Week In the Life ~ Highlights!

Waking up Wednesday and heading into the Inn, only to find out there was no one there, so I went for a walk to the lake. I hadn’t been there for a while. After sitting on the dock for about 10 minutes and scribbling out a poem, Ruindol came down the path. She told me that she was going on a treasure hunt with Tobar and asked if I wanted to come along, and I did. What I didn’t ask either of them was, they had already found each other; what were they looking for out in the woods? Acting on a hunch during the hunt, I actually found something, and even though it was the only treasure I found all week, I’m still proud. We headed back before the sun had set and also to get to the song circle on time, except we found out that the song circle had been pushed back a few hours.

Walking into the bar and stumbling into a burgeoning bachelorette party for Keavy on the eve of her wedding day (congratulations to both of you, by the way!). At some point in the night, Sindarion and Sten ended up shirtless behind the bar. Croi started singing a song about the various forms of facial hair in Travance, and something magical happened. With no rehearsals beforehand, Sindarion and Sten joined in during the chorus, and I felt compelled to join them.

On Thursday morning, I went for a jaunt through the woods, only to find my new friend Lawrence doing the same. We visited yet another place I had never been and also gotten lost, all while getting to know a bit more about each other. Apparently, I look rather silly while walking down steep hills.

“Circus Shmirkus” was fun. (OOG, Chris, you outdid yourself with that mime.) There was an element of creepiness with the jester. He walked around with a stern look on his face, hardly saying anything. The eating of the ‘live’ chicken might be my favorite part.

Friday morning, I walked down to the Monastery with Gwynedd and Amizar for Breakfast with the Bishop and although we arrived at the advertised time, no one was awake to prepare the food. Back at the Inn, Nalick learns that it was Pie Day and asks about it. Amizar walks into the next room for a moment and returns with a strawberry rhubarb pie to share with everyone.
Angeliana was rather inebriated and thought it was wise to show kindness to a seething Billiam, who began menacing her. That’s when I jumped in between them and attempted to calm him down.

It didn’t work.

Now he was after me. I backed into the bar area. Billiam sang a quick tune causing the doors and windows to lock. He followed me up the stairs and had me cornered against the window, where I was on the receiving end of not his fist, but an angry tirade. Then he went back downstairs and I collected myself.
When I got back downstairs, Gwynedd spoke highly of my character and personality in general, but called my intervention “stupid” and that I could’ve gotten myself hurt or worse. She is right, but I’d do it again every time.

Friday night was my NPC shift and for the first time, I went out as an NPC on the new player mod. There were three of us and we were bandits. On our first encounter with the new players, we had the most cordial conversation any bandits have ever and will ever have with potential victims. It still ended with combat, but I’m sure all involved will remember that scene for a long time to come.
Hazar, the new Bedouin in town, sang at Feast and it was incredible. I couldn’t tell you how many jaws dropped when people heard her sing.

There was general silliness at the table. The food itself was amazing (thank you Marie and Jason!) Somehow, I always end up sitting with Galen. I guess something about us… resonates.
Getting to go up to sing a reprise of the “Goat Beard” song. Going up a second time to sing the song we had learned earlier in the day down in the grove. As we sang, more and more people began to sing along and I had the biggest smile on my face.

Playing a few rounds of “Unintended Consequences” with Amizar, especially when I played Saturday night with Caldor, Zellara, and Shee. So much fun.

Looking up into the night sky and seeing the BIG Dipper. You could not miss it.

Running back and forth through the dark late Saturday night between Kaladonia, where the bawdy song circle was interrupted multiple times by monstrous creatures and news of monstrous deeds, and Ostcliff, where an investigation was underway into the tragedy at Fort Clove. Basically, I violated one of two prime rules of thumb of Travance in walking alone at night. Nothing bad happened to me, but it could have. Also, I walked with people to various places because they did not want to walk by themselves.

Towards the end of the night, I was sitting on a log at the Kaladonia bonfire, trying not to nod off, especially with the Baroness seated nearby. I don’t know whether he noticed, but Tobar came over, tapped me on the shoulder and said it would be okay if I headed back to the Inn for the night, and he thanked me for my assistance.

Sunday afternoon, the Seneschal had too much milk and offered some to me. While pouring me a glass, however, my cup sprung a leak. The Seneschal – head of the Merchants’ Guild, ahem -- put his cup beneath mine to capture the spilling milk. I drank what I could. There was, and I said as much aloud, an analogy to be found somewhere.

Hanging out with Trent and Akira on the patio by the front of the Inn. “So, I’m going to tempt fate right now.” I open my book to where I have the lyrics to the grove song written down and sing the first two lines. Then we hear a loud noise in the distance and the two of them look at me like, “What did you do!?”

Alisandrian farmers came all the way to the Proper and to the back porch of the Dragon’s Claw, but felt too timid and perhaps unworthy to go any further. With some coaxing, however, they made their way inside to thank us and to share the news that their crops were doing exceedingly well. Goblins made their way inside and the farmers hid under the table.

They also gave a lesson in how to defend yourself. Hide under a table. Kick over a bench and pull it close. Take coins out of your pocket and set them on the table. That way, when demons come by, they will be too distracted by the gold to look under the furniture.

I introduced myself to the various farmers, who seemed to know me already. One of them asked if I was “the mighty Nalick” and they were all excited to hear me sing them a song. I obliged but honestly, I don’t think I’m that big of a deal.

Various jokes with Illyrin and Sten
A bit of mischief with Lydias
A whole lot of silliness with Rane
Keeping Landris company in Pendarvin while she was cooking. A certain joke about avocados that I can’t repeat here.
All of the cookouts. Thank you to Kleiden, Sir Anhil, Sir Gideon, and everyone else who manned/womanned the various fires and cooked food for all of us.
Dancing in the rain with Croi at the Maiden’s Choice dance. It was one of those moments when it was going to pour for only five or ten minutes, and I had an itch to do something fun. Thank you for indulging me.
Something that happened late Sunday afternoon. You know who you are and you have my grudging thanks.
Overall, feeling more at ease playing my character than I ever have.

A special thanks to the EMTs and other medical staff at Camp. If there are heroes in Travance, it’s you guys.

See you all in June.

After missing two years' worth of Week in the Lifes, I have finally managed to haul my cookies to Camp Sac for this one.
Boy, was it worth it.

In no particular order:
- Being able to finally bring my harp up to Knight Realms and playing it at numerous different occasions!
- GOAT BEARDS
- AND NAKED FACES
- All of the music, for that matter. This event probably has the record for the most music I've seen at KR, from all the song circles, to "What Do You Do With a Drunken Hobbit" on the lakeside, to all the talented singers at Feast, and, of course, singing Amaranth at the feast.
- And, of course, feast. Props to Ree and everyone who helped make it, because it was one of the best darn feasts I've had in my 2 years of Knight Realmsing.
- After falling off of the ladder to one of the bunks in the barracks (not fun), Melody walked up to me and put a paw on my lap with what I could swear was concern. Words cannot express my fondness for that dog.
- Bachelorette party. Thank you, Alan/Sten for being my partner in crime.
- Getting woken up on Saturday by exploding goblins, complete with a wild surge. After helping Tobar clean them up, I had fun spending the rest of the period (i.e. day) with my body temperature raised to a continuous Scorching Touch effect. Handling books with fire tongs so they didn't catch fire, freezing water around my feet so as to help cool down as best as possible, avoiding handshakes, and other hijinks ensued.
- Finally learning archcaster from Ilana Darkwood. Look out, Arawyn, Sindarion's about to learn the big magics.
- Chaos o'clock. "Guys. I think we're forgetting one important question. WHO THE HELL IS THAT GUY!?" Sindarion had to drunk as much as possible to cope being in the same room with multiple dark clergy and, Brazen forbid, having a good time with them.
- Rowing out onto the lake at 2 in the morning with Mixolydia to meet with Lord Hellock. One of my favorite moments of the entire event was when we heard screaming on the beachfront and went to row back as fast as possible, to find that the situation, thankfully, had been handled... and suddenly Jonas Cane appears out of nowhere in a rowboat. It might have been the fact that it was stupid o'clock, but James, that was probably one of your finest moments.
- Relaxing by the song circle and firepit in Kaladonia after the boat rowing and nodding off by the fire.
- Being woken up by a band of gypsies in the barracks, my first thoughts being "oh, no, we're going to get attacked again," only for them to be quickly silenced by a tongue lashing from Ruindol and the Baroness.
- Meeting and bonding with a few other wild mages on Sunday.

This was a hell of an event.

The shenanigans of getting down to the camp.

Getting a message about a certain few people being able to make it down.

Song circle.

-elric getting good and wasted so he could sing a song.

-"at this point we're just gonna go back and forth" most entertaining weapon prof lesson ever. Elric is gonna have to get used to going from polearm to greatsword.

Maker's mark?
Maker's mark

Rent-a-dead

Hearing that rent-a-dead actually had a customer.

coming back as Viktor, just in time for...chaos...

pioneer surgeon, that is all

Pendarvan cookout!

Fresh fried fish... Fantastic...

Satyr berserker zipeto? Sweet

Spiderbro is a damn hero!

Viktor hanging out with a certain drow.

All of the smithing... All of it...

no, miss drow matron, you may not run away... You are going back into the blender.

I almost forgot about Hunter! Looks just like his dad!

Overall, I think this was a good week!

See you all in june!

~ All of the Massages! All the chats had during giving them.
~ Keliden / Tari talks at Kaladonia song circle. Thank you both.
~ Alander coming with Angeliana as a friend to a dark place to leave a rose for someone.
~ Getting yelled at by Rudolf after being accused of breaking Grimkjell. Being told he’d throw her in jail to keep her safe and away from Jed if she kept making her bodyguards quit, responding with: Sure, Karkat will keep me company there. Oh, the fury that followed…

~ Being called a petulant child by an angry unkel Rudolf the next day, then proving a point to him and everyone else that she is her own person in control of her own choices capable of anything she chooses to accomplish… Couple this with an RP choice I’ve been tirelessly and carefully been following for months (Thank you again Cappy for finally figuring it out despite not interacting with me directly much) and queue massive uproar and protest from the majority of Travance. This was beyond difficult to RP for many FOIG reasons, but I regret nothing, what spectacular results…
~ Learning more about Terezi and letting her have a taste in hopes it will soothe her from within due to the positive energy since Angeliana felt terrible about her past. Wanting her to know she is beautiful just the way she is and not broken, caressing her face and calling her pretty at every chance.
~ Jed and Atrus. All of it. The rose on the altar, perfect. The symbol, hilarious, since it later turned my thumb dark and I chucked it away in terror the next day.
~ Wanna see a bunch of squee ing women chasing Jed? Hunter Danger De Voe! Adorable… Handsome… Precious. Putting up a sanctuary to keep creepy mime away from Hunter Danger!
~ Telling all of the people all of the things…
~ The truce summit between dark and light. Being the only member of the light clergy there and getting asked my opinion. Some of the looks on people’s faces when I spoke and said what I said.
~ Muhammad Al’Akir, his quote, his visit, the gift given.
~ Bishop to the follow up light & dark talks, brother Aldrick losing his temper and walking away. Did it have anything to do with Jed caressing Angeliana’s head on his lap? Your glaring was priceless!
~ Chaos! Short lived due to concern for Slightly Corrupt Billiam… Getting called Evil Witch by him for trying to make sure he is ok, my touch burning him due to positive vs negative and him punching me in the face for trying to calm him down. Surviving said punch! Thanks Keavy! Also flying on Arden! Weee! Didn’t work but was worth a shot. Doing everything to help him until he called her luv again, hugging him something fierce when he was finally back to being his ‘charming’ himself.

~ Breakfast of idiots: Satyr’s wine and strawberry rhubarb pie. Getting a round of applause for drinking water without using hands. Thanks Nalick for the pie and the note, and also making sure you collected on it later.
~ Theska… the tri-hat second shadow. We shall see how this turns out.
~ Being told by Grim he must do a very dangerous thing but Angeliana can’t come because it’s a path he must travel alone. Calling bullshit on that, empathically locating a whole bunch of the angriest heroes of Travance after he gave her the slip. Zach’s Satyr insistently beating on my sanctuary until exhausted. The insanity that was heroic berserker mod and Zipeto’s angry satyr, returning with all sorts of blood and exhaustion not to mention a major phobia of rage… All zerkers and celts? Thanks Drew… Thaaaaaanks. People’s faces as Falia and Grim were carrying a bloody pulp of an Angeliana back to the Monastery to host the dance.
~ Having to run away from Bran when he returned to the proper. Blowing willpower to go back and tackle hug him. Giving him my rose and doing an “Andorran dance”. Freaking out mid ‘dance’ due to immunity running out from willpower, Tobar locking the door as a joke. Horrible joke…
~ Billiam waylaying Angeliana, throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her outside to Doctor Darkwood (Gene, wow, you’re strong, I’m heavy), then gaging and binding her with her own clothing.
~ Illana’s cure, things shared there… best and maybe worst. But best cure still.
~ The fundraising! Billiam donating one gold at a time, Bran fuming as he watched Billiam collect then handing Angeliana wine to wash her lips clean.
~ The Maiden’s Choice Dance! What a success! Thank you all for all of the help and participation! The food, the music, the songs, there was even a harp! Meeting more Andorrans!
~ Corrupted grove, unkel finally seeing niece in action. Absolute Power Call of Peace = no voice left for a week now. The focus walk afterwards. Good RP in there as always.
~ Wanted poster with my face on it? Dark elf scribblings? Don Kellard to make it worse! Trying to avoid him until he zeroed in on me. Showing him a way to the baroness’s manor… for 3 hours… Never said it was the most direct way! All of the shenanigans at the inn with him when he wanted so desperately to take Angeliana back to the Underdark. She was simply trying to protect the rest of the women in Travance. Never expected Bran to suggest he is prettier when they stopped by the monastery. Don Kellard asking him to take off his clothes so he could examine, of course Bran obliged and Don Kellard found him fitting. Luckily Quan Lui was around and Angeliana managed to give DK the slip before anyone got taken to the Underdark with him. Sorry, not sorry.

~ Baroness! Finally getting some time to tell her many things. Her aura!
~ Best Feast I've ever had at KR period. Delicious. Banshee sauce on cheesy potatoes is brilliant. Thanks to all involved! Ree you rule!
~ Hazar? (Jenna) Jaw dropping singing and rp the entire week.
~ A very difficult main mod for Angeliana, managing no deaths is always a comfort, other things certainly were not. Roderick and Caldor comforting a weeping, drinking Angel.
~ Meeting Lyramaeriel and all of the bubbles. Later food and chats with Baroness, Darius, Roderick and Zellara. All of the laughter. “Get out!”
~ Very important talks with Seamus and Bran, the tears, the emotions…
~ Chat with Bat about justice.
~ Watching Seamus teach Bran two handed fighting.

Fantastic event with fantastic people and gorgeous weather. Thank you KR family, can’t wait to be back!

All the many late night chats at the stump.

Marshaling Ceremonies

CSI: Travance

Politics

Ramen

Fun times, sorry I missed the real Pendarvin gathering Friday but glad Geoff helped us put together an impromptu one Saturday.

Interesting conclusion to the Wytchwood/Grove problems. Incredibly frustrating plot mechanic, but ultimately was good to circulate people in and out. Very tired of dark whispers, what lists can I swap into for Superior Willpowers? hah

Main mod looked great, so glad I was able to get into the drow caves (albeit briefly) for the fight. Was awesome to see them all done up, I was jealous last month when our group didn't get to go inside. After dealing with cave ins and collapses, was a bummer to finally get to the "end boss" only to be told we all had to stand down. Like getting unintentionally thrown into the lava then told to sit out on Ragnaros cause you kept having to run back, haha.

Ultimately ended up good though, we needed it for that fire giant. Apparently a young one at that. One of the most fun encounters I've had in a while with just one NPC, really well done Matt D.

Boating in the lake in the middle of the night was fun. I thought what people were saying was a joke, but it was for real. I owe Pat big time for rowing us across, what a serious job.

Had some good talks with some of the other druids too, got some perspective on inner workings. Really interesting, looking forward to seeing what happens.

-Andy