[This was a special session, since it was the last session for some ten weeks or so. It was also a live action event. I would like to thank everybody who was there, and particularly my personal thanks go to the following:
Morgue, without whom this game wouldn't exist, and who organised the event before, during and after the crises. You are a wonderful gamer and a super guy. Thank you for creating both the game, and the events that are the gaming sessions. One day we'll start on time.
Svend, for hosting the event and introducing some '80s cool. Your ability to be unflappable and helpful at the same time certainly impresses me!
Katherine, both for the (fabulously wonderful how long did that
take?!
) icing on the cake, and all the work in the
kitchen. Either alone would have put us all greatly in your debt.
Kirsten, for not liking making speeches and doing it anyway, twice. If I had written them, they wouldn't have been as good. Also thanks for buying and cooking the food.
The saviour of the eleventh hour, Tarin, who at the very last minute stepped cold not only into the game, but also roleplaying in general. You did a fine job, and I am both pleased and relieved that you enjoyed yourself, despite the understandable confusion.
Matt, for humour and showing us how to really tell stories. With a funny accent, too, no less!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. It was a pleasure to be involved in this event. Jamie.]
Lady Catherine's Sain Day Celebration
After the mortals left the birthday party held earlier, the Kithain guests started to arrive, introduced at the door by a smartly dressed Jacoby. The mingling among guests in the hearthroom was marked by the Sidhe forming something of a clique, while Jellybean kept all, particularly herself, amused in both cat and human form.
It became apparent that three guests who had been invited, and had responded that they would be attending the celebration, would not show up. These were Marick the Chieftain of the Warders of London Dreamed, Boston the Stout Warden of London Dreamed, and Baroness Mordren. Apologies had already been received from Madame Cérese and Count William Eventide. While no explanation was received from the Underbridge Trolls, Sir Chorus informed Lady Catherine that Baroness Mordren sent word via telephone that vital matters had suddenly arisen, which she was obliged to deal with.
When dinner was announced the guests moved through into the dining hall, where Lady Catherine welcomed everyone, before allowing them to tuck into the food, which was provided by Fledge Nirumpam. Shortly into the dinner, Jacoby announced the arrival of one Peter Mallet, a Nocker, whom nobody seemed to know. Nonetheless, Lady Catherine kindly allowed him to stay.
Dinner conversation was sporadic, with more attention paid to the food than the talk, though there were some main topics that emerged out of between-mouthfuls chat. One was the fate of Fledge Nirumpam's newly discovered freehold, and whether it would be a wise move to allow Lady Catherine to lay claim to it, and then allow Fledge Nirumpam to hold it from her. While Fledge Nirumpam remained unsure and undecided, Jacoby argued that it was all a matter of protection, and that Lady Catherine had no designs on it for herself. Robert broke in with the comment that if only protection was required, then the Nockers could manage that. He even suggested, with a nod to Little Jack, that the Trolls might lend a hand also. Slimnah's contribution to the conversation was only to point out that it was the Sidhe who knew the original Oaths for holding a freehold.
The centrepiece of the evening was the Procession in the hearthroom, in which the guests singly approached Lady Catherine, presenting gifts and appropriate words to her. Just as this was to begin, another unexpected visitor arrived at the house. It was, in fact, Sir Michael, sent as emissary from Count William Eventide. The gift-giving then proceeded, and the first to be called forward was Peter Mallet, who presented a construction of his own invention, guaranteed to beguile any Pooka and keep them entranced (and pacified). It took only a short while for the truth of the Nocker's words to be confirmed.
The second to be called was Mick, the Clurichaun. In a surprising move, he whipped off his wig of flamboyant red locks, and proceeded to present the Lady with The Riddle of Travellers, and certain explanatory notes.
Little Jack was next in the order of precedence, and as his gift he gave a small chest, which might only be opened by its rightful owner. Then followed Jellybean, whose gift was a faerie-on-mushroom tableau, with the Glamorous enhancement that the faerie's wings would flap whenever Lady Catherine wore something unfashionable. As an extra, there was included an object which glowed whenever 'something bad' was going to happen.
Robert was at this point passed over by Jacoby, despite the query of Lady Catherine, and Fledge Nirumpam came forward, bearing in his arms a great cake, decorated with the coat of arms of House Fiona, with the traditional knotwork border and emblems of the Kithain.
Then Slimnah stepped up. After first thanking the Lady, he gave her a black and white photograph, entitled Midnight on an Angel's Roof, regretting that this may be the last occasion that such good feeling would exist between them. He then went on to give a true telling, presenting a possible grim picture of the future.
Jacoby then spoke of his gratitude in being in service for Lady Catherine for, indeed, longer than she had known of her faerie nature, and told a little of the history of the last ten years. He then offered his Lady a splendid necklace, set with a pure Dreamstone.
It was at this point that Richard Roundtree arrived, disgracefully late, and was told rather sternly to sit down and be quiet by Jacoby.
Fledge Stig's gift was the sword Truth, an artifact created by
Robert especially to fulfill the desire of Fledge Stig that it be a
flash sword
. Robert explained that Truth, which would not put
on the clothes of Falsehood, went naked, and it was the power of the
sword that whosoever was touched by it when unsheathed would be
instantly removed of their chimerical garments. The unfortunate glitch
that had not yet been removed was that the wielder was not immune to
this effect. Needless to say Lady Catherine did not draw the
sword during the course of the evening.
Richard and Robert were then called upon jointly to present their gift, a stone statuette of a horse, apparently formerly the property of the Britism Museum. As explained by Robert, when the horse's name, as written on its belly, was spoken by the holder of the statuette, a chimerical steed would come forth. Lady Catherine rather foolishly spoke the name, and was quickly told to say it again backwards in order to remove the large horse from the middle of the hearthroom.
Madame Rain's gift was possibly the most magnificent of all: one of the two surviving bones of the last silver dragon. The other piece, the jaw, she herself kept.
The second of Baroness Mordren's knights, Sir Chorus, handed over
one of his own paintings, even giving Lady Catherine guidance on where
it would best hang in the room. 
The final guest to give a gift was Sir Michael, who read out a typically terse message from the Count, thanking Lady Catherine for her faithful service, and sending her a small stone owl which would, upon being knocked three times on wood, turn into a large owl which would serve the Lady for a day.
The Procession then ended with a speech from Lady Catherine, in which she summed up the past year, with its various adventures, and looked forward to the year ahead, with her hopes for uniting mortals and Kithain as part of the healing of the Sundering.
Next came a session of Court, in which all were invited to bring up disputes and grievances, have justice dispensed, and swear Oaths. Slimnah asked Lady Catherine if he might take up the position of Court Seer, to which Lady Catherine agreed, and Slimnah swore an Oath of Fealty, which Lady Catherine accepted with an Oath of Escheat.
Richard, Robert, and Jellybean also swore an Oath together, the Oath of the Table, pledging friendship and service to each other. Jellybean then swore fealty to Lady Catherine.
The final formal part of the evening was the ritual extinguishing and relighting of the Balefire, accompanied by the Oath of Holding, which Lady Catherine performed. All who made a wish on its dying flame will surely have it granted.
The evening then came to a pleasantly languid close, with ice-cream and chat.