WANDERING//as.leaves.before.the.wind.

[Lassiel]

Click Pictures For Bios

I propose to speak about fairy-stories,

It had begun with a leaf caught in the wind, and it became a tree; and the tree grew, sending out innumerable branches, and thrusting out the most fantastic roots. Strange birds came and settled on the twigs and had to be attended to. Then all round the Tree, and behind it, through the gaps in the leaves and boughs, a country began to open out; and there were glimpses of a forest marching over the land, and of mountains tipped with snow.

J.R.R. Tolkien, Leaf by Niggle

though I am aware that this is a rash adventure.

[Lassiel]

My dream falls and breaks into a thousand
PIECES

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Life is duty. Duty to your people. To your children. To all those who depend on you. Service is the way life is lived, and there is no shame in that. Once you take their safety on your shoulders, you put your own desires behind you. It is the essence of leadership. One cannot truly lead if they do not put the needs of others above their own. But why? you say. Why give of yourself until there is nothing more to give? Why turn yourself into a martyr who's sole purpose is to aid others and forget about what you need? There is a certain satisfaction in providing for another. Similar to the love of a mother for her children, it is the need to nurture and advise. Protect and cherish.

And so we find our Queen. A Brilliant Flower in the Marsh. She took on her duties without knowing what it would mean for herself. Proud she is and stubborn. The wisdom some say she possesses--though she would be the first to protest that thought--is hard-won and only recently acquired. And oh, does the lady know the meaning of regret and failure and pain. How she regrets her younger years, when she chose a mate that was far from loyal. Never would she regret her beloved daughters, though her remorse in not giving them a better father is great. Her trust was broken by him, her loyalty betrayed. And so, even when another showed an interest in her, the advances were ignored. Her love, her duty, was given to those who depended on her, not to one who wanted her to depend on him.

Worse than her regret, she failed to keep one important to her safe. Amadi. Her only son. Her youngest child. Dead before he met his pride. Slain when she could not protect him. A failure worse than any she had ever and will ever commit. He was gone forever, and it was her fault. The pain of that failure haunts her as a ghost, foreboding and distressing. What would happen should she fail those she loves again? What pain will they be forced to face for her error? But the Lady of the Marsh refuses to back down, to let her fears rule her. They rely on her, and she will not let them down.

And so our Flower grows strongest in the light of service. The best of her brought out when she is caring for the rest of the garden. But like any flower, it takes the tender love of another for her beauty to truly shine. Wouldn't it be wonderful if she were to be given that chance again? She wasted it, squandered it in the past. In the innocence and naivety of her youth, our Lady thought everything would work out beautifully. But oh, how much stronger she is, now that she is more in line with the truth of the world.

Firm in her beliefs, there is no desperate strand threading through her thoughts, no powerful need for another to love her--yet in her is a powerful ability to love. But what a headstrong woman she is! It would take quite the will to overcome hers, to show that there is more to life than her dedicated service. Lothril. The Brilliant Flower. The Lady of the Marsh. She rules and serves a pride built out of trust and love.

<sub>Due to the amount of posts Lothril has been in, I am only documenting the ones from before LoA's reopening that have special importance to her or include characters still being roleplayed.

Lothril and Ibalo-->The future Lady of the Marsh claims her land and meets Ibalo.

:: thunderstorm-->A thunderstorm forces Lothril and Ibalo into hiding. Afterwards, the hunt a buffalo and discuss the future of the pride.

:: dawn of a new era-->Lothril and Ibalo mate.

Lothril's First Litter-->The birth of Almira, Tari, and the ill-fated Amadi.

New Arrivals--> Lothril brings her new cubs to meet Ibalo.

...A r r i v a l...--> Lothril welcomes Sileree into the pride and meets Crow.

Am I able to do this?--> Lothril meets Deimos, the new Akina king.

Gone, and back again--> Deimos returns after a long absence.

r o g e r b o s s ||--> Lothril meets the Old King, Because.

i do not need you.--> Lothril meets Rayen and welcomes her as the first new member of the Akina after it was disbanded.

You Comfortable Liar...--> Lothril sees Deimos and his children again. She decides with to allow them back into the pride--with reservations.

[Tears in the Water]-->Lothril meets and welcome Nari to the Akina.

to start again:: R E N E W A L-->A meeting with pride members. In Progress</sub>

Who you are to me...

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Sileree
You have my utmost trust and respect. Every word you speak holds value.
Rayen
You are worth more than you think--and I will prove it to you.
Rath
Smart and fiery...you remind me of my daughter. Welcome to the Akina, young one. You will do well.
Nari
I know little about you, save for the sadness that cloaks your soul. I hope you welcome the friendship the Akina can give you.
Deimos
Why have I given you another chance? You are an annoyance to me, yet I can't help but allow you back in the pride.
Haydor
-not enough interaction to know-
Nikita
-not enough interaction to know-[/center][/size][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

And so I pick one up and start
AGAIN.

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[Lassiel]

A thorn defends the
ROSE

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Havoc--> In which Thorn meets his Vixen, the beautiful Sileree.

He sleeps alone--> Thorn goes on a hunt with the lion Ronan and the lioness Nadayshana.

By M O O N L I G H T--> A long-awaited meeting with Sileree in Beseni.

W|H|Y hide?--> Thorn and Sileree talk of traveling and other little things.

R E N A i S S A N C E_time.to.dance]--> Important discussions with Sileree concerning the future. In Progress

Who you are to me...

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Sileree
You are the most important thing to me. I won't leave, even if you think I should.
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Harming only those who would steal the
BLOSSOM

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[Lassiel]

a lonesome W O R L D

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h e [[and_his--> Rhian sees Truth again and meets Marimba. xx. finished
Run.to.the.beat.don't.slow.down!--> Rhian gains a permanent scar before meeting Rachina and Calamity. xx. finished
Returning [open]--> Rhian returns to Eiroka and meets Marimba once again. xx. in progress

only full of G H O S T S[/i][/b][/u][/color][/size]
Truth: My father in all ways but blood. I do love you, even if it does not always seem that way.
Marimba: It's been a long time since we last met. You seem kind and I am glad to see you again.
Calamity: My feelings for you can be summed up in one word: hate.
Rachina: I dislike you. If the circumstances of our meeting were different, perhaps that would be different.
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[Lassiel]

I prefer winter and fall,
when you feel the
bone structure of the landscape
-the loneliness of it,
the dead feeling of winter.
Something waits beneath it,
the whole story doesn't show.

How can one pinpoint the exact moment their life changed? That second in time where everything you knew from before no longer had any bearing? Oh, it is easy enough at first, because surely there is one that stands out from all the rest. But think a little more, ponder on it, and then you realize that it could have been one thing or another. Yes, the fist incident accounts for much, but not all. So is that all a past is made of? A series of events that make you who you are? Forget the emotions accompanying them, the lessons learned--just know that they made you who you are.

Not my fault not my fault not my fault not my fault stop it!

No matter the sins committed, surely one was innocent in the beginning. And if all the weight of the world is on his shoulders, how can he be blamed? The world is such a cruel place--can he be damned for trying his hardest to survive? For only seeing the bad in others because that's all they ever did to him? When those who love you are gone or don't think your worthy, where can you turn to? His life had always been a fight for survival--from the very beginning.

I will not die. I will survive.

Ivory fur. As blatant a 'here I am' mark as any. Moth--Calina knew it. The entire pride knew it. He could be the most well-protected child the world had ever seen, and the coloring could still be the death of him. It was Mo--Calina's urging that kept them from abandoning him. He knew it. They didn't have to tell him. He learned early on that his best chances of survival would come from himself. He heard the whispers over his head as he passed, and he knew Calina did as well. But as ever, she held her head high, and he did too. Even Einar could be heard muttering about the disgrace of fathering a white child. A bad sign, they said. How can we expect one who can't even hunt to be our leader? He can only ever be weak.

He hated that word. Hated it hated it hated it. And Calina cried, when she thought no one was looking. But he watched. He knew. And he hated them for doing this to her. Make her happy, make her proud, and all will be well. A chance. All he needed was a chance to prove himself. He committed himself to the lessons completely and utterly, and they saw. He could be just as good as them. Attitudes changed and alliances shifted. Suddenly, everyone was on Calina's side--was on his side. Even Einar praised him, but he did not need it. Calina though....when Calina's soft words echoed--Well done, Virgil--and sadness no longer marred her pure heart....

She was the only good thing that ever happened to him.

She was the worst thing that ever happened. He should have know, should have known the world was dark and flawed. Claws tearing ripping shredding. Red flowers blossoming in their wake. Fight back. Defend. Don't fail. Trying so hard, but not strong enough. Not nearly strong enough. That awful realization that you are going to lose. You are going to die, and damn it they were right. And then the weight is gone, and you are free. Free. You won. More snarls reaching your ears, angry growls--the scent of blood that is not your own. Turning to see the only one who loved you from the very beginning having the life torn from her. Because of you. The light tan coat no longer tan, but ugly mixtures of brown and red. The murderer escaping, but you not caring. And...oh god, she was looking at you, hurt and bleeding and dying, and looking at you with nothing but love and concern. Stumbling to her side--Mother--her grey eyes dimming--Mother no--not knowing what to do--please don't--knowing there was nothing to do--Mother!--the last shuddering sigh of a breath.

Rip out the wings of a butterfly.

An angel and saint dead at his feet. Alliances shifted again, and everyone knew it was his fault. He heard their whispers as he walked by, and this time he lowered his head. He was too weak, and that fur couldn't hide him, they said. She was too much of a saint to let him die like he should have. She will be honored for her good-hearted sacrifice, but as for him.... The pride forgot him. Einar disowned him, blamed him. And it was true. He was too weak to protect himself, and too weak to protect the only one that mattered. His fault. It always would be. But never again. He would become strong, too strong to be challenged. With enough power he would never have to worry again. And love. He would get rid of such ridiculous emotions. They could only hurt. But no matter how hard he tried, he could never think ill of her. Always would she be an angel. Nothing less.

Don't you dare look at him in the eye.

First goal: leave the pride that tried to make you weak. Don't let them kick you out, because then they won. Leave because you want to--have the power to leave of your own free will. Second goal: make a name for yourself. A dark pride, a murderous group with no ties of love or loyalty. A safe pride. There would be no backstabbers there. If they hated you, you would know it. If they threatened you, you could get rid of them. Robes of blood and cloaks of darkness. Hide your face beneath the pain and eventually no one will ever find you. Not even yourself. When he disappeared, he was proud, hurt , and young. Restless with the need to prove himself. When he emerged, he was haughty, unbroken, and grown. He was a sculpture of ice and stone and steel, forged in the blood of his past and present, tempered with frigid intelligence and merciless power.

And we dance with the devil tonight.

Power doesn't have to show off.
Power is confident, self-assuring, and self-starting,
self-stopping, self-warming and self-justifying.
When you have it, you know it.

all the world's a S T A G E
clear&cold::The North Wind Calls--> Virgil contemplates his future plans. Upon meeting Ysega, Gayana, and Bakar, he makes a name for himself. xx. finished
Back to the Old Days--> Virgil encounters Ysega and Bakar in Shimo. After the usual thinly veiled insults, a battle with hyenas occurs. In an attempt to discover why his self-control is disappearing, he agrees to lead...er...travel with Ysega and Bakar. xx. finished
Strange Companions--> Virgil and Company enter Majito. xx. in progress


all are merely P L A Y E R S
Ysega: You are stubborn, nearly as stubborn as I am, but you are also intelligent and I can tolerate you. Why that is, I have yet to discover. Yet whether you know it or not, you have gained a portion of my loyalty. It would be wise not lose it.
Bakar: You are smart enough to have survived on your own. I can sense your disdain for me--you do not hide it well--but, rest assured, I will not harm you or your mother. To me, you are still nothing more than a child.
Gayana (Ntombi): Foolish, incompetent girl. It is only your childishness that saved you from a swiftly dealt death.

Yes, I know that's not the exact quote from Shakespeare. I just had to edit it to suit my purpose.[/size]