• Event • The Mummer's Ball

[Vega]

”In the End, we will remember
not the words of our enemies,
but the silence of our friends. "

Martin Luther King, Jr.

She didn't belong here, didn't fit in.

Vega knew it, as she sat down. Knew it as she heard the blood rushing in her ears, and knew it in her heart.

So she sat.

She sat and looked as Varlum walked up to her. In that moment she saw that his expression mirrored her own and Vega's arms were already wrapping around him, as his wrapped around her. She held tight to him and felt his tears against her skin. Holding tightly to him, she said nothing but she gently rocked from side to side, almost like a mother cradling a child. He was so much bigger than her, but that didn't matter. They were both born of violence, but that was unimportant too. In this moment, Vega held on to her brother and she comforted him, as she got comfort from him.

Hart came up to them, the two of Faldrun's children, and he spoke. Vega kept her arm around Varlum as she turned her head to look at Hart and she smiled. Hart spoke to both of them, and he spoke of Vega contradicting that woman. Vega smiled at that. "That's Qylios, Hart," she replied quietly. The Immortal of courage, of leadership. When Hart explained that, sometimes, he needed to be nicer to himself, Vega got the feeling that perhaps Varlum had said that to him. Arlo joined them, then, and Vega's hand fell into her husbands as she held on tight.

Sometimes, Arlo said, it's others who mirror our truer selves back to us. As he said that, as the words left him, she experienced a real moment of clarity. Of realisation. Of understanding.

She did not belong here. And that was more than ok with her.

Vega smiled, tears in her eyes, then she pulled back a little from Varlum, though she kept her hand on him. "I'm thick as a brick, sometimes." she said softly, to Varlum, Hart and Arlo. "All my life, I was so busy realisin' that I was different, which I was, that I didn't realise that the people who loved me, loved me anyhow, an' the ones who didn't, never would." Squeezing Arlo's hand, she said what he already knew. "It took me a long time to accept myself. I were always different, an' I never understood why or how. Now?" Leaning forward, she planted a kiss on Varlum's cheek. "Now, I know. An' I realised that everyone is. We're all here by choices. Hart, you choose to be courageous an' one of the bravest people I've ever met. Varlum, you've got a heart bigger than anyone I know. Vivian. Gennadiya. They're folks who bring hope an' strength an' joy. But you do ... we do what we do by our actions, by our choices." Smiling at them, Vega shrugged slightly. "I've spent most of this ball feelin' like I don't belong. Don't fit in. An' I don't."

Vega grinned. "Isn't that a bloody good job, because frankly, these shoes are killin' me, an' I jus' wanna go an' drink an' laugh. With my family an' friends." She smiled at them. "Which is you lot, if you didn't notice. Maybe that's a place - together, wherever it actually is, jus' bein' together ~ where we can all be a bit nicer to ourselves, because we're surrounded by family who see us an' accept us an' choose us for who we really are."

Maybe here, in the Ball, where the Betsy's of this world lived, Vega didn't fit in. But here? With those who changed the world for the better by their actions?

That was where she was at home.

[Vivian Shiryu]

Things were calming down, at least as much as they ever did lately, and Vivian was genuinely thinking about taking her kids and leaving. Then she saw Vega, with Arlo and Varlum around her and knew she couldn't leave just yet. "Follow me." she said to her kids before she led the way over to Vega. They got there just in time to hear her speech to Varlum, and she smiled at them as she approached. She looked a little wan still, but she was more in control. "You're you, Vega, and none of us would have you any other way." she said, her tone calm, before she grinned slightly. "But if you're looking for a drink and a laugh with nothing but friends and family, the kids and I live just up the road and I keep a pretty well stocked larder. Plenty of food and drink, if you all want to come over. Even got places you can all sleep, if you don't feel like the walk home." she said, her voice warming from the state Syroa had left her in. She wasn't even exaggerating all that hard, she did live fairly close by, and she did actually have plenty of room for guests if anyone wanted to stay the night. Plus she figured they would have more fun, and be more relaxed, there than at the ball. Though, she supposed after a second, that wasn't really the fault of anyone who had organized the ball that Syroa had decided to gatecrash. Still made for an uncomfortable evening.

[Seira Shiryu]

A woman appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Was she imagining things? Seira blinked and looked again. No...the woman was still there. Was this Yeva, then? The woman who had been dead, and now was...not? The woman looked confused and uncertain. Seira could certainly understand that. She was confused too, and she had never died and came back to life. The woman asked questions, and others moved to take care of her. Seira was glad that she would be taken care of in an abstract way. But she was a lot more concerned with what exactly had happened, whether everyone she cared about was really safe and okay, whether Syroa had really been there and if she was going to come back...and really...she just wanted to understand what was going on.

Her aunt smiled and nodded at her. Something in her aunt's expression made her wonder if she was really okay. Vega didn't look injured...but...what if Syroa had done something to her that Seira couldn't see? Syroa was an Immortal after all. Who knew what an Immortal could and couldn't do if they wanted to? Seira wanted to ask if her aunt was okay, and about what had happened, but something stopped her. There was something...almost fragile about her aunt right now, and that frightened Seira. Her impression was confirmed when her aunt sat down, as if her legs simply wouldn't hold her up anymore. That was so unlike the aunt that she knew that it terrified her. Seira hadn't known her aunt for long, but she knew that Vega was a strong woman. Only a strong woman would have said what she had to the superior officers about having a group for support that wouldn't be expected to fight too. She had tried to help them, and she had gotten arrested for it, but she was still here. If that wasn't a sign of strength, then what was? And now...

Seira was terrified of saying or doing the wrong thing and hurting her aunt even more, so she simply smiled shakily and nodded back. Seri joined her then, and her eyes widened when she got a good look at her aunt. She had arrived in time to see Vega smile and nod at Seira, so she smiled and nodded to. Then she turned to Seira.

"Is she okay?" she whispered in concern.

"She looks..."

Seira gave her twin a helpless look.

"I don't know." she whispered back.

"I don't want to bother her right now though."

Seri nodded. The twins were at a loss as to what to do. They both wanted answers, but more than that, they wanted the people they knew about to be okay. Seira wanted everyone to be okay, but she would settle for the people that she cared about being okay.

Their mother found them then, and Seira looked her mother over carefully while Seri hugged their mother tightly.

"Are you okay? You look okay, but..."

Seira hugged her mother too. She wanted...no...needed to know that their mother was really here and real. With Immortals that were here one trill and gone the next, dead people coming back to life, and people who looked like normal people, but were really Immortals, Seira's grasp on reality had taken a hard blow. Right now, she just needed to know what was real, and what was not. What had happened or was still happening could wait for now. Their mother's comment made Seira laugh, and if there was a slight hysterical tone to the sound, she ignored it.

"We never went to parties when we lived in Rynmere, but I agree. Let's do something relaxing next time. I don't think that I like going to balls..."

Seri simply nodded in strong agreement with her sister's words. Where Seira and Seri had hesitated to approach their aunt, their mother brought them over in time for them to hear Vega say something about being different, not belonging, people who loved you, and being nicer to yourself. It was a lot to think about, and Seira knew that she was going to think about it a lot when she got home. One thing she knew for certain was that it made her feel better about fleeing the way she and Seri had.

Their mother invited the group over to a party at their house, and the twins grinned at that idea. An evening spent with the people they cared about sounded like a fun, relaxing time indeed; exactly what was needed after the...whatever this nightmare of a ball had been.

[Yeva]

61 Vhalar 720

Much like her first entry into the world, Yeva's second beginning of life on Idalos was met with an overwhelming amount of information. Between the strange detachment she felt from her body and the struggles with her own memory, she closed her eyes as Gennadiya tore forward and embraced her. Still, in a state of shock, Yeva felt a pang of doubt, as if the contact would make them all disappear and half expecting the woman to pass through her, braced for the worst. The guilt sparked next as she struggled to recall the identity of the beautiful woman who looked so happy to see her. But the hair... it was familiar and once wrapped in Genna's arms and held tight, Yeva gasped and clung on for dear life as if they had known each other a lifetime.

And in some ways, hadn't they?

Yeva pulled back to see the tears running down Genna's cheeks and lifted a hand to wipe them away. A silver beacon? The medic laughed, her own eyes filling with tears, shaking her head, "I... I don't know what to say."

A woman with dark hair, exuding authority relayed information as aptly as a commander at war. 'Demon appeared. Vega killed her. Portal device. Thank, Sentinel Creede.'

She drew back, finally releasing Genna, and nodded as resolutely as she could against her confusion, "Thank you," she said softly, eyes searching the shapes around her. The tears blurred her vision and she swiped desperately to pull them away, emotions building. People were approaching, others stayed back. Yeva was not sure who Vega was but her gratitude was expelled throughout the crowd, offering it to the entirety of the room, mortal and immortal as she sobbed openly, "Thank you."

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

To be back in the land of the living, there wasn't a word in common to encapsulate the paramount feelings she was experiencing. In every tongue she knew, the verbal praise repeated itself on her lips as the weight of resurrection nearly brought her to her knees. She was still unclear on how it happened, not recognizing the gods present, but she was back. Yeva of Rharne was not done and she was renewed, soul on fire.

A pair of hands reached out and drew her attention. Balthazar in finery awaited his turn and once she wiped away the new wave of tears and his face was made clearer, she looked at his arms and the controlled request of affection. The red-haired woman swept forward with what little strength she had and gripped his shoulders, his shirt. He was here. He looked exhausted, almost everyone did. It seemed the entire evening had stretched the room to its physical and emotional capacity. Balthazar's whisper kept her grounded and she used him as a pillar to keep her standing by leaning her weight against him, "I thought I was supposed to show you magic, Matchstick."

What a nickname.

More fragments of her former life began to stitch and heal themselves within her mind. Scalvoris. Drinking. Magic tricks.

"Maybe it was my turn," she whispered back, squeezing tighter with her face buried against his chest. She was going to soak the fabric. Her nose was beginning to congest, it was getting harder to breathe. After swallowing what felt like a stone, she took a deep breath and peeled herself away enough to meet his glowing eyes. So bright, like golden stars. Her throat was tight, quiet, "-ta-da."

Beside them stood a woman, with a gaze as blue as the forget-me-not flowers that grew in her mother's garden. The greeting Elisa offered drew a smile from the sniffling medic.

Welcome home.

Heart swelling with love and hope, Yeva faded from Balthazar to fall into the stranger's arms. It didn't matter to her if they had met, this was Yeva's second life, and she would make it even fuller than the first. "He's been telling stories?" she asked without expecting an answer, holding Elisa's shoulders with an accepting smile and stroking her black hair, "Let us make some of our own."

It was then she saw the shadow waiting and the polite clearing of a throat. The Ithecal kneeled and bowed his head. Varlum was the last person Yeva spoke to before she died. She opened her mouth to find the words but he beat her to it, first welcoming her back and then apologizing. Regret?

She gasped, rushing forward to put a hand on his arm, "No," her voice was fierce, renewed to cast away his guilt, "You have nothing to apologize for. Not to me."

It never occurred to her - not once in her death - that others might be responsible for her demise, nor did she blame them, "Wishes are for precious stars - I've never blamed you," Didn't he see she was saved? She was here, and for now, it was more than enough, "You've saved those I love. You protected them. That... That means more to me than life itself."

Yeva had been so possessed with needing to get back - to continue her work in fear that so many weren't being taken care of - but now she was blessed to learn that the peace had been kept for another trial longer. There was no need to go to war with the past. She stepped forward as the adrenaline slithered itself from her veins. With deep breaths, she smiled and reached out to take the Ithecal in her arms, as she had the others, "I will seek you out, and we will talk more. If anything, you helped give me something to come back to." Yes, they would talk more. That much was decided.

For now, she needed to rest. Yeva felt weak, clutching the bodice of her dress.

It seemed others took note and a man called to those on stage, requesting she be given space. Most had gone, either to go home or sit down, and Yeva looked to the remains of the feast, "I-I would like to sit now," she said, lowering to climb from the stage and find Hart helping. There was so much goodness in the world, she thought, guided to a chair while the others at the ball comforted each other and discussed the evening's events. Yeva listened to the others speak of family and thought of her own. There would be so much to say... Yeva leaned back and and finally looked down at the number of abandoned meals. Other food tragically laid on the ground. The first pangs of hunger squeezed themselves inside her. She sought relief.

Most plates had been picked clean or destroyed, but a few survived the mess of the evening's chaos. One dish particular, sat wildly undisturbed as if it had waited for her all along. Just for her.

Smiling at the thought, Yeva unrolled a cloth napkin and found a utensil. Taking a bite she savored the experience.

Tentacles?

Delicious.

tldr;

Yeva hugs Genna, wipes her tears away.
Yeva starts crying herself.
Yeva listens to Vivian, offers thanksgiving to everyone/anyone. (At a later date, will be seeking out Vega and others personally).
Yeva hugs Balthazar.
Yeva hugs Elisa.
Yeva soothes Varlum.
Yeva takes Hart up on his offer.
Yeva rests.

There was *a lot* to reply to, and that made it largely difficult to address everyone in the thread. I tried to at least mention Yeva acknowledging those who directly engaged with her, but if I missed anyone, give me a shout out and I can edit.

NOTE TO PIG (MOSTLY): When it's time to go home, Yeva will want a little time to be by herself/collect her thoughts before she goes to her family, so will request that. She will also likely take something to remember the evening by - maybe a shard of the broken stained glass window if that's okay. It's not everyday a ghost returns to life.

[Balthazar Black]

61 Vhalar 720

Balthazar squeezed Yeva when she hugged him, the suspicion in his heart melting away into relief. He squeezed her like he thought he'd lose her again when he let go and he did it without worrying at all if she soaked his clothing. At the start of the night he'd been terrified of getting anything on his clothes, now he just wanted to know she was here and that she was real. He felt Yeva taking a deep breath against his body and he knew he needed to let go. As her arms loosened, so too did his own. "Ta-da," Balthazar chuckled with tears that refused to leave his eyes at Yeva's little sound. His chuckle faded into a smile and the smile into a small nod. They were not alone and she had just come back from the dead, everyone would want to speak with her... he could wait. She was back, she was alive, they had time. Elisabeth spoke with her quickly and they came to the all came to the same conclusion. They would be able to speak later and they would. As others flooded in to see the resurrected woman, Balthazar found himself slowly slipping backwards through the crowd with an uneasy feeling rising inside him. His head specifically.

Something was wrong. A sharp pain began at the back of his skull and was slowly spreading around his head. He winced when the pain flared up suddenly and he looked down at his hands. Oh shit. Fuego's voice chimed in Balthazar's head, one of a dozen different uncomfortable sounds beginning to disturb him. He'd been worried about it all night but now that it was the absolute worst time, he could feel his overstepping acting up. He had hundreds of things he wanted to tell and ask Yeva but he couldn't. He wanted to thank Vega for what she'd done or Vivian for keeping her explanation of the events brief. He appreciated what Vega had said to the immortals about Yeva more than he would be able to express to her with words, but he would not even get the chance to offer her the words he could say. He appreciated Vivian's brevity because he did not need the incredible details of what had transpired. He could get those details later. Vivian invited everyone to some sort of afterparty but Balthazar was in a world of his own.

He found himself moving from the crowd back to the table where he reached around quickly for a napkin of some sort. He knew how it went by now. The headache came first and at the rate he'd been using magic he knew what was coming. His vision began to blur as the sharp pain spread and worsened, then Balthazar's nose began to bleed. He used the napkin he found to stop his bleeding nose. Are you okay? Fuego asked.

"It's fine. It's fine. It'll pass." Balthazar said aloud to Fuego accidentally. The diri seemed surprised but Balthazar didn't notice, he tried to distract himself from the headache by looking at the others but it just hurt his head more so he closed his eyes again and held his napkin to stop his nose from bleeding. How's my shirt? Blood? Balthazar thought to Fuego.

Not yet, wait yes. A little bit where the fork stabbed you.

Is everyone alright?

Yes.

Then it was a good night.

[Gennadiya Lyosha]

Gennadiya Lyosha

Gennadiya after she separated from hugging Yeva took a look around the room. She could see that it was a night that had drained everyone as well it should. Balls while normally fun still left one exhausted and with the events and the drama it had truly drained everyone.

Genna looked around and saw Vega with a sad and kind of dejected. Varlum was actually crying. Her friends had to make a hard decision this evening. Genna stood up and walked over to Varlum. She wrapped her arms around the knight and held him. She didn’t say anything just let her presence be there. After a moment she let him go and moved on to Vega and then gave her a silent hug and held her for a moment.

Genna then let her go and walked over to Daia and her daughter and Lions. “Congratulations. On find each other.” She gave each of their hands a squeeze. “Please hold another ball, but let’s stick to dancing” she said to them with a kindly smile that showed her sincerity and humor. It was a bit force but was her way of trying to help them feel better. Before moving before the other three. She smiled at them. “It has been an honor to meet of you.” She stepped forward, “Again my condolences.” She wasn’t sure how they actually felt about Syroa and her death but they were family in a way. She paused before Ziell. “Thank you” she said.

She stepped away and looked again at the room. This evening was exhausting but Genna still had to make sure everyone was physically okay. Mentally that would be a conversation for another trial. The young healer drew strength from that. There was work still to do, but this was a time now for recovery.

Gennadiya

~5'10" Tall
~Platinum Blonde
~Gold Cloak of the Order of Adunih
~Warden of the Lake
~Favored of Ymiden
~Favored of Moseke

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it.”
~ Roald Dahl

[Pig Boy]

The Mummer's Ball: Madame Leona's Pageant

The ball was over, yet the Immortals still had interests to carry out, an agenda to fulfill. Xiur laid a hand on Doran’s shoulder as the man apologized for what everyone presumed and sensed was the event of Syroa’s death. With that touch, he granted Doran his mark, and if the Mortalborn wished it, would remove the mark of Sesser from him. ”I mark you my favored Doran. Let no one say that one cannot Change for the better.” He said, rather bluntly referencing one of the Mortalborn’s domains.

Once he said this, Xiur moved over toward Vega, as did Qylios. There, they began to pour more of their Immortal essence into the daughter of Faldrun. Within moments, she began to feel the connection she shared with those Immortals strengthen. In the next moment, Qylios smiled at Vega, ”For your courage.”

Each in their turn, Qylios would similarly offer her mark to all who’d stood and fought against the Demoness on stage. The offer of her mark was an open offer, and one that she wouldn’t think less of them for refusing.

Ziell, as he stood at the back of the hall with Daia, would approach Hart, arm in arm with Daia. Ziell would also beckon Gennadiya close to him. Then, with them gathered, he began to speak, in his soft and unassuming voice. ”Hart, Gennadiya, you two I hold above all others in this room in the pursuit of peace. If either of you would like to become my favored friends, I would offer you a mark.”

Not too long after he made this offer, Daia rose her voice above the rest. ”To all of you, for your part in sharing companionship, and doing the dance, and bringing peace and prosperity to this quarter of the city of Rharne, I offer my mark, should you wish it!”

As she said it, Hart and Vega would both feel their own connection to Daia strengthen by greater bounds.

So the Ball concluded, and the evening faded as the last of the attendees would make their final remarks and reflections.

The candelabra on the stage alone stood as a lasting monument to the victory against Fury that had proceeded from this day. The news and rumors of Syroa’s death would circulate and spread far and wide, while this corner of Rharne would forever be protected by a aura of Peace, so long as the candelabra stood, and was kept lit. The Daian School of Dance, Song, and Music, as it would be renamed, became a temple to Dance, Prosperity, and Companionship.

And all the while, none would raise a hand or voice in anger through these halls, lest their limbs freeze or their voice go silent.

[Pig Boy]

The Hand of Rage

Friell walked in through the doors of The Flying Moon, in the Glass Quarter. Exhauasted and ragged from the evenings festivities, he was looking to relax and... unwind. To that end, the Moon Suite would do nicely. A large vaulted glass ceiling, a dome that showed the night sky shone down on him, as the moons flew overhead, illuminating the pale atmosphere of the room, unlit by lanterns. Friell approached a draped stand, and knelt beside it.

"I'm sorry, Mistress... I couldn't look as they savaged your Immortal body." Friell's face contorted, and shifted, until the livid face of Sallahan Ki'oriq remained. His Sesser blessing was still very much intact then, and he was not stuck in the form of that meddlesome fool, Friell.

He stared at his hands, hands that were not his. How long had it been since he saw who he really was? This form he'd taken on the bidding of the Mistress of Masks, but now he assumed it because it was the last form he took, before their lust-filled evening the night before. "How is it your Exaltation remains, but you are dead? Did you..."

"Did you know you would die... Dare I say, did you plan this?"

He tore the curtain off the stand, and in its place was a demonic-looking marionette. A small shrine to Syroa. He began weeping then, shedding the tears of a Thespian on her altar, "You must have, for what role haven't you played, but that of a dead Immortal?"

He looked up from his tears into the beady, dead eyes of the Marionette, and pleaded with his own eyes, "Please, speak to me. Just a hint? Just a whisper? A command!"

But nothing came from Syroa, or any other. The Doll's eyes were dead and black. Sallahan's eyes flashed orange though, in furious malcontent. He thrashed the shrine, and kicked and demolished it.

"Fine! Don't speak! But know this, every Sesser will not stop until we see you return in glory. Dare I say, one might even emerge to mantle the role of your glorious self!" Sallahan's face contorted into a range of conflicting emotions, and then he pleaded, "But how can one emerge if you will not claim a champion, if you will not answer, nor speak to anyone!? Sweet Syroa..."

Sallahan left the marionette where it lay and left the Suite for the final time. Meanwhile, the eyes of the dolls could be seen if one was there to see, to flash orange for a moment.

"Sallahan... If you only knew..."

[Pig Boy]

Review Time!

Everyone gets: 30 renown for being a part of this momentous event!

Everyone gets: 30 xp which may not be used for magic xp (with exceptions listed for each character.)

Everyone gets knowledge: 11 Dancing, 10 Etiquette, 4 Storytelling.

Everyone can apply for whatever marks you'll accept, as well as 10 knowledges of their choosing, in this psf ticket

Yeva

Comments for Yeva: Yeva made quite the splash in this ball, from the very first post for not having actually been there until her two last posts! Kidding aside, I'm really pleased with the way she stepped up to the event and socialized a lot of people. And of course there was Vega's appeal to Ziell that brought her back from death in the end, which was very interesting to write about. Enjoy the rewards!

Rewards: Offered the mark of Daia, which you may refuse if you wish.

A souvenir, a mangled, silver spoon that once held a wrathling. When this spoon, mangled as it is, is used to scoop out fluid or medicine or just about anything, she will find it refills with whatever it scoops twice over after the first, allowing her to stretch a supply of medicine/food/what have you so long as the medicine/food/etc. is delivered by the spoon.

Doran

CComments for Doran: Doran was uniquely positioned in this ball. Among all of those gathered, he really spread himself out among the other players, and found a way to bridge a divide between the main 'groups'. I'm glad he was finally able to put his issues with Xiur to bed here, and resolve his illusions toward Syroa. He even earned Xiur's mark! That is, if you choose to take it. Enjoy the rewards!

Rewards: Offered the mark of Daia and the mark of Xiur. Offered the removal of Sesser. You may refuse any of these, if you wish.

Special Knowledge: Mortalborn: Doran has acquired the ability to sense other mortalborn when they use mortalborn abilities.

Blade of Hope's Reveal: Doran has acquired an ability to summon a sharp sword-length blade from his hand twice per season. The blade takes on the color of blood. Instead of harming mortals, however, it can be used to heal emotional wounds. When a person suffering from emotional trauma is hit by the blade, their demons and worst fears will be drawn out from the 'wound' which swiftly seals up. Depending on the severity of the emotional trauma/fears, a creature or construct representing those fears and trauma will emerge that are equally dangerous may emerge, which then has to be defeated by Doran, in order to result in the permanent mental/emotional healing of the individual. Should Doran fail to defeat the construct, or refuse to fight it, it will eventually find its way back in the sufferer, and their healing will only have been temporary. The details of this creature should be discussed with a local mod and also if helping another PC, that pc's input should be taken into account.

Vega

Comments for Vega: Boy oh boy, was I happy to see Vega at this event! She's always such a delightful presence wherever you bring her, and I love her 'Vegaisms' that you use to bring her so much to life. Of course, the fact that she dealt the first and then the 'killing' blow to Syroa shouldn't go unmentioned here. Quite the achievement to have a reputation now as a god-killer, whether it turns out to be true or no. And then it was her plea which brought Yeva back to life, and her gifting of the necklace to Ti'atha that saved that Mortalborn's life. Talk about PC impact!

Rewards: Next four powers of Daia's mark, Xiur's and Qylios' Mark advance to the next tier.

You get the necklace back from Ti'atha at the end of the ball, and finds that it has a new feature. In addition to being able to communicate with Hart and others bearing the necklace, she will find it acts as a compass, to help find the lost Lions of Daia.

Consequence: Daia has tasked Vega with finding the rest of her lions, who have been scattered across the world, to be reunited with their 'mother'. She can do this in her own time, at her own pace, as the Lions aren't in trouble or going anywhere, but may be used to create stories surrounding these creatures. Please coordinate with local mods wherever necessary for the finding of these lions.

Arlo

Comments for Arlo: For all of his subdued manner, Arlo was written brilliantly, and I was overjoyed at his unexpected arrival to this event. The fact that he was there to help against Syroa at the end, was a nice stroke of luck. It was all in all a very wholesome family activity. I enjoyed his insight and reaction to the play as well, seeing it as rather blunt and unsubtle symbolism. Enjoy the rewards!

Rewards: Offered Daia's and Qylios' mark, which you may refuse. Granted the next power in Cassion's Exalted line, for being part of a hell of a story, and living to tell the tale.

As a souvenir of this story, a small lock of Syroa's hair seemed to have fallen off from her head during the fight. It appears to be normal hair, nothing really special about it other than the fact that it changes hair color based on Arlo's moods. It acts as a Souvenir of Sojourn.

Elisabeth

Comments for Elisabeth: Elisabeth was written wonderfully, and although she sort of got jerked around by the strangeness of the evening and the slight divide between the main groups, you managed to make sense of her actions throughout with a lot of grace. I'm glad she decided to join! Enjoy the rewards!

Rewards: Offered Daia's mark, which she may refuse.

Later on, after the ball, Ethelm sends Elisabeth a care package in the form of a basket of fruit. Included with the fruit basket is a gift, which includes a whetstone that can repair any battle damage or dulling of a blade, if used on the sword over the course of a trial. Depending on the severity of the damage on the weapon, it may take anywhere from a bit to repair the weapon, to a full trial.

Balthazar

Comments for Balthazar: Balthazar was at turns tragic and amusing, when he pretended to be asleep at the table, that was just about the most hilarious thing I saw anyone do during the thread. And of course his internal monologue about realization that Yeva was dead was very impactful and moving. Fuego was a nice addition to the thread as well, I love your pet rock! Enjoy the rewards!

Rewards: Offered the mark of Daia, which he may refuse.

Also gain 10 attunement knowledges, and can use 15 of the exp earned from this thread between Attunement or Transmutation xp. For the knowledges, you must list out the frequencies/notes/techniques in the PSF ticket I will set up for those gaining marks/etc.

Vivian

Comments for Vivian: From the outset, it seemed like Vivian might be out of her element in this event, being the Mortalborn of battle and not one for fancy celebrations/dances/balls or theater acts. I was really moved by her reaction to the Fiend of Jorrick Keep, and glad that the seating ended up the way it did, so I could bring that moment to life. She was of course instrumental in keeping lines of communication open between the various people, allowing them to communicate over slight distances and over the sound of the evening. Then of course there was her role of distracting Syroa at the very end, which enabled her defeat! Enjoy the rewards!

Rewards: Offered the mark of Daia and Qylios, which she may refuse.

Sometime after the ball, a package arrives for Vivian. In it, is a precious golden locket, which contains on its insides a mirror. In the mirror, she is able to see the image of Zvezdana Venora. This locket, when worn, turns any weapon that Vivian wields into a mirrored weapon when wielded against any Sessfiend.

Gennadiya

Comments for Gennadiya: Genna was a delight in this event, and such a nice and graceful presence, she really was like a fish in water in this event, almost as if she was made for events such as this. Of course, she rose to the occasion when things descended into chaos, helping Doran and company to evacuate the hall and then arranging for the arrival of Adunih healers. Enjoy the rewards!

Rewards: Offered the marks of Daia and Ziell, which she may refuse.

After the ball, a gift arrives for Gennadiya. It is a pendant, depicting a snowflake, carved in tienite. While wearing it, she is able to resist temperature extremes. While this won't protect her from direct contact with freezing ice, water, or fire, it will allow her to comfortably stand in their presence without any additional exhaustion or deleterious effects.

Seira

Comments for Seira: While Seira was a bit passive during this event, I found her involvement really supported the storytelling of this event, and brought out something special in the other characters, specifically Vivian, Varlum, and Vega. Seira has been through a lot in her short life, and although she was swift to let discretion overrule valor, she came through in the end, going back to the ballroom when she managed to gather her courage. Enjoy the rewards!

Rewards: Offered the mark of Daia, which she may refuse.

Sometime after the ball, Seira is sent a pair of dancing shoes, which provide protection from anything she steps on, without compromising the grace of her movements nor making undue noise. They are simply dancing shoes that provide protection from harm to her feet and ankles.

Varlum

Comments for Varlum: Varlum, late-comer though he may have been, was a very important addition to the thread, not least of which for the events that proceed from this one, with Hart and the Black Heart thing. Plus he got a few hits in on Syroa, certainly something worth bragging about! He managed very well for being a big rock monster on the ballroom, but I'm sure the redheads in attendance appreciate his sticking up for them from the very first. Great writing and Enjoy the rewards!

Rewards: Offered the mark of Daia and Qylios, which he may refuse.

Ability: A small scratch in his hide has left Varlum with a lingering corruption from Syroa, an ability to grow wings once a trial, which allow him to conjure wind and/or fire with far more power in Defiance magic than he otherwise might be able to, for ten bits.

Hart

Comments for Hart: Hart was the latest of the late-comers, but for that didn't lack in impact and brought a great deal of interest to the thread. I was so glad you eventually deigned to join us for this thread. Using the blade of deceit was unexpected, but really serendipitous in allowing for the defeat of Syroa. I very much enjoy your writing from beginning to end, here, and hope to see the character around for many more threads to come! Thank you and Enjoy the rewards!

Rewards: Daia advancement (next four powers), and offered the mark of Ziell, which he may refuse.

In addition, Hart has gained a diri of peace, which will follow him as a companion. Please dev some abilities for this diri of peace, and psf the diri's details in a separate ticket from the main ticket for the ball. Tag me in the psf ticket, if you will.

Added utility for Hart's lion necklace: In addition to being able to communicate with Vega and others bearing the necklace, he will find it acts as a compass, to help find the lost Lions of Daia.

Consequence: Daia has tasked Hart with finding the rest of her lions, who have been scattered across the world, to be reunited with their 'mother'. He can do this in his own time, at her own pace, as the Lions aren't in trouble or going anywhere, but may be used to create stories surrounding these creatures. Please coordinate with local mods wherever necessary for the finding of these lions.