Ayshela

Ayshela suddenly realizes that one important point wasn't as clear as it probably should have been. Any letters which are personal or private enough to be PM'd will, as a matter of course, have that confidentiality respected. There will be no public notification of "This person PM'd a letter to *that* person." because that would in effect make public a private matter. Those who wish to PM their letters will simply be listed on *my* private geld award list as having sent a letter, the recipient will not even be listed. Privacy *will* be honoured should that be desired. The important part of this is not that appreciation be public, but that it be given.

Dear Loki, I know i've dropped comment your way now and then before, but i also know there have been things i've been less than clear about - or simply not said. Lest you have forgotten, or i have been unclear, let me take a moment now to simply say thank you. You are one of two people still writing here who consistently leaves me in confused, overjoyed amazement at seeing someone else put words to things i thought only i had felt. Your courage in saying what so many consider unspeakable, even unthinkable, has always impressed me. Your open honesty about what you think and what you feel, i've always admired. I know that speechlessness does not translate well in a forum dependent on words, which all too often has left you confused about the response - or lack thereof - to your writing. Let me say now that i am glad that you are here, and i heartily appreciate your contributions. I haven't said it nearly often enough, or clearly enough, i know - but thank you. warm hugs, Ayshela

Ayshela pins back one tent flap, leaving the other closed to allow *some* privacy for those who prefer the advantage of surprise. With an impish grin she sets a sign outside the entrance reading: Love Letters! 10 geld for your penned notes of appreciation! Walking back into the tent she surveyed the stacks of parchment and readied quills scattered about on the many writing surfaces. With a gleeful grin, she thought - this should be FUN! ~~~~~ What would the winter holidays be without a chance to tell those about us how much we appreciate them? Those we know well, it's often easy to give a word of thanks to. Those we know *less* well it's more difficult, but no less important. Within this thread you can do one of two things, either is fine. The "Love letters" threads have been great fun, so if you want to write in that vein, feel free! Everyone should have a love letter, right? If that's just NOT your style, that's fine. A simple note of appreciation will do. The object here is to choose an unsuspecting Pen member and write for them either a love letter or a letter of appreciation - and let them know what you appreciate, be it something specific they do or something they wrote that touched you or whatever. Letters can be posted on this thread, though if it ends up being more personal than you want to post here, PM it and send me a copy and i'll see that you're credited for it. This can be done twice, at ten geld each letter. Come on in and spread some cheer!

Tail flipping, blur of flight from point to point along your path to grab a nut and flee from sight to add it safely to your stash a scolding chitter to those who dare to come too close to gathering grounds and then you flee to safety, stare and those who crossed within your bounds

Ayshela thought back to her early years, and her very favourite holiday tradition. Every winter, as the weather grew cold and the holidays neared, she and her grandfather spent a long afternoon wandering the forest telling stories and singing songs while searching out fallen pine cones. Her grandfather had been insistent that never were they to take more than half of what had fallen in any location, so sometimes they would wander for what seemed endless hours to childish "patience" and short legs. Eventually they would arrive back at home with a bag full of cones, heads full of stories and hearts full of songs. Over the next week the gathered cones would be carefully spread with nut butters and rolled in seeds, then hung with care from the lower branches of trees all around the ground below the city. Her grandfather had explained that they had all they needed and more, so it was their responsibility to make sure that those about them had all they needed as well. In this small way, they ensured that the small and helpless would have enough to eat through the cold months ahead. Now she knew that this was the least of all he'd done to take care of others. And yet, her fondest memories of her grandfather and her favourite holiday tradition was the afternoon spent singing and telling stories while gathering cones for the birds.

"A Pinata? What fun! I haven't seen one of those in YEARS!!!" With a gleeful smile, Ayshela picks up the stick lying conveniently nearby and walks toward the "pinata" bag. Seeing it writhing, she pokes it gently with a curious look upon her face. Hearing the muffled mews and sneezes from within, she looks by turns curious, worried, enlightened, and amused. "Won't break indeed, the bag OR the contents, especially if i don't try. However..." and with an evil little giggle she sets herself for some entertainment and spends a merry half hour wandering about the bag just poking at it now and then, whenever the mews and sneezes settle down. };>

So, Festival running and all.. and i'm trying to keep up, i swear i am.. and i've been deadly sick for almost six weeks now. so, yesterday i dragged myself to the doctor again.. having been to the doctor's office once and ER once already within that time frame and done full stints on antibiotics.. and he checks me over and mumbles and reads the nurse's notes and doesn't sound happy and sends me down for chest x-rays and *really* doesn't sound happy.. and comes back and tells me that he can't do the lab work to verify it because the antibiotics i've already taken will nullify the test, but symptomatically it's classic whooping cough (pertussis). and oh, by the way, i have pneumonia with that. and i'll be on heavy antibiotics and vicodin cough syrup for two weeks. and by the way this is wildly contagious and he'll have to notify the health department. and by this point i'm beginning to wonder if i should have greeted him with "either fix it or shoot me, please? either one would hurt less." so.. i'll be here, and i'll keep up as best i can, but it will be in fits and spurts where sometimes i'll have two hours i can stay here and sometimes i'll fade out after five minutes. Hell, gotta keep this going, eh? prolly gonna be most of the christmas i have, at this rate. *sigh* so, yeah. i swear, i am still here.. sort of.. sometimes.. :-\

Ayshela stood back at the wall of the Courtyard, leaning lightly against the wall while whittling a small fallen branch from the Oak Tree. Her gaze moved constantly about the various activities and the people moving about the Courtyard and to and from the guild halls. So far, all seemed to be well. Even Wyvern hadn't caused too much commotion! Ayshela smiled briefly at that, then realizing that in her watchfulness over the Festival she had turned a branch into a hair stick, she muttered something it was probably better no one else heard and sheathed her knife. Twisting her hair into a loose knot, she secured it with the newly created hair stick, and set out to wander among the events. Her eyebrows nearly shot into her hairline, on reaching Peredhil's Kissing Booth. 'Dan? Really... How splendid! She stepped up to the booth and waited while he finished sharpening another paperclip and put it away. He looked up wordlessly, realizing that she knew he had been aware of her presence. They looked silently at each other for a moment, then Ayshela looked about her again, mumbled and gestured almost imperceptibly, and set out a sentinal ring to alert her of anything moving *anywhere* close. Now that she had time to be almost distracted for a few moments, Ayshela smiled at 'Dan and dropped 20 geld into the container. "Worth every geld just to have a chance to talk to you for a few minutes." She noticed his eyes narrow slightly, evaluating the comment and what she might want. She smiled a little wider, nodded slightly, and set out to explain. "I have never tried to find opportunity to talk to you - oddly, BECAUSE of the reason I wanted to. I know you know when someone's around, where they are, what they're doing - and likely as not, what they want. Better even than I do, which I find both astonishing and gratifying. I wouldn't have come unannounced, not for anything, and I could never quite figure out how to say I just wanted to talk to you for a minute, because I wanted to say 'Thank you' for something most people don't even understand. "But you DO understand. That *knowing* when someone is there, when everyone else is blithely, blindly, going on their way. Hearing everything, even when asleep. Reacting quickly, because you HAVE to - slowly is too late, and too late is dead, or worse. Knowing there IS worse than dead. A healthy appreciation of weaponry, and a care for their care. "There's so much that people don't get - even around here. They just don't seem to see it. I've HAD to let guard down just a little around here, because if I didn't I'd probably have killed a fair number within a week of being here, the way they casually wander up on each other, grab hold of each other.. I mean, I'm as huggable as the next person, but just wandering up and grabbing hold of someone because you want to talk to them? I'd have slit half a dozen throats the first day i was here, if i weren't careful... well, slit throats, if i'd been in a good mood." Ayshela was concentrating on trying to find words for her thoughts and completely missed the flash of appreciative amusement at that afterthought. By the time she'd looked up again, 'Dan had smoothed his features again. "How do they just *trust* each other so easily? Anyone close enough can bite you, and you let someone bite you - you deserve what you get. But they do... *people* do... and they don't seem to see the risk. But you do see it. You do understand, risk and danger in all forms and the need to guard against it. I'd begun to think, since I was the only one who DID see that, that my adherence to defense was futile stubbornness. That maybe I really was just stubbornly insane. Or insanely stubborn. Either way." That time, Ayshela caught the glint of amusement. She smiled back, and continued on. "I guess I really had two reasons for wanting to thank you. Firstly for all that your care and protection does to keep your dad safe. If I were ever to take leave of my senses enough to trust anyone, he's one of two I would consider. But, purely selfishly, I wanted to thank you just for being here and being *you*. Because you are who you are, I don't feel so insanely strange and alone any more, and for as long as i've been a wordsmith there aren't words to tell you what that means. "So, thank you." And with that, Ayshela reached up and wrapped her arms around 'Dan's neck, hugging him tightly. She leaned back, after a moment, and kissed him softly. Then, letting go and dropping down off her tip-toes, she winked and turned to assess the Festival again.

Ayshela collapses in shrieks of laughter, begging in gasps to please not make her laugh so, it makes her chest hurt!

Gentlemen - i will be logged on late the night of the 15th to link in any late posters, but this is a gentle (cough cough) reminder that it is now the night of the 12th, you have until midnight the fifteenth Pacific Time to get your dates completed and posted. Thank you.

Ayshela giggles softly and pats Tasslehoff's shoulder gently. "No worries, no fuss, just a gentle reminder that that IS an important point. I've seen nothing here that gives cause for worry, except my own illness induced tendency to be less than crystal clear. You're fine."

Ayshela softly hangs a sign that reads IN CHARACTER over the speaker's stand, noting that part two will involve roleplay so you will need your character's holiday traditions.

Ayshela entered the maze with a curious look, tapping gently on the walls and wondering how well they'd hold up. Seemed solid enough, she mused, and with a nod to herself she went on. With only a couple wrong turns, quickly corrected, she found her way to the center where she found Venefyxatu gently rubbing a small statuette as if to brush off residual ice chips and smooth the edges. "Hah, i found you! Don't you get cold sitting in here?" Ayshela asked. "Not really," Venefyxatu replied. "I keep too busy to notice the cold." And with that he handed Ayshela her statuette, a stunning likeness. "It's beautiful!" Ayshela gasped. "Wonderfully done! Thank you so much!" And with a beaming smile she levitated herself, walked up the walls of the maze, and launched herself toward her window to go put her statuette somewhere safe.

"A concert? Sounds wonderful!" Ayshela scurries over to Black9 and drops ten geld into his hand. "I've been hoping someone would have a musical event! I can't wait!" Beaming happily and boucing slightly in excitement, Ayshela hurries to set her blanket where she'll be sure to have clear sight of the performer.

Ayshela commandeers one of the green tents scattered about the courtyard and sets up desks for those who want to write and benches for those who'd rather tell their tales of memory. Hanging a banner reading "Traditions Past and Present" outside the door, she walks back into the tent with a small smile at the realization that the past comes now, here... the present will be later, with Salinye. No matter, either way, people should be arriving soon. Traditions - essentially, the specific ways we celebrate the holidays we choose to honour. Some are as simple as a specific holiday treat recipe, or an evening of reading aloud. Others are far more complex. Either way, traditions *mean* something, they form a connection from us to our past. For this festival exercise, which is the first of two parts, we will be exploring the in character traditions each of us may have chosen to carry with us. The winter holidays, whichever they may be, are a time of tradition. Here we will describe in a brief story both what our personal *in character* tradition is, and where it originated. Since this is a one time exercise, and more demanding than many of the others, this exercise will earn 25 geld.

One of the primary ways for a storyteller to make a scene real to the reader is to engage the senses with a broad-ranging, vivid description. There's a great difference in impact between "She walked into the house, threw her coat toward the chair, and headed toward the kitchen where she knew her mother was." and "She walked slowly into the house, grateful for the warmth against her snow-covered cheeks. She sniffed the air appreciatively as she shed her coat, greedily inhaling the smells of baking apples, cinnamon and cloves. As she walked toward the kitchen she tried to hear, over the rumbling of her stomach, the song her mother was singing to herself." For this exercise, i'd like you to write a short description, including elements for at least three of the senses. i don't care *what* you describe, only that the description includes details appealing to at least three senses. This exercise may be done twice, earning ten geld for the first description and five for the second. Have fun! =)

As the Pen members begin to wander out toward the Courtyard, they notice a few steps outside the door a new post with what appears to be a map on it. Upon closer inspection, it appears to be a guide to the various activities scattered about the festival. StoryWeavers Guild Activities Appealing to the Senses Tell a Story, from Someone Else's Perspective Holiday Traditions, Part One Password - a guild hall activity Redefinitions - a guild hall activity Round Robin - a guild hall activity Add only One Word Robin - a guild hall activity Rearranginitions - a guild hall activity Love Letters Prose vs. Poetry Poetry vs. Prose Figure Skating Articulate Artisans of Alliteration Activities By Any Other Name, poetic description event Fractured Christmas Carols Alliance of Vagabonds and Vanguards Activities) Adventurers Wanted Holiday Traditions, Part Two Member Run Activities Wyvern's "Find the Almost Cork in the Beer Mug game - free Bruteweiser! Peredhil's Polite Kissing Booth - For a limited time only Pen Poem Discovery Channel Snow in the Courtyard The Concert Pinata A Good Swift Kick in the Ass A Riddle Booth Peredhil's Lending Office Auctions! Bachelorette Auction Sign Up Bachelorette Auction! - Introducing the Bachelorettes

For those unfamiliar with the background for this, the summer carnival opening is in this thread. It’s nearly dawn and those awake in the early hours could see crawling across the horizon a line of wagons, clearly destined for the gates of the Pen Keep. The truly observant would notice that these wagons seemed familiar, sturdy and well built with the faintest traces of music weaving around and through the caravan. No longer dusty and faded from sun and age, the vivid colours have been restored and eye-catching designs flow from wood to canvas and sometimes even to a well-inked wagon driver! Yet the undercurrent of excitement, however familiar, is not isolated to the caravan this time. As the wagons creak to a halt near the Courtyard, a muffled shriek is heard from an upstairs window, followed by hurried footsteps heading toward the doorway. A moment later Ayshela comes flying out the door babbling excitedly. “DAIN!!! You’re here! I didn’t think you’d be here for another week, the weather has been horrible, we don’t have anything set up yet, though the wagons look *wonderful*, and I don’t think anyone else is awake yet, if you want me to help you set up I can because you’ll be in the same place, and…” By this time she’d reached Dain and pounced him in a gleeful hug. Dain smiled broadly and said “Slow down, missy. We missed the worst a’ the weather, and we’re glad ta be here. If ya want ta help with the setup you’d be more’n welcome, an if not that’s fine too. I got a good idea what ya want an we know where ta go so it’s up ta you.” With a broad smile Ayshela waved them toward the Courtyard and climbing up beside Dain she told him, “I wouldn’t miss this for the world!” With a thoughtful look, she said, “I almost didn’t realize it was you for a moment, the wagons look so… so…” Dain smiled and said, “So different? So good? So much better, at least? Well, y’see, that’s part a the reason we were so glad ta come back. We had a lot a fun here last time, an learned a lot besides, an even made some friends here, so it woulda been good coming back anyway, an we’d’a done it just for that. But this place here, it’s different. Most places we gotta choose, we can have fun or make money, but not the both. Here, we made a living while enjoying the life. We like bein’ here, an it’s good business too.” Dain suddenly looked at Ayshela with a broad smile, as he said, “You’re as good fer us as we are fer you. We like that.” Ayshela smiled softly and said “I’m glad.” They hopped off the wagon and started directing the setup. Ayshela marveled for a moment as she saw the wagons being emptied. It always seemed a bit magical watching the carnies unload more than it seemed the wagons could hold! Roll after roll of canvas was hauled out and lined up beside a stack of tent poles, and soon a small army of people swarmed over the Courtyard setting up long rows of gleaming white tents around the fountain. Dotted here and there around the central row of tents were others – some white, some a soft buttercream colour, others in red or green or blue. Strings of lights were run around the edges of many of the tents, and long strings outlined walkways between the areas for shops and events and guild classes and such. Alaeha came out with a broad smile for all the activity, and led some of the busy workers toward the guild halls to set up for the indoor activities there. Ayshela remained in the Courtyard, stringing fairy lights among the branches of the Oak Tree so that come evening the Courtyard would look as if it were being lit by a thousand fireflies! The lights strung and tents set out, Ayshela stood on the edge of the fountain with a broad, satisfied smile. Soon, soon, they would be ready… and then, let the people come!

with apologies for the lateness, PMs have been sent and i'm stumbling back to the couch.. i'm sorry, people, i've been horribly ill the last few weeks and a trip to ER got me my second round of antibiotics and inhalers and cough syrup and stuff and i'm almost to where i can think about beginning to feel almost human again.. i'll get caught up, i promise!

congrats! many warm good thoughts heading your way! =) *hugs* (genuine germ free ones, of course!)

mmm i was going to guess advancement.. but then, what do i know? my brain is as sick as the rest of me is..

The absolute, iron-clad, inarguable and unassailable deadline for this is December 15. Those of you with outstanding dates will be getting a reminder PM with that information and a link back here, probably tomorrow if i haven't heard any disagreement from my co-leaders.

Twenty candles on the cake and birthday wishes we all make a happy year we wish for you with space to grow and things to do to be the *you* you wish to be the time and space is yours, you see so blow the candles, cut the cake hold dear the birthday wish you make Happy Birthday Zariah! May your day be pleasant and the beginning of a wonderful year.

*laughs* and it made perfect sense in context, i swear it did! *laughs*

actually, the Winter Festival will be very soon, the Bachelorette Auction is in about a month. Will be starting activities off around the first of December.