Winterdark 2013 Ball Highlights

I love playing the Selendrian ambassador. I hope I'll have further occasion to do so. I'm glad to hear that so many people enjoy RPing with him.

I had some excellent RP with the Baroness, as well as several PCs that I rarely interact with as either of my characters.

So much good food!

The poetry contest was wonderful. So was what little bits of the singing I got to hear.

Dancing was a lot of fun.

I'm really looking forward to the December event!

I had a fairly interesting time this event. It was...I guess I'd say in some ways it was less fun than last year, but far more meaningful to me. Don't get me wrong, it was really fun too, but I had some very meaningful stuff happen.

For one thing, I was very glad to get to sing my Chroniclerite hymn. I knew when I picked my song that I wasn't really competing to win, but I wanted to share it, and I hope people enjoyed it. Similarly, I chose to tell a story about telling stories, rather than one of the humorous ones I knew had a better chance of winning. I also love knowing it made an impact with a few people, and hope it resonated with more.

It was also fun getting to explain to people exactly why my Chroniclerite priestess/scholar is resisting learning a few lores, despite technically having access to manuscripts/teachers. Had a few interesting reactions to it as well.

Also, last squire interview. I really do enjoy scribing. Time to type that up soon.

My main highlight, though, was a long discussion I had with Birgitta. Not gonna go into details, but it was a fantastic moment. I also found out that it inspired her "Seven year story," which in turn heavily inspired Almat.

On top of all that, it was fun playing Almat with her guard down, actually drinking a little bit and giving in to her mischievous side. That doesn't happen enough.

By the way, Ilana, scholar meet?

Also, very much hoping to get to the Selendrian ambassador more. Meant to try to do that more, but got caught up in other things.

I was happy that I was able to fix my dress from last year into a slightly different look. I was having trouble finding a dress but when I thought of the redesign I felt better because A) it saved money, and it's something Keavy would have done anyway.Also, having my make-up and hair done right this time around made me feel better too haha.

Great food all around! And I was very happy to see my quinoa crock pot was half empty when I took it home.

Keavy being somewhat of a prude makes for hilarious RP. So does my inability to pay attention sometimes:

Augustus: Keavy, would you dance with me?
Keavy: Of course!
-laughter from everyone and an explanation of what he actually meant later..-
Keavy: O__O! < Augustus!

A chat with Orias is always interesting, especially when it makes Keavy realize she must be a masochist for talking to him, haha.

Then a chat with Annora then joined by Grimjkell to bring Keavy's spirits up.

Dancing! It was a lot of fun trying to figure out what we had to do and keep up at the same time. I also liked that Caelvan joined in on the last dance

Then Selendrian business with the Ambassador. All I have to say is whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa--

Finally, moment with Arthur Goggins. Easier said than done for Keavy when he speaks to her like she's daft. Hopefully he has a slightly better understanding of her intelligence from the way she responded the next time he decides to approach her haha

I'm stoked for next event. Bring it on!

This is going to be a very weird highlight.

Yes, that was me the EMTs hauled out on the stretcher. Long story short, I've hurt my lower back in such a way that made it impossible for me to stand up. I'm home now, and filled with more vicodin than an episode of House. I'm not fine, but I can hobble my way around now.

This leads me to the highlight: the community of this game. When most people speak about a community, they're usually referring to a welcoming nature and smiling faces. The KR community is that and far more. While I was stuck on the bench in the corner, I think something like half the attendees of the ball came to check on me. Thank you especially to Norm and John T., for keeping calm and getting the EMTs out; to Leslie, for magic fingers , to Geoff for hanging around the entire time to help out in about a million different ways, to Joe H. and Mars and Larry and Diane and the lass with the long black hair with the ibuprofen whose name I did not catch, for a myriad of things that may have seemed small at the time but kept me from going into a massive panic; to Cappy and Goose for helping shuttle around those whose rides I was responsible for; to Gene and James for trying to visit me in the ER (even though they could not get in); to Renny, for helping me out on the ride home; thank you to anyone I forgot in my haze of pain then and haze of painkillers now. Thank you to everyone who checked in on me throughout the night and the next day.

This whole situation only underscored the fantastic community of people who make up Knight Realms, and so this medical mess (which could have ended a whole lot worse) is, in its own weird way, an enormous highlight.

IC, if everyone could just pretend Lois got food poisoning from the goblin balls and had some sort of dramatic Victorian fainting spell, that would be wonderful

Beyond all of that, the part of the ball I was there for was a blast The food was great, the costumes were great, the company was great. I got to listen to the poetry contest, and that was a lot of fun, and watching you all dance from my spot in the corner was fun, too I don't know if I'll be able to make the December event (I'll definitely have to be non-com if I do), but I'm going to try because dammit y'all are my favorite people and I want to see you more

-Cassie

P.S. Cory, I'm still giggling over Goggs and the "pseudo-gnome".

I was glad I was able to give my cool gift from Dwarven Paths an extended workout (the furs with the hood) it seemed like good Barbarian non-combat wear and so it was.

Highlights: Meeting Lief at last. Cameron is always awesome but that was great.

Meeting Victor Sylus and Lord Fogrom was also big for me and Grim, and some of the interaction with Fogrom was interesting as well because of the differences between a new barbarian and a heavily acculturated one were very much on display.

The food. Oh dear. It was amazing. I was very glad people liked the Chili.

Seeing everyone look so lovely in their fancy dress costumes.

Being ordered by the baroness herself to be less Grim and not to report or talk about the status of the Heargen Clan's mission was fun too, and the part she said at the end about her own family provoked a lot of sympathy from gruff Berserker. Nice work there!

Spending time with Augustus and Dominic is always a pleasure, even if Dominic thinks Grim is some kind of dog to snuggle up against (Keavy knows this pain)

Getting tricked by caldor and Croi into entering the poetry contest.

All the poems in general, particular Wormwood's attitude and haiku.

Winning the contest, and getting absurdly angry and flustered IG as I do so.

All the roleplay with Angeliana was in general top notch stuff, especially when we started talking about love and things.

The brief but important roleplay with Keavy and Annora, which then led into some important roleplay with Aleister and Belegchand.

All my interactions as my NPC, Durgrim Stonemight, Ambassador of the Dwarf-King. It was a lot of fun to play off the same characters I do with Grimkjell and have totally different kinds of interactions, and talk to people he never would normally approach, like Lady Brightstar or Morwen, who was a particular highlight of mine.

The dwarf reactions were great to Durgrim, those who noticed he was an ambassador anyway. (Darnit Angus, you were too busy gambling for me to talk to you)

Remembering that the Dwarven Ambassador would use a fork and eat in a more civilized manner than Grimkjell does, and thus actually not making a mess of my beard

How cool both my masks looked. TY so much Sarah and Tori!

Finding out the barbarians won singing, storytelling AND poetry. Take THAT londwyns, time for a friendly cultural rivalry!

All the innuendos that grim didn't understand, and the Selendrian ambassador getting in on it. Talking about Kennings and storytelling in Northman culture.

Getting a few nibbles of Annora's Pomegranate

Those terrifying and creepy mannikins and the super big clown in the drink room. Especially the mannikin that looked like Aemorniel.

Cleanup chat and helping james out was also great fun.

The car ride over with Cory and Sarah was nice too!

And finally, I loved driving back to jason and Ree's house at 3 in the morning blasting the Protomen at the top of my speakers.

Whoever was playing the new little green goblin was a lot of fun. She kept whimpering and hiding from Grimkjell, which made me feel good because I like people being scared of him AND she was doing well as a new goblin and rper. Loved it!