On Aeyethan plate of ancient, engraved it be Four succumbed to failure, a mark missed. On Empath papyrus, years gone, penned it be Four fulfilled their Path. Differs not, the truth. Only time, and the weakening its impairment from the gaze of man.
Weekend past, four once again ventured from the throne room of Castle British, reenacting that humble procession from whose near-tragedy was carved what would become the road from Britain to Trinsic.
The Shepherdess, played by Katrina Cole, who sought so strongly to reach the city where her late uncle, The Thaumaturge, lie waiting to be entombed.
The Provisioner, played by Taliesin, whose motivations were laced with greed and who secretly practiced the dark arts.
The Bard, played by Brytt, who provided mirth and cheer but may have had an atoneful purpose in accompanying the group.
And The Young Fighter, played by Zorax, who simply wanted to see what was to be seen.
In a ceremony somber and ancient, the Four began with a sip, each, of water given to them by a chambermaid, played by Magdalena. from the fountain said to once have been called the Fountain of Life. It would be reportedly through having tasted this water that the Four survived their years lost in the wilderness.
And so, the four filled their skins with the Water of Life which still flows to this very day from the Fountain in Lord British's Castle. They set out on the second Friday of the fifth month from the Castle and made their way South towards Trinsic. But alas, they never made it, nor did they ever find the City. For perhaps they did not know its secret way of entering the city where the two moons Felucca and Trammel had to align just right and the gate would only open for a very short period of time.
The four traveled to pay final respects to a legendary Thaumaturge, or holy man of miracles. The Thaumaturge was the uncle of the grieving shepherdess.
“In the early years of Lord British’s Reign, there existed a legendary thaumaturge unmatched in his talent for the arcane and beloved as a performer of great miracles.
He was revered and honored wherever he went, but he loved the City of Dawn most of all the Mage Cities. Dawn, which lay between Britain and Trinsic amongst the Spiritwood, was suspended in time and neither aged nor withered.
He would visit Dawn often to further his understanding of the mystical arts, but tragically he was not able to save himself from a mysterious ailment that wracked his body and his mind.
To honor the memory of the thaumaturge, he was to be entombed in the most magical of places, the center of the City of Dawn. Throughout the land people planned to gather and celebrate the passing of such a great Thaumaturge. One particular group consisted of four travelers who sought to journey to the Mage City of Dawn.”
- The Festival of the Way (May 4th, 2009)
Citizens of Britannia, young and old, joined the Four in a procession led by Handalf, the Storykeeper, and James, the Lord of the Way. James introduced the story of The Four (and revealed the ring of the Thaumaturge as the motivation of the Provisioner).
The Four led the procession, south from Britain to the city of Paws, where they stopped for directions to the City of Dawn, where the Thaumaturge had lived his life. It was to no avail. The City of Dawn, after all, was a city whose entrance would only appear when the moons of Britannia properly aligned.
They continued south, occasionally breaking camp to exchange story, or for the Bard to regale with song. The Shepherdess was consoled in her grief, while the Provisioner dreamed of his riches and the Fighter sharpened his blade.
Their entourage was not a solitary one, however, for the Bard felt the presence of an unseen being, watching over them, perhaps guiding their steps. Later on the path, the spirits of Dawn could be heard in the woods, calling, "Remember the Thaumaturge".
The Four wandered, season after season, never finding the elusive City of Dawn, but surviving on the Waters of Life until they stumbled on the gates of the City of Trinsic, where they were welcomed by the noble Paladins of the City, played by Elladan and Xel the Wanderer.
We humbly welcome the Four, friends, and travelers alike from far off lands at journey's end. It is a joyous event; a grand gathering to celebrate the first native-born holiday in this World or versions of this World. It is a pleasure and honor to pay homage not only to the Four but also the the great Thaumaturge who so devotedly studied and refined his understanding of the art Arcane within the legendary City of Dawn. The original Four: The Shepherdess who was also the thaumaturge's niece, the renown Bard whose voice could melt even the heart of an Arctic Ogre Lord, the Provisioner who secretly practiced the Dark Arts, and finally, the young Warrior who simply wanted to witness the spectacle. Though they and the great Thaumaturge are no longer with us in body, they are here with us in spirit. Let us please have a moment of silence to honor them.
We are here to celebrate this procession, this Festival of the Way. Through curiosity, dedication, and commitment, the Four's travels have forged a road which has become a main thoroughfare for trade and leisure, between Britain and Trinsic. Like ripples in a pond, their actions have inadvertently become a catalyst that has touched us all. Their journey is not unlike Life itself... The twists and turns. The ups and downs. The roads and decisions yet untrodden. Trials to test one's resolve and one's beliefs. Experiences that make us stronger and wiser in body, mind, and spirit.
So here we are at journey's end. Let us smile. Let us laugh. Let us rejoice. Let us drink our fill and eat these fine foods so lovingly made. Let us not forget that EACH and every one of us, no matter how small the deed or task, has the power to shape Destiny itself.
Let us not forget the Four and let us not forget the Thaumaturge.
Let us not forget this day.
The Britannian News Network would like to thank all those who participated for making the Second Annual Festival of the Way a success, and to Magdalena, who held it all together.
Thankye, and Remember the Thaumaturge!
-Shalineth, Lord of the Lycaeum, "Paths of Destiny", circa 139
Weekend past, four once again ventured from the throne room of Castle British, reenacting that humble procession from whose near-tragedy was carved what would become the road from Britain to Trinsic.
The Shepherdess, played by Katrina Cole, who sought so strongly to reach the city where her late uncle, The Thaumaturge, lie waiting to be entombed.
The Provisioner, played by Taliesin, whose motivations were laced with greed and who secretly practiced the dark arts.
The Bard, played by Brytt, who provided mirth and cheer but may have had an atoneful purpose in accompanying the group.
And The Young Fighter, played by Zorax, who simply wanted to see what was to be seen.
In a ceremony somber and ancient, the Four began with a sip, each, of water given to them by a chambermaid, played by Magdalena. from the fountain said to once have been called the Fountain of Life. It would be reportedly through having tasted this water that the Four survived their years lost in the wilderness.
And so, the four filled their skins with the Water of Life which still flows to this very day from the Fountain in Lord British's Castle. They set out on the second Friday of the fifth month from the Castle and made their way South towards Trinsic. But alas, they never made it, nor did they ever find the City. For perhaps they did not know its secret way of entering the city where the two moons Felucca and Trammel had to align just right and the gate would only open for a very short period of time.
-Ceno, First Lord of the Festival of the Way, circa 376
The four traveled to pay final respects to a legendary Thaumaturge, or holy man of miracles. The Thaumaturge was the uncle of the grieving shepherdess.
“In the early years of Lord British’s Reign, there existed a legendary thaumaturge unmatched in his talent for the arcane and beloved as a performer of great miracles.
He was revered and honored wherever he went, but he loved the City of Dawn most of all the Mage Cities. Dawn, which lay between Britain and Trinsic amongst the Spiritwood, was suspended in time and neither aged nor withered.
He would visit Dawn often to further his understanding of the mystical arts, but tragically he was not able to save himself from a mysterious ailment that wracked his body and his mind.
To honor the memory of the thaumaturge, he was to be entombed in the most magical of places, the center of the City of Dawn. Throughout the land people planned to gather and celebrate the passing of such a great Thaumaturge. One particular group consisted of four travelers who sought to journey to the Mage City of Dawn.”
- The Festival of the Way (May 4th, 2009)
-"The Festival of the Way", circa 376
Citizens of Britannia, young and old, joined the Four in a procession led by Handalf, the Storykeeper, and James, the Lord of the Way. James introduced the story of The Four (and revealed the ring of the Thaumaturge as the motivation of the Provisioner).
The Four led the procession, south from Britain to the city of Paws, where they stopped for directions to the City of Dawn, where the Thaumaturge had lived his life. It was to no avail. The City of Dawn, after all, was a city whose entrance would only appear when the moons of Britannia properly aligned.
They continued south, occasionally breaking camp to exchange story, or for the Bard to regale with song. The Shepherdess was consoled in her grief, while the Provisioner dreamed of his riches and the Fighter sharpened his blade.
Their entourage was not a solitary one, however, for the Bard felt the presence of an unseen being, watching over them, perhaps guiding their steps. Later on the path, the spirits of Dawn could be heard in the woods, calling, "Remember the Thaumaturge".
The Four wandered, season after season, never finding the elusive City of Dawn, but surviving on the Waters of Life until they stumbled on the gates of the City of Trinsic, where they were welcomed by the noble Paladins of the City, played by Elladan and Xel the Wanderer.
We humbly welcome the Four, friends, and travelers alike from far off lands at journey's end. It is a joyous event; a grand gathering to celebrate the first native-born holiday in this World or versions of this World. It is a pleasure and honor to pay homage not only to the Four but also the the great Thaumaturge who so devotedly studied and refined his understanding of the art Arcane within the legendary City of Dawn. The original Four: The Shepherdess who was also the thaumaturge's niece, the renown Bard whose voice could melt even the heart of an Arctic Ogre Lord, the Provisioner who secretly practiced the Dark Arts, and finally, the young Warrior who simply wanted to witness the spectacle. Though they and the great Thaumaturge are no longer with us in body, they are here with us in spirit. Let us please have a moment of silence to honor them.
We are here to celebrate this procession, this Festival of the Way. Through curiosity, dedication, and commitment, the Four's travels have forged a road which has become a main thoroughfare for trade and leisure, between Britain and Trinsic. Like ripples in a pond, their actions have inadvertently become a catalyst that has touched us all. Their journey is not unlike Life itself... The twists and turns. The ups and downs. The roads and decisions yet untrodden. Trials to test one's resolve and one's beliefs. Experiences that make us stronger and wiser in body, mind, and spirit.
So here we are at journey's end. Let us smile. Let us laugh. Let us rejoice. Let us drink our fill and eat these fine foods so lovingly made. Let us not forget that EACH and every one of us, no matter how small the deed or task, has the power to shape Destiny itself.
Let us not forget the Four and let us not forget the Thaumaturge.
Let us not forget this day.
-Xel, the Wanderer, circa 377
The Britannian News Network would like to thank all those who participated for making the Second Annual Festival of the Way a success, and to Magdalena, who held it all together.
Thankye, and Remember the Thaumaturge!
