Follow up...

Good evening, all.

I trust you gained some valuable information from this morning's post. While that glimpse into Suzaunna's past allowed you to learn of the particular dangers she and others experienced at that time, it might shock you to learn that she and her family have met with many more equally serious situations in the course of their lives. Certainly, not all Witches have such hair-raising experiences such as those, but due to the nature of all they do in the interest of others, their lives are constantly on the line.

One might wonder why they put themselves in the line of fire, rather than keep to themselves. 'Tis because they are selfless, caring people; each following the calling for which they were destined. Many others turn a blind eye to those in need, preferring to ignore what they consider none of their concern. If you are one of those, 'tis your choice to do as you please but know that ignoring does no' make your choice right. No' everyone is cut out to take up the cause of the needy in ways that could bring harm to their self, but there are many other ways to offer assistance without putting one's person in harms way.

Often, taking the time to make a phone call to the proper authorities will save lives or spare someone the trauma they will otherwise suffer without aid. I constantly wonder what quirk of nature allows a Human Being to be able to ignore another in need; how one can listen or watch harm being done to another and merely walk away from it.

Had Garth simply remained silent and let all of those children die at the hands of those monsters, no one but he would have been the wiser. But to know Garth is to know the man who is Vampyre; a man who could no' live with himself had he no' intervened on their behalf. I say to you, all, you who fail to render some measure of aid to one in need will rue your choice. Mayhap the day may come when 'tis you or your loved one in dire straits, and what would you say to the person who turned and walked away? I urge everyone to examine your lives to date and if you find you have failed another, make haste to change your ways. None of us knows when our time on this earth is set to expire, and those who foolishly wait for the last moment to cry out for mercy for their sins of ommission may well discover they waited too late.

Harsh words are most often the only way to get someone's attention and if I have been harsh, I make no apology. The world is full enough of selfish people without counting yourself among them. Think, act responsibly, and reap the reward of knowing your humanity is alive and well. Join those of us who refuse to be branded inhumane and the world will be a better place for your kindness. Blessed May You Be.

Light to dark...

Fair Morning to all.

I am the Sorceress Suzaunna and I welcome the opportunity to visit with you. 'Tis my hope that at the end of my visit you take away from this post, something of value.

'Tis a beautiful dawn spreading fingers of color and brilliance across the sky; a scene I never tire of. The beginning of each new day signifies many things, a new beginning; rebirth for opportunities missed or squandered; time moving forward, in which one awaits a coming event; change. Mother Nature offers up her glorious beauty; a bounty shared with all but those unable to greet the sun, if one but takes the time to stop and pay heed. 'Tis one of the few things no one individual can claim as their own, nor deny to another. And well it should be; shared, for Mother Nature plays no favorites. Her colors, sights, and scents are beyond capture, even by the most creative of artisans, though a few of the most gifted have come close. But a perfect rendering remains just out of reach.

Another of her captivating gifts is sunset. Opposing the serene birth of day, the shimmering sunset mirrors a flaming end to all that has gone before, time past; time well used, or lost; the coming of nightfall; a time for some of us to rest and reflect upon how we conducted ourselves, from dawn to dusk. But for those who walk the darkness, such beauty can only be remembered, if memory serves well; seen through the brush strokes of an artisans hand; or heard from the lips of one seeing it through their own eyes.

Aye, and sad though such a thought is to many of us, 'tis the balance of all things which helps to even things for all. By now you are wondering where my musings are leading, non? I wil tell you. When Dream Teller requested I guest-host for this day, I wracked my brain for a worthy topic which would provide insight; answer many of your e-mail requests; and at the same time, provide something of real validity. I wanted that something to be more indepth than any discussions that have gone, here, before. As you have most probably figured out by now what topic I chose, I will proceed.

Vampyres have been a part of my life from an early age, though at the time I had so little knowledge of them. As many children did then, and do now, I feared the lot of them; even as I believed them to be mythical creatures bent on destroying all in their path. 'Twas a shock when I learned how skewed (in many ways) were my views. But allow me to digress a moment.

I am a true Witch born, of the family Breaux; a family of Witches. As the last child born (late in life) to my parents, and the only female among six siblings, I was kept close in the loving bosom of my Maman and brothers. My Papa was an Outsider among us but I will save that story for another time. Suffice it to say that until the age of twelve, I was virtually clueless that Vampyres truly existed. 'Twas around that time when my sister-friend Jessica (Maman's God-child) and I were visiting with two of our girlfriends and, as girls of that age often do, we went against all that we'd been taught, and took a gamble that forever changed our lives. In the interest of time and space, I will skip all that led up to our disobedience.

The four of us were out and about, not paying any particular heed to the time, when the lateness of the hour caught up with us. We were supposed to be at one of our friend's home at that time and, as we were too far away to reach there at the designated time when Jessica and I were to be picked up, the other two girls (fearing darkness would come upon us) decided we should cut through the woods, a quicker route that would take us to the back of the house where we were supposed to be. Both Jessica and I had been warned against entering the forest, alone, but our cautions to our friends fell on deaf ears. Our friends were Outsiders and had no idea of our secret lives, and we felt responsible for their safety and so we followed them into the woods.

Again, I will fast forward this tale, in the interst of space and time. We hadn't gone far before we realized we were no' alone, though we had no sense of whom was hiding there, watching us. While the other two became frightened at the noises around us, Jessica and I tried to keep our wits about us, and steer them safely through the woods. But they paniced and began to run, in opposite directions. 'Twas intended to happen by our stalkers and thus Jessica and I were forced to split up, so each of us could go after one of the others. Long story cut short, we were easily captured by three burly men who proceeded to render us helpless, before Jessica and I could think to provide a protective spell around us. 'Twas a horrible time for the four of us; helpless girls, all of whom quickly figured out what 'twas about to happen to us.

Both Jessica and I were tied to large trees and made to watch what they did to our friends; to endure their horrible screams of pain and fear, as their bodies were raped and ravaged. We knew we would also suffer those terrible indignities and our own fears prevented us from being sane enough to send mental messages to our family for help. But help was near, though we were unaware of it. 'Twas no' near enough to save our friends lives, for our unknown champion lay beneath the earth near us; terribly wounded, forced to listen to what was taking place above ground and unable to physically assist us.

Aye, and 'twas the advent of my first knowledge of the truth of the existence of Vampyres. None other than an Ancient, a most powerful one of his Kind; the Vampyre Garth, did what he could manage at that time. He issued the mental call for help and, knowing my brothers would throw up defenses to ward off a Vampyre's powerful abilities, he allowed them to see the situation as it unfolded. He showed it to them by linking his mind with mine so they could see it through my eyes. As Garth waited for dusk to fall so he could attempt to rise to our aid until the others arrived, he made certain my brothers 'saw' our location. But he was pitifully weakened by his own wounds and it would be some time before they pin-pointed the exact location and time was running out.

With what was left of his dwindling strength, Garth managed to rise just as our captors were advancing on the last two of us. Our friends lay dead and broken; tossed aside like so much garbage, and we were left nearly devoid of our sanity. As the men approached us, Garth (unseen to them) issued a chilling growl from his hiding place, which stopped them in their tracks.They went on alert, scouring the dusk-darkening woods for the animal they feared would charge them. Another growl, panting... He kept their attention off us, even as he knew he was about to be discovered. In his weakened state he was virtually helpless against three, strong men; two of whom he knew were Witches with unknown powers of their own. He sent his voice in differing directions; held them at bay, until our brothers arrived.

'Twas a horrific fight that ensued, my brothers sparing no quarter for those who hadn't a hope of besting the lot of them; much less one of them. Jessica and I were spared; mentally shattered, but physically whole, and so was Garth. 'Twas our condition that saved him from my brothers, who would most certainly have destroyed him, without a care that it was that Vampyre who had saved us. And 'twas in the safety of my brother's (Athen) arms, as I was being gently carried away, that I caught sight of our savior. He was lying helpless beneath some bushes, near the open grave from which he'd emerged; unable to go back to ground. I sensed he was near death and as we looked into one another's eyes, I saw and felt the sadness of his coming end enveloping him. Something in me shifted, brought me to clear awareness of his plight. 'Twas the knowledge that he'd spent all left to him to save us that gave me the ability to return the favor. I quickly cloaked my thoughts from my family, cloaked the sight of him so they could no' see him through my eyes, and with every ounce of strength I could muster, I managed to gently shift him close enough to his healing place so he could roll into it and then I sent the mound of earth that had spewed open on his rising to cover him.

From that night forward I attempted mental contact with him but 'twould be six long years before I discovered he'd survived; refused to answer my pleas to hear of him. Even as he and another of his Kind, Roman (who was hand-picked by Garth for his unusual penchant for protecting females and children, of all Kinds) spent those six years watching over Jessica and me, we were unaware of their presence. To this day (both Vampyres are now part of our family) Garth has never answered to me why he waited those years before he made himself known to us. But I know the answer; eventually figured it out on my own. 'Twas the Fates who cast him and Roman into our realm and 'twas the Fates decree that they unknowing followed, to the letter.

Neither Vampyre will admit (for reasons of their own) when they came into possession of the knowledge that their paths were meant to become entwined with ours. As of this post, Garth and Jessica have been wed for near a year (aye, a Mortal Witch and an Immortal Vampyre), and Roman was virtually dragged into our midst; loved as our brother, and taken to Maman and Gregory's hearts as their son. Both are civilized individuals, and though Roman fights it tooth and nail (he is a hunter and his past experiences prevent him from being able to comfortably, completely trust mortals) he is learning to love us and accept his fate.

Too, our Roman is faced with a new challenge that has managed to turn his world upside down and inside out. Aye, our lone hunter, as shy in certain situations as he is confident and aggressive in others, has met his match. That match is in the form of a lovely (if somewhat defiant) female who landed on our doorstep, quite by accident (actually she was brought here but I will no'split hairs). To be sure, 'tis no' a match made in heaven, for neither of them is willing to give an inch in the other's direction. While we silently (for the most part) watch the fireworks going on between them (one is as obstinate and bull-headed as the other), we know what neither of them has yet figured out.

At the moment things are calm on the homefront. Roman is off performing his duties as a hunter and DiAnndra remains with us, where she is being tutored in the art of accepting her fate (something she finds difficult to accept, as she has been on her own from an early age); that of beginning a new life with no hope of returning to the old (that is a story all on it's own). But we know they will eventually come around, for (unknown to either) neither of them can successfully hide their fears for one another's safety when they are apart. Roman grudgingly leaves her in our care when duty calls, and DiAnndra grudgingly awaits his return.

DiAnndra is possessed of a dual nature (she and we only recently learned of it); the offspring of a Mortal sire, who happens to be Warlock, and a Fae mother. While she always knew she was different, she was reared without knowledge of having such a father, by a mother who was in hiding from her race and never told her daughter she was Faery, while wed to an Outsider whom DiAnndra was given to 'believe' was her father. DiAnndra's was in no way a happy childhood and she ran away from home at the age of twelve; lived on the streets of New York until such time that her destiny caught up with her. 'Tis a story that deserves to be told, as are those of Garth and Roman, and those stories are being incorporated into novels being written by none other than Dream Teller. So I will leave it at that.

Stay safe, pause to enjoy the beauty of each dawn and sunset, and open your minds to all things possible, even it some of those appear impossible. For 'tis the seemingly impossible that finds you when least expected. Fair warning, and Blessed May You Be, Suzaunna.

A Plea From The Heart... Answers to e-mail

Bonjour mes amies.

This year seems to be flying by faster than we can keep up with it. As this month nears it's end, many of you are busy preparing your children or yourselves for the beginning of the new school year. On that note, let me remind you that there are many, many children who are at a disadvantage; their parents unable to purchase all of the things the children need. Please, if at all possible, contribute to your local schools'drives to purchase school materials for those in need. Many of our educators spend large sums out of their own pockets to benefit the underprivileged, but they can't cover all of those expenses. As you shop for your children, take an extra few minutes and look for the bargains offered by the many merchants who participate in seeing that no child is left out. An example of one such business is Office Depot, where I discovered packs of 150 sheets of notebook paper for 9 cents a pack. Twenty packs cost me the small sum of $2.06.

If your children are grown and you have no idea what particular items are needed for a specific age group, take the time to ask parents who are shopping for their own children. Just walk down the aisles designated for school supplies and someone will help you. Too, some stores provide free grade/school specific supply lists located throughout that area. You will also find collection bins for the items you buy and if not, take the time to deliver your purchases to the school of your choice. Believe me, helping children in need will give you a warm, fuzzy feeling in return. If you are able and willing to spend a little more, purchase a gift card from clothing establishments and put it in the hands of school officials, ministers, and others who will see that it is used to purchase clothing for those in need.

As you well know by now, all of us here at the Lair are extremely dedicated to children. Both Dream Teller and the Warlock Gregory, as well as their families, friends, and colleagues dig deep into our pockets to help children get off to school with a fresh start, so won't you help, too? Many thanks, and Blessed May You Be for your generosity of heart, time, and money. And now to answer our e-mail:

To Bladerunner_72 in New York: 'Tis no matter that our ideas of what is and is no' correct are at odds. What really matters is that information offered to the public is carefully researched and provided with good intent. There are numerous books being written and offered for public sale, but just because those are published does no' mean the information is correct. As a matter of note, I do purchase many new titles and peruse the content, in order to determine whether specific material is factual. My assistants research many of those works and more often than no', we discover that much 'tis the author's own spin on things. Everyone is given to his/her own interpretation; therefore, one must be careful no' to be led down the wrong path. Free speech being what it is, anyone can write and publish but no' everyone who does is dedicated to fact and truth. Remember that when you take up the banner for any cause. Blessed may You Be.

To Chelsea in Vermont: Pagans and Christians have been at odds from the beginning of time, to the present. Blessedly, the freedom that allows each of us to make religious choices stands strong against those bullies who attempt to turn everyone else to their way of thinking. 'Tis a personal choice one makes with regard to personal beliefs, and no' one to be made, lightly. The fears you described in your e-mail are the result of intuition and common sense. I will always recommend backing away from a decision of that magnitude when one is uncertain of making the correct choice. If the hounding continues, be sure that his attempts are no' being made with good intent and seek help from law enforcement authorities. There are laws against stalking, of any sort, whether physical or otherwise. He sounds a lunatic and I encourage you to print out all of his e-mails and turn them over to your local authorities. If that does no' solve the problem, let me know and I will endeavor see to it that he ceases and desists. Blessed May You Be and stay safe.

To Angelnwaiting in Louisiana: 'Tis but a small leap from those thoughts to a world of darkness. Life is harsh at times, but the alternative you are considering is forever cruel. I recently suffered a loss that left me near paralyzed with grief, but I assure you I never gave a thought to acting on my grief and anger in a manner such as would land me in dire straits with my Maker. Choose the Light, for the darkness will consume you. Your user-name tells me you have misgivings about what you are contemplating. Believe me, no 'Angel' dwells among his Kind. He is preying upon your grief and momentary weakness. To answer your second question: Non, I have never heard of him and I do no' condone what he is about. He has no ties with the Vampyres, Garth or Roman (I asked them), as he tells you, therefore he can no' arrange the situation you described. For that lie alone, he will be dealt with in an appropriate manner. May the White Light of Protection surround you and Blessed May You Be.

To Craig in West Virginia: Your suggestion bears consideration and I will give it careful thought. In the meantime, continue on the path you have chosen and once I have made my decision, I will contact you, personally, with my answer. You have a good heart and a mature grasp of things, both of which will serve you well in such matters. I have also passed your suggestion and ideas on to the Council for further consideration. While I rarely make such a bold statement before discussions with the other Council members, I have every reason to believe they, too, will recognize the good in further discussion with you. Keep the faith and Blessed May You Be.

Let me pause here a moment and say that while we do no' screen our e-mailers for possible colleagues to assist us, nor accept offers from hopeful assistants, the above gentleman caught my attention for the reasons I stated in his answer. On the occassion, one or more of us will get a feel for a person that can no' be ignored. Craig is one such person. He did no' request a meeting but merely offered a viable suggestion and some helpful ideas that leads me to think he is possessed of the qualities we seek in those we choose to bring among us. At this time, I do no' even know if he is interested in a possible association, thus I reiterate: please do no' flood our mailbox with requests to join us.

To Brendon in Texas: Aye, and while change is no' always considered for the best, 'tis inevitable. Life is comprised of changes for little stays the same; though we often wish it so. Sounds a broad statement, that; little stays the same, but there you have it. Life is about evolution (I do no' allude to the scientific model of evolution); growing, learning, doing, in order to keep abreast of modern times. It applies to all Kinds who walk this earth and for those other than Mankind, 'tis particularly difficult, at best. Take, for example, the Werewolf . The Kind is better equipped to walk among the Outsider population, Mankind, because they are possessed of a dual nature; both human and animal. They easily go undetected in their human form, have no time restraints that prevent them moving about, as the majority of Vampyres do. Although the majority prefer to remain among their own Kind, Werewolves have the option of living their lives wherever they choose. But they, too, must keep abreast of the changes Mankind encounters, must appear to adhere to the laws of the outside world, and so on. While Vampyres, such as Garth, have learned to fit into Mankind's society, they must constantly reinvent themselves in order to disguise the fact that they are Immortals and do no' age with the rest of the population. So, when you think you have difficulty keeping abreast of modern changes, consider those aforementioned and mayhap you will come to realize your lot is no' so bad. Blessed May You Be.

To Onyxroots in Germany: While I have no' recently heard from you, I sense your inner turmoil, though I have no sense of what it concerns. Pause a moment and look to the East; contemplate your situation, and seek the answers from within. 'Tis blessed you are with abilities you often neglect to utilize and 'tis those which will guide you to the solution you seek. Find your quiet place and listen, for there are friendly spirits trying to contact you. Blessed May You Be.

I wish all of you a blessed existence. Fair Day, Kaithlin.

Follow up...

Good evening, all.

This follow-up post for the day, a more indepth (as promised) look into what we do and are about, will give you a sense of another of the many aspects of the various things that come about in our lives. This particular situation regarding Tendara was no' hapstance, but destiny; preordained, as it were. Many is the time that one gets a vague sense of someone in need; a sense of something or someone meant to appear in our realm at a future time; and so on. Such was the case with this young woman. As she was no' born into a family of any particular type of Practicioner of Majical abilities, 'twas her destiny to grow and learn of her 'Gifts' in an entirely different manner.

For those who were destined to cross her path in order to assist her there was a general, vague sense of her beginning in life. As there are many such occurances in the lives of those born to the task of teacher and protector, or other assistance, 'tis believed that the sense remains vague until such time as 'tis determined (by the Fates) for intervention in that life. Otherwise, one would be constantly bombarded with too much information for one individual to handle. And so it was that Trendara's essence nestled in the Beings of the Warlocks Gregory and Shane. And there it remained; a future neophyte, waiting for the proper time to emerge from a vague stirring in to a very real, substantial prospect.

About the time that she began to really question the sensing of the difference within her, her essence began taking the shape of her true person within the Warlocks. As they are more advanced of their Kind (remember, Gregory is a Master and his eldest son is no' far from that), 'twas a most natural state of affairs that led them to begin the process of preparing to take on the young woman's education. The education began with identifying her from afar, placing her in a state of protection from those who seek such innocents for evil purposes, and then gently guiding her progress through life, but without taking away her natural ability to make her own choices.

Many of you might wonder why she was allowed to suffer through childhood without some assistance that might have prevented her anguish and fears. 'Tis ne'er the task of mentors and teachers to ease another's way through life, for each and every event in one's life is a lesson one must learn to deal with. Personal choice is the method by which some become the 'chosen' and others are relieved of the responsibility they either can no' handle, or come to squander. 'Gifted' Outsiders come in every shape, size, race, and age and some are taken on earlier than others. 'Tis the strength of the 'Gifts' particular to them; their level of intelligence and intuitiveness, among other unique things about them, which determines the time of intervention.

Trendara's lot was to reach early adulthood before she could begin to grasp what would be taught her. Her intelligence level was no' the factor that made the difference in that ability but her level of maturity. Remember, she was an only child; and to her parents credit, they kept her childhood intact, rather than allowing her to grow up too fast. 'Twas their job to see her through that block of time in her life, to the best of their ability. 'Twas no' their failure to no' recognize all that she was about, for neither of them were in possession of the knowledge that would have allowed them to understand that she was 'Gifted' in other ways. And well they did their job, seeing to it that she finished her basic education and moved on to the higher institute of learning.

Though unrecognized at the time, 'twas Trendara's intuition that led her to choose the particular University that would lead her to cross paths with her first teacher and mentor. Once chosen, the Warlock Shane gave her a little mental push that resulted in her signing up for his class, at last minute. And that is how it works. Did he know for certain that she would act upon his mental suggestion? Non, for again, 'tis the personal choice that must no' be denied. On the occassion, stronger forces (such as the Fates) will intervene should an individual prepare to make a wrong choice. But that intervention still leaves room for one's right of personal choice.

As it happened, Trendara followed her true path and her future was set. All of us who are given the task of mentor and teacher derive immense satisfaction when destiny prevails in such a circumstance. Trendara is a special individual, for she gives of herself, tirelessly. And as she often leads with her heart, she sometimes suffers the consequences of that. One might think she would pull back and protect her kind heart but such is no' the case with her. And when that wonderful heart is hurt, she has her mentors to fall back on. They comfort her; always continue teaching her newer and better ways to protect herself then set her free to fly again. 'Tis a beautiful relationship that has sprung up between Trendara and Gregory and his family; and their bonds of friendship and respect are strong and lasting. She is an asset to all who know her, well thought of for her personal beliefs and talents, and I (rarely do this) predict that in the very near future, she and a particular Warlock will discover their paths were destined to become entwined. Blessed May They Be and Fair Day to all.

A true accounting.

Good morning.

I am Trendara; Dream Teller's guest for today and I welcome all of you to this forum. At my hostess's request, I will speak to you about an event that changed my way of thinking, as well as it forever changed my life. Much like many of you, I took life for granted; never giving much thought to anything outside the ordinary. While I always considered myself an ordinary individual with ordinary dreams and needs, I always knew I had a slight difference that set me apart from others. Let me begin here...

During childhood and adolescence I was an only child who enjoyed being the center of my world. I was blessed with loving, if somewhat strict (to my way of thinking), parents from a middle-class background. Ours was a comfortable existence and for the most part I was a happy, carefree child. I had no real concept of what it meant to do without basic neccessities and my parents saw to it that I remained untouched by the uglier things in life. While I had many friends, did well in school, and generally had whatever I wanted, a vague sense of being different followed me through childhood. As it was only a vague stirring that came and went, I never spoke of it. But from time to time, I would go off alone and wonder at what it meant.

At the age of twelve, hormonal changes began to reshape my my body, and within a few months of my thirteenth year I began experiencing confusing changes in my feelings and emotions. I went to my mother and tried to explain those things, and she assured me it was nothing more than the changes that came with growing maturity. As much as I wanted to believe her, deep inside me I knew she hadn't understood what I couldn't find the right words to describe. I awoke one morning shortly after that conversation, in desperate need to find someone who'd understand what was growing inside me; prodding and poking at my conscious and unconscious mind. By that time I was experiencing what I thought were nightmares; shadowy, faceless creatures floating before my eyes, and during the day there were eerie feelings that raised the hair at my nape. And I began to feel fear such as I'd never known.

It was during the latter part of that year that I was certain I was being followed, everywhere I went. My intuition seemed on overdrive so that I was suspicious of everyone; friends and strangers, alike. It seemed to me that a time-bomb was waiting to go off inside me and my fear grew to devastating proportions. It was such that I found it difficult to eat, lost sleep, and began isolating myself from friends. I virtually holed up in my room for the rest of that year, which my folks put down to the normal habits of a teenager going through normal changes. I can't fault them for that because I closed them out of my life; pretended I just needed some space. In truth, I did need to be alone since I found myself feeling restless and agitated in their presence. In short, I felt their lack of understanding meant they didn't care what I was going through enough to do something about it.

While I managed to immerse myself in my school work and keep my grades up, it was that which caused my folks to think my problems weren't of an abnormal situation, and would eventually resolve themselves. So they left me alone to work it out. I soon dropped out of all the extracurricular activities I'd formerlly enjoyed; basketball, volleyball, and band, and baton twirling (which I'd loved from the age of five). I completely gave myself over to my school studies; the one thing that kept me sane in what seemed an insane situation. I graduated high school with honors; the valedictrian, without a firend to my name, or any idea of where I was headed. I'd garnered many honors and scholarships, and had my pick of Universities but to my parents dismay, I had no interest in furthering my studies. But they pressured me to continue on and to appease them and get them off my back, I accepted the scholarship that would take me farthest from home.

It was there, among strangers, that I felt I began to find myself. And it was there where, at last minute, I signed up for an extra-credit class that began to shed some light on things I hadn't understood, before. And it was the professor who taught the class which I would later realize that destiny placed in my path. The evening class was on 'The Influence Of Paranormal Abilities'. There were seventeen students, including myself (we would all learn that we were hand-picked from a large field of hopefuls), and we were all avid seekers of such knowledge. The class was closed to anyone else and we soon learned that our professor was a no-nonsense expert in the field.

Into the second week of that class I was feeling more secure about myself, and beginning to get a glimpse of things that applied to me and what I'd been experiencing from childhood. While I didn't completely let down my guard with the others, I felt comfortable among them; more so with my professor. He had a way about him that held my rapt attention to the exclusion of all else. His mesmerizing voice led, rather than demanded one to focus; instilled confidence in one's desire to explore the extraordinary that others scoffed at; encouraged one to step out of the box and look at things of that nature from differing angles; and opened seventeen minds to extraordinary possibilities. I found it increasingly neccessary to slake my thirst for more and more knowledge.

Mid-semester, my grades for my other classes had slipped a notch, as I pursued that class. One evening I was called to the professor's office after class, and with my heart in my throat, I entered his sanctum where students only ventured at his behest. It was there that my life would forever be changed. As I took a seat before his desk, I feared the worst; that I had somehow offended him, and would be dropped from his class, as two other students had been. Imagine if you can, my total surprise when he smiled, gently shook his head, and answered my unspoken fears. He didn't drop me, and my only offense was in allowing the rest of my grades to slip from A's to B's. As he gently chided me in that rich baritone I'd come to virtually hang on, I learned how much importance he placed on education, as a whole. After extracting my promise to bring my other grades up where they belonged, he sat me back on my heels; began telling me things about myself I'd never discussed with anyone else. I was both afraid and thankful, at the same time.

It took me several moments to get my fears under control, for I'd never been in the presence of someone who had the ability to access my mind, much less delve deeply into thoughts and emotions. I was startled beyond speech and I just sat there listening to him tick off those things, as if they were as natural as anything could be. "Natural to you," his voice faded back into my chaotic mind. That remark loosened my tongue and for nearly two hours I eagerly plied him with questions, and he graciously supplied the answers I'd been seeking for the whole of my eighteen years. I learned that I had certain abilities, not inherited but 'gifted' me from birth. I learned, too, that it was destined for our paths to cross at a particular time; student and teacher. Happiness flooded me at knowing that I wasn't some freak of nature, afterall. At long last, I felt whole; a complete person, and one, according to him, possessed of special talents.

For the rest of that semester and the next he turtored me, privately, after class. At the beginning of my sophmore year he deemed me ready to meet a special person who would further my training; but only if I agreed to keep up the rest of my studies and finish my degree. With that, I had to agree to keep secret the off-campus instruction; whom my instructor was, and so on, until such time that I was told what I could and couldn't reveal. I gave him my word (I am now free to reveal what I'm telling here) and shortly after that meeting, he introduced me to a man that quite simply took my breath away. He was a Witch; a Warlock, to be specific, and the father of my professor, who I learned was also a Warlock.

Between them, the Warlocks (Gregory and his son, Shane) worked with me until they uncovered my true calling. And they continued to teach me to hone my lesser skills until I graduated University then they turned me over to another family member, whom I was to apprentice under to develope my primary calling. Jaceion (Jace, as he is known, is Gregory's step-son and Shane's step-brother) was none other than a Master of the Healing Arts. (Without bragging) I must tell you that it is rare for a female to possess the level of skill in that area that I've developed, and even rarer for a Master of the Art to take on the teaching of one considered an Outsider. But take me on he did and at this telling, while I still study with Jace, I am quite adept in my own right. I am comfortable among their Kind, and other Kinds they've introduced me to, and I'm heartily grateful for who I am and what I can do.

For the most part I work alone but I also work with them, as the need arises; a colleague, as well as a loyal and trusted friend. My gifts are used for the good of those who can benefit from my care and skill, and I am most satisfied with what I accomplish. My life is hectic, at best, and make no mistake, I suffer frustration at times but I wouldn't have it any other way. As I lost my parents in an accident during my junior year at University (which Gregory and his family saw me through) I am free of responsibility, which allows me to move about as I choose. I chose to base myself near the family I have come to love as my own, but I am most often travelling hither and yon, wherever the need for assitance takes me. Perhaps the time will come when I feel the need to spend longer periods of time at home, but for the time being I will go where I'm needed.

Why tell you all of this? Because this adult knows there are many more children experiencing some of the same, vague feelings I experienced as a child. Hopefully, parents who access this blog will recognize something of value in my story so they understand their children better, and children who reach the age of question will gain courage from my story to investigate their needs. Not all extraordinary skills are inherited but gifted, for whatever reason, and they deserve recognition and training. Not everyone with those will be blessed to find mentors and teachers, as I have been, but there are those of us who are ever watchful in the hope that we can help.

I enjoyed this time with you and I hope I gave you something of value. Blessings upon all, Trendara.

Indepth...

Good morning, all.

I have received many, varied requests for more indepth information regarding the business we go about here at the Lair. Some of you are interested in the extraordinary abilities of specific individuals and others of you want more information on the Council of Alliance, as a whole, and how we conduct our business. Given that those are broad topics, each with it's many avenues, I will choose a particular topic to add to each post and endeavor to fulfill your requests. Sunday posts will be completely given over to this endeavor, as well, and the format will contain more indepth information than my answers to regular e-mail. Keep in mind that whomever the discussion is about must remain anonymous for reasons of safety and privacy.

Too, remember that as the questions are too numerous to answer at once, this will be an ongoing process. So, if you do no' find answers to your specific questions in this post, know that they are logged onto a list and I will answer those in order of receiving them. As we go along, you may discover your answer from my response to another's like-question and in that case I will try no' to repeat myself. Neither will I direct my response to a specific individual, unless I feel it is warranted, for the purpose of saving space.

To begin: Our Council of Alliance came about through a need for a strong, supportive organization that could provide a greater, broader assistance to those in need than one individual could possibly handle. Each of the sitting members was personally involved with specific problems and each of us was forced to pick and choose the most dire problems, which left little or no time to address other issues. At times, we found ourselves calling upon friends and acquaintances, and their friends and acquaintances, to handle situations one of us could no' get around to. Then there was the problem of having no time for family and ourselves. Many of us were frustrated, at the point of exhaustion, and while knowing it was impossible to reach out to everyone in need, each of us felt we were failing others and ourselves.

The actual idea of forming a Council began with a man who largely relied upon himself and his family for taking action on behalf of his people, and strangers who needed assistance. At the beginning of this blog I addressed the subject of the Warlock Gregory and his own; what his duties entailed, and so forth. In this case I will repeat some of that information. Gregory and his wife, the Sorceress JoHaunna, preside over one of the largest Covens of Witches in the southern United States. Their first duties are to their large family and their people, respectively. While all of their adult children (two families, combined; eight children) are possessed of extraordinary abilities and talents, the entire family was stretched thin with trying to cover their own personal responsibilities, as well as those they assumed for others. At a particular point in time, exhaustion nearly cost Gregory and two of his sons their lives. 'Twas after that near disaster that Gregory, JoHaunna, and their family members pulled back and decided 'twas time to consider another alternative to their way of doing things.

On a mission of my own (at Gregory's request for my assistance), I was staying in their home when the subject arose at the dinner table. We kicked it around a bit and he advanced the idea of putting together a team of responsible, trustworthy individuals who would be able to work together for mutual purposes. Understand, we all knew how difficult it would be to find such individuals; different Kinds, all of whom could get past ego issues, powertrips, and the like, in order to pool our abilities and talents for the important purpose of protecting innocents from the various evil types who preyed upon them. More, we would be faced with having to deal, severely, with individuals of our own Kinds who were out of control. Not a pretty prospect, but there it was.

Over the course of several weeks, each of us put together a list of possible allies and when we met again, we added and deleted names until we came up with an agreeable group, with a few alternatives in the event some of the others refused to join us. Once completed, it dawned upon us that we had no' thought to consider any Outsiders. While they would have no abilities such as ours, we knew that Outsiders were neccessary to our plans. Each of us knew of and had worked with certain individuals of the Kind. Their value was in ways different from ours, but no less valuable for their lack of inherent powers unusual to their Kind. Thus, we added some names to the list.

You might think we had a large list to choose from but 'twas pathetically small; given what we hoped to accomplish. First, we interviewed each member of the list, singly. We had to be extremely cautious in what they were told, until we felt we could trust them then we brought various ones together for more interviews. And here is where Gregory was most adept. He is a master at getting his point across. He bargained, cajoled, and even bullied particular individuals into seeing the point of forming an alliance. Believe me when I tell you that very few, regardless of their Kind and their strengths, are willing to go against that particular Warlock. When he believes in what he is doing he will hound an individual, right to the grave if neccessary, until he gets his point across (I know, because he has done it to me). With help from his family, and certain of his most trusted, cherished friends, Gregory virtually steamrolled some of our members into considering his proposition.

Why was it neccessary to do so? Because there yet remains certain, old issues among those of one Kind, and between Kinds. Warlocks and Sorceresses are notorious for their supsicious natures concerning others of their own Kinds and those of the opposite genders, and other Kinds; as is true with all Kinds. And when trying to bring together Masters and Mistresses of different Kinds, with intelligent Outsiders thrown into the mix, I assure you the proverbial pot is often close to boiling over. Egos and tempers clash at the most unexpected times and dangerous situations often arise. But we managed to work things out among us and the Council was born. Our next step was to seek out trusted assistants; another difficult task but one we also managed. Eight members sit on the Council and our list of valuable assistants continues to grow with our ever increasing needs.

There are several criteria we must meet in order to operate, successfully. First, and foremost, the safety of the Council members is an issue. No' because we are more special than others but because we set the standards by which all others in our realm must follow. And in positions of leadership, we must depend upon the loyalty of our colleagues for the safety of all of us. No' an easy situation, for one can never be quite certain when another may accidently drop the ball and leave us all in danger. It happens, from time to time but thus far we have been able to overcome most of those situations.

While some of you might think we Council members sit on our laurels issuing orders to underlings, you could no' be more wrong. We are all colleagues on different levels but we all work, hand in hand. True, there is a hierarchy and certain rules must be followed with regard to respect for different positions but we follow more relaxed rules with one another. 'Tis the right way, for in doing so we promote equality which equates to trust and respect, among all of our members. Equality among all Kinds, Races, and Creeds is the cornerstone of our endeavors to achieve peace and security for all.

Tip: When you think you are above others simply because of position, financial background, Race, Creed, or Kind, you are sure to meet with the truth at some point in time.

Blessed May You Be.

Back on track...

Bonjour mes amies.

'Tis good to be back with you. Non, we didn't issue a blackout this time. Our site was the focus of some unsavory hacker who apparently gets his/her kicks out of sabatoge. 'Tis a shame those folks have nothing better to do with their lives but there you have it. We continue to ignore the nasty e-mail and challenges sent by that juvenile individual, as we DO have better things to do with our time. Just imagine what one might do with their brain if put to good use rather than wasting it on compromising the work of others. But onward...

Much has been going on these past two weeks but before I get on with the business of the day, here is a little light humor to start your day. Remember the darling kitten, Mystic, that Garth gave Dream Teller? You remember; the Girl cat? Well, it seems our resident Vampyre hasn't a clue when it comes to the sex of certain animals. Yep, our little Mystic has changed in many ways! Yikes. Agreed; it is difficult to tell the sex when kittens are small. And we didn't pay a whole lot of attention to such matters, at first (never take things on face value) but Dream Teller remarked from time to time that Mystic didn't look and behave like a female. But as we've been busy, no one paid much attention to several vague facts; aggressive behavior being the most prominent. We all figured she was just going to be independant, which isn't at all unusual for a Manx. Well, you can imagine our surprise when one of our staff members was playing with Mystic and just happened to discover the little boy 'things' that suddenly appeared. Have to tell you, it was a hilarious moment when it came to light that Mystic is a Tom-cat!

Dream Teller was a bit put out about it (not that she dislikes male cats) but, well, He is more than anyone bargained for. But Dream Teller took it in stride and she has decided not to change Mystic's name, as he already answers to it. Hmm. Some of the staff members have suggested neutering and declawing him to settle him down but Dream Teller is adverse to taking away Mystic's only defense. So, aye, he will be neutered but the claws will stay. Guess that will be a fair enough trade off but I sure hope he learns to sheath those claws and stop showing off his defense system! At present, Mystic has tripled his size (thanks to daily vitamins and being well fed) and he is going to be a Big Manx! However, he is beautiful and we all love him (most of the time), so he remains the resident cat (and our resident Vampyre remains in the dog house). And now to answer some of your e-mail.

To Gretchen in Indiana: 'Tis a matter of how one views things. Certainly, religious issues come into play when Christians are faced with what they have been conditioned to believe, as evil. Each of us was given a mind with which to reason and question; to make choices. One can be led, blindly, or one can use one's intelligence to figure things out. There are many and various learning tools, Bible included, and while many individuals live 'by the book', many of us know that living by another's interpretation is taking the easy road. Exercise your intelligence, seek the truth rather than having it fed to you, and no God will doom you for that. For myself, I hold to the belief that all Kinds and races have as much right to be here as I do. Regardless of religious orientation, which is one's right of choice, be that Christian, Pagan, or otherwise, no one has the right to determine who of us will go on to a better life. 'Tis how one lives life and treats others which determines one's value as a living Being. Ponder and Blessed May You Be.

To Dwight in Missouri: Read the above answer and draw your own conclusions. Think for yourself, live well, and fear not. Blessed May You Be.

To Yancy in Washington: Depends on your morals and values. Throwing caution to the wind is a fool's game. Just because you have reached the age of thirty has no bearing, whatsoever. Things of that nature are no' age related. 'Tis foolish to proceed on the belief that time is running out. Be wise and no' hasty, for many things come about as they are meant to. If you truly have the 'gift' proceed to study your options and do no' be bound by possibilities, but reality. Certain mistakes can no' be undone and 'twould be in your best interest to remember that. Blessed May You Be.

To Jake in Texas: Mayhap you had best back up and take another long look before you consider such a deed. To my way of thinking you are intending to sell out your values no' to mention, selling your soul. Be careful whom you socialize with, for all is never as it seems. Practicioners of White Majic never, ever, make such demands. Savvy? Blessed May You Be.

To Deidre in Wisconsin: Nay, child, he is no' one of ours. My colleagues and friends do no' operate in that manner. He is one of two things; a wanna-be who has accessed our blog and uses the information garnered there, or an evil-doer using our information to reel you in. Either way, trouble is on your horizon. Back away and look at it from different perspectives. 'Tis no' our way of contacting Outsiders and never will be. You were wise to inquire before you took the step he is recommending, now heed my warning. Blessed May You Be.

To Maryanne in Louisianna: Aye, and we do receive more inquiries from your state. 'Tis because it is my point of origin and, too, where there is a larger concentration of Witches and Vampyres of whom I know and deal with. Many of our operations are rooted in New Orleans and that because the city is more amiable toward our Kinds than other states. Hopefully, in future, other states will become as amiable, or at least, less restrictive. Blessed May You Be.

To Gunner in South Carolina: Nay, nay. You are a heartbeat away from disaster. Thrills are a dime a dozen but what you are contemplating goes well beyond the thrill stage. The Black Arts are exactly what the name implies; dark, evil, disaterous. One way in, no way out so take heed, for peril is the end result. Blessed May You Be.

To Janice in Florida: Why would you? Such a change is no' only dangerous but no' meant for most. 'Tis a lonely road to travel without guidance and you will no' get that from that quarter. You are being 'played', for your innocence. A message to you from Garth: Janice, he is not what he seems. Guile and charm are are the ways of those of my Kind who are out to steal innocence. Beware of the handsome face and beguiling personality, for he doesn't have your best interests at heart. I know him, personally, and it is to your good that he isn't one to force the issue. But he can be dangerous if it suits his purpose. Drop my name and he will leave you be. Garth.

A message to all from Dream Teller: As many more of you are joining us here at our blog we are learning, through your inquiries, how wide-spread are certain dangers. We welcome that information and we are working toward assisting as many of you as we can. Too, we enjoy being able to offer you credible information on various subjects related to what we do and hope that we manage to reach into those areas important to you. Live well and safe, Dream Teller.

Dark humor...

So you want to meet a true Vampyre? Okay, here I am; the Vampyre Garth de Roderick. (Tip:Throughout this post you will discover my love of your slang and certain of your ways).Since I've been in existence a few thousand years, I'm considered a Master among my Kind; an Ancient. What that equates to, being a Master and an Ancient, is that I have lived longer than most of my Kind and therefore I have considerably more powers and talents. Ho-hum. Sounds a bit like bragging, but there you have the simplified version of the truth.

Some say I'm a hedonistic sort, others call me a fiend of the worst imaginable Kind, and still, others don't believe in my existence at all. Whatever you choose to think is fine with me. What doesn't work for me, is being stalked by idiots who proclaim themselves Vampyre hunters, out to save the world. Give me a break. Those fools aren't interested in saving anything or anyone but looking for notoriety for themselves.

Contrary to popular belief, all of my Kind aren't bent on destroying the mortal population. For the most part, I rather enjoy getting to know you guys. Modern society is far more preferable to the alternative, even though I have to work very hard to keep from being bored to tears. Why? Immortality has it's downside as well as it's benefits. Imagine having spent thousands of years wandering the world and with those years, having little to do but learn...learn...learn... Yeah, you get my drift? When one builds that large a knowledge base, well, it is easy to become bored with someone with your few years of knowledge.

You see, given that we don't age like you, we Immortals have to constantly go about reinventing ourselves and I can't tell you how tiresome that can get. I've been my own heir too many times to bother counting, adopted so many families throughout the ages that it is often difficult to remember who is who, and accumulated so many homes and so much wealth... No, I'm not bragging, just stating fact.

Now, to get to the blood-drinking thing that seems to both fascinate and horrify believers and non-believers, alike. Myth has it that Vampyres can't eat food. Truth of the matter is, some of us can eat small amounts of your food, we just don't particularly like the taste of it and it has no nutritional value for us. Me, I've developed a liking for certain foods but in order to exist, I have to have blood, of the mortal variety. Sweet. Now don't shudder at the idea. My hosts are completely willing to share their life-sustaining sustenance, and I assure you they don't die from it nor do they experience any pain. There is what is known as the 'Thrall'; the ability to cast a rapture upon them while I feed so that they feel nothing but pure enjoyment from the experience. Some of them liken it to a gratifying sexual experience. Not bad, huh? You prudes get over that description. Gratification in any form is pleasure, and no more or less. Following the feeding, the host needs only to rest for an hour or two and given that I feed at night, there is no real difficulty there.

In truth, not all Vampyres are like me, though the majority of the good ones feed in similar fashion; with permission. If we happen to be caught in a place where we don't have our own hosts, we are careful to see that those whom we choose are left in safety and with no memory of the experience.

To be sure, there are different types among our Kind. The less friendly type are those whom most books and movies attempt to portray. They do become atrocities and that due to their sins against Man-Kind and other Kinds. Shouldn't be too difficult to understand if you liken it to the term, 'Rode hard and put up wet'. In other words, if one fouls one's self with hatred and vengeful acts, one's body suffers the consequences of the sins one committs. Such is the bane of any Kind; deterioration of the physical persona, for we are all charged with caring for what is given us; body and mind.

The next myth is that Vampyres have no soul. Who can prove that? If you proclaim to believe in a just and caring God then why in the world would you think that He would abandon any Kind who does good upon this earth? Hum, there is a no-brainer. So you think your God would dispense me straight to hell because I drink blood? Does your Bible say that one has to eat the food of mortals in order to have a soul? One might remember that Bibles are the written interpretations of God's laws by mortals, no? Okay, okay, some of you are stuck in that belief and that is your choice. But to my way of thinking, I have a soul just as the rest of you do. And guess what? I go to church; yep, walk right through those hallowed doors and sit among the congregation without going up in flames. Sorry to bust your bubble, but God smiles as kindly on me, as he does on you. Oh, and just for the record, I wear a blessed cross around my neck; a beautiful piece given me by my darling wife, Jessica. Oh yeah, I do have a mortal wife. She is a true Witch born, and I have to tell you, I know God has blessed me because he gave me that beautiful, loving woman to stand at my side. Another myth bites the dust. Gotta love it (I do).

Alright, all joking aside, for the moment. Yes there are Vampyres who seek to destroy mortals, but I don't happen to be one of those. There are those of us who have made it our personal mission to protect humans from others of our Kind, as well as from other Kinds; yours too. Why? Because it is our belief that all Kinds have a right to life; that this world belongs to all, and not one Kind. In my time, I have encountered a vast number of individuals who reek vengeance upon others in the seeking of power, wealth, and status. That isn't justification for holding down, injuring, or killing innocents, and never will it be. From the beginning of time there has been the establishment of social castes and I doubt that will ever change. But, whatever the caste, we are all entitled to the same rights and priviliges. So whatever your Kind, know that no amount of power, wealth, or privilege, or the lack thereof, entitles one to step on another.

The majority of the mortals I socialize with are good and kind people, from differing social climes and castes, and I find no malice towards others, among them. The poorest of the poor have been invited into my abode and I treat them with the same respect as I treat the wealthiest of my friends. Does that make me special? No, but I go out of my way to make certain that each of my friends knows they are special. Life isn't all about wealth, prestige, and privilege; no matter what you believe. It is about the individual; how one cares, respects, and puts him/her self out to be recognized.

Now, I'd like to touch on a particular peeve of mine; wanna-be Vampyres. Good God, what are you thinking? For the most part, I think those individuals are in search of several things; identity, power, something outside the norm. Likely, as not, if you take things that bit too far you will definitely find something outside the norm. The evil ones of my Kind haunt those places wanna-be role players inhabit. Heads-up, if you haven't figured it out by now, you are placing yourself in the path of a very real danger you can't begin to conceive of. Ever occur to all of you that by flocking to the latest Vampyre haunt, you all offer yourselves as a huge smorgasboard? You give those fiends easy access; 'easy pickings', as it goes. You provide them with two things; an easy kill, or the ease with which to make more of that Kind. Believe me, the last thing you want is to be turned by a monster who will toss you aside and leave you to figure things out on your own. Don't believe that? Well take it from me; it is that type we are forced to hunt down and destroy because they have no concept of right and wrong. They haven't been taught, or yet learned on their own, how to survive in proper fashion, as Immortals. They are random killers driven by blood lust and they quickly become like their makers; fiends. Be warned!

Okay, back to me. I know it is difficult for you to understand why an Immortal, who has just about seen and heard everything there is to see and hear, would find satisfaction in learning to integrate with the present day population. Think I am any different in my needs just because I;m Immortal? Not so much. I need a reason to exist. I grow weary of having everything I want for those things are of little importance without people contact. A mind left to it's own devices... It may surprise you to know that I have feelings, emotions, and desires like any other. I can feel hurt, lonely, angry, sad, and the whole other range of feelings you feel. I have a heart that can be broken, a mind that can be warped, a body that can be destroyed. True enough, and I have no qualms about admitting it. Some Vampyres will not admit to those things for fear of giving away too much of themselves; being vulnerable. But I have come a long way in my existence and I've learned that in order for others to know me, they must first understand me.So there you have it, straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak.

I am a living Being, different from you, but no less deserving of my existence, for what I am. Being a Vampyre doesn't preclude my rights anymore than being mortal entitles you to yours. Savvy? Given the opportunity, I like meeting mortals. I enjoy many of the same things you do; music, dancing (love the Cajun music and dancing, best), dress-style, Arts, and other entertainment. So give me a break, and I'll return the favor. Hunt to destroy me or mine, and I'll return that favor, too. Garth. Have a good life.

Dream Teller, on Werewolves...

Good morning, all.

I trust everyone had a safe holiday and now we must all return to our regular routine. Our last two guests were gracious enough to spare the time to visit with us and share their views regarding the Witchs' way of life. I hope you learned something of value. Many of you have already begun expressing your personal views regarding those matters, and 'tis refreshing to see that some of you are willing to open your minds to the possibilities that our guests raised. For those who expressed negative thoughts, I will say that you are entitled to those. I hope you, too, will continue to visit here, for there remains much to learn which may help open your minds, in future. Whatever your reasons for visiting with us, be it for seeking truth or merely for entertainment, I welcome your thoughts and views. 'Tis from those which I measure the success or failure of our goals, and from which I tailor future posts.

I have received several requests to hear more from our resident Vampyre Garth and know that he will visit, soon. Also, to those who are requesting to hear from a Werewolf, I do have a tentative date scheduled for the Werewolf King, Michael to join us. Michael is presently involved with Council matters regarding one of his Kind. When that mission is complete, I will ask him to tell you about it, for it bears revealing in order for you to gain some insight into the dangers one might encounter with one of the ilk he is hunting.

In the past, I have touched upon the subject of Werewolves but I will do so again, for those who are new to our site. As with all Kinds, Werewolves are no' strangers to problems among their own. And, as with all Kinds, Werewolves have their own set of rules by which all must abide. For the most part, the majority are peaceable but there are those who refuse to keep to their acceptable ways and who prey upon the unsuspecting; their own, and other Kinds. Most at risk from those rogues are Humans, for they are virtually defenseless against the cunning and powerful Werewolf who seeks them as prey. 'Tis their hatred of Mankind, which fuels their lust for blood and flesh, of the Human variety, which drives the rogues. Hatred is a most powerful emotion and motivator and it stems from the rogues' long memories of all that has gone before. Those few are unwilling, or unable, to trust in the changes brought about in modern times. They thrive upon past sins against their Kind, as well as their hatred of present day hunters who seek to destroy them.

Werewolves have long been considered at the bottom of the totem pole; the worst of Kinds, throughout history. 'Tis their dual nature, both human and beast, which fueled the wrongful idea that all are abominations. In fact, Werewolves are extremely intelligent; in either form, and for all practical purposes they are much like other Humans. More so than the Vampyres whom, due to their physical death and immortality, must work hard to retain and remember their past Human origins. Werewolves have no such difficulty, for Human feelings and emotions are ever with them. They are comfortable in either skin, though some prefer their wolf form to the alternative.

In order to understand them, one must consider the positive and negative aspects of both forms. While many Humans fear the wolf; consider the species savage, nothing is farther from the truth. I am most certain that all of you have heard both sides of that particular issue, so I will no' delve into the indepth mechanics of it. Werewolves and wolves are bretheren; kin, but the Werewolve's humanity is what sets them apart from the ordinary species. Because they retain their Human minds while in wolf form, they are still able to determine right from wrong while their kin operate only on the animal level. Myth would have us believe that the longer Werewolves stay in animal form, the less Human they become; even when they return to that form. No' so. The wolf nature does no' overcome nor diminish their Human nature.

Another myth is that changing from one form to the other is only accomplished as a painful, bone-crunching experience which, 'tis believed, is their most vulnerable time. 'Tis only at the first change, somewhere around adolescence or early teens, when born Werewolves experience some degree of pain, for 'tis then when their inherent genetics 'awaken'. After the first change, born Werewolves can change in the blink of an eye, on the run if they so choose; so quickly, 'tis most difficult to see with the Human eye. Made Werewolves experience a greater degree of pain at first change, which they liken to a 'bone-crunching' experience, for they must undergo a complete reshaping of genetics.

Myth would also have you believe that made Werewolves become, due to a viral disease contracted from their maker's bite. Werewolves, born or made, are no' the products of disease but of nature. 'Tis their genetic make-up deposited through saliva from biting into flesh which 'turns' a Human. And no' just any Human can be turned, for a certain combination of blood-types and inherent abilities must be present. Nay, I will no' tell you which blood-types are required, for obvious reasons. Suffice it to say that born Werewolves have an inherent ability to sniff out those types, and therefore, do no' go about randomly biting whomever comes along. In truth, there are laws against the making of the Kind and only after careful consideration (such as the need for a mate, or the saving of a life) will it be allowed. As with any Kind, Werewolves are most adament about keeping their race as pure as possible and, too, preventing the possibility of creating a rogue. Certainly, 'tis much more to it than that but I will leave that to Michael to explain, if he so desires. Blessed May You Be.

A Plea From The Heart...

For lo the worlds a changin'...

'Tis the 4th of July, and what better day to talk about freedom and independence? None, I think, for 'tis the way of Americans to celebrate hard fought for freedom from tyrrany; independence from dictators who would bend entire nations to their will. Too, 'tis a natural follow-up to the last post by that great lady, my stepmaman, the Sorceress JoHaunna. Freedom abides many forms and fashions; no' just freedom of an entire Nation, but that of differing peoples and Kinds who reside in this great Nation -the United States of America.

There are those narrow-minded ilks who would narrow the scope of the definition of freedom to suit their purposes and intents. But the definition is singular; independence, meant to be taken as without restriction. Certainly no freedom comes without some restriction, for laws are required to stabalize a Nation and guide its inhabitants; prevent chaos. As a country with open borders, with the Statue of Liberty standing tall and proud in New York harbor welcoming any in need, we Americans find ourselves in the precarious position of ministering to hoardes of aliens fleeing their own tyrannical governments.

But there are others one might consider aliens; other Kinds, who land upon our shores and take up residence. Are they no' as deserving of freedom as any of mankind? Many would say nay. But I say to you, ponder, for many of them have fought alongside our countrymen and women to protect and preserve all that we defend. They have fought for the very freedoms we enjoy; some Immortals, and others with longevity above that of mortals, who have given of themselves in every war this Nation has been involved in. And they continue to do so to this day. Granted, they fight in unconventional manners, in the ways of their Kind. Some remain hidden behind the scenes, only able to come under the cover of darkness, or at other particular times. 'Tis they whom we owe a debt of gratitude, for many is the time they have used their special powers to save the lives of our service men and women; to hold off entire battalions of the enemy, and aye, to destroy our enemies.

Many of our secret defenders were here long before you and I and if the tables were turned, quite possibly, we would discover ourselves the Outsiders in their country. 'Tis food for thought, non? Taken further, one might pause to wonder how different things could be if certain Kinds decided to abandon us or worse, drive us from the very shores we claim as ours. If such were the case, the majority of mankind would have no real defense against them for their powers are greater than any physical weapon mankind possesses. Given that, many have wondered why other Kinds do no' wield those powers to end all wars. The answer is simple. One does no' attempt to change history, nor deter the Fates by taking away the choices mankind must make on it's own. 'Tis the Way of It, and no one of any Kind in their right mind would tempt the Fates by skewing destiny.

The Fates are most powerful, second only to and answering only to Gods; soldiers of destiny, if you will. For all living Beings, they provide choices and each of us must choose our own paths. 'Tis those choices which can and do destroy Nations of people and their environments, and many will answer for their sins. But in the interim, each of us, regardless of race; creed; political persuasion; religious persuasion; gender; or Kind, is responsible for upholding the rights and freedoms of all. 'Tis no' a great stretch of the imagination required to figure out right from wrong, nor to understand the meaning of live and let live.

Will there always be those fanatics who are determined to bend laws and truths in order to attempt to control the masses? 'Tis been so, from the beginning of time, yet the impossible has no' ever been done. One does no' control entire Nations of peoples for very long, although 'tis being done for periods of time that may well seem long, in the scheme of things. Case in point is Hitler, Sadaam Hussien, and their ilk but eventually they are toppled from their precarious thrones. Hark back in the history of the world and you will find that every tyrranical dictator, king, and queen, suffered the consequences of their dubious reigns of terror. Over time, many lessons have been taught, yet still there are those who have no' learned them.

How to put and end to tyrrany, degradation of the spirit and body, and the trampling of rights and freedoms? Each of us must take responsibility for our own actions and no one; Mortal, Long-lived, or Immortal, is exempt from the consequences of our sins, regardless of claims made in defense of wrong actions. The greed for more and more power, the lust for riches, and the desire to own what does no' rightfully belong to one, are the driving forces that turn race against race, Kind against Kind, and so on. And so, on this Independence Day, I urge one and all to search your hearts and minds and face up to the responsibilities you have ignored. For no matter how long you ignore them, you own them; as I own mine.

Peace between peoples and other Kinds can only come about when the majority begins to strive hard to be accepting of those different from yourself, regardless of Kind. Open your hearts and minds, learn about other Kinds, and make the effort to befriend those of other Kinds, different from your own. 'Tis understandable, some of your fears, but until those are mastered and the olive branch is offered, no understanding will be in the offing.

I am the Warlock Draedon, second son of the Warlock Gregory. Most Warlocks mean you no ill will or harm, yet we constantly find ourselves in the position of having to defend the ways of our Kind and our pagan beliefs. I entreat you to join with us, work with us, in our efforts to co-exist in peace and harmony. Come, learn us as people and allow us to learn you. As I speak, friendships and alliances are being forged among different Kinds. In these modern times, there is room for all who wish harmonious balance in this beautiful, bountiful Nation we claim as our own. Blessed May You Be.

The Sorceress JoHaunna on Witchcraft

Good morning and good tidings.
I am the Sorceress JoHaunna and while many of you already know me, I should like to introduce myself to all newcomers and welcome you. I work with Dream Teller and our other colleagues in a variety of ways, and I am here this morning at her invitation. As many of you have expressed interests in our way of life and our abilities, I will speak to you of matters regarding Witches.

There are those who do no' believe our Kind have extraordinary powers and who believe we are no more than people playing at being mythical creatures. To you, I say think as you will. To those who believe in our existence, I will attempt to shed some light on truths, point out and explain the origins of long told myths for you, and provide general information.

To begin, be it known that there are many types and ilks among our Kind. Most of us are peacable individuals who wish for no more than to live our lives in harmony with other Kinds and the environment, much as Outsiders, like you, do. We are no' the terror-driven, vengeful creatures of myth as history portrays, unkindly, though there are those few who deserve such historical depiciton. Many of those myths which paint all Witches as crones, hags, and devil worshippers grew out of Outsiders' fears for what they did no' understand. You have all heard of the mass hysteria during olden days that led to the lynching and burning of those who appeared 'different', for no more than the way they looked or acted. But key to the terrible attempted cleansing of Witches from society were none other than religious zealots who proclaimed themselves men and women of God.

During those times, Witches were solitary creatures; secretive in their ways, and for good reason. For there were those Outsiders who had evil intentions and desired to use Witches for their powers in order to rule society, yea, some were egotistical enough to believe they could rule the world. Down through the ages to our present time, there have been holy wars among religions, wars among nations, wars between states, and so on and to date no war has ever completely accomplished what it was meant to accomplish. One wonders why both Mankind and supernatural Beings have no' the intelligence to figure out that such efforts are wasted. At the cost of precious life and limb, war continues and so it seems, will it never cease.

What some do no' realize is that there are those who use the chaos war creates in order to further their own agenda. 'Tis the boon of chaos which lends cover for the carrying out of dark deeds that often go undiscovered until 'tis far too late to prevent or rectify the effects that have been wrought. 'Tis no' just the acts of one Kind but of all Kinds, humans included, which eventually cause the pointing of fingers in the wrong direction. But let us leave that and continue with the smaller scope.

As Dream Teller has previously pointed out, the mistake is in thinking that Witches are a separate Kind from Warlocks and Sorceresses when in truth, all are Witches. Warlocks, Sorcerers and Sorceresses, Magicians, and so on are all titles of Witches who have differening powers, honed over time. And 'tis the extent of those powers which determines the status within our Kind. History points out that Warlocks and Sorceresses were most often enemies and there is some truth in that. But in the present, you will find them co-existing, even co-habiting, peacefully. As with any Kind, opposite genders have evolved (at least the majority) to the point that we have learned the error of our previous ways. Is that no' the case with most Humans? Women, for the large part, are no longer considered secondary citizens, for they have the intelligence to learn and hold powerful positions, as men do.

What continues to drive Outsiders to steer clear of Witches is no' more than their fear of our differences; inherent abilities, uncommon to their Kind. And what continues to drive Witches to remain aloof from Outsiders is their unwillingness to put themselves out to clear up misconceptions and fears. 'Tis a vicious cycle that must be broken before either side will give honest effort to co-existing. Presently, there are those of us Witches who are attempting to do that, as in my case. What you, the Outsider, must come to accept is that certain of our ways must remain secret, for 'tis the law of our Kind. But being secretive does no' make us dangerous to you unless you force us into such a position as to have to defend our ways. Many of our secrets, in the wrong hands, would spell disaster for other Kinds, for we all know there will always be those who would use them, wrongly. Too, there is danger in the mere knowing of certain things, for there are those who would kill, simply for the knowledge. As you might now understand, 'tis for Outsiders' safety that we do no' divulge certain of those things.

You will find, as you have often read in this forum, that there are individuals who play at being our Kind. 'Tis a dangerous act, that, for there are many evil Beings just biding their time, as they wait for and opening to enter this universe. They are capable of wreaking the most heinous havoc with mortals, as well as with other Kinds, for those are powerful and vengeful creatures without conscience. Know you, all, that ordinary individuals can bring about such terror through folly and game. So, rather than chance the Fates, mayhap your interests in our ways would be best served by expressing your desire to welcome us into your midst so that we may teach you in ways that will no' bring harm to you, or others.

Many of you may now wonder how you might accomplish that; finding a real Witch who is willing to answer your questions. 'Tis no terribly difficult. Some of you are able to do so through this forum, others of you know some of us, and have asked for information through other channels. While we can no' take to a public platform at will (for safety reasons), we have quietly been going about the business of speaking to small groups whom we meet with at our discretion, in places of our choice. Many things are determined before we attempt such a meeting and thus, with all the other things we do, we are unable to meet with as many as we would like to. But there it is; we do the best we can.

In present times, we have accomplished what has never before been accomplished on a large scale. We have broken down some of the barriers between religious faiths; become friends and mentors with other religious leaders, and they to us. What may well surprise you to know is that some Witches also belong to other faiths, and practice both religions. Some might consider that blasphemy but we do no'. Witchcraft is elemental; the worship of the environment and universe and were those no' created by a Supreme Being who deserves worship? Think about it. Some of us of Cajun ancestry have roots in Catholicism, others have Baptist, Episcopal, and other origins. The religion of Witchcraft does no' preclude beliefs in other faiths, as some of those faiths do. Our pagan faith works well with Christian faiths if one but takes the attitude that all faiths have a place in our lives and society. No more should there be such diverse, binding, religious laws for those are laws of man, and no' our Gods. Read your Bibles for they will tell you that your God's laws were interpreted and written by mere mortals. Then remember it was mere mortals who blasphemed against Witches; lied, and destroyed innocents, for no more than their beliefs.

As for those Witches who practice the Black Arts, know they are an entirely different sect of Witches. They hold sway with the Dark Lord, and evil is their intent; just as there are Outsiders who practice devilworship and satanism. So, before you condemn a Witch out of hand, be sure your fear does no' lead you to sin against another. There is a place in society for all of us and whether you know it or no', there are those of us Witches who work and play right along side of you. You may even invite us into your homes, as friends, without being the wiser for our religious leanings. Our children may have gone to school with yours, played with yours, and grown up beside yours. Think about that. Blessed May You Be.