MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1949

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Monty Python & The Ashkevrons
	by Rachesqka-+AT+-aol.com
  2) Colorado and other miserable things plus some misty
	by "Alexia/Sabrina" <i.casale-+AT+-ukonline.co.uk>
  3) Various Braid
	by Liss <half_asleep-+AT+-usa.net>
  4) Columbine and OB Misty
	by Danielle May Marrone <dmarrone-+AT+-ic.sunysb.edu>
  5) Re: Gryphons' Stare
	by Danielle May Marrone <dmarrone-+AT+-ic.sunysb.edu>
  6) <snip>braid<snip>
	by Rae Henderson <Rae-+AT+-gci-net.com>
  7) Re: a new topic to talk about
	by Angela Doyon <songrunner-+AT+-juno.com>
  8) homosexuality
	by "Kristy Lyseng" <moonshade_noema-+AT+-hotmail.com>
  9) Re: Queen's Own (and other stuff)
	by "Starshadow *" <starshadow_-+AT+-hotmail.com>
 10) Re: Gryphons' Stare
	by Angela Doyon <songrunner-+AT+-juno.com>
 11) RE: a new topic to talk about
	by "Dubose, SPC Stephanie" <duboses-+AT+-arcent.army.mil>
 12) RE: a new topic to talk about
	by "Dubose, SPC Stephanie" <duboses-+AT+-arcent.army.mil>
 13) The King's/Queen's Own Companion Choosing thingie
	by "L. J. Thompson" <ljt-+AT+-lclark.edu>
 14) Re: Colorado and other miserable things plus some misty
	by "Jamie Jacobs" <shadowcat19-+AT+-hotmail.com>
 15) Kyree and lots of ranting
	by Katie McQuage <rhiannon13-+AT+-geocities.com>

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 11:18:24 EDT
From: Rachesqka-+AT+-aol.com
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Monty Python & The Ashkevrons
Message-ID: <da0ff458.245880c0-+AT+-aol.com>

 Margaret wrote:

>>I just started the LHM series, and I noticed that Van reminds me of
the son that Lancelot tries to rescue in "Monty Python's Quest for the
Holy Grail."  Well, ok, Van is far more striking, intelligent, and not
pathetic, but other than that they are sort of similar. Am I crazy or do
ya'll see it also?<<

LOL! You're not crazy, the same thing has occurred to me, but only because if 
the whole "I want to SING!" part. He doesn't much remind me of Van, maybe a 
sad, pathetic, stupid, and homely parody of Van,_maybe_. But the father does 
remind me of Withen, "You not going to do a song while I'm here!" But, yes 
the thought had occurred to me several times while watching it, and as a 
result I end up laughing at that part harder than anyone else in the room, 
because all the while I'm imagining them being Vanyel and Withen. But... 
*glances around the Hall of Mist nervously* Watch what you say, the Order of 
Amber and Marigold could be lurking around any corner, waiting to flame 
anyone whom they think is insulting Van. So please bear in mind that I have 
no wish to insult Van and love him death, and would defend him from insults 
as well. :D

I figured we needed something of a lighter note, which is why I responded to 
a post of a lighter note. Or at least I needed a lighter note (finals are 
coming up very soon, I need to keep my spirits and sense of humor high, or I 
may not make it through sane.)

Starshadow and Trin of the Clan K'Connecticut
Royal Defender of the Brat
Wannabe of the Order of Amber and Marigold

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 16:49:15 +0100
From: "Alexia/Sabrina" <i.casale-+AT+-ukonline.co.uk>
To: "misty" <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: Colorado and other miserable things plus some misty
Message-ID: <048501be9191$afe5a1e0$8ac428c3-+AT+-oemcomputer>

I'm sure you'll all appreciate what I was trying to think up as an obmisty:
what colours can a companion be...errrrrrr.... Well, thought I'd tell you
guys about that one because it might make you'all laugh- even if it is about
how brain-dead I am. Um... what else can I say... um... I can say um well
but it doesn't really count as an obmisty... What gifts would I have- first
off empathy<with projection>... my next fav. would be mage gift, then
firestarting, then fetching... the last two would have to be with
thought-sensing... Oh, question... can mages start fires or can only
firestarters do that? Maybe mages can start small fire or something but
you'd have to be a firestarter to start and control and really big fire or
something... I don't know... Can companions have markings BTW? If they're
white all over they can't really but maybe a slightly off white colour- but
only very slightly?

BTW- any good fantasy rpgs out there? Apart from CoS that is<g>- and thanks
Yvonne for the websites!

Also... any good fantasy pic sites?

>Regardless of whether or not they were right in the head, it is still
>*wrong* to go out and shoot half a hundred innocent people. It is still
>wrong, and they are still responsible for choosing to do it. *It is their
>fault,* in the end.

I'm in complete agreement with this... and here's why<my treatise on
insanity>. It could easily be argued that the boys were insane and therefore
have no responsibility but I do NOT believe this is true. Insanity is a word
with a very illusive meaning- it means too many things. Insanity where
someone dwells in another world and has no concept of reality is insane,
criminally and mentally, and cannot be held accountable BUT the majority of
people who commit violent acts aren't insane in this definition. Most
violent people have mental problems- most commonly they are perfectly
'normal'<and I'm not getting into the definition or normal hence the quote
marks> but have one area in which they views are very skewed. In the case of
some they believe that it perfectly all right to kill people- this is
obviously a hugely skewed view but it is a skew in just one area. Often
people of are skewed like this are very logical, calm, think-things-through
people... and they are logical about what they do BUT their logic is based
on something skewed. Everything after the skew is reasonable... but the base
point is way off. This type of skewing, about different issues and in
differnt levels, is the problem with a lot of people who are criminally
violent. They have serious mental health problems BUT they are still
responsible for what they do. They can still recognise that it is wrong and
even if it is very hard for them to see that and to act on it, they do still
know that it's wrong. They just decide they don't have the strength to go
against theor imbedded skewed ideas...

Take child abusers... they know what they are doing is wrong... they have a
choice. Whatever internal factor is 'pushing' them to abuse people... they
could still override it- hard but possible. Not all abused people are
abusers because there is a choice. You can learn from what has happened to
you and never do it to someone else or you can say- I'm angry and I've got a
right to be angry and go and take it out on whoever because the world owes
me... but it's a choice which way you go. I have less sympathy for abusers
that have been abused that ones who haven't because the ones that have are
doing it know _exactly_ what they're doing to the other person.

It is quite likely that the colorado shooters' parents/family/carers were
abusive. Or that at some point someone else- possibly someone in the school-
abused them. It doesn't mean they have the right to kill anyone. A reason is
NOT an excuse and people don't seem to understand that. Knowing why doesn't
mean it's OK, it just means you know why.

Anyway... that's JMHO:)

Alexia



------------------------------

Date: 28 Apr 99 10:01:07 PDT
From: Liss <half_asleep-+AT+-usa.net>
To: Mercedes Lackey Mailing List <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: Various Braid
Message-ID: <19990428170107.27703.qmail-+AT+-nw175.netaddress.usa.net>

Heyla All!

Sorry for the double appearance.  This thrice-cursed e'mail system has got me
_so_ frustrated!

Lightsong wrote:
<When Talia first gets to Haven, Selenay tells her that often, the next 
Queen's Own is chosen from someone who is already a chosen trainee.  
My question is, if that is true, and the trainee gets chosen by the 
the current Monarch's Own Companion, what happens to the companion 
that already chose that person?>

Luckily enough, since I've been re-reading LHM, I can answer this.  In Magic's
Promise, Van "tests" Jisa to find out about her Gifts and Shavri (or Randale,
I'm not sure which) asks if she'll be chosen soon.  Van checks w/ 'Fandes and
says that she will between age 8 and 10 if needed, but that won't be a bonded
choosing, since Jisa will be Monarch's Own.  I'm assuming that this applies
elsewhere.  That way, the person would be trained as a Herald, but wouldn't
have a bond to break.

Sorana wrote:
<Too bad it woudn't work...~sigh~ Although it would be very 
satisfying to do that to Slade Gorton.>

You must be from Washington, too.  Ye Gods, I hate that man...

To Freedom Walker (I think!) - Are ya happy now *g*?  We've certainly got
enough controversial subjects going around now!

I'm going to add my own question to the list.  What minor character(s) that
Misty mentions would you like to learn more about?  Personally, I'd love to
learn about Sunsinger and Shadowdancer.  Add Windrider to that list also.  The
songs are great, but I'd love to read the stories behind them.

Bright thy day and wind to thy wings!
Liss



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------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 13:20:41 -0400 (EDT)
From: Danielle May Marrone <dmarrone-+AT+-ic.sunysb.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Columbine and OB Misty
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.96.990428130603.279A-100000-+AT+-sparky>

Kenneth wrote:
 
> This is probably very simplistic, but my experience with goths or
> pseudo-goths is that much of what they do seems to be calculated for
> effect.  The ones that I've talked to seemed to almost revel in being
> "misunderstood" and "persecuted."  While I suppose there are some goths
> who simply choose to dress as they do because black is a practical, easy
> to care for, easy to coordinate color (okay, I'll admit it's not likely,
> but if it was good enough for Granny Weatherwax!...*grin*), I also think
> that most goths do seem to cultivate their outsider status.  
> 
> Essentially, there seems to be a sort of covert prestige in being a member
> of a persecuted group and being a misfit.  So, I suppose, wearing clothes
> that are guarenteed to increase their "misfitness" is understandable.
> After all, to some extent, that's what many goths have been doing all
> along.  This is not to dismiss the Goth subculture as being entirely
> composed of fashion conscious poseur.  However, based on what I have seen
> of it, there is a good portion of what I guess might be called
> "pseudo-goths" who do seem to be more about image than anything else.  
> And quite frankly they are more concerned about their appearance and their
> style than the most dedicated pageant person or style queen. =)  It's just
> a different style, that's all.
> 
Kenneth is exactly right in his description of Goths.  I completely agree.
I go to a Goth/Industrial club by me all the time and he couldn't be more
dead on.  I was dismayed at seeing KMFDM as being described as a neo-nazi
Goth band.  I listen to them all the time and my opinion of them was that
they were against violence and drugs and all that stuff.  I never received
any nazi messages from them either.  And those kids were not Goth.
'Goths', me once included, are all too happy to be persecuted and do not
seem to have any motivation to be violent towards anyone.  Most Goths I
know are very sensitive and nice, if a bit too into their image.  Anne
Gwish in JTHM is a good example of a Goth in a more humorous light.  All
this banning of clothes and stuff, in my opinion, might add to the problem
than help it because it will validate the persecution of those who are
considered different, which was the problem in the first place.

Margaret wrote:

>>I just started the LHM series, and I noticed that Van reminds me of
the son that Lancelot tries to rescue in "Monty Python's Quest for the
Holy Grail."

TeeHee.  I never thought of it like that but I think you are right.


The Columbine tragedy is horrible and I pray for the families of all the
children and the children themselves.  I just wish the media would
concentrate on what really caused it and not try to come up with excuses
that have little to nothing to do with it.

ARI


------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 13:30:15 -0400 (EDT)
From: Danielle May Marrone <dmarrone-+AT+-ic.sunysb.edu>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Gryphons' Stare
Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.96.990428132415.279C-100000-+AT+-sparky>


> Someone (sorry, I deleted who!) wrote:
> 
> >>Alright, I think it's in the WoChange, but when they first catch
> Nyara saving the..... what's their names....... oh, it seemed to have
> slipped my mind. But anyway, sooner or later they find out
> she was put there by Falconsbane. Alright, that's all good and
> nice, but there is a part when the male gryphon friend
> of Darkwind (gee's he's name seemed to have slipped my mind also.
> What a slippery mind I have, but he and his mate was
> a friend of Darkwinds:) gives Nyara this hard stare and she
> immediately falls asleep. I think it happens in the gryphons
> home. What I was wanted to know was what kind of
> magic was that and what's it called? Is it just a sort of magic
> gryphons have or is it just rare? Or is it the Mage Gift? If that
> was so can other human mages perform the same magic?<<
> 
> I don't think it was rare; if I recall right Keth did it in 
> Oathbreakers, after that first campaign with Sursha.  She had used up 
> most of her energies, and had just enough left to put people to sleep 
> with her magics.  Maybe the gryphons just perfected the art of being 
> able to do it with a look.  That's just my take on it.
> 
Firesong did it in Winds of Fury as well, but it was a whole room full of
people and was very taxing on his energy.  Nyara was not in any kind of
state to protect herself, even if she had been trained, and did not have
much magic anyway.  She was tired and terrified and the hard stare might
have been the gryphon looking into her soul or mind to see if she was
heartfelt and honest.  That's what I thought anyway.  The hard stare might
also have been a look of concentration as well.  I don't think the
gryphons had any mind magic, but you never know.  And they were probably 
of a different kind of magical discipline, being gryphons and all.  Enough
of my rambling.  I've rambled enough.  Back to my translation of Middle
English Literature I go.

ARI 


------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 10:57:51 -0700
From: Rae Henderson <Rae-+AT+-gci-net.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: <snip>braid<snip>
Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.19990428105751.0079d9b0-+AT+-gci-net.com>

<snip> <snip>"I'd have to disagree with you on that one - I think part of
the premise of Tarma and Kethry was that there *could* be a
pair of females working together *without* sex (the act of,
as well as the gender) being important - especially because
Tarma, being sword-sworn, became sexless - essentially a
neuter.  That was part of why Warrl bonded to *her* instead
of Keth....Besides which, where would Kerowyn come from
without Keth and her husband (Jarmak? something like that -
Ah!  *Must reread...*)  :)"

Yeah Yeah I know I know- and I appreciate that premise..but I was a 20 year
old lesbian in the closet- living in a hick town in central Indiana... I
had to hope for *something* since getting out of there was very far out of
reach-- (insert laughter here) I had yet to ind the 'subculture' as someone
put it... there isnt a 'subculture' of gays and lesbians in a farm town in
central Indiana... :) so I lived in books and was hoping to find 'someone
like me' and 'someone I could identify with' in the books...

nuf said...

btw- I got out of the small Indiana farming town into a HUGE sub-culture-
(insert laffing sheep here)

Health and wellness to all..

Rae

"Please remember that religions are made up of people, most of whom have
very little control over what their priests decree is doctrine. Keep in
mind that given that the priest and people have free will and the means to
exercise it, gods may not always be able to control their priests either.
So what the priests say, and the people believe, is not always the whole
truth."   Unknown


------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 14:01:29 -0400
From: Angela Doyon <songrunner-+AT+-juno.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: a new topic to talk about
Message-ID: <19990428.142508.11974.0.Songrunner-+AT+-juno.com>

As for all these insane crimes being blamed on just about everything from
music to peer pressure nowadays, I think it's all a load of bull.  People
are all responsible for their own actions, regardless of outside
influences.  Yes, everyone has problems, and many of them major problems.
 But if everyone decided they had to go bomb people just because they
were insulted by them, we might as well just not exist at all.  I argue
all the time with my mother, but I've never decided to shoot her just
because we don't get along.  I realize that many people have some really
messed-up lives, but as far as I know, the majority of them don't take
theirs out on other people by massacreing (sp?) them.  And as far as the
media, I have lost almost all respect for them.  Yes, they play an
important part in society, but they have some really strange practices. 
For instance, over the last few days, bombs have been found in several of
the local high schools, and the newspapers have said absolutely NOTHING
about it.  The only reason that I know is because my brother goes to one
of those high schools in which NINE bombs were found on Monday.  After
what happened in Colorado, you would think this would be a major story,
but no.  Just goes to show you how pathetic the media is lately.
    
Now for an ob-Misty.  

Sorry about all the rambling.  As for who/where I would be if I was a
Velgarthian, I have no idea. Personally, I just wish I could be
everything.  But I think I would probably be a Taleydras mage-scout,
bonded to a raptor (probably the same breed as Vree, but I no longer have
my books (they're at school and I'm at home) so I can't look it up and I
currently can't remember it off the top of my head (anyone want to help
me out?).  I would definitely want to have mindspeech, and I'd prefer to
be an Adept.  I would love any Vale in the Pelagirs (it's the forest/tree
thing again).  Other than that, I'd just take what I got (although
hopefully my life wouldn't be TOO crazy, despite the apparent appeal of
adventure, chaos, etc.).  

Someone answered my question about the possible appearance of Eldan in
AotQ, but I can't remember who.  They said that it was intentional.  My
response to that, however, is that AotQ was her very first Velgarth book,
and she had no idea how it would go over once it was published.  How was
she to know that she would eventually want to use that exact character?  
How could it have been intentional, especially since Eldan was a rather
minor character?  I admit, however, that she possible went back, saw
that, and decided to expand upon that, since those twin white streaks of
hair are rather memorable.  Anyway.  Now that I've rambled on for a
while....

Wind to thy Wings,
Songrunner.

"Food is an important part of a balanced diet" (I can't remember who said
it)

___________________________________________________________________
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------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 12:15:22 PDT
From: "Kristy Lyseng" <moonshade_noema-+AT+-hotmail.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: homosexuality
Message-ID: <19990428191523.6358.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com>

Heyla!

Liseth wrote:
>I am currently in college at a place which
>seems sort of like the Heralds Collegium in many ways.  It's filled 
with
>intelligent, caring people, some of whom are as idealistic as the 
Heralds.
>I know very few people here who claim heterosexuality.  Odd, right?  
Okay,
>so maybe half the people I know here are hetero.  I know about 1 who
>claims homosexuality.  Everyone else is bi, to varying degrees.  My
>question is, in a place as open and loving and, um, promiscuous as 
the
>Collegium, why don't _more_ people claim not to be heterosexual?  
Why is
>it that every time another homosexual couple comes along the Heralds 
don't
>accept it immediately as part of their everyday life?

    My theory is that people, even fictional ones, are afraid of the 
unknown, and that is something that homosexual couples represent. If 
we, humans, were more accepting in nature, then perhaps we could all 
be like the Tayledras and so many of the unlawful things that have 
been done to homosexuals would be nonexistent. But unfortunately this 
is not so. I suppose some of this could be based on religion 
(specifically the Christian faith (sorry if anybody finds this 
offensive, but it that's my aethism part speaking)), and some of this 
is blamed on our own fear of the unkown. 
    <Kristy waves at Yvonne. "It snowed last night!">
Love, Light and Laughter,
    Kristy
-------------------------
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity. And I'm 
not sure about the universe."--Albert Einstein
-------------------------

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Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 12:14:51 PDT
From: "Starshadow *" <starshadow_-+AT+-hotmail.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Queen's Own (and other stuff)
Message-ID: <19990428191452.50549.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com>

Hi everyone,
You are probably all thinking ,  Who is Starshadow?  I don't remeber a Starshadow.  Yes it has been a while since I last wrote but I have been busy.  On the whole Queen Own thing.  Okay so In MPromise Vanyel siad that Jisa would be chosen soon but it would be an unbonded chosing.  Well in Magic's Price it said that Jisa wasn't chosen at all yet because she was to be King's Own and so she wouldn't be chosen until the current King's Own (Her Mother) died, so that Tavir would then chose Jisa.  So what happened to the whole unbonded choosing thing.  I am confused on that one.  

As for the Columbine High School insident.  When I heard what had happened I cried.  It was so sad.  And then I go to school and one of my friends is wearing a black trench coat and carrying around a duffle bag to mock the whole incident.  It upset me so much.  Sorry about that I just had to vent a little.  It makes me so mad to think that people can mock something so terrible.

Anyway,  I must go feed my heard of sheep and to all yee newbies out there, I doth present thee with fluffy sheep to do with as yee please.  Just don't forget to give them their hourly cuddle or they get fussy.


Starshadow* 
 
"...but other then that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the  
show?"...Tannim in Born to Run 
-------------------------------------------------- 
 Come visit my webpage at:  
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Station/7216 


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------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 15:29:09 -0400
From: Angela Doyon <songrunner-+AT+-juno.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Gryphons' Stare
Message-ID: <19990428.152909.14542.2.Songrunner-+AT+-juno.com>

ARI wrote:
> I don't think the gryphons had any mind magic, but you never know.  And
they were 
>probably of a different kind of magical discipline, being gryphons and
all.  


Actually, from what I've read, the gryphons' magic was rather similar to
humans' - it was inferred in both the Mage War books and in conversations
between Darkwind and Treven.  It was also mentioned that Treven (sorry if
I'm spelling that wrong) was a master-class mage, and he helped train the
new herald-mages in Haven, so they must at least be very similar.  And
yes, they seem to have mind-magic - he mindspeeks with Darkwind and
Elspeth all the time, and I'm sure they have other abilities too.  As for
the putting Nyara to sleep, it seems to be an ability shared by most
mages - in addition to the other occasions mentioned, Kethry also put
people to sleep, including when she was spying somewhere or other - I
think it was when they were after Thalkarsh the first time, she lured
away all the young idiotic noblemen to get info from them, then
spell-slept them to get away afterwards.  Oh - and when Firesong did it
in WoFury, it was outside at the carnival thing, not in a room, and it
was mostly hard because he had to target it specifically at Ancar's
guardsmen in the crowd of people already there.  

Well, that's my 2 cents for now.

Wind to thy Wings,
Songrunner

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------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 15:27:27 -0400
From: "Dubose, SPC Stephanie" <duboses-+AT+-arcent.army.mil>
To: "'mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk'" <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: RE: a new topic to talk about
Message-ID: <B298AB335F7AD21184370000BC0E369501A561A2-+AT+-arcentex01.arcent.army.mil>

I agree with that.

	-----Original Message-----
	From:	Angela Doyon [SMTP:songrunner-+AT+-juno.com]
	Sent:	Wednesday, April 28, 1999 3:25 PM
	To:	duboses-+AT+-arcent.army.mil
	Subject:	Re: a new topic to talk about

	As for all these insane crimes being blamed on just about everything
from
	music to peer pressure nowadays, I think it's all a load of bull.
People
	are all responsible for their own actions, regardless of outside
	influences.  Yes, everyone has problems, and many of them major
problems.
	 But if everyone decided they had to go bomb people just because
they
	were insulted by them, we might as well just not exist at all.  I
argue
	all the time with my mother, but I've never decided to shoot her
just
	because we don't get along.  I realize that many people have some
really
	messed-up lives, but as far as I know, the majority of them don't
take
	theirs out on other people by massacreing (sp?) them.  And as far as
the
	media, I have lost almost all respect for them.  Yes, they play an
	important part in society, but they have some really strange
practices. 
	For instance, over the last few days, bombs have been found in
several of
	the local high schools, and the newspapers have said absolutely
NOTHING
	about it.  The only reason that I know is because my brother goes to
one
	of those high schools in which NINE bombs were found on Monday.
After
	what happened in Colorado, you would think this would be a major
story,
	but no.  Just goes to show you how pathetic the media is lately.
	    
	Now for an ob-Misty.  

	Sorry about all the rambling.  As for who/where I would be if I was
a
	Velgarthian, I have no idea. Personally, I just wish I could be
	everything.  But I think I would probably be a Taleydras mage-scout,
	bonded to a raptor (probably the same breed as Vree, but I no longer
have
	my books (they're at school and I'm at home) so I can't look it up
and I
	currently can't remember it off the top of my head (anyone want to
help
	me out?).  I would definitely want to have mindspeech, and I'd
prefer to
	be an Adept.  I would love any Vale in the Pelagirs (it's the
forest/tree
	thing again).  Other than that, I'd just take what I got (although
	hopefully my life wouldn't be TOO crazy, despite the apparent appeal
of
	adventure, chaos, etc.).  

	Someone answered my question about the possible appearance of Eldan
in
	AotQ, but I can't remember who.  They said that it was intentional.
My
	response to that, however, is that AotQ was her very first Velgarth
book,
	and she had no idea how it would go over once it was published.  How
was
	she to know that she would eventually want to use that exact
character?  
	How could it have been intentional, especially since Eldan was a
rather
	minor character?  I admit, however, that she possible went back, saw
	that, and decided to expand upon that, since those twin white
streaks of
	hair are rather memorable.  Anyway.  Now that I've rambled on for a
	while....

	Wind to thy Wings,
	Songrunner.

	"Food is an important part of a balanced diet" (I can't remember who
said
	it)

	___________________________________________________________________
	You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
	Get completely free e-mail from Juno at
http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
	or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 15:29:40 -0400
From: "Dubose, SPC Stephanie" <duboses-+AT+-arcent.army.mil>
To: "'mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk'" <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: RE: a new topic to talk about
Message-ID: <B298AB335F7AD21184370000BC0E369501A561A3-+AT+-arcentex01.arcent.army.mil>

I have been out of high school for a few years, and at my school, we had
the same problems that everyone in school has today.  Why all of a
sudden does everyone want to blow up schools and hurt people?

	-----Original Message-----
	From:	Angela Doyon [SMTP:songrunner-+AT+-juno.com]
	Sent:	Wednesday, April 28, 1999 3:25 PM
	To:	duboses-+AT+-arcent.army.mil
	Subject:	Re: a new topic to talk about

	As for all these insane crimes being blamed on just about
everything from
	music to peer pressure nowadays, I think it's all a load of
bull.  People
	are all responsible for their own actions, regardless of outside
	influences.  Yes, everyone has problems, and many of them major
problems.
	 But if everyone decided they had to go bomb people just because
they
	were insulted by them, we might as well just not exist at all.
I argue
	all the time with my mother, but I've never decided to shoot her
just
	because we don't get along.  I realize that many people have
some really
	messed-up lives, but as far as I know, the majority of them
don't take
	theirs out on other people by massacreing (sp?) them.  And as
far as the
	media, I have lost almost all respect for them.  Yes, they play
an
	important part in society, but they have some really strange
practices. 
	For instance, over the last few days, bombs have been found in
several of
	the local high schools, and the newspapers have said absolutely
NOTHING
	about it.  The only reason that I know is because my brother
goes to one
	of those high schools in which NINE bombs were found on Monday.
After
	what happened in Colorado, you would think this would be a major
story,
	but no.  Just goes to show you how pathetic the media is lately.
	    
	Now for an ob-Misty.  

	Sorry about all the rambling.  As for who/where I would be if I
was a
	Velgarthian, I have no idea. Personally, I just wish I could be
	everything.  But I think I would probably be a Taleydras
mage-scout,
	bonded to a raptor (probably the same breed as Vree, but I no
longer have
	my books (they're at school and I'm at home) so I can't look it
up and I
	currently can't remember it off the top of my head (anyone want
to help
	me out?).  I would definitely want to have mindspeech, and I'd
prefer to
	be an Adept.  I would love any Vale in the Pelagirs (it's the
forest/tree
	thing again).  Other than that, I'd just take what I got
(although
	hopefully my life wouldn't be TOO crazy, despite the apparent
appeal of
	adventure, chaos, etc.).  

	Someone answered my question about the possible appearance of
Eldan in
	AotQ, but I can't remember who.  They said that it was
intentional.  My
	response to that, however, is that AotQ was her very first
Velgarth book,
	and she had no idea how it would go over once it was published.
How was
	she to know that she would eventually want to use that exact
character?  
	How could it have been intentional, especially since Eldan was a
rather
	minor character?  I admit, however, that she possible went back,
saw
	that, and decided to expand upon that, since those twin white
streaks of
	hair are rather memorable.  Anyway.  Now that I've rambled on
for a
	while....

	Wind to thy Wings,
	Songrunner.

	"Food is an important part of a balanced diet" (I can't remember
who said
	it)


___________________________________________________________________
	You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet
e-mail.
	Get completely free e-mail from Juno at
http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
	or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 12:57:27 -0700
From: "L. J. Thompson" <ljt-+AT+-lclark.edu>
To: "'mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk'" <mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk>
Subject: The King's/Queen's Own Companion Choosing thingie
Message-ID: <01BE9176.C5059B40-+AT+-BASIL>

I'm re-reading the LHM books right now, and in Magic' Promise, it mentions 
that Van was half afraid that Taver would choose him King's Own, so I don't 
think that it's just always a different kind of choosing that takes place 
for a potential future King's/Queen's Own, or else that wouldn't have 
crossed his mind. Just an observation.

Sorry for the short post, it's finals week!

May squirrels never take a liking to your teeth,
L.J. Thompson
ICQ #6886878


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end


------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 20:31:01 GMT
From: "Jamie Jacobs" <shadowcat19-+AT+-hotmail.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Re: Colorado and other miserable things plus some misty
Message-ID: <19990428203103.47711.qmail-+AT+-hotmail.com>

I'm pretty sure companions can be only white because they use node 
magic for their tireless pace, and it bleaches hair, i have a 
question, the dyheli are white, do they too use node magic?


>From: "Alexia/Sabrina" <i.casale-+AT+-ukonline.co.uk>
>Reply-To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
>To: shadowcat19-+AT+-hotmail.com
>Subject: Colorado and other miserable things plus some misty
>Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 17:35:05 +0100 (BST)
>
>I'm sure you'll all appreciate what I was trying to think up as an 
obmisty:
>what colours can a companion be...errrrrrr.... Well, thought I'd tell 
you
>guys about that one because it might make you'all laugh- even if it 
is about
>how brain-dead I am. Um... what else can I say... um... I can say um 
well
>but it doesn't really count as an obmisty... What gifts would I have- 
first
>off empathy<with projection>... my next fav. would be mage gift, then
>firestarting, then fetching... the last two would have to be with
>thought-sensing... Oh, question... can mages start fires or can only
>firestarters do that? Maybe mages can start small fire or something 
but
>you'd have to be a firestarter to start and control and really big 
fire or
>something... I don't know... Can companions have markings BTW? If 
they're
>white all over they can't really but maybe a slightly off white 
colour- but
>only very slightly?
>
>BTW- any good fantasy rpgs out there? Apart from CoS that is<g>- and 
thanks
>Yvonne for the websites!
>
>Also... any good fantasy pic sites?
>
>>Regardless of whether or not they were right in the head, it is 
still
>>*wrong* to go out and shoot half a hundred innocent people. It is 
still
>>wrong, and they are still responsible for choosing to do it. *It is 
their
>>fault,* in the end.
>
>I'm in complete agreement with this... and here's why<my treatise on
>insanity>. It could easily be argued that the boys were insane and 
therefore
>have no responsibility but I do NOT believe this is true. Insanity is 
a word
>with a very illusive meaning- it means too many things. Insanity 
where
>someone dwells in another world and has no concept of reality is 
insane,
>criminally and mentally, and cannot be held accountable BUT the 
majority of
>people who commit violent acts aren't insane in this definition. Most
>violent people have mental problems- most commonly they are perfectly
>'normal'<and I'm not getting into the definition or normal hence the 
quote
>marks> but have one area in which they views are very skewed. In the 
case of
>some they believe that it perfectly all right to kill people- this is
>obviously a hugely skewed view but it is a skew in just one area. 
Often
>people of are skewed like this are very logical, calm, 
think-things-through
>people... and they are logical about what they do BUT their logic is 
based
>on something skewed. Everything after the skew is reasonable... but 
the base
>point is way off. This type of skewing, about different issues and in
>differnt levels, is the problem with a lot of people who are 
criminally
>violent. They have serious mental health problems BUT they are still
>responsible for what they do. They can still recognise that it is 
wrong and
>even if it is very hard for them to see that and to act on it, they 
do still
>know that it's wrong. They just decide they don't have the strength 
to go
>against theor imbedded skewed ideas...
>
>Take child abusers... they know what they are doing is wrong... they 
have a
>choice. Whatever internal factor is 'pushing' them to abuse people... 
they
>could still override it- hard but possible. Not all abused people are
>abusers because there is a choice. You can learn from what has 
happened to
>you and never do it to someone else or you can say- I'm angry and 
I've got a
>right to be angry and go and take it out on whoever because the world 
owes
>me... but it's a choice which way you go. I have less sympathy for 
abusers
>that have been abused that ones who haven't because the ones that 
have are
>doing it know _exactly_ what they're doing to the other person.
>
>It is quite likely that the colorado shooters' parents/family/carers 
were
>abusive. Or that at some point someone else- possibly someone in the 
school-
>abused them. It doesn't mean they have the right to kill anyone. A 
reason is
>NOT an excuse and people don't seem to understand that. Knowing why 
doesn't
>mean it's OK, it just means you know why.
>
>Anyway... that's JMHO:)
>
>Alexia
>
>
>
>


_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com

------------------------------

Date: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 15:48:56 +0000
From: Katie McQuage <rhiannon13-+AT+-geocities.com>
To: mercedes-lackey-+AT+-herald.co.uk
Subject: Kyree and lots of ranting
Message-ID: <37272DE7.2D4D53DC-+AT+-geocities.com>

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML>
Kyree aren't all nueters.&nbsp; There are male and females, and the nueters
are primarily shaman and the like. Occupations that require no distractions
of mate and family.
<P>I've never understood how music can be blamed for things like this.&nbsp;
Let's see, I think I'm going to go imitate a Wagner opera.&nbsp; Wait,
that's a bad exapmle because Ludwig the second of Bavaria really did do
that....&nbsp; But he was nuts before he met Wagner, so that's ok.
<BR>It's just foolishness.&nbsp; People who don't want to believe that
their child or their children's friends could do such a thing are trying
to blame others.&nbsp; People who don't want to admit that some blame might
lie on them, as well.
<P>I would also like to say that I live in hell.&nbsp; My school years
have been up until now hell, and this year has fortunately slackened off
into purgatory levels.&nbsp; However, the idea of bring sawed-off shotguns
into the building and blowing everybody away never once occured to me.&nbsp;
I'm too much of a bitch not to try and win by defeating and conquering,
tho.&nbsp; Anyway, I listen to bits of Rammstein and Marilyn Manson, among
other dark gothic music, and if the theory is correct I certainly should
have thought of it and gone through with it. I have never made a bomb.&nbsp;
I have never attempted to injure anyone within reaching distance, although
I have been known to throw things.&nbsp; The media coverage of this was
male cow feces.&nbsp; All of it.&nbsp; Every reporter I saw was biased,
and they all latched on the external factors like they were&nbsp; important.&nbsp;
The gothic trend is hardly a cause, although it might be considered an
effect.&nbsp; I have a French Army Duster.&nbsp; I do not wear it to school
unless it is raining.&nbsp; Everything they've latched upon is crap.
<P>At my school we received a notice that anyone discussing the incident
would be arrested.&nbsp; This included anyone dressing in all black with
trenchcoats, and even making trechcoat jokes, and I must confess I am prone
to joking about these sorts of things.&nbsp; Helps me keep my sanity.&nbsp;
I think that's ridiculous.&nbsp; They're also making us wear our school
IDs at all times now, so that they know who is a student and who isn't.&nbsp;
This used to be common policy (gang wars used to spread to classrooms....about
a decade ago) but most of us haven't seen out id cards since our freshman
year!&nbsp; We are the only school district in the state of Texas that
has not had a bomb threat called in, and I think we should be proud instead
of paranoid.&nbsp; I think this whole thing has been looked at the wrong
way, and all the solutions are temporary at best, and at worst will exacerbate
the situation.
<P>And as for wearing all black, I rarely do it, but when I do it's an
accident.&nbsp; It was in my closet, it color coordinated, and yes, it
was good enough for Granny!&nbsp; Altho I'd like some red boots like Nanny
Ogg's.
<P>The big sheep joke is explained here.&nbsp; <A HREF="http://www.ling.udel.edu/hyde/pers/misty/newbiefest.html">Newbie
Fest</A>&nbsp;&nbsp; There are also lots of references to sheep, especially
in the Herald-Mage books, which make them kind of a natural mascot....
<P>I don't think she hasn't done enough on lesbian characters.&nbsp; I
think that the Keren-Ylsa relationship was interesting, and once you brought
Sherril into it, even more so.&nbsp; Especially the mention of rare stable
threesomes.&nbsp; She hardly needs to make her characters blatant, and
I never noticed any kind of a difference until it was mentioned.&nbsp;
Yes, there seems to be more male homosexual characters, but then, that's
because they are recurring.&nbsp; Firesong is in six books, Van is a main
character.&nbsp; Keren/Ylsa/Sherril are in three.&nbsp; And I think that
covers all characters in there for more than two pages.&nbsp; Andesha I
think was homosexual from childhood right?&nbsp; It was mentioned, I think.&nbsp;
But his sexuality was never an issue, except that he had a reltaionship
with Firesong.&nbsp; It was more of a plot device to show the effects of
the mage storms on powerful mages than anything else.&nbsp; Besides, what
would be the point of making all of her main characters developed lesbians?&nbsp;
Van was enough to make her point, and he was an interesting character.&nbsp;
Hmm.&nbsp; This paragraph is incoherent, so I'll move on.
<P>As for the Collegiums treatment of it, it doesn't seem to be an issue
except in Van's time.&nbsp; Keren and Ylsa were accepted by the Circle.&nbsp;
Hardly anyone knew outside because idiot nobles and the like are obnoxious
about any kind of relationship.&nbsp; Look at charcters like Nerril!&nbsp;
(sp?&nbsp; --The chica that hurt Dirk) and look at the way they all use
relationships as politics.&nbsp; The occasional very minor characters (the
guardsman the Tarma and Keth meet, Jonne, and the pair that Van played
stud for) show that the common people accept it pretty well.&nbsp; Doubtless
there are bigots, but you're going to find them with any issue, sexuality
or otherwise.
<P>I've done enough pointless ranting for one day, unless you count the
research paper I'm working on.. ::grin::&nbsp; So I'll be running along
now.
<P>Go gentle
<BR>Rhiannon Shadowsong</HTML>


------------------------------

End of MERCEDES-LACKEY Digest 1949
**********************************