MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1486 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: READ--->Re: um...just rambling and fluff... by FidaAmica-+AT+-aol.com 2) Friendship Ring... by dprono-+AT+-planet.eon.net 3) Friendship Ring by "Raven Darkblade" 4) ROLEPLAYING IN VELGARTH (used to be Re: READ--->Re: um...just rambling and fluff...) by folkie-+AT+-usa.net 5) READ...An Idea... by folkie-+AT+-usa.net 6) Re: List Friendship Ring by ShdowStker-+AT+-aol.com 7) Re: Friendship Ring... by Niki Nibbe 8) Re: Friendship Ring by Niki Nibbe 9) MIST: the Friendship Ring story/roleplaying by Emily the invisible 10) Genetics/new Misty books by Emily the invisible 11) RE Friendship Ring by Karen Chan 12) Oh Gods, what have I started? =) (was Re: READ...An Idea...) by Kenneth Allen Hyde 13) Braid: Friendship Ring, genetics, Choosing by Sorchafyr-+AT+-aol.com 14) Re: where we live/taglines/" List " Friendship Ring by "John E Morris" 15) apology by "John E Morris" 16) about Misty by Clare Fiander 17) The Learth/Krebain thing by "John E Morris" 18) My question . . . by Danielle May Marrone 19) A bit more story.... by Clare Fiander 20) Re: free-ish books by Dave 21) Re: On the subject of Companions by "Arlene O'Connor" 22) Re: Oh Gods, what have I started? =) (was Re: READ...An Idea...) by Niki Nibbe ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 22:27:22 EST From: FidaAmica-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: READ--->Re: um...just rambling and fluff... Message-ID: <39597a07.34dfc922-+AT+-aol.com> This sounds really cool. I've always enjoyed online-roleplaying. Everyone here at home roleplays a bunch and I love it. I would be very interested in doing this. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 20:42:19 From: dprono-+AT+-planet.eon.net To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Friendship Ring... Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19980209204219.0887813c-+AT+-planet.eon.net> In keeping with the theme... There is a stir in the middle of the floor in the Hall of Green Silences as a large, slightly salty puddle begins to spread out from the center, seemingly from nowhere. Listsibs draw back exclaming at the unusual sight, but mostly because if they did not their nice shoes would get wet. Suddenly, the puddle begins to glow with an unnatural blue-green radiance and the water begins to swirl in a clockwise spiral, tiny foaming wavelets appearing. And then, from the exact center, a young lady with dark brown wet hair rises up. She is dressed in a shimmery gown all the colors of water - from a crystalline blue/green of the mountain lakes, to the peaty red of Scottish burns, to the deep blue grey of the ocean, to the irridescent radiance of a moon-touched river. A belt of tiny pearls hangs from her waist, and there is a miscevious glint in her dark eyes. She is the Lady of the Water-Borne. Many a Listsib (especially the newer additions) draw back slightly and look for a bucket in one of her slender hands, but thankfully there is none. "Ah! So glad you waited!" She says, stepping carefully out of her puddle. "I was hoping to make it in time, and I see that I have! So... where is our gracious host and Councillor?" At that moment, Councillor Cennydd steps up and presents the friendship ring to the Lady Nikki. Yvonne claps along with everyone else, and remembers her as one of the 'Recently Drenched'. She smiles at the memory. Unfortunatly, lost in her reviere, she forgets to pay attention to the ceremony and is rudely jolted awake when a bubble flies into her face. *A bubble?! Where did THAT come from?!* Gently, she reaches out and touches it, and it explodes in a bright strawberry scented cloud. *Ooooo! I think that I'd better learn THAT trick!* She follows the croud off into another hall, presumibly to eat, but as she is walking she notices a few lurkers and shy Listsibs hanging back. With a slight frown, she summons up a host of little aquatic sheep (don't ask) to bring them greetings from the Lady of the Water-Borne, and to act as a welcome gift and escort into the banquet hall. *You know, I really wish that I HAD brought my bucket...* Turning in a flurry of ever-changing silk, she holds her head high and walks off back into the croud. *Maybe I'll meet that Tytopp.. RTypoo... Thippo... DANG! Glot... Well, the deity that put this curse on my keyboard and covince him to lift it!* Yvonne Shadowshape Goddess of Kelpies, Selkies, and the other Water-Borne Knight of Fluff What's red and shaped like a bucket? -a red bucket! (this is the stupidest joke I have ever heard, and ironically, I laughed until my sides split. True story.) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 19:48:59 PST From: "Raven Darkblade" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Friendship Ring Message-ID: <19980210034904.18494.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> Raven stands in the shadows, contemplating for a moment her clothing. (If one more noble gives me that look,) she thinks dryly, (the one that says 'why aren't you wearing a gown?', I'm going to /hurt/ someone. I mean it.) After all, her chain-mail tunic was covered by a tabard of faintly shimmering elven silk--that should be dressy enough for any fighter worth his or her salt. (The black makes a nice contrast against all the Heralds, too.) She pauses to admire the silvery-gleaming gauntlet on her hand, then looks up as the Mage of Green Silence makes his entrance. (My, my. To what do we deserve this honor?) She watches interestedly as the Mage presents the ring to Lady Niki. (Quite a gift,) she thinks. (Though I don't begrudge it to Niki. Goddess knows I shouldn't be entrusted with it...) Her hand drops down to caress the hilt of the Darkblade. (This bears watching, at any rate...) Raven continues to watch from the shadows, grinning slightly. (Things just get more interesting every day...) <=============================FWOOSH!================================= Zha'hai'allav'a, Raven Darkblade, Holy Hand of the Goddess of Elves \ \\ \%, ,' , ,. \%\,';/J,";";";;,,. \%;((`);)));`;;,., ,`;))((;`,`((;(;;);;,` ;`((```))`~ ``; );(;));;, `-+AT+- `(( `), (;;);;;;` / `) `` /;~ `;;;;;;;);, / , ` ,/` / (`;;(;;;;, (o /)_/` / ,);;;`;;;;;`,, `~` `~` ` ``;, ``;" ';, `' `' `' abbykat-+AT+-hotmail.com http://www.angelfire.com/ky/Ashke/ http://dragonlance.justbecause.org/ ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 20:17:25 +0800 From: folkie-+AT+-usa.net To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: ROLEPLAYING IN VELGARTH (used to be Re: READ--->Re: um...just rambling and fluff...) Message-ID: <34DEF3D5.68A9-+AT+-usa.net> FidaAmica-+AT+-aol.com wrote: > > This sounds really cool. I've always enjoyed online-roleplaying. Everyone > here at home roleplays a bunch and I love it. I would be very interested in > doing this. Fantastic...it seems there are a LOT of people here who like the concept, but have never officially roleplayed before...I wonder who else is interested....? *anonymous* (for now) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 20:28:00 +0800 From: folkie-+AT+-usa.net To: Lackey List Subject: READ...An Idea... Message-ID: <34DEF650.422E-+AT+-usa.net> Greetings, Listsibs... Well, I could be considered a newbie here...when I subscribed to this list, never, EVER had I thought there would be roleplaying in the form of Misty's world of Valdemar...and I have to say, I'm *overjoyed* to see that there is...everyone on this list is so incredibly talented. I always thought Misty had created a world perfect to use for roleplaying (if you don't know what online roleplaying is, please, email me privately) and I got an IDEA...hey...don't look so surprised...*grins* I was wondering what everyone would think of a website for Mercedes Lackey/Velgarth roleplaying...later down the line we could set up a seperate list reserved for roleplaying and interactions between characters only...the website would include all the new story additions, as well as descriptions of (your) individual characters. Just a little stray idea...what does everyone think? *anonymous* (for now) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Feb 1998 23:40:02 EST From: ShdowStker-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: List Friendship Ring Message-ID: <4625c525.34dfda24-+AT+-aol.com> Ah the halls of MIST. Whatever it was that brought me I can't remember, but I am glad it did. I was tried of dealing with the negative emotions of the world. A friend told me of this place but I didn't believe him. He still insisted that I go, and so I snuck in. With my empathy I am able to project a sense of belonging. So when people see me they think I belong there. Although after a while I realized that there was no need to hide. I never was a mover or shaker in this court. Always standing on the fringe between the shadows and the light. The black cloak and dark blue armor I wear making it easy to hide there. My soul-sword barely visible under the cloak. The sword and my empathy being the only two things that I can imagine that brought me here, but I can't help to think that something else had a hand in it. Not having to expend the energy to shield out the negative emotions, of which there are none here, I have had time to watch these people and learn about them. I look over the crowd seeing faces and names of people I know but have not been formally introduced yet. Standing just inside the doors of the hall, my attention is drawn to a man who just entered. The Mage of Green Silences walks to the center of the room looking as regal as ever. I have watched this one with great interest. How does one gain such respect as to demand every living creature's attention when walks into a room? The trumpet fanfare shakes me out of my pondering as I watch the mage approach a Lady that I could not put a name to. Then out of thin air he conjures a ring. He identifies the Lady as Lady Niki, and presents her with what he called a Friendship Ring. Now I have to turn my attentions to my shields as the emotion raises another notch or two. Having to increase the level of the shield to compensate, all good intentions of the emotion aside. The feeling of friendship and acceptance and love are almost overwhelming. Closing my eyes for a second in an effort to clear my head I hear my friend again. "I wonder if the mage is manipulating those emotions?" my traveling partner on back said. The emotions lessened just enough for me to stop the increase in the shields but the increase in the emotion was visible still. I don't think the mage is manipulating the emotions, I would see that. I open my eyes to see everyone leaving to the banquet hall. I follow at the rear of the crowd, interested in keeping an eye on the Lady Niki and the mage, and getting something to eat. ********************************************************************* Sorry for the long post just wanted to get my 2 cents worth in. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 21:45:44 -0800 From: Niki Nibbe To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Friendship Ring... Message-ID: <34DFE987.59553C57-+AT+-earthlink.net> Okay, everyone. This isn't the post I meant to do (I've got some comments, plus I'm working on my transfer of the ring to one of you), but I need to say this. I think this story/role-playing is awesome; Cenydd's story inspired me, and it's snowballed. I can't wait to get home to see if there are any additions to the story. So I think we definitely should compile, and I'd love to see what we come up with. However, we must be careful to avoid falling into the dreaded FANFIC. Correct me if I'm wrong, o learned ones, but I think we have to avoid writing stories including Heralds, Companions, and anything else specifically in the Velgarth novels. So we need to be aware that we're walking that line, and avoid anything that might fall into copyright questions. I think being mages and having mage sight and being healers and being priestesses and having talking wolves and sheep are probably okay -- but dialoguing with our bondbirds might be approaching that thin line. If anybody writes a story that treads that thin ice (okay, how many metaphors can I squeeze in here?), maybe we could run it past a Councillor first, before submitting the story. I mean, most of our postings are probably fine, but I'd hate to run into problems with Misty. So I guess I'd just ask that if you're going to be putting something that seems like it might be found in Velgarth, get prior approval. Because I'd hate to have things go too far, then be told we can't write anything at all. That would really suck. Thoughts? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 09 Feb 1998 22:14:45 -0800 From: Niki Nibbe To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Friendship Ring Message-ID: <34DFF053.3FD36C7F-+AT+-earthlink.net> Yikes. Sorry for two in a row. Um, is there a difference between role-playing and fanfic? Because I would love to attempt the role-playing thing, but considering how touchy Misty is with copyright issues, it seems like we might not be able to? (Plus, I just read her Last Straw thing, and I'm feeling like treading very, very lightly here...) Kenny? Anybody? Is role-playing a no-no? If so, could we set up some parameters for what can't be in a story we throw in? Is too much roleplaying a burden for those who have to pay per byte on their email services? Niki, temporarily Mistress of Gloom and Doom ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 06:30:11 -0500 From: Emily the invisible To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: MIST: the Friendship Ring story/roleplaying Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19980210063011.007a4b60-+AT+-flyernet.udayton.edu> the Lady Niki asked: >Yikes. Sorry for two in a row. Um, is there a difference between >role-playing and fanfic? Because I would love to attempt the role-playing >thing, but considering how touchy Misty is with copyright issues, it seems >like we might not be able to? (Plus, I just read her Last Straw thing, and >I'm feeling like treading very, very lightly here...) Kenny? Anybody? Is >role-playing a no-no? If so, could we set up some parameters for what can't >be in a story we throw in? Is too much roleplaying a burden for those who >have to pay per byte on their email services? Yes, roleplaying *in*Misty's*world* is a no-no. That's copyright violation, and gets treated the same way fanfic does. In fact, on the Magewar (the roleplaying/storywriting spin-off of this list), no one is allowed to have a character that violates copyright unless the author is known to permit such violations (and even then we try to avoid "borrowing things"). It looks like the Friendship Ring story could get close to the borders of copyright violation... The big things to avoid are those lunks in oh shoot me now uniforms with the white horses *g*, and any Tayledras or Shin'a'in characters. The bond animals appear in lots and lots of different stories, so they're ok. Healers, mercenaries and mages also appear in lots of different stories, so they're ok as well. And there are a lot of character types that Misty *doesn't* write about that can make really cool characters (can you say were-foxes, or were-otters, or were-stags, just to name a few). Deniz and I often use our priestesshood when we're working together, right boss? If you're not feeling very creative and you're tempted to use something that only Misty has, start looking at any fluff titles you might have from the list, or at your interests in real life and try to imagine how they would fit into a psuedo medieval place that's slightly less malleable than air *g*. Oftentimes if something like this shows up, it eventually gets spun off onto a seperate list. It usually begins to produce a traffic that's *way* too much for some people and it tends to feel really off topic. Of course, not *all* off topic is bad... Us Councilors all remember days where we posted more fluff than anything else *weg*. Fluff is good, fluff is our frien... wait a sec, wrong list ;). Basically, if someone says "wait a sec, there's too much mail!" then it's time to cut down on fluff, and the Friendship Ring story would count. > Well, I could be considered a newbie here...when I subscribed to this >list, never, EVER had I thought there would be roleplaying in the form >of Misty's world of Valdemar... We-ell... you haven't found it :(. Misty's lawyers are out there lurking... and thus doing online roleplaying in her world is a *big* no no. Roleplaying is considered a violation just as much as fanfic is, and the rule on the list is "you can do it, just don't talk about it." The Friendship Ring stuff is ok as long as everyone stays far far faaaaaaaaar away from the guys in white with the white horses, and the Shin'a'in and Tayledras. Emily the invisible, being Councilorish Councilor of Mist, Priestess of Procrastination, MudGump Sister, Champion of Lady Webby, Champion of the Pink Wand Kallicat on IRC http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/7726/ cartieel-+AT+-flyernet.udayton.edu or ecartier-+AT+-geocities.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 07:01:31 -0500 From: Emily the invisible To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Genetics/new Misty books Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19980210070131.007b8100-+AT+-flyernet.udayton.edu> Well, I don't really know that much about genetics. I'm a bit more solid on child development (which is really odd considering I don't want kids...). My most esteemed and revered boss, Deniz, said: >I must admit, however, that my explanations do nothing to explain cases >where children display their gift when they're *very* young, around 6 or so >as opposed to waiting until puberty (when it was expected in Velgarth). >Jisa comes to mind (tho it was her mind gifts, not mage). I'm very >interested to see what people can do to explain these cases. Well... One thing that does come to mind is that between the ages of zero and eightish, children tend to grow like weeds. That means growth hormones all over the place. Now suppose you have a child who is carrying a lot of the Mindspeech recessives, as well as a number of other recessives. In Misty's world, it seems that when one Gift opens, the others become more likely to open (if it's possible for them to open). Combine the high level of recessives with the growth hormone soup, and it seems possible that Gifts might open. After all, 10-14 year olds are full of a mix of growth and sex hormones... There may be some Gifts that are more prone to triggering by the growth hormones, and others more prone to triggering by the sex hormones. And some of which hormones trigger a Gift opening may be controlled by the genes as well. So you could have MindSpeaking-growth hormone trigger and MindSpeaking-sex hormone trigger and Mindspeaking-growth and sex hormone trigger. For some Gifts, one form or another might be more dangerous (imagine what would happen if the most common form of Fetching was Fetching-growth hormone trigger). I would guess that growth hormone triggered Gifts would be more likely to open early, say ages 2-8, while Gifts with sex hormones in the trigger would be much less likely to open before about 10. I would guess that due to the small proportion of the Gifted in Valdemar's population, they probably see a distribution something like a standard bell curve with the peak in the 10-14 age range. If there was a much higher percentage, they might end up with a bell curve that varies slightly with gender, and goes something like this. A very small peak between the ages 2-8, then a drop off, followed by the rise to a peak around the ages of 10-14, and then another, steeper drop off, that never quite reaches zero for the female side (due to the lovely hormone soup produced by having your first child and finally reaching *true* maturity). Also, for those of you who haven't been checking the publisher web sites, Misty currently is supposed to have several new books out. Four and Twenty Blackbirds was released over the Christmas selling season. Fiddler Fair and Oathblood are supposed to be coming out soon. Both are anthologies, and Oathblood is supposed to contain the story of how Tarma and Kethry met. That story was previously *only* availible in Sword and Sorceress III. It will contain all the previously published Tarma and Kethry stories, plus a new one. Fiddler Fair is a fairly generic whatever's left anthology. Emily the invisible Councilor of Mist, Priestess of Procrastination, MudGump Sister, Champion of Lady Webby, Champion of the Pink Wand Kallicat on IRC http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/7726/ cartieel-+AT+-flyernet.udayton.edu or ecartier-+AT+-geocities.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 11 Feb 1998 00:05:42 +1100 From: Karen Chan To: Mercedes Lackey list Subject: RE Friendship Ring Message-ID: <3.0.32.19980211000350.0071f198-+AT+-ozemail.com.au> 11th February, 1998. 12:00 a.m. NIKI NIBBLE WROTE: "So I think we definitely should compile, and I'd love to see what we come up with. However, we must be careful to avoid falling into the dreaded FANFIC. Correct me if I'm wrong, o learned ones, but I think we have to avoid writing stories including Heralds, Companions, and anything else specifically in the Velgarth novels. So we need to be aware that we're walking that line, and avoid anything that might fall into copyright questions." Well, the impression that I got was that it was a building somewhere - not necessarily in Velgarth - and that we were free to do with the place as we liked. I mean, it's called the Halls of Mist and it's generally assumed that things of Velgarth exist (even if they are not explicitly mentioned). Just because it is a list devoted to Misty, does it mean that we must recreate her world? And yet we have been told repeatedly not to do so because of copyright reasons. And so we still have this world... which we all agree is a lot of fun. I just would like to see what we do with it.... Karen. (and her sheep - "Baa") ================================================================== Karen Chan kkchan-+AT+-ozemail.com.au kkc02-+AT+-wumpus.uow.edu.au "...in the pages of this book, you and I will meet one-on-one, my mind and yours, and you will enter a world of my making and dwell there, not as a character that I control, but as a person with a mind of your own. You will make of my story what you need it to be, if you can. I hope my tale is true enough and flexible enough that you can make it into a world worth living in." Orson Scott Card, 29th March, 1991. "Speaker for the Dead", p. xxiv ================================================================== ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 11:48:17 -0500 (EST) From: Kenneth Allen Hyde To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Oh Gods, what have I started? =) (was Re: READ...An Idea...) Message-ID: On Tue, 10 Feb 1998 folkie-+AT+-usa.net wrote: > Well, I could be considered a newbie here...when I subscribed to this > list, never, EVER had I thought there would be roleplaying in the form > of Misty's world of Valdemar... First, let me make it very clear that there isn't any role-playing going on that is set in Velgarth. The Friendship Ring ceremony (which was intended only to start a series of Friday posts--my y'all are creative!) was set in the Halls of Mist (the virtual reality instantiation of the Misty List). AFAIK, the only Misty-type characters are those members of the Queen's Own who have copyright releases to create/use their heraldic characters. Most of the others, such as the Mage of Green Silences, are online personae that have been created for this list and are not derived from Misty's work. Please remember, everyone: MISTY-BASED ROLE-PLAYING IS NOT ALLOWED ON THIS LIST FOR LEGAL REASONS and for reasons of common courtesy to Misty and Mel Dymond Harper. So far, everyone who has written seems to have borne that in mind, for which I thank y'all. However, please, be aware that one thing that will get this thread thrown off the list in double-quick time is if someone starts including Misty-based rping in it. Mel just doesn't need the legal hassles that could result, and the rest of us would like to keep our mailing list. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but this is only the second or third time since the beginning of the year that this has come up on the list. And it is now in the Newbie Fest, so that not having been here for the last discussion is less of an excuse than it used to be. On the plus side, if people want to role play their contributions to the discussions on the list, or even do a little role-playing on the list, they are welcome to do so, as long as it is not Misty-based. Be creative, and be original (don't borrow/derive your characters from other authors) and I'm sure that we will all enjoy your contributions. One word of advice though: if the role-playing gets to be too high-volume, people may be asked to move it to a private list, as the Mage War was. However, given that both the Mage Wars and the Ladies of the Pink Wand are going even stronger now than when they were on the list, I don't think this is anything to "worry" about. =) May the seas be your solace and the forests a refuge for your spirit, Cennydd Councilor of Mist Kenneth Allen Hyde | No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife Univ. of Delaware | between the shoulder blades will seriously Dept. of Linguistics | cramp his style -- Old Jhereg proverb kenny-+AT+-Udel.Edu | A mind is a terrible toy to waste! -- Me //www.ling.udel.edu/hyde/prof/ken.html ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 12:25:50 EST From: Sorchafyr-+AT+-aol.com To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Braid: Friendship Ring, genetics, Choosing Message-ID: <4478c03e.34e08da1-+AT+-aol.com> Heyla Listsibs: (fun stuff is at the bottom, feel free to skip) I am really excited, I understand all of this fascinating genetics thread! (Although I must admit those posts are read more slowly than some others) Being a Chemestry/theater major (many moons ago)(and I know, I know, but I love them both), I have just enough science to be dangerous. So I will now ask some (perhaps) stupid questions. >My vote goes with genes which determine your potential gifts (how >strong) and one major gene which determines if the on/off switch is set >right. So potential is how wide your channels can open if the switch on >is there. >So Vanyel inherited a lot of potential but being mage blasted open the >on/off switch as wide as it would go so he didn't need the right version >of that gene. Or possibly that being blasted forced the channels open >further than they might have gone naturally and his real potential was >much lower. When Savil spoke of Vanyel being "blasted open", I would think she would have said "blasted free" or some other such, if only because she later said his channels were "blasted open as wide as possible", so I would tend to think that not only was his potential "unlocked" by the on/off switch being reversed from it's natural state, but his "potential" channels were all opened to their fullest, which would account for the tremendous headache and sensitivity he felt afterward. (By the by, sorry for all the quotation marks, I really don't know how to distinguish any other way) Stupid question 1: Do you notice how the terminology of "channels" seems to reflect neurochemical pathways in the brain? (probably my chemestry bias showing) Stupid question 2: How does all this tie in with the Bards needing two of the three Bardic gifts to be present? (if it does at all, but I wonder...) They don't seem to be concerned with strength, just presence. Which leads me to.. Stupid question 3: Companions don't seem to be interested in strength of gift either, just presence. Do the Companions look for the "switch" to be in the right position and then evaluate the potential suitability of the person? Sigh, enough for one day on that subject. **************************************************************************** I think the Companions do know, if not who exactly, at least a particular type of person that they will choose. I think the Companions have specific traits (empathy, levelheadedness, etc.) which their Chosen are either lacking or will need in abundance, and thus they know what sort of person will "need" them and do not choose a perhaps equally suitable candidate with the wrong potential need. Some random thoughts on choosing: The Companions don't just hang around the Collegium waiting for potential Heralds to show up and be chosen (although it seems some do, since sometimes people come and get chosen.) If there is no one suitable to choose, do some Companions get reincarnated, and then spend their whole lives unbonded? What happens if the Companion finds someone with a Gift or two, do their "measuring-up" thing, and find the person is not Herald material. Do they block off the gift? ****************************************************************************** ******** Sorchafyr stands in the Hall of Mist, finally relaxing. She looks around, realizing just how long her responsibilities have taken her away from these friends. Often she observes them through her mirror, but just as she is about to make contact and take part in the life around her, a demand impossible to be ignored takes her attention. A summons from the Mage of Green Silences elivered by a page certainly qualifies as a "responsibility", she thinks irreverently, delighted to have an excuse to do what she really wants. The Mage enters and she finds it impossible to look at anyone else. She has respected this man through his writings, but this was her first time seeing him. A lot of things I've been missing out on, she thinks resentfuly, I never got pounced, or drenched... Then sighs, and realizes that it's all her fault anyway, as she is a Knight of Fluff she could have pounced or drenched, but despite her desperate conviviality, she is really quite shy. Her attention is wrenched back to the Mage as he began to work his breathtaking magic. A glorious ring appears, and is presented to a beautiful Lady. Sorcha fights down envy, an emotion she knows has no place in this company. She hears mutterings about things "being too serious" and holds her breath with the rest of the Hall. Suddenly a bubbles are drifting through the air, and one breaks as it brushes her lips. Tuti-fruti ice cream! Something from an age long gone, and she knows she must find out where this generous gift came from and thank the giver. The crowd is moving to the feast hall, but Sorcha hangs back, suddenly unsure. She hasn't been here for so long, and maybe no one will remember her. She probably has other responsibilities she is neglecting. Then she sees an animal-looking creature. She would say it was a sheep, but it is rather transparent, and seems to be made of...water? The little animal walks up to her and stands, looking trustingly up at her. Suddenly she laughs to herself. She is welcome here, she will always be welcome here. Besides, she rationalizes with a wicked grin, she really needs to find out who sent her that bubble. ****************************************************************************** ********* Sorchafyr Knight of Fluff by Decree of Lady of the SummerSonshine ******************************** If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it is yours. If it does not, it never truly was yours. If it lies around your house eating your food, spending your money and refusing to acknowledge you ever set it free you either married it or gave birth to it. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 13:31:59 -0500 From: "John E Morris" To: Subject: Re: where we live/taglines/" List " Friendship Ring Message-ID: <01bd3652$2c9f56a0$17109cd1-+AT+-default> These were taglines from a mailing list - They may be a little outdated but I laughed really hard... >"What a waste it is to lose one's mind. Or not to have a mind is > being very wasteful. How true that is." > -Former US Vice-President Dan Quayle at a fundraising event > for the United Negro College Fund. He was attempting to quote > the line "a mind is a terrible thing to waste" > > > "Mars is essentially in the same orbit... Mars is somewhat the > same distance from the Sun, which is very important. We have > seen pictures where there are canals, we believe, and water. If > there is water, that means there is oxygen. If oxygen, that means > we can breathe." > --Vice President Dan Quayle, 8/11/89 > "The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation's history. I > mean in this century's history But we all lived in this century. >I > didn't live in this century" > --Vice President Dan Quayle, 9/15/88 > "I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom > and democracy - but that could change." > --Vice President > Dan Quayle, 5/22/89 > >"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice > president, and that one word is 'to be prepared'." > --Vice President Dan Quayle, 12/6/89 > "May our nation continue to be the beakon of hope to the world." > --The Quayles' 1989 Christmas card > [not a beacon of literacy though] > >"I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good > judgments in the future." > --Vice President Dan Quayle > > "We have a firm commitment to NATO. We are a part of NATO. > We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe." > --Vice President Dan Quayle > > "For NASA, space is still a high priority." > --Vice President Dan Quayle, 9/5/90 > "Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our > children." > --Vice President Dan Quayle > > "It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the > impurities in our air and water that are doing it." > --Vice President Dan Quayle > "[It's] time for the human race to enter the solar system." > --Vice President Dan Quayle > > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 13:34:05 -0500 From: "John E Morris" To: Subject: apology Message-ID: <01bd3652$77764620$17109cd1-+AT+-default> Uh, you may have noticed that a section of taglines from a message were re-sent to the list. Meant to send them to a friend who collects internet humor. Forgot to change the address. Ooops. JM ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 17:05:18 +0000 From: Clare Fiander To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: about Misty Message-ID: >Rainbow also said: ><even them? I thought Hawkbrothers were human...>> >Hmm...I don't remember this at all...if you could cite the specific page or >text where he says this it would probably be easier to >figure out. > Pg 130 WoFate.... Also how does Need re-open Darkwind's magic channels if it's genetic and how would they become blocked if unused for a long time? If Role-playing is a no-no, then can I make up my OWN clan of people? That way - no violation! Also isn't it OK to copywrite a title, but how can you copywrite CHARACTERS? OK the names Tayledras and Shin'a'in, but surely you can't copywrite the Heralds? I mean SOMEONE had to write about Healers first - and they didn't copywrite the type of people did they? You can't just copywrite 'all clan names beginning with k' ' or 'all people who wear green and have magical healing gifts' or 'all people who wear white and have mind-gifts and ride white talking spirit horses' That'd throw the legend of Unicorns + fair maidens ect...out! And the word Herald has been around a LONG time.... Could anyone think of a better way to phrase Bondbirds? Like Birdmates or Keepers or....you get the idea, I don't want to lose either Jarc or Maa'rok, didn't you have BBs before anyway.... I've a feeling this list is getting MUCH more complicated than it was expected..... What were the Heralds heralds OF exactly...that's been puzzling me... Oh yes, another list is looking for a free listserve - anyone know one? Well see ya.... ________________________________________________________________________ Rainbow & Stareagle Jarc & Tigerhawk Maa'rok 'And still the forest of the North guards Valdemar from harm- For Vanyel's dying curse is stronger far than mortal arm. And every year the Chosen come, despite the old advice- "All those who would be Magic's Pride must then pay Magic's Price" ' ~Magic's Price Written by Stefen Magic's Price ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 14:06:41 -0500 From: "John E Morris" To: Subject: The Learth/Krebain thing Message-ID: <01bd3657$055d57e0$17109cd1-+AT+-default> -----Original Message----- From: Andi WindDancer To: jeatonm-+AT+-prodigy.net Date: Friday, February 06, 1998 2:49 AM Subject: Leareth vs Van >Heyla! This is just a quick question that I hope some knowledgeable >person can clear up for me... > Did anyone really understand the Leareth thing? I got the >impression that the conflict between Leareth and Van wasnt the real >focus of MPrice. I still love the book (it has been well loved and well >read) but I felt that Leareth wasnt developed enough. I can understand >that Misty needed a villian, but we had little to no backround on him >except for Van's dreams. Which brings me to another point...was there >any sort of relationship between Leareth and Krebain? >If anyone has textevd, or is just a totally super person and can explain >this to me, I would be much oblidged and would have to send them many >chocolate-covered things! I don't think any relationship was implied between Learth and Krebain. We know, through numerous references, that blood adepts don't really associate with other blood adepts. If they need a little lovin' they find someone weaker and dominate his or her mind, turning that person into a (forgive the cliche) love-slave. The apprentice relationship is also out. It was said somewhere (I forget where -- any ideas?) that there are two outcomes to a blood-mage apprenticeship. Either the master eventually drains the apprentices mage energy, killing him, or the apprentice rebels against the master and kills him. There don't seem to be any amiable partings between blood-mages. So, given that during the course of the MP novels, both Learth and Krebain were alive and well, I would guess that no relationship between the two of them existed. JM ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 14:17:26 -0500 (EST) From: Danielle May Marrone To: Mercedes Lackey Fan List Subject: My question . . . Message-ID: Since we are allowed to get Herald, Talaydras, Healer, and Bard persona's via Queen's own, complete with a companion/bondbird, why would we be able to use those on the list within our own world? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 17:02:11 +0000 From: Clare Fiander To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: A bit more story.... Message-ID: Rainbow k'Mist're peeks her head round the Dining room in the Hall of Mist (well lets GO somewhere now, we can have some intresting dinner convesations...) She has tight hold on her Tigerhawk Maa'rok, but she trusts Jarc NOT to go to snatch some food from the Mage of Green Silence's plate... She goes up to the table where laden out is chicken, pork, ham, carrots, chocolate gateau and everything anyone would want to eat. She takes some ham, :Rainbow - Don't you DARE have any chicken: Jarc speaks in her mind :It might be a friend of mine!: Rainbow laughs. Heads turn to watch her as she gracefully sits down. In her mind shields have gone up and she recognises Jarc has...um...gone off with another bird, she searches with her mind and finds him with a bird she doesn't know, it's a huge eagle like bird, she can tell that much 'Can someone claim the bird who is in the corner with my Jarc please?' she speaks gently, but her voice is amplified as her magic gifts weave themselves around the notes. Suddenly there is hush, Rainbow looks embarassed as someone - she doesn't know who - speaks softly. 'What gift is that?' 'I know not kind sir,' she replies softly 'I thought it was the gift of Bards...' 'No gentle Rainbow,' another voice says, 'it is the gift of pure magic...' the voice fades away, 'it died out years ago though...' Rainbow blushes and hides her face, but her curiosity will not let her go, 'What is this Pure magic you speak of?' again her voice echoes, and the Mage of Green Silences steps down towards her..... ________________________________________________________________________ Rainbow & Stareagle Jarc 'And still the forest of the North guards Valdemar from harm- For Vanyel's dying curse is stronger far than mortal arm. And every year the Chosen come, despite the old advice- "All those who would be Magic's Pride must then pay Magic's Price" ' ~Magic's Price Written by Stefen Magic's Price ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 13:23:42 -0600 From: Dave To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: free-ish books Message-ID: <34E0A93E.1E5-+AT+-aristotle.net> > ObMisty: I recently picked up > a Cherryh/Lackey co-written book > it is NOT one of the multi author books I'm always interested in new Misty books. What's the title? ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 11:40:28 PST From: "Arlene O'Connor" To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: On the subject of Companions Message-ID: <19980210194029.14342.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com> I don't remember in which book...but it was said that Companions don't Chose, until they are 10 yrs of age...and then they go looking...even Rolan..when he Chose Talia...said "At last I have FOUND you..." I don't think Companions go out knowing who they seek, but they know "what" they seek. >I apologize if this has been brought up before, I am still relatively new to >the list. I have been in the process of re-reading Magic's Pawn (for the Nth >time....I bought it something like 6 or 7 years ago, so you can imagine what >kind of shape it is in), and a random thought occurred to me. (Easy to do at >work.) Now this is nothing Misty mentions, and is strictly my own opinion, >but I think perhaps the inference could be made from the information we now >have about Companions. Here goes: > >Do you think that a Companion is born knowing who their Chosen will be? I >mean, since we all know where the Companions come from, would it be their >"mission" so to speak in becoming one, that they are to Choose a particular >person? I'm only 100 or so pages into MPawn, but IIRC, wasn't Yfandes on the >older side for an unbonded Companion? This alone would make me wonder, but we >also must remember that Gwena was specially Grove-Born for Elspeth as well. >Since the Companions go out and find their Chosen, and we know there are some >from some pretty odd places (Alberich, a Karsite, for example), wouldn't that >be an inevitable conclusion? > >Feel free to let me know if I'm crazy. > >Barb > ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 Feb 1998 12:00:57 -0800 From: Niki Nibbe To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: Oh Gods, what have I started? =) (was Re: READ...An Idea...) Message-ID: <34E0B1F9.C616068D-+AT+-earthlink.net> Hey, all. Okay, the weather gods are laughing at me. Hey, two nights ago they were showing horses, cars and pregnant women being save from flooding rivers, and water was everywhere! Of course, once I tel you all that it really, truly DOES rain here in LA, what happens? It stops. And I don't mean that the clouds hover and you're sure it'll rain any minute -- IT'S SUNNY. So much for my credibility. *sigh* ~=o} ***** Rainbow wrote: <> Um, I don't quite know what your question is, so I'm just going to take a stab at it, throwing in a couple of my not-so-humble opinions: AQueen (pp 121-124, paperback) talks about Heralds and Companions, and how they came about. Heralds were originally just that. Baron Valdemar started a new kingdom, and the "a Herald was just a sort of mouthpiece for the King back then." So if you look at the first definition of "herald" in my Webster's dictionary, it says "Messenger." (Also "An official formerly charged with making royal proclamations nd bearing messages of state between sovereigns.) That's essentially what they were. But when these white horses appeared out of nowhere, Choosing, and basically answering Randale's prayer for a foolproof way to ensure that all future monarchs be good and worthy of the people, the second definition also comes into play, "One that gives a sign or indication of something to come." (Hark the herald angels sing...). They remain the voice of the monarch, and they carry messages, but they are also able to be extensions of the monarch, carrying out his/her will as judges and everything else, thanks to those beautiful white beings. Feel free to tell me I completely missed the question. Or that I haven't got a clue, and need to put my dictionary back on the shelf. Heck, if you don't open yourself up for target practice, where's the fun? ****** Cennydd wrote: <> and Emily wrote: <> Thank you, O Councillors, for your hasty response. Yup, the ring thing's going well, we've mostly stayed within the bounds. I had been concerned because the suggestion had come up in a couple of posts that we role-play (I suspect they were either unaware of the ban against fanfic or hadn't equated it with the roleplaying stuff), and write as certain nationalities found only in Misty's work. So since that's been nipped in the bud, I think we're all responsible adults (and teens) here, and can do a fine job of monitoring ourselves. I must say, though, my dear Mage of Green Silences, that when I joined this group I had no intention of writing anything more involved that a few well-thought-out replies to questions and comments. But your ring story wrapped a spell about me, and drove me to respond in kind. So you have no one to blame but yourself for this whole lovely mess. ;-} ------------------------------ End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1486 **********************************