And send for a cleric to discover you poisoned with something that affects your sanity ie you become paranoid and hallucinogenic. That said, the cleric can cleanse you and go out into the world and say, *Hey folks, they are not crazy. They are just sick.* But, it backfired, terribly. It is, after all, roleplay, and you cannot be sure to get the outcome you want no matter how hard you work.
   So what to do? The gypsy is bored hiding in the castle and throws caution to the wind and returns to her vardo in another land. The Druid is distraught and thinks to just run away and so he packs his rucksack, grabs his staff and takes off.

(excerpt from the beginning of a roleplay)
Jaekob Faolan: His only friend, or so it seemed, had left, returned to her vardo to find a bit of peace in her life. And now, he stood upon the mountain just outside of Calenhad. He looked down upon his lands, the mist laying low and quietly wrapping the River Lands in its gossamer veil.

Jaekob Faolan drew in a deep breath, wrapped  his cloak tight around him and began to make his way down the mountain. He was leaving these lands as he had found them, an old cloak and a staff. He bit his lip hard to abate the tears and whispered goodbye and vanished down a mountain trail.
(excerpt ends)

   Well, wouldn't you know? After half a day's travel, mostly through dark caverns, he found himself LOST!! Yes, even Druid's can get lost, I suppose. Then he hears something. It sounded much like an elf walking might sound to an ant, I would suppose. Then a HISSING and oh Gods, it was a Dragon, a strikingly magnificent black dragon which stood some twenty foot tall and sixty feet long.

   Well, the Druid had seen Dragons before, lots of them. Most of them were pretty decent sorts if you did not bother their gem stash and took the time to pay them the respect an Ancient Dragon would expect. So the Druid fell all over himself. Seriously, he tripped and fell and then began to ply the dragon with compliments and such and agreed to tell the Dragon his tale. The Dragon was astounded that a Druid King would leave his home and fear what lay behind him more than, well, the Dragon that stood before him.

   The Dragon moved toward the Druid, the earth seemed to tremble beneath him and he pushed a claw into the Druid's boot and took a big sniff. And.... and.... the Dragon laughed and said the Druid was no more evil than honey.

   So I ask you, why did the Druid have to travel to a far away land, get lost and have a stranger tell him he wasn't evil? Why couldn't one of his people or friend's figure that out? Well I guess the moral here is THAT Dragons's truly are smarter than most people.

   So the Druid turned around and made his way home to the River Lands. He felt vindicated by the Dragon and was ready to just chill out and do what Druids generally do which is pick flowers, hugs trees and that sort of thing.

   ( And there ends this part of the story. If you have a interest in medi-fantasy roleplay, our community would welcome you and I would be delighted to give you a personal tour. We roleplay in Inworldz. Look up Jaekob Faolan or the River Lands and I will introduce you to dragons and gypsies and duchesses and well....you can meet the Druid.)

the Druid and the Gypsy, Part 1

   But that was before and this is now and so I shall share a bit of what is current in the River Lands. I shall begin with once upon a time for we all know, all good stories begin that way.

   Once upon a time, there was a druid and a gypsy woman whose fates were destined to be intertwined in such a way that the mere fabric of sanity and possibility would be challenged. I surely cannot give you all the details, friends, for some things are so secret that should I speak of them even here, a great evil would sweep down upon me and my lands (If you wish to know more, come roleplay with us and flesh out the details.)

    So to continue, it just so happened that the Druid was doing what druids do, collecting herbs when the gypsy happened along. He had been possessed of something dark and it seemed to be crawling through his very being urging him toward a kind of insanity that left his people in fear. Are you imagining scenes of common folk making their way up the mountain to his castle with torches and pitchforks? Well that did not exactly happen, but he feared it surely.

   Long ago, he had done the gypsy a kindness of sorts; well, if you consider saving her life when a crazed beast attacked her vardo, tore the heart from her horse and most surely would have harmed her had he not come along a kindness. And now she thought to help him, return the kindness as some gypsy's are known to do. But that was futile, surely,  because how could a gypsy help a possessed druid king hmmmm? Now as it so happens and you know the evil one was bound to show HER face about then, the very one responsible for his plight happened along. So to shorten things and not to give away overly much, I will confess that the gypsy begged the evil one to give her his punishment and thus a partnership was struck wherein, they would share the evil curse, both having half of it.

   So it came to be that the Druid and gypsy are seemingly irrevocably entwined and a friendship grew, one for the other. Now though this is a *Once Upon a Time* kind of story, it is not one of romance as the Druid's heart is very much taken. But that, friends, is another story for another time. So to continue, the Druid sought to return the kindness the gypsy had done him and again made a pact with SHE who commanded their silence.

    This time, he gave a bit of his land and his solemn vow that he would never speak of HER (the demon) or reveal her to anyone. And in exchange, that which possessed the two individually would possess only the one. However, and there is always a HOWEVER, in tales such as these, the two now shared the entity, but in an entirely different way. You see, the entity was made whole and existed only within the Druid. But when the ArchMage or the High Cleric was near and might suss the entity out, he could whisper in the gypsy's ear and the entity would move from one to the next and so on and so on as needed to protect their ghastly secret.

   So what to do next hmmmm. The town's people and EVEN the elven Queen of the neighboring land had them tied to beds in the infirmary and after several days and much excitement in between, the Druid decided they would make their escape. And so they did! The Druid worked a bit of his magic and freed himself from the ropes and in an epic rescue shouted "EARTH WIND FIRE AND WATER, take us to a place of safety." And as he cry reverberated into the air, an answer came as the Druid jerked the Gypsy to his side and they disappeared from the infirmary on a tidal wave of the purest water.

   There is more, much more of this tale, but in truth, it has not met its conclusion yet. Suffice it to say, I will tell you more as the plot unravels.

( If you have a interest in medi-fantasy roleplay, our community would welcome you and I would be delighted to give you a personal tour. We roleplay in Inworldz. Look up Jaekob Faolan or the River Lands and I will introduce you to dragons and gypsies and duchesses and well....you can meet the Druid.)

the River Lands, in the Beginning

   In an age where humans existed with elves and elves existed with dwarves and various other fantastical  races, there exists the prosperous port city of Cheshire, a thriving human township settled upon the foremost western coast of the River Lands (sims include River Lands, River City and Emyn Arnen. the River Lands is part of a larger roleplay co op, the Unfied Lands of the North Seas.)

   The River Lands are part of a larger continent named Mizo no nir' Kuni, which translates roughly to Land of Many Waters. The interior of the continent is much like the deep jungles of the present day Amazon River Valley, crisscrossed with hundreds of rivers and tributaries in very thick vegetation. The farther from the heart of the continent towards the coasts, the land gradually changes into a variety of subtropical ecosystems. Geographically the River Lands are located west of the present day location of the United Kingdom.

   Mizo no nir' Kuni has always felt the influences of power emanating from its heart. Some theorize that it's due to it's close proximity to powerful ley lines that run just off its eastern coast with one powerful nexus/intersection just inland along that same coast. Others claim that powerful being's reside deep in hidden locations on the continent itself, located at each corner of the land. Truth be known the ancient history of the lands prove both theories to be correct and entwined with each other and the people of the land. Located somewhere in the north north east region of the land in a dense area of the jungle, legend tells of a large swirling pool of light and dark surrounded by 4 ancient pillar's or obelisks. To this day no one has been able to find the actual site.

   And there, dear friends, the story began around  200-300 AD  as an ancient being arose from the shimmer and murk of the pool, an ancient being we know as Seneca. The creature appeared female, tall,  almost twice the size of man, had elegant flowing features and wings like a bird. Light pulsed from her,  calming most creatures. Her aura caused both man and beast to kneel at her feet weeping. She identified herself only as 'Seneca' and quickly developed a following from the surrounding wilderness. Too those that accepted her as their leader she gifted a small gemstone that painlessly affixed itself to the back on ones hand. She proved to be a benevolent leader and began teaching her followers a common language. She claimed that language was the greatest enemy of Order and that her gift of the Transtone made it possible for all of her followers to communicate freely with each other. Many felt she was a deity or at least a priestess. But she publicly denounced such claims and responded with speeches about the power of the people over there own lives and that such things as 'gods' were just cries for someone to lead or guide them down the path of righteousness. She had all her followers strip down into their birth suits and then fabricate new garments and tools so that they all appeared the same and proclaimed that they would all be equal no matter their race or previous social status; they would be the first of the Enlightened.

(Credits: the history of the River Lands was written by Kaye Dragula, a fellow roleplayer and friend. Huzzah for such brilliant creativity, Kaye)

the River Lands, today

   Ascending from the mythical mists of eons, you will experience a vista of succulent meadows, sloping, hills, tree-shadowed waters, a shimmering Elven Kingdom, a bustling trade port, a playground Seelie and Unseelie Fae, Lycan hunting grounds, a homely Hobbit village, cavernous Dragon dens, thoroughfare of seafarer, traders, high and low born, thieves and visitors. the River Lands is home to a myriad of residents, a magical realm governed by an Elven King and watched over by learned Druids, using the elements to protect and guide the River Lands, River City "Cheshire" and Emyn Arnen.

  Overtime, I will weave a tale stupendous, replete with histories of long ago, present day adventures and, perhaps, even give insight to possibility of the future, though so much is yet undetermined.