Spin-a-Yarn [Archive] - The Gemstone IV Players' Corner

Ltlprprincess

09-21-2016, 01:53 PM

I thought about posting the whole log of this event here, but instead I am just going to post the stories told because that was the important part (besides the knitting).

Sweetsin asks, "So who is telling a story?"

Sweetsin says, "I know an old story."

Sweetsin says, "Heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend of his."

Sweetsin says, "Actually it was at the temple in the landing."

Speaking to Kakoon, Sweetsin says, "Just far away, not far far."

Sweetsin says, "There was this woman who was kneel infront of her dead husband in his casket. Him and his friend died in a hunting accident and they had passed through the gate."

Sweetsin says, "She was kneeling there and wailing away... glancing at her husband and at the other guy who was a complete stanger to him. Her husband looked so shabby."

Sweetsin says, "She would wail and stare at the priest in a begging voice."

Sweetsin says, "Look, look at my poor husband, look how his coat is ripped."

Sweetsin says, "And his! his is so nice."

Sweetsin shakes her head, clucking her tongue.

Sweetsin says, "She went on and on."

Sweetsin says, "Oh please, can't you do something? I will pay you."

Sweetsin exclaims, "The priest just stared at her as she went on, His pants are torn, no jewlery and look at the man being buried befor ehim!"

Sweetsin says, "She says to the priest again. Please please help me out."

Sweetsin says, "She offered him a couple thousand silvers and at last he gave in."

Sweetsin takes a deep breath.

Sweetsin says, "So then, he sends her away and to come back in ... oh half hour."

Sweetsin nods.

Sweetsin says, "So she goes off, and comes back a half hour later."

Sweetsin says, "And you would not believe it! The priest was good for his word, the man was no in a nice jacket, and some tailored trousers. A ring on his finger even."

Sweetsin says, "The woman. Egads she was thrilled at the sight of this."

Sweetsin says, "She couldn't get over how nice her man looked in his death."

Sweetsin says, "But she could not understand either how it was possible."

Sweetsin asks, "I mean really?"

Sweetsin says, "She turned to the priest."

Sweetsin asks, "And ask him. Priest, please don't think I am ungrateful. But how.... how did you manage this?"

Sweetsin says, "The priest just smiled at her and replied."

Sweetsin says, "Dear women. For a couple of thousand, I just cut his and the other guys heads off and switched them."

Fehala says, "I have a tale for sharing."

Fehala slowly opens the hinged lid of her reliquary, employing a reverential touch.

(Fehala sits with her palms resting lightly on her thighs and her legs crossed. Her back is straight as steel as she assumes a formal posture and begins her tale, "It is Nature's way that each season must come to an end before moving into another, creating a cycle of life that is eons old.")

Fehala removes a small block of salt from in her simple satchel.

(Fehala pulls out a small handful of salt from her reliquary. She makes a slow swooping gesture with her arms, spreading out a thin layer of glittering white salt crystals into large circle as she says in her slightly accented Common, "The Pale Lady gives way to the Spring Maid, who joyfully gives her newly born creations into the arms of the Summer Father, who feels the first brisk wind of the Autumnal Doe, who completes the cycle by handing her emblazoned world into the chill embrace of the Pale Lady once more.")

(Fehala tucks away what is left of the salt crystals still remaining in her hand.)

Fehala removes a polished rose quartz wildflower from in her golden amber reliquary.

Fehala says, "None feel this change of seasons harder than the Spring Maid, who must sit by and watch each nurtured seed turned blossom become winter-touched and frozen. As the world turns from fiery red and saffron hues into the muted greys and whites of winter, the Spring Maid's own cheerful visage is robbed away."

Fehala carefully places a polished rose quartz wildflower on the floor.

(Fehala nestles the pink rose quartz into the top curve of the salt circle line.)

Fehala says, "One year, long ago, the Summer Father sought to bring light and joy back into his consort's face. By catching a ride on the wind, he searched the earth for a gift that would equal his adoration for the woman who ruled his heart."

Fehala says, "He looked to the oceans, but those were the Storm Lord's domain and he would not share his pearls and colorful corals."

Fehala removes a violet-shaped smooth blue coral from in her golden amber reliquary.

Fehala carefully places a violet-shaped smooth blue coral on the floor.

(Fehala places the coral close to the rose quartz, continuing to follow the line created against the ground by the glittering white salt crystals.)

Fehala says, "He turned his attention to the earth, but he could not garner the Autumnal Doe's attention as she toiled through her season."

Fehala removes a thinly-carved modwir leaf chrysoprase from in her golden amber reliquary.

Fehala carefully places a thinly-carved modwir leaf chrysoprase on the floor.

(Fehala creates a spot for the chrysoprase gem next to the coral. She touches a finger to the leaf-carved gem and shakes her head.)

Fehala says, "No chrysoprase would be his to gift to the Spring Maid."

Fehala says, "He made his way to the desert, where the breeze he rode became a searing wind that stirred up the sand into such a storm that he could not see where the earth ended and sky began."

Fehala removes a handful of glittery white sand from in her golden amber reliquary.

(Fehala exhales lightly over her palm full of sand, creating a miniature cloud that covers the offerings placed along the curve of the salt circle. With what remains in her palm, she sets it down into a small pile as she continues on with her story.)

Fehala carefully places a handful of glittery white sand on the floor.

Fehala says, "Nowhere he looked did the mortal realm hold what he sought."

(Fehala turns her gaze up upwards as she raises both hands to point overhead, "Alas it was that he returned to his own domain, tucked up close to the heat of the sun that he guarded so well. Here he sat and watched the way the sun shone with a brilliance unmatched by anything on the earth. If only he could give the beauty of his domain to his consort, for surely such a gift or gesture would be perfect enough for the Spring Maid.")

Fehala says, "He reached out to capture a bit of sun into his hand -" She tilts her hand and cups her palm as if reaching for something, but then quickly draws it back towards her lap with an outward hiss, "- but the strength of the sun's heat drove him back, for he could not own the sun even though it was his own domain. This set the Summer Father to pondering once more, for surely there was an answer to his dilemma."

Fehala leans forward and rests her chin in her hand, a thoughtful expression on her face.

Fehala says, "As the autumn chill began to steal the spring color from the world, the answer to the Summer Father's problem continued to elude him. Finally, he took his question to his mother, the Teacher of Knowledge, and spread his quest out at her mist-shrouded feet."

Fehala says, "He asked of her, "Mother, how can I capture a piece of the sun to gift to my love?"."

Fehala says, "She told him to find a creature of the earth or sky who loved his lady as much as he, and ask of it to fly into the sun and remove a piece. The Summer Lord wondered if any such creature existed, for who could love his lady as much as he? Taking his mother's advice, he returned to the earth and searched with the autumn wind urging him onwards."

Fehala says, "At last, he came upon a bird of such phenomenal beauty and grace that it could only have been blessed by the Spring Maid herself. Radiant hues of blue, green, and gold greeted the eye in a fan-shaped plumage that honored the colors of spring. The Summer Father asked of the peacock if he loved the Spring Maid, and to this Peacock replied:"

(Fehala imitates a scratchy voice as she says, "Once I was so ugly that I could not find a mate. I wandered the earth alone, heavy of heart, until your Spring Maid took it upon herself to add beauty to my feathers. Now, I am filled with pride and grace and have many children. Yes, I love your Spring Maid.")

Fehala says, "And without hesitation the Peacock took flight to the sun, becoming straight as an arrow and launching himself to the fiery core. No matter the pain he felt as his plumage was charred away, he continued onwards until he grasped a chip of molten sun into his talons. Love, both of the Summer Father and his own devotion, drove him onwards and then back again, despite pain and certain death."

Fehala removes a pale blue peacock-etched moonstone from in her golden amber reliquary.

(Fehala's peacock-etched moonstone joins the array of gems placed in a deliberate circle on the ground.)

Fehala says, "As the charred bird returned to the Summer Father's side, bereft of all that was once beautiful about him and still clutching a dazzling rock in his talons, the Arkati wept at the sacrifice the bird had made out of love. Where the tears of the Summer Father fell upon the creature, plumes of summer fire began to grow in their wake. And so, Peacock became Phoenix, harbinger of loyalty and love, and his home became the sun itself."

Fehala removes a feather-cut firestone from in her golden amber reliquary.

Fehala carefully places a feather-cut firestone on the floor.

Fehala says, "Each year, as the season begins to change and the cooler winds of autumn begin to rob the earth of spring and summer's color, the Summer Father asks Phoenix to fetch for him rocks from the sun. The two sit companionably side by side, as the Arkati weaves a web of dazzling stones into a radiant tiara of such phenomenal beauty for his Spring Love."

Fehala says, "Those stones found unworthy for the Spring Maid are cast down to the earth, where they become reminders of unflinching love, devotion, and loyalty, and speak of the Summer Father's quest and the Peacock's sacrifice."

Fehala removes some polished glassy golden sunstone from in her golden amber reliquary.

Fehala carefully places some polished glassy golden sunstone on the floor.

(Fehala's sunstone completes the circle as she sweeps a hand over them all, adding emphasis to the coming end of her story.)

Fehala says, "At Winter's end and at the cusp of Spring the gift is presented, giving the Maid a smile that begins to warm the ground below, chasing away the chill that has lingered in man and earth alike."

Fehala says, "And thus, the cycle begins anew and is reborn."

Fehala tilts her head down.

Fehala kisses three fingers and touches them to her brow.

You say, "I have a tale, if no one else wishes to go next."

You say, "For those who have ever been to the Alliance's shop in the Guardian Keep, you may have noticed a painting hanging upon the walls of the main room."

You say, "It was commissioned several years ago based upon a tale my mother would tell me as a child before I went to sleep."

You continue, "Outside my house, when her garden was well-tended, she spoke of faeries that dwelled among the flowers. They were quite skilled at hiding from the eyes of any who sought them, but my mother swore that faeries were real and in fact, dwelled in her favored refuge of our manor."

You say, "When the sun fell past the horizon, and the moons made their way into the sky, her roses would close their petals to the night, sleeping much like we would."

You say, "In the morning, however, in the wee hours of dawn, when it was neither night nor day, the faeries that dwelled within the garden would emerge. With each inch the sun rose, the faeries would dance upon the petals of the sleeping roses, waking them to ensure their full bloom in the morning."

You conclude, "Thus the tale behind the painting in the shop."