Here we go,

Chatterbox: Blab About Books

Diana Role-play #1
Here we go,...

Here we go, folks! The Diana Wynne Jones role-play! Who wants to start? I don't think we should do actual characters from the books, and as Jenni said, it doesn't have to be any one book.

submitted by Aliza, age 13, Mythosphere
(April 14, 2009 - 10:11 am)

back to the Blab about Books

((This sounds great! So wait--Howl's disappeared if we're going with Holly's right? Okeydokey.))

~~~~
Things had happened so quickly after the message came that my head was still buzzing (partially because of the strange walk through a rocky crevasse, and partly because of the terrifyingly fast black snake-thing that the young man, the Chrestomanci himself, called a train) when we stepped out of the magically moving doorway of the train (it must have been very powerful magic, for I didn't sense anything) and onto a stone floor. A girl stood up as we came over to her, a book on advanced magic held in one hand. Her eyes were round, and I expected mine were the same: we were almost identical, except for a faintly blonder tinge to her hair, and maybe her eyes were a darker shade of blue. She stuck out her hand (long fingers, just like mine) and introduced herself as Loreli Chant. "You're Phillipa?" She said. She seemed a little confused by the presence of Lettie, who hung back a little, obviously shy. Then this twin (for what else could I call her?) ((I think we should call them "twins" 'cause "other self" sounds a bit like a clone or something....)) asked something about Carrsikkanniss, which I took to be a disease of this land, for she asked if I'd had it much. Later I remembered Howl saying somthing about cars to Sophie, and how Sophie shuddered and went on a cleaning spree. 
I found myself walking through a pretty little town with an expanse of green lawn, which Loreli explained to be a green for crickets. I told her it was very nice of the townsfolk to make a whole field just for crickets. Loreli and the Chrestomanci looked at me like I'd just turned myself purple, rather than the toad back all those few days ago. The Chrestomanci seemed to be about to say something, but cut himself off with a comment about the weather. 
Just then Chrestomanci Castle came into view.
submitted by Pippa/Aliza, age 13, Vermont
(April 18, 2009 - 6:52 pm)

(( Well, actually, I was thinking Loreli's hair to be a sleek dark brown, and her eyes are more gray than blue. But other than that, I likes.))

I glanced at Father, who was clearly trying not to laugh. I grinned over-the younger girl-Lettie?'s head, making him lose control and start chortling. I explained to Philippa that cricket was a sport. (( Loreli plays cricket and is quite good. Mostly on bat, although can replace other players if needed.)) She looked confused. I pointed at the castle as it came into view. "There's where I live, and you'll be living there for a while too.", I said in my best tour guide voice. We walked up the drive way, then went in through the main door. "We mostly use the side entrance for everyday use." I informed them solemly. I could tell Father was trying not to laugh at my tour guide act. We walked in. The first thing a person noticed when walking in was Christopher's gown. Philippa and the other girl clutched at each other in surprise, while I couldn't stop myself from laughing. 

((Aliza, do you think that maybe both Cat and Christopher could share the job of Chrestomanci? Just wondering.Oh, and I'm being lazy and letting you describe Christopher's gown, just so you know.))

submitted by Loreli C., age 13, Chrestomanci Ca
(April 19, 2009 - 12:48 am)

((It will be my pleasure to describe *breaks out laughing* Christopher's gown. Gotta go!))

submitted by Pippa/Aliza, age 13, Vermont
(April 19, 2009 - 3:33 pm)

((OK, I'm back! Yeah, Chris and Cat can share the title of Chrestomanci....))

~~~
The fact that cricket was a sport surprised me to no end: who would have thought anyone would name a sport after a bug? ((Sorry, Cricket and everybuggy)) But the biggest surprise, even surpassing that of the immensity of the Castle, was undoubtably the robe of the slightly older man who met us at the side door, which Lorelei ((Ah! Is that how you spell it? Or is it Loreli? I've forgotten. And yes, I wasn't sure about the hair and eyes: that's fine)) told us is the one most used. The robe was, for the most part, dark blue. It appeared that he was going for the peacock look: peacock feathers were sewn all over it, trailing behind him and forming a train. The sleeves fell to his feet, and so, as was necessary if there was to be anything utilitarian about it, there were slits in the sleeves for his arms to go through, rather than the actual end to the sleeve. Whorls and random patterns were picked out on the robe with silver thread that glittered as only magic can make something glitter, and there was one large ring on his right hand that was all swirling colors, like an opal with a hurricane trapped inside it. His physical aura was so great that he nearly eclipsed the plump, pretty woman who came up behind him, in a comparatively modest dress. However, the magical auras were nearly equal, and what with the two men, the woman and the three of us girls, who were in no way defficient in our magical potential, the magic in the room was enough to make everyone a little edgy. 
"Hello." Said the man who had met us. This word seemed like such an anticlimax after the buildup of the past moment or two, that Pippa found herself laughing hysterically, and realized that she was not the only one doing so. Only the man who had met them seemed to not quite see what was funny, but then he, too, burst out laughing. All in all, it was a fairly good beginning to what turned out to be a very hectic stay.
((P.S. Jen, is Loreli (Lorelei?) going to have a nickname, like Lorrie, or is it going to be the whole name? Just wondering....)) 
submitted by Pippa/Aliza, age 13, Chrestomanci Ca
(April 19, 2009 - 4:26 pm)

((It's Loreli. No E, okay? No, she doesn't have a nickname. Oh, and I love the robe!!))

I peered into the crowd of Family ((you know, the staff and all?)), looking for my older brother Matthew, and my mother. I waved Matthew over. Philippa spotted him and froze, dumbstruck. I looked at her. "Look familiar?", I asked her airily. She nodded, gaping. "He looks almost excactly like my older brother, Morgan!", she exclaimed. I shrugged nonchalantly. I would leave my father and Uncle Christopher ((That's what Loreli-oh, I just thought of a cool nickname, Lori!-calls Christopher.)) to explain the concept of the multiple worlds and the twin concept. I was only just beginning to study it, after all. I looked at Uncle Christopher again, laughing. He looked so, funny, I guess, standing in the middle of the room with that ridiculous dressing gown, doubled up laughing. He looked up at me sarcastically, then walked over to meet Philippa. ((Someone else continue now.))

submitted by Loreli Chant/Jenni, age 13, Chrestomanci Ca
(April 19, 2009 - 7:43 pm)

(Sorry, I couldn't get on yesterday really... Oh, and I'm on pages 52 in your book...)

Suddenly I burst in, soaking wet, and gasping for breath.Mr. Chrestomanci looked over to me and imediately stopped laughing. His eyes were filled with concern. I managed to gasp out, "Howl.....gone....taken....." before I collasped. The next time I woke up the nurse told me that I was better now and could leave, besides, Mr.Chrestomanci wanted to see me. I nodded sheepishly and staggered out. I tried to remember why I collasped. 'Oh, right,' I thought,'Howl was taken, and I ran all the way from Kingsbury to here, but I must've worked some magic because they are in different worlds.' When Mr. Chrestomanci and his family found me wandering, I told them eveything except that I could shape-shift...

 

(I hope that's ok...)

submitted by Holly C., age 12, Somewhere
(April 20, 2009 - 7:14 am)

((Oh, that is toooo creepy! I was thinking peacocks, too, when I first was thinking about his gown, untill I decided to let you have the fun.))

submitted by Loreli C/Jenni, age 13, Chrestomanci Ca
(April 19, 2009 - 7:51 pm)

((Say, guys, I've got a great idea! When (yes, when) we finish this rp, we have got to publish it, in this chat format! We'll have to do a little editing, maybe, but don't you think it would be neat for it to not be broken up by chapters, but by who's doing it, so that they (the reader) would be able to see that, say Loreli C/Jenni wrote at 7:42 PM and that she is located at Chrestomanci Castle, and have all the random comments with the double ((__))  things, like "I was thinking about peacocks, too," or "say, let's publish this." Don't you think that would be neat? Plus, I know people have worked together to write a story, like two, or maybe three, but four? And if PhoenixFlames joins, that would be five.... Comments? 

~A/P
submitted by Aliza/Pippa, age 13, Chrestomanci Ca
(April 19, 2009 - 9:09 pm)

((Well, we'd have to get a license from DWJ to use her characters and settings and places and ideas and all that. So, I don't quite think so. DWJ might not agree, and if we continued anyways, then she could fine us for useing her characters, etc. Sooooo......u know?))

submitted by Loreli C/ Jenni , age 13/12, Chrestomanci Ca
(April 20, 2009 - 6:53 pm)

((Yeah, I realized that after I sent it, but maybe we could try a round-robin with our own characters, which would be pretty much the same thing. ;) ))

submitted by Aliza/Pippa, age 13, Chrestomanci
(April 21, 2009 - 8:11 am)

((that's awsome. Now's my turn))

~~~

We walked across the lawn, and Loreli said that it was for crickets. I was thinking that I didn't hear any crickets when Pippa said that she said that it was awfully nice to have a field just for crickets, and I was just going to remark that I didn't hear anything like crickets, just cicadas, when Loreli looked like she was going to burst out laughing, and exchanged glances with the Chrestomanci That was his name! over my head, and then explained that cricket was a sport, and I thought, That's why I didn't hear anything!! Then we went into the castle, then I saw this really weird dude with a ridiculous dress on, then I heard somebody say that it was a robe, then I decided that it made more sense for him to wear a robe, but it still looked ridiculous. I glanced over at Pippa to see what she thought of the robe, and saw that she was looking at him too, and saw she was snickering. I don't blame her for laughing. He looked absolutely ridiculous. But since my dad was a wizard, I could tell that he was some kind of magical person. A powerful one, too. I could see his aura. I wondered what were we going to do next, when I realized that I was starting to relax. I didn't feel a bit uncomfortable or lonely anymore. I wondered why was that. Then I realized it must be the same reason that I was picked to go, not one of the other two. (I say four because there are five babies, and I'm in the middle, and there are four older. And two because only three , including me, work magic.) But my other two siblings that work magic, brother and sister, (Sophie and Ben) twins, were in a lot more advanced magic that me! I wondered if it was something to do with whether or not one of us enherited magic from dad of not. I guessed that I was the one that enherited the magic. That's the most logical reason I could come up with why I was picked to go. But I also got Mom's cooking ability. I smiled as I remembered the time that me, Sophie, and my one of my other sisters named Mary learned to make a cake. We all made are own. I caught Mary trying to put cinnamon in her cake instead of vanilla. And my cake turned out the best, so Sophie said. Mary's looked okay, but she tasted some of hers, and she nearly fainted from the shock of how sour it tasted. She later told me that she thought that she thought that it might have been some of the vinegar she had put in. I had stared at her and said, "You put vinegar in?". She had answered, "I was trying to make lemon cake, right?" I had nodded. "Mmm hmmm! I remember." And she had said, "Well, I tasted a bit to see if it was sour enough, like mom said, and I thought it wasn't sour enough, so I thought I had put lime juice in, but then after I put it in and mixed it, I realized that the label said, 'VINEGAR'." I had a good laugh at that. And Sophie's turned out too crumbly, and Sophie said that it might have been that she didn't put eggs, and she didn't put enough milk, so it was dry and hard and crumbly. Sophie and Mom both said that mine was wonderful, but I didn't believe them. Well, so much for cake. (it was my first time making cake) I still thought that the dudes outfit looked ridiculous. I wondered what was the wierd dude wearing a dress, I mean robe, was called.

~~~

((How's that?! I hope it's good, Aliza/Pippa, Jenni/Loreli. It wasn't that easy to write, then go over for grammar mistakes.)) ((( I did pretty good with grammar though, considering how bad I am with grammar.)))

submitted by Lettie Fisher, age 11, Chrestomanci Ca
(April 20, 2009 - 12:03 am)

(((Very good Holly. I will now continue. (why do I always say that?))))

 

As the door opened to let in a wet, bedraggled girl roughly me age, I stared in astonishment. It looked like she had somehow got to the Place Between, although I had never heard of it being done by people with only one life, unless she was a multiple-lifed enchanter, of which there were already four in the room. ((Me, Phillipa, Cat, CHristopher.)) She gasped something unintelligible, then collapsed. Beside me, Phillippa stared incredulously. "That's Howl's apprentice, Myrella!", she said in surprise. "What happened, Myrella?" She rushed towards the girl, but was stopped by the healers. "We'll take her to the infirmary and wait untill she gets well." said the Chief Healer. Philippa nodded reluctantly and let them go with the girl. I went to her at a nod from both Chrestomancis. "Who's she?" I asked her quietly. "She's my father's apprentice. Something must have happened to Howl! He wouldn't send her here except for in great need.", she said frantically. I nodded sympathetically, then beckoned Uncle Christopher and Father over to tell them. (( Aliza, Holly, this sound good? I've gotta go now, so either someone else can continue or I'll be back later))) 

submitted by Loreli Chant/ Jenni , age 13/12, Chrestomanci Ca
(April 20, 2009 - 1:00 pm)

((I'm on page.....*drumroll*.........109!!!))

As Myrella walked down the corridors, she rubbed the back of her ear, because she was lost. She instantly saw a map in her head and began to follow it to the wating room, where according to the nurse, were waiting for her. As she slipped in she saw herself staring at Pippa, a girl with dark brown hair and blue eyes(how strange...) and, of course, the Family.She said "Hello, " quietly and sat down. She switched off her magic aura ((Yes, she can do that, and Yes she senses auras...)) so no one took any interest in her.  Too late. Everyone had already seen her power. She tried to cut the silence by saying, "So, uhh, what's your name?" looking over to the dark-haired girl. "Loreli, "she replied hastily. She noticed the girl's aura was the same color of her eyes, but with little pink swirls around them that were hard to see. 'Ah, she a girly girl at heart.' she thought. The blue was magic, though. Everyone at the table had some type of blue. Pippa's ,as always, was a light sky blue, with purple, and Mr. Chrestomanci's was a dazzling blue, almost the color of his dinner robes. She hoped someone would say something...

 

 

((Ta da!!)) 

submitted by Myrella, age 13, Chrestomanci Ca
(April 20, 2009 - 7:05 pm)

(((Well, Loreli's eyes are dark grey, and she's a tomboy. But otherwise its good.)))

 

As soon as the party was over I showed Philippa to my room, which we would be sharing during her stay. I hastily put a spell against eaves-dropping and showed her around and told her about the Family. "But don't say Chrestomanci except for in great need, because at this distance, it summons him instantly. Especially don't say it aloud when you're in the shower." I grinned, thinking of one of our previous housekeepers who had done precisely that, not knowing what would happen. She had instantly resigned from the post. I lookd in my closet. "Did you bring your evening formals?", I asked her over my shoulder. She looked bewildered. "What?!", she said, "You have special clothes for evening wear?" I nodded and looked at her, thinking it was a good thing we were the same size. "You can borrow mine.", I said. She looked relieved. I looked back at my wardrobe. I picked out two dresses and laid them out on the bed. For her, I had picked out a pale aquamarine-ish coloured dress with pink trimming, and for myself, I had picked out my favourite, a dark blue skirt and a lighter blouse with pale green trimming for both pieces. She tried it on, and it fit her perfectly. I put mine on and took her to the dining hall. She looked around. "Lettie's father is rather like your's, so she has dresses for evening wear, so she should be all right.", she whispered to me. I nodded back. Mother hadn't been at the party, so I was hoping to introduce Philippa to her during the meal. Father and Mother walked in just then, and I grinned to myself. "Think of the devil, and he will come, Mother, I was just thinking of you!" I jested, pulling Philippa back towards the door. "Mother, this is Philippa Pendragon. Philippa, this is my mother, Marianne Chant, daughter of the Gaffer of the Pinhoe tribe.", I said, switching into my official mode again, but winking at Philippa to make sure she knew I was being silly. Then, my father and Uncle Christopher walked in with Myrella and Lettie. I sighed. Dinner would have to wait.

 

(((Heehee Aliza u llikee?))) 

submitted by Loreli Chant/ Jenni , age 13, Chrestomanci Ca
(April 21, 2009 - 11:59 am)

(((OOps! My father came in twice! Ok, cancel him out the first time, and he comes in with Lettie and Myrella and Christopher)))

submitted by Loreli Chant/ Jenni , age 13, Chrestomanci Ca
(April 21, 2009 - 4:24 pm)
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