vallo

Dear all of Vallo from a world that celebrates winter holidays but are not native to this one,

It's going to be my first year celebrating here which, you know, is great for all the new friends I've made here, but not so great when I'm thinking of my family back home and also realizing it'll be the first time I don't even celebrate the Chinese New Year with them, and it's making me feel some type of way.

How the hell do you cope or manage to get through it without a breakdown?

Before anyone suggests "a new hairdo", done and done. Abi and I found a place that did magical hair growth and all and I got longer hair! I debuted it during the wedding even.

[Texts to Lan Xichen]

» Hey Teach.
» I got a couplea projects I wanna work on this month.
» Any chance you got like, a spare closet or something laying around I can set up shop in?

Temeraire

Will you be home for dinner this evening? I received something today that I should like to show you.


Messages sent later to Lan Xichen and Emily

There's something wrong with Temeraire. I believe he's been affected by... whatever nonsense Vallo is throwing at us this time, but he does not know me. I'm going to fetch him home.

Magically Minded (do you think your character would see this? then yes!)

Greetings all, I am sharing on behalf of myself and Wanda (though I would never venture to speak for her, obviously) as your magical representatives for the DOA. The Directrix of Geliara Academy of Witchcraft and Wizardry has requested assistance in first, containing, and secondly, closing, a portal that opened on the grounds of the school. Apparently a conjuration class had a spell go...incorrectly and now there is a portal that they are unable to do anything with.

The second piece to that is that somethings may have escaped. The details on what, exactly, they are, are a bit sketchy, so this may take some time and energy. You can come to the DOA office and read for yourself what the Directrix sent over and if you are so inclined, we can then proceed to the school for closer examination of the portal.

Certainly no one is required to participate but if you do we will most likely have their eternal gratitude and a favor to be called upon later, ho hum, it is very good for relations, and I will purchase the Dashing Doors for lunch. And probably have wine if this goes very late.

This is an official communication on behalf of the Department of Outlander Affairs:

I am dismayed to report that the Amulet of Ashurbanipal, the magical item which allowed him to move between worlds and attack our library, has been stolen from the custody of Prigany Coven. The coven has submitted to outside investigation, and the Vallo police department currently believes that the members of Prigany are victims of a crime, not perpetrators of one.

The amulet is a quite large golden locket, oval-shaped and set with a iridescent green gemstone at its center. It was badly damaged in the fight with the necromancer king, but should it be repaired it will once again be a very powerful magical artifact.

The thief is as yet unknown, and attempts to magically track the location of the amulet have failed. Anyone with information that could lead to the recovery of the amulet and the apprehension of the thief should report that information to the Vallo police department.

Thank you,
Lan Xichen
DOA Coven Liaison

So, if no future children appeared for some of us does that mean we don't have children in the future?

This is my current thought and I would like to hear what people think.

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Yesterday I celebrated my third birthday here in Vallo, and was lucky enough to spend the evening in the company of my family. It was a far cry from how I spent my first birthday, a mere month after I'd arrived here.

It surprises me sometimes that I've already spent two years of my life in Vallo, and equally surprising that it has only been two years. So much has changed from those first early weeks, not least of all that I now spend my evenings with my kind, thoughtful husband and can watch Temeraire excel at his studies (even as I regret that I can provide him with very little instrumental help). I've made a good many friends, to whom I'm very grateful, and whom I hope I will never learn to take for granted. And while Vallo's whims have removed a great many people from my life as well, I am glad, very glad, to have known them.

I am not often so sentimental, and I hope you'll none of you hold my sudden loquaciousness against me. I just mean to say that I am filled with gratitude, to the bottom of my heart, that I am fortunate enough to spend my fortieth year here with all of you.

I know its frowned on to drink at work but I will give pretty much anything you can think of if someone will bring me a bottle of something. Because it is way too early in the week for this much chatting.

It has been just over a week since Vex'ahlia was returned back to Exandria. I am not done being broody about this, nor may I ever be in one way or another, but I am making an attempt to be a contributing member of society once more. The success of this attempt is still up in the air. Best judged after coffee.

I did just want to say that Vallo is left with a hole in it with my sister gone. She is a light that can't be snuffed out easily, though, and I like to think that her having been here for over three years alongside the rest of us will have echoes. I know that I am not the only one who will miss her, as she touched many people during her time here.

That said, Slayer's Take is still here thank the gods, because I might have broken down in the street if and is currently in the process of moving hands and gaining employees to continue to be operational. Don't worry, I will not be baking anything, those of you who have had the unfortunate displeasure of eating my cooking, as that will be left in a more capable baker's hands, but my sister's recipes will remain in Vallo.

Also, just wanted to say thanks to my friends and fiancé for being so good to me. I'm a lucky bloke.

Many of our working artists and students at Art of Expression have begun producing art that they say is for "spooky season." This embrace of darkness has been very interesting to see! I find some take it very seriously, while others take a very cheerful approach. Our working gallery is filling up with bats, cats, vampires, skeletons, haunted forests, and abandoned houses. If you delight in the holiday called Halloween, visit us for an early taste of it.

Also, today marks the fortieth birthday of my husband, William Laurence. Should you see him today, wish him happiness.

[Filtered to Loch Laggen]
I have arranged for a traditional English dinner to be delivered this evening so we may celebrate (including a roasted cow for Ah-Xiang, of course). The weather is nice enough that we may dine comfortably in the pavilion, I believe.
[/filter]

WHO: Lan Xichen and William Laurence
WHAT: Lan Xichen feels icky for the first time in his life and Laurence provides comfort
WHEN: First day of the Magic Pollution plot
WHERE: Loch Laggen, their bedroom
WARNINGS: N/A

( Lan robes never wrinkled, nor did they stain; they were woven with magic that kept them pristine no matter the circumstances. Apparently that wasn’t working at the moment. )

I wish to publicly express my gratitude to the Covens and Department of Outlander Affairs for their swift and effective response to the flood. While Cloud Recesses is on high ground and was largely untouched, the Art of Expression Vallo City location suffered greatly from water damage. Most of our photography and electronic art equipment was there, and we feared that it would be unsalvageable. While there are yet items that cannot be replaced, the majority of our computers and shared photography equipment will yet rise from the ashes thanks to the aid of science, magic, and dedicated volunteers.

My eternal thanks to all who assisted.

[Filtered to Will Laurence]
I believe I may actually return home at a reasonable hour this evening. Dare I hope the same may be said of you?

It looks like I have returned to Vallo, after a year away. What have I missed?

Captain, Temeraire, Abi, Lan Xichen are you still present here?

I have discovered a terrible new feeling: when one's favorite supporting character in the television drama is killed to give the lead character a reason to display his martial skill and wreak bloody vengeance on those who harmed her. The vengeance was very satisfying, but Zhou Yanhui deserved better after one thousand years of service to the Dragon Lord.

[OOC: No need to google, it's not a real show. LXC just discovered wuxia dramas AKA the genre he comes from, so I made one up. Feel free to add to its lore if you wish.]

But that is not so important as this weekend's Art Fair! Please come to Art of Expression on Saturday to support local artists. There will be many beautiful pieces for sale, and many very fine artists taking commissions and offering lessons.

Defense teams should be aware that a giant hand (taller than a man) attacked at Cloud Recesses today. Gladiolus, Katou Yue, and I were able to eliminate the threat without serious injury to anyone here, but it is seldom that a trouble in Vallo is strictly isolated.

This particular hand appeared on a rooftop and attempted to crush me under its palm. It also fired a dart equipped with a paralytic poison which thankfully is not deadly. We were able to dispatch it quickly enough that I do not know what else it might be capable of.

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Okay okay so why are so many of you people married?

There's not like a dominant religion here saying "do it or perish eternally in a lack of atmo", and it's not a law (I think?? I haven't studied many laws here but so far it's like the legal system here is ~just good vibes~), and it seems like most people choose to raise their own offspring which okay, cool, choice, don't get me wrong I'm not keen on implementing a Nursey-type system, but also ick?? but also fine. Look at me, I'm being so! freaking! open! minded!



But the marriage stuff, I can't figure it out. Are there like tax benefits?? What the hell. Why saddle yourself legally with a long-term relationship? Explain it to me like I'm five. I promise this is not me trying to shit on your customs and if I do feel free to shit on mine; it'll be cultural collaboration.





Also hi I need a job; my larder is bare, etc etc etc.

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