Killing Time, Fillin' In

What is it about cold, foggy weather that brings out the worst of the lunatics? It seems like that sort of weather summons them, kind of like the full moon does. Yeah right. Actually, there is some truth to both of those situations. First of course there are bonafide lunatics and somewhere in their crazy minds they respond to the the full moon and foggy weather. Then of course you have those other lunatics; the ones who think its real smart to use the moon, fog, and darkness to play their sick games.

If I sound a little pissed off to you, you couldn't be more right. I've had a gut full of those little creeps who sneak around pretending to be what they aren't. Then there's the S.O.B's who call themselves Vampyre hunters -well hell, that doesn't say a lot. Any fool can call him/herself a hunter, collect a few tools, and pretend the rest. You know, I guess that's what gets to me worst of all; the pretense. There is nothing more revolting than pretending to be what you aren't, no matter what that might be. What that says to me is you have nothing going for you so you try to steal someone else's gig. Well, if you can't hold your own how are you going to hold someone else's? Get it?

By the way, my name is Leige and yeah, I'm looking for you -the badass hunters who think you own the right to say who survives and who doesn't. Yeah buddy, you won't even see me coming but that's what makes taking you down such fun. And you little pretenders take my advice and get a life of your own. I'm sick of hauling your sorry little asses out of trouble and listening to you snivel about how you didn't know what you were getting into. If you haven't figured it out by now I'm the real deal -Vampyre and Hunter. And I can tell you I don't have any patience for the likes of those I've described here. So if you come face to face with me, don't expect me to be the good guy. I kick ass and deal down and dirty with you so-called bad guys. By the way Tj -I'm coming for you. That was a friend of mine you did in and he wasn't even what you thought he was. Look for me...soon.

I suppose I better sign off since I have pressing business to take care of tonight. Pretty sure I'll catch hell for my language here but what the hey -Dream Teller knows me well enough to know I'm just telling it like it is. See you around...Maybe.

A note from Kaithlin and E-mail responses

Bonjour mes amies,
It has been several days since I've had the opportunity to chat with you. As you know, our Dream Teller has been away due to family illness. Our prayers have been answered and the family member is on the road to recovery. While Dream Teller will not return for another week or thereabouts, she is communicating with us by phone and computer. So today I will post her answers to some of your e-mail. But first I'll tell you a bit about what is going on around the office.

I suppose most people would dance a jig if their boss was out for an extended period of time but not so, here. We all enjoy being with Dream Teller for we learn so much from her and too, we like to think we take care of her. She isn't one for clock watching and very often she is here until late into the night, and that without thought for a meal. During her absence we have had some guests here with us from time to time but no one can fill her space. And believe me, no one tries.

You might wonder why someone can't just step in and take over her duties while she is gone. Well, first of all no one knows what that implies or where to start. Dream Teller' s office is, how shall I say it...sacro sanct. In other words no one feels comfortable going in there without her being there. Even Garth, Dream Teller's closest friend and ally, is loathe to cross the threshold. Now mind you we have her permission to do so,as there are many files and things of that nature we have to access during any given day (don't forget we are also working for an Author), but it just doesn't feel right . And how strange is that? Hmm, me thinks she is just being missed and we can't wait to have our resident author back with us. In truth there are certain things in that office that can only be accessed by Dream Teller and it is those which make her space seem so daunting without her there.

So, we will all be happy to have her back so things can begin to feel normal, again. And now to the the e-mail.

To Devlin in Georgia: One might take the tack that many a strange thing happens which has no explanation but I am not one to think that way. Everything has a basis for occurrence and what you have described has definite origins. The picture of the pentagram you sketched has some specifics which are not universally known to, or used by the common Witch. Certain of those symbols are representative of two powerful and evil demons. Those are interwoven into the pentagram so as not to be noticed for anything other than part of the elaborate artistry, and therein lies the danger of which you are not aware. I advise you to stay away from that wooded area until further notice. What goes on there is far and above the average satanic rituals and any one who ventures there is in grave danger. Take heed my friend and do not allow your curiosity to lead you, for there is no return from where you will end up. Blessed May You Be.

To Karen in Mississippi: Nay chatte, I do not think the climate is being controlled by supernatural means. Be careful not to allow your interests to lead you to connect all and sundry to things of that nature. Aye, and it is true that some individuals have the power to call up and embrace the elements. But one cannot cause a massive snowstorm such as has recently occurred in the North and the East, and maintain it for an extended period of time unless one is a God. I assure you the recent weather the world over is the work of Mother Nature. Has mankind contributed in some way? Most certainly many of the thoughtless things being done; deforesting, strip mining, dumping of chemicals and trash in our waterways, drilling the oceans' floors, and so on has great impact on the changes with the elements but when all is said and done, what comes from the skies is the work of the most powerful.

To Brinn in Hawaii: My dear, not even your beautiful state is safe from those who spread evil. Mayhap it is the sheer beauty and the climate that attracts or mayhap it is the history steeped in Voodoo and other religions of that nature, but whatever the attraction, yours is no safer than anyone else's.

To Craig in California: I have been over this ground time and again, but I will gladly cover it as often as needed. Role playing is not dangerous on its own merit. The danger lies in living the role to the point that one begins to believe it as reality. Goth, Vampyre, Warlock, Sorceress; whatever the role one plays, when it ceases to merely be a 'role' for its entertainment value then therein lies the danger. Once one begins to believe it as reality then naturally that person will behave out of the norm. And once one is sunk deep into what he perceives as reality he is then prime for the taking by those 'true' . What is it with you young folks that you want to be what you are not? Do you really think death preferable to your human existence? The one thing you can be sure of is that joining forces with whichever Kind has lured you in will not be even remotely the paradise promised you. You will be no more than an underling and certainly not a favored one, and when you are of no more use (which, I might add is generally quick) you will be disposed of. Sad to say but California runs neck-in-neck with New York for the types who prey upon role players. Why? So many pretty young people looking to fill a void and willing to try most anything. That is not to say the same is not true of other places, but those two states lead the pack in trying the newest and latest fad; drugs and other addictives, and yes, role playing. Recover yourself while you can and take stock of the real world in which you were obviously meant to be. Blessed May You Be.

To Michellene in New Jersey: I forwarded the pictures to an expert in rare books. What you have in your possession was thought to be no more than myth but as you appear to have an actual copy, that has turned a few heads and opened a few eyes. In order to decide if you in fact held a forgery, the expert tried to get you to let him have a look at the book. You were right to refuse and I did as you requested. I put the pictures before the Vampyre Garth de Roderick and here is his answer: Michellene, meeting with you and perusing the diary was most enjoyable. Although I was already certain that you did definitely possess the handwritten diary of one of the most powerful and evil Vampyres who ever existed, I took the samples of the paper and ink to one of my colleagues who tested them. Bingo! Yours is the real and only. While you cannot read the ancient language and only a few could, it is my belief that the diary, in the wrong hands, poses danger. I have no idea why it was among your great-grandfather's belongings but I would suggest that for the time being you place it in a safety deposit box until you decided what to do with it. I would ask you not to destroy it, as it has historical value among my Kind. Once word is out that you have it in your possession, all manner of individuals will attempt to get their hands on it, so I would caution you about telling anyone else that you have it. So far, only myself and Dream Teller know how to reach you and we will not give out that information. Take heed my dear, and use caution. In the event that you wish to sell it, I would ask that you contact me. Sincerely, Garth.

To Victoria in Louisiana: Nay, the Warlock Gregory was not in New Orleans on that date. As a matter of fact he was in Connetticut for a conference and was snowed in for several days. He has only recently returned and he will check into who is posing as him and using his name. Good thinking and thank you for the heads up. Blessed May You Be.

To Garrett in Louisiana: Apparently, you too were duped by an impostor. Gregory does not simply appear and offer to hold forth on things of that nature. It is rare that he speaks to a gathering of Outsiders and when he does, it is in a place of his choosing and not the middle of New Orleans where he would be fair game for his enemies. If as you say there were at least 150 people in attendance, all of you were being mislead. If the imposter holds another impromptu gathering and you hear of it, we would be most appreciative if you would let us know it as soon as possible. Blessed May You Be.

To Delaney in Florida: Nay dear, I am not at liberty to release that sort of information. Where safety is an issue I stand firm and 'twould behoove you to cease and desist the constant inquiries as you are merely wasting your time and my mailbox space.

To Jonathon in Delaware: I suppose that would depend upon your concept of what is safe and what is not. Common sense alone should tell you that going to a 'party' with someone you do not know, much less do not feel comfortable with, is not a safe or smart thing to do. Further, given that you have no knowledge of , as you say, 'Witchey matters' I would think you would leave well enough alone. Do you not wonder why a couple would approach you out of the blue and make such a blatant offer? They may or may not be what they claim but the important thing here is that either way could lay the path of danger. Get smart and stay safe.

Blessed May You All Be, Kaithlin.

Silence...

Fair morning.

Amazing what happens during 72 hours of complete silence. Not a whisper nor a hint that no one would post to this site during that time. Reason? Silence is a valuable tool that can produce many and varied results; and did.

Some of you regular visitors e-mailed your concerns that something might have happened to Dream Teller and/or Kaithlin; others of you expressed hope that this blog would continue to be published for its value; a few of you grumbled about the delay in posting, and all of those quite natural under the circumstances. Then there was one...

Aye, and the sudden silence was intentional. You see, in order to catch prey, one must bait the trap with care. The predator must be cunning and so very patient in one's efforts to turn things to one's advantage, and that is exactly what was accomplished. I will now tell you what has taken place and from that, you will learn a valuable lesson that could well aid you in the future.

There are those who think themselves more intelligent than anyone else. And certain of those are predisposed to prove themselves superior on every imaginable level. More is the pity, for 'no one' is superior to 'everyone' on every level. That applies to all Kinds regardless of power, skill, and intelligence, for there must be balance in order for existence to continue. Given what you have learned about extraordinary powers gifted to certain Kinds, wouldn't you wonder why a mere mortal would throw out a challenge to Beings far superior to himself?

When something of this nature arises it becomes a question of who and why. The wording and nature of the challenge immediately pointed to someone of mortal origins. From there, it fell to determining if the mortal was working alone, with other mortals, if he was affiliated with another of higher power, or even if another was pretending to be mortal. It was determined that he was mortal and working alone and from that point the hunt began. He who considered himself the predator became the prey.

I will not go into the nature of the challenge in its entirety except to say that certain of our colleagues were being threatened with malicious intentions. Those threats came through Dream Teller's e-mail and were immediately turned over to the Council of Alliances. Now you might think that we would feel little concern from a mere mortal, but I assure you, once again, there are those mortals who have advanced to the point that they become some very dangerous adversaries; as was this fellow.

Many different means were employed in the effort to find him and to our chagrin, all failed. We have some of the best computer experts on the planet and none could trace the e-mails. We have Masters of their Kinds and none could detect a trace of him through mind links, sensing, or any other skill. At that point we knew we were dealing with someone far advanced and had no idea what danger he actually posed. The hunt continued and frustration abounded, for none wished to admit nor accept that a mortal could transcend the impossible and become our worst nightmare. But at the time it seemed so. As we were having no luck tracing the individual, it then became of paramount importance to protect those of ours whom he was threatening. Naturally, none wanted to admit their powers might not protect them against a mortal but there it was.

You might imagine our surprise when, during a particularly heated argument among those of us who were not thrilled about going into hiding, a quiet but firm voice spoke up. All other voices ceased and all eyes turned to the speaker. The answer we sought came from one who had sat back and watched us running around chasing our tails for the better part of a month. Sometimes one finds an answer in the simplest of forms and so it was that the plan was laid out.

Our adversary was prolific. He responded to every one of our responses which we'd used in the hope of getting a lead on him, and goaded us through many more. The key we had failed to find and our colleague discovered was his need to be heard and responded to. Immediate silence was called for and it worked. The first twenty-four hours brought from our prey an avalanche of mail that rewarded us with a sense of his growing rage. The second twenty-four hours he began mentally disintegrating ; making idle threats he would personally perpetrate upon one or the other of us. The third night he fell for the bait; his rage such that it led him to meet the challenge of a particular Sorceress whose daughter he had threatened.

Silence; not always golden, or welcomed, but often the simple solution to a complex problem. Blessed May You Be, the Sorceress Suzauuna.

High-Tech

Bonjour mes amies.
Many of you have expressed interest in how our organization works in order to keep abreast of things. Given some of the events I've described for you I know keeping things going sounds almost impossible. We've even had a couple of folks e-mail us and say we're making it all up because we can't "be here, there, and everywhere at once". Gotta have a sense of humor otherwise... Would that we were 'making it all up' then we could claim Surprise! Gotcha! But the madness we describe here does go on and will continue, as it has from the beginning of time.

So how do we keep up? Not difficult to figure out. Even those with extraordinary talents have come to rely upon the same things you folks rely upon. Oh yeah! High-tech, high-tech; whatever the latest thing is on the market. I mean, really, guys. I know you didn't expect that we just twitch our noses and... Oh come on! Did you? Nay, you're too smart for that.

Honestly, you really have to get past the 'supernatural' thing and realize that other Kinds operate on a daily basis (for the most part) like the rest of society. I know it seems odd, even unbelievable to the few, to think of Vampyres or Werewolves sitting at computer keyboards and making up wild names for their e-mail addresses. Well, yes they do but there is a lot more to it than that. If you think about it, some of them have been around a long, loooong time; others not so long. But the point is they have a great deal of knowledge stored in those brains and because of who they are it is natural that they learn at a higher rate of speed. Thus the minute the latest computer product comes out they've got it (may even be the individual who invented it to begin with) and doesn't that give you pause for thought?

Don't sit there shaking your heads like I've taken leave of my senses, mes amies. Did you honestly think that these other Kinds just sit around doing nothing until they decide to run out and do some evil little deed for sport? Really! You know super ordinary gifts come with responsibilities. Are there some who can just morph here and there whenever they choose to? Of course but even they require rest and must recoup spent power; others have limited abilities, well you get the just. Point is, the computer has become an invaluable tool, as well as a deadly one. Those like us use them for the good of all, the others find them quite the thing to deceive and lure the unsuspecting.

But to get serious, 'twas the time when someone like our resident Vampyre, Garth, had to be constantly on the move, which meant he better have known where he would be at what particular time... It would take days, weeks, even months to get to a foreign location and by then whatever or whoever he might have gone after was long gone. You get the picture. Now, Garth can sit down at the computer and network with his colleagues all across the world. He can also map the route he wishes to travel, pinpoint rest areas, etc. So, aye, we have High-Tech folks of other Kinds. And you know what is really neat about that? They've waited so long for these tools and they so appreciate them. They like for their lives to be made a little easier too. So when you think they just go about using their powers to do the most ordinary things, think again. Sure they can but then you have to remember, too, they are learning to cut back and try and fit into our society. In order to relieve boredom they teach themselves to hold back what is natural to them and go at a pace that helps them blend in society.

Think that is easy? If you do, think again. We blink, breathe, and move without thought. Try thinking about it and delaying the process, every waking moment, and mayhap you can begin to understand what it is like for them to prevent themselves vanishing, or speaking to a thought someone hasn't voiced, or going to answer the phone at a speed that would give them away. Easy?

But back to how we do our business. Aye, we are few in comparison to the many we are up against. But we are extremely organized and have the latest and best equipment at our fingertips. Those who man the organizations offices are highly trained and that leaves our Council members, Trackers and Hunters free to deal with what is at hand. Messages can be sent anywhere, at any time, and received, and in a matter of moments someone can be dispatched, called back, or warned of impending danger; whichever the case may be.

When you consider that then you can understand how quickly we can mobilize, and let me tell you it only takes one message for it to filter through dozens of Covens or Tribes and whisper round the world. I know some of you are thinking about how easily information can be stolen off the internet. All of the messages we send are encrypted and unless one ( I'm talking mortals here) has a storehouse of knowledge related to ancient languages, symbols, and the like the only ones we have to look out for are those with extraordinary abilities. Of course it could happen but our codes change with the winds, almost daily; sometimes several times daily. Too, smart little critters that we are, we always send out a rash of misinformation for just that purpose. Of course, those we seek tend to do the same so... See, we aren't much different than you.

By the way, here is a kick for you. You've all heard enough about Garth to know his intelligence level is...well, lets just say the man is a genius. Our genius loves, adores, kids computer games. (He is going to kill me, well not literally) Not those high-tech war games and such but little kids' computer games; those that teach them world subjects but on their age level. Wish you could see his eyes light up when he discovers a particularly good one that he thinks every little child should have. Got another little secret for you. Garth and Jessica have purchased more computer equipment and soft wear and given it to children than you could imagine in your wildest dreams. No, I don't mean buying truckloads and giving it to organizations. They love sneaking it into homes where children would never get to have such things and Jessie writes the most beautiful notes to them. The couple pays out of their pocket for all the necessary hook-ups and carries the monthly bills, and so. They purchase the simpler, age appropriate ones for toddlers so they too, can learn. It is very moving but I wanted you to have some idea about the goodness in these folks of whom some of you consider as savages.

To answer another question: Aye, it does appear that all of us are partial to children. First of course is that children have no defense in life but for their parents and second because they are our future. But most important of all is that children haven't become jaded, can still be taught to respect and love. They bring such joy into our lives with their simple appreciation for the most mundane things, like a little ladybug making her way across a leaf. If you ever took the time to teach that child to make a wish and leave the ladybug fly away, or pointed out a rainbow to them and helped them search out the end for the pot of gold, then you know of what I'm speaking. Children don't mind if the wish never comes true or they ever find the pot of gold or the end of the rainbow. They simply appreciate the beauty, the fun, and the interaction with an adult who cares about them. Try it; take some time away from all your high-tech toys, busy lives, and spend one hour with your child or someone else's and I think you'll come away with a new respect and appreciation for the little folks who are often shuffled around in life.

Okay, so I got a bit off track but hey, I put a plug in for children any chance I get. Ponder all that I've said and mayhap you'll have some idea of what goes on outside your safe little world. Blessed May You Be, Kaithlin.

Life's Journey

Good evening.
For the better part of a week I've done some thinking about a topic of interest to present to you and I even went so far as to list a few. But I decided to do what I generally do so I'll go with my gut and just let the subject rise from my thoughts, and go from there. But first, let me introduce myself.

My name is Lucas. I was born in the southern United States; the first of two children, and the only son. Both my parents were born of wealth and privilege and their standing in their community was more important to them than the hands-on rearing of their son and daughter. For all practical purposes my sister and I were considered privileged brats who had everything we could possibly desire at our beck and call. Most assuredly there is truth in that if you consider privilege as having everything except our parents love and participation in our lives. Some of you might even think I have no reason to complain for what I lacked. I don't complain, never have. I'm just stating facts.

Early on, somewhere around adolescence, I figured out that no matter what I did or how hard I tried I wasn't going to win my parents love and least of all, my father's attention or approval. He was very busy bolstering the family name, adding to the family wealth, and proving himself to be a charitable philanthropist. Oh yeah, he had time for putting a nice face on the organizations that provided for underprivileged kids but he didn't have time for his own. My mother was his perfect counterpart; regal baring, unyielding in her efforts as a society maven who ran her precious estate and our lives through hired staff.

My sister and I attended private schools where we were expected to behave according to the rules of our society. If you've never had a peek into that sort of existence consider yourself blessed. Our days were filled with maintaining excellent grades, learning social skills geared to our standing, and hob-nobbing with the rest of the wealthy kids; most of whom were snobish brats who looked down their noses at the less fortunate.

By the age of fifteen I'd been kicked out of more private schools than I care to remember. The reason was attitude, attitude, attitude and the unwillingness to behave as was expected of me. My sister fared no better but she sought attention in different ways than me. She was wild, began doing drugs at the age of fourteen; sleeping around about the same time; skipping classes and going for joy rides with her flavor of the moment, sneaking out at night, and things of that nature. While she and I were close as youngsters, we grew further and further apart in our teens. I had reasons for my willfulness and I got what I wanted when the time came that no private school would take me. I was placed in public school. My sister remained in private school so we grew even further apart.

During my senior year, even though I'd settled down and was keeping my nose clean, our parents had all but washed their hands of me. But they dealt with my sister as if she would eventually straighten up and fall in with their plans. My mother wanted her daughter to be like her; the perfect little clone, so she kept trying to win her over by giving her everything she demanded. On her sixteenth birthday she was given a fast and flashy sports car. To this day my mother won't admit that she made a disastrous mistake. My sister was given a large party at home, unchaperoned, and both she and boyfriend had been drinking and doing drugs. They took off in her new car with my sister at the wheel and less than half an hour later she hit a tree at excessive speed, and the car careened off the tree and flipped into a canal. The boy died on impact and my sister drowned. When what was left of the car was dragged out of the water they were both still strapped into their seat-belts. Some birthday.

I'd gone out that evening and on the way home I came up on the accident. I got out to see what was going on about the time they were dragging the car from the canal, and it was then I discovered what had happened. My beautiful sister's face was unrecognizable but I recognized what was left of the car. A policeman followed me home and waited for nearly an hour before I was able to locate my parents who were attending the theater. When they arrived home my father lit into me and blamed me for all that had happened to my sister; from the time we were kids to then. My mother was equally angry. She told me I should have been there and that my sister was my responsibility. I walked away from them that night and never looked back.

I went to a friend's home where I was warmly welcomed by his parents and given a place to stay. I stayed for six months, the time it took to complete my senior year. In those six months I learned what a real family was; parents who loved their son and kept a firm hand on him, respected him, and taught him all that he needed to know to make a good life for himself. They gave me the same and when we graduated they feted both of us with a party that was well chaperoned. The following day my friend and I were preparing to enlist in the Air Force when my father showed up, unannounced. He was livid that I would "do something as stupid...", something not befitting the family name. Never mind that I'd had no contact with him during those six months, he just expected me to bend to his wishes that I enter the university of his choice and become an attorney like him. I let him have his say then I did what I'd always wanted to do; plowed my fist into his face then told him how it shamed me to carry his blood in my veins.

I walked away from him the second and final time. I spent eight years in the Air Force, got my degree courtesy of Uncle Sam, and had a war under my belt to boot. I was twenty-six when I opted out of re-enlistment and went in search of a career in business. The point of telling you all of this is as follows.

First and foremost, wealth and privilege wasn't a blessing in my case. It set me up for my rebellious years, and I'll be the first to say I made a good job of that. It also taught me that regardless of the material things you have, you don't always have the more important things a youngster needs; love, and confimation of your worth. I was blessed to have spent a short time with a remarkable family who gave me those things, but even that couldn't provide me with protection against the unknown.

I was thirty years old and doing well in the business world of upscale hotels when the unexpected caught me, unaware. I'd never had any interest in marriage until I met a woman who was the daughter of a prominent hotel owner whom I admired for his business savvy. He'd introduced us and within a few months I believed her to be a kind and caring individual who hadn't been ruined by her social position. It was what I didn't know about her that changed my life, forever.

One evening she held a get-together in her home for a few of her friends she wanted me to meet. Together with three other couples we enjoyed and excellent meal, good conversation, and then we retired to the living room for a brandy. I was half-way through my first drink when I suddenly became violently ill. Things got fuzzy after that and all I remembered the following morning was being sick and waking up in her bedroom. I recovered fairly quickly but for the next week or so I wasn't my usual self and I kept having vague dreams I couldn't quite remember. What little I could remember made no sense to me but I shrugged it off and got on with my business; had no idea I'd been drugged.

A week later I was again invited to her home and with the impression it would be an evening for two, I accepted. The evening progressed well until I suddenly became ill again around 11:00 p.m. But this time I didn't pass out; in fact lived through a terrifying ordeal, where I was completely at the mercy of one whom I thought was an uninvited guest who entered the premises without her knowledge. I couldn't have been more wrong. She'd sold me out long before that night, lured me into her trap. She owed a debt and used me as payment.

I am Vampyre, and only in the past ten years have I managed to come to terms with this life. As you can see, wealth and privilege didn't smooth my way during my youth, nor did it provide protection against the seemingly impossible. I was not purposely made what I am, but savagely attacked for sport and left for dead. Yet, here I am. I have wealth beyond your imagining but you have what is forever lost to me; humanity. I'm not ashamed to say that I've settled old scores; first, for my sister and then for me.

So when you think you have it so bad, be careful what you wish for. Lucas.

Game solutions.

Bonjour mes amies.

Regarding the game played here at our site which ended Dec. 31st: As you know we had no winner. But some of you e-mailed some interesting strategies for solving it and others e-mailed interesting conclusions you reached while trying to solve it clue by clue. We promised to publish some of those because not only did they exhibit various degrees of problem solving skills, they were also indicative of how differently people conceptualize when given the same information. Those play into what Dream Teller continually points out here; differences, and it is our differences that make each of us who we are.

The first we will publish came in the form of a poem which tells us this gentleman (who happens to be a soldier in Iraq) has a poetic nature and thinks in that form. And how wonderful is it that he can can maintain that poetic nature in the middle of a brutal war? Mayhap it is the beauty of poetry that sustains him in such troubled times and surroundings so here is his answer:

The Twains Will Meet...
Darkness will relinquish to Light
On the fabled Solstice Night
21 of December marks Yule on the day
That the veil of Winter Solstice allows us to play

We were quite taken with this answer and felt it needed publishing, for a wealth of information is contained within these few lines. Onyxroots (our e-mailer) obviously has command of the Witch's calendar and our holidays, his concept of the 'veil', as applied here, lends credence to his understanding that it can applied in various ways while still maintaining it's true nature, and all of it is significant of his comfort level with putting his thoughts into poetry form and offering it for other's review. From that, we sense that here is a man comfortable in his own skin, deep of thought, but with the added blessing of a playful nature. We sincerely hope he will ply us with more of his poetry, for it is in that artform that one finds many sources of pleasure. Blessed May You Be, soldier, and stay safe.

The next answer was the one closest to solving the game. It was her decided flair for delving deeper into the literal that appears to have derailed her from reaching the end conclusion. That isn't to say that taking things in a literal sense is wrong, for one must recognize the obvious before one can attempt to seek what may not be obvious. Her problem solving skills lend evidence of a deep thinker who first takes the obvious point by point, lays them out in order then takes them apart to find the solution. Her strategy goes as follows:

Right off the mark Lori realized that addition and reduction were solutions to achieve a number which was 7. The second clue verified that a number was what she was looking for. The 3rd clue verified that when she went to the dictionary for the definition of the word 'number'. From that same definition she ferreted out the word 'cardinal' of which 7 is a cardinal number. She took that and harked back to clue #2 that asked 'what is in a number' and here is where she concluded that there must be a deeper meaning. She listed what was related to 'the' number rather than thinking in simpler terms of 'a' (key word)number. On her list was 7 sins; 7days in a week; 7th sister; 7 members in a basic Coven. As you can see she reached the partial answer of '7' and stuck on the number itself and things related 'to' it rather than what is 'in' a number, and therefore could only work with the number itself. Had Lori stepped back from looking at the solution as having only numerical value she might have been able to broaden her view and reached for other possibilities.

It is obvious that Lori is mathematically inclined and that inclination boxed her in so that she only traveled that path of thought. From her strategy you can see how the mathematician's mind works. We have high praise for Lori and her skills, for many of us aren't able to stick with numbers and find them interesting enough to go forward with that line of problem solving. Congratulations Lori, for being closest to the answer.

Those are only two of the interesting solutions but they were the most prominent in catching our attention. As you can see, they were at different ends of the problem solving spectrum which goes to how interesting individuals are. A poet and a mathematician, yet each found the challenge interesting enough to woo them to put their skills to use, for the same purpose. Is it not obvious that even with differing abilities and ways, were we to combine our efforts in seeking solutions that all possible paths being covered might lead to one solution? Acceptance of our differences, respect for those differences, and the will to reach out to others... Ponder, and Blessed May You All Be, Kaithlin.

Be Alert and be Aware.

Bonjour mes amies.

Today we will publish the first of our chosen Outsider's e-mail in its entirety to give you a look at what can and does happen to unsuspecting people. We go to great lengths to confirm the events that took place and 'twas done so in this case. I will first preface it with some information about our e-mailer.

Teri (Teresa) is a twenty-nine year old single mom with two children. She is devoted to her children, has her own small business, and regularly attends church. She describes her life as 'ordinary' before the chain of events that began taking place soon after her husband divorced her. She is the sole provider for her family because her ex-husband left town and she hasn't heard from him since their divorce, and he hasn't made any effort to help support their children. At present, she and her children live in a leased home five miles out of town and that is where her story begins and here it is.

Dear Dream Teller, I stumbled upon your blog one evening as I was cruising the internet in search of information that might help me understand what has been happening to me. I was divorced several months ago and moved my two children and myself to a house on the outskirts of town. I wanted a safe environment for them and a place with plenty of room for them to play (the house sits on two acres surrounded by woods). Its a quiet area and our closest neighbor ( a woman in her mid-fifties) is two miles away. We've never lived out like this so I was a little nervous but within a couple of weeks we'd settled in, nicely, and my kids love having so much room to roam and play. The house is large and provides plenty of space for us. I have a large office and work from home so I don't have to send my children to day care after school.

The neighbor lady I mentioned introduced herself the first day we began moving in and though I liked her, there was something about her that made me feel slightly uncomfortable. I'm not sure what that was but I ignored it because I thought it was just because I wasn't used to such friendly people. She offered to help me with anything I needed and so I was pleased when she pitched right in and helped me unpack, helped keep an eye on the kids while they 'discovered' their new territory, and things like that. She seemed most interested in my business so we chatted about it while she helped me set up my office. Within a week I was completely comfortable with her. She was so sweet and I couldn't afford to hire the extra help I needed and so I was thankful and accepted her offer to help me out until I could afford to hire someone.

She seemed a blessing in disguise as she is quite intelligent, computer literate, which is a must with my business, and in no time she'd made herself invaluable. In no time at all she was pushing my products to her friends and acquaintances and within a month I'd increased my sales almost faster than I could produce inventory. As I look back, during that month is when certain odd things began occurring. First, she introduced me to her 'boyfriend'; a nice looking, congenial guy around her age then a couple of weeks later she decided I was too immersed in my business and needed to socialize more so she introduced me to her 'nephew'. Tom seemed an all round nice guy, mid-thirties; nice looking; ready smile; friendly sort. He was attentive without being too macho and pushy and I immediately liked the way he had with my children. He treated them as special individuals, played with them, and so on and since they liked him as much as I did, we started seeing one another.

By the third date, I was thinking things couldn't get much better what with my business flourishing, the kids happy, and a man who seemed to care about us, in tow. Then I began having strange dreams in which Tom played a major role that didn't fit with his lifestyle. He claimed to be a mechanical engineer and said he worked for a major corporation in town, which was verified when I attended a company social with him. But some of the people he introduced me to seemed rather wary of him and when I questioned that at the end of the evening he laughed it off, and told me that wasn't unusual because they were jealous of his position within the company. Of course I accepted that.

We'd been dating about two months when I was in town one day to grocery shop and ran into one of the women I'd met at the company social. She seemed nervous but she came up to me and inquired if I was still dating Tom. When I said yes she warned me to watch out for myself with him but she wouldn't say why. By then I liked him a lot and so I told her not to worry about me and that I didn't think she should be making such statements about him. I didn't tell Tom about that and now I'm glad I didn't because I'm not sure what he might have done to her for warning me.

I was sure I was falling in love with him and that blinded me to a lot of his faults. I think that loliness played a major role in that as well. I was the kind of woman who dreamed about being partners with a man who would love my children and me, and would want to make us a family and he sure seemed to want the same. By the fourth month I was pretty sure he would ask me to marry him and I was set to say yes. Then my children began acting less enthused with him. There was no 'big' sign; just that they spent less and less time with him when he was in our home, preferring to stay in their rooms and play rather than join us. I put it down to just being kids and I admit I liked that we had more time to ourselves during his evening visits.

The first major unease came when he wanted to start spending nights in my home. I told him I wasn't comfortable with that because I didn't think it was wise around my kids. He didn't get angry but he accused me of using the children to keep our relationship from progressing to the next level. I was hurt by the accusation but I stood my ground and told him I would think about it. I thought about it for a week; time in which the dreams I was having escalated into something so bizarre that I was beginning to fear being alone at night. I'd never had that fear and I couldn't think why I would have such ridiculous dreams. I spoke to Tom about them and he laughed them off and said that was exactly why I needed a man in the house to make me feel safe. I thought about that too, but something kept telling me to hold off, so I did.

Tom began to stop coming around as much as he used to and I got the impression he meant to show me how much I'd miss him, which I did. One evening I asked him if that was his intention and I will never forget the look that came into his eyes; almost feral, for lack of a better word. He denied it and told me that I was selfish for not thinking of someone other than myself. He told me he stayed away in order to keep his feelings for me under control; that it was unfair of me not to consider his needs, as well as mine and the children's. I felt that he was right, that I should have realized how difficult it was for him to keep seeing me without some future goals to look forward to but I couldn't quite bring myself to bring up the possibility of marriage. I'm no prude but neither am I a loose woman and thinking of having a physical relationship without benefit of some future plans made me very uncomfortable. I did manage to get round to that without saying the 'M' word.

He left early that evening without things being settled between us and that night I had the mother of all nightmares. I awoke the next morning wondering if I was having some delayed reaction to the divorce; like the beginnings of a breakdown. I discussed it with Miriam, his aunt and my neighbor, and she gently chastised me for not going after what I wanted. She said she thought my dreams were a product of my inability to commit to Tom without first tying him down; an out for my fear of a second failure in a relationship, she called them. It sounded plausible to me and because I had total faith and trust in her, I told her I would get myself together and step into modern times. She seemed so pleased, even hinted that she would love to have me be part of her family.

Still, the more I thought about it the less I felt confident of moving our relationship to the next level. Without warning, Tom came around late one evening about a week after I talked with Miriam. He issued an ultimatum in a nice way, but one that got my back up; sleep with him, or he'd have to move on. During that conversation he told me that his aunt had told him of my latest dreams and he hinted at my 'possible' mental problems and that made me angrier. So angry I asked him to leave and the next day I told his aunt I thought it would be best if she take some time off and give me time to think. She appeared hurt but there was something else in her eyes; a steely determination that gave me pause for thought. She only smiled and said if I should need her to let her know, and she left.

My dreams got worse, to the point that they've affected my work; my relationship with my children (I've begun to resent being tied down to them); and I've even stopped going to church because I'm so tired most of the time from lack of sleep. Lately, I've been dreaming of being chased by something I can't see, something not of this world. I've begun to fear that my children are in danger, though I don't know from what or who but I know it has something to do with Tom and maybe his aunt and her boyfriend. It has also dawned on me that I never saw Tom except at night, even on weekends. Too, there were a couple of times I got the impression he was looking strangely at my kids; like he was considering what to do with them. I'm not talking about a normal situation, where we could have some private time together, but as if he'd been thinking of how to get rid of them, permanently.

As all of these thoughts continue to plague me, I decided I needed to know more about him. I called the woman who'd warned me about him and we met in a cafe. I learned that Tom has a much higher position than he formerly gave me to believe, that he comes and goes at work as he pleases, and he only shows himself around there at night. She thinks he is part owner of the corporation and that is why he has such freedom. Then she told me something that really put me on edge. She said the last woman he'd dated (worked at the same corporation) had started getting ill with a few weeks of their relationship and slowly got sicker and sicker. She described her as very pale, shaky, fearful; a complete change in her personality. No one knows what happened to the woman. She eventually quit her job and seems to have disappeared.

Two weeks ago the woman I'd been talking to abruptly quit her job and left town (or so it is said). I can't find anyone who knows where she went and few people are willing to discuss it with me. At this point I feel totally isolated, as I don't know many people here and I stopped seeing the few I knew when I started dating Tom. I've begun to feel as if something ugly; evil, is hovering around me, and nights are the worst times. I know this sounds crazy but I'm smart enough to know that something is off kilter. I continue having dreams about otherworldly things and beings that I never believed in before, and I don't know where else to turn. I need help because I fear my children are in grave danger. If you can give me any assistance, I would appreciate it. Sincerely, Teri

Folks, it was a little over a month ago that I read Teri's e-mail. Dream Teller was out of town but it bothered me greatly that this woman seemed so in danger, so I waited and approached the situation that evening with Garth. He felt the same as I did, that this wasn't some crackpot making up a tale. We e-mailed Teri that evening and she immediately e-mailed back with her phone number. Garth talked to her and confirmed his feelings that she and her children were indeed, in danger. He told her what to do to protect them until he could get there, the following evening. He and Gregory Robicheaux went to their aid. They discovered that Teri and the children had taken up residence next door to a woman who took advantage of their being alone and without family support.

As it turned out, Miriam and her boyfriend belonged to a Coven of Witches who were in league with a Warlock who had every intention of using the young woman and her children for his own evil purposes. Together, they split her from the few friends she had without her being any the wiser. They ingratiated themselves into her life but their mistake was in thinking that Teri wasn't smart enough to figure things out, and that Tom (not his real name) could sway her to do his bidding. He failed and that put Teri and her children in real danger. At that point the Warlock was furious (vanity gets some of them every time) and he was making plans for her and her children to disappear. His intention was to sacrifice the children (he was a Satan worshipper) and to bend Teri to his will until he had no further use for her.

The dreams were planted in her mind to further her fear and force her to turn to them. It worked for a short while but Teri's instincts served her well, and prevented her falling helplessly into their trap. As of this posting Teri and her children are doing well in their new location, the Warlock and his two comrades have been dealt with, and the rest of the rogue Coven has scattered to the four winds (amazing how effective a Master Warlock and a Master Vampyre can be when they put their minds to it and join forces).

This is just one of the dangers unsuspecting folks can fall victim to but I hope it has taught you something. Take care in getting to know strangers and think twice before you allow your lifestyle to go from ordinary to something far different than you expect in such a short time. Single women and their children are particularly vulnerable (that isn't to say that males aren't) because they have no man in their lives to protect them. Ponder, and Blessed May You Be, Kaithlin.

History and celebrations.

Bonjour mes amies.

Yesterday was a total wash and I'm off to a bit of a late start this morning. Ah well, I'm not one of those who wails and gnashes her teeth when things don't go according to plan. The way I see it, if plan A fails the next step is to implement plan B and if that crumbles then heck, you just gotta wing it. Life is too short to spend a moment of it stressing over what should have been, might have been, or isn't going to happen.

Our author is out of pocket for a few days (internal family matters) and yep, we have those too. So we wing it and make the best of what we have. We've received a lot e-mail regarding the Witch's calendar and the meaning of our holidays so that is our topic of the day.

All of our holidays and festivals are of Celtic origins; most particularly from Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. So it isn't unusual that Celtic blood runs in the veins of true Witches. Down through the ages the names of those holidays, festivals, and rites have taken on more modern names and spellings but 'tis the Old Ways the majority of us hold true.

An example: One of our most notable and majical events is Samhain, also known as All Hallows; Hallow E'en; and Halloween, the eve of All Hallow's Day which is November 1st. Traditionally celebrated, beginning at sundown on October 31st, Samhain means 'summer's end'. The earlier Celts held to a two fold division of the year where summer extended from Beltane to Samhain and winter, from Samhain to Beltane. In later years the calendar was extended to a four fold division and Samhain is known as 'autumn's end' and the beginning of winter.

The various pronunciations are as follows: 'Sowin' in Ireland; 'Soween' in Wales; 'Saven' in Scotland; and the United States, 'Samhain'. The importance lies in that it is the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. Samhain is considered by Witches as one of four Greater Sabbats and, as it is the most important of those, it is often referred to as 'The Great Sabbat'.

Another, pronounced Beltane in the United States, is the celebration of May 1st and is known as 'Galan Mae' in Wales;' Beltaine' in Ireland; 'Shenn do Boaldyn' in the Isle of Mann; and 'Bealtunn' in Scotland. This is one our our most important religious festivals, for it is symbolic of the coming of spring; the time of year when all things renew themselves.

Imbolc, or Candlemass, is celebrated on February 1st (Groundhog's Day) symbolizing six more weeks of winter which is the halfway point of the year. The Celts called it 'Brigit's Day' and the Irish called it 'Brid's Day', for a powerful Goddess who became Saint Brigit. La Feill Bhride, Brigit' s feast day, celebrates new life about to awaken in the earth thus the earth is furrowed and prepared for seed.

Another of our celebrations is Ostara; also known as Easter, Vernal Equinox, Spring Equinox, which is the day when light and darkness are of equal length. This sacred holiday is when seeds are sown and also represent the planting of new ideas and goals for the coming year. It is considered the best time to begin new businesses and to start new activities.

There are also four lesser holidays known as the two solstices and the two equinoxes;the four quarter days of the years and the more modern terms are 'Lesser Sabbats' or 'Low Holidays'.

There is so much more interesting information but in the interest of time I'll stop here, and pick up this topic at a later time. I hope I've touched high points of interest that have answered some of your questions and even further peaked your curiosity. I so enjoy telling of our history and the changes wrought through the ages, but it is the tried and true which must be told. Blessed May You Be, Kaithlin.

In retrospect...

Bonjour mes amies.
When I arrived at the office this morning (4:00 a. m.) I was quite surprised to find our ancient colleague and dear friend, Garth, still here. And why is that such a surprise? Well, for several reasons, not the least of which is his being such a busy individual. Then there is always that highest priority of his; spending every minute of his free time, which is precious little, with his beloved wife, Jessica.

You've all read some of my posts where I poke fun at Garth and I've given you my impression of him as a jokester who likes to tease and harass, and generally push some of us to the limits of hysterics, at times. He is usually upbeat, smiling, and does he ever love to flaunt his handsome self around here like a preening peacock. That isn't the person I encountered this morning. One look at that brooding face as he sat here alone in the semi-darkness, staring out the window, and I realized that I am guilty of forgetting that his life isn't always about fun and games. I looked at that profile and the sadness etched into it dropped a heavy weight upon my heart. You can't begin to imagine just how heavy was that weight when he turned to look at me. There was never more truth in the adage that 'the eyes are the window to the soul'.

You know folks, sometimes we get so caught up in our busy lives we fail to recognize family and friends in need of a moment of our time. And sometimes that individual is the one we least expect to need our undivided attention. Such is the case with Garth. Because he isn't one to let his guard down in the presence of others, and because he presents a happy-go-lucky front, I forgot that for all that he is; ageless, powerful, self-sufficient, he has deeper feelings like the rest of us. But he doesn't give into those when others are in his presence.

I kicked my heavy schedule aside and sat down with him. He asked me to read what he'd posted last evening. The reading only required a few minutes of my time but in those few minutes of 'silence', I felt what he intended those who read it to know. Those few minutes seemed to stretch and stretch... When I glanced up at him, his eyes told me he knew he'd been successful in putting across his point. But it was his smile that tore at my heart; one of acceptance for his lot. Blameless as his smile was, I felt the impact of what I saw in his eyes; sadness, loneliness, and a whole host of other emotions and feelings I'd never been privy to where he's concerned.

We had little time to talk, as the dawn approached, but I grabbed what time we had and offered to listen. And Garth gave me a wonderful gift; that of getting to know another, more personal side of him. I wouldn't for the world break his confidence, so suffice it to say that I have a new respect for a man I already highly respected, but failed to let him know that. He knows it now and in future I will be more aware of people and things around me.

I watched him walk out of this office, a proud individual, to seek his rest. As I sit here at the keyboard telling you this my heart is heavy. And I wonder if any of you can possibly understand, or care, that others, like Garth; the man who is Vampyre, exist on the edge of all that we are given and are so often wont to take for granted. Time, twenty-four hours in a day to use as we please; the choice to be ourselves wherever we are and whomever we are with; the sight of a beautiful new day filled with sunshine; the ability to lay our heads upon our pillows wherever and whenever we choose in relative safety; morning coffee with our family and friends, and whatever else we choose to do with our time.

Sure, he told you he enjoys many of the same things we do but he doesn't have the choice of doing those things at his leisure. His time is limited to the hours of darkness and we complain that ours is limited? Ponder, and Blessed May You Be, Kaithlin.

Insight

Good evening.

Those of you who visit here on a regular basis have already met me but for those who haven't, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Garth de Roderick. Among my Kind I'm an Ancient and a Master. Those titles speak for themselves so I won't get into the whys and wherefores of them.

I thought it would be interesting to give you mainstream Outsiders a look into what is beyond your ordinary routine of daily living. You'll find that I do things by different methods than most; approach things from different angles. It is my way and while it will seem odd, even strange to you, there is the reason -differences, behind this exercise.

There are those of you who think me no more than the stuff of imaginative minds; fodder for movies and books. Some refuse to think of me at all and others, those few of you who are brave enough to deal with reality, know me as Vampyre. Legend deals unkindly with my Kind and for the most part, justifiably so. But, as has been said here many times, all should not be judged as one. Humans have that tendancy to judge by race, creed, color, religion, status, background, and Kind; and more is the pity. But let me move past that.

My great age (2000+ years) has afforded me considerable benefits along with those things of a negative nature. Most important of those is knowledge garnered from every imaginable source (and some unimaginable). With that comes many problems and responsibilities. In order to move about in your society I must perforce appear as one of you. I'm not alluding to physical characteristics but to how I handle myself in order to fit in. Given some thought, one might understand the difficulties I have in that respect. I've had to learn how to enjoy interacting with people without being way-laid by boredom and frustration. How so? Without intending to sound smug or superior, it is my wealth of knowledge that most often strands me among you who are learning things I have known, seen, and experienced over centuries.

Think about that. I must always be on guard against making others feel inferior to me, refrain from speaking of things yet to be learned; pointing out mistakes, and so on. What I did was teach myself to step back and listen and focus on what you are learning rather than what you don't know. In doing that I marvel at your levels ability and problem solving skills, gauge the workings of minds, and recognize talents and the lack there of . One takes pleasure where one finds it. I thoroughly enjoy watching and listening to your children and young people as they grow and learn how to navigate their world. On the other hand I'm often wounded with the seeing and knowing that certain children are headed down a path of destruction, but even that provides me with a focus. Responsibility lies in leaving alone that which isn't mine to correct, mend, or point out. And that is most of difficult for me.

Now I've given you some insight into my social adjustments, I will take you on a journey into the dark side of my world. I have given how to do that much thought and came to the decision to begin with a word that is common and ordinary to you but which speaks volumes in relation to me. That word is 'silence'. At one time or another we've all heard the old adage that 'silence is golden'. You seek it as a means for relaxation, freedom from your harried day, time for yourself. Silence has a different meaning for me, for silence is both kind and cruel at once.

It is a kindness when I need solitude in which to think and reorder my thoughts; rein in my frustrations; and remember that my existence is not all for naught. More often it is cruel, and that in varied ways. I walk alone while the world is at sleep, and often times that silence looms loud and large. While at my forced rest, silence is both friend an enemy. I am wholly dependent upon it during that time, for it is silence that serves as my alarm system. I'm able to hear my enemies and know where they are and what they are about. Nothing could be more cruel than lying in state, near helpless, and knowing that an enemy is creeping nearer and nearer to destroy me. Or knowing that some innocent might inadvertantly stumble upon something that will terrify them. So you see the logisitics in that.

Not for a moment should you think that I'm careless in my choice of resting places. I didn't reach this great age being careless but, as can happen with anyone, unforseeable situations arise. Another cruelty of silence is being forced to hear things I'm unable to prevent while at rest, hearing the danger stalking another; hearing what comes of that. Can you imagine being a helpless bystander to a heinous murder or other horrible crime being perpetrated upon an unsuspecting victim? As you can see, silence isn't always welcome for there are times when it feels to me that it stretches to eternity.

I've not told you this to gain pity for my lot, but to give you a different point of view of me and my circumstances. All of my Kind aren't the heinous fiends we are made out to be. Some of us have learned to accept the life we've been given and like any of you, we approach life in many of the same ways you do. I have a wonderful wife, a home, and friends I enjoy socializing with. I go to movies, nightclubs, the theater. We have get-togethers in our home, attend church, and so on. You may not want to believe in my Kind but the fact is we are here, and we walk among you. God bless all of you, Garth.

Suggestions and solutions

Greetings, all.

I receive many requests for leads to websites pertinent to credible information about other Kinds. As we all know, the number of sites to be accessed are numerous. Those of you who have requested leads have expressed your frustration with having to wade through the mundane to the outrageous in your search for truth. Understandable. Been there, still doing that. But we all must remember that along with the right of free speech one also has the rights of presenting one's own views and thoughts; plying one's trade; playing at, or working hard at offering truth or fiction. So, aye it is difficult for one seeking first knowledge regarding other Kinds to know it when they see it.

From the inception of this blog, my staff and I have spent numerous hours searching the web for those sites we feel comfortable with offering our visitors leads to. We are in the process of compiling a list of those credible sites and seeking the owners permission to provide links from our blog site to their websites. Needless to say that requires time, as those owners must in turn access our site and decide if they wish to link with us. In the near future we will provide those links, for we are already receiving some positive replies. In the meantime, while I appreciate the leads you, our visitors, are providing us by e-mail and asking if those are credible ones, please understand that we cannot respond to each and every request. Know that we have already visited some of those sites so if you would refrain from filling our mailbox with possibilities, we will eventually get round to checking those out in our time by our own methods.

What I will say to you is this: While it is difficult, do not get caught up in all the drama and flash of some of those sites. Certainly, most of us enjoy the visual beauty (architecture, if you will) of certain of those sites but without credible information to back it up, the beauty is no more than a lure for the unsuspecting. Remember, too, that those who work in direct opposition to what we do have the same tool at hand (the worldwide web) as we do to further their efforts to advance their unscrupulous ideals. Gives new meaning to the old cliche, 'Its a jungle out there'. But it is and has always been that good and evil work side-by-side so lest you know which is which, take care that you are not sucked into things of an evil nature.

That said, I will turn you over to Kaithlin who will post my responses to some e-mail.

To Jeri in Georgia: You are right in stepping back in order to give some thought to that which makes you feel a certain discomfort. Always follow your instincts for they will rarely let you down. I have no way of knowing if there is truth in what you are faced with but that is beside the point. The point is that something is telling you that all is not as it seems. Mayhap it is because you have no point of reference but if that is the case, given time and investigation, the truth will out. Proceed cautiously and if within a sensible amount of time you still feel uncomfortable about the situation, leave it be, for it is not for you.

To Tanya in S. Carolina: Have you asked yourself why the criteria you must meet to join demands that you cut all ties with your family and friends? Unyielding demands and requirements are not the ways of a truthful and honorable Coven. Beware, for it sounds to me that you are being swayed in the opposite direction than you wish to take. You stated that you had no knowledge of the persons who approached you 'out of the blue' and that in itself should be a red flag. Take care you do not provide them with personal information about you, your family, and friends for that is another flagrant red flag. And whatever you do, do not quit college because you are being told it will not provide you with the education you need. That, my dear, is a load of garbage. Take care.

To John in Nevada: I know you do not think I will buy into your ridiculous scheme. On the other hand, mayhap you do so let me disabuse you of that notion. I do not, nor will I ever, turn over to anyone the names and addresses of my e-mailers and certainly not my guests. As the saying goes: 'Get a life'. I consider the likes of you a predator of the lowest form and your intelligence rates a zero on my scale. Careful you do not find yourself in water so deep you cannot reach the surface for a breath, little man. There are laws in every society against what you suggested and just so you know, you have royally infuriated a certain Sorceress who is, as I speak, venting her fury to her colleagues. Shame on you. (Aye, I had no scruples when I made an exception and passed along your name and address to her).

To Lonnie in Texas: I am in full agreement with you but it is not worth the sacrifice you say you are willing to make. Put it in our hands and I assure you it will be dealt with, forthwith. I will await your response. Bless you for your concern.

To Patrice in California: You are most generous in your offer. I will give it some consideration and once I have established the facts, if it merits further consideration I will forward it on to my colleagues. In the meantime I get the strong sense that you have missed a certain element of danger surrounding you. Do not relax your sensibilities and keep an eye out for one who will ply you with untruths in the effort to throw you off his trail. 'Tis he whom you must exclude from your circle, for he goes against all that you are. Fear not, your instincts will guide you. You will hear from me again, soon.

To Tracey in Virginia: As I have often stated; there are many more unsavory individuals of his Kind than good. Do not allow yourself to be taken in. That type is extremely adept at creating the scenarios you want to believe; pulling a fast one over on you. Do not romanticize that which has no romantic value at all. Stop, look, and listen, and do not allow your heart to over rule your head. Stay safe within your own circle of family and friends and leave the unknown to those foolish or ignorant enough to fall for it. Let your wisdom guide you.

To Barry in Washington: If you do not know by now, mayhap you need to rethink your question and your place in the scheme of things. I will not try and sway you in one direction or the other. The calling is a valuable one but if you decide it does not suit you then you alone must make that decision and deal with the consequences, as well as figure out what your next step is. I wish you the best in making your decision and coming to terms with all that decision entails. Turn to your chosen faith for answers and comfort and remember that no just God demands what you do not have to give.

Ponder, and Blessed May You All Be, Dream Teller.

Update on the children found alone on Christmas Eve

Greetings, All.

I have had several inquiries concerning the children found alone in the swamp on Christmas Eve, past. Some were deeply moved by their circumstances, others complimentary of the Warlock's actions, and things of that nature. Then we have had some negative responses; not unexpectedly, since there will always be those whose views of wrong and right are in direct opposition to anyone else's. I will speak to those in a moment.

I am pleased to say that the children are happy and thriving in their new environment. According to Thieron, who found them, and Garth, both of whom have visited with the little ones several times during the last twelve days, they are already much improved, physically and mentally. Garth relates that their new 'mom' has fattened them up so they look like little butterball turkeys. Thieron's main focus has been on the oldest child; the eleven year old young man upon whose thin shoulders rode the weight of caring for his siblings. The Warlock likens the child to a wise old man in a little boy's body. He says the child is yet self-contained and wary and Thieron thinks that is because the boy worries that what has been given him and his family will go up in a puff of smoke at any moment. Understandable, given the boy's life to date.

I am also pleased to report that the children's father was recently tracked down, and I think his story deserves telling. It has been a series of tragedies so I will only hit the points that give you some insight into his circumstances. He and his wife were very young when they married and both had impoverished beginnings. The gentleman makes his life as a fisherman and they made their home in the place they were raised, on a bayou in Louisiana. Life was a struggle but that was nothing new to them and they were very much in love so they worked hard to make a go of it. His wife died in childbirth ( at home, for they couldn't get medical help in time), with their fourth child; leaving the man with four small children to raise on his own.

The loss of his wife devastated him but he is a proud man and a loving father, and he found himself faced with having to work while considering what was best for his children's' welfare. He had few options for not only do they live in a remote area, but that have no close kin to lend a helping hand. He bartered with the wife of one of his fellow fisherman, also an impoverished couple, and they reached an agreement. She would look out for the children and their father would split his daily catch as payment. It worked well enough for a time but as the couple have several children of their own, you can imagine the problems that arose. There simply was not a lot of room in the two bedroom shack the couple called home, the children naturally squabbled with petty jealousies, and getting the oldest off to school while dealing with the younger ones was a miracle in itself.

The arrangement lasted until the woman became pregnant again, by which time the oldest of her extra charges was nine years old. As she could no longer handle the large brood, the father of the four children was faced with another decision. As it turned out, his oldest son stepped forward and declared himself capable of looking after his siblings while their father worked. With no other alternative (these people have no dealings with Welfare organizations for they fear having their families ripped from them), the young boy was given charge of his siblings. And I might add that his father was proud of him for offering to take on the responsibility.

Before you have unkind thoughts for a man who would leave his children to fend for themselves, one has to remember these aren't ordinary people but folks who live in their own little world, apart from the rest of society. They live and die in the swamps along miles and miles of bayou backwaters, where only camps exist for towns. They are a hardy, proud folk who deplore charity and work to survive. Thus they live by their own rules.

The father had left one morning to trap and fish as usual, and was miles from home when he met with an accident. With a broken leg and a severe gash in his side, he was unable to return by waterway. Unable to do much more than drag himself along, fainting when the pain became sever, a high fever set in and he was near deaths door when he was found by a trapper who happened upon him. As it turned out the children had been alone for over a week when they were found. Thieron had gone back to search for him and heard tell of the man who'd been found and carried to safety. He found him at the trapper's cabin being cared for by the man's sister. A few days more elapsed before the father came out of his feverish ranting to express concern for his children.

As soon as he could travel he was taken to hospital, his leg casted then reunited with his children. He and the couple who have the children have worked out a cooperative solution. The children will remain with the couple and their papa has signed over custody so they can go to school and live in a healthy environment. He is free to visit them at any time and he is included in making those important decisions concerning their upbringing. It has turned out well, for all.

Now, for those who took us to task for not alerting the 'proper' authorities: We saw no value in putting traumatized children into a system that regularly fails children. Whom would have best been served if those children had been separated, forced to be with strangers who might or might not have cared for them, or left in some institution to learn on their own how to interact with other traumatized children? They'd had no real contact with the outside world and doesn't that just about say it all? We placed them with a loving couple whom we knew would put the children's best interests first, and that is exactly what they did. Like it or not there are times when one feels one must circumvent the law, as such was this case, and we have no regrets. The children are happy, they get to see their papa often, and they now have the benefit of a complete family. They are being brought along with gentle but firm hands as they navigate their new world and where is the harm in that?

As of this post, the two older children are being home schooled by a tutor and when they are ready, all four will be introduced to children's organizations where they can learn to interact with others as they learn to play sports and other activities. No regrets, for in my estimation they are right where they need to be. Ponder and mayhap you will take a moment to give thanks for your blessings. Dream Teller

Respectfully...

Bonjour mes amies. Well! I'm still a wee tad flabbergasted with yesterday's post. That isn't to say I didn't think our Dream Teller wouldn't eventually come around to our way of thinking but I didn't expect it quite this soon. But then one never knows where she is concerned... And that is what makes things so interesting around here.

I've been in touch with some of our friends and colleagues and we're all looking forward to having a little more freedom, and a more relaxed atmosphere in which to work. However, we've left it to Dream Teller to sway those other serious minded members of the Council of Alliances in our direction. I don't want to give the impression that they are difficult to deal with because that isn't the issue at all.

Given their mission they aren't often in the mood to laugh or enjoy the lighter side of life, so it is with a great deal of respect for our superiors that we wish to brighten their day in some small way. If you think about what their business entails and all that they are charged with in doing that business (you've learned much of it here) mayhap you can understand that not one of us younger folks would ever dream of suggesting anything to devalue their work. We aren't gripers and complainers because we believe in all that they do, and those same elders are the very ones who take time out of their busy schedules to mentor and teach us so that we can take our place among them. So said (and with Dream Teller's blessing), I wanted to take some time to tell you more about our elders and some of our colleagues, as a way of showing respect for them.

As you know, the sitting members of the Council are our leaders. It falls upon their shoulders to identify problems, decide which of those deserves priority, and direct our efforts in that vein. Not only must they be on top of things, they are charged with deciding who is best suited to handle the situations that crop up. Then they must see that whomever they choose is provided with whatever assistance they need to accomplish the task. No small order because in all of that they must attempt to predict the safest avenues to take, for they are responsible for the safety of all involved.

While handling those matters they also handle such things as pertain to each of their own Kinds. For instance, the Warlock Gregory Robicheaux deals with Council matters; presides over his large Coven which requires his duties as Warlock; is head of his family that requires what that entails; has to be prepared for whatever else goes with his way of life as a Witch; and all of that while handling the business of working ranch. Add to those duties the numerous charitable organizations that demand his attention and you might understand why we are in awe of him, and have the greatest respect for him.

Some of you will think that because he is Warlock he can just snap his fingers and take care of many of those concerns. That isn't the way of it. To be sure, he has skills and abilities that allow him to make short work of certain things but with those come rules one must follow when dealing with the business of life; personal or otherwise. Some of you might wonder what is the point of having preternatural abilities if one doesn't take advantage of them. The point is simple. One doesn't take advantage for purely selfish motives, lest one is of the sort of whom Gregory and his colleagues must defend against. Get the drift? Those who have extraordinary skills and abilities were gifted for a purpose. Those who choose to use their gifts for personal gain, and as weapons against those without them, do so at their own risk. People like Gregory do not risk self and loved ones, or the lives of innocents, rather he uses his gifts for the good of all.

As you know, certain of our Council members are mortals without gifts such as Gregory has. The choice to offer them the opportunity to join the Alliance wasn't made, lightly, nor were they random choices. For instance, the Catholic Bishop was chosen for his dealings with otherworldly evil (he has performed exorcisms), and it is the powers of his faith that lend him that ability. To be sure, he didn't jump at the opportunity for like others of his faith he wrestled with joining league with Pagans and other Kinds of whom he either had strict religious and personal beliefs about, or didn't believe existed at all. The same was true of the Protestant minister. They had to be wooed and shown things beyond the scope of their ability to give credence to, until witnessed with their own eyes. But the point I'm making here is that they are possessed of open minds that is rare among others of their faiths. And as heads of their flocks they are privy to things going on that demand more than just their efforts.

Acceptance of what isn't right and threatens the good of all is key to bringing together all who wish to provide the best defense against evil of any nature. And thus you have the Council of Alliances. Each member has learned to accept other faiths and beliefs without anyone feeling pressured to desert their teachings. Rather they respect other's beliefs and pool their knowledge and whatever talents each has to provide us with an extraordinary team of defense. But as powerful as they are, they are by no means able to handle each and every situation that arises, for their numbers are few.

Enter those they depend upon for their assistance; hunters, trackers, Covens, and aye, those mortals who give of their precious time to assist in other ways. Ours is no small operation and given modern methods that all Kinds have at their fingertips, our offices require staffing with competent folks who perform those office tasks.

I hope I have given you a broader picture of what we do and some insight into the lives of those who give, unselfishly, of their time and of themselves so that everyone can enjoy a safer, more peaceful existence. Happy day, Kaithlin.