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masque – Longest Night Midwinter Masque

A Cassiline Missive

From the desk of Manuel Cass’id, First Under-Prefect of the Cassiline Brotherhood:

The Cassiline Brotherhood is one of honor and respect. Hard work hardens our young men into weapons honed and sharpened into extensions of Cassiel’s dagger. All that we are is summed up in our words, I protect and serve.

For our Brotherhood, the Longest Night is spent in meditation and prayer as we observe Cassiel’s Vigil. Therefore the request of the Night Court is an unusual one. But with the renewed interest in the story of our great anathema, Joscelin Verreuil and his experience within the Brotherhood, we will relent. We will send two of our Cassiline Brothers to Mont Nuit to demonstrate for the Longest Night Masquerade at Cereus House the famous battle in La Serenissima between two former members of our Brotherhood.

Manuel Cass’id

~

Joining us at the Longest Night Midwinter Masque event this year will be two SAFD actor combatants from the DC area to perform a choreographed demonstration of the infamous duel between Joscelin Verreuil and David de Rocaille that took place in La Serenissima during the events of Kushiel’s Chosen.

Entertainment Director Az has been working with local SAFD actor combatant and fight choreographer Mallory Shear to bring the famous Cassiline duel to life. Take a look at the Cassiline Combatants who will be joining us this January!

Matthew Crawford – David de Rocaille

Headshot of Matthew Crawford holding sword

A Central New York native, Matthew Crawford has been an actor in the DMV since 2011. Some of his favorite roles include Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet, Horatio in Hamlet, Thenardier in Les Miserables, James in James and the Giant Peach, and the Ernie Mac track in Puffs. He is a teaching artist for Signature Theatre, Imagination Stage, Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, and Adventure Theatre MTC (to name a few). He continues his own education as a certified Intermediate (soon to be Advanced) Actor Combatant via numerous stage combat classes and workshops. Much of his fighting has taken place at the Maryland Renaissance Festival in various shows and weapon demonstrations.

Jillian Riti – Joscelin Verreuil

headshot of Jillian Riti

Jillian Riti is an actor, fight director, and teaching artist based in DC and Chicago. She has performed and coordinated violence for dozens of plays and short films. Jillian began their stage combat training in Los Angeles in 2011 and never looked back.
Select credits: Finding Neil Patrick Harris (Nu Sass Productions); Henry IV Part 1 and Henry V (Brave Spirits Theatre); The Lady Demands Satisfaction and Long Joan Silver (LOFT Ensemble); and Bullshot Crummond, Twelfth Night, and Perfect Wedding (West Valley Playhouse).
Credentials: SAFD Advanced Actor Combatant. BFA: AMDA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts.
Follow Jillian on X: @jilliannners

Mallory Shear – Fight Choreography

Headshot of Mallory Shear

Mallory Shear is a DC based Fight & Intimacy Choreographer, Performer, and Teaching Artist. Mallory is a Resident Teaching Artist with Signature Theatre. They have choreographed and taught at Arena Stage, Olney Theatre, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Keegan Theatre, St. Mary’s College, McDaniel College, Iron Crow Theatre, The Strand Theatre, Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, Holton Arms, The Landon School, and several Regional Stage Combat workshops, to name a few.
Select Performance Credits: Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Adventure Theatre, Live Action Theatre, Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, The Strand Theatre, Horwitz Performing Arts Center, Maryland Renaissance Festival, etc.
They are an Advanced Actor Combatant with the SAFD, an Intermediate Actor Combatant with FDC and did their stunt training in the UK and Ireland. Mallory is a proud associate member of SDC.

COVID concerns

We have been made aware of concern over events being canceled due to the new omicron variant of COVID-19.  We want to assure you that we are still planning on having the event this weekend.  The hotel is still prepared to host the event and we are excited to see you all.  Our vaccine requirement for attendance is in place for the safety of all attendees.  As additional safety measures, we encourage all guests to wear a face mask in addition to your costume mask and practice social distancing during the Masque as much as is reasonable.  We will have surgical masks at the check-in table for anyone who needs one.  We strongly urge everyone to wear a face mask any time you are in public.

We understand that the situation remains uncertain and we will keep you updated on any emergency changes that may arise.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@thelongestnightmasque.com 

We look forward to seeing you in just a few days!

Masque Event Update!

We are pleased to announce that the upcoming Masque will be held on January 8, 2022 at the Crowne Plaza Crystal City in Washington, DC.  Details about the event, room rates, and safety protocols will be forthcoming and ticket sales will open soon.  Please follow on Facebook and Twitter and be sure to subscribe to our blog to stay in the know!  We look forward to seeing you in January.

Join us in January!

Cereus House is pleased to announce that planning has begun for the 2022 Longest Night Midwinter Masque ball. We look forward to seeing you in January, in person.

Details on dates, location, and health and safety protocols to follow as they become available; subscribe to our blog for updates and storylines.

black mask

Video: Jasmine House

 

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Jasmine, whose scent lasts long into the night, an exotic perfume.
We surround your senses and intoxicate. We are wilder, lush, freer, and more passionate than most. Jasmine House surrounds itself with beauty; we live our lives with sensuality. Pleasure is found in seeing and touching, in the senses and in the mind. We are unrestricted in our canon: any tastes and desires will be met, all are for pleasure’s sake. To visit Jasmine is to enter paradise…
–Samaria nó Jasmine, Former Dowayne

Video: A Quiet Moment – Cyrille nó Alyssum writes to a lover

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My dearest Amelie,

You do not know how much your letter warmed my heart and brought joy to these chilly nights. There is much happening in the Court and amongst us flowers but you will have heard all the gossip by now and you know I am not one to share other’s secrets but do know I have heard most of the current whispers as always. What you will not have heard about is my health. I am unwell and we do not yet know the cause so you do not need to worry about something too well known. Most days I am alright and am able to maintain my duties and loves as I wish and on the days I am not my darling Amarante steps in and helps care for me. I could not ask for a better Second. The rest of my news can keep until I see you on the Longest Night but I do beg of you that you keep me in your prayers to Eisheth. 

With all my heart,

Cyrille nó Alyssum

Video: Welcome to Dahlia House

Jocaste no Dahlia, Dowayne of Dahlia House
 
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I’m Jocaste nó Dahlia the Dowyane of Dahlia House. And I suppose you’re here because you want to learn more about us you want to understand more about what makes us feel very special.

Well, to understand us you need to understand that many of us come from other Houses, originated somewhere else. We were chosen for this House because we demonstrated an ability to lead; we demonstrated a bigger vision; we demonstrated a deeper understanding of the allure of power.

Now, our friends at Mandrake and Valerian definitely understand that. But we’re talking about political power. We’re talking about the ability to lead people…into movements, into abundance, and into fulfillment.

And in fact, a night at Dahlia House is simply a chance to be to have an audience with us, to be part of that environment of power crackling with electricity, crackling with anticipation, with tension or flirtation and courtly love. To have the opportunity to be noticed. And the opportunity to be chosen, among many.

Every adept in the Night Court, regardless of your House gets to choose their own patrons. But in Dahlia House, we have many patrons that we can choose from any given night, or we can choose none at all.

And that itself is satisfying that itself is the tease, and the play, and the intrigue, that we inspire.

For example, I should have been in Gentian House. I should have been a mystic and a seer – a dreamer of dreams. But I wanted to change the way that they approach things. And at the tender age of 10, I tried.

And that is how I got chosen for Dahlia. That is how I was fostered into leadership of this House. Because bringing out the best in our lovers and making them earn that opportunity to see the private “us”, to have that pedestal of acclaim and achievement is seductive in and of itself.

Who doesn’t want to take credit for a queen, inviting someone to her bed? A king, recognizing you in public, and giving you his favor?

We are no stranger to those who have been locked out at the court and their ambitions have been thwarted one way or another. They get to play out that fantasy with us to earn our attention. And it’s no mistake that we are often called upon to be advisors to the court.

So, House Dahlia will definitely surprise you. Yes, we hold our heads up high. Yes, we all have imaginary crowns on our heads. And you will want us all the more so for it.

Please enjoy this Longest Night’s Midwinter Masque, the biggest event in Terre d’Ange. We look forward to meeting you and seeing you show your worth.

Video: Petrea’s Offer

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PETREA NO CEREUS and MARCO DECIMUS, her lover, lie in bed in her private chambers after an intimate evening.

PETREA

I wish your time in the city were not so short. Your visits come far too rarely for my tastes. You scholars – how you do wander. It’s a wonder you visit me at all, what with you jaunting from one end of the world to the other.

MARCO

(chuckles)

You know that I always make my way to you, no matter where my travels take me, dearest.

How go your plans for the Midwinter Masque? I know from your letters that Aliksandria tasked you with the preparations.

PETREA

(groans)

MARCO (CONT’D)

You have concerns of the ball? Or is it this scandal you have written about that troubles you?

PETREA

Oh the ball, itself, will be spectacular. But I fear there shall be no joy for me on the Longest Night. You know the City of Elua loves nothing more than a scandal. And I hate nothing more than a scandal – so tiresome.

(annoyed)

The gossiping grows worse by the day. One can no longer avoid the rumor mongering. There is even a whisper that I am humiliated by the thought of another Second being chosen over me – when nothing could be further from the truth. It has gone too far. The foolish stories are on the lips of every person in every shop on every corner throughout the city, not to mention in every chamber of every House here on Mont Nuit.

(angrily)

There is literally no one I do not hate right now.

MARCO

(laughs, then his voice turns serious)

You seem less and less content each time I see you. And this..this seems too much for you.

He pauses briefly as if something has occurred to him.

MARCO (CONT’D)

(thoughtfully)

Would you ever consider leaving the Night Court?

PETREA

You mean retire? It is not…it is not done.

(sadly)

One does not retire for the simple fact that one is unhappy in one’s place and dislikes courtly gossip.

MARCO

No, no, of course not. But there are other reasons for leaving. Marriage, for example. Others who have made their marque have married and left the Night Court. Left the City. Left Terre d’Ange, even.

PETREA

(thinking out loud)

Marriage? Well, yes, that does happen. But who would I marry? I have dear friends, it is true, but not any who would agree to a marriage of convenience and certainly not any whom are not entangled in..oh.

She pauses as his meaning dawns on her

PETREA (CONT’D)

Oh.

She is silent for a moment, realizing what he is suggesting.

PETREA (CONT’D)

Are…are you proposing marriage?

MARCO

I am.

PETREA

But surely you wish to marry for love, and not simply to take pity on an unhappy woman.

MARCO

I do wish to marry for love. And I would be.

PETREA

Oh.

MARCO

I love you. I love you more than any words in the world can express. Why do you think I come back to you time and again?

PETREA

I thought you enjoyed my company. That I was a stop along your way back to Tiberium from…wherever it is you go.

MARCO

Well there is that, but you are so much more to me than that. Marry me. Come to Tiberium with me. I have a home there. Perhaps not quite as lavish as Cereus House…

PETREA

(laughs)

MARCO (CONT’D)

(his words coming faster)

..but it is comfortable. Let me take you away from here. Away from this life that you do not love. We could travel if you like. Let me show you the world. There is so much more than what you have seen and experienced here in the City. Or not. We don’t have to travel. We can stay in Tiberium. We can have children if you like. Or not. You can study at the university if you like. Or not, if you do not wish. It matters not.

(more gently)

All that matters is that you come home to me at the end of each day. Whatever you want, I will give you.

(quietly)

You can return as often as you like. Whenever you like. I know that there are people here that you love and could not bear to be separated from forever. I know that this is your favorite time of year, and I promise that we’ll always arrange any travels so that you’re here at Cereus House for the Midwinter Masque.  What do you think?


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