The White Lady - in the right forum ;)

Rookie Brownbark

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Re: The White Lady - in the right forum ;)

« Reply #15 on: 08 August 2008, 00:01:13 »

The White Lady

Overview

The White Lady, or in some regions The Grey Lady, is a ghost that has been sighted from Varcopas to the Icelands. It would be more accurate to talk of a group of ghosts, because several people seem to lie at the origin of the Lady. However, for simplicity's sake we will talk about a singular ghost. Dressed in white or grey, she walks about in the spot that is said to be the place of her death. The manner of her death can be deduced from her appearance – for example, if she is walking near a lake shore with wet hair and clothes, it may be safe to assume she drowned.

She shows herself mainly to children and elderly people. Although there are relatively many sightings for so elusive a phenomenon, it seems that only humans are able to see her. Aww, no Brownie Hauntings? lol

Compared to the amount of people living near some of the places where a White Lady appears, it is noticeable that there are fewer sightings than could reasonably be expected if she were tangible, yet more than can be dismissed out of hand. I would change this sentence around a little – “It is noticeable that, compared to the amount of people living near some of the places where a White Lady appears, there are fewer sightings than could reasonably be expected if she were tangible, yet more than can be dismissed out of hand. “ *shrug* could be a personal thing.

Appearance

It is not easy to give a clear picture of the White Lady's appearance, since she seems to 'originate' from several people. However, there do seem to be some common points, the most prominent of which is her dress, which according to all reports is of a white colour, as white as her face and even hair. In certain regions – most notably the Rimmerin's Ring – she is dressed in grey clothes, although her hair and face remain white.

Another resemblance between the White Ladies seems to be that her hair is almost always worn long and loose. Only in a few instances was it said that her hair was done up with ribbons, resembling more a young girl than a grown woman. Maybe – “,so that she resembles more a young girl than a grown woman”?

Other than that, however, her appearance varies greatly from one sighting to the next, depending on the region where she was seen. At times she is as a woman in the bloom of her life (if, quite obviously, dead), at others she is older, wrinkles obvious around her eyes and mouth, although still standing tall and proud, not yet so old that she is stooped over with age. Lastly, she may appear as a younger woman, on the brink of discovering life. These are the times when her hair is bedecked with ribbons.

Special Abilities

As far as we have been able to gather from oral or written reports of encounters, the White Lady does not seem to have any special powers. Appart from being dead and still visible of course… She simply appears – sometimes once a year, sometimes in a certain season or on definite dates – and after a while she disappears again. This period is often one hour long, or else she completes a certain ritual (such as the Iceland Lady) before going.

Territory

Mention of a White Lady has been made as far back as 2000 b.S. It is possible that she was sighted even before that, but there are no written or oral sources left to confirm this. The oldest remaining source speaks of a “Lady, clad all in white, wandering at night on the road leading from Klinsor to Three Arcs Keep, or seen on the battlements of the Keep”. The text goes on to speculate that she is the ghost of a young woman, a daughter of the Keep, waiting for her lover, who left her one day with the promise of returning, but he never showed. She waits waited? in vain for two days, and then goes went? out to search for him, but she -likewise- never returned, except as a White Lady. The text is not signed, and it is now impossible to ascertain who wrote it. More recently the legend was repeated in a treatise by Waudrin Ghortz, contemporary researcher of all things supernatural, in which he tries to refute the existence of even one White Lady. He claims that the phenomenon cannot be real, since only humans can 'see' her, and thus she cannot possibly be more than myth.

Afterwards, many more sightings were reported, both of the Lady of the Keep and other White Ladies. It would be near impossible to list each of the Ladies, but the following list is a compilation of the most common sightings.

-Rimmerin's Ring: This 'Grey Lady', rather than a White Lady, is first mentioned around the time of the unification of Southern Sarvonia. Up to the present day, some locals claim to have seen her, wandering around the Stonedale Quarry. Oral traditions about her origins persist to this day. She is claimed to be Franja Swanvild, a rich nobleman's daughter who had fallen in love with a simple farmer and lain with him. When her father discovered she was with child, he took her to the top of the Quarry and pushed her to her death. Ever since, she is reported to come to the Quarry on the anniversary of her death, wander around the Quarry, and vanish one hour later.

-The Icelands Lady: A rather more contemporary sighting is the White Lady in the lands of the Remusians. She was first seen in the winter of the year 1655 a.S., walking the battlements of the city, one time from start to finish. She has been spotted a few times since then, but always in winter. Although a name is not attributed to her, she is believed to be a widow grieving for her husband, a soldier lost in the year 1654, when orcs besieged the city.

-Ximax: On the Ximaxian peninsula, on the shore of the Diamond lake, each summer solstice the figure of a young girl in her wedding clothes can be seen. It is said that she is the ghost of a young wind mage, newly wed, whose jealous bridegroom murdered her on their wedding night, and buried her near the lake shore. She was killed by the man she married? Does the myth speculate as to why he was jealous? On the summer solstice she stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking the lake, a wind blowing in her hair and clothes, even when the rest of the environment is utterly ~~wind~~still.

-The Lorehold Lady: There is also rumoured to be a White Lady in the university buildings of the Lorehold. She is said to have been a librarian, pining for a love that was forever out of her reach. According to some reports, it is possible to see her when you go down to the Lorehold cellars with a certain book – however, which book exactly is a point of contention.

Many more examples of White Ladies could be given. All the collected reports stem from the Sarvonian continent, however. It is unknown whether the more exotic continents, such as Nybelmar or Aeruillin, know a similar phenomenon.

Habitat/Behaviour

Again there seems to be some correspondence between the different Ladies, in Behaviour as well as Appearance. Most of the time she does not seem aware of the person seeing her, looking out as if waiting for someone. In a few instances she has been known to approach the living (often a child or an elder), beseeching them with outstretched arms, although it is not clear what she would have them do. She disappears before actually reaching the person. It seems that she does not speak; in fact, all reports claim that not a sound comes from her, except perhaps the rustling of her white gown. I can just imagine the one in Lorehold!

Another aspect of the White Lady that all the sightings agree about <-- on? is her profound sadness, which touches the heart and leaves the living wishing they could have helped her somehow. In contrast to the Wailwoman, however, meeting a White Lady is not likely to result in insanity or death.

Myth/Lore

It is said that the White Lady can choose who she appears to, which might account for the relatively small number of sightings in heavily populated areas. The reason this was not added to the Special Abilities section is that there might be other possibilities. It does seem unlikely, since according to many of the reports she is not aware that someone sees her. On the other hand however, prospective ghost-hunters must be warned – it would seem that one must not go looking for her, for then she will not show herself. Hehe. Convenient

Alternative explanations include, if she is real, that certain individuals have a heightened sense of her presence, or if she is not, that she is merely a fiction of the imagination.

It does seem that she is most often seen by children and elders. Popular myth says that if a child sees her, that she will bless it and protect it throughout its life. In contrast, when she is seen by an older person, it is said to foretell their death – a peaceful death after a long life, surrounded by friends and family. It is said to be a guarantee that they will not feel pain or go in a violent manner. This is why older people are not always sorry if they think they have seen a White Lady. However, both these myths are hard to prove, as myths are wont to.

Related to these two myths is the curious tale of the Mardran family, living close to the Stonedale Quarry. They claim that the Grey Lady favours their family, for many of the members have seen her – not once, but twice in their lives. Once when they are children, and once again when they are old. Without judging the accuracy of this claim, the family does prosper, and the children seem to have a guardian watching over them, making sure that they do not get into an accident of any kind and reach a respectable age, after which they die peacefully. One example would be the time that Jorgun Mardran – now grandfather – was playing on the road near the house when one of the Baneg bulls broke out. It seemed to be heading straight for him, but at the last moment swerved to the right, saving Jorgun from certain death. If true, it might be proposed that the Mardran family is perhaps descended from the farmer who the Grey Lady originally fell in love with.

A source of as much debate as her existence is her rest. Is it possible to help a White Lady, so that she leaves earthly bonds behind and moves on? Rumours are elusive, but it does seem as though a few Ladies have laid down their burden – whether through human intervention or otherworldly, it is hard to discern. In any case, some of the sightings date from far back, and no new sighting has been made on the same place.

Other

Interesting to note is the White Lady Mountain, in the Prominent Mountain range. She bore her name long before there was mention of the apparition, but her connection with the ghost dates from around 1000 b.S., when an anonymous bard from a nearby town wrote the 'Lay of the Lady' – wholly ficticious, but it drew travellers to see the frozen waterfalls that he mentions, where the Lady was supposed to have met her violent death, or to trek to the shallow, yet snowy top where she is supposed to dwell on certain nights. Interestingly enough, some of these trekkers even claim to have seen her!

Compendiumist's Note:
“White Ladies” have been spotted from Varcopas to the Icelands, so they can be called a definite phenomenon - but how they come into existence, why they are only ever female, and why they 'walk' when other slain females are at rest is as yet unknown. The sceptics - led by Waudrin - would say that is because they are no more than the figments of some senile imagination... but then why are these tales so prevalent across our country, and from so many different sources? Children, grand-dams, elders and maidens, have all reported sighting the White Lady, and her legend is known everywhere.

In an attempt to describe the phenomenon – if not to ascertain her actual existence – this humble Compendiumist has talked with some of those who claim they have seen a White Lady, among whom the aforementioned Jorgun Mardran. It seems that, while some families believe they have a special connection with this or that Lady, there is not much distinction in who as graced with a glimpse of her. In each community where a White Lady is rumoured to walk, the local populace is a firm believer in her existence, even among those individuals (usually almost the whole village, with but one or two exceptions) who have not personally seen her. Outside these communities, scepticism is much greater.

See, you should do entries more often! Hehe. That or we were actually right when we decided we were in too many stories on the rpg…;)

xxxxx


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Gean Firefeet

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Re: The White Lady - in the right forum ;)

« Reply #16 on: 08 August 2008, 07:16:06 »

Heya Irid, comments inserted below in colour, like this text. All in all you seem to use a lot of "seem"

You might want to rephrase this a few times or find alternatives. But don't use "it is said" instead, for I say you've said some times as well grin

Though I agree that the intangible subject of your entry invites to use vague and uncertain language, you may use stronger sentences! E.g. "from these examples we can conclude that". That I like the entry is apparent to you I hope

. (tussen haakjes, zoals Azhira zegt, hoop ik dat het schrijven naar meer smaakt en dat u goesting houdt voor verder schrijven

)

The White Lady

Overview

The White Lady, or in some regions The Grey Lady, is a ghost that has been sighted from Varcopas to the Icelands. It would be more accurate to talk of a group of ghosts, because several people seem to lie at the origin of the Lady. However, for simplicity's sake we will talk about a singular ghost. Dressed in white or grey, she walks about in the spot that is said to be the place of her death. The manner of her death can be deduced from her appearance – for example, if she is walking near a lake shore with wet hair and clothes, it may be safe to assume she drowned.

She shows herself mainly to children and elderly people. Although there are relatively many sightings for so elusive a phenomenon, it seems that only humans are able to see her. Compared to the amount of people living near some of the places where a White Lady appears, it is noticeable that there are fewer sightings than could reasonably be expected if she were tangible, yet more than can be dismissed out of hand.

Appearance

It is not easy to give a clear picture of the White Lady's appearance, since she seems to 'originate' from several people. However, there do seem to be some common points, the most prominent of which is her dress, which according to all reports is of a white colour, as white as her face and even hair. In certain regions – most notably the Rimmerin's Ring – she is dressed in grey clothes, although her hair and face remain white.

Another resemblance between the White Ladies seems to be that their hair is almost always worn long and loose. Only in a few instances was it said that the hair was done up with ribbons, resembling more a young girl than a grown woman.

Other than that, however, her appearance varies greatly from one sighting to the next, depending on the region where she was seen. At times she is as a woman in the bloom of her life (if, quite obviously, dead), at others she is older, wrinkles visible (since you’ve just used obviously) around her eyes and mouth, although still standing tall and proud, not yet so old that she is stooped over with age. Lastly, she may appear as a younger woman, on the brink of discovering life. These are the times when her hair is bedecked with ribbons.

Special Abilities

As far as we have been able to gather from oral or written reports of encounters, the White Lady does not seem to have any special powers. She simply appears – sometimes once a year, sometimes in a certain season or on definite dates – and after a while she disappears again. This period is often one hour long, or else she completes a certain ritual (such as the Iceland Lady) before going.

Territory

Mention of a White Lady has been made as far back as 2000 b.S. It is possible that she was sighted even before that, but there are no written or oral sources left to confirm this. The oldest remaining source speaks of a “Lady, clad all in white, wandering at night on the road leading from Klinsor to Three Arcs Keep, or seen on the battlements of the Keep”. The text goes on to speculate that she is the ghost of a young woman, a daughter of the Keep, waiting for her lover, who left her one day with the promise of returning, but he never showed. She waits in vain for two days, and then goes out to search for him, but she -likewise- never returned, except as a White Lady. The text is not signed, and it is now impossible to ascertain who wrote it. More recently the legend was repeated in a treatise by Waudrin Ghortz, contemporary researcher of all things supernatural, in which he tries to refute the existence of even one White Lady. He claims that the phemenon cannot be real, since only humans can 'see' her, and thus she cannot possibly be more than myth.

Afterwards, many more sightings were reported, both of the Lady of the Keep and other White Ladies. It would be near impossible to list each of the Ladies, but the following list is a compilation of the most common sightings.

-Rimmerin's Ring: This 'Grey Lady', rather than a White Lady, is first mentioned around the time of the unification of Southern Sarvonia. Up to the present day, some locals claim to have seen her, wandering around the Stonedale Quarry. Oral traditions about her origins persist to this day. She is claimed to be Franja Swanvild, a rich nobleman's daughter who had fallen in love with a simple farmer and lain with him. When her father discovered she was with child, he took her to the top of the Quarry and pushed her to her death. Ever since, she is reported to come to the Quarry on the anniversary of her death, wander around the Quarry, and vanish one hour later.

-The Icelands Lady: A rather more contemporary sighting is the White Lady in the lands of the Remusians. She was first seen in the winter of the year 1655 a.S., walking the battlements of the city, one time from start to finish. She has been spotted a few times since then, but always in winter. Although a name is not attributed to her, she is believed to be a widow grieving for her husband, a soldier lost in the year 1654, when orcs besieged the city.

-Ximax: On the Ximaxian peninsula, on the shore of the Diamond lake, each summer solstice the figure of a young girl in her wedding clothes can be seen. It is said that she is the ghost of a young wind mage, newly wed, whose jealous bridegroom murdered her on their wedding night, and buried her near the lake shore. On the summer solstice she stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking the lake, a wind blowing in her hair and clothes, even when the rest of the environment is utterly windstill.

-The Lorehold Lady: There is also rumoured to be a White Lady in the university buildings of the Lorehold. She is said to have been a librarian, pining for a love that was forever out of her reach. According to some reports, it is possible to see her when you go down to the Lorehold cellars with a certain book – however, which book exactly is a point of contension.
(I disagree with the cellar location. Why does the ghost always have to been somewhere down below? Let’s not specify the location and have her appear somewhere in the mid of the university. Much more unexpected!) e.g. According to some reports, it is possible to see her when you carry a certain book with you, however, which book this exactly might be is a matter of discussion. (The literary taste of the dead llibrarian is unknown ot us.)

Many more examples of White Ladies could be given. All the collected reports stem from the Sarvonian continent, however. It is unknown whether the more exotic continents, such as Nybelmar or Aeruillin, know a similar phenomenon.

Habitat/Behaviour

Again there seems to be some correspondence between the different Ladies, in Behaviour as well as Appearance. Most of the time she does not seem aware of the person seeing her, looking out as if waiting for someone. In a few instances she has been known to approach the living (often a child or an elder), beseeching them with outstretched arms, although it is not clear what she would have them do. She disappears before actually reaching the person. It seems that she does not speak; in fact, all reports claim that not a sound comes from her, except perhaps the rustling of her white gown.

Another aspect of the White Lady that all the sightings agree about is her profound sadness, which touches the heart and leaves the living wishing they could have helped her somehow. In contrast to the Wailwoman, however, meeting a White Lady is not likely to result in insanity or death.

Myth/Lore

It is said that the White Lady can choose to whom she appears, which might account for the relatively small number of sightings in heavily populated areas. The reason this was not added to the Special Abilities section is that there might be other possibilities. It does seem unlikely, since according to many of the reports she is not aware that someone sees her. On the other hand however, prospective ghost-hunters must be warned – it would seem that one must not go looking for her, for then she will not show herself. Alternative explanations include, if she is real, that certain individuals have a heightened sense of her presence, or if she is not, that she is merely a fiction of the imagination.

It does seem that she is most often seen by children and elders. Popular myth says that if a child sees her, that she will bless it and protect it throughout its life. In contrast, when she is seen by an older person, it is said to foretell their death – a peaceful death after a long life, surrounded by friends and family. It is said to be a guarantee that they will not feel pain or go in a violent manner. This is why older people are not always sorry if they think they have seen a White Lady. However, both these myths are hard to prove, as myths are wont to.

Related to these two myths is the curious tale of the Mardran family, living close to the Stonedale Quarry. They claim that the Grey Lady favours their family, for many of the members have seen her – not once, but twice in their lives. Once when they are children, and once again when they are old. Without judging the accuracy of this claim, the family does prosper, and the children seem to have a guardian watching over them, making sure that they do not get into an accident of any kind and reach a respectable age, after which they die peacefully. One example would be the time that Jorgun Mardran – now grandfather – was playing on the road near the house when one of the Baneg bulls broke out. It seemed to be heading straight for him, but at the last moment swerved to the right, saving Jorgun from certain death. If true, [/b]it might[/b] be proposed that the Mardran family is perhaps (a bit too much uncertainty for my taste descended from the farmer who the Grey Lady originally fell in love with.

A source of as much debate as her existence is her rest. Is it possible to help a White Lady, so that she leaves earthly bonds behind and moves on? Rumours are elusive, but it does seem as though a few Ladies have laid down their burden – whether through human intervention or otherworldly, it is hard to discern. In any case, some of the sightings date from far back, and no new sighting has been made on the same place.

Other

Interesting to note is the White Lady Mountain, in the Prominent Mountain range. She bore her name long before there was mention of the apparition, but her connection with the ghost dates from around 1000 b.S., when an anonymous bard from a nearby town wrote the 'Lay of the Lady' – wholly ficticious, but it drew travellers to see the frozen waterfalls that he mentions, where the Lady was supposed to have met her violent death, or to trek to the shallow, yet snowy top where she is supposed to dwell on certain nights. Interestingly enough, some of these trekkers even claim to have seen her!

Compendiumist's Note:
“White Ladies” have been spotted from Varcopas to the Icelands, so they can be called a definite phenomenon - but how they come into existence, why they are only ever female, and why they 'walk' when other slain females are at rest is as yet unknown. The skeptics - led by Waudrin - would say that is because they are no more than the figments of some senile imagination... but then why are these tales so prevalent across our country, and from so many different sources? Children, grand-dams, elders and maidens, have all reported sighting the White Lady, and her legend is known everywhere.

In an attempt to describe the phenomenon – if not to ascertain her actual existence – this humble Compendiumist has talked with some of those who claim they have seen a White Lady, among whom the aforementioned Jorgun Mardran. It seems that, while some families believe they have a special connection with this or that Lady, there is not much distinction in who is graced with a glimpse of her. In each community where a White Lady is rumoured to walk, the local populace is a firm believer in her existence, even among those individuals (usually almost the whole village, with but one or two exceptions) who have not personally seen her. Outside these communities, scepticism is much greater.


« Last Edit: 08 August 2008, 07:19:30 by Gean Firefeet »	Logged

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Azhira Styralias

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Re: The White Lady - in the right forum ;)

« Reply #17 on: 08 August 2008, 09:46:18 »

*Sees name in Gean's post and wonders what was said...* huh


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Irid alMenie

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Re: The White Lady - in the right forum ;)

« Reply #18 on: 08 August 2008, 15:20:16 »

He just said that he agrees with you and hopes that writing this will convince me to write even more

Anyway, I will get to Rookie's and Gean's comments asap. Thank you both!


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Re: The White Lady - in the right forum ;)

« Reply #19 on: 08 August 2008, 19:03:56 »

Whoops pardon me m'lady, no harm intended. Actually, I agreed with Rookie, but thought (without looking up) that you had written the post above mine.
But now we're at ye... I like the recent frosty addition to your icon... which wasn't there before, right?
Happy devving all!


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- Shakespeare's Twelfth Night

Anonymous, 1000 b.S.

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Re: The White Lady - in the right forum ;)

« Reply #20 on: 08 August 2008, 21:03:58 »

Just filling in a gap. (Much?) more to come, after all, he's only just left.

Lay of the Lady

She held his hands, she held his head,
“Sir, please don’t go, please stay with me”
He kissed her hands, her head and said
“Within a year I’m back, you’ll see.”

A teardrop slowly left her eye
And found its way across her cheek
More teardrops fell when she said “I
Will follow when it’s Death you seek.”

“I seek Queprur? You know, my love
That duty binds me to this war.
But please ask Armeros above
That you will see me from afar

When I return from battles won
With bags of gold, my armour sold
To live with you and you will run
To greet me! Now, release your hold.”

He gently took her hands and kissed
Her fingers and her lips; one tear
Did leave his eye: he too would miss
His newly wed, his love, his dear.

And as they held their heads so near
And felt their hearts beating as one
Upon her cheek he left his tear
A final kiss; then he was gone.


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Irid alMenie

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Re: The White Lady - in the right forum ;)

« Reply #21 on: 08 August 2008, 21:21:29 »

O.o I was going to try my hand at that, but I'm not a poet. I'm glad someone took up the challenge. I can't wait to read more!

*Hugs the anonymous poet*


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Re: The White Lady - in the right forum ;)

« Reply #22 on: 09 August 2008, 01:18:56 »

The finals lines have given me headaches, and with some lines I'm not entirely happy. But for now, let's call this first draft(?) finished. I hope to hear some comments!

Lay of the Lady

She held his hands, she held his head,
“Sir, please don’t go, please stay with me”
He kissed her hands, her head and said
“Within a year I’m back, you’ll see.”

A teardrop slowly left her eye
And found its way across her cheek
More teardrops fell when she said “I
Will follow when it’s Death you seek.”

“I seek Queprur? You know, my love
That duty binds me to this war.
But please ask Armeros above
That you will see me from afar

When I return from battles won
With bags of gold, my armour sold
To live with you and you will run
To greet me! Now, release your hold.”

He gently took her hands and kissed
Her fingers and her lips. One tear
Did leave his eye: he too would miss
His newly wed, his love, his dear.

Thus as they held their heads so near
And felt their hearts beating as one
Upon her cheek he left his tear
A final kiss; then he was gone.

So all that she had left of him
As he rode o’er the path down south
And went over the mountain’s rim
Was this small tear that passed her mouth

And with the other tears streamed from
Her neck towards her bosom where
From cold or desperation some
Did freeze upon those two flanks fair.

And long after she’d lost the sight
Of him did she remain up there
Till cold and darkness forced her flight
While she bade Armeros to care

For him “Whose braveness, strength and wit
Would surely save his skin,” she said
“But gods might disagree.” and lit
A candle to amend for that.

And as she looked into the flame
The little warmth reached to her breast
To melt the fear away. His name
She spoke when she lay down to rest.

So each night when she went to sleep
She lit a little candle so
That he might live in Arm’ros keep
And fell asleep by candle’s glow

Then one night she woke up and saw
That only starlight filled the room
The flame was gone. A sudden flaw
Of wind had heralded her doom.

The darkness and the cold now clawed
Together at her heart and she
Who put her fate in flames was gnawed
By cold and dark anxiety

And as the light of morning came
Her heart was icy-cold. No fear
Was left, nor did she speak his name,
Nor did she shed a single tear.

She only followed the same road
That he had taken when he went
Away. The noise ahead forebode
The truth that nightly wind had sent.

She never reached the market square
Where widows new and old alike
Were weaping for their fate unfair
She only gazed down from a pike

And saw the cart with bodies filled
She recognized the armour which
She would not sell. His blood was spilled,
Queprur had hungered for his lich.

Within a year he had returned
But she would not run down to him
Instead she turned, ran back and burned
Their house and threw herself therein.

Or maybe she went to the top
Of the White Lady mountain where
Beneath its flanks her life did stop
And did she find her lover there.

And every spring the mountain cries
Fresh tears from frozen waterfalls
Just like a flame, before it lies
And is put out by sudden flaws.

And if you venture past the tears
Of hope and up the mountain side
You might feel that the Lady nears
Or see her if she does not hide…


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Azhira Styralias

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Re: The White Lady - in the right forum ;)

« Reply #23 on: 09 August 2008, 06:06:38 »

Quote from: Gean Firefeet on 08 August 2008, 19:03:56

Actually, my golden frame is one of the four elemental magic frames created by Fox. This is a wind element frame as Azhira is a wind mage. The "frost" looking stuff is actually lightning (as lightning is a wind school spell). I have three other mage characters on the RP side, all of each element with their own unique frame. grin


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Miraran Tehuriden

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Re: The White Lady - in the right forum ;)

« Reply #24 on: 10 August 2008, 05:48:41 »

Gimme a poke when this needs a full check again Irid!


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Irid alMenie

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Re: The White Lady - in the right forum ;)

« Reply #25 on: 13 August 2008, 16:43:25 »

13-08-1668: Rookie's and Gean's comments integrated in teal (except the grammatical/spelling corrections, cause I'm lazy

More in particular: Gean, there are two grammaticalities that I left the way I had them, and that is 'her hair' in the appearance section, because I want to keep things as much as I can in the singular. it'd be strange to talk about 'their' hair in one sentence and 'her' dress in the next. I know that I have 'White Ladies' just before but... It's a premeditated decision.
The other thing I left was 'choose who she appears to'. In my opinion that sounds more natural than to whom she appears.

Other than that, all comments were integrated, I think.


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Azhira Styralias

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Re: The White Lady - in the right forum ;)

« Reply #26 on: 13 August 2008, 23:54:08 »

Uri, uri goodness!

Overview

The White Lady, or in some regions The Grey Lady, is a ghost that has been sighted from Varcopas to the Icelands. It would be more accurate to talk of a group of ghosts, because several people lie at the origin of the Lady. However, for simplicity's sake we will talk about a singular ghost. Dressed in white or grey, she walks about in the spot that is said to be the place of her death. The manner of her death can be deduced from her appearance – for example, if she is walking near a lake shore with wet hair and clothes, it may be safe to assume she drowned.

She shows herself mainly to children and elderly people. Although there are relatively many sightings for so elusive a phenomenon, it seems that only humans are able to see her. It is noticeable that, compared to the amount of people living near some of the places where a White Lady appears, there are fewer sightings than could reasonably be expected if she were tangible, yet more than can be dismissed out of hand.

(The overview speaks of the ghost as a real, genuine ghost. Rather, shouldn't the sightings and the actual ghost itself be a bit more ambiguous?)

Appearance

It is not easy to give a clear picture of the White Lady's appearance, since she 'originates' from several people (originates from several people confused me a bit...as if the sightings themselves originated from several witnesses. Essentially, the ghost is not a single ghost, but a white apparition generically called the White Lady...) . However, there do seem to be some common ~~points~~(aspects of her appearance), the most prominent of which is her dress, which according to almost all reports is of a white colour, as white as her face and even hair. In certain regions – most notably the Rimmerin's Ring – she is dressed in grey clothes, although her hair and face remain white.

Another resemblance between the White Ladies is her hair, which is almost always worn long and loose. Only in a few instances was it said that it was done up with ribbons, so that she resembles more a young girl than a grown woman.

Other than that, however, her appearance varies greatly from one sighting to the next, depending on the region where she was seen. At times she is as a woman in the bloom of her life (if, quite obviously, dead), at others she is older, wrinkles visible around her eyes and mouth, although still standing tall and proud, not yet so old that she is stooped over with age. Lastly, she may appear as a younger woman, on the brink of discovering life. These are the times when her hair is bedecked with ribbons.

(Is she translucent in appearance at all? Or does she appear "solid", but still white. Perhaps the hems of her dress appear misty or translucent. Maybe her appearance is wispy, flickering or maybe she has an unnerving aura of pale light around her. I was looking for some more ghostly aspects of her appearance other than she is white...but that's just a personal detail I have.)

Special Abilities

As far as we have been able to gather from oral or written reports of encounters, the White Lady does not have any special powers, other than being visible after her death. She simply appears – sometimes once a year, sometimes in a certain season or on definite dates – and after a while she disappears again. This period is often one hour long, or else she completes a certain ritual (such as the Iceland Lady) before going.

Territory

Mention of a White Lady has been made as far back as 2000 b.S. It is possible that she was sighted even before that, but there are no written or oral sources left to confirm this. The oldest remaining source speaks of a “Lady, clad all in white, wandering at night on the road leading from Klinsor to Three Arcs Keep, or seen on the battlements of the Keep”. The text goes on to speculate that she is the ghost of a young woman, a daughter of the Keep, waiting for her lover, who left her one day with the promise of returning, but he never showed. She waited in vain for two days, and then went out to search for him, but she -likewise- never returned, except as a White Lady. The text is not signed, and it is now impossible to ascertain who wrote it. More recently the legend was repeated in a treatise by Waudrin Ghortz, contemporary researcher of all things supernatural, in which he tries to refute the existence of even one White Lady. He claims that the phenomenon cannot be real, since only humans can 'see' her, and thus she cannot possibly be more than myth.

Afterwards, many more sightings were reported, both of the Lady of the Keep and other White Ladies. It would be near impossible to list each of the Ladies, but the following list is a compilation of the most common sightings.

-Rimmerin's Ring: This 'Grey Lady', rather than a White Lady, is first mentioned around the time of the unification of Southern Sarvonia. Up to the present day, some locals claim to have seen her, wandering around the Stonedale Quarry. Oral traditions about her origins persist to this day. She is claimed to be Franja Swanvild, a rich nobleman's daughter who had fallen in love with a simple farmer and lain with him. When her father discovered she was with child, he took her to the top of the Quarry and pushed her to her death. Ever since, she is reported to come to the Quarry on the anniversary of her death, wander around the Quarry, and vanish one hour later.

-The Icelands Lady: A rather more contemporary sighting is the White Lady in the lands of the Remusians. She was first seen in the winter of the year 1655 a.S., walking the battlements of the city, one time from start to finish. She has been spotted a few times since then, but always in winter. Although a name is not attributed to her, she is believed to be a widow grieving for her husband, a soldier lost in the year 1654, when orcs besieged the city.

-On the Ximaxian peninsula, on the shore of the Diamond lake, each summer solstice the figure of a young girl in her wedding clothes can be seen. It is said that she is the ghost of a young wind mage, newly wed, whose jealous bridegroom murdered her on their wedding night, and buried her near the lake shore. It is not known why he was jealous. In all likelihood he was paranoid that she would cheat on him, even if she never gave him a real cause to think that. On the summer solstice she stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking the lake, a wind blowing in her hair and clothes, even when the rest of the environment is utterly still.

-The Lorehold Lady: There is also rumoured to be a White Lady in the university buildings of the Lorehold. She is said to have been a librarian, pining for a love that was forever out of her reach. According to some reports, it is possible to see her when you are carrying a certain book – however, which book exactly is a point of contention.

Many more examples of White Ladies could be given. All the collected reports came from the Sarvonian continent, however. It is unknown whether the more exotic continents, such as Nybelmar or Aeruillin, know a similar phenomenon.

(I like all of the locations the White Lady has been seen. Kudos for including the North! thumbup

)

Habitat/Behaviour

Again there is some correspondence between the different Ladies, in Behaviour as well as Appearance. Most of the time she does not seem aware of the person seeing her, looking out as if waiting for someone. In a few instances she has been known to approach the living (often a child or an elder), beseeching them with outstretched arms, although it is not clear what she would have them do. She disappears before actually reaching the person. It seems that she does not speak; in fact, all reports claim that not a sound comes from her, except perhaps the rustling of her white gown.

Another aspect of the White Lady that all the sightings agree on is her profound sadness, which touches the heart and leaves the living wishing they could have helped her somehow. In contrast to the Wailwoman, however, meeting a White Lady is not likely to result in insanity or death.

Myth/Lore

It is said that the White Lady can choose who she appears to, which might account for the relatively small number of sightings in heavily populated areas. The reason this was not added to the Special Abilities section is that there might be other possibilities. It does seem unlikely, since according to many of the reports she is not aware that someone sees her. On the other hand however, prospective ghost-hunters must be warned – one must not go looking for her, for then she will not show herself. Alternative explanations include, if she is real, that certain individuals have a heightened sense of her presence, or if she is not, that she is merely a fiction of the imagination.

She is most often seen by children and elders. Popular myth says that if a child sees her, that she will bless it and protect it throughout its life. In contrast, when she is seen by an older person, it is said to foretell their death – a peaceful death after a long life, surrounded by friends and family. It is said to be a guarantee that they will not feel pain or go in a violent manner. This is why older people are not always sorry if they think they have seen a White Lady. However, both these myths are hard to prove, as myths are wont to.

Related to these two myths is the curious tale of the Mardran family, living close to the Stonedale Quarry. They claim that the Grey Lady favours their family, for many of the members have seen her – not once, but twice in their lives. Once when they are children, and once again when they are old. Without judging the accuracy of this claim, the family does prosper, and the children seem to have a guardian watching over them, making sure that they do not get into an accident of any kind and reach a respectable age, after which they die peacefully. One example would be the time that Jorgun Mardran – now grandfather – was playing on the road near the house when one of the Baneg bulls broke out. It seemed to be heading straight for him, but at the last moment swerved to the right, saving Jorgun from certain death. If true, the Mardran family is perhaps descended from the farmer who the Grey Lady originally fell in love with.

A source of as much debate as her existence is her rest. Is it possible to help a White Lady, so that she leaves earthly bonds behind and moves on? Rumours are elusive, but it does seem as though a few Ladies have laid down their burden – whether through human intervention or otherworldly, it is hard to discern. In any case, some of the sightings date from far back, and no new sighting has been made on the same place.

Other

Interesting to note is the White Lady Mountain, in the Prominent Mountain range. She bore her name long before there was mention of the apparition, but her connection with the ghost dates from around 1000 b.S., when an anonymous bard from a nearby town wrote the 'Lay of the Lady' – wholly ficticious, but it drew travellers to see the frozen waterfalls that he mentions, where the Lady was supposed to have met her violent death, or to trek to the shallow, yet snowy top where she is supposed to dwell on certain nights. Interestingly enough, some of these trekkers even claim to have seen her! The end of the Lay follows here. The whole poem can be found in the Library.

Within a year he had returned
But she would not run down to him
Instead she turned, ran back and burned
Their house and threw herself therein.

Or maybe she went to the top
Of the White Lady mountain where
Beneath its flanks her life did stop
And did she find her lover there.

And every spring the mountain cries
Fresh tears from frozen waterfalls
Just like a flame, before it lies
And is put out by sudden flaws.

And if you venture past the tears
Of hope and up the mountain side
You might feel that the Lady nears

The tales of the White Lady inspired the talented bard Gean Firefeet to write a song about her, which starts as follows:

Fair Lady in White

She leaves not a trace, not a shadow you see
But when she comes by she looks always at me
Her fair eyes; like flowers with frostbite they be
So haunted, not sparkling, no trace left of glee.

Fair lady in white, won’t you tell me your name
Or tell me at least if we aren’t the same
Did fate break your heart or did he find a dame
Who suited him more, tell me, who is to blame?

Compendiumist's Note:

“White Ladies” have been spotted from Varcopas to the Icelands, so they can be called a definite phenomenon - but how they come into existence, why they are only ever female, and why they 'walk' when other slain females are at rest is as yet unknown. The sceptics - led by Waudrin - would say that is because they are no more than the figments of some senile imagination... but then why are these tales so prevalent across our country, and from so many different sources? Children, grand-dams, elders and maidens, have all reported sighting the White Lady, and her legend is known everywhere.

In an attempt to describe the phenomenon – if not to ascertain her actual existence – this humble Compendiumist has talked with some of those who claim they have seen a White Lady, among whom the aforementioned Jorgun Mardran. It seems that, while some families believe they have a special connection with this or that Lady, there is not much distinction in who is graced with a glimpse of her. In each community where a White Lady is rumoured to walk, the local populace is a firm believer in her existence, even among those individuals (usually almost the whole village, with but one or two exceptions) who have not personally seen her. Outside these communities, scepticism is much greater.

(Overall, a fabulous entry, Irid! She will be a welcome addition to the apparition section.

)


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Bard Judith

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The White Lady - as promised.

« Reply #27 on: 14 August 2008, 01:12:23 »

For Irid, and for the sake of a letter I had today.

Grief and resignation mix;
Whence the brine upon her cheek?
Seeking with no hope for rest,
A love so soured, so sad, so salt.


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Artimidor Federkiel

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Re: The White Lady - in the right forum ;)

« Reply #28 on: 14 August 2008, 04:24:38 »

The picture seems to mix too varying styles again here - very good are the lady itself, and the water, which alone makes a tremendous atmosphere. The rocks in front then again are of a different style, not smoothed, clashing with the lady itself in that form. Then the clouds are the other extreme - too blurry, so not very realistic. united in one picture it's all a bit conflicting. The key elements lady (the invisible touch is cool) and water however turned out really cool!


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Bard Judith

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Re: The White Lady - in the right forum ;)

« Reply #29 on: 14 August 2008, 09:46:06 »

Take Two: (and any further changes to this or other pictures will have to wait, as I'll have the laptop but not my tablet with me for this weekend - no, I haven't forgotten the shamut, Azhira, or the tribal emblem,Tharoc! )


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The White Lady - in the right forum ;)