Legends
2004-06-18||xx||5:02 a.m.
Have you ever been awoken froma deep sleep by a thought so powerful you just had to get up and put it to paper? To inscribe the words of madness to paper, capturing their unholy essence for all to see?
No?
Well....how about woken up with something you just knew, if you didn't write it down you would forget for all time?
Not that either?
Uh...well, then have you ever been me?
No?
Hmm.
Good.
Alright then. I have, and that's what this is all about. No shit, there I was, deep in the arms of Morpheus, an antibiotic coursing through my system, followed closely by the numbing properties of hydrocodone, and my cat, cradled to my chest when... Ok, ok- he's a big fucker so cradled isn't likely. How about "planted firmly making the art of breath a difficult and precious commodity"?
No?
Really?
Well, fuck you then- who's writing this shit anyways?
No shit, there he was, his front paws curling slightly, claws extended, biting into my chest, his purs the only sound besides Usher that permeated the air, when...
I can't explain it, I just, awoke. With a thought burning in my mind, and as I began to explore that thought, I knew I had to write it down. So, I began the process of extracting myself from comfort, to this upright position in front of my computer, and began to write. (I was pleased to note, that in the process two of my erstwhile downloads had managed to complete themselves. Yay!.)
The topic of this post is Legends. I've been in Amtgard for about four years now, having started somewhere in the Spring of 2000, i think, though the time is a bit murky for me. At the time, the biggest event I had attended was GE3, an event that held many sights and sounds that a young, unexperienced Amtgardian just barely enjoyed.
GE3 was notorious for the wet hill battles, with charging and sliding like there was an aligator slide/ mile between you and your opponent. It was also the site where Henric and I spent one night, having driven down in a torrential downpour to crash at a tent, set-up before hand by Vasa and cira, then driven back the following day with Sarah in tow, in a car packed to the gils with entirely too much fucking stuff. those directions back were still totally wack, and the several hour drive was fun none the less.
This was also the event where I met Dervish, and solidified the friendship that has stayed with me until this day, with Peace, who was then of Black Rock Hills. I bought weaponry from them, to bolster Crystal grove's stockpile. Weaponry that we promptly began to break and cause me much repair. I was also Pro-Tem Consort at the time, having earned the position after our current consort had left due to mundane issues. As such, I ate with the other officers under a makeshift tarp in a damp rain. This was the earliest memory of Cephy emerging, as Enon had asked my opinion of the meat that was being served. *smiles*
I still didn't know a lot of people yet, at this event, and spent much of the time watching Mike get hosed by the reeve's across the field. This was my first meeting with Panda, and Dame Katala, my first sightings of Sir Liz, whom I now call sister, and her husband dan, a Knight in his own right, Sir Blackhawk. It was also my first introduction to House Lionesse, a group I have considered joining in the past few weeks,a group dedicated to the promotion of female fighters in Amtgard, and the discontinuation of seperatist activities,basically making it less of a man's game than it already is. The only reason i have not joined is because of a concern of what others would think of me, which after it's said and down on paper, really isn't like me at all, to care what others think of me. i have always been who I am, without fear of opinions of others, and I'll be damned if I start now. The House's membership, thankfully, while dedicated to the advancement of equality within the game, does not limit the sex of it's members.
It was also at this event that i got my first view of the honorable Sir Squeak!, a woman who I have come to admire from afar, and yet, never quite gain the confidence to approach and meet. I shall have to correct that sometime in the future.
And, while I watched Mouse and Brunhilda, both members of the House I co-founded with two others, compete in the tourney, this was also my first glimpse of the beauty that resides in Neverwinter, as they fought a young, dark-haired lass by the name of Katrin. In truth she wouldn't have been nearly as memorable and remarkable as she was, save that she had the good form to fight in some of the larger battle games wearing nothing but a skin tight wetsuit. And while I know that this sounds base and a clear example of a man thinking with his prick, I must assert, you simply were not there to see it.
For the time I was there, it was a good event, even with the fact i left with a concussion. This had happened after helping another lifelong friend, Apple, steer Mouse up the hill after she had decided to empty her stomach of all it contained. I fell backwards, up a hill, and connected solidly with a tree. instant concussion. The events leading to this were no less amusing as Mouse managed to chase off an otherwise engaging conversation with Bitterthyme, by reaching over and blatantly pawing her breasts. mouse was quite drunk at the time, and Bitter, quite repelled. It was at this same campsite that i saw Sir angrist, otherwise known as Kelly, turn several previously unknown shades of red as Peace recounted the story of Barnacle Bill, in a duet with the pristine and proper Lady Angela. it was ona combination of Coronas and his Greasy penis (grecian Pinot) that we all got seriously hosed that night. And Vasa and I first met Xolan, who later became one of his squires, and the husbnad to a dear sweet friend of mine, Melissa.
I know, this isn't helping explain my post is it? Legends, not a recounting of GE3 is what it should have been called, I bet your thinking?I'll get to it, I swear.
The point is, this set the ground for me to meet some of the most important people I can think of in the game. Sir Liz, sir Blackhawk, Panda, Sir Crosser, Sir Vasa, Sir Squeak!, Dame Willow, Squire Xolan, Sir angrist, Syr Sanchez- they were all there, and are all people whom i admire on some level. (yes, even Sancho :) )
In years past i have had the delight to meet Dame Weilock, an important figure out west, and one of the pre-iminent Wardancers. I am not a Wardancer, nor will i ever be, but my respect for their organization and ideals knows no bounds. For me, the recognition of the woman who was dame weilock coming to one of Crystal groves's events was a pleasure, and I rose quickly to introduce myself and shake her hand. We had participated in a fund raiser to send one of her children to a famous concert hall in years past, and I knew of her from then. i never dreamed I would meet her, she whom i had always held in great esteem.
I suppose I should have felt the same way when meeting Dame Andralaine, but she's so very... over the top i still can't quite believe she is real, i guess. Certainly one of the most recognized figures in Amtgard ever. Among others I have met along the way, Sir Guy, and Sir Brennan, Omar De Turkina, Sir Leif, Sir Cullum, Wolfen, Sir Balthazar, Sir Calvin, Don Diego, the elusive and oft rumored to not exist Sir Brandobis, Syr Disciple, Bob, Sir Amren, Sir Iago, Dame Fionna, Dame Cordelia and Mama L, two wonderful women whom were so welcoming to me at last Moonshine, Lord Telchar, MaA's Thorvald and a host of countless others, all whom i know on sight, if not in my memory right now. And through it all, with every name that i meet, every legendary figure that i swiftly come to realize is human just like me, I realize that not only am I meeting them, but their meeting me, and whether my name holds any weight in amtgard or not, both of our lives have become the richer for it.
I'm fairly well known on the east coast, barely on the West, which is the case with many in amtgard out here, but there is yet one person whom I would dearly love to cross the nation to meet. One person whom I hold in likely high, and foolish regard. Tom, otherwise known as Sir Feral. He is now the King of Wetlands, at the time of this writing, and in truth, he's a lot of what i want to be in Amtgard. Not from the Knightly aspect of it all, though that would put a smile on my face one day, but more from the service aspect of it all, and the doing for the sake of doing, of being who you are, for the sheer sake of being who you are. I've learned a lot from Tom, in my discussions here and there, and one thing has always struck me true. Though he dedicates himself to the dream, and all that it is, he also manages to have fun, and a good time. that's important, for it is far too easy to get caught up in the politics, and become dejected. As is what happened with Frank, and chrissy- their just burnt out now.
The site is blinking- i have to finish soon, or risk losing it all.
Anyways, that's it- what i woke up to write. Of those I have met, the legends who I have committed to memory, and of my mission statement I suppose.
Damn site, blinking like this.
Cephy
Oh, and in a rather abrupt aside, since I had meant to mention it before, this most recent event also exposed me to new faces that I simply weren't aware existed, chief among them, the memorable Dame Lily Sumac. I can't explain the impact she had upon me in our brief meeting, discussing as we did the difficulties some of their reeves had in judging the House Lionesse tourneys. They were both Kingdom level reeves, but were unsure of how to call the bouts. Perhaps they simply had never had the experience to make the calls, with confidence. I had remarked, somewhat astounded, of how could they be Kingdom level and not have the confidence to make those calls when she agreed that I was right, but that their Kingdom was still new and as not yet used to that. I apologized of course, not knowing whether I had just insulted her Kingdom, but she said it was alright. I think, truthfully, that i kinda fell for her then, for she is possessed of a beauty unlike any other. Once again, that Neverwinter attraction. Ahh well, whatever, right?