MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1494 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Sorch's braid by Niki Nibbe 2) re:story by Ana Cotton 3) Stasia wanders in... by Stasia 4) shields + more story.... by Clare Fiander 5) LONG - Interferring/Companions-Heralds/Vanyel/story by Clare Fiander 6) Friendship ring character list & Tylendel & Talia by Femmy Syahrani 7) Friendship Ring - Cast by Karen Chan 8) Friendship Ring - Cast list addition by Karen Chan 9) Braid: rape, repudiations, rebornHeralds, Ring story by Carson Grey Bloomberg 10) Re: LONG - Interferring/Companions-Heralds/Vanyel/story by Niki Nibbe 11) re:story by Ana Cotton ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 04:15:41 -0800 From: Niki Nibbe To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Sorch's braid Message-ID: <34E6DC6C.86D794C5-+AT+-earthlink.net> Oh, great. After I sent, I received Sorchafyr's well-written thoughts. Well, put, I say. And yes, I think the difference between the good guys and bad guys is that the bad guys either enjoy causing pain and suffering, or are simply willing to inflict it to reach their goals. The good guys try to help, and when they are faced with a situation where their decision is to harm, it always weighs on them, and they carry it with them for life. The bad guys could care less (or they get off on it). Big distinction. And yes, when Lendel desired to cause pain for the sake of causing pain, he was not a Herald. And the moment Lendel regretted his action, he was given forgiven. And this just reminded me of the other point I had to make: ... Nope. Nevermind. Forgot. Will save it for whenever I wake up (Since it's now 4am) No, sorry, just remembered. I think that no matter the mindhealers or the companion bond, we can find a reason for Lendel being able to hide his insanity in the strength of his bond. Don't know why Companions didn't instinctivly know how intense it was, but then...they're fallible. So I still think the argument can be made that the twin bond was very deep, and it festered, and it's the source of his insanity. And the rest of the Heralds and Companions can be forgiven for their lack of insight. (Once again, see Plot Development) And with Lendel keeping Gala out -- in practically every trilogy there's someone that blocks out his/her Companion, and things get out of hand. (Plot device?) I'd say many Companions do give their Heralds space if they ask for or demand it. And if Gala did try to reach Lendel (didn't she?), she could very well have assumed she was getting somewhere, since she had no clue about the insanity he was plotting. :Enough. They must be tired of reading your ramblings by now. Can't you keep anything short? My apologies, all. I will cart her off to bed now.: Bye.... ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 04:51:37 -0800 (PST) From: Ana Cotton To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: re:story Message-ID: <19980215125137.24589.rocketmail-+AT+-web4.rocketmail.com> Ana wandered back to the booth,"Well, that wasn't too bad, was it?- Wait, don't answer, OK?" Blade grinned, "OK, now take over the booth?" "Sure." "Just remember to introduce yourself..." The Lady Niki had requested Dead Can Dance, Ana had looked through the stack of DCD Cds, and discovered a song that seemed to fit the mood. "Ok, and next up is Dead Can Dance 'Advent' folks, requested by Lady Niki. And remember all song requests need to come to me at . And karoake to ShadowBlade." As 'Advent' poured out of the lovely sound system, Lady Niki presented the ring to the Warrior. Ana silently wished Niki and the Warrior luck and long life, then turned and answered Andi. "Yes, we do have some Loreena McKenitt, Clannad, and Sarah McLachlann. I think it is definitely time for a slight mood change." So saying, she grabbed a stack of cds and began to fill the cd changer with *hmm, let's see, McLachlann, Clannad, Enya, McKenitt, the Cure. Songs? 'Sweet Surrender', 'Love and Affection', 'Lothlorien', 'Come by the Hills', and 'Jupiter Crash'. that should do it.* Ana absent mindedly reached for her glass of blood wine, and realised it was empty *drat!* "Ilia!" the page looked up, "Yes, milady?" "Can you refill this please?- No wait, bring a pitcher, please." The page came back during Sarah McLachlan, "Here you go Ana." "Thank you, any requests Ilia?" "Oh! um, well, um... Do you have 'The Safety Dance'?" "Yup, I'll spin it after this set is done, hmm, maybe I can do a whole 80's set..." === Any requests for the 80's folks? And where are all you karoake-ers? Hugs, Ana _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free -+AT+-yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 09:35:42 -0500 From: Stasia To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Stasia wanders in... Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19980215093542.00770b38-+AT+-mail.gte.net> Stasia wanders tentatively into the large party that include all her listsibs. She's heard many things about this gathering, especially from the surface thoughts of her friend, Lady Niki, and she knows she is in for a very good time. That is, if she can get over her initial shyness and LET herself have a good time. She sees strange bubbles floating around her. She thinks she remembers hearing something about them, but she doesn't quite remember what she'd heard. I think I need to try and find Lady Niki, she thinks to herself. She lets her eyes wander over the large gathering of people until she spots her friend over near Ana and the DJ's box. She heads toward her friend, listening to the music swirl around her. I wonder if they have any Trisha Yearwood, or any Queensryche?, she thinks as she makes her way through the swirling mass of people laughing and having a good time. As she walks silently up behind Lady Niki, she hears her mutter "Or maybe I'll do Karaoke to the Indigo Girls, if I can get a partner for the harmonies and stuff." Stasia greets her friend with, "I'm willing if you are!" ********************************************************************* Ok, so this isn't the longest, or probably the best addition to the story, but I don't want to jump in with both feet until I know for certain that I won't make a total fool of myself by making a major faux pax. Anyway, for my "official" job, here is the list as it stands so far. Also, Niki and I were talking, and thinking about adding a few more things to the list, if anyone wants. Things like age, or anything else that people might want to add. Let me know what you think... Well, on with the list as it stands so far... Ailsa n'ha Winifreyda - Blackhills, Australia Karen - Sydney, Australia Susan - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Yvonne Shadowshape - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Brika - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Rainbow - Cheshire, England Muranog Shadowbane - London, England Sorchafyr - Newmarket, England Ailsa Reid - Oxford, UK Liz (Elizabeth) Hoffman - Southampton, UK Shantaya Autumnleaf - Heidenheim, South Germany Liana Catchfire - Makati City, Philippines Tamlin (Sheridan Hoy) - Auckland, New Zealand Diana Benoit - North Pole, AK Flaime - Flagstaff/Tucson, AZ Adrienne - Tucson, AZ Marie Bao - Berkeley, CA (attending UC Berkeley) - Niki - Los Angeles, CA Sandi - Nipomo, CA Nathan Roberts - Redwood Valley, CA Samantha - San Ramon CA Skywolf (Jennifer Watson) - Santa Barbara, CA Lisa - Walnut Creek, CA Amber - St Petersburg, FL Ka'thryn - West Palm Beach, FL Typodrgn (Typodragon :) - Athens, GA Pam Newbern - Ewa Beach, HI Aurora Dawnstar - Jerseyville, IL Eleri - Natick, MA Robbie Betts - Baltimore, MD Jai - Bel Air, MD FallenAngel (Kathryn Shannon) - Bay City, MI Jen - Warren, MI Estelle - Apple Valley, MN Ana Cotton - St. Louis, MO Claire Rojstaczer - Chapel Hill, NC Crystal Hewitt a.k.a. Mysttree - Fuquay-Varina, NC Scott Schuler - Research Triangle Park, NC Ari - Commack, NY Carson - Ithica, NY/Durham, NC FrostFalcon - Lagrangeville, NY Barb - Rochester, NY Meg - Rockville Centre, NY Aldric - Columbus, OH Emily the invisible - Dayton, OH/Harrisburg, PA Brian Bennett (aka ShadowWolf) - Xenia, OH Dax the Eternal - Tulsa, OK Morgana - Roseburg, OR/Santa Cruz, CA Storm - Toketee, OR Sunhawk - Philadelphia, PA Shadowdancer - Greenville, SC Sarah - Sioux Falls, SD Vicky Drinnen - Smyrna, TN/Jefferson City, TN Chantal Whittington (aka Aerden) - Houston, TX Andi - Roanoke, VA K.S. - Bellingham, WA Dre - Madison, WI If I've missed anyone, messed something up, or if you just haven't had a chance to e-mail me and want to be added to the list, just e-mail me at stasia-+AT+-gte.net I'll make sure it all gets taken care of... Amber _____________________________________________________________________ Yes I am a pirate, 200 years to late. Canons don't thunder there's nothing to plunder, I'm an over 40 victim of fate arriving to late. -- Jimmy Buffett, A Pirate Looks at Forty ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 15:47:35 +0000 From: Clare Fiander To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: shields + more story.... Message-ID: <5ZaTnHAX4w50Iw+X-+AT+-leightons.demon.co.uk> In message <19980214220158.9396.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com>, Raven Darkblade writes >Rainbow queried: ><Firesong could get rid of the Heartstone's protections so easily?>> > >If you're referring to the Haven heartstone, Vanyel gave the 'keys' to >the shields to Firesong, Elspeth, and (I think) Darkwind. > I'm refering to the Vale heartstone acctually in k'sheyna.... Rainbow smiled as Andi came up to her and nodded in reply to her gentle query... Dee'rina winked back as Andi winked to her. :She's nice: Dee's mindvoice sounded happy. :Now can we go and dance?: Rainbow laughed at Dee's whining tone, :Oh OK, you big winged pig!: :Pigs don't fly!: Dee said sarcastically, :and I do: :Oh I thought you only fell?: :Careful Rainbow, if you want a lift back to Animi...: :OK, OK....: Rainbow guided her friend through the crowds and mounted up. Dee's wings opened out as Rainbow stood up on her friends back and she jumped into the air. :There's only one free dance area around here, and that's up in the air!: Dee crowed as they began sky-dancing, Dee's wings tracing ghost images in the air as the lights sparkled on her wings. Rainbow's black and copper hair moved in time to the music as she moved to the song. 'Play some Andrew Lloyd-Webber for me please!' Rainbow cried down to the Karoke machine, as she started weaving complex light patterns in time to the beat . As she started into a REALLY complicated pattern, Jareshs it was called in the Animiian Valley, she Felt the Ring being passed on and some silver fog enveloped her and Dee, making the magical light patterns even more spooky. Sorry it's so long - atribute it to inspiration.... ________________________________________________________________________ Rainbow '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: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 16:39:23 +0000 From: Clare Fiander To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: LONG - Interferring/Companions-Heralds/Vanyel/story Message-ID: <5LYccKA7ox50Iwvv-+AT+-leightons.demon.co.uk> Sorry this is long... Just agreeing about plot device Niki (that in each trio after the founding a Companion shuts his herald out) - but in the Winds Trio, it's Gwena who keeps Elspeth from knowing all her secrets... <> Uh..Niki - what about the Star-Eyed in the Winds Trio? (I'm reading it at the moment) Isn't Dawnfire, Tre'valen, the fact that you HAVE the Shin'a'in, and Tayledras along with the protecting and clearing of the plains and there about proof that She interfeers quite often? <> I suspect that not all are. I think Gwena wasn't as she wasn't sure of herself and needed to learn stuff, surely a Herald-returned would know the ropes? Also when King Valdemar wanted help and got Companions as there weren't any Heralds to be reborn it follows that they WEREN'T reborn Heralds - doesn't it? (scratches head) I thought Van was a perfectly 'ordinary' person, but when I was reading WoChange I was laughing as I was thinking :only someone related to Vanyel Ashkevron would be as daring and arrogant as Firesong!: well, Van did go arrogant, but I thought the 'little white mare' part near the end of Mprice reminded us that he was trying to cope with all of the problems, save Valdemar and have time with Stefen as well as knowing he'd probably not survive Leareth. It also made us remember that Vanyel WASN'T perfect. I had actually thought that you could PREDICT the ending - ie Van goes to fight Leareth, saves the day and rides home triumphant realising Stefen's a reincarnation of 'Lendel, and saving Randale. But what I read made me remember that Van had problems and he wasn't infallible, indeed his power made him more of a target, and beauty doesn't solve everything... Talking of the founding (refer to Companions earlier on) I think there should be a book about that, maybe it'll sort out a few Companion facts out for us, or maybe Misty just wants the mystery to stay... OK, this is Waaaaay longer than I meant it to be...(the muse of inspiration peering over my shoulder) Rainbow hears ShadowBlade asking for Karoker's and she shouts from Dee's back, 'I'll do a turn!!!! I'm great at 'Amazeing Grace' and 'I will Survive', you know 'Just turn around now, you're now welcome anymore, I've got all my life to live....'' she gives everyone a burst of song and is surprised to see no-one covering their ears - though Dee is pawing her head with one foot..... :I've got ear-ache, and a scratch: :Uh, right Dee, if you say so....: ________________________________________________________________________ Rainbow '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: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 00:36:41 +0700 From: Femmy Syahrani To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Friendship ring character list & Tylendel & Talia Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19980216003641.00694268-+AT+-mail.melsa.net.id> Okay, somebody said how confusing to remember all the characters in this story, so I'll try to make a list. I apologize if I leave anybody out, I may not have the complete story. -------------------------------------- The Warrior feels a warm feeling of friendship wash over her as Lady Niki places the ring upon her hand. Before she has a chance to say anything, Lady Niki hugs her and dashes off. The Warrior can only watch her disappear into the crowd, but as she does so she whisperes, "Thank you." She decides to try not to let Lady Niki or the Mage of Green Silences or the Ring down. She'll try to overcome her shyness and to be more involved in the discussions. She sweeps the room with her eyes, making note of all the delightful people that had graced this hall with their opinions and views. Mage of Green Silences; Lady Niki, First Bearer of the Ring; Ana Cotton, who starts karaoke-ing, with Sloathe-ILI; Andi WindDancer, a fairy with her gifts of flower; Aerden the Healer; a shadowy stranger (folkie-+AT+-usa.net); Kas with her newfound lamb; Samantha; Shadowblade and her bubbles and DJ-ing, with Ynys (Unicorn) and Danaa (fairy); Adrienne; Shadowdancer with her wolf Lurker, who found a stranger outside (Tamlin); Munarog the troll; a minstrel (Carson); the stranger in the cold outside (Sheridan Hoy); the Sunchild (Marie Jordan); Raven with her raven, Tristan; Yvonne Shadowshape with her saltwater; Shadowstalker; Sorchafyr, a Knight of Fluff; Lady Sophia, the Goddess of Music and Song; Jeanne Riverwolf with her friends, Jareth and Cheylasa, a fairy-human couple; Sorana Shadowcat, the Goddess of Flions; Mark Severson in the library; Seashimmer; ShadowWolf, master thief; Lani Hunter; Marty L Adkins; Shantaya Autumnleaf, were-cougar, mercenary, and part-time healer with her friend Torell, jester; Aldric, with maker of statements; SkyWolf with Misha and Rob, who pulls volunteers to the dancefloor; Megan Glitterglass, glass artisan and pouncer; Rainbow and her Pegasus, Dee'rina; Barbara with her wet sheep; FallenAngel with her winged black panther Isis. Some of them are newbies, some have been here longer than the Warrior. She knows there are more people in this hall than the list of people she noted here, but there are too many to mention. Well, enough fluff for now. Fingering the Ring, she seeks discussions that interest her. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=- Niki: >And isn't there some sort of recognition (snip) that he was driven past sanity by >his grief? I seem to recall that there's at least >some acknowledgment that he did what he did not out of a newfound joy >for causing pain but out of his uncontrollable grief and anger. Yes, it was Savil who saw the insanity in Lendel's eyes and yes, Lendel did his terrible deed because of his grief and anger, but what Savil saw was the grief caused by the repudiation, I think. Only three Heralds and three Companions came to stop the wyrsa, and since they're busy dealing with the beasts, I don't think at that time anyone knows that Lendel regretted what he did--except Vanyel. Barb: >As for the Death Bell and 'Lendel being buried as a full Herald, >I wonder if that is because he came to the realization that what he did was >wrong. Gala's death may have had that effect on him. Then, you could say, he >did the only honorable thing he could -- he took his own life. No, he took his own life because he was crazy and in pain/grief, not because he thought it was honorable. If he *didn't* go crazy, I think the honorable thing he could do is if he tried to put right what he did wrong, not run away from it to commit suicide. "Because the Death Bell had rung for him, despite what he'd done, Tylendel was being accounted a full Herald and tomorrow would be buried with all honors." (MPawn, p. 220) When Lendel died, he was still a trainee *and* he was repudiated. I think he would've been buried as a normal person if the Death Bell hadn't rung for him, despite what the Heralds thought of him. Oh yeah, one more thing on this. I don't think Lendel's insane yet when he released the wyrsa. He went crazy after Gala repudiated him. As for other points on why Lendel was repudiated (lifebond abuse, killing innocent people, getting into feud, Lendel = a changed person), I agree completely. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Shadowblade commented on Talia's punishment for the rapist: >But don't you feel that it is a bit excessive? Spiteful, even. Not a jail sentence, >or a caning sentence, but Mind-rape. I don't think jail or caning sentence would do him justice. I think any punishment given to a criminal should be able to make him admit that what he has done is wrong, regret it, so he won't ever do it again. The pain he would've received from jail or cane would be only a drop of water compared to an ocean of suffering of his stepdaughters. In this light, I think what Talia did is right on the mark. Some textevd: "...if the man ever accepts his own guilt and the fact that what he did was wrong, he'll break free of the compulsion I put on him." (AFlight, p 313, paperback) Femmy ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 04:34:46 +1100 From: Karen Chan To: Mercedes Lackey list Subject: Friendship Ring - Cast Message-ID: <3.0.32.19980216043149.0068753c-+AT+-ozemail.com.au> 16th February, 1998. 3:07 a.m. *Sigh*, I really should be sleeping!!! Anyway, at Andi's suggestion, I am going to try to sort out who's who. Please forgive me anyone if I get it wrong and if I do, please send me corrections! :) Especially who is a Herald-Mage and who is not. =============================== Kas, lamb in tow, was once more adrift in the great hall, but she was in time to see Lady Niki present the Friendship Ring to the Warrior. She nodded to herself - it was a good choice - although it served as a reminder that a week had already gone by. "I could be a dog," she thought. "My life is going just as quickly! But it should hardly matter here... there is no such thing as time." So she dismissed the whole idea from her mind and decided to concentrate on other things instead. Scooping the lamb up in her arms, she put it on a table and knelt so that she was eye-to-eye with it. "How am I going to get to know all these people? It's hard just trying to match names and faces in my head." In response the lamb leapt down and scampered towards the double doors. There it stopped and looked back, as if to say, "What are you waiting for?" Kas sighed and hurried to catch up. The lamb kept going - away from the celebrations in the great hall - away from the thumping beat of the music - and up the stairs. Listsibs often made a home for themselves in the Halls of Mist, and being the magical place that it was, the building accommodated itself to their needs. Kas had made herself a cosy little room with plants and vines draped over the walls, framing beautiful postcards featuring the work of famous artists (Monet, Franz Marc, Chagall, Mucha, Parrish, the Pre-Raphaelites) and posters from movies (A Room with a View, Three Colours Blue, Romeo and Juliet, Titanic, etc.) All available wallspace was taken up with postcards - Kas liked to paper her room to give things a "lived-in" feel - like her dorm in Wollongong. Her chamber in the Halls of Mist had three features she was extremely proud of. The first was a retractable roof so that if she wanted to, she could go to sleep with the constellations wheeling above her head in their finery. The second was the surround-sound stereo system that had been built-in along with the sound-proofing. And the third was a black baby grand piano - a Kawaii - whose keys never needed tuning. The lamb seemed to know exactly where to go for it nosed the door open and head straight for the farthest corner where Kas' computer terminal sat hooked up in a web of wires and plants. It nudged the mouse and the "Romeo and Juliet" screensaver dissolved, leaving the tulip-covered background. Immediately the lamb jumped in and shrunk. "No!" Kas rushed towards the monitor but the lamb seemed to be having plenty of fun. It baa-ed gently to her through the screen interface, rearing up on its hind trotters to beg like a dog. Then with a laugh it was running all over the desktop, opening applications, shutting others and causing great threads of text to stream all over the place. "What are you doing?" she cried. But it soon became clear - the lamb was compiling a database: 1. ADRIENNE "Who is she?" said Kas to herself. "Oh yes - I remember. She is very friendly - talks to a lot of people. And I think I overheard her having a discussion about Krebain and Leareth with Barb and the One Who Seeks. Last I saw she was dancing with Skywolf." 2. AERDEN THE HEALER/(green firelizard) "Aerden... Aerden... ah yes, saw him briefly before with a green firelizard on his shoulder. He made several song requests - 'Black Flame' or 'Mother Russia' by Renaissance." 3. ANA/ILI (sloathe) "Oh yes - she came when she was on her way to the computer lab and was welcomed by Ili. She was also the first one to discover Ilia the page when she went hunting for clothes to wear. At the moment she's at the DJ's booth, helping with the karaoke and the music selections." 4. BARBARA/(sheep) "She just met a sheep. Perhaps a relation of yours?" Kas raised her eyebrow at the lamb but the lamb ignored her. 5. CENYDD MAGE OF GREEN SILENCES "Well, everyone knows who he is. He is the one who started this whole thing off by presenting the Friendship Ring to Lady Niki. A very handsome and distinguished man." 6. FALLENANGEL/ISIS (Panther) "Storyline Monitor for the Story Circle (who are still deciding on a name - Carson suggested 'Bardic Circle'). Isis is her bondmate - a winged black panther. They make a marvellous pair, I thought!" 7. FLOWER FAIRY "Small, dressed in a blue gown that shimmers in the light with silver spirals on the hem. She's the one who made those gorgeous edible roses." 8. ILIA THE PAGE "Insists on addressing everyone formally no matter what. But a very diligent young thing." 9. ISOBELLE "I don't know much about her really - just that she isn't too pleased to be stuck in the company of Countess Twinkie Fluffenutter." 10. JEANNE RIVERWOLF/JARETH & CHEYLASA (Dese'ala'ima'quah - fairy humans) "She accidentally got doused with custard by Torell when she first arrived. He almost did the same thing to her friends - Jareth and Cheylasa - only with mousse au chocolat. Jeanne's had quite a bit of dunking - Yvonne got her too with the saltwater." 11. LADY NIKI "The first Bearer of the Friendship Ring. She's been getting to know many people but out of all of them, she chose to pass the Ring onto the Warrior." 12. LADY OF THE WATER-BORNE (Yvonne Shadowshape - Goddess of Kelpies, Selkies, and the other Water-Borne, Knight of Fluff) "Likes to dump saltwater on newbies with her bucket. Is also one of the Knights of Fluff." 13. LANI HUNTER (LadyKnight of Fairygrove) "I don't know much about her either. She arrived wearing a blue cape and she had on this sumptuous burgundy and silver gown. I don't know where she's gotten to since." 14. MARK THE TAX ZOMBIE "Last I saw, he was in the library. It is a shame that he must spend his time doing taxes - I didn't think that such things existed around the Halls of Mist." 15. THE MINSTREL "Was attending to Lady Sophia, Goddess of Music and Song, but then got side-tracked by the karaoke. Hopefully we will hear her play later." 16. TROLL "He's dressed in white. I think his name is Muranog Shadowbane but we haven't been introduced yet." 17. RAINBOW/DEE (Pegasus) "Confused no longer I hope! She and her Pegasus friend Dee has generously graced us with her presence!" 18. RAVEN (sword - Darkblade)/TRISTAN (Raven) "I suspect she is very skilled with that sword of hers. She is disdainful of social custom and prefers to wear chain mail and elvin silk instead of a gown. Tristan sort of adopted her and now won't go away." 19. SAMANTHA (Bard in Training) "I just saw her briefly while she was reading." 20. SEASHIMMER "I think she is more of a watcher than a participant. She had just created this beautiful silver fog though when we left the great hall." 21. SHADOWBLADE (also known as Blade)/YNYS (Unicorn)/DANAA (Fairy) "She's responsible for the bubbles and the great selection of music we've been having. She also conjured up a hi-fi set - wish I could learn that trick! Wonder what will happen when Ynys meets Dee." 22. SHADOWDANCER/LURKER (Wolf) "Brown hair, hazel eyes. She received an image of a woman out in the storm and she and Lurker went to rescue her. She kept watch through the night and the following morning she and the Stranger came back together." 23. SHADOWWOLF (second "W" capitalised - "ShadowWolf") "Master-thief and skillful dancer. He requested Celine Dion's rendition of 'My Heart Will Go On' - which really is a beautiful song. James Horner is a genius." Kas slid onto the piano stool and played a couple of bars for a moment. 24. SHANTAYA AUTUMNLEAF (Were-cougar)/TORELL (Jester) "Shantaya and Torell arrived together. Torell dumped custard on Jeanne Riverwolf and is now running around with chocolate mousse. He failed his bard's examination five times. As for Shantaya, she is a were-cougar which means that she must go out hunting in cougar form every new moon." 25. SKYWOLF/MISHA (Wolf) "Collects taglines. Appeared out of nowhere at the Coffee Cat to bring her friend Rob to the dance floor in the great hall. She is teaching others too. Misha has mind-speech as well as an insatiable appetite." 26. SORANA SHADOWCAT (Goddess of Flions) "What are Flions? She arrived at the same time as Yvonne - only she flew instead of stepping out of a pool of saltwater." 27. SORCHAFYR (Also known as Sorcha. Knight of Fluff) "She was present at the first ring-giving ceremony but I haven't seen her since." 28. STRANGER "This was the woman that Shadowdancer found out in the cold. She is like Seashimmer - prefers to watch." 29. SUNCHILD "She comes from the mountains and sports two braids which sweetly frame her face. I think she's elvin." 30. THE WARRIOR "Second Bearer of the Ring. She doesn't have a name... yet." 31. YOUNG MAN "I saw him wandering around - a voice spoke to him and he promised to take a more active role in things. He seemed rather nice." The lamb finished organising the data and then waited at the edge of the screen expectantly. Kas looked at it. "Well, what is it? We're done, aren't we? Isn't that everybody?" The sheep started to look reproachful. "Oh yes... I forgot us...." 32. KAS/(sheep) - "Hang on, you don't have a name. What's your name anyway?" The lamb jumped out of the screen and adeptly skipped over the keys on the keyboard, spelling out - - S-H-O-R "Shor it is. My, you do type fast." Shor baa-ed happily and then continued skipping over the keys. "A PORTRAIT GALLERY WOULD BE NICE." "Good point," said Kas thoughtfully. "All the members of the Halls of Mist up in one room. And it would make it easy for everyone to get to know everyone else - matching names to faces and all that. Let's go look for an artist - perhaps they would be willing to paint everyone's likeness." =============================== Karen. ================================================================== 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: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 04:45:00 +1100 From: Karen Chan To: Mercedes Lackey list Subject: Friendship Ring - Cast list addition Message-ID: <3.0.32.19980216044453.0071b23c-+AT+-ozemail.com.au> 16th February, 1998. 4:44 a.m. I forgot - 33. STASIA "Friend of Niki's, sings 'Indigo Girls.'" and it's Dee'rina not just 'Dee'. Plus Rainbow is Animiian. Karen. ================================================================== 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: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 14:33:43 -0500 From: Carson Grey Bloomberg To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Braid: rape, repudiations, rebornHeralds, Ring story Message-ID: Oh, and I do just wnt to mention, I hope no one got upset at me or anything for suggesting Talia could be classified as a rapist. I really meant it just as a point of argument to see if there was a case there to be argued. Everyone who replied, though, seemed to take it that way, so that's all good, yupyup. :) >*sigh* Trying so hard to simply lurk. It's 3 am, and I should be abed. >However, must make a couple of points. I found this quite amusing, seeing as how your message was the second longest that I've recieved on this list (not including the 45K story compilation). >IMNSHO, he's simply seeing things from his daughter's side, >and Talia has left his own mind intact, just caught him up in his >daughter's emotions. So who's to say he won't eventually feel disgust >at person doing the terrible things, then, as the man inside the >emotions, feel remorse? Improbable, but that's how I see it set up. Didn't the book say something about he went almost instantly insane when the loop was set up? Can someone provide texevd for that? Something like he went glassy-eyed and slack jawed after screaming madly once Talia was done. >Now, the part about young companions having to learn about the world is >interesting. Are all Companions reborn Heralds, or only some? Well, I don't think Grove-Born Companions are reborn Heralds, but if that's true, well, how would Gwena have known that Sayvil was once a Herald named Savil? Possibly she's a spirit from where all Companion spirits (and Herald spirits) reside and knew Savil from there. Anyway, though, there are certainly enough dead Heralds at this point to have every Companion be a dead herald, but I get the impression that not every Herald takes the chance to become a Companion. Long answer without much substance in it, in short, I don't know. :> What do people think about when Misty decided Companions should be reincarnated Heralds? Was Savil named because there was a Companion named Sayvil, or was it a plotline created from the beginning of the series? ***** The as-of-yet nameless (don't suppose anyone wants to help out with finding a name? :> ) minstrel squirms her way towards the Karaoke (I think I've finally got the spelling on that word right now...) booth, just in time to hear the words "Indigo Girls" and something about needing someone for harmony, and a moment later someone else volunteering to help out. Oh, well, she'll just have to think of something else to sing. She moves over to the karaoke controller person (Is it Ana? Shadowblade? I've lost track here and I'm too lazy to scroll back through dozens of posts to filter it out) and asks, "What about Loreena McKennit's 'All Soul's Night'? Can I get in line to sing that one?" ***** >:Fluff, fluff! Let's play in the fluff!: > >Oops, there's that voice again. Haven't figured out where it's coming >from yet.... I think it sounds like a sheep. Oh, and Femmy wrote: >Oh yeah, one more thing on this. I don't think Lendel's insane yet when he >released the wyrsa. He went crazy after Gala repudiated him. I disagree. I think he went irrational when he felt his brother die. IIRC, he was mentally talking with his brother when his twin was ambushed. Tylendel *felt* his twin die. He didn't crack, but that was when he first started going mad with grief. And John E Morris writes: > This leads to a few possible conclusions. The first is that if A is >correct, then Gala's repudiation was derived from direct knowledge of the >state of Tylendel's soul. This would require an extreme change in >personhood; that is, not just the temporary insanity we see in MPawn, but an >alteration of his total character . If that's so, then why would the Deth Bell toll for him? Did he drastically change back when repudiated? > The second possible conclusion we can draw from this is that; if B is >true, then how does one account for the seeming lack of repudiations if one >does not consider Tylednel's? Are we to assume that if Companion's base >their judgments of Chosen on normal, human criteria, that those judgements >will not sometimes be flawed? Should there not, in this case, be, if not >many more, at least a few more repudiations in the annals of Heraldic >history? I think the repudiations aren't talked about much at all, even though they do happen. Some fear, I think, like "If we talk about it then it might happen to us". I remember some people not wanting to talk about Tylendel for that reason. Maybe it's something more than human judgement, maybe something distantly related to a truth spell? But not omnicient? So it's kinda long. Oh, well, there are longer posts out there. :) -Carson ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 13:48:51 -0800 From: Niki Nibbe To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: Re: LONG - Interferring/Companions-Heralds/Vanyel/story Message-ID: <34E762C2.7682B0F8-+AT+-earthlink.net> <>....<> Sorry bout that. 3am, my judgment's a bit fogged. I've written them that long before, but my better sense has convinced me to break them up by topic and send them separately. I guess I got a bit upset at the "either A or B," when both choices didn't seem to take all the factors into account. Femmy wrote: <> Different type of insanity. He lost his hold on reality when his brother died. He sunk into despair and insanity -- a rather pathological insanity. If he went insane when he died (I don't remember this, but it's been awhile), it would be from the weight of the terrible thing he's just done. I still think he returned to sanity, saw what he'd done, and killed himself in grief and self-recrimination. But returning to sanity doesn't necessarily mean he was fit to jump up and undo what he'd done. I would think there would have been recovery time necessary, which wasn't available. Does that make sense? Works better in my head. Clare Fiander wrote: > < interfeers quite often?>> Yes, she seems to, doesn't she? But then, we keep seeing extraordinary situations (Falconsbane being an extraordinary situation). But don't we keep hearing that the Star-Eyed will not interfere until and unless a) humans have diligently worked to solve the problem and b) all of her lands are threatened. This becomes very clear in the Storms trilogy. But as for the avatars, yes, she tends to send wise help to her people to guide them. But even they have to say things along the lines of "you must do this yourself" I mean, I think they definitely have a close relationship with the Star-Eyed, and can contact her or her representatives rather easily, but there is still a policy of allowing people to make their mistakes, even if it means death. Then, too, perhaps that fact of Valdemar not being under any one deity creates more distance as well. Maybe we could envision Companions as being ambassadors....Uh, I have plenty to say to flesh out that comment, but just realized this is getting long again. So I'll just_slowly_back away from the keyboard. > > ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 15 Feb 1998 13:36:51 -0800 (PST) From: Ana Cotton To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk Subject: re:story Message-ID: <19980215213651.1848.rocketmail-+AT+-web1.rocketmail.com> Ana blinked, "you say I forgot *what* Ilia?" "You forgot some other requests, here's the list." Ana glanced at the list, and then looked back at Ilia, "You'll have to wait on the 'Safety Dance' ok?" Ilia just nodded, then poured herself a glass of blood wine. Ana went back to the CD changer, *alright, more Loreena McKennit and Sarah McLachlann-Tango to Evora, and Ice.* "Is nice music!" Ana grinned, "So it is Ili, so it is..." =================== Ok, folks give me another few seconds, and I'll get cracking with the rest of the request, Oh and Blade? you've started something waay too fun! ;->\\\ BTW, folks, I am compiling and coding the story, it will be up soon. Right now, since I had them I have most of Sunday's parts up at http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Vault/6573/lfr4.html please, if there are probs with anything, LET ME KNOW! Hugs, Ana, who realises she should request a whole week to get up the story then realises, its too *damn* fun, to wait... _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? 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