You have emoted: Amani steps forward, her arms raised above her head, in one
hand the cauldron and in the other the athame.

You have emoted: Amani lowers her arms when the silence falls. Bending, she
places the cauldron upon the ground.

Straightening back up again, you say, "Every one of us has, at one time or
another, studied the Liturgies. We include them in many of our rituals - such as
this one. We quote them in our written works. It is important to remember
however that they touch our every-day life as well. That what makes the
Liturgies so profound is that the embody the essence of what Mother Night
teaches us. So that they become the essence of us."

You say, "To celebrate this, I will ask each of you to step forward and share
with the Coven, and with Mother Night, a moment of your lives from this past
year which embodies the Liturgy against Fear, the Liturgy for Vengeance, the
Liturgy of Adaptation and the Liturgy of Patience."

You say, "These need not be grand moments, for indeed, the significant moments
are important, but the true test is the little moments in life."

You say, "First, I will form the Coven and the Sacred Circle. Speak now, Night
Witches, if you should like to join my Coven."

Beseeching the Great Spirit of Night, shadows coalesce around your form as she
blesses you as leader of a coven.

Ishant, Dervish of the Eclipse says to you, "I would."

Talan Ysav'rai, Princess of Shadows says, "I will."

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace says to you, "I will."

You welcome Ishant into your coven.
.
You welcome Zeva into your coven.

You welcome Talan into your coven.

You link hands with those in your coven to form a sacred circle.

Dipping your hand into a shadow cauldron, you pull out a long shadow and release
it into the air. The room darkens with the churning darkness.

You have emoted: Amani begins moving deosil, each step graceful and precise,
moving more as if dancing than merely walking. In her right hand is a bell made
of obsidian glass. As she reaches each member of the Coven, she rings the bell,
waiting for the sound to fade before moving to the next person. As she dances
along the circle from person to person, the shadows released swirl about her
feet and up the legs of those she passes.

You have emoted: Amani returns to her original position and drives the athame
held within her left hand into the ground, in front of the cauldron, closing the
Circle.

You proclaim, "The Circle is formed. The space within blessed by shadow and
marked by will."

You say, "Let each of us now share with the Coven and our most Awful Mother, the
moments of our lives this year which embody Her own teachings to us, that we may
honour those teachings and our Mother Night."

You have emoted: Amani steps forward, reaching to pick up her cauldron as she
goes, until she is standing at the centre of the Circle. Once there, she places
her cauldron back on the ground.

You recite, "Fear is but the web in which the spider sits. My fear is the web,
and I the spider. There is no fear but that which I use to ensnare."

Reaching into the pocket of her robe to retrieve a small bit of ore from the
mines of Southgard, you say, "This year, I have faced my fear of failure. The
Southgard revolt was the first that I had been present for and I worried I would
not do well. When the time came, however, I pushed this fear aside and did my
duty and the fear was no more. In this way, by forbidding my own fear from
taking root and preventing me from doing my duty, I have lived the Liturgy
against Fear."

You have emoted: Amani drops the bit of ore into the cauldron. There is no sound
of it hitting the bottom, instead the shadows in the cauldron boil.

Making a beckoning gesture, you say, "Come, Ishant. Step forward and share your
story of Fear, be it significant or mundane, and offer your token."

Ishant, Dervish of the Eclipse nods slowly, stepping forward to the cauldron.

Ishant, Dervish of the Eclipse says, "I fear my story is mundane and simple, but
last month I stepped out with Ashteru and into places I have never been. On the
way we visited an Isle of Spectre and many times, we were surrounded by
creatures of fire, I was wreathed in flames and my body transpired, but I was
able to overcome my fear of pain and suffering as I faced my fate to try grow
stronger."

Ishant, Dervish of the Eclipse deftly drops a small charred stone into the
cauldron, lightly stepping back.

Your mouth turns up as your face breaks into a smile.

Making a beckoning gesture, you say, "Come, Penumbra Zeva. Step forward and
share your story of Fear, be it significant or mundane, and offer your token."

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace steps towards the cauldron.

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace says, "I wanted to visit the cosmic plane
of Nil for a Shadowmaze quest but I was afraid because I was told the plane was
dangerous and I would not survive on my own. I was able to conquer my fear when
my mentor Princess Talan offered to take me and show me how to reach the plane.
With her guidance and help I was able to overcome my fear and complete my quest.
I chose to offer a spider as a token because they are creatures who embrace the
Mother Night and live cradled within Her dark beauty. Many fear them for their
appearance or their bite and for some they allow themselves to be dominated by
their fear but it is usually the spider that has more reason to fear."

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace drops a bit of webbing into the cauldron
and steps back.

Your mouth turns up as your face breaks into a smile.

Making a beckoning gesture, you say, "Come, Princess Talan. Step forward and
share your story of Fear, be it significant or mundane, and offer your token."

Talan Ysav'rai, Princess of Shadows steps forward, holding in her cupped hands a
single piece of shadowy essence which she lowers into the cauldron.

Talan Ysav'rai, Princess of Shadows says, "This year I conquered one of my fears
when I flew to Xion. Though I was avidly hunted by the black dragons of
aetherspace, I borrowed strength from the liturgy to steady my hands and land us
there safely. The revival of Glumki and Lhiannan was aided by the effort."

Your mouth turns up as your face breaks into a smile.

Talan Ysav'rai, Princess of Shadows says, "Though I am still terrified of
dragons."

Talan Ysav'rai, Princess of Shadows steps back into the circle.

The corners of your mouth turn up as you grin mischievously.

You recite, "The brooding of the shadows will ever turn aside the blade of the
wrathful. Ever will the vengeance formed of careful thought and darkness bring
vengeance while they sleep. The wrath of the blade is short and unfulfilling,
the vengeance of the shadows mars the very soul."

Pulling a long tooth out of a pocket of her robes, dried blood and withered
flesh still attached to the root, you say, "Though it is named the Liturgy for
Vengeance, the lessons taught of the importance of cunning and planning are the
key to my experience this year. The waiting of the perfect moment to strike. My
moment of Vengeance came while hunting alone a creature which should have killed
me. However, through cunning, and cool thought under pressure, I was able to
survive and vanquish the beast."

You have emoted: Amani drops the tooth into the cauldron. There is no sound of
it hitting the bottom, instead the shadows in the cauldron boil.

Making a beckoning gesture, you say, "Come, Ishant. Step forward and share your
story of Vengence, be it significant or mundane, and offer your token."
The bright sun shines down upon you.

Ishant, Dervish of the Eclipse lightly steps forward, his right hand bearing a
small pile of sand within, as he looks deeply into the seething shadows of the
cauldron.

In measured tones, Ishant, Dervish of the Eclipse says, "The treason of the one
known as Somaria and her husband Daedalion is inescapable, she led her own guild
and the commune itself on. I was witness to the unfolding of events and seen the
various responses. In all my attempts, with others, blunt force has failed,
showing the power of unity. I am unable to exact vengeance, but with others I am
part of a greater whole bound together by common cause and I will be part of the
storm that lets her know Night never forgets."

Ishant, Dervish of the Eclipse lets the sand trickle out of his hand into the
cauldron, lightly flying back.

Your mouth turns up as your face breaks into a smile.

Making a beckoning gesture, you say, "Come, Penumbra Zeva. Step forward and
share your story of Vengence, be it significant or mundane, and offer your
token."

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace says, "I have not had many experiences
since I left the Portal of Fate, but there was a time in my childhood when I was
tormented by someone much bigger than me. He hurt me and I dreamed of revenge. I
thought of finding some way of hitting him myself like he had hit me but instead
I felt impelled to draw him into the shadows, into the dark, for Mother Night to
help me as she always did. I tricked him into following me into the woods and
lost him, deep within the trees when Night came. I do not know exactly what he
experienced left alone within the shadows but he never bothered me again. The
shadows dealt my vengeance."

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace drops another piece of webbing into the
cauldron.

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace says, "I think of vengeance because it is
within the shadows that spiders play and like the shadows, their poison is not
short and swift like a blade but can torture the mind like the shadows."

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace steps back into the circle.

Talan smiles softly at Zeva.

Your mouth turns up as your face breaks into a smile.

The shadow of a crow seeps off to the northeast.

Making a beckoning gesture, you say, "Come, Princess Talan. Step forward and
share your story of Vengence, be it significant or mundane, and offer your
token."

Talan Ysav'rai, Princess of Shadows steps forward again approaching the cauldron
and lowering into it a set of shadowy prayer beads.

Talan Ysav'rai, Princess of Shadows says, "Some months ago I was set upon by a
Serenguard while doing nothing particularly offensive but being one of Night's.
I was slain, I remain no fighter. Yet in the revolt, I was able to best him with
words, and as he spluttered, I could not help but be satisfied at a battle won
on my chosen field."

Your mouth turns up as your face breaks into a smile.

You recite, "The shadows of Mother Night are an ever-shifting being. They evolve
and reshape with the movement of Father Sun and Mother Night, adapting to their
new environment. Adaptation is the tool of the strong."

Taking a small amethyst stone from the pocket of her robes, you say, "This has
been a year of change, within the Glomdoring and within the Coven. Though these
changes did not directly involve myself, my moment of Adaptation is drawn from
these changes. For when one's leaders change, anything can happen. Thus I have
made myself open to change and thus I have lived the Liturgy of Adaptation."

You have emoted: Amani drops the stone into the cauldron. There is no sound of
it hitting the bottom, instead the shadows in the cauldron boil.

Making a beckoning gesture, you say, "Come, Ishant. Step forward and share your
story of Adaptation, be it significant or mundane, and offer your token."

Ishant, Dervish of the Eclipse steps forward lightly.

Slowly, Ishant, Dervish of the Eclipse says, "As some people here bore witness,
I did my first lecture recently. I feared it would be unengaging and no one
would be interested. But with adaptation I was able to get people engaged and we
learnt so much more about the Fae and who we are. Adaptation was the link
between the old and wise and the young and nave. Because of it, Im now more
aware of my Coven mates and how they adapt, as well as how I do unthinkingly.
Adaptation is inextricably intertwined with wisdom in all senses for me."

Ishant, Dervish of the Eclipse wistfully drops a torn off white page into the
cauldron, briefly savouring the slow descent into the cauldron, before stepping
back.

Your mouth turns up as your face breaks into a smile.

Making a beckoning gesture, you say, "Come, Penumbra Zeva. Step forward and
share your story of Adaptation, be it significant or mundane, and offer your
token."

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace steps towards the cauldron.

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace says, "When I first began my studies within
the Shadowmaze I was unskilled and uncertain. I was uncertain of my ability to
fight and was nervous. I taught myself to adapt, to change my emotions to do
what I would need to do to become a strong member of the Coven and I found that
I was able to hunt. I adapted my skills so I could complete my tasks."

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace drops another piece of webbing into the
cauldron.

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace says, "Spiders are often forced to adapt to
sustain themselves, to catch prey. To survive, to thrive, we may have to change,
to adapt, and we should not fear it."

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace steps back into the circle.

You nod your head emphatically.

Making a beckoning gesture, you say, "Come, Princess Talan. Step forward and
share your story of Adaptation, be it significant or mundane, and offer your
token."

Talan Ysav'rai, Princess of Shadows steps forward again, and draws out the
Shadow Archives, wreathed in living darkness. With a coaxing gesture she motions
to the tome and a thin tendril of shadow peels away and curls softly into the
cauldron.

Her head bowed as she speaks solemnly, Talan Ysav'rai, Princess of Shadows says,
"There has been much upheaval this year, both in the High Coven, and in the
Shadow Court."

Talan Ysav'rai, Princess of Shadows says, "Adaptation is a tool we will use to
remain strong. I must remember this each day, as must we all."

Talan Ysav'rai, Princess of Shadows steps back to the circle, linking hands once
more with you and Zeva.

Your mouth turns up as your face breaks into a smile.

You recite, "There is a balance of Night and day. Biding Her time, Mother Night
waits for Her turn to rule. Utmost patience is an exercised trait."

Taking a small dagger from her pocket, you say, "Patience is the virtue I
struggle with most. That is a lesson as well though, as the Liturgy says that it
is an exercised trait. One cannot have patience without battling impatience.
This year, I have waited, some times more patiently than other times, for many
things. Thus my token is myself. For my moment of Patience this year is
constant."

You have emoted: Amani slices a lock of hair from her head and drops it into the
cauldron. Once again, the shadows boil within.

Making a beckoning gesture, you say, "Come, Ishant. Step forward and share your
story of Patience, be it significant or mundane, and offer your token."

Ishant, Dervish of the Eclipse closes his eyes, as he nods slowly, breathlessly
stepping forward, a long skein of web twisted around his small hand.

Opening his eyes, and softly speaking, Ishant, Dervish of the Eclipse says, "For
me patience is knowing the medium between restraint and rushing. I'm doing my
best for my mentor, but I know I am slow as well. I have to restrain myself from
rushing even when she is unhappy at my pace, as I know it is better for the
Coven that I display virtue in quality and knowledge over a misguided sense in
results. My patience is my self censorship and exceeding my potential within the
bounds of expectation and the benefit of the Coven."

Ishant, Dervish of the Eclipse slowly unwraps the skein from his hand and drops
it into the cauldron, quietly stepping back into the circle.

Your mouth turns up as your face breaks into a smile.

Making a beckoning gesture, you say, "Come, Penumbra Zeva. Step forward and
share your story of Patience, be it significant or mundane, and offer your
token."

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace steps towards the cauldron.

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace says, "While hunting in Newton Caverns I
became aware of the finks plight and their need for help. I was impatient at
first because I could not figure out the best way to help them and I found
myself running around endlessly exhausting myself. I almost gave up yet I
reminded myself that I needed to be patient. I needed to learn that I will not
know everything immediately. Many things take time. Once I understood this I was
able to calm myself and patiently figure out how best to help them and doing so
I was able to save them."

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace drops another piece of webbing into the
cauldron.

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace says, "Spiders must be patient. They must
linger in the shadows and wait for their prey. They must know patience."

Penumbra Zeva, Beholden to Her Grace steps back into the circle and softly
smiles at the bloated silk spider.

Making a beckoning gesture, you say, "Come, Princess Talan. Step forward and
share your story of Patience, be it significant or mundane, and offer your
token."

Talan Ysav'rai, Princess of Shadows paces forward a final time calling forth the
shadows as she does so.

Dipping her hand into a shadow cauldron, Talan pulls out a long shadow and
releases it into the air. The room darkens with the churning darkness.

Lowering a piece of parchment into the cauldron, Talan Ysav'rai, Princess of
Shadows says, "I offer a poem written by one who I have spent many years coaxing
away from the Light. They are words of praise, and of revelation of the Glory of
Night. It serves me as proof that that the river does carve the valley, that
some tasks require patience, and the end result will have been worth the
effort."

Talan Ysav'rai, Princess of Shadows returns to the circle, her eyes now falling
upon you.

Zeva smiles softly.

Your mouth turns up as your face breaks into a smile.

You have emoted: Amani watches as the shadows within the cauldron settle down
once more before reaching and lifting the cauldron over her head.

Her voice raised in supplication, you say, "Mother Night, take our offerings and
know that each of us live your wisdom in every moment of our lives, great and
small."

You dance in a circle, raising your arms to the heavens. Darkness whirls up
around you and forms a solid black tower that arches overhead.

You have emoted: Amani shudders as the shadows within her cauldron boil over,
erupting and flowing up the brumetower to vanish into the sky. As they go, the
items dropped into the cauldron can occasionally be seen within their seething
darkness.

You proclaim, "The shadows have taken our offerings to Mother Night! We pray
that our most Awesome Mother accept them, know how we honour Her."

You have emoted: Amani lowers her arms, cauldron still in hand. A moment later a
cold wind sweeps through, and a living darkness fills the area, extinguishing
all light. The feeling of icy fingers trail along your cheek gently, followed by
a kiss which touches your very soul with cold and fills your mind with darkness.
Just as suddenly as it happened, it ends. The darkness departs, leaving a
lingering chill in its wake.

You lead the coven in a ceremony to bring Mother Night's penumbra of beauty
around it.

Shadows ooze out of the pores of Talan, coating her skin in a black shell. She
cries out in pain as her body bubbles and warps under the cover of this shell,
which finally cracks apart and reveals smoother skin and muscles more defined
and shapely. She brushes her hair vainly, showing off her beautiful, new
physique.

Shadows ooze out of the pores of Ishant, coating his skin in a black shell. He
cries out in pain as his body bubbles and warps under the cover of this shell,
which finally cracks apart and reveals smoother skin and muscles more defined
and shapely. He throws his shoulders back in a boastful display of his
beautiful, new physique.

Shadows ooze out of your pores, coating your skin in a painful, corrosive shell.
Your body is agonizingly transformed, so your skin is smoother and breasts fill
out and become more plump and shapely. When the shell cracks apart, you cannot
help but to brush your hair vainly, showing off your beautiful, new physique.

A bit breathless, you say, "Mother Night has accepted our tokens and given Her
blessing. May it always be so."

Talan Ysav'rai, Princess of Shadows says, "May it always be so."

You perform a graceful curtsey.

Marcellus smiles softly.

With a flourish of his arm, Marcellus bows deeply.

You say, "Thank you all for attending, and thank you, Princess Talan, Ishant and
Penumbra Zeva for participating."

I missed that, sorry! Should have been there. Great work!

Again awsome, but I still want you to stop stealing my WOW time with Val.

Uwaa. I wish I was there. Sorry, guys!

hehe. They said my name. xD

You didn't know? Apparently you're famous now.

Why am I always the husband! I'm the dominate role in the relationship you know!

Sorry, the way you worded that was funny. Like being the husband disqualifies you from being the dominate one.

Or like you want it to be, Somaria and her wife, Daedalion.