SophiaTsu

A Proper Goodbye to Me Doves

--------------

“Vera, me dove,” whispered Mother. “Wake up, me dear.”

Vera opened her eyes slowly, adjusting them to the bright light. There was her mother, though it was a version of her she had never seen - younger, with no wrinkles or grey to her hair. 

“Mother..?” Vera asked, finding that her throat was dry. She tried to sit up and get a better look around, but her strength was completely gone, forcing her to lay on her back staring straight towards the white nothingness above.

Her mother smiled. “Ah’ve been waitin’ fer ye.” She held something to Vera’s lips. It was warm and slid down her tongue and throat with ease. 

After her mother had finished serving her the drink and using a cloth to dab gently around her lips, Vera found the strength to speak again. “Mother, what was that?”

“Ambrosia,” Her mother answered with ease, sealing the liquid away in some side container. “Nectar of the Gods. Rememba’ how I told ye tah neve’ forget whe’e ye came from?” She truly was stunning, her skin soft, hair pinned to the sides of her hair like she always had it when she tended to the children.

“The Gods…” Vera felt her body change from this strange twinging of numbness to a state of energy and fulfilment. “What is this place? Where are we?”

Vera’s mother tried to give her a reassuring grin, but her eyes, those deep green eyes, gave it away. “Yer in a bette’ place now.” 

An unsuspected bolt of shock went through Vera’s body as she curled into herself. She felt like she was on fire...she was on fire! She patted down her arms and legs, trying to get the pain from going away.

“Please, Vera, me dove,” She gave her a look only a mother could give; stern but ever-so loving and kind. She needed her to calm down. Vera flinched as the pain eventually subsided. “Good. Now that that’s done an’ ye’ve drank yer ambrosia, we have all the time in the world.”

Vera painfully looked around, eyesight spotty and hand to her head, only to be scolded. “Don’t move yer head that fast, ye’ll get sick tah yer stomach. Yer lucky that I got to ye when I did, me dove, and I’m already pissed tah hear about what ye’ve done.”

“What I’ve done?” Vera couldn’t remember. There were many things that Vera had done that could upset her mother, but she just couldn’t think of one particular time her mother would have been around to be upset. After all…

“My, ye grown up tah be a nice lookin’ lass. Got yer mahder’s hair, I see. An’ eyes - ooh, we ‘ave good eyes, ye know.”

Vera saw a shadow in the distance, a familiar one at that. Tall and slender, pointed ears…

“Auntie?” Vera yelled out, her voice still a bit hoarse. Her exclamation echoed and echoed throughout this plane of existence. How could that be her Auntie if her Auntie was gone? How could this be her mother if her mother was dead?

That’s when the memories began to flood back into mind: Vera was in a washroom, not her own, somewhere far away from her childhood home. She had received news of her Auntie, something drastic, and she was holding to her kitchen knife with a white knuckled grip. She was preparing lettuce and grub for the rabbits in their pens, the few that were left after her belongings were raided by strangers. A girl turned nameless in another nameless place had lost again the only things of her nameless value; her livelihood and her family. 

Gone were the days where her mother fitted her into ugly sweaters for a family portrait. Gone were the days Uncle would lift her up by the torso and spin her around like a mere doll. The conversations with her adopted-brothers, the mighty hunters of the family, had since been lost to time. And that truly was the enemy of this all, was it not? Was time not the blind judge, jury, and executioner of all that dared to take on the Ambrose family name?

No, it was not.

The real enemy was people. People who were sneaky, people who were cruel. People who snipped others’ ears and banished children from their homes. People who sat in large castles, taxing hundreds for their own pleasure because they were born into a system of wealth and luxury. These people who laughed at others and made fools of what should otherwise be considered decency-

Vera caught herself. She was thinking of her brother again. Her fingers traced her chin and her throat, almost reliving her last moments taking the blade to her own skin and taking surgical cuts. The pity she felt for the farmer that would find her, the one who rented to her, was short-lived; After all, she was dead, what else could she do?

After a few moments, Vera met her mother’s eyes again. “I’m in the afterlife, aren’t I?” As a response, her mother simply nodded, holding her hands over Vera’s as a way to show support. 

The timid silence was soon broken as Vera’s mother, Alli, started asking for all the details from the mortal realm. There was some giggling, some embellishments of stories; Vera told her mother of the time her Auntie had made a rabbit out of fire so big that it caught the bed a light.

Alli kicked and laughed that signature laugh: snorty and full, cheeks practically wet with tears. She cooed Vera to tell her more. “What about meh? What do they say about meh?”

Vera stumbled a bit with her response. “Well,” she said, “They credit you for how old you were, which is admittedly a feat of its own if you think about it.”

Alli looked a bit disappointed. “Not even ‘Alli the Mahder’ or ‘Alli the Kind’. But ‘Alli the Old’?” Vera shrugged. Alli’s face started to slide from joy to an almost rage, eyes narrowed with a piercing gaze. “An’ those Keepe’s, still kickin’?” Vera again shrugged. Alli huffed. “Smells like magicks tah meh. If anyone should be dubbed ‘the old’, it should be that one betch-”

“Mother,” Vera interrupted, giving a look only a daughter could give; a gentle reminder that this was not a very important matter anymore.

Alli waved it off. “Psh. They neve’ appreciated me tries at diplomacy. I say feck em’.”  It was strange that her mother had not asked about Vane, Vera’s twin brother. Instead, Alli helped Vera stand and get a better grasp of her surroundings, which were very much still bright and white. 

The shadow-figure in the distance was gone, just an endless domain of purity that seemed to stretch for miles was available to the eye. “Where is this? I don’t remember it from Auntie’s lessons on religion.” 

Alli smirked. “Hopefully she didn’t teach ya that Faith shite, the one’s they tried tah convert meh to before marryin’ yer fahder.” There was a twinge of some emotion when Alli mentioned her husband, even if it was so very brief. From Vera’s very limited knowledge on their marriage, perhaps the emotion was...grief. Or disappointment. “This is a waitin’ lobby, I’ll take ya tah the Gods’ domain. It is beautiful the’e: grass and trees and ivy, flowers and scents that I’ve neve’ dreamt of! All he’e.”  Alli motioned towards a direction that held no bearing to Vera. “Ye’ll get tah meet yer brahda’s, yer niece, yer siste’. Ye’ll get to see the older lads again, too, de bear seekers.” At that remark, Alli winked to Vera, implying that she would be able to spend time with the aforementioned hunters of the family.

“Mother, I should tell you…” Vera folded her hands in preparation to let her mother know of what her brother had done, what he had become.

“I know.”

The pause was almost a lifetime of its own, sitting dull and heavily in the air as Alli faced away from her recently-deceased daughter.

“Yer fahder, I knew he wouldn’t raise ye the same. I didn’t trust his spoiled brain, ‘specially not wit’ the ideals that he maintained about who should beh in charge.” To that, Alli simply raised her eyebrows. “He was destined fer the throne, I saw it in his eyes as soon as he was born. Tenacious, like his fahder. But also stubborn and...dispassionate.” Her words began to drift away, almost as though she was reliving her time in the mortal realm. “It was the next gold coin, the next profit made from the work of another. His tongue was quick an’ he had wits beyond his years,” Alli dragged out her next words, “But he never quite figured out using his wits fer peace. Or love. And now, he’e we are.”

Vera saw the tiredness in her mother’s eyes, and now she believed that she understood all those days and nights where she heard her mother sobbing, pleading to the Gods and Uncle for them to release her from this life, this prison.

“Maybe ‘Alli the old’” is fittin’. Because that was the only thing they acknowledged me fo’.” Alli laughed dryly. “An old woman, widowed twice, married tah a rich man, taking care of her biological and non-biological children, simply put the Mother tah the lost orphans of No’land. The dust an’ grime that was once Lorraine blossomed into House Ambrose, who was murdered, ignored, an’ snuffed out.”

“I’m sorry, Mother,” Vera choked on her own words, attempting to give her some peace, some kind of comfort that it wasn’t all that bad.

“Remember the good? You remember when Vane and I were just babes, swaddled in a cradle, cared over by you and Cain and Asher?” Vera’s throat swelled. She was trying to reignite that fire inside of her mother that warmed everything around her.

Alli gave a partial smile, lost in thought. She eventually looked back to her child, cupping her face with her hand. Even in death, she was still so soft and so very much alive. “The good days ‘ave passed, me dove. They’ve passed an’ I say good riddance.” She held Vera in her grasp, her voice shifting to give each of her words dramatic importance. “Those days were good, but we were so sad, so sad indeed. It was the time of hear'break, betrayal, denial, an’ solitude. He’e...he’e is whe’e we can make new days tah smile upon. We ‘ave moved on; that is not our world anymore. We both need tah leave fully, leave the peppery good days behind.”

Vera clenched her jaw. To leave the mortal realm, to leave everything that she had ever know...even if she was already dead, that was a hard decision to make. 

But, it was the right thing to do. She knew that once her mother and her had passed through to the Gods’ realm, after she was fully in death’s embrace, all in the past would be but a memory. The days of smiling with her brother, laughing. The days where she played with her siblings and friends.

“Even though I am saying goodbye,” Vera nodded assuredly, “I will be okay.” 

So, the two stood up and brushed themselves off, Alli in the lead towards a beautiful and bright future. After a few moments, Vera started to look back, if just for a second, just to see if she could make out the last of the mortal realm, but her mother’s cries of glee when seeing those who had already departed intrigued Vera’s attention more. 

((It is with this that I say with a light heart, that I am officially done with LOTC. I have been playing this game since 2010 or something, back when I lied about being 13 just to play. I have met many amazing people, some so memorable that they will be in my heart forever. I do not intend for this short story/PK post to break lore; this is how my characters’ interpreted death. It has been months to a year since I’ve actually logged onto the server and played, but the LOTC community has always found a way to lurk into my life.

It is time to move on, and even though I am saying goodbye, I know that I will be okay.

Thank you and **** you for the memories.

-SophiaTsu))

absolute ***** of a human being, happy to see this

Siora Ilkala reads this carefully, bedridden. Her fingers curl around the paper, holding it gingerly as she was reminded of her childhood, which took place so so far away. She rests the parchment on her chest and coughs, her eyes fluttering shut, drifting back to sleep.

Somewhere off in a desert-town, a young woman brushes up on her reading and takes a gander of the newest releases in poetry. She lets herself fall enchanted with the words of this...Mirabella Violet? “A beautifool mystery indeeds...” she whispers to herself as she finishes browsing the girl’s collection. 

2 hours ago, Peralien said:

@_sinthetic@Reetzy998@SophiaTsu- You three are the only Norlanders I'd consider friends.

Once you're my son, you're always part of the family. Even in death you can't escape 😈

My questions: What do you like to do other than lotc? Have you ever dabbled in other rpgs? And is there a certain characteristic you notice amongst all your characters?

On 2/22/2021 at 12:40 PM, neoroseo said:

Athri Onfroi Belrose read over the missive, sat in her home in front of a table, that was covered in various fabrics and other items. "...Holy war when?  There always seems to be talk of one happening again... they need to hurry it up. Only a matter of time, I'm sure they know that." She chuckled to herself, walking over to her fireplace and tossing the paper in, watching the edges crisp and darken before returning to work.

Vera Ambrose watches as the paper starts to burn in the fire. She pets her bunny on the head, which is only a stuff animal, but she treats it as if it were alive. “Nobody haves the balls, Auntie Atee. Theys just sittin arounds and beings crabby. My mama was around for that, too.” She then goes inside the house.

Vera Ambrose doesn’t know what is going on, but nonetheless steals all the carrots from the snack table and pockets them for later. “For dah bunnies!” She proclaimed to herself mostly.

4 hours ago, minty_roses said:

“Gramma!” the young Camille exclaims upon seeing her grandmother enter the seven skies. At that, the mali runs towards Alli, hugging her tightly. “I’ve missed ya’!”

On 12/23/2020 at 6:20 PM, PastaSurprise said:

Avern, previously a ghost but finally in the Seven Skies after he burned himself with Aurum to off himself. Would silently look at Alli, him still wearing the blood-covered outfit he died in with him wearing a blindfold due to him being a Seer at his death. "At this point I don't even care anymore, I've seen to much.." He'd say mumbling, walking away from Alli.

39 minutes ago, neoroseo said:

A blindfolded, pale elf opened up her arms for Alli. Yule Onfroi stood there, shrouded in red robes. "Come on, give me a hug! It can't have been that long... right?" The long gone elf said, seeming to have little knowledge of what time had passed since her own demise.

 

Athri stood within the city of Talon's Port, or what was there at the moment as it was being built. She soon walked off into the surrounding woodland, not sure how to feel about her aunts death.

27 minutes ago, Fiiieee said:

Thea's eyes widened upon hearing about the passing of her old friend. A pained groan escaped the woman who was now bound to the world once more. She stepped about the library, her head faintly shaking as  she managed to force the words; "Had I only taken better care of that woman and her children, as I promised. I suppose, in a way, Oathbreaker is a decent byname for me, after all..."

4th of Snow's Maiden

Year 4 SA

-=+=-

   Lady Alli Ambrose Freysson laid in her bed, staring up at the ceiling. The green had consumed her skin, reaching all the way from under her eyes to her fingertips. She was sick, but not sure with what. Maybe this was just what happened after 95 years.

   She thought back to when she was a little girl in Haense, growing up to become a part of the Brotherhood. Her best friend and her shared a bunk bed, would go out drinking, just generally having a good time as teenagers. During an attack on Haense, Alli saw her friend get struck by an arrow and die on the floor. People trampled her body trying to escape the heavy fire. Alli’s hands flew to her mouth to cover a scream as she herself was dragged inside to be used as collateral damage later. 

(Alli "Amadeo" preparing for battle in Haense)

   Alli decided to leave Haense after that. She followed the road for as far as she could until her feet were calloused and her head was dizzy. She fell asleep on the road, right outside of the druids, only to be picked up and escorted to Ruswick by some passing criminals. There, she met the first love of her life, who taught her how to bandit and survive on her own. She was absolutely entranced with him and the life of living in an underground close-knit community. She remembered the turtles they used to grow, the nights playing chess at the casino. The blood and notes that were left behind when he was brutally murdered by vengeful enemies.

(Teenage Alli - by TSAL)

   Again, she ran. Another man who claimed to be her first-love’s comrade-in-arms took her to a completely new community, one where the setting was cold, but the people were warm. This was Lorraine. After two years and the leader’s disappearance, Alli’s husband, the man who had saved her, came into power. They moved to Rubern to protect themselves from the Great AIS vs ISA war, raising their two children with the help of her sister-in-law, Emilliene. Or, what most people called her, Yule.

(Alli and her family in Rubern)

   When Alli heard news of her husband’s death - killed in a marketplace in by Orenians - she packed up yet again and moved back to Lorraine. She was the only one left, her children Avian and Willow looking to her for guidance as they grew older. Luckily, Yule was there to assist yet again, bringing her own husband as well. It wasn’t long until Alli met and befriended Ser Jolfrey, who helped her move the cattle from the stronghold to the new farm. He helped her introduce new people to Darrowmere, the renamed and completely changed Lorraine. This was around the time that Avian left to continue his academics. Willow followed not long after with his adopted son. He was eventually killed in Haense, leaving a suicide note behind for his family.

(Adult Alli - by Arron)

   The King of Norland, who had changed ruling while Alli was gone, employed the Grand Architect to rebuild what was lost. After years of strain and construction, the walls of the fort were raised and protective of the small town inside. Alli remembers gazing over the groups of people who settled below her balcony. By this time, Yule had passed and her husband had vanished, leaving her only biological child to fend for herself. Her name was Athri. 

   Alli was now in her 40’s and antsy to find purpose to her life. She went off to the halflings, walking through Brandybrook with a smile as the citizens loaded into boats and sold fresh bread at their shops. She wandered through the dwarven territory, amazed by the architecture lining the walls, the depths of the cavern and the communication between leadership and commonfolk. It all reminded her of what used to be Ruswick, now just a flooded cavern.

   While Alli was travelling, she realized that her stomach had started swelling. She contacted the man who she assumed had to be the father, and he promptly moved into Darrowmere to help raise the child. Unfortunately, he soon fell ill and passed, leaving her behind to parent alone yet again. Around this time, with Alexios swaddled and held tightly to her chest, Alli adopted the Maddox-clan (Cain, Asher, and Avern) and Estelle, who was just a young girl when she became a part of the family. 

   Years after, with Cain Maddox and Estelle Ambrose settled down with their own individual families, Avern killed by his estranged sister, and Jolfrey and Asher taking care of the family, Alli once again met a man who had caught her interest. This one was...fun, to say the least. Unlike the others had been. He was relaxed and concerned for her and her family. He cracked jokes and cruised in a wheelchair. He was loved by everyone for exactly how crazy he was. At the ripe age of 90, Alli fell pregnant once again to twins; Vera and Vane.

(Alli and Olaf's wedding)

   The world was thrown into chaos by Great Evils, forcing Norland to escape on their boats just like everyone else. On the new land everyone had settled upon, Alli grew more depressed. She walked the trails of Leumont with a hunched back and weary expression. She smiled at her children with empty eyes and half of a heart. She was...empty. A shell of what she once was. Her husband treated her well and made sure to take care of her, but something felt off to her. She was convinced he was like the rest of them, the rest of the blood-thirsty men in her life who went off to destroy and pillage and die.

   Ser Jolfrey was called into the room, left alone to grieve when Alli let go of her last breath. Her eyes fluttering closed, a small smile playing along her chapped lips, Lady Alli Ruse Ambrose Freysson finally stopped running and decided to rest.

The following are letters that Alli requested Jolfrey to write before she die. 

-=+=-

He’s helped me a lot (like, a lot a lot). He’s a memester ™️ with a GIGANTIC heart, and I know that if he was to join staff, he would calm down a lot. He has an extreme amount of untapped potential; and he’s actually good with money and the economy, not just in game, but in real life. If the staff sees his behavior from June as too problematic, then that’s really the only drawback and that’s something that can be adapted. I mean, they’ve dealt with far worse. But they also don’t have options that are much better when it comes to a seasoned player who is responsible with mineman tasks. With vortex, he helps as many people as he can and legitimately never complains. He is essential to the future success of LotC. +1

Lady Alli Ambrose squeaks excitedly, which was really quite uncharacteristic of her. “Ef ets a weddin’ dey want, ets a weddin’ dey’ll get!!” She would then hussle to go wake up the others and prepare some booze.

((Congratulations!!!))

Alli Ambrose Freysson shook her head as one of her sons made her aware of the tragedy. "Aye, I heard af him. Uh man who did his job." She nodded firmly to herself, slowly rising from her chair at the table. Once her bones had creaked to a stand, she hesitated. "I wonde' ef Olaf knows. An' I wonde' how Jage' knew how agile he is."

13th of Snow's Maiden 

3 Second Age

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

"Get en yer places, doves," Lady Alli Ambrose said, lining her youngest children beside one another at the shoulder. She adjusted Vane's collar while Vera began to whine. 

Off to the side was Olaf Freysson, sitting comfortably in his wheelchair. He was thumbing through his coins over and over again, only looking up to say, "Listen to your mother. And quiet down, will you?" Then, with a soft smile, he'd continue to count.

Ser Jolfrey stood at the entrance to the tavern, eyes combing over the grove and the winding trails that led from the capital to the County of Leumont. From the distance came three figures: a tall man with bright white hair, his wife-to-be, and his beautiful daughter. Jolfrey went and met the man's hand in a firm handshake. "Good to see you, Cain." Jolfrey said before giving respectful glances to the young women.

Cain Maddox Ambrose retracted his hand and began to lead his children upstairs, sweater already itching his neck. He smiled, "Let's get this over with..."

Soon after, Asher Maddox Ambrose arrived, donned in hunting gear, giving Jolfrey a solemn nod. "Good afternoon!" He said before heading upstairs.

Lucina Camien was next to arrive. "Happy Holidays, Jolfrey." She then clocked him in the arm jokingly and snickered, giving him a dazzling smile before going inside.

After her was a very timid Athri Ambrose, approaching Jolfrey carefully, as if he would attack her. "It's...been a long time." Jolfrey immediately pulled her in for a hug. "It's good to see you, friend." She pulled back from his embrace, a bit more calmed, and started to go upstairs.

Estelle and Alexios Ambrose arrived at the same time, bumping into one another. Estelle folded her hands in front of her. "Oh, hello!" She said cheerily. 

Alexios greeted her with a formal gesture. "Good day, sister. Are you ready for the festivities?" Estelle nodded, allowing Jolfrey to escort her upstairs, Alexios close behind.

Last but not least was Bertrath Freysson, happily walking down the cobblestone road to meet Jolfrey at the door. He offered his hand. "'Ello, there! Nice sweater you got." Bertrath chuckled, himself having one very similar. "Name's Bertrath. You taking part in the festivities?"

After finally settling down and telling quite a few...strange...stories, another Norlander arrived to paint the picture you see below.

[!] A note is attached:

Merry Krugmas and Happy Holidays! We may not be the least problematic family or even a simple one, but together, we wish you all good tidings! 

From Iron to Ice

Love,

The Ambrose-Freysson Family

((OOC Credits:

Sweaters: @Miss_Confined

Family members [from the left]: envy, Roria, neoroseo, Professorus, Pro-Head, SophiaTsu, jolfrey, recrofine, Denset_, ambretta, Tayelikel (Reetzy in spirit)

Thank you everyone for attending!!!!))
 

5 hours ago, FlemishSupremacy said:

These little drops don't even need to be mechanically significant. You can make tiny rp items that can be found while gathering things. Oh, you're mining? Well, you found an old, burried copper coin! Farming? Huh, the handle of an ancient sword beneath the crops! You get the idea.

EXACTLY. The staff has seemed to have forgotten (imo) that this is a roleplaying game. Where and what is the story? Is there an overarching plot? They’ve turned this entire server into a code-writer’s wet dream with mechanics that defeat the initial and driving intent of the platform even existing.

Yessss!! Omg I love it. Expect me to reach out to you as soon as I can!!

This is what I said would happen. Look at FRP as an example of what this kind of system should/could be like. But no, they didn’t listen. Banditting to an annoying degree (i.e. camping and low quality roleplay and emotes) makes the entire game less fun. Even when I’ve banditted people in the past (or helped with it), I would do it to a degree that wouldn’t take away from roleplay or inconvenience anyone too much. I have no reason to get back on LOTC because I’ve been working so hard and grinding to regain my wealth from last map so I can pay taxes and keep roleplay a priority for my citizens. But now, I can’t even go to nodes. There’s no point. It’s not fun.

♥️

Siora Ilkala glances over the page, her smile broadening at every word. She tucked it into her dress pocket and began to make her way to MS Mariana.

tell me, oh wise one, who is my canine twin?