Raves for Magnagora (especially @Sapphira, @Uzriel, @Shango, @Kailanna, @Vexacion) for the opening ceremonies to the Bloodfaire, and for dealing with a gaggle of rowdy Gaudiguchians. I hope we weren't too overwhelming for you all. I'm really excited for the upcoming events, and it is really clear that you all put a lot of work and thought into this. It's incredible, and I'm happy to be able to participate!
Raves for Gaudiguch (especially @Eritheyl, @Rekath, @Kihr, @Yire) for "being on our best behavior", which apparently includes trying to purchase Shango! It was so much fun just being part of that gaggle, and partaking in all of the various goodies. It felt so Gaudi with us just buying souvenirs and trying everything out, heh!
Oh! And for all of the neat things for sale! The candy and parasol especially are super cool! Raves for the admins involved for coding them!
Honestly, super super thrilled by the turnout today. @Kailanna did a wonderful job with the opening speech and it was so great to have a bunch of outsiders come to visit, and appreciate all our little trinkets. Definitely lots of fun to be had through the week, please come and play with us!
Great Order discussion with @Daxi, @Gyorn, and @Tridemon today! Loved getting a bit of a break in the day to have some good old fashioned speculation and information sharing with people
Then getting to hear @Aeldra's memories and be with her, oh gosh.
Afterwards @Galaphyrae being cool and formidable, making to set Xiran's head straight, but also granting compassion. @Calfuray and @Qistrel coming in to give support and advice.
Edit: I forgot @Lorina at the 'plex. Intimidating lady.
Teasing from Galaphyrae. Welcoming @Ferne to the Wilde, getting to teach a bit again! @Velcora on the welcoming committee. @Llani and Jolanthe together, fearsome.
I have returned to once more scream from the rooftops about how amazing Lantra is. Seriously, if you haven't gotten yourself a helping of that sweet, sweet Lantra RP, you're doing yourself a disservice. (Tavi is great but allies and enemies should be sure to nudge the big Lady herself, absurdly layered and well-developed character )
I just want everyone to know how EXTREMELY FREAKING AWESOME that Terentia is!!! She's played with such intensity and power that She manages to really IRL make you feel like your CO popped up in the barracks and caught you grumbling about your officers. Sweating. Pressure. DELIGHT. Seriously such a fantastic character, and nails the 'I'm Disappointed, Do Better' vibe while making you actually want to do better instead of just feeling bad and getting discouraged.
I was murdered and loved every second of it.
Really, though - Thoroughly enjoyed that interaction with Li-Varili, marvelous sense of tension throughout. The character just oozes personality and presence, and I am so envious of characters that get to exist around her without being splatted. Soak up that magnificent villainy.
And, of course, Lantra. Just, Lantra. I feel super bad about the late hour RP, but gosh, was it ever good stuff.
It's so delicious to have that differing of opinion with a character's
god, and I am really looking forward to how this shapes the dynamic
going forward.
So, a huge huge rave for everyone who came to the Masquerade Ball. The whole Bloodfaire has been a lot of fun but the ball was what i was really looking forward to, and you guys did not disappoint. i had 34 gift boxes and ran out, what an amazing turn out! And so many of you really got into the spirit of it, we had 17 people compete in the costume competition and you all put thought and effort into it and it was SO darn fun. Thank you all for being so gracious and just enjoying celebrating with us. As the 'evil' org we're often not on the guest list for much of anything, so it was really nice to have so many people come play with us.
Raves for @Uzriel for as ever being the best partner in crime, i was having way too much fun being the wicked, villainous siren to his hilarious constable. @Kailanna for always being a fabulous host and wholeheartedly supporting and encouraging every endeavour we undertake in Magnagora (plus being fabulous in general and deserving of all our over the top flattery).
i put a lot of time and preparation into the Ball and the faire in general - i designed new ambients, trinkets, masks, decorations and even most of the food at the ball (Another rave for just how nice it was to see people enjoying certain treats!) but it would have been pointless if not for all the help of Uzriel and Kailanna for one, but most importantly, @Drocilla - during a week where huge world event stuff just happened, you still took precious time to code in all the nifty surprises and add a few of your own and it was just so, so appreciated. Presumably she even caught a nap here and there. Maybe.
Anyway. Had a great week, thanks to everyone who came along, who ran an event, or who just good-naturedly endured a confetti bomb!
I'll add onto that with a bloodfaire rave of my own. A lot of sweat and blood went into planning and organizing everything. A big shout out to the faire planning crew @Sapphira, @Kailanna, and @Ayrisa.
Ayrisa got things started but unfortunately due to real life popping up had to take a step back. Kailanna was a great sounding board and sanity check during planning while playing the part of the hostess and leading opening ceremonies and being her regal self in most of the events throughout the faire. Sapphira did a ton of behind the scenes work that can't be overstated, including writing most of the designs, new festival wares, and new ambients - in addition to general help on Faire planning, and of course hostess to the ball itself which was at times overwhelming.
@Drocilla gets a special mention of course for all of the reasons above, implementing all of the new stuff and a few surprises of her own. She was getting things implemented literally the day after Li-varili's reveal, and adding new stuff throughout the festival.
Additional mentions to @Zagreus and @Jatius for offering to run events to help keep the festival lively. It was great to have days planned for that I could also just relax.
Finally thanks to everybody who supported the Faire and especially those tried to go to most of the events and were in general supportive - Akyaevin, Tyrus, Zagreus, and the Gaudiguch crew, readily come to mind. I'm sure there's others but my brain is drawing a blank at the moment.
Props to @Uzriel politely and regularly inquiring with potential attendants. Staying classy while tirelessly working to support the culture of his city.
Raves to @Nocht for [redacted] order-related things with @Illyria, and then, much to my surprise, asking me about my motives! The new description and frankly the entire conversation has got me going like:
I have tasted of Terentia's displeasure, and it was glorious \o/ OOC, anyway!
That was one of the most satisfying and intense scenes I have ever had the pleasure of being a part of, and I am humbled by Terentia's ability to convey such a force of personality, with nothing but words. You are a masterfully skilled wordsmith, and I salute your ability with the art. I desperately wish I could have a way to write with you as regularly as another player, but gosh, you do the god role so well it would be a crime for you not to play one.
I'm rambling, but, just. I am so incredibly impressed. I suspected that would happen, but the reality of it was far, far more wonderful than I could have guessed. Your Order are very lucky people. Kudos.
I also really appreciate the fact that She used the swords and not a zap - Very, very nice touch!
I should return that rave right back at @xiran for our always lovely exchanges and conversations. Also for that trip to Serenwilde... bittersweet old memories
@Galaphyrae, for Xiran to have contributed to a ritual of her mentor and friend is something Xiran's going to cherish forever. Galaphyrae brought it up to her. Paranoid Xiran roughly calculated for a New Moon, so frantic ritual-rifling started. Tyrus and Qistrel supplied in the missing pieces of Lady Maylea's teachings and the interconnectedness of the land of the kaelye. That was the end of my contribution to the beginning of an awesome event. Galaphyrae transformed it, gave it the right tone, and kept the lines inspired by Tyrus and Qistrel.
Raves to @Maylea, @Nocht, Li-Varili for giving us an amazing experience.
@Tau, @Esei, @Evette, @Illyria, @Gael, @Synl for coming when outnumbered and pouring out all your astounding roleplay. Your characters seriously carry the aura of the Wyrd.
@Nialla, who began the ritual but also roleplayed freely and intensely when things quickly moved past that. @Tyrus and @Qistrel for being formal ritualists. And then the curtains really went up. Raves to Galaphyrae, @Grimmia, @Calfuray, @Sondayga, @Amirae, Silvanos, Aubrey, and last but not least @Adrenthorne!
Not logged: With a hint from Maylea, Galaphyrae sets up a similar structure as before. Tyrus and Huskii rushed to the shelves and located perfect elements to draw on for the Wodewoses (@Faythe!!) and Seralem (Zhi's ritual from Hartstone). We struggled for the Listeners and Saran woke in time to just. Name names of the Host and blow our minds. Watching Nialla and Galaphyrae build off each other for the Sowers was beautiful. Galaphyrae and Saran further elaborated for Seralem. Xiran just held books, okay. The team knew we wanted to invoke Elfenehoala. Xiran being next to Kymil in coven provided the click for how.
Watching people collaborate on the ritual was a spiritual experience in itself for Xiran. And then for the real thing, Maylea is just *_*.
---
There's so much love in collaborative storytelling. So yes, raves to everyone. I elaborated a bunch on planning because it was a fun sort of meta on the building off each other in less scripted roleplay.
There's a great thrill in spontaneity and synchronicity. For those, the work wasn't done by having prepared lines, but really knowing/refreshing/expanding your IG lore and culture as well as real-world material. And I hard rave for that.
i'm not ready to share logs just yet, we'll see how things play out, but Li-Varili is a cunning, conniving genius, i felt like a trap was closing around me but there was nothing i could do and it was freaking amazing. Thanks for playing with me
I am an older player than I seem (Selia herself, if you check her birthday, was actually made around 2014, but she was more of a 'I may as well look at the guild I always thought was interesting before I go' and from the outset was not ever intended as a very serious character.), having gotten my start around 2006 or so and being really really heavy into the game for a few years, on a couple of different characters. None of them were noteworthy enough for me to reasonably expect them to be remembered, so far forward in the future, but I digress.
I played, off and on (more on than off) for a few years, and around 2013ish was kind of burned out, embittered, and didn't really see a positive direction or future for the game. I quit, you might say, with extreme prejudice. That's not to say I burned all the bridges, overturned the tables, and toppled the statues on the way out; I'm not much for drama and any strife I felt I kept to myself. The point is, I figured Lusternia was down the drain. For the next few years I'd look in and see the game struggling, and felt a bit of satisfaction at such ("I knew X administrative decision was gonna bite 'em in the ass, and here's my vindication"). If you were around for the mid-to-late 2010's, maybe you know the kind of zeitgeist I'm on about, though I confess that I'm not sure whether or not it was all in my head/confirmation bias.
Some time around early 2020, not totally sure why, I rolled a character in Serenwilde. I kinda intended to keep to myself and look through all my old haunts (RIP Moondancer's Guild), but I noticed that the game was...much more enjoyable than I recalled. It was, dare I say...fun, even. What had started as sort of a nasty desire for condescension slowly shifted. A lot of the problems that had driven me out were no more, or were alleviated enough that they weren't the wedges I remembered them being. Other systems were added that made other obstacles, previously insurmountable, now...surmountable. Gameplay was satisfying. Interaction was enjoyable. I found myself shocked not only at my engagement with systems that had been previously out of reach, but at the fact that I wanted to engage with them, to participate more. Life happened, as it does, and I fell away, but not with a bad taste in my mouth, as I had before.
Now I am back again. I thought about opening my old Seren character but this time 'round I decided to try the Celestine I'd made as kind of a last look-around before leaving in the past. I never thought I'd say it again but...Lusternia is good again. I just wanted to write this out to give a cheer and some encouragement to the administrators who have really turned this around and turned a jaded 'Lusternia isn't just dead, it was murdered' bitter doomsayer into a supporter. I'd say that's quite impressive to do, harder even than roping in someone new; a new player doesn't have ingrained biases and negativity to conquer.
So, thanks to the admins, from top to bottom, for turning it all around. I never thought I'd see the day.
I was talking about this in a squad with someone last night while bashing, and we both agreed that daily credits are probably the single biggest factor in this change. There's a real sense of progression now, whereas before I was always really frustrated at the lack of such past a certain point. One of my biggest gripes about pre-DC Lusternia was that so much convenience and utility was locked up in skills, and lessons were scarce; dailycredits solves so much of this. Similarly, the massive gap between have and have-nots is now much less daunting, as well; if nothing else, it can now be bridged with enough effort, whereas before it really did seem rather hopeless to try.
And the combat revamp! I was writing up my closing spiel and totally forgot to mention it. While I'm still hopeless in PvP, Nexus and autocuring and especially the revamp itself has done wonders towards making me feel like there's at least a chance, and I'm more interested in at least trying than I have ever been before. Where once I sneered and thought the revamp would either never come or be too little, too late, I am happy to admit that I have been roundly proven wrong.
I have given all of the IRE games an honest and open-minded try, often multiple tries, and as such I feel qualified in saying confidently that Lusternia tops them all. So once again, I just wanted to say, well done all the administrators, volunteers, ephemerals, and everyone else. Your efforts are appreciated and noticed and even paying off.
Also thanks for audience with Wise Lanikai, the Sea Hag. Xiran bugs NPCs a fair bit. Reactions are nice surprise and not meant to be expectation/demand from player-me. Thank you for fun times, Haven-folk.
---
Before all the commotion today, thanks to @Uzriel for chatting about the arena and research.
@Qistrel for always sharing lore, even with young ones in a big event.
Basin-wide team-up! *holds up sorbet*
@Calfuray, aah! And again with Tyrus, Huskii, and sad Velcora.
Saran again for the aftermath *wiggly weathermage motions* and letting Xiran transcribe your wording near verbatim. I are need sleep. Also @Eve and @Aeldra! Shoutout to young Terithin for letting Xiran slip back into being Moondust Guide for a brief interaction. Always a happy place for Xiran.
Ashnezharr, I like your character's manner of speech!
Not gonna lie, I am definitely enjoying seeing sargassum and random sea life on the highways - and being able to use trailblaze on them since they are natural terrain now.
Optional plot to keep flooded highways forever pls? <<
Not gonna lie, I am definitely enjoying seeing sargassum and random sea life on the highways - and being able to use trailblaze on them since they are natural terrain now.
Optional plot to keep flooded highways forever pls? <<
So Sapphira was indulging in a little self-pitying inner monologue, (super embarrassingly) this was noticed which lead to a first ever encounter with Nocht. And it was pretty damn great, he is super creepy cool. Sapphira may never get over feeling like she's waving pathetic about on a flag because of it, but me the evil puppet-master thoroughly enjoyed it!
Godmins. Isotta being patient with us (oh gosh we players need to communicate more aloud) and fun interactions with Tyrus.
I loved seeing the flower pot change and Abeytu interacting with everything. Thanks to everyone contributing and sharing knowledge on how to acquire important elements for nurturing a flower of Seralem! (I has names if you spot things in the painting of the flower pot, yes.)
The ritual on Moon Lake with naiads swimming and singing! Props to Saran for coming up with words and ways for folks to contribute.
Comments
Raves for Gaudiguch (especially @Eritheyl, @Rekath, @Kihr, @Yire) for "being on our best behavior", which apparently includes trying to purchase Shango! It was so much fun just being part of that gaggle, and partaking in all of the various goodies. It felt so Gaudi with us just buying souvenirs and trying everything out, heh!
Oh! And for all of the neat things for sale! The candy and parasol especially are super cool! Raves for the admins involved for coding them!
Edit: nineteen. Save me from myself.
-
Tea time with @Gurashi and Ferne.
Then getting to hear @Aeldra's memories and be with her, oh gosh.
Afterwards @Galaphyrae being cool and formidable, making to set Xiran's head straight, but also granting compassion. @Calfuray and @Qistrel coming in to give support and advice.
@Jolanthe!
Edit: I forgot @Lorina at the 'plex. Intimidating lady.
Teasing from Galaphyrae.
Welcoming @Ferne to the Wilde, getting to teach a bit again!
@Velcora on the welcoming committee. @Llani and Jolanthe together, fearsome.
@Huskii!
I got to witness people in their moments and experience a lot of touching interactions. Thank you!
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Raves for @Uzriel for as ever being the best partner in crime, i was having way too much fun being the wicked, villainous siren to his hilarious constable. @Kailanna for always being a fabulous host and wholeheartedly supporting and encouraging every endeavour we undertake in Magnagora (plus being fabulous in general and deserving of all our over the top flattery).
i put a lot of time and preparation into the Ball and the faire in general - i designed new ambients, trinkets, masks, decorations and even most of the food at the ball (Another rave for just how nice it was to see people enjoying certain treats!) but it would have been pointless if not for all the help of Uzriel and Kailanna for one, but most importantly, @Drocilla - during a week where huge world event stuff just happened, you still took precious time to code in all the nifty surprises and add a few of your own and it was just so, so appreciated. Presumably she even caught a nap here and there. Maybe.
Anyway. Had a great week, thanks to everyone who came along, who ran an event, or who just good-naturedly endured a confetti bomb!
Ayrisa got things started but unfortunately due to real life popping up had to take a step back. Kailanna was a great sounding board and sanity check during planning while playing the part of the hostess and leading opening ceremonies and being her regal self in most of the events throughout the faire. Sapphira did a ton of behind the scenes work that can't be overstated, including writing most of the designs, new festival wares, and new ambients - in addition to general help on Faire planning, and of course hostess to the ball itself which was at times overwhelming.
@Drocilla gets a special mention of course for all of the reasons above, implementing all of the new stuff and a few surprises of her own. She was getting things implemented literally the day after Li-varili's reveal, and adding new stuff throughout the festival.
Additional mentions to @Zagreus and @Jatius for offering to run events to help keep the festival lively. It was great to have days planned for that I could also just relax.
Finally thanks to everybody who supported the Faire and especially those tried to go to most of the events and were in general supportive - Akyaevin, Tyrus, Zagreus, and the Gaudiguch crew, readily come to mind. I'm sure there's others but my brain is drawing a blank at the moment.
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@Galaphyrae, hee.
@Lleuke. Oh my goodness. ;_;
@Aeldra. Always meaningful and thought-provoking.
#Glomdoring can RP too.
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@Galaphyrae, for Xiran to have contributed to a ritual of her mentor and friend is something Xiran's going to cherish forever. Galaphyrae brought it up to her. Paranoid Xiran roughly calculated for a New Moon, so frantic ritual-rifling started. Tyrus and Qistrel supplied in the missing pieces of Lady Maylea's teachings and the interconnectedness of the land of the kaelye. That was the end of my contribution to the beginning of an awesome event. Galaphyrae transformed it, gave it the right tone, and kept the lines inspired by Tyrus and Qistrel.
Raves to @Maylea, @Nocht, Li-Varili for giving us an amazing experience.
@Tau, @Esei, @Evette, @Illyria, @Gael, @Synl for coming when outnumbered and pouring out all your astounding roleplay. Your characters seriously carry the aura of the Wyrd.
@Nialla, who began the ritual but also roleplayed freely and intensely when things quickly moved past that. @Tyrus and @Qistrel for being formal ritualists. And then the curtains really went up. Raves to Galaphyrae, @Grimmia, @Calfuray, @Sondayga, @Amirae, Silvanos, Aubrey, and last but not least @Adrenthorne!
Everyone brought it to hecking -life-.
---
And more raving, for Maylea again as well as:
Nialla, Tyrus, @Huskii, @Kymil, Galaphyrae, and @Saran who's logged the Respite of Tore Niskanen.
Not logged:
With a hint from Maylea, Galaphyrae sets up a similar structure as before. Tyrus and Huskii rushed to the shelves and located perfect elements to draw on for the Wodewoses (@Faythe!!) and Seralem (Zhi's ritual from Hartstone). We struggled for the Listeners and Saran woke in time to just. Name names of the Host and blow our minds. Watching Nialla and Galaphyrae build off each other for the Sowers was beautiful. Galaphyrae and Saran further elaborated for Seralem. Xiran just held books, okay. The team knew we wanted to invoke Elfenehoala. Xiran being next to Kymil in coven provided the click for how.
Watching people collaborate on the ritual was a spiritual experience in itself for Xiran. And then for the real thing, Maylea is just *_*.
---
There's so much love in collaborative storytelling. So yes, raves to everyone. I elaborated a bunch on planning because it was a fun sort of meta on the building off each other in less scripted roleplay.
There's a great thrill in spontaneity and synchronicity. For those, the work wasn't done by having prepared lines, but really knowing/refreshing/expanding your IG lore and culture as well as real-world material. And I hard rave for that.
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Also thanks for audience with Wise Lanikai, the Sea Hag. Xiran bugs NPCs a fair bit. Reactions are nice surprise and not meant to be expectation/demand from player-me. Thank you for fun times, Haven-folk.
---
Before all the commotion today, thanks to @Uzriel for chatting about the arena and research.
Fun coming together with @Nialla, @Sondayga, @Velcora, @Huskii, @Tyrus in an event. Getting shocked by Qistrel and Calfuray.
@Xenthos for that guilt-trip! The tell from @Eritheyl.
@Qistrel for always sharing lore, even with young ones in a big event.
Basin-wide team-up! *holds up sorbet*
@Calfuray, aah! And again with Tyrus, Huskii, and sad Velcora.
Saran again for the aftermath *wiggly weathermage motions* and letting Xiran transcribe your wording near verbatim. I are need sleep. Also @Eve and @Aeldra! Shoutout to young Terithin for letting Xiran slip back into being Moondust Guide for a brief interaction. Always a happy place for Xiran.
Ashnezharr, I like your character's manner of speech!
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Optional plot to keep flooded highways forever pls? <<
Soon, the seaweed ring will be complete.
I loved seeing the flower pot change and Abeytu interacting with everything. Thanks to everyone contributing and sharing knowledge on how to acquire important elements for nurturing a flower of Seralem! (I has names if you spot things in the painting of the flower pot, yes.)
The ritual on Moon Lake with naiads swimming and singing! Props to Saran for coming up with words and ways for folks to contribute.
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Teyitha Contelli, you are forever captain and [---]. ;_;
The mirror and more feels.
@_@ Hit lots of emotional notes in this event today. Thank you admins!
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