Moresca Ball

The subtitle should be Pumpkin Pie for All

I was particularly impressed with James' droll comments on the informality of the presentations of several of the people.  I will be certain to get as close to the front of the line as possible in the future to hear them all.  Lore:  Etiquette is sorely needed.

The food on the whole was wonderful.  Particularly prescient was James asking me to bag my stew and bring breads and fruit.  Mike Smith making chililess chili was wonderful, although I fully expected bacon to be in it somewhere.

In general, I ate well and often. 
Geoff - thanks for taking pictures and honchoing the cider.
Chocolate sauce.
Costumes were wonderful.
I particularly enjoyed the interplay between Aaron and Alex T.

Deciding that I am no longer going to be a nice guy, but will still be/try to be a good priest.
Alex B - your performance was harsh, yet understated.  I enjoyed the RP and am thankful weapons were not allowed.  Ditto for Cooper, but I would not have minded weapons being there.

As always, my interplay with Michelle Adams was intense. 

Showing Ella Rae that being a priest who is good dopes not mean one who is kind or likeable.
Guessing correctly the author of a riddle that was posed to me.

Finding out I took second in the Kormyre Chess Championship.

Having Kwildar express his emotions on my poem.  It led to a nice little RP session that I felt brought us closer together. 

Speaking to Brax and instructing him in the Pantheon of Light, with help from Mother Quin.

Mother Rosa coming back and speaking with her.  Short and intense.  Seems to be my theme.

Yahtzee - nuff said.  I know its a long drive, but please...

Wow, amazing amount of chaos in Kwildar's life for such a low key event.  Let's see, in no particular order.

RP with Charlie as Edwin, and Kwildar's anger over things bubbling over a little bit.

A last name?  A last name!

Getting flanked and attacked by Gypsies. (I love you guys to death, seriously!)

Gambling with Sir Rennaudie.  I think in the end, Kwildar did in fact follow orders! (Good to finally get to really RP with you again, Roy... It's been a while!)

Conversations with Sir Cinder, and the confusion and conviction that led to. (Good to finally get a chance to RP with you, Brian!)

Witch Hunting 101.  Thanks Paul and Charna.

Practically getting dragged into a conversation with Cecil.

Quin, Kwildar, and the teaching roundabout about to happen.

The removal of masks, walls and coverings.

Getting dragged on to the dance floor.

RP with Kathara, always good stuff!

Kwildar's aside comments to Pyre about the Count's dancing.

Rose Gardens!

Forgiving Galen.

"You don't seem any different to me, Crimson!"

A highlight, and un-highlight rolled into one: Having four people come up to me and say afterward, "Darn it! I wanted to talk to you, but just didn't have the time!"

Really, really looking forward to the December Festival!

Announcing was fun - my apologies to butchering all the names I did, but it was a blast actually learning them.

Heroes & Villians, Travance Style!

The Gambling Shenanigans between MoG and the S.K.

Spiced Cider.  Mmmm.

FOOD!

Sitting down and trying the Absinthe at last, not out of enjoyment, but because I needed to verify it wasn't going to cause a further problem than I thought it already had...  (Lyle barfing in the corner didn't help!)

YATHZEE!

Conversations in the shadows.  Multiple ones.

"You don't happen to have your cards on you, do you?"  *Points to pouch*

Apollo: "A for Effort"

That sums up the night (But a good way).

Overall the ball was wonderful, there was more to do than last year which is always great.

The casino was cool,
The food was great,
Seeing a bunch of my friends, and a new face of whom I found out I graduated High School with lol. Nice to see a very familiar face, I hope to see her at events more often.
Singing in the singing contest
Werewolf game was awesome

Overall the setting was great.

The pre-story was fantastic, I was so hungry I could easily RP my ravanous hunger as I dashed to the front of the buffet line as soon as it was appropriate to do so.  In addition being pretty tired helped with my RP of just coming out of a coma I'm sure.

The food was excellent!  I'm so glad people enjoyed my sweet chili (and yes, there was 2 pounds of bacon used in making that chili)

Lots of interesting things, and being just as busy as always getting work done.

Finally starting two projects I thought I would never get the chance to do.

Hearing about Cecil's Staff and humming the theme to the Jefferson's in my head.

Getting to pull for the main prize, lot of fun.

The next morning's breakfast order.
I'd like the griddled bacon (5) with the deep fried homefries instead of homefries with Rye toast and a side of egg.

Everyone looked great.  Food was awesome.  Games were fun.  I had a blast.  I also learned new sides to everyone and became confused as all my preconceptions and perspectives on some folks have now changed.

i had such a fun time at this ball. it was my first trip to moresca as well as a masked ball.

i started off the night with a bang when tobar and i forgot to bow to the count! LOL apparently this was a trend starting with Magnus and it caught on like fire.

i had a fun time finding out some key information and FINALLY meeting the yahtzis.

wanting to dance all night but then having tobar run off to gamble every time they started up the dancing.then having collin ask me why a beautiful woman like myself wasn't dancing and having Cael hear this and randomly run screaming and chastising tobar (at the gambling table mind you) about how he should dance with his date and not think with his coin purse.

rping with the yahtzis, carlos, magdelena and tobar about the "Kwildar Project." LMAO loads of fun.

the food was absolutely incredible and i'm glad my "gypsy cake" was a big hitch. I hope those of you who got to have some enjoyed it greatly.

coming to the conclusion with tobar that Emar is "full of s***" and that's why there was so much corn in Tobar's chowder/soup thing lmao.

judging the poetry contest was fun. Wally just walked up and said "are you in the contest? you doing anything? you wanna judge it? good stay right there!" lol it was a blast.

having tobar serenade me in the singing contest and trying to be supportive as zach kept hiccuping through the song. for some strange reason he got stage fright... strange... who would have thought!

watching Tobias dance with Kathara (sp?).

having tobar teach me how to tango while i was pretty drunk was hilarious and then he started dancing kwildar around... i couldn't contain my laughter.

Tobar is officially the Rainbow Jingle Ranger... and Carlos is Sailor Magellan! that conversation was wrong in sooooo many nerdy ways but hilarious none the less!

i'm sure there is much more but i'm so tired from only getting 6 hours of sleep from the ball and driving that i can't remember. i'll post later if i remember them.

Finally getting a chance to just BE there again.

Running the dancing--you were all fabulous, and for as much as you all protest, there is not one unteachable dancer among you (even James kept up)

RP with many--you know who you are.

Seeing all my ladies again - love all you girls.

Seeing everyone else too.

Cheese souffle and empanadas.  I could probably live off those two items.

Teaching.

Convincing Cecil Elawyn wasn't dead, and the implications thereof.

Erdrick's late entrance to the phantom of the opera theme, with hood pulled over his head and everything - Sam didn't even realize it.

And then not so much a highlight, having my first plane be so late last night getting to Atlanta that I missed my connection and had to sleep in a hotel for the night waiting for the next flight to Tallahassee this morning. 

I just want to say thank you to everyone for helping to make the ball a success!

Thanks to Jen W. for hosting the dancing part of the ball. A masquerade ball, just would not be a masquerade ball without the ballroom dancing!

Thanks to everyone who brought food in any form!

Thanks to Joe and MB for all their help with setup, clean-up, costume making, and everything else they helped with!

A HUGE thanks to Aaron, and Alex T. who worked like crazy to make the plot and the entertainment of the ball enjoyable for you all!

Thanks to Paul Y, Roy, Matt, Charna, and everyone else who stayed to help clean up the hall!

I probably forgot some names, but in short, these events are so successful in no small part by the great contributions from all of you!

And one of my highlights was getting to see Kristen, and Jen W. !

The interplay between the Master of Games and the Suicide King (and their lackeys) was indeed priceless. Hats off to a great performance

And I have to say the amount of "stuff" going on was just fantastic.

I had a great time at the ball....

-RP with people was excellent
-I got to learn very quickly who it was that I had to stay away from. Very easy and non-painful lol.
-just RP
-Having a (nice) conversation IG with Roy and then OOG with Roy for quite possibly the first time ever. Or at least second. Having the Aleister drama happen too was just great. Steve...your face was hilarious.....haha
-The...DANCING! I had soooo hoped that Jen would be there to do that- in addition to the fact that we've all missed her. She did great and we all had fun (I think lol)
-Character development
-Meeting new people in an environment that doesnt cause us to say "Oh, hi there. Oh wait, please move so I can hit this person." An excellent time for new players to come in.

Thank you all for such a great time! You all did fantastic!

It was wonderful getting to RP with everyone. Sorry for those of you who got the moody side of Rosa.

As always the hall and the costumes were all wonderful.

Finally getting face-to-face with Cecil and apologizing. Also, his harsh way of bringing it up.
Rosa: "Cecil, I'm sorry for the part I played in what happened."
Cecil: "You think I didn't see it happening before I gave it to you?"
Stupid fate.

Rosa's "chat" with Slack and the subsequent excessive drinking it lead to.

Seeing Elawyn back from her travels for a visit. I'm looking forward to the festival now and seeing everyone again!

Stupid fate.

that was the old Fate, try the new Fate! now with 50% more awesomeness!
(tm) The Chronicles of Osred

The "bow." I gotta be honest, I had no idea I was supposed to bow either, go higgins for helping me figure that out.

Taunting Birnum only to find out my date was one of his "closest friends." ftw.

My mask was amazing and made me high from the fumes so I couldn't really wear it. Epic fail.

Ella Rae.

Father Edwin. Seriously, that was the weirdest answer I've ever heard, although it goes to your convictions, she is less than convinced you're telling her the truth. Our conversation was enlightening to her to say the least.

Kwildar, seriously.. are you ever not a walking teddy bear?

The "Emo-corn" formally known as the "unicorn."

The food looked amazing but I didn't eat it. No one could convince me it wasn't made by elves, thanks to those who tried it was hilarious.

Meeting Cinder. Watching him dance with an elf like an hour later. *insert confusion*

Spiced Cider made me happy. Upstate weather did not.

Speaking to Magnus for a hot 2 seconds. only to be confused by what he told me.

Getting yelled at for only standing places where my back was to a wall, or over a banister.

upstairs, that part was beautiful... and warmer.


Good times.

Kwildar, seriously.. are you ever not a walking teddy bear?

Nope, sorry.  It's part of the job description of Walking Teddy Bear.

Kwildar, seriously.. are you ever not a walking teddy bear?

Nope, sorry.  It's part of the job description of Walking Teddy Bear.

True... though he was in the cast of Akira so the teddy bear thing can be scary... to the psychic develpment

I sense Honor Combat...

Mike Smith's Hugaliciousness vs Malcolm Mallardi's Teddy Bear-ness.

This Sunday!  Sunday!  Sunday!  At the Travance Dome... featuring opening act of Tobar and his retinue Jingling Gypsies.  Special Guest Appearance by the Monster Cart rally star Gravedigger.  Bring the family!  It's fun for everyone!


[size=6pt]sorry... this is what happens when I am forced to stay up past midnight while working on some stuff for the office.[/size]

Two Men Enter...One Man Leaves!!!

Paul, you scare me sometimes.  Besides, I have to concede to Mike Smith's awesomeness, attractiveness and hugalisciousness.  He's outclassed me in that for the last decade that he and I have known each other, I can't imagine this contest going any better in my favor than the 'Mallardi vs. Smith Conniving Match of the Millenia', back in '03.  

I flinched and swung first, even though I thought my opening volley of 'Unknowing Allies of Backstabbing' was fairly solid.  Something about Mike's 'Prime Presence', just unnerved me too much.  Heck, I'd say that the 'Mallardi vs. Smith II: Fabulous Prestige' rematch in '04 would've been a draw, if I hadn't been up for copyright infringemen on the name, or the magic tricks... Or y'know, the fact that Mike created that one.

This 'Mallardi vs. Smith III: Battle of the Snuggles' can't possibly turn out any differently... Can it?  Nope, throwing in the towel now.

Emocorn.

I think I just lost... for the first time in ten years... I have no response to that which doesn't make me sound like an egotistical maniac or self-depriving ass.  Clever move Malcolm... I'll get you next time... you and your nightmare teddybears of doom.

<<This 'Mallardi vs. Smith III: Battle of the Snuggles' can't possibly turn out any differently... Can it?  Nope, throwing in the towel now. Smiley>>

"No one ever won a chess game by resigning."  Savielly Tartakower, Grandmaster

<<This 'Mallardi vs. Smith III: Battle of the Snuggles' can't possibly turn out any differently... Can it?  Nope, throwing in the towel now. Smiley>>

"No one ever won a chess game by resigning."   Savielly Tartakower, Grandmaster

Well that's kind of obvious.

Absolute blast. There's no other words for it.

Jen thank you so much for the dancing. Getting Brian out there and making Cinder miserable was by far the best part of my night!

Galen, I want to keep you chained to my stove, that masterful cheese creation is still teasing me with its memories of delicious. Seriously, bravo.

Kristen put it masterfully, getting to see my ladies

I love that dog. I almost bundled him up in my cloak and smuggled him out. Seeing T as hard ass Veronica melt at the sight of him is something she won't live down for a long time....and will earn me a serious beating

Alex and Wally - perfection. Really, thank you!

And to James and everyone else who busted their butts to get the ball up and running, thank you as well. It was well worth the drive!

Oh, and I forgot....being voted prom queen. I haven't been that embarassed in ages.

Getting to hang out with Shawn, his wife Christine, and little Serenity all night was the best. Serenity is so cute!! The ball so really nice and everyone looked wonderful. Some of those costumes were absolutely gorgeous. The running theme of wings also caught my eyes, I found it quite amusing.

-Watching the row of people forget to bow to the Count and trying not to laugh each time. Failing usually.

-Learning who Fogrom was

-Trying to convince Nadira (Christine's character) that Captain Flay wasn't that bad

-Learning her escort for the ball was Lord Devirr and Ilana thinking she was crazy

-Planning on joining the singing contest, learning it was going to happen right away, and chickening out.

-Meeting Cecil and learning a bit more about everything involving a scroll case and his staff.

-Going out in the garden with Osred but the plan thwarted by the Count and his little group outside. Ending up going back in with Magdelena learning the secret of why she likes Emar's company Its great.

-Getting Sorel to dance since Flay was tired. Standing right next to Cinder and Morwenne in line and trying not to giggle.. too much. Snagging unsuspecting men to dance is fun

-Absinthe! That stuff is so good MB... only time I'll be able to drink it too.

-Suicide King vs. Master of Games.... and trying to get all my friends to vote for the MoG all night

It was a mildly uneventful event, but it was a lot of fun none the less and learned a lot of things ^^ This was a nice time to just relax and be able to talk without death looming over our shoulder. The perfect reprieve for everything going on the last few months.

How could I forget my first taste of Absinthe!.  Nice little RP with MB. 
PRelude - she tells me what can happen
After I drank the stuff (really nice OOG berry-citrus flavor) Cassandra tells me (while rolling dice) "First let's see if you die."
Me "You didn't say anything about possibly dying."
Her  "Its a really small chance the first time."

I saw the fairy.  The RP was to act like I was tripping for around 20 minutes.  I can do that.

Bonus Skill  -  Life is good.

Being misintoduced as a Darkheart and fearing for my life because of it, #### it Carlos lol

By far the best quote of the night "things are about to get very un-neutural in here"

The entire opening rp between master of games and the suicide king

Magdalena wandering off multuple times and Emar looking for her

Ariana taking advantage of the wandering off

Dancing

Final dance of the night especially

Leaving with a diffrent person, due to the wandering

Food was amazing, thanks everyone who made that grand feast possible

So much rp with the casino people

Rallying support for Emar's old friend the Sucide King

Ok first off, I was perhaps the most giddy when I entered that hall for the first time. I walked the catwalk and saw the Ellipsoidal Lighting arrays, the work that went into the construction, I am so glad I got a chance to visit this singular hall.
The outlaying properties were cool as well, and I took my time taking a few pics.
after trying everything from pulling the ears and nose of a gargoyle, poking its eyes and such, I found that the sinks in the bathroom hated me and had to ask for help.

- Practicing that opening RP, getting to pick up the Master of Games then contending with his "Game Boys"
- Great food, had 2 big full plates. Whomever made that sweet chili, "Thank You"
- Loved that friendly dog
- Those horrible stories in the contest, nice one by the gypsies
- Casino went alright, still can't believe Game Master won, some nice items were won
- Everyone looked so good, some great costuming and nice masks

-Jay