The Chronicle               2007-2008

Falana WyvernStryke, Chronicler

16 Jun 2007 ~ Clan Conclave at Crescentwood Tavern (Loquitor & Sabine’s).

About half the clan is present for the conclave, a meeting to discuss various topics concerning FALO operations. The agenda includes the membership process, gathers, by-laws, & Springfest. Time does not permit the latter two topics to be specifically discussed, though they are brought up tangentially in the first two topics.

Members present are offered the opportunity to summarize what FALO means to them at the beginning of the meeting. Those present agree that roleplaying (defined as both dramatic storyline developments (“big roleplays”) as well as consistent portrayal of the character (“being in-character”) is an important aspect of what FALO is, as is creativity and camaraderie/friendship/sense of family.

The gather topic includes discussion of having “not-a-gather”, not in character FALO events such as workshops, as well as FALO sponsorship of outside events.

No decisions are made, but it is hoped that the lines of communication have been (re-opened). There may be other conclaves in the future to maintain this communication.

Joe (Sadosed) announces that he & Allison (Thistle) are expecting their first child in January.

27 Jul – 12 Aug 2007 ~ Pennsic 36, Slippery Rock, PA.

29 Sep 2007 ~ The Wander On Inn (Khallil & E’ile’s).

Gorgeous weather greets the clan’s return to the Wander On Inn.

Sadosed presents tokens to Rinka, Vohdun, and Ki-Rin in personal appreciation for their valiant efforts at Pennsic; other tokens will be presented when next he sees those individuals.

Sadosed and Vohdun recount the tale of the recovery of Vohdun’s axe, and of the discovery of a dangerous dragon cult that seeks to awaken/revive the spirit of a dragon beneath E’atara.

Brother Bart and others report continuing unexplained drains on their earth-magic.

hOOt tells of being drugged and kidnapped by Ghost and Raum, who then used hOOt’s money to pay for the scheme-at-hand. hOOt is displeased for obvious reasons. Rinka is displeased because hOOt was looking after her inn when he was kidnapped, so she lost profits after hOOt was kidnapped, which means she is unable to afford to man her ship and will lose further profit. Rodin Rae is displeased because she is Rinka’s partner in the ship’s ventures and therefore also loses profit.

~ · ~

It is announced that the date and location of Springfest XXI is as-yet undetermined. The new website and message board are announced.

E’ile is announced as the new Gather Reeve. Galatyne is announced as the new Webmaster.

20 Oct 2007 ~ Crescentwood Tavern (Loquitor & Sabine’s).

No events in E'atara recorded.

~ · ~

Springfest XXI will take place on June 7, 2008, at Camp Bullowa in Stony Point, NY. 231 days to SF XXI!

Rinka Tur is announced as elder.

Vohdun receives his Welcomestone.

17 Nov 2007 ~ Fealinne an Emandu (Clianna & Madhainn Dubhr’s).

A chilly day greets the clan.

Raum arrives looking a bit worse for wear; when Ghost arrives, it is known why. After following their map (which had something to do with them kidnapping hOOt), they had an encounter with a demon, in which Ghost would have died except for Raum’s intervention. As a result of the encounter, Ghost has been made human. Raum feels badly that he was unable to keep his friend from harm; Ghost is grateful that he survived. There is talk of returning to see what the demon was guarding.

Vohdun & party return from their scouting mission to an island to the east. Most of the party was captured by cultists, except for Alfrieda who was in the wild areas seeking information from the animals. The party manages to escape their captors and flee the island… inadvertently leaving Alfrieda behind in their haste. She manages to get back to the mainland with the help of some sea creatures. Some of those attempting to infiltrate the dragon cult also make it to the gather. Falana has little to report, as she is not able to move among the cultists without notice – since she has a wyvern companion, the priests consider her an important ‘convert’. Her ‘special’ status allows her to leave the compound briefly -- most converts, like Kitta, are unable to leave so soon after arriving. Galatyne tells of apparent magics being used by the priests to sway the people, and how they are somehow attempting to create a deity. He is expected to bring other ‘converts’ to the fold on his return. Fiona and Medva volunteer to accompany him. Everyone bids the group to take care in their dealings with the cult.

Late in the evening, Rinka begins speaking to Falana in an un-Rinka-like manner – being instead in the manner of Makei. Makei claims to have knowledge of where the dragon cult is located. For what seems a very long time, no one else seems to realize that there’s a problem, despite Falana’s subtle attempts to get their attention without Makei realizing it. Falana recalls Rinka showing off a pretty necklace and Rodin Rae telling Rinka that she should be very careful with putting on jewelry that “calls” to her. When she asks Makei about it, he laughs and says it wasn’t difficult to get her to put it on. Makei gives the name of an abandoned temple that no one has heard of before as the location of the dragon cult, and then leaves Rinka as a gesture of his ‘good faith’. Rinka has no recollection of anything Makei said.

~ · ~

An informal betting pool has risen around predictions of when the child of Thistle and Sadosed (affectionately called “mini-Sadosed”) will be born.

Kyara announces that ChilDra is due to give birth in March.

202 days to SF XXI!

Alfrieda and Medva receive their Welcomestones.

29 Nov 2007 ~ Gavin Patrick (“mini-Sadosed”) is born five weeks early, on his mother’s birthday. Mother and son are both well.

26 Jan 2008 ~ Yule gather at Fealinne an Emandu (Clianna & Madhainn Dubher’s).

Shani brings a message she found in a bottle while exploring a shipwreck. The note appears to be in elven, but Shani has been unable to read it. She does recognize one phrase, however: Yelde Ana Rana Nen, which sounds familiar to her but she can’t recall why. E’ile is surprised to hear her title, and begins to read the note aloud. Rodin Rae suggests she not read it aloud in case it isn’t as innocuous as it seems, as has been known to happen. E’ile does so, but she understands nothing of the rest of the letter, though some words seem to indicate people or places. She plans to conduct a directed seeking at the scrying pool at the next full moon, and will make inquiries of the elders of Morningstar Cove.

Rinka reports that Pendarat Wyn Eyrie thinks that what occurred in November was not Makei returning, but an echo of his presence manifesting, perhaps connected to the gift of magic he left Rinka on his departure. She continues to maintain wards, but does not feel Makei will make another appearance.

Kitta arrives and begins asking if Falana has arrived yet and whether she was acting strangely, as she’s concerned that Falana may be falling under the sway of the dragon cult. She’d passed Falana on the street, and Falana hadn’t recognized her. Falana confronts Kitta, demanding Kitta pay her the proper respects. Kitta complies, but uses it as an opportunity to try to break the spell on Falana with an herb she’d taken from a cult priestess. It works, at least temporarily – they fear that once Falana returns to the cult environment, which she must do, the influence will reassert itself.

The elders announce that Springmeadow and Kiriannin have left the clan.

Kyara (Sandy) announces that she and Regar (J) will be married in a small ceremony in May, with a celebration to follow sometime in July.

~ · ~

132 days to SF XXI!

Galatyne announces that the DS will be moving to an online-only format to better suit the clan’s expectations for quick dissemination of information.

Shani receives her Welcomestone, the first given at a Yule gather in 14 years.

23 Feb 2008 ~ Gather at the Hunt’s End Inn (Caitlin & Medva’s).

No events in E'atara recorded.

~ · ~

The elders announce that Ghostdancer has left the clan.

Caitlin and Lorelei receive their Moonstones.

104 days to SF XXI! Invitations are almost ready.

29 Mar 2008 ~ Gather at Fealinne an Emandu.

Sad news marks the day early on, as Kitta and Falana arrive with news of Galatyne’s death at the hands of the dragon cult. Falana hasn’t spoken much since it happened, so it falls to Kitta to relay the tale. {Tale recounted in Apr 2008 DS} Knowing that Falana had been falling under the sway of the cult’s magic, Fiona spell-sung a sword to break their hold on her. Unfortunately, to trigger the magic, Kitta had to hit Falana, or something she was holding, with it. Once she did so, Falana would return to herself.

Saba arrives at the gather and reports that his visit to Funeral Mountain yielded that Galatyne had indeed been there, but that he was escorted away by a lady of light; in that place, deities manifest as beings of light. Vohdun feels terribly responsible for bringing this about, though Falana argues that she is more responsible for Galatyne’s death because she failed to protect him.

There are several toasts with water to Galatyne’s memory.

A horned fey creature named Herne appears, and is offered hospitality. He reports his realm is overrun by something that destroys magic, and that many fey are fleeing those lands. He is seeking out those who might stand against what is coming. Clianna reports that small, very shy fairies have appeared near one of the trees outside, and speculates that they have fled from that of which Herne speaks.

~ · ~

69 days to SF XXI! Invitations are distributed.

3 May 2008 ~ April gather at Folyoldael Ileekakocsma (Firesmith & Shani’s).

First gather at this site. The dryad MeAgenn visits the clan after a long absence.

Shani reports a “minor” problem: that she salvaged the Cup of Apollo and then lost it somewhere, and now it’s apparently attempting to drain the oceans. Several of the clan, including Ellam and Brother Bart, offer their assistance in its recovery.

Rodin Rae’s brother, William, arrives in search of Rodin Rae, who had not yet arrived. He is given tentative welcome, as no one quite remembers which guild he is associated with in Shelden, the assassins’ or the thieves’ guild. He mentions that Rodin Rae owes him a ship, as there was a storage issue with a particular item being carried on his vessel, which resulted in the destruction of his ship.

An old acquaintance of Aravis’, Tarkin, comes looking for her, but she hasn’t visited the clan in some time. He spends some time with the clan, asking questions about past happenings that give him the impression that spending time with the clan can be hazardous. As it turns out, there is more cause to be concerned at Tarkin’s presence than that of William, as Tarkin was sent to assassinate Aravis – who actually has been visiting the clan in the guise of Kestrel for some months. Tarkin recognizes her and attempts to assassinate her with a poisoned dart. As he tries to escape, he is caught and killed. Aravis is revived successfully.

Brother Bart sent word to Falana before the gather, asking her to bring something of Galatyne’s to the gather that he might perform an augury to perhaps learn more of the paladin’s situation. She complies, but he initiates the ceremony without her or the item present. The answers granted him seem vague, and are interpreted variously by those present. Khallil states he is going after Galatyne, but refuses to elaborate further.

Afterward, Stalzer expresses to Falana his concern that the focal item was not used, and that certain questions were not asked. They decide that Stalzer will perform a second augury, and perhaps receive more enlightening answers. They enlist the aid of Ellam to pose the questions, and Tefnut’s responses do seem more informative. Stalzer and Falana decide to travel to Illyr, that Stalzer may offer prayers at Galatyne’s resting place, and then on as Tefnut’s responses indicated.

There is a lively discussion between Saba and Rahne over what should be done about the remaining dragon cult cells.

~ · ~

34 days to SF XXI! One week left to the early registration deadline.

The elders announce that Falana will be stepping down as Springfest Reeve after this SF. The new Springfest Reeve will be announced in September. Galatyne resigns as editor of Ðaoine Sidhe. A new editor has not yet been named.

7 Jun 2008 ~ Springfest XXI, Camp Bullowa, Stony Point, NY.

First Springfest at this site, and the day is hot, making everyone happy for the more-wooded environs. It’s a smaller turnout than the past few years, giving everyone a chance to get to know one another.

Falana and Stalzer arrive with Galatyne. They "followed his path" which apparently required giving up their own lives and letting Lyfaye/Tefnut/the Song guide them to him. Galatyne had actually been restored to life by Lyfaye as proof that Darkness cannot stand against Light. Falana and Stalzer found him ministering to people in the heart of Dragon cult territory, building a solid base of faith against their shadowy half-truths. He had had no memory of his previous life, but the elf's and cleric's presence stirred the roots of his former self. All three attended the fest full of life.

The first part of the day sees unusual incursions by a pair of small dragons nesting in the area. They make several passes, presumably to show their territorial claim and warn attendees against progressing further. There are also sightings of strangely-clad folks who seem curious about the festival but do not come too close.

The day’s Quest is announced by the arrival of Lily, a fairy who tries to explain the problem but whose words make no sense to most of those listening. It is finally determined that teams of 4 need to quest for particular items, the importance of which becomes clear as each one on the teams is afflicted by a condition that impedes independent work. As each team completes their collection of the necessary items, their afflictions disappear.

Falana comes out of tourney-retirement to answer a personal challenge. She wins that bout, and makes it to the final round, but loses to Ki-Rin. This is Ki-Rin’s second Weapons Tourney win.

Sabine wins the Archery tournament. Loquitor is almost as pleased as if he’d have won himself. The archers are intrigued by the addition of a portable arrow-slit to the later rounds.

Lyra wins the Light Archery tournament.

Aurora wins the dessert contest. No ill effects from the faery’s confection are immediately apparent, and the judges deny being influenced by faery magic in their decision.

A mysterious messenger hosts the evening’s entertainment, giving introductions that reveal insights about each performer, causing some speculation at how ‘he’ came to know so much about them. As always, the entertainment is wonderful, and the fun continues at Bardic Circle and at the sparklies table until the wee hours.