Sometimes the simplest ideas are the hardest to think of, and when you do, you bang your head against the nearest wall and say "doh!  Why didn't I think of that before?"  Such was the case earlier this week.  Right after Story Court, in fact (which was great, BTW, thanx to all involved).  Dona Karissa had sent out an e-mail asking for an explanation for the "Caerna story," as she put it.  Since this was an outgrowth of a storyline developing over the past month in court, it was only natural that Karissa, who has prior commitments in her mundane life which preclude her regular attendance of court, was in the dark as to the story.  Karissa is not the only one; there are many Companions who, due to work, school, or simply the distances involved, are unable to attend Court on a regular basis--if at all.  These Companions are no less interested in the goings-on of the Court of Light for their absence, and so it is for their benefit that Joosee Roomers is written.  Like Noosy Loosy (the Privvi newsletter), Joosee Roomers will serve to keep everyone up to date on the important goings-on in court, not to mention give me a reason to show up every week! :) 

Without further ado, here's the first installment of Joosee Roomers. 
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HIT THE ROAD, JACK! 
As we all know, our beloved Farquhar Greymalikin Zandofar is no longer with us in the eleven lands.  There are several stories explaining his exodus from Warwick: some say that he has taken up wizardly studies in the north, while others claim that he is hunting his demonic archenemy Jack.  The events preceding his departure, however, may not be so well known.  One of his last acts in Warwick was to join the Knights Templar in their search for the Holy Grail, which had appeared in our lands.  Aided by both the Bardish Royal Anti-society and Marduk's Darkstar, the Templars sought to attain the grail before Sarabrande, an evil sorcerer and all-around Bad Guy, could get it.  Not all was as it seemed, however, for Farquhar had decided that no one should possess the grail, for its unearthly power was just that, and endeavored to prevent all involved from attaining their goal.  To that end, he allowed himself to be pressed into service by Sarabrande, who used the threat of Jack to ensure his new minion's loyalty.  In the end, the Grail remained with its guardians thanks to the wisdom of the Companions (as well as a certain young Templar named Issac), despite Sarabrande's treacherous attempt to gain its power through deceit.  The day was saved. 

BEST MIND F--K EVER 
On the eve of Farqhuar's departure, the Court of Light had a most esteemed visitor: the legendary wizard, Merlin.  Apparently the quest for the grail had taken the Companions into the Dreamlands, home to the one-time advisor of Arthur, where he aided them on their quest.  Sir Lucerne was less than pleased to see the wizard, for he felt that the old man had somehow done him wrong by leading him (and the others) on a quest which ended in failure.  Merlin, a temperamental man at best, had had his fill of the ungrateful young upstart, and punished him by giving him "mercy pains" of his wife's metamorphosis-in-process--her faerie wings are regrowing--while to Scarlette, who admonished her husband for daring to speak to the great immortal sorcerer in such a fashion, gifted her with the memories of Lucerne's experiences on the Grail Quest from his perspective, so that she would know his sense of failure and loss.  The pair was apparently driven mad by this turn of events; Lucerne, always a bright figure in court, began taking to more somber, darker colors, while Scarlette began to wrap herself in cloaks and lashing out aimlessly at those around her.  The Armory was burnt to the ground, and Lucerne took to wandering the land looking for a fight, as if seeking to prove his mettle to himself.  This situation is only one of the Companion's problems at hand, however. 

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT PANTHRA 
Knight Panthra has begun to slip into trances lately, in the middle of court and with disturbing regularity, with no recollection of what occurred in her "dream world" or the real one during that time.  Nothing could be done to break the spell until recently, when Lady Dragonsbane was able to "call out" to Panthra's subconsious and guide her back to the Court of Light.  With her guidance, the young knight was also able to recall certain details about her visions, including two men, a castle, and a feeling of belonging somewhere else. 

THREE CAERNAS AND A BABY 
At the end of the spring season, then-Lady Shae and then-Countess Katalyn announced the happy news that they were to have a child.  The obvious biological impossibiliy of such an event was apparently circumscribed by magic.  Shortly after this announcement, Sir Aeric began to have disturbing dreams that disrupted his sleep, so much so that he actually began to doze off in the midst of court.  After two weeks of this, he decided that it was time for him to embark on the quest for his Caerna Dagger, something that he had already put off for too long.  He returned two months later, his hair turned gray from his encounter with the ghostly inhabitants of the ruined city that held his dagger.  He was accompanied by a mysterious woman, who focused her attention on him alone and remained invisible only to him.  Sir Aeric received a warm welcome from all in attendance save one: the Countess Shae.  She was insulted, it seemed, by Aeric's failure to greet her or her wife, and challenged him to a duel of honor to resolve the matter.  Later, upon the melee field, the Countess succeeded in besting Aeric, whereupon he collapsed, dying.  As others raced to aid him, the ghostly warrior-woman who had followed him all evening stood above him, claiming his soul as her own.  A valkyrie, she intended to take him to the great warrior's hall in the sky, but was challenged by none other than the Lady Catalyn herself, who was able to triumph and bring Sir Aeric back to life. 
... 
Two nights later, at the Outpost, Aeric told a harrowing tale of Tiger Nomads, haunted cities, and demons, all of which he encountered on his quest for the Caerna Dagger.  He also revealed that someone had interfered with the quest, for he did not retrieve the dagger.  To everyone's suprise, Countess Shae confessed that it was she who took the dagger from it's hiding place, as revenge for some unnamed slight, which she quickly regretted.  Before she could right the wrong, however, Shadowcast had sent one of his minions to steal the dagger from Countess Shae while she slept. 
... 
This evening past, all was revealed.  It seemed that in Catalyn and Merenia's search for a way to conceive a child, nothing had worked.  In desperation, Lady Katalyn traveled to Caer Bannier, to ask Sir Aeric if he would be willing to aid them in this endeavor.  She never got the chance, for an all-consuming passion came over both of them, and they concieved the child that very night.  Katalyn was ashamed of what they had done, for it was Catalyn's intention to gauge Aeric's reaction to the request, then present the idea to her wife, then do the deed.  She confessed as much to Countess Shae, who proceeded to sabotage Aeric's quest.  Shame also drove Aeric from the Court of Light, and almost caused him to fail his quest on his own account, without Merenia's interference.  Upon Aeric's return, Katalyn sought out the council of Magnaroth, the Caerna Dragon, and was told by her that both she and Aeric were under Shadowcast's spell that fateful night, and were not responsible for their actions.  The black dragon had long sought to disrupt clan Caerna, and upon seeing his chance, took it.  The conflict between them resolved, the three Caernas are now planning to confront Shadowcast, retreive Aeric's dagger, and put an end to the wyrm's evil once and for all.  Marduk has pledged his aid in this, as has Sir Lucerne. 

P-P-P-P-P-POISON 
In related news, the Countess Shae seems to be suffering from a case of blood poisoning.  The blood runs black in her veins, evident to all who look upon her.  She has surmised that the potion she took as part of one of the couple's attempts to become pregnant had a serious side-effect, poisoning her and burdening her with pain which seems only to worsen as time passes.  Not even the renowned Caerna resistance to poison seems to be doing her any good. 

UNCOMMON VALOR 
Sir Lucerne appeared in Court this week with a heavily-bandaged arm.  When asked, he explained that he had received the injury while battling a monstrous spider-creature which was wreaking havok in the Wilderlands.  Apparently he had heard tell of peasants disappearing in the area, and went to investigate.  Along with a small retinue of his guards, the good sheriff entered the creature's lair, freeing those unfortunates still awaiting their fate within and slaying the beast.  The injury came about when, upon the monster's death, millions of baby spiders burst from her carcass, infecting Lucerne's arm with poison as virulent as their mother's before he could escape.  Magius Fangorn was able to stop the spread of the poison, and Countess Shae gave him some of the famous crushed Caerna diamond powder to speed his recovery, but it will be a while before Sir Lucerne regains use of his arm. 

NEWS FROM AQUITANIA 
The Court of Light received a visitor this week in the form of Chap, who claimed to be a servant of Mollari.  Apparently Chap was attending the duke during his current state of being stuck in the mud, an occupation which he referred to as a "parching attendant.”  Through him, Mollari has invited all Companions to his home in Aquitania this Friday e'en, or food and festivities (not to mention keeping him company), including another production of his wildly-successful Action Figure Opera. 

SHE-E'S A GYSPY.... 
The Court was graced by another visitor this week, in the form of Willow(?), a beautiful gypsy maiden who was travelling through the area and invited to visit the court by Damsel Moira.  We hope that she enjoyed her visit, and will return again at some point. 

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Well kids, that's all for now.  Tell me what you think! 

-Rich (the Other White Bastard)