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Post by Annalira Delshannon on Mar 13, 2006 12:28:28 GMT -5
((figured I'd take this to its own thread so we don't clutter the "this is what the hall looks like" thread too much))
Anna looked wearily at the piles of books cluttering the walls of her tiny apartment. She'd packed up her clothes, the vials of unusual smelling dusts, her sewing supplies, a first aid kit, some extra first aid supplies, and various and assorted other things. Her tiny spectacles that she used for up close reading were tucked away in her pouch as well. But the books... oh the books.
Some of this has GOT to go she thought. Some of those Ensigns have either volunteered or been volunteered and I just can't ask them to lug all this up the stairs.
Slowly, she began to sort through some of the more un-studied books, finding that she had several duplicates (her father, who kept sending them to her, was rather forgetful) including no less than FOUR copies of a rather outdated book on the culture of Ogres. Anna was not sure Ogres really HAD much culture, and proceeded to weed out the three extras.
As she was there, poring over her books and tomes (some in obvious states of "well-loved" or "well-abused" depending on the viewer), a tiny white kitten began to yowl over at the window. Sniffles wandered over, still yowling, and hopped up in Anna's lap, scattering dust and white fluff everywhere.
AAAAHHPPTHBTHHHCHOOOO!
The kitten, unphased by the enormous sneeze, began to paw at Anna's robes, batting at a loose thread and clearly enjoying himself.
After sneezing again, and blowing her nose, Anna sadly scooped up the adorable little furball and deposited him in the other room, hoping to finish her packing in peace. Hopefully Doc could come up with a recipe to help with the awful sneezing. The watery eyes weren't so bad, but she couldn't sneak up on anything while sneezing, and healing was just difficult when she kept interrupting her own channeling to chase the kitten out of her bags.
~~~
A few hours later, all the books were packed - two piles of boxes remained: one to give to the library at Stormwind, and one to join the 2 small shoulder bags of supplies and her suitcase of clothes sitting in the front room. Anna knew she'd eventually have to make some pillows and curtains, but having a big window in the new room was definitely going to be an improvement over the little stone-walled apartment.
Saying her final goodbyes to the room, she grabbed the kitten, stuffing him unceremoniously back into his carrier, and grabbed a suitcase and one of the shoulder bags. The walk to the Defenders' Hall wasn't too far, and she'd have to get a cart later on for the book boxes and the one bookshelf she was allowing herself to bring.
Sniffles, of course, yowled plaintively the entire way to the Virtue wing. The kitten loved to be in the carrier - except when someone told him he was supposed to be there.
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Post by Annalira Delshannon on Mar 14, 2006 12:58:12 GMT -5
After a bit of assorted help moving the boxes up the stairs - only two trips! - Anna settled into her new room and looked at the disorder of boxes and bags around her.
At least I have a window now, she thought, throwing open the shutters and the sash to let in the breeze and the light. The room was airy and light, with a washroom off one wall and a small study room off the other.
Anna placed a lamp by her bedside and another over on the table by the bathing room, and figured the rest would go into the study room - it was not windowed, and would be dark when the light from the main room wasn't seeping in.
Sniffles was apparently preoccupied with the door - batting his paws underneath of it. Anna heard someone outside come up the stairs and then head back down. The kitten yowled with meaning, and continued to bat under the door. After dragging the bookshelf into the study room, Anna opened the door to find a small bowl of milk and some brilliant sunfish on a plate. The little fish were alright broiled, though they had a strong flavor. They were also Sniffles favourite snack. Someone had apparently taken a bit of a liking to the little furball, but who? She'd not met many of the Defenders yet, though the yowling was definitely a sign of a cat in the room.
Oh well, she shrugged, at the moment it's a blessing, and I'll scout out my anonymous visitor some other time.
The kitten happily busied himself with his snack, and Anna was glad to have him out of her hair for a few moments while she placed the book boxes in the study on the little desk and then made up the bed. She and her mother and sisters had worked long and hard on the quilt that she spread over the blankets - little scraps of fabric from old clothes and curtains and aprons turned into this beautiful patchwork of colors. Each of the sisters had a quilt now - Anna had gotten most of the blue and green fabrics first though, so hers had a lovely water-like feel to the various triangles and squares and rectangles that fluttered across the surface of the bed.
After making short work of the bookshelves, spreading out her writing supplies and parchment books on the desk, and closing the window a bit, Anna looked around her with a sigh. The kitten was sleeping peacefully on the bed (ruefully, she thought about the sneezes that would result from that. silly thing needed some manners! and a bed of his own), and the late afternoon sunlight was dancing around the room, puddling on the floor and making the quilt seem to ripple and almost move.
It's good to be home.
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Post by Annalira Delshannon on Mar 31, 2006 12:50:31 GMT -5
Daily life - such a blessing sometimes. Settled into her small room in the Defenders Hall, Anna found herself more and more comfortable. Occasionally even venturing into the kitchens to make a batch of brownies, the paths of the hall had become more known to her and she rarely had to stop a maid for directions anymore.
The library was her favourite place - surrounded by beautiful books, old books, new books, strange books, Anna lost herself daily in the pursuit of history and story and lore. Sometimes she'd even borrow a book - when she felt like reading late into the night snuggled into her bed, leaving a careful note behind and a book-dummy in the shelf to mark it's place. Her little side room, stuffed with her own growing collection, was still quite tidy and dust free. Also Sniffles free. Though she kept a supply of herbs around for fighting, it wasn't worth the money to dose herself for allergies all the time, so there were no kitties allowed into the study room.
A visitors glance into the room suggested a tidy and simple occupant. It was only on second glance that the evidence of the sometimes scatterbrained occupant was noticeable. Though the bed was always made, the curtains pulled back and tied properly, the washroom clean, other elements of the room suggested that perhaps Anna had her moments of disorganization as well. The desk in the study room - with small bits of paper sticking through the sides of a drawer; an end table with three or four books stacked next to it, each with small bits of colored paper sticking out at odd angles marking pages. A note on the door to remember that the Priestess Alianna had required a meeting with her on Sunday afternoon during her normal service hours.
The newest addition to the room, however, shone brightly with gleaming wood and simple silver pins. A harp - an old harp, by the looks of it. Anna had always loved to sing, and her mellow alto voice - soft but strong - was something she was somewhat proud of. Sometimes she even wrote little bits of new songs to be thought through during her flights on the gryphons, or long sea voyages. This harp was found back in her hometown though - forgotten in someone's attic until a particularly thorough spring cleaning had found it sitting unattended. The owner of the home, a family friend of the Delshannons, had sent it to Anna, knowing her voice (and thinking it an appropriate gift for a young priestess whose tailoring skills were sadly short of her family's expectations).
Now a few weeks into practicing, the sounds produced on it no longer were off kilter and scratchy, though simple melodies were the limit to her playing as yet.
Today, however, Anna found herself faced with a new task - the Lady Polrena had asked for a story - not just any story, but Anna's story. Never having written about her own life, but preferring the gallant tales of others, this task scared her somewhat.
My story is so simple, she thought, how can it ever compare to the heroism and valor and strength of the other Defenders?
But a job is a job is a job, and she had one to do. After feeding Sniffles some smallfish, getting some bread from the table, and pouring a hot cup of tea, Anna sat down at her desk and began to write...
My name is Annalira Delshannon. 23 years ago, February 2nd, I was born to a small merchant family in a village west of Southshore.
My father is a farmer and horseman, and my mother is an expert tailor, as is my older sister. I have four sisters - one older (Laira), and three younger (Rianna, Sarai, and Rachael). Though Laira has shown from an early age proficiency with a needle and thread, I am horribly lacking in skill for it. My fingers, normally deft and quick, can tangle threads in quite amazing ways. So my mother gave up on having me work with her business and left me on my own most of the time.
When I was about 12, out goofing around in the woods near my home, I took quite a fall down the creek bank and split open my knee. After several moments of whimpering, i placed a hand over the wound and closed it - drawing on the warmth I felt in the back of my mind. Not the first time I channeled the Light, certainly, but the first time anyone else had run into me when I did it. The local priest had seen me fall, recognized my ability, and immediately scooped me up and marched me home.
Shortly thereafter I began my training - somewhat late for a Priestess - and I learned quickly under his tutelage. After several years, he found that I knew all that he could teach me, and sent me to find my way to the Cathedral in Stormwind to learn more. Once there, I was bound as an apprentice to the Priestess Alianna, and began my training in earnest.
After a few seasons of training had passed, Alianna suggested that I try to find a group of adventurers that could help me on my travels. "The life of a wandering priestess is hard, and strong friends (in both spirit and body) are invaluable," she said. So I made my way to the boards and meeting places about Stormwind looking for those who would accept me among their number.
As a priestess of few seasons, I though my search would be fruitless, but I came across an old message written by High Lord D'ana'no, and thought that perhaps the Defenders were worth asking. Their reputation preceded them - I had met a warlock, Sorrieenrei, not two days earlier in Duskwood, and wondered at his guild. After asking around, I was able to locate Sorrieenrei, who was ever so helpful in bringing me the address of the Defenders Hall and instructing me to send word to the High Lord, which I did the next day.
Anna looked over the manuscript - written out clearly in her even hand, bright green ink this time. It was no masterpiece, surely. Her life had been simple, free from the hardships many of the other Defenders had been forced to face. But it was her life and where she had come from, and she hoped that the Lady Polrena and High Lord D'ana'no would find it an acceptable tale.
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Post by Windfoot on Apr 4, 2006 12:29:11 GMT -5
More than acceptable, Annalira. Well done. You are a credit to your House.
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Post by Polrena on Apr 6, 2006 17:56:14 GMT -5
Forgive my tardiness in answering!
I read your tale with pleasure, and am both pleased and honored you have shared it with us. Thank you! I do hope your rooms are quite comfortable, and that you will be staying with us for a very long time.
Lady Polrena
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