Tag: fantasy

Video: Odilia Gets The Letter


 

(click image to open video)

 

 

SCENE: [ODILIA is looking out the window, pensive, worried, something weighing on her mind.]

ROSANNA: (offscreen) Odilia?

[ODILIA turns to look at ROSANNA waiting by the couch, she manages a smile]

ODILIA: Rosanna.

[ROSANNA knows her friend, she knows better than to believe the smile.]

ROSANNA: What is it?

[ODILIA crosses to the low table and hands ROSANNA the letter lying there.]

ROSANNA: The royal seal…

ODILIA: Read it.

[ODILIA sits at her couch and sips her wine, watching ROSANNA read. She sits slowly too as she reads aloud.]

ROSANNA: (reading aloud) “Dearest Odilia, In these uncertain times when I have more on my mind than ever, I find my thoughts turning to you more and more.”
(breaking off) Odilia, this seems personal…

ODILIA: Keep going.

ROSANNA: (reading aloud) “The loss of my beloved brother weighs heavily on me, nearly as heavily as that weight that I never thought to bear. As the nights grow longer, I have more time than ever to consider that which lays before me. Mon coeur, I long for your arms and for your advice as to what is next for me. For us. I must take the crown and my mother has warned me that the weight of it will change everything. I stand at the precipice of something new, knowing now more than ever I will need guidance. And so I have made a choice. The Longest Night celebrations will soon overtake the city but my heart is not in them. Instead, I will stand Cassiel’s Vigil through the night, praying for Elua’s guidance and blessing. I regret I cannot share the evening with you as I had wished but to that end I ask for your assistance. As I cannot attend the fete at Cereus House, go in my stead and speak with my voice and represent me among your peers and other guests-”
(breaking off)  Odilia, this means something.

ODILIA: Yes, it does.

ROSANNA: Has he asked you to be….?

ODILIA: No. Not yet. I thought he might but then the plague and the loss of his brother…there was no time.

ROSANNA: (reading aloud) “I can trust this to no other for no other is the queen of my heart the way you are, no other knows my heart and mind the way you do. I have every faith in you and place my trust in you completely. I miss you and pray the spring will bring us together again. Yours ever devotedly, Gustav.”

[She sets the letter aside and looks at her friend. ODILIA is valiantly trying to keep her composure but ROSANNA knows her friend too well.]

ROSANNA: Are you alright?

[ODILIA stifles a laugh. ROSANNA takes her hand.]

ROSANNA: Are you ready for this?

ODILIA: I have to be.

Purchase a Customized Poem for your Beloved!

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Longing to declare your love from the rooftops of the night’s doorstep, but not gifted with a silver tongue?
For a few gold coins, an Eglantine adept will pen and perform an ode to your beloved.
~
Click Here to purchase this unique gift for your special person.  After purchasing, you will receive an email within one week (seven calendar days) from poet@thelongestnightmasque.com to inquire about your beloved for inspiration.
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Proceeds from the Masque go to benefit the Human Rights Campaign.
~

What is Alyssum?

Sweet Alyssum plant
Alyssum or Alisons (Lobularia maritima syn. Alyssum maritimum)

House Alyssum :: With Eyes Averted

Alyssum is one of the most difficult to reconcile Houses in The Court of Night-Blooming Flowers.  Modesty? With Eyes Averted? How do these co-exist in a world that places such high value on Love As Thou Will?

If you follow Imriel’s line of thinking, Alyssum lies in the same area as Valerian only instead of physical discomfort, Alyssum provides shame to its patrons. 

I’d like to offer another way of looking at it, taken from the ideas of modesty and the characteristics of the plant as well as it’s meaning and the lore of Terre d’Ange.

Modesty isn’t an inherently negative thing, it is often based in the desire to keep things away from people that will not appreciate them as they deserve.  In this way, Alyssum is the same; you go to Alyssum for what is kept hidden from the eyes of the undeserving.  

House Alyssum is approached via a drive lined with cypress trees; cypress trees are revered in many traditions for their upright growth and their resistance to fire. What shame can survive a fire? Rather than shame, a knowledge of one’s own value is what survives, particularly if we are to assume that the Adepts of Alyssum are consenting in their trysts.

The Alyssum plant itself is incredibly hardy, surviving drought and flood when other perennial plants do not.  This is not a plant that symbolizes weakness or susceptibility to outside influence. 

An Adept that displays the virtues of House Alyssum is not an Adept that is weak as many assume modesty to imply. The Adept Imriel sees isn’t shamed by her desires or his, she isn’t uncertain. To me, this is a House of hidden strength, a House of Adepts that, though they may blush to speak what they wish, know what they desire. They know themselves in a way we all can aspire to.

Face Mask-erade

Garb yourself in our attractive, limited edition protective face masks.  Drawing inspiration from the characters and stories of the Kushiel’s Legacy books, the adepts of the Night Court have toiled away at these special garments.

These cloth face masks are available in very limited quantities only through Longest Night Midwinter Masque website.  Proceeds from the Longest Night Midwinter Masque go to benefit the Human Rights Campaign.

View our current selection here and check back for new styles!

Stay safe and healthy and, as always, love as thou wilt.

Masque Prep Fanfic: Rosanna Baphinol nó Valerian

Almost from the moment the rumor began of an Official Consort to the Dauphin Mont Nuit had been aflame with questions. Supposedly said potential Consort was a close friend of hers, therefore to gossiping minds Rosanna just had to know all the details of how and why and when this affair had begun. Not  that Rosanna would ever tell, of course. But with the future King choosing to shy away from the biggest party of the year, well the queries had started to arrive in more and more imaginative forms. 

“A donation to the construction of a new shrine?” Rosanna rolled her eyes and continued to look over the collection of masks laid out for her inspection. 

“So they say,” her Second replied with a shrug. Tryphosa made a note of who sent that letter and went back to sorting the growing stack of correspondence. “As though we need a new one. Besides, where would we put it? And in return for information on Lady Dahlia’s particular favorite gifts?”

“They are desperate to ingratiate themselves to her inner circle, if the rumors are true. As though I would give them anything.” She examined a mask covered in peacock feathers. “Besides, it’s more fun to watch them wriggle and guess.” 

“Are you sure Mandrake didn’t bid for your marque?”

“Not at all. I just like the games of court and Odilia is giving them the spectator sport of their lives. A member of the Court of Night Blooming Flowers maybe becoming Royal Consort? And not a Cereus? It’s a scandal and I love a good scandal.” No, that mask wouldn’t do, she returned it to the pile and continued looking through the choices. One caught her eye, it was made up entirely of the most delicate, silver chains she had ever seen. silver chain masqueIt took both hands to hold it up properly, the metal glittering in the candlelight. Oh yes.

“Do you think he’ll be a good king?” Tryphosa leaned back on the settee, a lock of platinum hair falling becomingly across her face. Rosanna looked at her over her shoulder, studying her friend and Second. “What with his brother passing away so unexpectedly, the whole country turned on its head for months in mourning and gossip.”  

“I admit I wasn’t ready when I had to take up being Dowayne,” she replied and held up the mask to her face. Even if her costume had been complete for some time she had yet to find just the right mask to complete her disguise. It all felt rather like a metaphor to life in court – any court. “My predecessor did leave quite suddenly, I thought I had more time to prepare for this. I imagine it was similar for him, on a far greater scale mind you.”

“But your family is, well,” Tryphosa waved her hand looking for just the right word to describe Rosanna’s huge family. 

“Overbearing?”

“Rich is more what I was going for. Well connected is polite. They expected you to make Dowayne one day, so did you and never hid it.”

“True,” Rosanna gave a laugh. “But an assertive Valerian? It sounds like an oxymoron doesn’t it? But as the youngest in a brood I never wanted to end up in my siblings’ collective shadows, so I do not think I can be blamed for pushing ahead. No matter how impromptu my promotion came.”

“Maybe the Dauphin is like that too. He’s so sweet, from what I’ve heard, perhaps people underestimate him. Does your friend hint at any of that?”

“If I am not going to hand over pillow talk to a high paying patron why would I give it to you?”

Tryphosa threw a pillow and Rosanna just barely ducked in time. 

“Resorting to violence? Now who belongs in Mandrake?” 

To be completely honest the girlish play was soothing. Rosanna did know quite a lot, enough to worry her over just what sort of traps the court was placing for her friend and the Dahlia’s golden prince. Being born into the nobility herself, she knew just how vicious the landed class could be. But she had faith in the Precept, which she held steadfast in her heart, and that Blessed Elua would be watching over them all on this holy night. Such devoted thoughts were cut short by the touch of a flesh and blood hand on her shoulder, and Rosanna pulled herself together. 

“Oh hush,” Tryphosa grinned despite not getting the gossip she desired. “Are you done picking your mask? We have a ball to get to.” 

Read the story of our Masque here and submit your fanfic story.

Masque Prep Fanfic: Petrea nó Cereus

spools of thread and sewing scissorsPetrea nó Cereus stood in front of the full length mirror as an adept of Eglantine House busied himself around her with fabric and bric-a-brac, sketching and stitching the beginnings of her costume for this year’s Midwinter Masque.  She frowned at the mirror, unhappy with her reflection.  She was getting on in the years, the beauty of her youth seeming to fade faster and faster every day.  But wasn’t that almost the point of Cereus House – for one’s beauty to fade?  How was that supposed to be something to be admired?   Petrea sighed.  How had she ever risen to Second of the most glorious and noble House of the Night Court with thoughts like that?

Outside the room, Petrea could hear adepts gossiping in low tones.  Of course, no one could stop talking about the affair between the Dauphin and Odilia nó Dahlia, and certainly not in the Night Court.  The mood in Cereus House seemed to be one of the biggest topics of discussion and whether or not the Prince choosing a Dahlia was seen as a slight to the oldest and most noble House.  Petrea shook her head and absently stroked the Eglantine adept’s head.  Did people really think that the Prince had purposely fallen in love with Odilia out of spite?  The social politics of the Night Court – and noble Court, for that matter – drove her practically to madness at times.  But gossip as thou wilt was practically a second tenet of the City, so she could not ignore it, lest she look foolish to her patrons and bring dishonor to her House.  

Turning her thoughts back to the grand plans for the Masque, Petrea reminded herself to make sure her private invitations had been delivered.  The position of Second did allow her certain privileges and she didn’t hesitate to take advantage of them when it suited her.  It had been a difficult year and she planned to enjoy every moment of the Longest Night.

Read the story of our Masque here and submit your fanfic story.

Masque Prep Fanfic: Aliksandria nó Cereus

“I am Aliksandria nó Cereus, Dowayne of Cereus House.”  I repeated this to myself again.

I looked around the hall at the members of the City Judiciary. The magistrate, the leaders of the trade guilds, and representatives of the nobility. I had been Dowayne for five years, and I still felt I was play acting at leadership. I could list the reasons I had been chosen to this role, the steps of the ladder I had climbed to reach this seat and, yet, I felt an imposter still. I feared I would always feel this way.

My predecessor had warned me about this part of the job. He had told me that the Night Court’s seat on the Judiciary was always in jeopardy and that the guild leaders would look for any way to oust us. He had also told me that this had been the way of it for hundreds of years, and that they have never succeeded. But I don’t think he could have prepared me for this.

The guild leaders had spent the bulk of this session railing about how the Night Court held unfair advantage by holding both the seat in the Judiciary and our seat on the Council of Religious Orders. In truth, it was a tired argument that I had heard since I was Dowayne’s Second, and had been old even then. They then shifted their argument to one of undue influence, again an oft used argument due to our history of giving counsel to members of the nobility, including house royal. This argument was, however, made more poignant due to the Dauphin’s current tryst with Odilia.

“We, the leaders of the trade guilds, put forth that while one or the other advantage might be overlooked, the occurrence of both cannot,” stated the leader of the silversmiths guild, a Monsieur Jacques Halceaux. “The trade guilds put forth that the Night Court must cease to give counsel and succor to the Scions of House Courcel, specifically and most urgently, ending the affair of the Dauphin and the adept of Dahlia House.”

The magistrate weighted the words carefully before turning to me:  “How does the representative from the Court of the Night Blooming Flowers respond?”

I took a deep breath.

“I am Aliksandria nó Cereus, Dowayne of Cereus House,” I reminded myself.

“The Night Court is not in the practice of refusing to conduct business with members of noble houses so long as guild law is enforced and heresy does not occur. Furthermore, while I am a representative of the Night Court in this Judiciary, I am not its de facto leader and cannot dictate to other Dowaynes. As to the relationship between Odilia nó Dahlia and the Dauphin Gustav de la Courcel, it is not within the Night Court’s purview to sanction or forbid this union, as her marque has been made and he has reached his majority.”

This appeared to be the response Monseiur Halceaux had hoped for, as a triumphant smile flashed across his face. “If that is the Night Court’s response, than we put forth that its seat on the Judiciary is forfeit.”

The Magistrate raised his hand, “The leader of the silversmith’s guild is reminded that such an action would require a discretionary period and a vote by two thirds of the members of this body.” He then turned to me, “My Lady Dowayne, I recommend you bring this issue to your fellow Dowaynes and discuss amongst your guild how you wish to proceed. We await your final word on the matter when we reconvene after the Longest Night.”

The Longest Night.

scrollwork

Read the story of our Masque here and submit your fanfic story.

Masque Prep Fanfic: Eirini nó Gentian

“Stay still, Corinne,” Eirini nó Gentian tried to sound firm even through her smile as the young adept squirmed with excitement, “If I stab you with this hair pin, guess whose fault it is.”

“I’m sorry,” Corinne tried to sit still, “It’s just….my first Midwinter Masque!  Eirini, I’m so excited!”

“I know,” the Dowayne said with a patient smile, remembering how excited she had been for her first Masque years ago.  She secured the last part of the intricate hairstyle and shooed the girl away, “Go find Eva for final checks.”

The adept curtsied and left, closing the door to the Dowayne’s apartments silently behind her.  Finally alone, finally with the time to prepare herself, Eirini nó Gentian sat behind her desk, poured herself a cup of tea, and took a moment to breathe.  The awareness of the breath was the first thing Gentians learned upon arriving in the House, for it was the foundation of life and the basis for all meditation and trance-work.  She breathed, in and out, and it was only too easy to close her eyes and sink into the meditative state she had been resisting all day.  It was Midwinter, the shortest day of the year and the longest night.  It was a tipping point between dark and light, winter into spring, night into day.  It was a sacred and magical day.  And there was much riding on this day and the Masque this night.  

Eirini had heard the news, heard the gossip in her dreams and in the salon as well. The young Dauphin, the new Crown Prince Gustav de la Courcel, would be standing Cassiel’s Vigil tonight, not attending any of the fetes throughout the city, not in the Royal Palace and not in Cereus House.  But lest his absence be considered an insult or offence, he had chosen a representative to send in his place.  His Official Companion would be attending the fete at the Palace, playing nice with the court and courtiers.  But to the Court of Night Blooming Flowers, the Dauphin had chosen to send a Dahlia. A deliberate slight?  An innocent action?  After the unrest and the loss that had gripped the nation at the beginning of the year and changed everything, there was too much riding on this night to risk entering Cereus House unprepared.  

So Eirini reached for her deck.  Six cards, arranged around the teapot still steaming on her desk.  Six cards, turned over one at a time.  Six cards, each whispering in her mind, trying to give their wisdom and warnings.  The spread had become a vine, a single stalk with two unfurling branches, a single momentous choice with two potentials revealed.

Tarot Card Spread

The Wheel of Fortune and the Fool warned the Gentian about grand changes, changes that the country may not be fully prepared for.  The right branch spiralled from the Lovers reversed into the upright Seven of Cups.  Shallow intimacy and lack of deep and true connection that would lead to dreams impossible to achieve and a time of stagnation for Terre d’Ange. The left branch rose from the Fool, through the upright Two of Cups to end at the Devil reversed.  Connection and communication and community would bring freedom and a Terre d’Ange in control of their own fate.  

Eirini sat back in her chair.  She reached for a flask from one of her desk drawers and spiked her tea.  She would need it.  

“Joie to us all,” she muttered.

Schedule of Weekend Events

We’re thrilled about all of the events coming up in just a few days! Here’s a complete rundown of the weekend, along with links to purchase tickets to those events you might still be interested in attending.

eglantine flower

  • Friday, January 3, 2020
  • Saturday, January 4, 2020
    • 9am – 12:30pm: Discussion Groups (purchase individually or in packages for a discount) – conference rooms
    • 6pm: Dungeon Introduction (for all General Admission ticket holders who have checked in to the Masque) – Virginia suites
    • 7pm – 1am: The Masque Ball -Commonwealth Ballroom
      • 7:15pm: Processional of the Court of the Night Blooming Flowers
      • Midnight: Enactment of the Marriage of the Winter Queen to the Sun Prince
    • 8pm – midnight: Dungeon open for presale ticket holders – Virginia suites
    • 9pm – midnight: Dungeon open for same day ticket holders – Virginia suites
  • Sunday, January 5, 2020
    • 8am – noon: Brunch – Dominion room

We can’t wait to see you for the Masque weekend!