The Worlds of Katherine Kurtz

[18:09] * Joins: web76
[18:09] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I had to get them redone this morning after church (for free, fortunately), since the chrome powder had rubbed off one thumbnail within an hour after they first did it.  They said it is a new chrome polish they just got in, and rather than just fixing that one nail, they redid the polish on all of them and double sealed it to make sure it stays on properly.
[18:09] * web76 is now known as KK
[18:09] <~bynw> Hi KK
[18:09] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Yeah, that's my replacement wedding ring until I can wear my original one again. But judging by how loose my other rings are getting, that might not be too much longer.
[18:09] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Good business ettiquet
[18:10] * Joins: The_Bee
[18:10] <KK> What happenedd to your wedding ring, Evie?
[18:10] <~bynw> hi Bee
[18:10] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Hello, KK   Hello Bee
[18:10] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Hi KK, hullo Bee
[18:11] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> My original wedding ring is a simple gold Irish Claddagh with the original gold heart replaced with a garnet heart (from my engagement ring) flanked by two tiny diamonds.  Very simple and not very expensive, since we were broke young'uns when we got married, but priceless in sentimental value.
[18:11] <The_Bee> Hi, KK, and all of you
[18:11] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Hi KK, Hi Bee!
[18:11] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Priceless in the heart is what matters
[18:12] <The_Bee> Hi Quasijabbo!
[18:12] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> My finger just got too big for it, KK, since I got it when I was a tiny little 105 lb shrinky-dink, and was almost 90 lbs heavier than that before I started my diet and exercise program last March.  I'm on the downward slope now, but still can't get back into that particular ring since it's tiny and can't be enlarged because of how it is made.
[18:13] <~bynw> that happens with rings over time ... our fingers get bigger or sometimes smaller
[18:14] <KK> Ihear ya.
[18:14] <The_Bee> So you now have a new ring, evie?  Will you go back to the old one when you can fit into it again?
[18:14] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> I am having a similar problem with my wedding ring, Evie.  Mine is a sterling silver puzzle ring from the Ren Faire (we put them together as part of our vows).  For a long time I could not get it off, but my finger looked very uncomfortable.  I finally got it off and am rotating between other rings, some of which were my mom's and some that were my grandmother's, in the meantime. <clipped message>
[18:14] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.>   Hoping to fit back into mine sometime, as well.
[18:14] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I don't want to go back to my wedding size because I was underweight for my height and build at the time, but if I can get back to the size I was when the kids were young, the ring should hopefully still fit.
[18:14] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> I've had to have my wedding ring resized once since I got married. I'm hoping to avoid having to get a second resizing.
[18:15] * Joins: Kay
[18:15] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Hello, Kay!
[18:15] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Hello Kay
[18:15] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Hi, Kay
[18:15] <The_Bee> HiKay
[18:15] <~bynw> hi Kay
[18:15] * Looking up Kay user info...
[18:15] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Hi, Bee! Missed seeing you come in. (Unless you got here before me, which would explain it.)
[18:16] * Quits: Kay (Quit: Client closed)
[18:16] <KK> I resized mine after Scott passed, and now wear it on my right forefinger.
[18:16] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> nice
[18:17] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> What I call my wedding ring is actually my wedding and engagement rings worn together with the heart of one fitting into the heart-shaped gap in the other. And the only way to enlarge it would be to have it completely remade, I'm told.
[18:17] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Hi Everyone
[18:17] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Hi Jerusha
[18:17] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Hi Jerusha
[18:17] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Hey Jerusha
[18:17] <~bynw> Hi Jerusha
[18:17] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Hello Jerusha
[18:18] <The_Bee> Hi, evie.  Kk was responding to your post when I logged in, so I think you were here first.
[18:18] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/479836521864888347/1460065446387519508/N14_2347.jpg?ex=69658f69&is=69643de9&hm=3fff3526113d9217b9388ccc03871b569182db786005aef05fd8016c99cdc31a&;
[18:18] <The_Bee> Hi Jerusha
[18:19] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Very nice
[18:19] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Those are my rings, and neither of them fit well right now 🙁
[18:19] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Lovely
[18:19] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Beautiful!
[18:20] <The_Bee> very lovely
[18:21] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> https://flic.kr/p/4E55bu This isn't mine, but it looks the same as my wedding ring did originally.  DH took a jeweler's saw and cut out the gold heart (which I still have) to make room for the garnet heart of my engagement ring. The garnet heart is also flanked by two tiny diamonds that fit in that gap between the thumbs and index fingers of the hands.
[18:21] <~bynw> all of the NFL wild card games this weekend have been nailbiters and down to the last minute or second.
[18:21] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> I love that!
[18:22] <The_Bee> Do you-all's DHs have wedding rings?
[18:22] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> The games or the rings?
[18:22] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> DH had a wedding ring that was a bigger version of that gold claddagh above.
[18:22] * ~bynw has a wedding ring
[18:22] <The_Bee> Chargers vs Patriots starts at 8pm.
[18:22] <KK> Scott had one, but ceased wearing it after he got his signet ring.
[18:22] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I think his band started wearing too thin and he was worried about breaking it, so he doesn't wear it anymore.
[18:22] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Mine does.  The same puzzle ring as mine, but larger, of course.
[18:23] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> My DH hasn't worn his wedding ring since the day we were married.  He's not into jewelry
[18:23] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> My DH lost his first wedding ring, so we had to get him another one.
[18:24] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> My dad actually had a wedding ring before he had a bride to be. He saw it in a store somewhere overseas and thought it looked nice, so bought it for himself assuming he'd eventually get married. (I don't know if he had already met my mom yet and was thinking of getting married or if this was even before that happened.)
[18:25] <The_Bee> I'm glad more men wear rings nowadays.  IN the olden days, only women were expected to wear them.
[18:26] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> If men were straying from the marital bed, it helped not to be wearing a ring...
[18:26] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Dad is 87 now, and they married in 1961, but he's always worn his unless he was working on something mechanical where wearing a ring is too dangerous.
[18:26] <The_Bee> Exactly!
[18:27] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I think more recently he only wears it to church or on special occasions, but if it's not on his hand, it's on his nightstand.
[18:27] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I have a few pretty Fun rings in my jewelry box,  but once I started working at the hospital I stopped wearing them and I have not worn a ring since.
[18:29] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> Good evening!
[18:29] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Hello Mard
[18:29] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Hello Marc
[18:29] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> Very pretty ring up there
[18:29] <KK> Jerusha, some me now wear vinyl rings if there's a safety issue. Some in medical fields also wear them.
[18:29] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> Mind if we call you Mard?
[18:29] <The_Bee> Dad gave mom a ring he'd been given by his parents, because the Depression was on, and he couldn't afford to buy one.  After they married, she gave the ring back and wore it for the rest of his life.
[18:29] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> ... sure. For tonight 😆
[18:29] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> I don't have much in the way of jewelry anymore.  We were burglarized about 5 years ago and my jewelry boxes were taken.  A couple of items were recovered, but most of it is lost forever.  Its value was mostly sentimental.
[18:29] <~bynw> hi Marc
[18:29] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I wear mine pretty much constantly. My current set are the faux wedding ring, a garnet that I got as a 20th  Workplace Anniversary gift from the university, and an opal ring a homeless (or at least down on his luck?) guy gave me when I made up the difference between the money he had on him and the cost of a burger and drink.
[18:30] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> my rented fingers have be caught red handed
[18:30] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Hiya Marc
[18:30] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> Hello Quasi
[18:30] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Hi Marc
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> Hi Jerusha
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> Hi Bynw
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> My DIL has a gorgeous wedding ring set, but I noticed when she went to the hospital to give birth, she wore a silicone ring instead. I am guessing since she knew she was having surgery, she opted to leave the expensive rings at home.
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Hey Marc! 🙂
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> Hi KK 👋
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> Hi Nezz
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> Hello Y'ALL
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> 😆
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> 😄
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> smart lady
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> It's a group, so All Y'all works too.
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Probably a good plan, Evie
[18:32] <The_Bee> I don't wear much jewelry.  I need to remind myself if I want to wear something for a special occasion.
[18:32] <CG> [discord] <bynw> *****
[18:32] <CG> [discord] <bynw> Our oldest chat log dates back to January 18th 2001. At this time Katherine was still living in Ireland at Hollybrooke. That is the official start of having online chats between KK and us, her fans.
[18:32] <CG> [discord] <bynw> 2026 marks TWENTY-FIVE years of chatting with our beloved Queen of Stories.
[18:32] <CG> [discord] <bynw> And, January 18th will be a Sunday. So on January 18th, 2026. I want to look at the membership total of Rhemuthcastle.com and see that many people in chat.
[18:32] <CG> [discord] <bynw> Are you up to this challenge?
[18:32] <CG> [discord] <bynw> *****
[18:32] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Wow!
[18:32] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Looks like chat started only a couple of years after I first discovered the books
[18:32] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Have you dropped the glove at my feet, Bynw?
[18:33] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> https://tenor.com/view/aboazoz-goat-cold-cat-meme-gif-7534706838061047514 embed: https://tenor.com/view/aboazoz-goat-cold-cat-meme-gif-7534706838061047514
[18:33] <~bynw> at everyone's
[18:33] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I should be here next weekend. Not certain about the weekend after that, since we are still trying to lock down which day to celebrate DS's and my MIL's birthdays on, and that's the closest weekend to both, but we are considering that Friday, so I will hopefully be here that Sunday too.
[18:33] <KK> Awww, sweet kitten!
[18:33] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> You can count on me to be here.
[18:33] <The_Bee> I discovered the books when Deryni Rising was first published.
[18:33] <~bynw> and yes that is NEXT weekend
[18:34] <KK> Wow, 25 years!
[18:34] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> We are hosting a sleepover the night before, but it's only one friend coming over and he'll be gone before lunch.
[18:35] <The_Bee> I am planning to be here.
[18:35] <~bynw> that's how long you and I have been doing this KK
[18:35] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> By then, I think my big birthday present will be here!  My birthday isn't until next month, but it's one o' them milestone birthdays, so I picked my own gift and ordered it early.
[18:36] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> You are 21, Quazi?
[18:36] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Just a little younger than me. I'm perpetually 27.  😉
[18:36] <The_Bee> Every birthday is my 21st.
[18:36] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> That makes us peers! I am no longer the baby 🥳
[18:37] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> You'll always be our precious little dumpling, Marc.  Well, until you're not.  😄
[18:37] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> I am turning the big 4-0 this year.  We had been hoping to save up and do an overseas trip, this year, but car repairs and an emergency vet visit put that aspiration to the side.
[18:38] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Yeah, life has a way of getting in the way when you are trying to make other plans
[18:38] <~bynw> well you can come see us all this summer for DeryniCon
[18:38] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Indeed!
[18:38] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> One of the lessons I learned from KK novels: sometimes the adventure of a lifetime? Takes a lifetime
[18:38] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Where we are, Rhemuth Castle is, and that counts as overseas, right?
[18:38] <The_Bee> Message to the superstitious: 2026 will have three Friday the 13ths.
[18:39] <~bynw> Feb, March, and Nov
[18:39] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> One of those Fridays is my sister's birthday
[18:39] <The_Bee> Yup
[18:40] <The_Bee> One is my oldest niece's birthday.
[18:40] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> My sister was born on a friday the 13th  and it has always been a lucky day for her.   I myself, have not found to to be an unlucky day.  so I don't mind the callendar4
[18:41] <~bynw> no 13th bothers me but there are days that can
[18:42] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Friday the 13th March means my birthday is on a Friday as well, woo hoo!
[18:43] <The_Bee> My brother was born on August 13, so his sun squares his daughter's November 13 sun.
[18:44] <The_Bee> I've recently been obsessed with which date falls on which day of the week.
[18:45] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Of course someone tried to burn down Grecotha on Friday the 13th.
[18:45] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> 😄
[18:45] <~bynw> the 49rs have won against the eagles in an upset
[18:45] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> *glares at Bynw*
[18:45] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Go 49ers
[18:46] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Would we nice people burn down Greco...oh yeah, that almost happened....  😄
[18:46] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> hand glasp with Nezz. We stopped him
[18:46] <The_Bee> In KK's books or your fanfic?
[18:46] <~bynw> it wasn't me Nezz ... it was bad guys
[18:46] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> In their story-based RPG, Bee
[18:46] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> That's right. I'm proud to count myself among the brave heroes of Grecotha! 🏹
[18:46] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> and Marc gave us tons of assisitance
[18:47] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I sat on the sidelines and ate popcorn.
[18:47] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> They were and are the masters. 🙂
[18:47] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Go FS team
[18:47] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> 🍿
[18:47] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Yumm
[18:48] <The_Bee> I think of RPGs as fanfic.
[18:48] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Easy to pop corn when there is a fire source handy
[18:48] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> LOL
[18:48] <~bynw> LOL
[18:48] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Pop Pop Pop
[18:48] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> And where would we have been without Bynw? Our evil genius and gracious GM
[18:48] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> And bringer of popcorn
[18:49] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> 🍿
[18:49] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> 🔥
[18:49] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> 🐦�🔥
[18:49] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Lest we not forget Jerusha and Revanne in our quest for saving the city.
[18:50] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> Maize in the Old World?
[18:50] <The_Bee> You mean you WANT to forget them?!
[18:50] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Popmaize?
[18:50] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> (hairy eyeball)
[18:50] <KK> brb
[18:50] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Specially imported by means of phoenix flight, TM
[18:50] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Since bynw is a phoenix
[18:51] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Wait...that wouldn't work. A fiery bird is the last thing I'd want carrying a cargo of popcorn across the Atalantic!
[18:51] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Let us not forget Jerusha and Revanne in our quest for saving the city.
[18:51] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Dinner calls, so I am going to log off.  Goodnight all!
[18:51] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Goodnight, Quasi!
[18:51] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Wet, salty popcorn!
[18:51] <~bynw> cya Quasi
[18:51] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Happy dinner, Quasi
[18:52] <The_Bee> bye quasijabbo
[18:52] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Night Quasi!
[18:52] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Night
[18:52] * ~bynw will be making a batch of popcorn for Sunday Night Football
[18:53] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I have given up chips and now pop  air popcorn instead.
[18:53] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Who is playing tonight?
[18:53] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Maybe that's how fireworks were discovered? Someone loaded a crate of popcorn onto bynw's back, he went flying across the ocean, his flaming plumage started popping the corn, he got startled and shooting flames and sparks everywhere.  Voila!  Fireworks!
[18:53] <The_Bee> Chargers @Patriots.
[18:53] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> But burnt popcorn is the worst
[18:53] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> True
[18:53] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Evie,  the imagery is great
[18:54] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Thanks, Bee
[18:55] <KK> I like the imagery, Evie.
[18:56] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Next time I need singed popcorn (which will be never), I'll call Bynw.
[18:57] <~bynw> i never singe popcorn
[18:57] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> The popcorn button on my microwave works. I tried it once, it was fine, and now I use it.
[18:57] <~bynw> anyone who has ever had my popcorn like it best, almost more than movie theater popcorn
[18:57] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> How do you pop it, Bynw?
[18:57] <CG> [discord] <marc_du_temple> Not even with Hand Fire™️?
[18:57] <~bynw> on the stove, with pan
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> Or for regular popcorn, which I prefer, I have a high-walled carbon steel pan wok thing, leftover bacon fat for the oil, butter and olive oil for the popcorn per se.
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Not with burning feathers of flame?
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Or Byzantiun fire?
[18:58] <~bynw> bacon fat would be nice ... probably give it a nice flavor
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Glad it works, TM. The worst smell we had in our office recently was due to someone in the office behind my area burning popcorn in a microwave, and the smell of the burnt popcorn wafted throughout the entire office and down the hall to the other office suites.
[18:59] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> Or Chariots of Fire?
[18:59] <~bynw> my office doesnt allow popcorn in the break room microwaves because of people burning it there
[18:59] <The_Bee> When I was a child, we popped it in a long-hendled wire basket over a fire in our fireplace.
[18:59] <The_Bee> handled
[18:59] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> I've lightly scorched popcorn, but "stand by your pan" is the proper technique, there are two failures if there's burned popcorn.
[19:01] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Burnt popcorn is like fingernails on a blackboard
[19:01] <~bynw> oh i think its worse
[19:01] <The_Bee> I tried to heat marshmallow fluff in the microwave.  It caught fire.
[19:01] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Yikes!
[19:01] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Oops!
[19:01] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> If you put a regular marshmallow in a microwave for a few seconds, it expands
[19:02] <KK> I had Moose Munch popcorn yesterday, from a Harry and David box I got for Christmas.
[19:02] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> I think on a low power level, you could make it breathe.
[19:02] <The_Bee> very smal fire, fortunately.  It didn't spread.
[19:02] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> Moose Munch?
[19:02] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Those antlers are tough to chew
[19:02] <KK> It's a caramel covered popcorn. Very nice.
[19:03] <The_Bee> evie--is that what happens with peeps?
[19:03] <~bynw> caramel covered popcorn is yummy
[19:03] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I think it expands those also, yes
[19:03] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> my fav is kettle corn at the fair
[19:03] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Haven't had caramel covered popcorn in ages
[19:04] <~bynw> yes that would happen with peeps since they are marshmallows too
[19:04] <The_Bee> I like Moose Tracks ice cream.
[19:04] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> Checking quickly, is there also chocolate?
[19:04] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> in the Moose Munch, that is.
[19:06] <KK> Yes! Be. One of my favorites.
[19:06] <KK> Bee
[19:08] <The_Bee> KK, do you prefer chocolate or vanilla ice cream with your moose tracks?
[19:09] <The_Bee> I think it comes in both flavors.
[19:11] <KK> Vanilla. Is there a chocolate variety?
[19:12] <The_Bee> not sure.  I havenn't been grocery shopping for much too long.
[19:12] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I just had to look up what moose track Ice cream was.  Never had that before
[19:13] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> I've only seen vanilla
[19:13] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Chocolate might be good, tho
[19:14] <The_Bee> Maybe it is just vanilla.   I think peppermint Moose Tracks would be yummy.
[19:14] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> https://www.instacart.com/image-server/699x699/filters:fill(FFF,true):format(webp)/www.instacart.com/assets/domains/product-image/file/large_b4f0d24e-7432-4365-aff5-a3e32dcdf022.JPG My favorite ice cream flavor
[19:15] <KK> Evie, that looks yummy!
[19:15] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> It's super yummy
[19:15] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> I'm still kinda fond of the Charissa Caramel Crunch. 😉
[19:16] <KK> What's in that, Nezz?
[19:16] <The_Bee> And it still comes in half-gallons. Most brands nowadays are 48 ounces.
[19:17] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I think that was a reference to the time when we all started coming up with ice cream flavors based on Deryni characters
[19:17] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> When Shiral was here setting out the imaginary snacks
[19:17] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> I'm thinking of last year when we were playing with Deryni flavors of ice cream
[19:17] <The_Bee> Has anyone heard from Shiral lately?
[19:18] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I think I put the list of Icecream on the forum
[19:18] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Not since last year a little before Derynicon
[19:18] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I see Shiral on Face book now and again.  she wished me happy birthday back in Nov
[19:18] <The_Bee> I hope she's okay.
[19:19] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> She also put out several holiday images of her Mice
[19:19] <The_Bee> good news, laurnarose
[19:19] <CG> [discord] <bynw> life takes people on different journeys. i've seen a lot of members come and go over 25 years
[19:20] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/479836521864888347/1460080930193412323/image.png?ex=69659dd4&is=69644c54&hm=2302603920f4c13e7f286630120ad755d77dea4f006282bf592fc575513c7138&;
[19:20] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> teddy bears in this
[19:20] <KK> I've gotta go, guys. Daphne has been getting increasingly persistent for the past hour, campaigning for supper.
[19:21] <CG> [discord] <bynw> must feed the cat
[19:21] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I went away for a year or two, I think, just because life got super busy, but Duncan lured me back with his stash of Fianna wine and those books in his study.  😉
[19:21] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Queen Daphne must be fedd.  Happy evening KK
[19:21] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Good night, KK!
[19:21] * KK steps onto her Portal and disappears in a shower of purple sparkles.
[19:21] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> See you next week!
[19:21] <The_Bee> Daphne's demands must be met.
[19:21] <CG> [discord] <bynw> have a good week KK
[19:21] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> We'll give Daphne skritchies and a hug and some nice kitty dinner, and you have a great week! 🙂
[19:21] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Queen Daphne must be feed.  Happy evening KK
[19:21] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Have a good week, KK
[19:22] <The_Bee> Thanks for coming, KK!  goodbye and good week
[19:22] <KK> I hope it's good. See you next week for 25 year observance.
[19:22] <KK> Nighters!
[19:22] <The_Bee> YES!
[19:22] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Bynw can bring the popcorn
[19:22] * Quits: KK (Quit: Client closed)

Quote from: tmcd on January 11, 2026, 11:36:50 PMAs I should have done before, I started to look for the quotation.  My first search had an AI answer starting

QuoteThe phrase "Aieee! President Allende has committed suicide by shooting himself in the back with a machine gun at a range of 50 meters, pausing only once to reload!" is a well-known satirical quote attributed to National Lampoon ...

But the only hit was my text above.  Good old AI.

Edit: Found it! Someone had scanned the November 1973 issue National Lampoon. Looks like a newsprint insert:

Chile is back on the Menu!

I. T. T.'S ALL OVER FOR ALLENDE

¡Eet ees muy tragico! Our beloved President is dead, the victim of a self-inflicted air strike. Also, he shot himself twenty-seven times in the back with a machine gun from thirty feet away, pausing only once to reload.

I loved National Lampoon back in my Lost Youth. They were hilariously sardonic and wickedly funny.

I'll give it a try.  At midnight it may be a hail and farewell.

As I should have done before, I started to look for the quotation.  My first search had an AI answer starting

QuoteThe phrase "Aieee! President Allende has committed suicide by shooting himself in the back with a machine gun at a range of 50 meters, pausing only once to reload!" is a well-known satirical quote attributed to National Lampoon ...

But the only hit was my text above.  Good old AI.

Edit: Found it! Someone had scanned the November 1973 issue National Lampoon. Looks like a newsprint insert:

Chile is back on the Menu!

I. T. T.'S ALL OVER FOR ALLENDE

¡Eet ees muy tragico! Our beloved President is dead, the victim of a self-inflicted air strike. Also, he shot himself twenty-seven times in the back with a machine gun from thirty feet away, pausing only once to reload.

Quote from: tmcd on January 10, 2026, 05:03:31 PMAs for whom to kill, I'm a Kelson partisan, so all the other factions. And with Conall throwing dirt in the face of Alaric—I am more firmly of the opinion that the Haldane cause does NOT need fracture—Conall needs to have a fatal accident cleaning his pistol. Several of them, just to be sure.  ("Aieee! President Allende has committed suicide by shooting himself in the back with a machine gun at a range of 50 meters, pausing only once to reload!" — National Lampoon, I think, on the Chilean coup that overthrew Allende)

The National Lampoon / Allende reference was unexpected and brilliant!

Quote from: Laurna on January 11, 2026, 01:48:22 PMI had to relog in and saw this.  Is this still happening?

I would like it to happen. The 18th is just next week. I will send out a message to all forum members about it. Hopefully we can have a full house that Sunday.

I had to relog in and saw this.  Is this still happening?

As for whom to kill, I'm a Kelson partisan, so all the other factions. And with Conall throwing dirt in the face of Alaric—I am more firmly of the opinion that the Haldane cause does NOT need fracture—Conall needs to have a fatal accident cleaning his pistol. Several of them, just to be sure.  ("Aieee! President Allende has committed suicide by shooting himself in the back with a machine gun at a range of 50 meters, pausing only once to reload!" — National Lampoon, I think, on the Chilean coup that overthrew Allende)

In our world: plenty of people had delegated authority, in limited areas or nigh unlimited (regents, say).

But the coat of arms meant the king (or the lord or the body corporate).

The exceptions I can think of:

Heralds. I think it's fair to summarize it as "The voice of the herald is the voice of the king". But in English practice, at least, the arms were on a stylized tabard, and they usually had other insignia (chain of office, herald's staff, coronet of office, whatnot). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herald#/media/File:The_King's_Coronation_(52874898271)_(cropped).jpg is a nice example.

Seals of office.  The seal signifies the king's or lord's act, and could often be a better authenticator than a signature, so be careful of who you give it to!  In England, you had officers like the Lord Chancellor (keeper of the Great Seal), Keeper of the Privy Seal, or Keeper of the Signet Seal.  But the arms are on the seal, not on the person.

Certain possessions.  A keystone on a major arch, or stones on either side of the fireplace.  The dishes. The letterhead, when printing started.  (Or illumination as decoration or illustration, if done by hand.)

And that's all I can think of. Certainly not officers otherwise, regardless of how well-regarded they were or how important their duties.

Quote from: tmcd on January 10, 2026, 02:42:25 AM

Quote from: DoctorM on January 09, 2026, 04:08:35 PMhe's wearing a longsword and a silk surcoat worked with the Haldane arms

If the heraldry is anything like our timeline's, and it is:

That would be high treason, a claim that he is the Haldane king. He should be wearing the Carthmoor arms differenced with a label (attested at least once in the canon).  By the Codex, it's Haldane counterchanged (Or, a lion rampant guardant gules) within a bordure gules. Given the tinctures, I'd suggest a label azure (blue) for contrast.

A label looks like a simple bridge, sort of: often 3 vertical posts with a crossbar across the top usually the width of the shield.

As before, I'm enjoying the rich interplay of characters and plot, and wishing I could introduce several well-supplied modern combined-arms divisions to massacre a lot of the people.

Huh. I have Conall wearing royal arms because my assumption is that as a royal commissioner with a royal warrant, he's the king's direct representative and agent-- in other words, a stand-in for the king during the array. He'd wear the royal arms because for purposes of the array, he'd be the king-- like holding a power of attorney/mandate. I'll defer to your knowledge of heraldry on this.

Hmmm... which characters are you thinking of for a massacre?