Now is the time - the only time

Once upon a time there was an avatar named Jasmine Dae. She was a slave, not a sub, and she (fairly) patiently tried to make me see the difference. It was she who took me to Beauty, and although I barely knew her, asked for my collar that night. I do not take such things lightly and said let us talk about this first. When I was ready to offer, she had found another. So be it. We remained friends. And when she died in RL in early December, I was unprepared for how hard it hit me.

Her Mistress asked to be the one to eulogize her, so I did not mention Jasmine in the following piece, but she was foremost, though not alone in my thoughts as I wrote it. And I called upon the sadness of Jasmin’s passing a month later when Queen Allure died, although only in RP, fortunately.

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Now is the time…

The Winter Solstice is upon us now, the one day of the year when the rising sun creeps along the passage and illuminates the back wall of the chamber in the heart of New Grange. The day that marks the turning of the seasons, when winter’s icy grip begins to loosen in the slow crawl toward spring. A time of farewells. A time of new hope. Who among us can say with certainty when we rise in the morning that we will see another dawn? None that I know of. We can only hope. Hope that the things we do in our Nows are true to our self-image, may mean something to others, while we are here, after we are gone. Because Now is really the only time we have in which to do anything, to love or fight, to speak words of kindness or hate, to cause or try to ease another’s pain. We mere mortals cannot change the past, and the future may never arrive. Now is the time – the only time. The only time that matters. For any of us.

So next time you pass – or play with - a tribute or a Noble, remember that this is a real person, with hopes and dreams and cares much like your own, and just as with you, the only time they have is Now. Whether they crave your submission or you crave pain or domination, try to respect the reason the other is interacting with you in their Now. Honor that Now. Cherish it.

And as we creep toward spring and another, gentler solstice half a year from now, remember this: like ripples in a pool, the things we do, the choices we make, continue to spread and can touch others, sometimes long after the original action has been forgotten. People vanish from our lives in a variety of ways, often never knowing how much we valued their friendship, never knowing how their smile brightened our days, never having heard how much we cared about them. And all too often, when we come to such a realization, it is too late. Don’t let another day go by without telling those who are important to you just how you feel. Do it in the Now.

December 21, 2007

The Lonesome Death of John Obscure

For those who did not know, there was a murder in Stonegate a few weeks back. Briefly, one of Her August Majesty’s handmaids was found dead. It was soon determined she had been poisoned. The evidence pointed not only to a groom as the killer, but indicated Her Majesty, not the handmaid, was the intended victim. It was not long before the groom, John Obscure, was arrested and charged with the murder of the handmaid and the attempted murder of our Queen.

John confessed, in front of me and other witnesses, and that, along with the overwhelming evidence, left little doubt as to his guilt. He was subsequently condemned to die for his crimes. Extenuating circumstances, including a plea from his mother, led to several stays, but at last all hope faded and the day arrived. We gathered in the square at Wickford, and the crowd seemed in a festive mood. As the onlookers became restive, our Queen sent me, accompanied by a young guard named David, to fetch the prisoner.

John was at times morose, at times defiant. He protested his innocence, until I pointed out he had confessed. He claimed he had been drunk at the time, and I reminded him that the Romans, whose aqueducts and roads may still be seen, centuries after their departure, say “in vino veritas,” or, “in wine there is truth.” A wistful smile crossed his face as he asked if I thought the same held true for mead…

The back of his shirt was ripped and bloody by the time we reached our destination, I having needed to prod him with the tip of my sword in order that he not displease Her Majesty by tarrying. We arrived in the square and he was placed in the stocks as Allure spoke with him on last time.

It is said that in the moment of death the condemned’s life passes before his eyes. I cannot speak for his life, but here is a sampling of his last few minutes:

A villager takes a bite of melon from her picnic as executions always make her hungry.
A Lady smiles and greets another Lady
A princess closes her eyes, her body shivering at the thought, not wanting to watch
A Lady stands back, not wanting any blood on my dress
A Lady covers her mouth with her hand
A Lady starts to feel a bit woozy
A princess whispers to a Lady," So what’s going on?"
A villager looks away
Allure Somme looks at John, then gives him a wicked smirk, and then slowly raises her right hand high in the air.
John Obscure locks eyes with the Queen and gives a sweet knowing smile
Lord Albion says, “by your command, Highness”
A Lady grabs another Lady's hand to help balance and support her.
A Lady: whispers: thank you
Allure Somme sighs then looks at Zeb and briskly snaps her thumb down.
Lord Albion pulls the block loose, allowing the blade to fall
A Lady turns her head as the blade drops, unable to watch
A princess squeezes eyes shut tight, sticking fingers in her ears
A princess gasps as the man dies
A Lady stands close with her Queen
A princess gasps, a hand shooting across her opened mouth!
A Lady hears the blade cut through the neck and gasps
A princess cries: “oooo!”
A princess gasps
A Lady cheers
A groom stands, watching all the blood
A Lady swallows hard
A Lady shudders, the condemned's man's final words echoing in her mind
Allure Somme: “Its done, finally my maid can rest.”
A princess closes her eyes and sheds a tear

And so, in no more time than passes between heartbeats, passed a man, a mother’s son, perhaps a brother, perhaps a father, but in the end a traitor to his Queen. Let all who contemplate such treachery look upon the bloodstained platform in the Wickford Marketplace and imagine themselves kneeling as the blade comes whistling down.

~ Baron Albion

(Actual transcript of the event, all names omitted but Allure, myself and the condemned)

Fools Rush In

Fools Rush In….

I was showing a new Lady the slave quarters when I heard the screaming. Loosening my sword in its sheath, I cautioned her to remain there and dashed to the stairs.

As I drew nearer I could hear a commotion, and there in the entryway stood my Queen, a naked sword in her hand a pair of naked princesses cowering at her feet. There was shouting and at last I understood that what I had thought was a strong wind was roaring of a different sort. Barreling down the causeway as I drew my sword I encountered a guard. Before I could ask what was happening, he struck me in the face with his fist. As he was clearly not the source of the trouble, I laid him low with my forearm and continued around the corner. What I beheld next was nearly too much to believe.

With a body the size of a small house in Colchester, tail lashing like a giant whip and wings half-furled, the dragon turned its baleful glance in my direction. Perhaps I was partially concealed by shadows in the arch; perhaps it saw me as no threat. In any event, it looked elsewhere and I saw my chance. I glanced over my shoulder and saw the guard had regained his feet and had been joined by another man, perhaps two. Shouting, “Follow me,” I rushed to the attack.

The dragon’s scaly hide repelled my slashes, but the point as I thrust must have got its attention, for it knocked me to the ground. Momentarily dazed, I thought of Allure, thought of our first meeting, but two days before, and my utter embarrassment. I thought of the way that first sight of her had pierced my heart, how her tinkling laugh had warmed me, and I knew. I knew I had been rash in attacking the dragon alone, knew that doing so again might mean my demise. And I knew I could never look her in the eye again if I did not give it my all, even if it meant my death. Hastily recovering my sword, I again confronted the beast.

The stench of its breath was almost overpowering and the pain as its claws rended my chest may have made me scream – I do not know if what I heard was from my own lips or those of another. Then I was falling to the ground again and all went black.

(([11:59] BattleZone 1.0.2: Zebulon2 Albion has fallen in battle by Golden Dragon's final blow!
[12:00] Golden Dragon pokes Zelbulon's body a few times
[12:01] Golden Dragon sniffs him over.... then starts to munch on his arm
[12:01] BattleZone 1.0.2: Seth Hallstrom has hit Golden Dragon with their weapon. (HT 60% / DF 20%)
[12:04] BattleZone 1.0.2: Zebulon2 Albion has recovered and able to continue or flee the battle!
[12:06] You: what the hell...?))

When my vision cleared I saw the dragon, pierced by many arrows, rising slowly into the sky. I was alone. Having followed the dragon into the dike, where I now lay was out of sight of any. There would be no aid forthcoming, unless someone thought to search for me. I called upon the Goddess to blast the dragon and bless my Queen, then closed my eyes for the Long Sleep. I thought the pain would fade as my spirit departed, but it continued. My blood was not flowing as freely, and it became apparent I would not die this day. And before any could aid me, they would have to know I was in need.

Using my sword as a crutch, I regained my feet and managed to stagger up the ramp. Pausing at the castle entrance I pulled off the remnants of my bloody shirt before passing inside. I dimly recall sitting down, then all went black again. A sharp pricking sensation brought me to my senses, somewhat, and opening my eyes I beheld Lady Sienna stitching the edges of my wounds closed. I lost consciousness again, and when I awoke, my chest and arm were bandaged and the pain was now more dull than searing.

The mending took some time, and my Queen offered a reward to whoever might rid her demesne of the dragon, but although it was sighted twice afterward, it has not returned and to my knowledge the reward is unclaimed. If my arm is not so strong now, blame the dragon and its teeth; if I do not rush headlong into battle, blame the lessons of that day.

((And the lessons of that day are:
1. Do not attack a superior force without at least one friend at your side;
2. Do not leave your battle meter set on “Arena,” which will mean only you and your opponent will know there is a fight;
3. Make sure your weapon works with your opponent’s battle meter: I struck many blows and did no damage. Seth proved it could be harmed, so it had to be my sword that failed to register a hit.
4. Most importantly, never hesitate, within reason, to defend the things, places and people you value. It will be worth it in the end. I was a fool, but a bigger one than I would have done nothing.))

A wise man once said: “You are not required to complete the task, but neither are you free to refrain from beginning it.”

Baron Albion