The List Friendship Ring

Raising his hand, Cennydd calls on his magic to send a scintillant burst of white and emerald shimmering light into the air, accompanied by the pealing notes of a trumpet voluntary.

"Ladies and Lords, Mages and Gentles all!"
"May I have your attendant ear?"
"I should like to start a new tradition among this company. One which will, I hope, foster and expand the feelings of warmth and friendship which have always made this gathering a place of happiness and good cheer. For some time now, this gathering has been augmented by the presence of newly-come members. They have brought fresh enthusiasm to leaven the established friendships of the older members and have enriched the list with their presence and ideas."

The Mage suddenly gestures and the company can see a ring hanging in the air before him. A plain band of twined silver, gold, and platinum, it's intricate tracery is a subtle and sophisticated pattern that needs no ornamentation.

"My Lords and Ladies, I present to the Company of the List this ring, which I offer and dedicate with my magic and my will to the bonds of friendship that twine around all of us. On this first day of its existence, I present it to the Lady Niki who has recently joined our company and whose grace and charm are already a delight to view. This ring is hers to wear and enjoy. At the end of the approaching week, I ask, however, that she pass this ring on to someone else on the list to spread the enchantment of friendship. And in the giving, she will receive back threefold what is given, for the enchantment on this ring is that when it is given in friendship, it will leave three rings--one of gold, one of silver, and one of platinum--on the hand of the giver."

So speaking, the Mage moves to to the elegant figure of the Lady Niki and places the ring on her finger. With a wicked smile, Cennydd bows over the lady's hand and lightly raises it to his lips.

"My thanks, lady, for what you have added to the list. May you enjoy the ring and give it in friendship."

Lady Niki Sat, 7 Feb 1998 5:58am

She looks around, marveling at the grace of the Halls; a combination of power and grace. Such a lovely place. Lots of candles, which throw lots of shadows. There seem to be an excessive amount of shadows, actually. *Niki peers into the shadows, trying to discern shapes.* That’s funny. I have a distinct feeling there are people lurking there. Their presence, however, feels not menacing but friendly.

The shadows are quickly forgotten as the Mage of Green Silences enters into the room. He practically drifts across the floor. His head is held high; he knows all eyes are on him. How beautiful, how graceful is this Mage. Niki’s mind wanders…”Green silences. What the heck is a green silence?” She imagines it must be beautiful, perhaps the color of this mage’s eyes….

Niki has heard many things about this mage. He is said to be intelligent, powerful. It is also said that he does not suffer fools lightly. She overheard her neighbors saying that he could teleport himself, and that he has a fondness for balefire. *Niki makes a mental note to avoid angering this mage.* Yet for all this, he has a look of kindness about him. She thinks back to when she first arrived. He was very friendly, complimenting her and welcoming her to the group. She is sure he does not remember her, but that is alright. After all, he is a Councillor, and everyone knows his time is consumed by his attempts to achieve mastery over a powerful entity named DisSertation. She is unsure what this is, but she has heard that many unwary scholars have met their deaths in attempting such magic; this Cennydd must surely be a powerful adept.

No, he surely won’t remember her. After all, he probably greets all newcomers with a few kind words. “What…wait…he’s looking straight at me…he’s smiling! There must be somebody behind me. Could he possibly remember me?” *Niki sneaks a peek over her shoulder* “Hmm. Nobody there…aha! There’s a mirror behind me. Well, that explains the smile.” Yes, she had also heard that this Mage was a bit vain. Well, he deserved to indulge a bit; he was so strikingly beautiful. Especially that hair; so silky, almost glowing. Wonder if he uses salt water. I’ve heard it’s good for the hair.

A trumpet peals; a hush falls over the gathering. As the Mage begins to speak, a glow appears in the air before him. There is an audible gasp in the room. Though there have been rumors of the Mage’s abilities, many of the assembled are new to the realm, and have never seen the Mage wield his powers.

“…which I offer and dedicate with my magic and my will to the bonds of friendship that twine around all of us….” Why, what a lovely idea. Between the velvety tones of his voice and the generosity of his words, she is so lost in thought that she almost misses the next words “…I present it to the Lady Niki….”

She is so stunned, she simply stands there as the Mage glides over and places the ring on finger. Immediately she feels a glowing warmth travel the length of her arm and through her body, settling in her heart. Through the ring she can feel the friendship and goodwill of the group. It’s like a living, breathing thing keeping her company.

“Th-thank you,” she stammers, all hope of uttering a coherent sentence shattered as the Mage’s lips brush her hand.

The people drift slowly away, nodding in approval, shaking hands and hugging whoever happens to be nearby. Friendship, indeed. This is a gift that will live on, gaining in power and tying us together in friendship. Perhaps songs will be written about this Mage.

Niki’s eyes *glow* as she looks down at the ring. She will enjoy the coming week with a heightened awareness of the friendship of her listsibs. She vows to pour her own love & friendship into the ring, so that when she passes it on, it will carry a piece of her goodwill with it to the next person, and the next, and the next.

Now that the crowd has thinned, she is able to speak to the Mage. "Thank you, sir, for creating this ring, and for bestowing upon me as the first in a chain that will strengthen with every link. I will treasure it and the gift it gives long after it has been passed on. I...I have to run. Bye."

Yes, she thinks as she runs off, leaving the bemused Mage facing an empty space -- and the mirror.. I think I’m going to like it here. Good conversation, lively minds. Such lovely people. I’ll probably even get used to the distinct smell of wet sheep that hangs in the air during the rainy season.

Samantha Sun, 8 Feb 1998 6:13am

folkie Sat, 7 Feb 1998 7:32am

Observing the ceremonious presenting of the ring between yet two more distant strangers, the candlelight flickers over eyes the color of the sky, a striking blue. The warm, living sensations of friendship and love wash over the soundless observer, yet do not reach the soul. One does not take of others' experiences. The feelings only tug at a strange longing veiled behind the cold eyes. Silently, the presence draws back to meld with the shadows once again...

AERDEN Sun, 8 Feb 1998 9:21am

He listens as the Mage presents a lady named Niki with a ring and tells her what it is for. The green miniature dragon on his shoulder croons as the very Hall fills with an almost palpable presence--the strength, beauty, and joy of friendship. it is an almost sacred moment, Aerden thinks, as sacred as the moment he swore the Healer's Oath. He wishes it could last forever.

For an endless instant, it seems to.

Shadowblade Mon, 9 Feb 1998 3:52pm

As Cennydd conjured up the Ring, Shadowblade (Blade for short) notices some of the shadows stirring to life. _Ooh, more fun! We should do this more often..._
Niki stepped up to receive the Ring (Or did Cennydd step down?)and the entire Hall was filled with silent murmurs. Blade stood to one corner of the room, blending in with the walls. DeLurking mode was starting up, and she was about to start talking when Cennydd (irritatingly) fell silent and literally closed the meeting.

Blade frowned. The meeting was Fun. All that dissection of Misty's works were beginning to bore her. "Hey! Whatever happened to just enjoying the books? Must we relate EVERYTHING to Mathematics and Science? Fantasy's for literature, not Scientific Research..." she muttered to herself. Meant to be kept to herself, the odd amplification of the Hall magnified the entire thing to a shout.
_Maybe that's how Cennydd did it._ She thought, blushing furiously. Emboldened by the statement, she dared one more:
"List making's all fun and good (after all, it helps listsibs who wish to have a Misty Page), but I draw the line at genetics (had enough of it at GCE 'O'-Level Bio ). Don't you think we're treating the whole thing far too seriously?"

The entire congregation turned towards the new High Priestess for Dax the Eternal and ShadowWolf. _Damn, I really stepped on my own tail this time..._
Silence reigned... At a loss of what to do, Blade blows on her palm like Dax taught her to generate the giggle bubbles. A hundred moderately-sized glowing bubbles floated from the outstretched palm to hang before the mouths of the now relatively shocked group.
_I hope they eat the bubbles..._

Andi Mon, 9 Feb 1998 5:22pm

As the ceremony takes place she closes her eyes and feels the power gathering in the room, not the power of one, but the power of many joined in friendship. As the ring is presented by the powerful Mage to the beautiful Lady she basks in the warm glow of the feelings of amazement and joy surfacing through the room. She is new to this place of magic, but already she feels safe. She curls up and feigns sleep, although she listens for a conversation that sparks her interest...she drifts off into the gentle sleep of lurking...

Kas Mon, 9 Feb 1998 5:27pm

They were large and beautiful, rainbows playing across their thin filmy surface like elven spirits slipping in and out of shafts of sunlight. One drifted gently towards Kas so that it was touching her lips. She started visibly as she felt something stirring her taste buds.
Chocolate! It was chocolate! Smooth, creamy and rich over her tongue. She cried out in surprise but was drowned out by murmurs from the rest of the crowd -

"Peppermint!"
"Rasberry, yum!"
"Peaches and cream!"
Blade's gift sliced through the tension as though it were saltwater, dispelling it to another realm. It also served as a reminder that dinner was about to be served to commemorate the grand event of the bestowing of the Friendship Ring upon Lady Nikki. The grand double doors opened as if by invisible hands and, chattering and laughing, the sumptuously-dressed crowd spilled into the next room where the crystal chandeliers refracted the light of a thousand candles and bounced it off the glittering silverware.

Kas hung back, not wanting to join the company just yet. She had only been in their midst for a few short months, emerging from the shadows to make her presence known, and yet she was still unsure of her footing. On one hand she liked reading about Valdemar and its inhabitants; on the other hand she, like Blade, was tired of the nitpicking over details, but she was afraid that if she voiced her discontent she would be thrown out of their company - which she was only just beginning to enjoy - or worse, get dunked in something a little more unpleasant than saltwater.

She slipped out a smaller door out the side and into the garden. She liked the gardens here - they were a good place to sit and think and read. Occasionally she had seen other listsibs wandering around - some deep in earnest conversation, others curled up on piles of cushions (some of them, she suspected, where in the shape of sheep) with books in their hands from the library in the Halls of Mist. In particular, she was envious of the ones who shared an empathic bond with their birds and their cats. She had heard that some of these had been assigned by a very generous Mist member who was, at present, away from the Halls - perhaps to seek out more who were in need of a home? Kas wished that she could have her own companion.

The Avenue was up ahead. Poplars lined both sides and interspersed between these were statues of white marble - statues of creatures that were horse-like in shape and yet more intelligent in mind. Names were engraved in elegant letters at the base of each statue. _Warriors felled in the line of duty,_ thought Kas. She liked the Avenue the best. Here she felt safe - as if she were being closely guarded by some unseen force.

A soft noise attracted her attention. There at the end of the Avenue stood a small fluffy white figure, tottering uncertainly on its tiny little legs. It hesitated and then gave another baa.
Kas stood very still and then, slowly dropped to her knees. The lamb eyed her from a distance and then, hesitatantly, came closer, sometimes stopping as if it were unsure whether its course of action was the best one. She hardly dared to breathe but kept her eyes on the lamb, thinking quite foolishly that it would disappear if she averted her gaze.

And then it was within inches of her. Tentatively Kas extended her hand. The lamb sniffed at it and then playfully butted it with its head and came closer, baa-ing a little and trying to climb into her lap. Kas put her arms around it.

"Thank you," she said softly, to no one in particular.

Shadowdancer Mon, 9 Feb 1998 11:05pm

*Oh the energy of youth,* Shadowdancer thinks to herself. *I wonder what kind of trouble Cennydd it trying to stir up now. I guess that I am just going to have to find out.*

Shadowdancer makes ready to go to the Great Hall. Lurker looks as if to say, "And where do you think your going?" "Well you know I can't take you with me tonight. Stay here and rest your paw, and no snacking on the sheep. You might get hunted down if you do." With a sigh the wolf puts his head down and closes his eyes with an indignant sigh.

"Tripes, I'm late!!" Shadowdancer enters the hall, no eyes are looking her way, they are all to intersted in what is going on at the front of the hall.

"A Frindship Ring, what an interesting idea." Feeling a cold premonition, Shadowdancer whips a dagger from her boot and scans the shadows.
"Nothing, this doesn't bode well." *I wonder if I should tell Cennydd or let him figure it out? Oh, well no hope for it.* She thinks as she replaces the dagger in her boot.
"I know he can get himself into and out of trouble all by himself." *All the same I think I shall keep watch.*

With that she follows the rest into the next room to listen to the conversation, and learn what little bits of knowledge from these people that she can.

Ana Mon 11:16pm 2/9/98

Entering the rather large room, she looked around at the people covered in opulent clothing-mostly robes, it looked like. She glanced down at her own rather scruffy appearance: black jeans, an X-Files tshirt, and her boots-and winced.
"Hello! Is friend/lovely companion like!" Ana blinked and looked at the creature.
"What are you? Or, well, Who are you?"
"Is ILI, sloathe/friend. Welcome you are."
"Where am I?"
"You are in/residing the Halls of MIST."
"Oh, but, wait that's impossible, how could I get here? This isn't in Castle Perilous is it?"
"No, now shushie you must. *whisper* Here comes great one/mage of Green Silences."

Ana watched as the mage entered the hall and walked towards the dais. The presentation and magic were easy to feel even from this corner of the room. Ana smiled as the Lady Niki was given the ring.

Feeling slightly silly, she wandered into the room and began talking to some of the others there. The Sloathe-ILI-followed her.

Adrienne Mon 11:53pm 2/9/98

Adrienne chatters excitedly to anyone who cares to talk. She wants to invite those in the shadows to come within the glow of the magelights, but she knows some people just preferr to lurk and watch. Spotting Lady Niki, she dances around other groups of people to speak to her. Adrienne wants to thank Niki for the information she'd given her.

Before she reaches the Lady, though, the Mage of Green Silences enters the room and commands attention with his very presence.
Adrienne enjoys the music of his voice as he presents Lady Niki with the Friendship Ring. She wonders about his slightly wicked smile as he bends to kiss the Lady's hand. She has spoken with Cennydd just enough to know he is always up to something.

The Mage moves off and everyone rushes to the celebration feast. Adrienne dances through the crowd toward Niki again.