a gown of rich red Elothean silk patterned with flame
lilies
Delicate golden threads twine between the wide flame
lilies to form the sleek silhouettes of cats creeping between the blossoms.
One petal's edge half-hides a brief message in gold
ink. "We are born of flame: we dream, dance, fade again."
Script (tap): The flame lilies on Chrysanthemum's gown
shimmer with gold as she adjusts the drape of the rich scarlet silk.
This item never existed. However, it was the
winning design for the Waerd Aev design-a-bridesmaid's-gown contest.
(To those unfamiliar, Waerd Aev is the DragonRealms newsletter, roughly
equivalent to GemStone III's Elanthian Times.) Callyste featured this
design at the beginning of her article in Volume 2, Issue 2 of Waerd Aev,
and you may see her opinion
here
.
a wren-brown Prydaen archer's harness decorated with
two twining chrysanthemum blossoms
Close inspection of this harness reveals many small
pictures, some faded and some more recent, etched with a simple style into
the leather. Depictions of good hunting, luck in love, fair weather,
among other images, all seem to reflect stages and behaviors in life, as
though they are prayers themselves. To one side is the image of a Human
and Prydaen holding a kitten while a cow stands beside them, looking on protectively.
A wren-brown archer's harness reads:
Scarred prominently beneath the couple's image is the
word, "Please."
The Prydaen ranger Chrysanthemum is desperately and
devotedly in love with the Human paladin Verial. Her life is wonderfully
happy most of the time, but... well... sometimes she sees mothers with their
children, and she wishes for the impossible. This was the first design
of mine that actually saw the light of an Elanthian sun.
I designed this archer's harness
as my prize for winning the Waerd Aev design-a-bridesmaid's-gown contest.
I was not very familiar with the alteration guidelines at this point, and
the 'show' description, while reflecting my initial concept, is actually the
work of GameMaster Helena-- I had a great deal of difficulty expressing the
concepts I wanted to express in the number of words I was permitted, and
at last Helena took pity upon me and offered me this version (exceeding the
word count I was originally permitted.) I accepted immediately, and
I am still quite grateful to her.
a carved silver bracelet set with ocean-hued sapphires
Four mermaids carved of heavy silver twine around one
another to form the body of this bracelet. Centuries of careful hands
polishing away tarnish have smoothed over some of the elaborate detail, but
portions of intricately etched scales and the long spines of undulating fins
still bear testament to what glory once existed. In her right hand,
each mermaid bears a glimmering sapphire; two gems shine rich blue, while
two are deep green. Each jewel bears the faintly etched image of a
seven-pointed star.
Designed as a gift from Chrysanthemum to Verial.
Chrysanthemum insists that she found it in a box; designing something like
this just wasn't in-character for the fairly tasteless Prydaen.
an ornate choker of delicate platinum knotwork alternating
with ovals of polished ivory
Each polished oval of ivory bears a stylized sun image
etched deeply into its surface. Slender platinum chains lace between
the ivory ovals and twist back to form delicate knots resembling vela'tohr
blossoms. A tiny seed pearl glistens like a dewdrop at the heart of
each intricate platinum knot. The choker's clasp has been cunningly
formed so that one half is shaped like a howling wolf and the other like
a tiny star. When the clasp is fastened, the star glitters from the
wolf's eye.
An ornate choker reads:
"As you see, sing: sing with sight."
an ebony-hilted Elothean scimitar of night-black
damascened steel
The characteristic platinum lines travelling in graceful
waves down the length of damascened steel are interrupted by a second pattern.
Wild-eyed unicorns rear and plunge across the night-black blade, manes tangled
and teeth bared, frozen forever in terrible beauty. Immediately below
the ebony hilt, three inset gems - an oval of gold-flecked lapis, a black
opal, and a blood red garnet - are surmounted by the engraved word “Serenity.”
a polished raven-black hhr'ibu inlaid with a darkened
silver oak tree.
Despite being perfectly polished, the black-dyed hemlock
reflects only a dull gleam in any sort of light. Darkened silver inlays
set into the stock depict the silhouette of a gnarled oak tree spreading
its leafless branches above a pyramid of skulls. A Gor'Tog's skull
rests at the bottom, with a Human's to its left and a Dwarf's to its right;
as the pile climbs, all races are represented. Stark letters etched
across the boltplate read, "Jackal's Promise".
some somber dusk-blue leathers trimmed with silver-tipped
steel spines
Midnight blue nightweaver silk overlays the dark inkhorne
hide of the leathers, adding subtle elegance to the rugged armor. A
row of silver-tipped steel spines arches over each shoulder. Shorter
steel spikes curve downward from the wrists in shapes imitating the sharp
fangs of a viper. Silver and black embroidery on the chest creates the
image of a bleached skull lying beneath three crescent moons.
I designed all of the items below by commission for Amilya's wedding to Oshala. Amilya outfitted one of her attendants in the midnight-blue moon mage's garb and wore the rest herself. Most of the concepts for the items are hers, but most of the wording is mine.
A careful eye may note a number of grammatical mistakes. With respect to Amilya, I do not believe these were mine, though I may be wrong. There are a few stylistic changes I would make as well, now-- but-- hindsight is always 20/20.
a knot of Xibar-blue silk ribbons twined around a
perfect star-white diamond
Close inspection reveals a cunningly concealed silver
pin setting behind the obscuring ribbons. Three tiny images have been
etched into the silver: a panther, a star, and a triple moon.
a long gypsy scarf of brilliant blue Elothean silk
fringed with star-shaped beads
Only the weight of the fringe prevents this cascade
of sapphire silk from drifting away in the slightest breeze. Each star-shaped
bead at the scarf's edges has been carved from a different gem, creating
a rainbow of glittering fringe.
a tightly-laced celestial blue suede bodice trimmed
with dangling moonstone charms
A slim silver chain laces through tiny silk loops along
the bottom edge of the bodice. Hanging from the chain, are tiny moonstone
charms. Half polished, half rough, the charms seem to shift through
the phases of moons as they turn and catch the light.
some midnight-blue pants embroidered in silver thread
with the images of the constellations
Each star is marked with a tiny crystal bead that sparkles
in the light, and linked by silver thread to form the shapes of all thirty-nine
constellations.
some delicate dancing slippers woven from blue strips
of Elothean silk
Each soft strip of silk composing these beautiful slippers
weaves over and under, down and around and back through, bright with the
many-shaded brillance of the finest sapphire dyes.
two shining golden hair clips trailing pure white
swan feathers and silk jadice flowers
Each gleaming barrette has been crafted into the shape
of a peacefully sleeping Fae child. In place of wings, white feathers
and silken blossoms trail from the children's bare shoulders.
a floor-length gown of flawless ivory silk edged
in elegant gold brocade
Only a row of tiny seed pearls interrupts the fluidity
of the textured patterns of leaves and flowers used in healing. To
protect the trailing hem from dust and wear, the gown is edged in rich gold
brocade bearing the repeated image of the seal of the Empath's Guild.
a pair of graceful velvet slippers embroidered with
the golden seal of the Empath's Guild
A light film of road dust across the snow white velvet
suggests that these slippers are not merely beautiful but practical as well.
Where the toe and heel would touch the ground, the velvet gives way to snow
white leather darkened from travel and wear.
an empath's silken treasure pouch adorned with images
of healing and suffering
The pouch is embroidered with the image of a dwarven
empath raising her eyes to stare away over golden oaks and sunset hills,
while kneeling beside the bloodied corpse of a fallen defender. The intricate
detail of the embroidery makes you suspect that the artist worked from a
specific subject.
In retrospect, I should have worded this differently--
using the word "you" in an item description is always a mistake. Second
version: "The intricate detail of the embroidery suggests that the artist
worked from a specific subject." These things are so much easier to
see twelve months later-- but she was quite content with the item, and it
did pass quality control.
a intricate healer's staff lifesculpted from a slender
goldbark sapling
A polished leather handgrip halfway down the length
suggests that the staff was crafted to accomidate the small form of a halfling
or dwarf. The ceremonial staff, though never useable as a weapon, is
certainly enough to provide extra leverage to an injured woman trying to
regain her feet.
It reads: "I swear to love and heal, serve and guide."
I believe this item was created, but I am not one hundred
percent certain-- I have since fallen out of contact with Amilya, and the
last record I have of our exchanges was before Quality Control had examined
her list of items. There was an alternate design just in case, and,
if this one does not exist, the following item most likely does.
a graceful linen mantle covered with the golden shapes
of falling autumn leaves
The shapes of drifting blood oak leaves swirl down
the back of this fine white mantle. Gold ink describes each leaf's
skeletal veination, and tiny diamond beads mimic clinging drops of dew.
This was the alternate item to the healer's staff if
the healer's staff was rejected by Quality Control.
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