MotherBellaDonna

Mother BellaDonna by Roku, Grandmaster Healer of the Abbey posted 6/2/01 12:46:10 PM Roku, Grand Master Healer of the Abbey As a few of you have known, BellaDonna has been in our care for many years. One year ago she suffered the Final Death, a place she describes as the Maiden’s fold, somehow she ruturned. Although I don’t fully understand this “Sanctuary” she has described, I do know she has found it a place of wonderment and peace.

In our late night talks about philosophy and literature she oft mentions the place wistfully, remembering when she was a part of “her,” the spirit she calls The Ivory Maiden. She has told me about how difficult it is for her to return to this world when she dies. She has told me of some of the fabulous things awaiting her there. And now it seems my friends, that when we do speak, her conversation seldom leaves the subject of that place. I write to you Sisters and Brothers because BellaDonna is here now, on my bed, she is neither lucid nor seemingly in pain. A warm smile is on her face and she occasionally opens her eyes, stretches and rambles about a place her words can not seem to adequately describe. She utters foreign languages, ancient ones, some which stir me deeply with their sonnet, though I do not understand them. In one moment of clarity she said to me this, “My spirit is weak here now and my battles have turned inward, go to my fold and tell them…they will understand the glory, they will not fear my pains, only they will understand I am not mad, but in her arms and at her breast.” Truthfully, I have feared for her sanity for days…and still do. For one week she has been here in this altered state. For one week I have cried for the greatest woman I have ever known and secretly loved… She said you would all understand, she said you all would know what to do. But as for me, I am lost, I am alone, and I will weep for the return of my love, your mother - BellaDonna. Please contact me soon. I will arrange to bring her home. I have done all that I can do.

"Stitch, help me girl... Mother Superior is to return soon to the Sanctuary!! We have a million things to do... Put down your sewing for a minute and write a list of things I need you to gather..."

"We must prepare the finest linens, find for her the purest wool, white as snow, from the Shepherds in Yew... You will create a masterpiece, Stitch, take the gold from my chest here... Make of it golden threads, and embroider these sigils upon her pillows. Also, gather eagle down for her resting place."
"Eagle down??" Stitch replies... "But how can I-?"

"Yes eagles!!" Ravenwood interupts. "Ask the protectorate if you must, but eagle down is certainly the softest down. We can only have the best for BellaDonna!"

"Also, clean these floors, dust this furniture, bring some water from the shore outside, find some fresh flowers from the Shrine of Sacrifice, fill these vases. Take this tonic and put it in a special place, make sure BellaDonna recieves just a spoonful each day. This is very important Stitch... Hurry! Hurry!"
"And Stitch, remember I will always love you, you who tailored until your hands bled until we had enough gold to buy this church for our Maiden."

"Yes, High Priestess, I know..." Stitch replies, looking at her questioningly as she rushes out the door.
Looking out the window onto the ocean with tears in her eyes, Ravenwood sits down to write a letter...

"To my bothers and sisters in the Her Name,

My time has finally come. I have grown weak with the disappearance of our Mother Superior... Nightly, I try to find her, my greatest friend, my soul sister... Every time I find her presence, I am brought back to this world from my dreams, a cold awakening... Therefore, I have decided to create a spell which will allow me to sleep unhindered by the mundane noises and activities of this world. I will find her. I must be by her side. I beg your leave of me... For I cannot bear to be without her, this woman who's heart took me in when I was but a child -- no matter my past, it was only my own future which she saw. My vessel for this world will remain at her bedside, in this throne -protected as she will be by the Maiden's love which flourishes and grows in this Holy Sanctuary, regardless of the evil which knocks at its door in the lands now called Felucca.
May the Maiden be with you my sisters and brothers...
A new age is upon thee, make of it a wonderous world and spread Her Name throughout the lands...

Entering Sanctuary, Veil feels the change.

Celes and Stitch are working on embroidery? Stopping in her tracks,she watches the pair and a great feeling of unease descends upon her.
“Stitch where is your Mistress?” she asks. Looking up with tears in her eyes, Stitch points to the messages on the board.
After reading both messages. Veil replaces them in their spots and sits at the desk Ravenwood was using just a short time ago. A look of determination crosses her face as she realizes she must finally face the daemons that haunt her nights if she is ever to seek the place her loved ones have entered. Closing her eyes and relaxing, she empties her mind and waits.
Many things run though her vision...
Strongbow Firehand looks at her and says, "Look deeper melamin."
Jandar is there saying, "I am proud of you Sister, you can do it."
Celes says, "I support you Veil, find them."
Zapania pushes her forward.
Tara states, "Life is an illusion."
The rest of her Brothers and Sister are there also, smiling and nodding.
With that held close to her heart she lets go...
Serena screams...the dragon rears... and Veil loses control, spiraling into the land of her nightmares.
Darkness.
Fear.
Pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grasping control for a moment, she senses Mother BellaDonna, Ravenwood, and to her relief the Maiden. Placing aside her fear, she pushes beyond and enters the place of peace.
Sanctuary.
No words are exchanged. Veil “feels” the pride in her from BellaDonna and Ravenwood. More pictures run through her mind... The Sisterhood... living up to the visions seen so long ago. The 4th Rose flourishing, growing stronger and speaking the message. And the ever soft, loving presence of the Maiden, supporting as she always has. The vision fades and Veil is left... not with fear, but with the strong feeling that all will be well.

Taking out a clean scroll she begins to write:
Grandmaster Healer of the Abbey, Roku,

Thank you for caring for Mother BellaDonna. We of the Sisterhood do understand what she is speaking of, and will do all in our power to bring her to where she belongs. Roku, you have earned a place in the hearts of all the Sisterhood, our Mother is the embodiment of the Maiden to us. To learn that you have cared for BellaDonna in this way has obtained you a place within our history.
To you I say this. Do not let her slip away from you again. The very fact that she came to you should show you what is in her depths.
To love a Sister is something not many have the courage and patience to do, we are devoted to the Maiden. We also have a tendency to drop everything and run off to fight battles that worry those that love us.

Lastly, some of us do not show the world what we feel so deeply. I know in my heart that you would be a welcomed presence here at her side.
With the Orcs acting the way they are I would ask for the privilege of escorting both you and Mother BellaDonna home. The realms are not safe for traveling at this time. Please contact me with a time and place.
Veil, Emissary of SIM


	Mother BellaDonna by Roku, Grandmaster Healer of the Abbey posted 6/2/01 12:46:10 PM Roku, Grand Master Healer of the Abbey As a few of you have known, BellaDonna has been in our care for many years. One year ago she suffered the Final Death, a place she describes as the Maiden’s fold, somehow she ruturned. Although I don’t fully understand this “Sanctuary” she has described, I do know she has found it a place of wonderment and peace. In our late night talks about philosophy and literature she oft mentions the place wistfully, remembering when she was a part of “her,” the spirit she calls The Ivory Maiden. She has told me about how difficult it is for her to return to this world when she dies. She has told me of some of the fabulous things awaiting her there. And now it seems my friends, that when we do speak, her conversation seldom leaves the subject of that place. I write to you Sisters and Brothers because BellaDonna is here now, on my bed, she is neither lucid nor seemingly in pain. A warm smile is on her face and she occasionally opens her eyes, stretches and rambles about a place her words can not seem to adequately describe. She utters foreign languages, ancient ones, some which stir me deeply with their sonnet, though I do not understand them. In one moment of clarity she said to me this, “My spirit is weak here now and my battles have turned inward, go to my fold and tell them…they will understand the glory, they will not fear my pains, only they will understand I am not mad, but in her arms and at her breast.” Truthfully, I have feared for her sanity for days…and still do. For one week she has been here in this altered state. For one week I have cried for the greatest woman I have ever known and secretly loved… She said you would all understand, she said you all would know what to do. But as for me, I am lost, I am alone, and I will weep for the return of my love, your mother - BellaDonna. Please contact me soon. I will arrange to bring her home. I have done all that I can do. makes preparations for the return of BellaDonna by Ravenwood, High Priestess of SIM posted 6/2/01 2:11:48 PM "Stitch, help me girl... Mother Superior is to return soon to the Sanctuary!! We have a million things to do... Put down your sewing for a minute and write a list of things I need you to gather..." "We must prepare the finest linens, find for her the purest wool, white as snow, from the Shepherds in Yew... You will create a masterpiece, Stitch, take the gold from my chest here... Make of it golden threads, and embroider these sigils upon her pillows. Also, gather eagle down for her resting place." "Eagle down??" Stitch replies... "But how can I-?" "Yes eagles!!" Ravenwood interupts. "Ask the protectorate if you must, but eagle down is certainly the softest down. We can only have the best for BellaDonna!" "Also, clean these floors, dust this furniture, bring some water from the shore outside, find some fresh flowers from the Shrine of Sacrifice, fill these vases. Take this tonic and put it in a special place, make sure BellaDonna recieves just a spoonful each day. This is very important Stitch... Hurry! Hurry!" "And Stitch, remember I will always love you, you who tailored until your hands bled until we had enough gold to buy this church for our Maiden." "Yes, High Priestess, I know..." Stitch replies, looking at her questioningly as she rushes out the door. Looking out the window onto the ocean with tears in her eyes, Ravenwood sits down to write a letter... "To my bothers and sisters in the Her Name, My time has finally come. I have grown weak with the disappearance of our Mother Superior... Nightly, I try to find her, my greatest friend, my soul sister... Every time I find her presence, I am brought back to this world from my dreams, a cold awakening... Therefore, I have decided to create a spell which will allow me to sleep unhindered by the mundane noises and activities of this world. I will find her. I must be by her side. I beg your leave of me... For I cannot bear to be without her, this woman who's heart took me in when I was but a child -- no matter my past, it was only my own future which she saw. My vessel for this world will remain at her bedside, in this throne -protected as she will be by the Maiden's love which flourishes and grows in this Holy Sanctuary, regardless of the evil which knocks at its door in the lands now called Felucca. May the Maiden be with you my sisters and brothers... A new age is upon thee, make of it a wonderous world and spread Her Name throughout the lands... Signed, Ravenwood, High Priestess of the Sisterhood of the Ivory Maiden." awaits her Mother's arrival by Celes Xavier, Ivory Armor Maiden of SIM posted 6/2/01 4:46:30 PM As the Maiden is to Belladonna, as Belladonna is to me...my mother. Please Roku, travel safe and watch over Belladonna. travels to Stitch's side to aid in the preparations pigeons fly by Veil posted 6/3/01 6:32:56 am Entering Sanctuary, Veil feels the change. Celes and Stitch are working on embroidery? Stopping in her tracks,she watches the pair and a great feeling of unease descends upon her. “Stitch where is your Mistress?” she asks. Looking up with tears in her eyes, Stitch points to the messages on the board. After reading both messages. Veil replaces them in their spots and sits at the desk Ravenwood was using just a short time ago. A look of determination crosses her face as she realizes she must finally face the daemons that haunt her nights if she is ever to seek the place her loved ones have entered. Closing her eyes and relaxing, she empties her mind and waits. Many things run though her vision... Strongbow Firehand looks at her and says, "Look deeper melamin." Jandar is there saying, "I am proud of you Sister, you can do it." Celes says, "I support you Veil, find them." Zapania pushes her forward. Tara states, "Life is an illusion." The rest of her Brothers and Sister are there also, smiling and nodding. With that held close to her heart she lets go... Serena screams...the dragon rears... and Veil loses control, spiraling into the land of her nightmares. Darkness. Fear. Pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Grasping control for a moment, she senses Mother BellaDonna, Ravenwood, and to her relief the Maiden. Placing aside her fear, she pushes beyond and enters the place of peace. Sanctuary. No words are exchanged. Veil “feels” the pride in her from BellaDonna and Ravenwood. More pictures run through her mind... The Sisterhood... living up to the visions seen so long ago. The 4th Rose flourishing, growing stronger and speaking the message. And the ever soft, loving presence of the Maiden, supporting as she always has. The vision fades and Veil is left... not with fear, but with the strong feeling that all will be well. Taking out a clean scroll she begins to write: Grandmaster Healer of the Abbey, Roku, Thank you for caring for Mother BellaDonna. We of the Sisterhood do understand what she is speaking of, and will do all in our power to bring her to where she belongs. Roku, you have earned a place in the hearts of all the Sisterhood, our Mother is the embodiment of the Maiden to us. To learn that you have cared for BellaDonna in this way has obtained you a place within our history. To you I say this. Do not let her slip away from you again. The very fact that she came to you should show you what is in her depths. To love a Sister is something not many have the courage and patience to do, we are devoted to the Maiden. We also have a tendency to drop everything and run off to fight battles that worry those that love us. Lastly, some of us do not show the world what we feel so deeply. I know in my heart that you would be a welcomed presence here at her side. With the Orcs acting the way they are I would ask for the privilege of escorting both you and Mother BellaDonna home. The realms are not safe for traveling at this time. Please contact me with a time and place. Veil, Emissary of SIM Quickly another note follows..... To the 4th Rose.... I Veil seek your presence in escorting Mother BellaDonna home to Sanctuary if needed.. Your Sister in Service, Veil.
	Sisterhood of the Ivory Maiden is a player-based Ultima Online guild © 1998 MG Productions All rights reserved Send comments or questions to: ying@execpc.com