Happy Birthday, Dana!

Happy Birthday, Dana MacDonald!

 

So yesterday was Dana's birthday. On such a momentous occasion, the whole family drove up to where he's going to college (about an hour away from us). We descended upon him, gave him cupcakes complete with a candle for him to blow out, sang Happy Birthday, and left with him presents in cardboard boxes. The rest of the afternoon we spent wandering about the town -- including a stop at Culvers for some ice cream -- in search of a certain park with we finally managed to locate. We watched some ducks, despaired over a clown face on the kiddie park, then drove him back to the campus. All in all, a very enjoyable day, and I hope it was for him, too. (I don't know how it couldn't have been, considering we brought him cupcakes.)

 

Dia duit,

~Penny

September Blog Challenge -- Day 8

And now for day 8, since yesterday was Sunday and I don't get online on Sundays.

Day 8 -- 5 things from your bucket list

Well, let's see. I haven't ever actually made a bucket list. Not a real one, anyway. I suppose I don't really know what sorts of things are meant to go on bucket lists, because most of what I would put on there would be obvious things, or else goals I plan to reach fairly soon. But let's see if I can get this right.

1. Go to Scotland for at least two weeks (if not more).
2. Get married.
3. Have kids. Lots of them.
4. Write the Outlander Trilogy and the Ambassador Chronicles.
5. Do a book tour.

I think that is the most I've ever written for a bucket list in my life. Has anyone else written one?

Dia duit,
~Penny

A Bit of Lynnae

You remember Lynnae, don't you? She's Lynn's good friend, and they often work on costumes together when they're near each other. Well, here's something else about Lynnae I may not have mentioned. She's a wonderful aspiring artist.

She has drawn various concept art pictures for characters from my book, The Land Between Time, and here is a pencil drawing she just sent me, and the picture she based it on.

Pretty good, eh? I've never been able to draw like that, and I find it absolutely brilliant.

Dia duit,
~Penny

September Blog Challenge -- Day 7

Well, you can see how long it took for me to fall behind schedule. I don't know if I'm actually physically capable of staying 100% on time for more than three or four days in a row. Hm...

Day 7 -- How many siblings do you have? What number are you?

Goodness gracious, it's an actual question. With question marks. Well!

I have eight younger siblings, and I am the eldest. Pretty easy question to answer. The funny bit is people's reactions to my answer. It's hard not to notice that there seem to be a lot of us because we often go places in droves, as it were. The five bigger kids do most activities outside the house together, and that's pretty obvious when we all troop into a given location. We all look the same and chat with each other. Keeping a low profile is difficult even when we are being purposefully low key. Inevitably, the question of us all being related comes up, and then from that springs the "yes, and there are four more of us at home, too." I love it, personally. Having a large family is the best.

Dia duit,
~Penny

September Blog Challenge -- Day 6

Oh, yay, I like this one!

Day 6 -- 3 countries you've visited.

One thing that I'm always tempted to tell people when they ask me where I'm from is "I'm from Earth, where are you from?" Not only because it's amusingly witty and the reactions would be priceless, but also because it's true! My Dad was in the military years before I was born, and stayed in for his career. Therefore I have never lived in one location for more than two years at a time. On top of that, the job he had in the military was one that required us to be stationed all over the world instead of just hopping around the US as some have. So really, my answer to Day 6's question is, "Only three??"

But for once I shall obey the rules.

1.Germany. I put this first because it is the country I was born in. Thankfully, we got to live there sixteen years later, as well, so I remember just how amazingly beautiful this country is. The postcard perfect countryside, the heavenly bread, and the stalwart, fascinating castles. I would definitely go back again someday.

2. Korea. This one I choose because it was probably the most unique, different place we've ever lived. Though generally part of what people consider Asian Culture, Korea is as different from Japan and China -- the more well known Asian countries -- as could be without being Western. This country, too, I also fell in love with, quite unexpectedly. It's as beautiful as Germany in its own, magical way. The Land of the Morning Calm, home to a one of the most fascinating and kindhearted cultures, a melodious language, wonderful food, and breathtaking views of mountains that touch the sky and cherry blossoms that touch the heart.

3. America. I suppose this doesn't quite count as 'visting', but neither do the other two, since we lived there each for two years. So I guess I'm not obeying the rules afterall (surprise surprise). But to the point: America. I find that no matter where I have lived, no matter what other countries have captured my heart, I can still say I am proud to be an American without any iota of hesitation or reserve. America is my home. It will always be this way. I will roam from one corner of the world to the other, live in foreign countries and fall in love with countries and people whose language I can't even speak, but at the end of the day, my loyalties lie where the sun sets, over my own proud United States of America.

So where have you been?

Dia duit,
~Penny

September Blog Challenge -- Day 5

Hooray, day 5! I don't know why that's exciting, but it is. I like this schedule. I should make one up after this to keep me posting about legends and music again. Hm...

Day 5 -- 3 things you like about your personality.

Three things I like about my personality. Well, let's see...

1. I'm cheerful. I love being cheerful and I like being able to make other people cheerful, too.
2. I'm adventurous. I'm not afraid to try new things, go new places, and meet new people.
3. I believe there is value in everyone. Even people I don't particularly care for, I can recognize talent and worth, and for those I love dearly, I do my best to show them the wonderful gems I see deep down inside them that they don't even know are there.

How about you?

Dia duit,
~Penny

September Blog Challenge -- Day 4

This one is going to be a long one. Let's see what I can manage...

Day 4 -- 25 things to do before your birthday.

This is a little unfair because my birthday is in a couple months. I'm not a huge planner, I tend to work with general goals rather than specific ones, so coming up with 25 things to absolutely do before my birthday in two months is going to be a challenge. Though I suppose that's what this is for, eh? Here goes.

1. Outline a novel for NaNoWriMo (did I mention I was going to try it again this year?).
2. Finish the beginning of LBT.
3. Get a checking account.
4. Sell more copies of Aaron's Quest.
5. Finish For The Greatest Good and start putting it together and editing it.
6. Give my dog a bath. >.>
7. Plan another IG.
8. Play another IG.
9. Get some fluctuating relationships to a more stable point.
10. Think. Think a lot.
11. Maybe a book signing?
12. Write.
13. Write.
14. Write more.
15. And after that have a mug of tea.
16. Take my sisters somewhere fun.
17. Go to the farmer's market in costume.
18. Research business models.
19. Read at least three books.
20. Visit Dana at Maranatha.
21. Visit Dana at Maranatha in costume.
22. Write at the library in costume.
23. Finish watching Star Trek TOS Season 3.
24. Smile bright, laugh hard, sing and dance and shine.
25. Write a letter.

Phew! I made it. ^.^ Now let's see if I can manage to do all these things before my birthday.

Dia duit,
~Penny

September Blog Challenge -- Day 3

So here we are on day 3! Everyone ready?

Day 3 -- Your day in detail.

Well, by now I've pretty much given up on any of these being actual questions with actual question marks at the end. Still, they're interesting to answer.

So, my day in detail. I can't really remember all the details, but I'll do my best.

This morning I woke up around eight and came downstairs. I debated getting on the computer, but at breakfast and sat outside for a bit first. (wow, this is going to get dull fast.) Then I got dressed, got on the computer, chatted with people, cleaned the fridge, chatted more, wrote from 1pm to 3pm, worked on internet content (pinterest, blog, tumblr, forums...), randomly jotted down notes for a plot bunny...

In the evening I went to Jeet Kune Do class with Seph, Percy, Rosie, and Pippin, and now here I am!

Hm, that wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. So how was your day?

Dia duit,
~Penny

September Blog Challenge -- Day 2

Since I missed doing Day 1 on the correct day (yesterday), I must do day 2 today, as well.

Day 2: Something you look forward to in the next 12 months.

Hm, another non-question. Ah well.

I look forward to finishing and publishing my novel, The Land Between Time, and seeing what exciting opportunities arise from that. Actually, there are a lot of things I look forward to in the next twelve months. I'm turning 21, I'm on the brink of my writing career, which is a whole new world to explore with endless possibilities. I've sold a few of my short stories to bookstores, and had someone talk to me about book signings. Lots of fun stuff. This coming year promises to be a milestone in many ways, both in writing and in life in general.

Dia duit,
~Penny

So. Tumblr.

And here is a link to my Tumblr. When I don't have time for a full post here, I will post on the Tumblr. This feels to me a bit like some sort of grave betrayal to my poor blog, and I will still be posting here as often as possible. But I figured I'd give all my loyal readers something to look at when my blog sits forlorn and neglected. It'll also contain random things I like both related and unrelated to my blog. Enjoy!

http://barefootbladeweaver.tumblr.com/

Dia duit,
~Penny

September Blog Challenge -- Day One

Ani and I decided to do a blog challenge this month. 30 questions, 30 days. Now, I know this has nothing to do with legends, fairy tales, LARPs, or FtGG, but it should still prove to be interesting. To make it even more so, I want you all to answer the questions with me. Leave a comment! I love hearing about y'all.

So, here's the first question.

Day One: Basic things about yourself.

Okay, not really a question, but here is my answer.

Basically, I'm 20, I'm a storyteller to the core of my being, I live in Northern IL as the eldest of nine siblings, and I own a border collie/lab mix named Gypsy. As evidenced by this blog, I love fantasy. Legends, fairy tales, imagination games... All that. Get me started talking about world building or characters and I may never shut up. I'm an extrovert, I adore people. And talking. And writing. And dragons. Also, Scotland. Chocolate, fruit smoothies, sunny weather, forests, mountains, and beaches.

So before I start rambling, I'll wrap it up. I'm also a Christian, which I consider the most important of all those traits. I usually don't mention it right at the beginning, not because I'm ashamed, but because I believe my faith ought to be demonstrated before it's labeled.

So. If any of you were curious, now you know.

And that's me!

Dia duit,
~Penny

For The Greatest Good -- Part XXI (Dana)

Part XXI -- Account by Dana MacDonald

The night air was cool. The wind’s breath whispered around tree and bush as I crept towards one of our company’s sentinels. The guard glanced back at my approach, and then returned his gaze to the dim forest scenery. I stopped at his side and pulled my cloak about my body to ward off the chill.

   “Seen anything?” I whispered.

   “Nay, MacDonald. No sign o’ movement or pursuit. Really think they’ll come after us?”

I nodded and kept my attention outwards.

   “No doubt about it. Set wouldn’t give up, not after the threat he made.”

The guard grunted in reply, and then fell silent, as did I.

   “Prison can’t be much farther off, aye?” he said after an interval.

   “If we start at dawn, we’ll be there by midmorning, or so says the scout we’ve followed.”

   “Is the course true, then?” he asked, glancing at me. I nodded.

   “So far, we’ve traveled aright.”

I glanced back over my shoulder. Kearney had left her spot by the tree, and I felt neither the desire for sleep or further conversation.

   Quick look ahead wouldn’t hurt.

I pulled my hood up and took a few steps forward.

   “I’ll be out looking ahead, shouldn’t take more than an hour at most. If I don’t return, keep following the scout forward.”

   “Aye, MacDonald,” the guard murmured. He, like the others, knew me well enough neither to worry nor question the action.

~*~

 

   I wound a path through the dim tree cover, occasional breaks in the foliage illuminated by moonlit radiance. The darkness and overall silence was soothing, and I paid little attention to my actual course, allowing my mind’s compass to guide me forward.

   She could be right.

I pushed a branch aside and climbed a short rise, pausing a moment as I gained the summit.

   There was never any list of who lived, and who died. No record of the battle’s details. What if…

   No.

Several pine trees grew from the hill’s face ahead of me, and I forced my way through the bramble of needles and branches. At the same time, I attempted to quell the thought. It echoed within my head’s confines.

   There might yet be a chance. Maybe-

   “No!” I spoke, rather than thought. “Every time I’ve tried to picture a solution, there’s been no path. In all the time I studied, searched, there hasn’t been a trace of a clue or hint. Why should I dare hope now, only to have it destroyed all too easily?”

The warring voice in my head offered no reply, but I did not feel at rest about the matter regardless. I focused my attention and moved onward to restrain any other stray thoughts. The ground beneath rose in an incline, and I moved upwards. What looked like a clearing lay at the top of the rise, and I made for it, thinking to gain a better view of the surrounding forest. I gained the summit, finding only a few stray trees here and there to block my view. Behind, I could see the forest stretch out of sight. I turned my gaze forward. Several miles beyond and below, I saw the glimmer of orange flames, tiny and steady, as well as a dark mass that looked different than the tree shadows around it. The sheer size of the mass was staggering, even larger in width than Campbell’s fortress.

   The prison, I thought grimly to myself. I allowed my inner compass to weave its course before my eyes… and then stopped, confused. The prison wasn’t the destination. My gift urged the course onward, beyond the prison.

   That can’t be right. My path is set on Kearney’s brothers, and this prison is the only bastion of Ross’s in this region.

I shifted my mind’s guide from Percy and Seph and focused on the Prison itself. Immediately, I felt a wave of revulsion and inner warning, so strong I could scarcely entertain the thought of moving forward, much less trying. Whatever lay within the prison, it would be to our death to attempt entrance now.

   This can’t be. Her brothers lay within the prison, surely it would be our destination!

I probed once more, receiving the same response. I stepped back, and then turned away from the hill’s summit and made my way down the slope. Wherever our course lay, it was not at the prison. Not now, at least.

   How am I supposed to explain this to Kearney?

For The Greatest Good -- Part XX (Penny)

Part XX – Account by Penny Kearney

 

  As the red haired young soldier walked away, securing the curious parchment in his pouch once again, John let a long wisp of smoke curl from his mouth, a thoughtful frown on his face.
  “You could show that to MacDonald. He could read it, I’d wager.”
  I nodded. Dana had mentioned reading old Order texts in his libraries up North. “I may do so tomorrow. He isn’t too pleased with me at the moment.” I ran my thumb over my lip in recollection.
  “And how do you know that, my lady?”
  I tilted my gaze away from him. “Because I am stubborn. I believe he wishes I would help him in his endeavor instead of thwarting his quest for Set’s blood.”
  I quelled the flare of warmth that started inside me and forced my thoughts to avert. I didn’t want to get angry again now. With a small sigh, I opened my mouth to say goodnight.
  “Don’t tell him that.” John moved to sit by his tree again.
  I frowned, watching him. “Don’t tell him what?”
  MacCullen settled before replying. “He doesn’t want to.”
  “Doesn’t want to what?”
  Tipping his gaze upwards, he met mine squarely. “He doesn’t want to die, my lady.”
  “I didn’t say he did…” I managed, unsure of what John was getting at.
  “No. You didn’t. Nor did he say he was upset.”
  “Were you listening?” I narrowed my eyes.
  “Didn’t have to. I know him well enough to tell when he’s angry.”
  I considered this. Perhaps I hadn’t been the only one to pass by MacCullen’s post this night.
  The old captain leaned back against the trunk of the tree, an ember in his pipe snapping quietly. “MacDonald knows well enough what happens when he goes after Set for blood. Only reason he did it recently was to get you out. Aye, he tried to kill Set. But… for all our sakes, I’m not sure he really would.” He took a long draw on his pipe, gaze flicking to me again as he let it out. “Maybe one way of not letting everyone down is by convincing them this is the only way. After all, if we’re all in one accord, who’s to disappoint, aye?”
  I shifted my gaze, letting John’s words sink in slowly.
  “That’s one thing his master couldn’t do, because he was still too furious,” John said. “Call his bluff. Give him a reason, my lady, a good one. He’s gone so long convincing himself, maybe even with his Gift, he can’t see proper.”
  I looked at the old soldier, studying him hard. I had all but abandoned the hope of convincing Dana to agree there might be another way out. Again the look in Dana's eyes when my blade had halted his flashed through my mind. Could that have been a bluff, too?
  “What kind of reason is a good enough one?” I ventured.
  “I don’t know, my lady. Any, I suppose. There hasn’t been another reason so far.”
  Only a heartbeat passed before I answered, “I’ll find one. Thank you, John. For talking.”
  “You will, Lady Kearney. If anyone will.”
  A smile turned the corner of my mouth. “Thank you for that, too… Goodnight.”
  With a nod, he pulled his hood over his head once again, but not before I caught a glimpse of his own smile. I left him there, his pipe still glowing in the darkness, and silently returned to the tree I had been sitting under before. For another long while I pondered the parchment, and John’s words, but at last I curled up amidst the knobbled roots and fell asleep.

For The Greatest Good -- Part XIX (Penny)

Part XIX – Account by Penny Kearney

 

  Time drifted past. Lost in my own thoughts, it seemed irrelevant. In fact I entirely forgot about it. When I finally lifted my head and glanced at the sky, the moon had crossed over the branches of the tree above me, to the one across. It seemed the only living thing not asleep. Even the crickets were lethargic in their chirping.
  I pushed myself to my feet, stretching my stiff muscles and letting the night air mingle with my thoughts.  Under various trees, behind bushes, and against rocky outcroppings, Dana’s men lay sprawled out or curled up, snoozing. I kept my steps light as I wandered from my resting place.
  I didn’t have a destination in mind. The forest surrounded me, and the slumbering soldiers in every shadow warded away the fear that would come from being alone in a dark place.
  I wandered for several minutes before a figure rose from beneath a tree at my approach. I guessed I must have run into the perimeter of encampment and caught the attention of the night guard.
  “Lady Kearney?” He ventured, notes of surprise in his tone. “You should be resting, our time here is short.”
  Slowing to a stop, I regarded the darkened form. He sounded familiar. John. John MacCullen, Dana’s captain I’d met yesterday when I’d woken up. Though slight, I caught the Northerner accent in his voice. My thoughts settled to the present as I answered, “I can’t sleep at the moment.”
  John nodded, returning to his place by the tree. “Do not let me disturb you, then.”
  I paused a moment, watching him. “Actually… Can I talk with you a moment?”
  He nodded. “If you wish, my lady. What is it you want to discuss?”
  “Dana.” I moved into the shadow of the tree near his and kept my tone hushed so as not to rouse any other soldiers. “How long have you known him?”
  “About five years now. When he was officially declared by his mentor, the elder knight.”
  “So you’re from the North, as well?”
  “Aye, my lady.” John said. “Warriors from different villages, some of us freed slaves that joined him during his trek down here.”
  I nodded, folding my arms and leaning back against the tree behind me.
  His head tilted in the darkness. “May I ask why you inquired, my lady?”
  I shrugged. “In the year I’ve known him, he has become a good friend. But come to think of it I don’t know that much about his past; what has made him who he is today.”
  He nodded. “He’s had quite a run compared to me, and he’s only half my age.”
  “It seems he has.” I murmured. There were times I would look at him and wonder if I even knew him at all. Times I felt so far away, so helpless.
  My army gone, my brothers prisoners, my people endangered. Right now I felt less like the ‘queen’ Set called me and more like a lonely, desperate warrior simply trying to survive one battle at a time. My heart would not let me rest, yet I longed for any comfort or encouragement to tell me I was doing the right thing.
  “Would you please tell me about him?”
  John regarded me through the veil of night with a steady stare. “What is it you want to know, my lady?”
  Everything.
  “I don’t want to know anything specific.” I said. “I can’t sleep, and I’m curious. I want to understand him better, because right now…”
  Pulling his cloak tighter around his broad shoulders, John nodded in understanding. “You’ll not be able to convince him, my lady. His own mentor couldn’t do that, right before he left.” He frowned in thought. “He was always helpful back home. He’d wander from village to village, a Guardian Knight; people would flock to greet him. But he’d get the most delight from helping a child find a lost toy, to give an example.”
  I listened intently to each word as he continued.
  “Even at sixteen, he was the best swordsman on the Northern shores. And yet, for the most part, he saved it for a last resort.” A darker note entered his tone. “That changed when Set came to us.”
  The all too familiar shudder trickled down my spine at the mention of Set. John produced a pipe from under his cloak, holding it up in question.
  I waved in acquiescence. “By all means.”
  Lighting it, he took a long draw, the embers glowing.  Smoke curled from his mouth with his exhale. “We found his native village completely destroyed. His master was distraught. People started disappearing, bands of thieves harassed us, harvest was short. That year was a hard one.
  “Then he came back. He returned to us much different than when he had left. Hard, bitter, covered in scars. He looked older than I did. It wasn’t two days before he’d called all the warriors together. Told us about Set, and the threat he posed. No one gainsaid him. We all agreed… and I doubt he would’ve taken no for an answer.”
 “Then all of you…” I eyed him. “You would all kill Set, given the opportunity.”
  John shook his head. “He didn’t tell us that bit. Besides, the look on his face, none of us would have taken away that right to kill Set himself away from him. Not after what happened to his village. It was a matter of honor.”
  I shifted my gaze. Honor….
  “But that day…” John shook his head. “That wasn’t justice. It was rage, anger, uncontrolled fury. I was firsthand what a Gift could do, turned evil. Our attack was flawless. Dana foresaw any mishaps, any ambush, any weakness. He wouldn’t brook any survivors. Ordered  them all destroyed. He led the advance to find Set, and wouldn’t let anyone stop him.”
  I remembered the flicker in Dana’s eyes when I’d interrupted his duel with Set in the dungeon of Ross’s castle. I remained quiet, hoping John would finish in spite of the distaste I detected in his tone.
  “When he found out Set had run, he was might angry. I took command then. We’d taken captives, and I wasn’t about to execute them out of spite, Gift or no Gift.” John paused, several clouds of smoke curling upwards before he spoke again. “Dana took this awful quietly, and he slipped off. I didn’t have to worry about his getting lost, for sure. He came back a few days later, a bit more composed. He apologized to me, talked with the elder guardian for a bit, then left again. I didn’t see naught of him for a few months. I think that’s when he first travelled Southwards, and found you and your brothers.”
  I nodded in silent response to John’s glance.
  “Then he returned to rally us all down here. He seemed more at peace with his lot then, a bit wiser and older.” He shrugged. “You’d know the same as me after that.”
  All of what John had just told me wove through my mind. I remained still quiet for several minutes, considering each word, each point, of the entire narration.
  “He has his moments,” John murmured. “When I think what’s happened, what he’s done, comes back to him. He’ll get quiet, won’t talk more than a few words at a time… Aside from that, he’s much like I knew him before, save a bit older.”
  Something inside me kept twisting. “You’re right. I don’t think there’s a way to change his mind about Set.”
  To this the Captain released his pipe from between his teeth and turned his gaze on me once more.

I suppose the defeat in my tone awakened some sense of sympathy in him. “Who knows. Perhaps you’re more stubborn than he is.”

  I could have laughed at the idea, but right then I couldn’t muster even a sarcastic one.  Not because I disagreed with his point, but because I wasn’t sure if he really meant what he said, or if he was just giving me half hearted encouragement because he was afraid he’d upset me.
  “Am I the only one who believes there has to be another way to stop Set?” I tilted my gaze to scrutinize his expression as he answered.
  “Has to be?”
  “Is that a yes?” I raised a brow.
  MacCullen settled back against the tree with a shrug. “I’m just an old soldier, Lady Kearney. I never learned to read in all my days. I couldn’t tell you yes, or no.”
  “Would you help me if I found a way?”
  He frowned in thought, glancing at me through puffs of smoke.
  “I’m not going to give up.” I added as his silence continued.  “But I would rather not have to fight against everyone including Dana in order to try and find another way to stop Set that doesn’t require Dana to die.”
  “I’d help you, Lady Kearney, if you could find a way. But I wouldn’t be of much help in finding one.”
  Tension I hadn’t noticed build up in my stomach unwound at his response, and my breath came easier. “Thank you.”
  From a nearby tree, another voice joined the conversation. “You’d go to the loremaster for that.”
  I turned my gaze towards a young soldier who lay within the confines of a bush, leaning on his elbows. For a moment I wondered how long he’d been listening, feeling somewhat self conscious at the thought, but my curiosity got the better of such fleeting emotions.
  John chuckled into his pipe. “Aye, the loremaster. That’d be an idea, wouldn’t it.”
  I detected a hint of jest in his tone, frowning. “Loremaster?”
  “Aye, masters of folklore where we come from. Told stories of werewolves, star dancers, and tree grabbers. You won’t find it in any book, I’ll tell you that.”
  “My grandfather knew one.” Thomas added.
  This time John laughed outright. “Aye, Thomas. And he was a bit on the deaf, blind side, wasn’t he?”
  “This was before all that, capt’n.” Thomas insisted. “Before he was in that avalanche. He’d tell me stories about the loremasters, even told me where to find their home.”
  “Aye, just as we all were.” He began half to himself. “Walk ever westward ‘til you cross the yellow sea…”
  Thomas joined in. “When you have gone farther than your body can muster, and the sea is a mockery to life and memory, you will find it.”
  “The tower of lore.” John smiled. “My Mum used to say the same thing.”
  I folded my arms, glancing between the two soldiers. “I don’t exactly have time to cross oceans…”
  John shrugged. “It’d be yellow, too. Goblin stories, no more.”
  “Then a loremaster isn’t going to help me much.”
  “They’re true, I’m telling you!” Rising, Thomas dug into a pouch attached to his belt. “I can prove it, too.”
  This caught my attention, forestalling my disbelief for a moment. The object he produced proved to be a parchment, lined and aged beyond any number of years I could fathom, and made of a strange sort of animal hide I had never seen before. He handed it to me, and I stepped to the side a few paces to examine it under the traces of moonlight shining through the branches. Sequences of characters were scrawled in black over the surface of the parchment in odd, distinct clusters of shapes. After a moment, John rose from his place and joined me, peering down at the markings, as well.
  “My grandfather gave this to me,” I could feel Thomas watching for my reaction. “Said it’d be important someday. Or at least, that’s what the loremaster told him.”
  The older soldier puffed. “It’s not even in common, Thomas. You can’t read it, how do you know they’re even words?”
  Suddenly I remembered. Memories of searching the library corners, dusty chests, and old desks; old books long forgotten filled with genealogies and official creeds of the Guardian Order, the inspiration for my quest to rebuild the Order once thought mere legend.“I’ve seen these before…” I said.
  He glanced at me, humor fading. “What is it?”
  “I saw it in some of the books in the library of the castle I grew up in.”
  “You mean… it’s an actual language?”
  “I think so…” The closer I looked, the more convinced I became that these symbols matched those I’d seen in the Order books I’d found almost a year ago. Little scribbles along the margins, handwritten notes in the back of the book, or symbols stitched into the leather binding as, I had thought, decoration. Looking at the sweeping designs and geometric placement, indeed this could be mistaken for abstract scribbling of a lethargic artist, but having seen these same exact markings elsewhere, the similarity and distinctness was undeniable.
  This was their language; their code. I longed to know what it said, and wondered if this could possibly be a mere coincidence.
  “See, Capt’n?” Thomas grinned in triumph. “I told you it was writing!”
  I glanced up in time to see the sharp look Dana’s captain shot his subordinate. “Aye, so it might be. Can you read it, my lady?”
  “I can’t read it.” I shook my head.
  “But what is it, then?”
  “I don’t know…” I handed it back to the red haired lad. “Would you keep it safe? I might be able to find someone, somehow, who can read it. You know about the Set and Dana dilemma, I assume?”
  “Aye, my lady. A shame, it is.”
  “Then you would be willing to help me find a way around it?”
  “Of course, my lady.” Even in the darkness I detected the excitement in his expression. “Do you think this writing has anything to do with it?”
  “I’m not sure, but it might. And thank you…”
  He nodded. “My pleasure, my lady.”
  I smiled, this time sincerely.

Legend Post -- The Cooper and the Two Dragons

At long last, another Legend Post. Once again life has kept me away from my poor blog, which by now is certainly gathering dust and cobwebs in the corners. This makes me sad, and a little guilty, but between having guests over (again) and trying to finish two stories (FtGG and my other novel), I end up with very little time and energy for posting anything here worth reading.

I have also randomly created a tumblr account. After chatting with Ani, I'm considering transferring a more doable schedule to tumblr, so that when I don't post things here, I can still post something quick over there. I'll keep you all updated.

"The Cooper and the Two Dragons"
Drawing by Lynnae Direain, specifically for this post.

Now, to the point. The Cooper and the Two Dragons. This is a tale from Switzerland, and for any of you who don't know what a cooper is, it's a person who " makes wooden staved vessels, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads. Examples of a cooper's work include but are not limited to casks, barrels, buckets, tubs, butter churns, hogsheads, firkins, tierces, rundlets, puncheons, pipes, tuns, butts, pins and breakers." [~ Wikipedia]  For the sake of simplicity, we'll just say coopers are barrel makers. Much less of a mouthful.

The cooper who is the main character of our story today doesn't have a name. I like things to have names, whether people, animals, and even some objects. So give me a moment while I find a good Swiss name for him.

...

Stefan. I'll call him Stefan.

Now for his adventure.

In Switzerland lived a man, a cooper by trade, who one day climbed the soft slope of a nearby mountain to a forest of oaks and birches to find wood. It was autumn and the ground was covered with a thick carpet of dead leaves. The cooper deviated soon from the path, in search of some good low branches to cut and carry home on his mule.
At the falling night, he noted that he had been mislaid. He scanned the darkness in the hope to see the campfire of some hunter or the hut of a coalman. The branches lacerated his face while he advanced in the obscure forest, and sudden it seemed to him that the ground was falling under his steps. He released the leading-rein of his mule, tried to advance, lost foot and fell at the bottom from a ravine, bringing in his fall several roots and stones. At the bottom, the ground was covered with mud and the air impregnated of a strong odor of manure and burned foliage. Exhausted, the cooper shrivelled in a corner and fell asleep.

With the pale gleam of the dawn, he woke up, sored all over, and contemplated the thin band of sky which cut out between the walls of the ravine, so high and abrupt that he could not think of climbing them, and he sank in a deep despair. Then he heard the sigh of a drowsy animal, so near and so powerful that he felt his hair to straigt up on his head. This breath was hot like the breath of a furnace and passably sulfurous. It seemed to emanate on the side opposite of the ravine and the cooper leaned ahead and scanned the darkness. In a jump, he stand erected. Not far from him, their folded up rings and their massive forms cutting out vaguely in the dim light, their heavy half closed eyelids because the winter torpor, two enormous dragons were rested.
Our man fell to knees to beg the sky. At this time there, one of the dragons emerged from its torpor. The wings folded up like a fan, it came out of the cave in a great unfolding of scaly rings, carried by four short clawed legs. It agitated the tail in direction of the cooper and it was rolled up around him. The dragon looked a few moments at the prisoner with glaucous eyes, then released him and re-entered in its den, leaving poor man with his knees trembling of terror, but unharmed.

Knowing his rescue improbable and his escape impossible, the cooper spent the winter in the ravine, accompanied by the drowsy dragons. He nourished from mushrooms growing on the wet walls, heated by the breath of the dragons, and was refreshed by collecting the dew in his hands. As he was left in peace, he lost his fear and, one night when the snowflakes fell thick and where cold bit him, he slipped into the cave and settled himself well at the heat from the hollow of the rings. One of the dragons turned the head but, accepting the intrusion, it took again its position and left him quiet.
The cooper thus spent the night and all those which followed and, with the return of spring, when the melting made waters cascade in the ravine, the dragons saved his life. One morning, he woke up alone and frozen in the smoked den. He heard the sound of the beating of large wings. He went outside and saw one of the dragons spreading its membranous wings and, whipping the air from its tail, rising in the sky. The other dragon was also on the point of flying away in the bright light of the morning and it slowly unfolded its wings. The cooper seized it by the tail and he hung on with all his strength while the animal rose off the ground and into the sky.
Arriving at the edge of the ravine, the man released his grip and fell gently on the ground. He looked for a moment upon the rise of the dragons in the luminous sky. Then, he found the path from which he had deviated the preceding autumn and followed it until he reached his home. There, he told his adventure to his friends and relatives, who were amazed. They thought he was dead since his mule had returned alone, several months before. [Text taken from www.draconika.com]

While that is the end of the tale, I do not think it is the end of the story. I can easily imagine that the two dragons and the cooper, Stefan, remained fast friends. Maybe even protected the city from some disaster or attack at some point. Something fun for the imagination to play with, eh?

Dia duit,
~Penny

Morganna's Lullaby

Morganna Le Faye. First daughter of the Pendragon, former apprentice to Merlin the Alchemist, Lady of Ravenwood Manor. The world is hers; whatever she desires she takes. Is that not the true path to happiness?




"Be faithful, and they will abandon you; be kind, and they will use you; be generous, and they will rob you; love, and they will destroy you. Serve yourself, for no one else will." ~ Morganna Le Faye

As a master of deceit, she has ultimately deceived herself. Morganna lives in a broken world, a broken mind, and a broken heart, and it has driven her to embody the very things that shattered her in the first place. She has crossed the line, her actions are no longer justifiable by her past. The path she has taken was not taken under duress, it was taken by choice.

The only questions that remain are how many will she entice down that path along with her, and is she now too far from the light to ever return?

Dia duit,
~Penny

Dance the Night Away

See what I found! (Yes, I know I said the next post would be interesting. I lied. In advance, without knowing it. So.)

My cousins taught my brothers and sisters and I an old Regency style dance called the Dutch Skipper. We enjoyed it so much that on Celtic Day at the 2013 OYAN Summer Workshop, we taught it to some of the other attendees. Well, the idea caught on fast. Soon another OYANer taught us the Virginia Reel (or at least one version of it), our faithful Fiddling Gypsy played us a tune, and we all danced right up to midnight curfew.

Unfortunately, I did not get any video. But Emi did! Emichelle was one of the OYANers who hung out with us quite a bit, and she happened to be on hand with her camera during a round of the Virginia Reel.



If you can spot us: Dana is in his kilt, I am in my Scottish Dress, an Seph is in the tan tunic. Our Fiddling Gypsy, Firiel, is, well, fiddling. And my good friend Nairam is in the blue dress (which she made herself, by the way).

And this is the kind of fun we had at OYAN.

Dia duit,
~Penny

Costume Contest? Comment!

I have wanted to have a costume contest for some time now. Of course, I can't remember why I decided to wait. Whatever the reason, it doesn't seem relevant now so I'm going to press on.

I'm considering parameters. Most likely one of the rules will be that there has to be at least one homemade item in the costume ensemble. And, of course, points would be given for modesty. Also the genre would probably be Fantasy, Historical Middle Ages, or Fanta-sci. I would say Steampunk, as well, but Steampunk is such a unique and complex little culture that it almost wouldn't seem fair to include it with the medieval theme. Maybe someday I'll do a sci-fi and Steampunk costume contest.

However...

My dilemma is what I could give as a prize. And that is where you come in. Comment below with your ideas as to what kind of prize I could give to first, second, and third place winners in a Barefoot Bladeweaver costume contest. I can use all the ideas I can get!

Dia duit,
~Penny

It Cost a Pretty Penny

Well, another non-story/imagination related post. Hm.

In my defense, Dana and I worked on FtGG on Monday with some spectacularly exciting and unexpected story results.

Not to leave you in suspense at all, of course.

Anyway. Hair. I went to the salon yesterday for the first time in a few months. If you have seen my pictures, you've seen that my hair is curly. Perhaps you don't know just how curly it is. Let me enlighten you. REALLY CURLY.

And thus expensive. Lots of hair products go into making my curls very unlike a lion's mane on a bad day. No silicones, no sulfates. Conditioner, leave in conditioner, styling cream... After all that, I get curls like I have in the picture up there. Only after. And then for a few days before they dissolve into frizziness again and I have to wash it.

But I love my hair. It's unpredictable, wild, temperamental, and a lot of work. But I love it anyway and I wouldn't want any other kind of hair.

So yesterday I went to the salon, as I mentioned. Now, every time I got to a salon to get my hair cut, I come out with hair that looks quite different than previously. This does not bother me in the slightest. My hair is far too stubborn to look like anything but itself, even when it looks different. This time, the hair dresser cut my hair shorter, and layered it quite a bit. I'm quite pleased with the result and figured I'd share a couple pics on my blog.

My new haircut, both sides. Happy curls and lots of layers. Now here's hoping I can do the new haircut justice.

Alright. Enough about me. I promise I will do an interesting post next.

Dia duit,
~Penny

Hello World; I'm back!

I think this must be a record for how long it's taken me to post since the last time I've posted. Explanation?

You got it.

Week One:

OYAN! The 2013 OYAN Summer Workshop, as some of you may know, took place from the 17th to the 22nd of June. I and my brother Seph were the only ones from my family that attended this year, but both Dana and Siani also attended, so we made a good little group, in the end.

As usual, the Workshop was amazing. In four words, inspiring, encouraging, fortifying, and enlightening.

Inspiring. Here's a confession: I had begun to lose faith in my dreams. You know what happens to dreams when you lose faith in them? They slowly, painfully begin to die. I'm the kind of person who dreams big. Enormous, wild dreams of wondrous things -- anything, everything! My Mother has always told me "not to make a big production" of projects I would launch myself into. Being my Mother, she was and still is, quite right. But I had begun to go in the opposite direction, internally discouraging myself from trying for anything too fantastic, settling for second, third, or even fourth best simply to remain 'realistic'. The only thing, believe it or not, that kept me from giving up all together was remembering when Dana told me not to. "Don't give up on your dreams." Every time I became discouraged, I thought of that. (Thanks, Dana, by the way.)

There's something about knowing that others believe in your dreams -- or just in dreaming, for that matter -- that  suddenly makes your wildest hopes feel possible. The things you don't dare let yourself believe in, spring to life and beckon to you. And now you feel safe in pursuing them, in making them happen, because you're not alone.

The OYAN Summer Workshop proves that neither I, nor anyone like me, with visions of changing the world through story, are not alone. We are never alone. There are others like us, and they are dreamers, too.

"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream at night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake to find it was vanity. But the dreamers of the day or dangerous men, for they may act upon their dreams with open eyes to make them possible." ~ T.E. Lawrence

Encouraging. Similar to what I said before, each time I go to OYAN I learn something new. The Workshop gives writers invaluable tools to act upon those wild dreams of ours. Wonderfully insightful teachers, but not just insightful and experienced, but teachers and speakers who truly care about the OYAN community and want to see it flourish. Not only are we allowed to dream, but encouraged to, and given the tools to succeed.

Fortifying. This one is harder to explain, but there is something about being surrounded by not just other writers, but other OYANers that makes one feel like they can take on the entire world fearlessly. The Reunion part of the Workshop strengthens friendships that normally only happen over the internet. You get to see, hear, touch, and embrace those you've come to love, and even those you didn't even know you loved before, in person. Never discount the power of real life, in person interaction with other human beings, folks!

Enlightening. Back to learning something new every time, but in this sense I mean in a less technical sort of way, and a more sobering one. Not only did I see the light, but the darkness, also. The opposition, the enemy, the battle and struggle, both present and future, we are engaged in simply because of the dreams we have. Dangerous dreams, dreams that will change the world. In all honesty; I'm not kidding. And when there are dreams that will change the world, there will be those who want to crush them. People, ideals, the devil himself. It's hard to see some of those forces at work within the community I love so much. It is at the same time, however, something I glad to know of. I don't want to be naïve, and it is a good test of character to see if I -- or anyone for that matter -- will still love even when there is conflict. To know who will support you, and who you must support. And whether or not you'll stick out the fight, or if you'll lower to the enemy's standards, for the latter is far easier.

All in all, the OYAN Summer Workshop (any one of them) is an experience I enjoy and treasure more than words can express.

Week Two:

Home again! We flew home bringing Dana and Siani with us to stay for the rest of the week. So awesome to have them over for that extra bit of time there without the business of the Workshop schedule. Having Ani about in person was great fun. It's only been a year since I saw her, but it felt like it'd been years and ages. It's always great to see her in person, no matter how long it's been since we last saw each other.

We also had Wynni over for a few days, so our house was quite full. (Wynni is awesome, just so y'all know. A happy ray of sunshine. <3) I organized a LARP/IG for that Wednesday, but I'll probably write a blog post on that later.

Week Three:

Ani left, and Dana stuck around for a bit longer. Also great to have him around. He started this routine of going outside every evening around nine to watch the fireflies over the cornfield. Before long I and my brothers started doing it, too, which made for some fascinating conversations, as well as some comfortable silences. You know you're with a good friend when silence is as easily shared as conversation.

Oh, and Gypsy simply adores him. I have absolutely no idea why, but right from the first time she met him, she became attached to him almost as much as she is attached to me. This is strange because normally Gypsy is very much a one person dog. I don't know what it is about Dana that she loves so much, but whatever it is, it's got her hook, line and sinker. She has been quite sullen lately now that she's figured out he isn't coming back, and finds my ball throwing skills deplorable. Which they are, so I can't blame her. Dana is much better at that than I am and she knows it.

I think that's pretty much it for now. I'm sure I left out a few details, but nothing important. Hopefully this is an adequate explanation for my absence.

And don't worry about FtGG. Dana and I will get right back on that very soon.

Dia duit,
~Penny