Messages

Sweet child.

I enjoyed Eamon, first as a prospective fly in the ointment slash prospective asset in the league of Gold. Things were shaping up for an interesting primary, though then different interesting things happened instead.



And eventually after as sort of an area Waradim and Janissary. I love religious PCs and I always appreciate the characterization you put into your guys and am thankful for the time I do get with them. Good luck!

Mari did receive a relic for her efforts in service to the Sabotage, for her many conversions and for getting Gellema on the Stele of Law (thanks LiAlH4!). I figure I ought to include it as it does have a bit of perhaps helpful lore for prospective Gellemedes on its description. Mari's mystery cult one of the 'rare' branches of the 'orthodoxy' to establish grand temples for the greater purposes of the deity:





Power did not come without a tithe. Along with the ring Mari was blessed, or cursed, with a hungry, insistent heart. Forever acutely aware, sleeping and awake, of her own heartbeat so long as she lived. In an effort to quiet it she would seek new victories, achievements, heights and indulgences. In the moment such things could drown it out, and in the moment such things last forever, but she could never be truly content or sated while it still beat. That did not stop her from trying to fill the void in her chest poured out long ago to her Lady, though. Her faith compelled her to always seek more. The backlash to her political ambitions are visible to all to see now, though, in the end...



she did finally get what she wanted

Thanks for reading.

While I've tried a little to get back into things after Mari's death, it is pretty hard. In many ways her story is continuing, but now without her and, by an extension, without me. References and reminders of times were and what I'd rather be doing are unavoidable.

I know what I want to play but I can't play it anymore, so I think I should find other distractions for awhile. At least until the feels fade some. I'll be on discord if you want to chat.

-Ramc

No further entries forthcoming, the collection finds itself, tucked amidst sums of coin and letters, in other hands.

Akouai! Akouai!

It is, once more, over-





Mari Blacke, High Priestess of Gellema was created after a week or two on the server and figuring out I wanted to do something with religion, taking the paragraph from the Wiki seeing the "glistening temples in Baz'eel" and thinking, well, why not here? How do you go about making an unpalatable and esoteric religion mainstream enough to give it some space to work?



She is responsible for her share of things, even if she was never in an accord and somewhat marginalized at times as a result. It was by her (and Lojir and the current Gellemedes then's) hand that Gellema was placed on the Stele for a time. She styled herself Gellema's high priestess at that point and noone ever challenged her on that.

Mari was truly devoted of the Wheel as a whole, believing each spoke its due and virulently spiteful of heretics and spent some effort on rooting out Pra'raji and even got one or two. Being of the Wheel, of the Well and of the Sabotage, she did enjoy a mess but, largely, wished to seize the heart of Well and inspire it into the Gellemedea. To turn the Well into the eye in the storm of misfortune that swirled around the disc. To make it a shining jewel in Its image. This does perhaps make the circumstances of her death a bit more of a farce for those paying attention to such things.

She was a prolific and dogged conversion hound, probably getting nearly 20 people give or take I would have to count, more if you include some 'soft' conversions. She loved all of them, even when they stabbed her in the back or tried to kill her. Some conversions were five months in the making. Reaching out to the neglected and marginalized PCs gave her rather a lot to work with.


I hope religion grows to be a bigger part of the setting on the player side with these recent changes. I did sort of feel like I was playing a glorified priest npc at times I admit, set off to the side. But we made our own fun and Mari presided over several ritual sacrifices which wherein I had to get creative in dynamically restringing furniture for SFX. This is the effort the Gellemedea brings to the table.






Mari was of course silver tongued and charming as befitting her station. When she was famously kidnapped from her temple by some Banda Rossa during her first run at Legate, she woke up in a closet set to be murdered. Her groundwork for weeks with Kragg gave her the opening though to talk, and by the grace of Gellema was able to dissemble to save her life, leaving a Janissary to later fume, for whatever reason "Why did they let you go?? They kill babies!"

There was also that period of time after Lojir where they wouldn't let Nadiri talk to Mari without an escort.

She was, known to almost noone, one of the most published authors of the Bardic College...


She maintained a temple, inspired by Ianthe, for ages and appointed it rather nicely...


Mari was vain of course. There was ample environmental storytelling for this. And was, I think, the only PC to flat out pay ten thousand gold for a pretty toga rather than have one handed to them by background or circumstance.




While Mari was malign in her way, it was never really in the way people liked to imagine her to be, creating a dissonance she was quick to pounce upon. And she did have a sense of timing and know how to twist the knife.





As for the end, she was always hungry for the Legate seat which led to the sort of Rasputin-esque end I was ultimately expecting, though via blatant judicial murder. She went out with as much dignity as the circumstances allowed, faithful to her Deity, preaching to the last.






I interacted with a lot of folks so I couldn't cover them all, but as ever there are some that stand out.

Khalid- Khalid and Mari were quiet companions since the beginning, as cohorts in the Wheel and the Wheel House to friend to, eventually, the thought of him going to perish on Red Hill left her thoroughly rattled, bringing her to divulge her feelings. Khalid's dedication and incorruptibility was fascinating, even if she did manage eventually to cajole him into politics. Sometimes it did feel like we were bearing the entire religious weight of the Well on our shoulders to rep. A fantastic and in my opinion underrated cleric.

Ianthe- The reason Mari had a temple, blowing into her life at level 4 probably, and started doing the Greek swerve. Proof to me that if someone runs up to me crazy enough and Greek enough you can honestly get me to do anything. Incredible work.

Soliana- After months of working on it getting you into the Gellemedea was real worth it. I loved our dynamic and it was amazing to see her grow. See you between the stars~

Zickery- Lojir and Selsi were both a joy, and man did we get some stuff with Lojir. I appreciate how willing you are to just go for it and 'ball'.

Alejandro- I don't need to tell you that you are incredible at what you do. Your journals and works are top notch. Characterization and feels are all all timer every time with you, Don.

Gers Geiger- Mad wizard and Gellemede who, of course, backstabbed me a few times. Mari did get him cleared of some charges regarding shooting some cops. Mari inspiring him to create the alchemist guild had some wild knock-on affects down the line.

Galen- I appreciated you could never tell if Galen was going to strangle you or kiss you. Unbeatable lurching sociopath energy. Definitely one of Mari's favorites. I thought it was 50/50 you were going to murder me one day as an act of devotion. I'd've let you.

Bernadette- I love your guys Merrychase, even when they are being jerks to me and trying to undermine my cult with competition. Brandy and Meadow are also delights.

Bashir- Bashir is a treasure and I will miss just wandering about or hanging out, gossiping.

Karpie- please stop breaking my heart. At least I saved Lucas Moody with that spider helm so he and Edha got to retire to the burbs. Sorry Gianluca.

Syclya- Though you are new I do love your energy and willingness to engage, unbowed by expectations as only a fresh player can be.

EFU is always I think most rewarding for me when I look at those overlooked or secondary bit characters and prise and engage and get in their heads and this goes even moreso for Clerics. There is someone behind every keyboard and putting yourself out there, being available, making the gesture is almost worth it in the end. I would encourage everyone to always be looking to make that new friend, convert, or enemy. Don't let yourself get silo'd.

If you do miss Mari, though, just look up at the night sky.

she's waiting

Euoi Gellemos!

Chairómaste!

Sweet child...

The trading card scene is that much less for his absence. Great guy.

An unexpected, but most welcome sight. To see one kneeling, the other a'whisper at their side. A swelling of pride, to see things grow beyond my direct hand. That it is Her they revere ultimately, so much as they might love me.

And the beat of Her kingdom is felt, it's pulse. Sensed as it ever expands. My Lady, look upon my works and smile. Our works! To Your vasty dark between the stars do we commend our efforts! For You do we pour out our hearts, to collect those myriad doubts and fears and hesitancies and shames and offer them up, offer them out. For You.

Always for You.

Every heart lies at the center of a web. threads of shadow and fear and desire and other such ephemeral things. I enjoyed the spider. The threads might skein and twist about the fingers and one might spin and weave a cloth of them, mantle themselves in hopes and despairs. by Her grace might hands be nimble at the loom as we are woven heart to heart to heart.

My heart is no exception and as it beats and beats and beats its threads tremble, and so do in turn all the things to which it is entwined, and so on and so on and so on and so on in thrilling echo. Call and response. A reflection.

And I do love reflections.

Akouai, or rather, anagnosi my erstwhile vestal,

There really is not a beginning nor an end to the season of illusions I reflect. We have, as ever, only the moment. One that is being wrought in a most fascinating manner of late that perhaps, bears discussion. I would not be so crass as to trip up your zipping about so as you go about your business and thus- a letter. Seek me, if you've a mind.

-Mari Blacke
High Priestess of Our Lady Between the Stars

Legate Domhnall Guivarch,

I trust you are well despite your trials of late. I reflect we ought to speak of current matters and casual meetings are, certainly, a grand and distant dream when one sits on the Legate's chair. Events, among other things, conspire to keep a distance. Much has transpired and much does and much will continue to transpire beneath my Lady's aegis. It is my request that when you've time, have me sought.

-Mari Blacke
High Priestess of my Lady Between the Stars

Akouai! This is Mari Blacke, High Priestess of our Lady Between the stars, Gellema! Ware those who would trade your passions for efficacy! Those who would muzzle you for efficiency's sake! We embrace assembly BECAUSE of its clamour, not in SPITE of it!

Look with mistrust on those who promise you uniformity, conformity, certainty- the promise of the Machine. Emotion beveled and leavened away. Your feelings dictated to you by the click-ticking of automatons. An electric janissary in everyone's skull.

We put our faith in the Wheel, not in the Machine. To do otherwise is to as well admix our blood with oil and walk in clockwork lock-step to the gates of Qa'im and kneel there before the Tyrant Sun.

We laugh! We cry! We spit at the Sun! With all that is vital and red within! Embrace ecstacy! Howl terror! For in this moment are we alive! We love! We hate! Let fly the fire in your heart! For Her, for the Wheel, for the Well! Euoi Gellemos! Chairómaste!

Silver like the stars, cloaked in Her shadow. A vision found at the bottom of a chalice, pursued.

The long journey and coming to realize one can believe in a lie. In essence, if not in education.

A passion that burns, uncowed. Unrelenting. To embrace Her challenge, to spread Her kingdom.

A charming audacity and ascendant ambition. Garbed for one and all to see in lies, the masquerade is embraced.

To look between the stars above and the paths Below. To empty every cup, in search of one that never ceases to pour.

~~~

Between the stars, keep their dreams. Let your darkness yawn wide and swallow them.

[On the bellows, and on rare occasion even leafleted in paraphrase, the words of High Priestess Mari Blacke rail against the heretical Pra'raji of Qa'im]

Know the clockwork gaze of Pra'raj would sear away life and emotion. In the stead of surrender, submission. Your feelings dictated by ticking, chittering, chattering machines. Every man, woman and child: the status of a cog. Possibility clenched like a vice.

Let us sound our defiance! Embrace ecstasy, hail terror! The vital wash of blood within our heart! Shout anger, cry joy! In the blessed uncertainty of the present, the immanent, we -live-! The ascendant now where all things are possible, great and terrible.

This is Mari Blacke, High Priestess of my Lady Between the Stars. By Her grace am I a guide to those who seek. Though I do not burn, I am a torch for those who would take Her in hand. By the works of the Wheel will we be bolstered in strength and in spirit. By Her wit are we made to see well despite the efforts of the sun to blind.

Akouai! This is Mari Blacke, High Priestess of our Lady Between the Stars, Gellema. By our imprecations is Her eye cast balefully upon those who would ally with Qa'im and already whispers spread of an Archonate beset. Order unravels. Discord ascends.

By the grace of the Wheel shall the works of heretics be undone. By Her gaze. The fly in the ointment. The sand in the gears. The tick out of step with the click-click-click of metronome heart of the cursed Sun. Her attention, Her scourge. Sabotage.

In defiance we embrace ecstasy! Hail terror! That vital thrum in our hearts! Fury and joy and love and hatred, all those things the machine would deny you in mindless cog-service to its factory-god. We rebuke the shrill, tooth-felt whine of Zojhir's works!

Live, drink and dream. Embrace the immanent now. May Her smile be courted! Her gaze directed! Euoi Gellemos! Euoi!