...THE BEGINNING

[strangerpeople]

...THE BEGINNING

[Fifteen strangers were brought into the Depths to end the world, and they survived, with extra strangers along for the ride. Though the old world ended, creation itself has been preserved, and a new world has been born, shaped by the survivors. Portals to new worlds have been opened, and memories are slowly, but surely, returning.

And what better way is there to celebrate the beginning of a world, but with a spaghetti dinner?

Well, there was plenty of spaghetti, but some people thought that maybe there should be more than spaghetti. The Dragonborn did their best to make non-spaghetti food based on their memories of Tamrielic cuisine - being a cook themselves and cooking their own meals, even as an Emperor.

Spiced coffee with moon sugar and sweetmeat pasties in the shape of the moons, from Elweyr.

Imperial-style spiced sausage, braised in wine, and a tomato-flavored rye bread.

From Iliac Bay, a paprika-spiced rice dish with chicken and roasted peppers and a spiced banana mash in the style of Hammerfell.

From the Alik'r Deserts of Hammerfell, scorpion braised with venom sauce - which Alexis seems to like. It doesn't seem to be poisoned.

From Daggerfall, beet hummus, and stuffed dormice wrapped in bread like sandwiches.

From High Rock, Potage le Magnifique, with Alexis' special, not-lethal secret ingredient, and rock trout, along with fruit dumplings.

Lamb's bone broth with potato dumplings and vegetables, just like in the strongholds of the Orcs - with a dash of rice - and a dessert of carmelized beetroot.

Saltrice flatbreads and Telvanni-style mushroom medley with frost salts, from Morrowind.

Black Marsh King Yellow slug, served raw with some seasoning and wrapped in nut leaf. They are delicious, really.

Of course there is Skyrim's honey mead and blue cheese with honeyed oatcakes, along with horker and ash yam stew from Solstheim.

For now, it's time to relax, and celebrate the end - and beginning. Work can be done tomorrow. Questions can be answered later, if any are left. For now, eat, and enjoy. Bring your friends from home. Be happy, and remember.

There were 15 strangers.

But they are not strangers anymore.]

((OOC: Congratulations on ending Round 1 with the Golden End! For this feast, characters may bring people from their own canons to mingle with other players! Assume that portals have been opened for everyone by this time to go back and forth from their home worlds.

While you're here, please feel free to hit up the HMD, and we'll see you all when Round 2 happens!))

Comments

[castintoflames]

Maedhros buries his nose in the bloom, jumping slightly when a fuzzy bee pokes out.

"Oh forgive me!" he grins, holding the rose steady, "This proves your emotions are beautiful."

The bee lifts out of the flower, buzzing lazily.

[bythewaves]

Maglor flushes, shyly pleased.

"Not all of them. But I am glad... to see these here. I wonder what else we will find?"

[castintoflames]

"More flowers, I think." he motions at some lilies and lissuin, tucking the rose into one of Maglor's braids, "You brought the garden!"

[bythewaves]

Maglor blinks and takes a good look, seeing flowers from his mother's garden at home, some of which he knows don't grow in Middle-earth.

"...........I really really hope this is a replica!" He blinks up at Maedhros shyly.

[castintoflames]

Maedhros moves carefully, cautious of even the tiniest of blooms. He grins at the butterflies and other pollen-seeking life that flutters about them.

"She will let us have this for awhile." he holds out his hand, "Let's enjoy it, Kano. It's almost as if we have Sailed home."

[bythewaves]

"She'll have to grow them all again!" Maglor objects with a smile, unable not to, when surrounded by evidence of his mother's love.

"Do... you think I brought anything of father's?"

[castintoflames]

"That will keep her busy." he kneels down and touches a white lily, expression gentle, "Maybe. If so, his...contribution..." he chuckles, "will be towards your Rivendell. I have never heard of a Forge, for example, in a flower field, have you?"

[bythewaves]

Maglor smiles at the tought.

"It would look very odd this is true! I wonder if we will ever know?"

[castintoflames]

"There is but one way." Maedhros grins and walks closer to the sound of a...waterfall?

[bythewaves]

Maglor follows, and the sound of water grows greater, until the woods open up before them, the stream rushing over a parapet into a cleft with a joyful sound, and a narrow bridge spanning it, all delicate grey stonework.

And before them, the Last Homely House, although this version has elements drawn as much from Maglor's childhood home as the real one.

"Oh!"

[castintoflames]

The air is crisp and clean; it alone is healing. Maedhros can sense Elrond's touch, but he can feel Maglor and their family too. Eagerly, he moves forward, taking in the beauty with a small smile of wonder.

"Look, Kano!" he points to a building - a home - that much resembles their first residence.

The place of Maglor's birth and of Maedhros's too.

[bythewaves]

"That looks like mother's workshop!" He agrees, coming forwards to stand beside him

"And maybe... is that the forge, behind it?"

[castintoflames]

"You were nearly born there!" Maedhros grins, "Ammë worked straight through her pregnancy and I remember her shout." he strokes a hand over his brother's hair.

"It must be there." he strides to the workshop, moving around it. He laughs and hurries to the Forge - for it is there - and pulls open the doors. Inside, it is as if Fëanor never left.

[bythewaves]

"Truly?" Maglor blinks at him. "That would have been... different!"

But fitting, he thinks, for their quirky family.

"Oh!" He hurries in after and smiles "It looks like it did when we were younger - see, all his papers are scattered across the desk."

[castintoflames]

"Different indeed." Maedhros smiles softly, "We managed to get her to a bed just in time."

And then his sweet, singing brother came into the world.

"His tools are in order too." he picks up a hammer, imagining their father holding it only moments before.

[bythewaves]

"I am sure that was a relief to all!"

Maglor moves to brush his hands over the shelves.

"It feels as if he was only just recently here."

[castintoflames]

"You were very cute." his eyes sparkle playfully, "Your memory is so exact. I can't wait to see the rest of this...Rivendell."

[bythewaves]

"I am beginning to think I did a terrible job of Rivendell and a wonderful job of home!"

Maglor smiles at him and then tugs him to go exploring further.

"Although I think I at least got the main building mostly right."

[castintoflames]

"I am not complaining!" Maedhros beams and follows the tugging, putting down the hammer reluctantly, "Did you?"

He goes to said building, touching the walls, the windows...

"Our Elrond was here."

[bythewaves]

"He was." Maglor sighs is soft wonder.

"You can see and feel his touch everywhere. A healer's home."

[castintoflames]

He glances over his shoulder, gathering his fiery hair into a long ponytail.

"He and Elros certainly healed us. It gladdens my heart to know he lived to heal others."

[bythewaves]

"I, as well. I am beginning to think I should have tried for Numenor! I did know it far better.

[castintoflames]

"No, keep this." Maedhros finds a seat inside the main building, smiling at the ornamentation, "He is our son in all but blood."

[bythewaves]

"He is... he did so well for himself."

Maglor traces careful hands over draperies and carvings.

"Ah! See here - he carved our star here in this corner. Subtle, but pointed."

[castintoflames]

"Did he?" Maedhros rises and inspects the star, grinning, "It is both simple and intricate. He must have added it with his own hand."

Ah how he wishes he could have been there to praise Elrond.