Zariah

Zariah gained some courage and decided to ask Pilocanci a few questions. "Well, I've seen you around the Pen, but I've never had the opportunity to get to know you. Could you tell me about yourself?" She blushed and gave an inquisitive glance. (OOC: I've read your discription in the Piazza of portraits, but my character is not aware of who you are.)

These are Valentine's PLace all over the Pen: Gryphon Valentine to Yan Yan Ganaffi WrenWind’s Valentine to Wyvern Venefyxatu’s gift for his secret Valentine Lady Celes Crusader’s Valentine to Nyyark Knight’s Valentine to Peredhil Peredhil’s Valentine to Lady Celes Crusader YanYanGanaffi’s Valentine for Wrenwind These are the current Valentine's in the Ball: Sweetcherrie’s Valentine for Pilocanci, Black9’s Valentine for Sweetcherrie Wyvern’s Valentine for Annael Loki Wyrd’s Valentine to purple_shadows Gryphon’s Valentine for Yan Yan Ganaffi Don't forget about your Valentine!!! And come to the Ball!

"Pilocanci asked me to dance?", thought Zariah. "What do I say? If we dance, it will be a disaster...I'll make us trip and fall...and...it'll be awful...then everyone will laugh at me or something...what do I do?" She looked up at Pilocanci and tucked away her book. Standing up, she answered resolutely, "Sure I'd love to but I warn you I'm really clumsy."

Zariah sat alone, with her book in her lap and watched the guests and the commotion with Sweetcherrie...she seemed to have the attention of more than one gentleman. "Nyyark is never around anymore...so I can't expect him to be here. I've just about given up on being friends with him. And...Gwaihir makes me really nervous...in a good way....but he's too shy to talk to me since out date ended so abruptly....and everyone seems to be pairing up. And I bet if I tried to ask Wyvern for a dance, he'd charge me a fee or something...." Zariah deeply sighed. She held back her uncommon tears, "I'm the hostess, it's my duty to be a good greeter and hostess. So, I'll just look chipper." She tried, but couldn't even smile....

Yey! Welcome to the Pen!!! I hope to see you around often! (I'm Zariah btw...and my description in the Portriat of Piazza is not finished yet...but that's where u can find out about my roleplaying character)

Wouldn't it be great if Valentine's Day didn't NEED to exist? If romance and appreciation and love were not taken for granted and condensed into one day? Then, no matter the circumstance, everyone could feel loved...

Yey! Happy Birthday! It's awesome that you were born...and don't deny it!

And as Equester went to get some drinks, Sweetcherrie turned to Zariah, "I love your table decoration, where did you get the idea?" Zariah answered, "Well, the crows honor my friends, but also my heritage. I learned some new things when I went on my journey home last Fall...and, well...it turns out I AM a crow....but I think I'll save the transformation for a different occasion. Enjoy the Party; I have to head over to greet more guests." With that, Zariah ambled back to the door. ******** Zariah nearly blinked twice before she gasped in delight. After a quick flash small, red floating holographic hearts were floating about and ambient music played in lieu of the band's slow warm-up. "I'm just so glad things are finally falling into place!" She saw Appy approaching and hugged her at the door. "Happy Valentine's Day!” Zariah exclaimed. "Hmm.. She seems out of it today...but...oh I better let her go. How embarrassing that I held on so tight? Errr..." With that thought, she let go and quickly walked to the refreshment table to get a drink. "I actually don't think anyone has realized how much more social I have been lately....but, maybe that's not as weird as I think it is....Oh! My precious book....book...read...red....hearts....oooooh" Zariah's thoughts turned into a hypnotic trance.

Zariah blinked and again the figure disappeared. She shrugged, and looked around. The crows had all flown away, except for Wanderer, who was perched on a beam up above. "Wanderer, I'm back!" she exclaimed in crow tongue. He replied, "You look great! I sent everyone back to the forest, because I was worried that if anyone came while you were away, we'd scare them off. But I waited to wish you good luck, my friend." "You are truly my brother in spirit, Wanderer. Please share my gratitude with everyone, and ask all the clans to join us tomorrow at our usual spot. I can tell them about the Ball." She extended her arm, and Wanderer perched on her shoulder. He nuzzled her neck, and she stroked his back with her other hand. "Well, I shouldn't have expected anyone to be early...but I swear I thought there was a figure approaching....but then it disappeared... Oh well...” "I best be on my way." And with that, Wanderer spread his wings and flew away out the window toward the Sun. Zariah headed back to the door with a chair she grabbed from the nearest table, and as she always carried, pulled a book from her pouch to read while she waited.

The Valentine's Day Ball

Right now In the Conservatory!

It was 6:00am and the sun had not yet touched the horizon. Zariah shot up out of her bed and stretched her arms over her head as she let out a yawn. Smiling, she plopped her feet on the floor and headed to the window. Her companion crow, Wanderer was perched on the sill with his head nestled in his feathers, still napping. In crow speak, she spoke with utmost enthusiasm, "Wanderer! Wake up! It's Valentine's Day and I get to host the Ball!!! Go, fetch your family and our brother clans so we can decorate!!!" With a brief shake of his head, and fluff of feathers, he cawed an approval and headed toward the forest. Zariah changed into an outfit befitting for hard labor, and checked to make sure she grabbed all the right decorations. As she entered the Cabaret room, she saw that it was looking quite drab. The sun had peeked up and light was beginning to cheer up the walls, but the room was barren and ugly. She was eager for her help to come, so she opened the windows in welcome for their arrival. The first thing Zariah did was rearranging the tables to leave room for the band and the center free for dancing. She took 40 red cloth covers she had made, and placed them on the chair cushions. She pulled out pink tablecloths, and put doilies in the center of every table. She went to the kitchen, where she had a cart already prepared and rolled it into the room. On it, she had already collected the silverware, plates and napkins for her to distribute. The centerpieces were 7 inch wooden-carved figures of crows holding a rose in their beaks. She placed the last one on the final table and heard flapping. She looked up and saw around fifty crows flying toward the windows with ironically, roses in their beaks. "Oh my! What a surprise! You brought roses for me to decorate with??? Now, do I even want to ask WHERE you got those???" Wanderer flew to her arm and placed a rosebud with his beak into her hair. Zariah smiled and stroked his head. She then decided to share her decorating plans. "Thank you all for coming to help; I could never do this without you! I have crepe paper in three colors- red, white, and pink" that needs to be hung up by the ceiling. It'd be cool if all three colors could be intertwined...so I figure 6 crows could team together for each wall. I also have giant heart-shaped cardboard cutouts to place on the wall. I can hand one crow the tape if another two can fly the cutouts to the various locations. Basically, this is all we need to do before the caterers get here. Thanks so much for the roses! You can place three or so on each table around the figure--which by the way is a crow!" The morning passed quickly, and the caterers arrived with the food. Shortly after, the band set up. Zariah dashed to her room to get ready. In a strapless red dress and flats (since she KNEW she'd trip in heels), she entered the Cabaret room and found it to be quite magical. As she turned toward the door, the first guest had arrived right on time.

Zariah is hosting a Valentine's Day Ball in the Conservatory. It will last until the end of the month...but obviously it's on Valentine's day for the roleplaying. If you can, please attend and if you want, roleplay giving your valentine their gift.

*As Nyyark walks on the stones, the obnoxious roses kept asking him some questions.* - So, what do you think of this place? - It's nifty huh? - Of course it's nifty, he can't say otherwise! - So, young man, do you have any girlfriend? - Yes, you do have one, don't you? - What's her name! *Nyyark quickly looses patience and yells at the talkative flowers* - WOULD YOU MIND TO KEEP QUIET? As for my life, it's absolutly none of your business. *The roses were stunned and kept quiet for a moment, but slowly, they started to talk again.* - I wonder if he'll appreciate his gift? - Perhaps he'll appreciate it if we behave. - We behave! - You call bombarding this poor fellow of all kind of obnoxious questions behaving? - That is rich! - But it's our duty to ask questions, isn't it? - Of course it is! - Where's that clause in our contract? - What contract? - What we don't have one? - Heck, these mages don't sign contracts with us. If they want us, they'll get us. *Nyyark stops and looks at that one last rose.* - What do you mean by "If they want us, they'll get us." *One rose scolds the one Nyyark's talking to.* - Bravo! Why don't you spoil the whole surprise, while you're at it! - But I don't mean to do it... I just wanted to enlightened my sisters about the lack of contract... - You know what will happen to you if you do mess up? *The rose gulps and decides to keep quit. Nyyark looks at the roses wondering about this whole dispute.* - I'm sorry if my behavior threatens your integrity. You know what? I'll play along and I wont ask any question about this mage until I get my surprise. *The roses nod in agreement and decides to hum a very relaxing air until Nyyark arrives in his destination.*

*Nyyark was peacefully dreaming when he heard someone knocking on the door. Slowly, he finally answers the door, nobody wasn't even at the door. Instead, a path of crystal roses and marble stones was laying before him. Rubbing his eyes for a moment, he was about to close the door when protests stopped him. Nyyark looks around again, this time calling out the oversized hamsters.* - Guido? Nuncio? Come on! Show yourselves. - It's not them, it's me! - No it's me! - Of course it's me, you silly! *Nyyark started to pay more attention and realizes that the roses were more than what they seems. He softly touches one of them and it felts as soft as velvet. He keeps touching the rose until it laughs.* - Hahahaha! That tickles! *Nyyark jumps back in his room, startled. The roses stares back at the young Pennite and grins back at him.* - What? Never saw a rose talking? - Who do you think kept banging at your door? *Another roses waves one of her leaf.* - I did and you're hard to awaken. I had to knock for a good ten minutes. My leaf hurts thought. - Stop whining, we have to get him ready for the Secret Valentine. *Nyyark, dizzied by the constant bickering of the roses, finally manages to speak up.* - So, you guys are telling me that my secret Valentine sent you here to pick me? Well, if that so, give me time to get myself prepared and I'll come back. *After twenty minutes of wait, Nyyark showed up in his best attire for the event. One of the roses leans forward and speaks up.* - All right handsome, I must tell you that once you stepped on the marble stones, you must follow its path until your final destination. - Okay... I guess I'll have to do it. *Nyyark steps on the first stone and, as soon as his other foot stands on another marble stone, the environment around him shifted into a pitch black environment at first, then stars illuminates the nothingness. A now very confused Pennite looks at the roses, wondering what's next. An embarrassed rose replies.* - I forgot to tell you that this path leads to a parallel world and that this road is the only link between this one and your world. Anyhow, the only way for you to go is forward. *All the roses pointed towards the tortuous path that is unfolding ahead. Nyyark starts to walk and...* (Notice: Only Zariah, Nyyark and Secret Valentine are allowed to post in this thread. Oh and Nyyark, it's YOUR turn!)

(OOC: Hi Everyone! I'm so sorry! My job takes over my life, and then I work a part time job on the weekends. It's been 2 weeks since I've seen Oliver so I'm over here now, and using his computer since mine is broken to write again. I usually use my work computer, but as you can tell by my absence, I've not been able to have a break to be here. I HAVE run the names through the randomizer and my list is on my work computer so I SWEAR I will PM everyone their secret valentine on Monday. I am going to explain how this Valentine's thing works. If anyone has a huge issue with my concept, PM me and I will consider your thoughts.) Zariah entered the Cabaret room and posted a new bulletin on the wall. "Attention to all Pennite participants. I have not explained the details of this activity and for that I’m truly sorry, but better late than never??? This Valentine's Day there will be a Ball (Beginning on the 14th and lasting until the end of the Month, but for role-playing purposes the Ball is actually just on the 14th.) During this Ball, you can present your gift to your Secret Valentine. This Valentine does not have to me romantic at all, and it can be anything you want it to be. I look forward to hosting this Ball and if anyone wants to co-host or help out I'd love to share! So have a great week and see you at the Ball! PS. If you do not have a Secret Valentine and want to attend the Ball anyways PLEASE feel free! PSS. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me."

(OOC: I have run the names through the randomizer and tomorrow (Thurs) I will send them via PM....sorry work is consuming all my internet time.)

(OOC: Hi to all! So sorry I have been SO busy with work. Yesterday was the deadline to sign up, so I am now taking the list of names and making the matches using an online randomizer. I am a day behind schedule, so I will post the results tomorrow! )

Yeah, isn't that awesome?!!!!

Happy Birthday!

Hey! Thank goodness you are back! I want to roleplay and maybe you can start somemore RPG? I'm sending you a PM. Welcome back!

Blushing, Zariah attends to the front and receives the jewel. She wraps it in a purple velvet cloth that she produced from her pocket. Feeling like her day was truly made, Zariah makes her way back to her seat to see who was chosen for the other items as the winners.

Zariah jumps with determination and raises her hand. "I'd like to bid 110 geld please." She then sits down and crosses her fingers in hopes that she can't be topped.

(OOC: Anyone who wants to give feedback or ideas, feel free to start a post in the Critic's Corner maybe? I will eventually delete this post so my story flows uninterrupted. Thanks!)

This poem is beautiful! I would only maybe (in my opinion change one thing, to make it sound more like the rest which is poetic) So this is the suggestion: Changing "Even bring them to an insane point" To something like "Or drive them toward insanity"