This is a weekly article, delivered to you every Wednesday. These articles are intended to be a fun exercise as well as a good resource for role-players to explore Character Development so please feel free to post your own characters reaction to the weekly prompt. What does this holiday season mean to your character?
((Yeah okay seemed obvious, but has to be done. Anyone who hasn't read Season of Hope by Ascendant, do a search for it in the Roleplay section or check it out in his signature. Its awesome and its very well done story, which just happens to take place around Christmas. ))
The Winter Solstice, Midwinter, Yule, Christmas. This time of year had more names then Courtney cared to remember. She remembered the Solstice from when she was a child, her mother was very devout practitioner of the different rites of the lands that the Druids hail from from. Yule was the holiday of choice. Gwendolyn Bryne, her maiden name, was Irish born and raised, her last name, meaning Raven she gave up when she married, but her traditions she kept within the Williams household. It was at this time of year, that Courtney always missed her mother the most. To this day Courtney can recite the Yule Cat poem her mother taught her.
You all know the Yule Cat And that Cat was huge indeed. People didn't know where he came from Or where he went. He opened his glaring eyes wide, The two of them glowing bright. It took a really brave man To look straight into them. His whiskers, sharp as bristles, His back arched up high. And the claws of his hairy paws Were a terrible sight. He gave a wave of his strong tail, He jumped and he clawed and he hissed. Sometimes up in the valley, Sometimes down by the shore. He roamed at large, hungry and evil In the freezing Yule snow. In every home People shuddered at his name. If one heard a pitiful "meow" Something evil would happen soon. Everybody knew he hunted men But didn't care for mice. He picked on the very poor That no new garments got For Yule - who toiled And lived in dire need. From them he took in one fell swoop Their whole Yule dinner Always eating it himself If he possibly could. Hence it was that the women At their spinning wheels sat Spinning a colorful thread For a frock or a little sock. Because you mustn't let the Cat Get hold of the little children. They had to get something new to wear From the grownups each year. And when the lights came on, on Yule Eve And the Cat peered in, The little children stood rosy and proud All dressed up in their new clothes. Some had gotten an apron And some had gotten shoes Or something that was needed - That was all it took. For all who got something new to wear Stayed out of that *****-cat's grasp He then gave an awful hiss But went on his way. Whether he still exists I do not know. But his visit would be in vain If next time everybody Got something new to wear. Now you might be thinking of helping Where help is needed most. Perhaps you'll find some children That have nothing at all. Perhaps searching for those That live in a lightless world Will give you a happy day And a Merry, Merry Yule
The message was clear of course, Yule was time when one helped others. It was funny, Courtney hadn't thought of the Yule Cat in years. It was something her mother had always talked about and taught Courtney. It was then she heard the faint meow. At first she thought it was her imagination, then a small black cat came out of the alley way near where she was walking. She stopped, cats in Salamanca were usually attached to witches, even during Yule. A scrawny black cat came out from between two houses, its large green eyes regarded the slim red head. Courtney looked around, but the cat didn't look anything but hungry. Courtney felt sorry for the small feline and took some small treats out of her pocket. Seeing if the cat wanted them. Suddenly the air around her felt charged, as if the electrical energy suddenly increased in a very localized area. Courtney turned and hovering not 5 feet above her was one of the Cabal witches. An Adept if she wasn't mistaken. The girl was also thin, with a white face scarlet hair and bright red lips. She had dark makeup around her bloodshot gray eyes. Her hands held the electricity at bay for the moment as she stared at Courtney.
"Don't hurt her." the witch said in an almost pleading voice.
"I wasn't going to." Courtney answered carefully, she held out her open hand and showed the witch the handful of small treats she had. "She looked hungry."
The two women stared at each other, then the witch dismissed her lightning and settled to the ground. She knelt down beside her cat, a look of sadness in her eyes.
"She is I am sure." she said, her voice soft. "I-I haven't been able to keep us both fed is all."
She look ashamed to have admitted that to Courtney, she kept her head lowered, petting her cat as it purred.
"What's her name?" Courtney asked.
"Corkey" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Well that's a fine name." Courtney said, "Mine's Courtney, no wonder she likes me."
Courtney knelt down next to the black clad witch and held her open hand before the cat as it ate the small treats. Again the two woman remained silent for a time. The witch looked over to the red head dressed is jeans, a pink sweater and sneakers. She didn't seem to fear the young witch, and that meant she was likely a hero or some kind of super powered individual..
"You're a cape aren't you?" she asked the woman next to her, a suspicious glint in her eye.
Courtney turned and looked at the young witch, she looked barely over 18, if that.
"Not tonight." she answered. The scooped the cat into her arms, it still purring away. "So don't worry. Tonight I am the woman taking this wonderful cat and feeding her a proper dinner."
The young witch smiled and started to turn away.
"Where are you going?" Courtney asked stopping the Cabal witch before she could leave. "You have to come with me. How else can I return Corkey here to her proper owner?"
The Cabal witch stopped and stared at Courtney for a few moments, the silence stretched between the two of them.
"No ties," Courtney added finally breaking the silence. "No promises, no commitments necessary. Just come with me, eat get your cat fed. That's it."
The young Cabal witch nodded and fell into step beside Courtney, still allowing her to keep the cat in her arms. They stopped as they entered the street. Courtney looked over to young woman.
"Okay, I am going to teleport us to my boyfriend's apartment. It is shielded, but if I bring us in we can pass without harm." she handed the cat back to the witch.
"Jennifer," she said, taking her cat. "My name's Jennifer. Just thought I would introduce myself before you take us."
Courtney smiled and nodded. "Pleased to meet you Jennifer."
"Call me Jenn," she said quickly, the added."All my friends do."
"Well my friends call me CJ." the older woman said.
"Thank you." Jennifer said, her head looking at the ground. "You are very kind."
Courtney reached out and took her hand. Jennifer looked up.
"What are friends for?" she said, a smile on her face, as they both disappeared off of the street.
((Happy Holidays to all, may each and every one of you find joy and happiness this season. ))
This is a weekly article, delivered to you every Wednesday. These articles are intended to be a fun exercise as well as a good resource for role-players to explore Character Development so please feel free to post your own characters reaction to the weekly prompt.
))
What does this holiday season mean to your character?
((Yeah okay seemed obvious, but has to be done. Anyone who hasn't read Season of Hope by Ascendant, do a search for it in the Roleplay section or check it out in his signature. Its awesome and its very well done story, which just happens to take place around Christmas. ))
The Winter Solstice, Midwinter, Yule, Christmas. This time of year had more names then Courtney cared to remember. She remembered the Solstice from when she was a child, her mother was very devout practitioner of the different rites of the lands that the Druids hail from from. Yule was the holiday of choice. Gwendolyn Bryne, her maiden name, was Irish born and raised, her last name, meaning Raven she gave up when she married, but her traditions she kept within the Williams household. It was at this time of year, that Courtney always missed her mother the most. To this day Courtney can recite the Yule Cat poem her mother taught her.
You all know the Yule Cat
And that Cat was huge indeed.
People didn't know where he came from
Or where he went.
He opened his glaring eyes wide,
The two of them glowing bright.
It took a really brave man
To look straight into them.
His whiskers, sharp as bristles,
His back arched up high.
And the claws of his hairy paws
Were a terrible sight.
He gave a wave of his strong tail,
He jumped and he clawed and he hissed.
Sometimes up in the valley,
Sometimes down by the shore.
He roamed at large, hungry and evil
In the freezing Yule snow.
In every home
People shuddered at his name.
If one heard a pitiful "meow"
Something evil would happen soon.
Everybody knew he hunted men
But didn't care for mice.
He picked on the very poor
That no new garments got
For Yule - who toiled
And lived in dire need.
From them he took in one fell swoop
Their whole Yule dinner
Always eating it himself
If he possibly could.
Hence it was that the women
At their spinning wheels sat
Spinning a colorful thread
For a frock or a little sock.
Because you mustn't let the Cat
Get hold of the little children.
They had to get something new to wear
From the grownups each year.
And when the lights came on, on Yule Eve
And the Cat peered in,
The little children stood rosy and proud
All dressed up in their new clothes.
Some had gotten an apron
And some had gotten shoes
Or something that was needed
- That was all it took.
For all who got something new to wear
Stayed out of that *****-cat's grasp
He then gave an awful hiss
But went on his way.
Whether he still exists I do not know.
But his visit would be in vain
If next time everybody
Got something new to wear.
Now you might be thinking of helping
Where help is needed most.
Perhaps you'll find some children
That have nothing at all.
Perhaps searching for those
That live in a lightless world
Will give you a happy day
And a Merry, Merry Yule
The message was clear of course, Yule was time when one helped others. It was funny, Courtney hadn't thought of the Yule Cat in years. It was something her mother had always talked about and taught Courtney. It was then she heard the faint meow.
At first she thought it was her imagination, then a small black cat came out of the alley way near where she was walking. She stopped, cats in Salamanca were usually attached to witches, even during Yule.
A scrawny black cat came out from between two houses, its large green eyes regarded the slim red head. Courtney looked around, but the cat didn't look anything but hungry. Courtney felt sorry for the small feline and took some small treats out of her pocket. Seeing if the cat wanted them. Suddenly the air around her felt charged, as if the electrical energy suddenly increased in a very localized area. Courtney turned and hovering not 5 feet above her was one of the Cabal witches. An Adept if she wasn't mistaken. The girl was also thin, with a white face scarlet hair and bright red lips. She had dark makeup around her bloodshot gray eyes. Her hands held the electricity at bay for the moment as she stared at Courtney.
"Don't hurt her." the witch said in an almost pleading voice.
"I wasn't going to." Courtney answered carefully, she held out her open hand and showed the witch the handful of small treats she had. "She looked hungry."
The two women stared at each other, then the witch dismissed her lightning and settled to the ground. She knelt down beside her cat, a look of sadness in her eyes.
"She is I am sure." she said, her voice soft. "I-I haven't been able to keep us both fed is all."
She look ashamed to have admitted that to Courtney, she kept her head lowered, petting her cat as it purred.
"What's her name?" Courtney asked.
"Corkey" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Well that's a fine name." Courtney said, "Mine's Courtney, no wonder she likes me."
Courtney knelt down next to the black clad witch and held her open hand before the cat as it ate the small treats.
Again the two woman remained silent for a time. The witch looked over to the red head dressed is jeans, a pink sweater and sneakers. She didn't seem to fear the young witch, and that meant she was likely a hero or some kind of super powered individual..
"You're a cape aren't you?" she asked the woman next to her, a suspicious glint in her eye.
Courtney turned and looked at the young witch, she looked barely over 18, if that.
"Not tonight." she answered. The scooped the cat into her arms, it still purring away. "So don't worry. Tonight I am the woman taking this wonderful cat and feeding her a proper dinner."
The young witch smiled and started to turn away.
"Where are you going?" Courtney asked stopping the Cabal witch before she could leave. "You have to come with me. How else can I return Corkey here to her proper owner?"
The Cabal witch stopped and stared at Courtney for a few moments, the silence stretched between the two of them.
"No ties," Courtney added finally breaking the silence. "No promises, no commitments necessary. Just come with me, eat get your cat fed. That's it."
The young Cabal witch nodded and fell into step beside Courtney, still allowing her to keep the cat in her arms. They stopped as they entered the street. Courtney looked over to young woman.
"Okay, I am going to teleport us to my boyfriend's apartment. It is shielded, but if I bring us in we can pass without harm." she handed the cat back to the witch.
"Jennifer," she said, taking her cat. "My name's Jennifer. Just thought I would introduce myself before you take us."
Courtney smiled and nodded. "Pleased to meet you Jennifer."
"Call me Jenn," she said quickly, the added."All my friends do."
"Well my friends call me CJ." the older woman said.
"Thank you." Jennifer said, her head looking at the ground. "You are very kind."
Courtney reached out and took her hand. Jennifer looked up.
"What are friends for?" she said, a smile on her face, as they both disappeared off of the street.
((Happy Holidays to all, may each and every one of you find joy and happiness this season.