Daoine Dreams

here is a theater where the Beautiful People vie for the stage whilst the blood of the common man runs in the star-studded street, where glorious visions are bought and sold and hideous nightmares given foul birth, where glamour is the only currency and yet it is gobbled up and ravaged with reckless abandon. There is a realm where fantasy and make-believe clash against harsh reality with vibrant frequency, magnificent pageantry, and cold brutality. Welcome to Caer Angeles. What will your dream cost?

Los Angeles is the largest stage on the earth. Every year, millions of dollars are spent producing the stories that spellbind audiences around the world. Every day stories are lived out in such vivid detail that no producer could afford the script and with such power that no actor could harness the passion. It is here that many a changeling comes to play, to be in The Play, to bask in the Theater that is the lives and liveliehood of the Citadel of Dreams. It is here that the changelings, being a product of our fantasy are inexplicably drawn to act out the visions of demanding dreamers. It is here that the fae court is as likely to contain a gumshoe detective as a Hollywood knight. But the entertainment industry is also a grim machine, viciously grinding up thousands of young dreamers, fodder for the powerful dream-makers. There is a dark stain to be found upon the chimerical realm as well, the legacy of an ancient hunger.

Listed below are a few of the theatres of Caer Angeles, each a stage which except for the occasional glimpse is impenetrable to the mortal eye, each but a show for the phantom who lurks behind it all ready to rip away the curtain.

Sunset Colours

The other day I went to the movies to see the Island of Dr. Moreau and received quite a fright. I saw the trailer for the upcoming Romeo & Juliet movie and panicked. My Changeling work had hit the big screen, sans changelings, and all I could do about it was offer the words of my friends as proof that I had already been telling the story. I decided that it was time to act before the film gives everyone the same idea, though I too would certainly love to see it for the inevitable color that Hollywood can't help but to give any work of art. Please allow me to introduce my idea to you, for your potential approval. Please know that this is an actual project that I have been running, though it would obviously need some real touchups to be ready for publication. (Note: of course by now I have seen the film, and I must say I loved it.)

SUNSET COLORS

an introduction to the story......

It has been very warm the past few days as spring approaches rapidly on the heels of Carnival. There has been the threat of rain, but so far the prevailing pleasant winds have swept any clouds away before they could hide the glittering sun. You look forward to tonight with great anticipation, as it is Saint Patrick's Day, when the green first comes out to foreshadow the coming taking of the reins of power by the Seelie Court and the banishing of the Unseelie shadows of winter. The Groundhog has called for six extra weeks of winter this year, but who can believe a pooka? It will be a fine eve, resplendent with emerald beer and olive-shaded bagels and the annual search for the Leprechaun's Gold. . .

Thus the stage opens. . .

I have seen the Zeffirelli film with its vivid redclad Capulets and royally blueclad Montagues. I have read the book "Do or Die" all about the lives and deaths of the similarly dressed Bloods and Crips of South Central Los Angeles. I have dreamed about the noble Houses of changelings set in luscious Palos Verdes, whose vassals battle for supremacy amongst the mortals of neighboring gangland. I have wondered at the tragic beauty of the ballad "Romeo & Juliet" rendered by Dire Straits and the Indigo Girls. I have wanted to bring it all together.

In ancient and fair Arcadia two sidhe began a Feud that has lasted through their sojourn into this world, a Feud which has origins that are clouded by the strange amnesia which has erased the lore of many a noble. But it is thought that the fierce Fiona sidhe Lord Capa is responsible for the laming wound of the Liam noble Lord Montgomery. Indeed Lord Capa seems to have gained a certain respect from the Unseelie Court, while Lord Montgomery has discovered many friends among House Dougal. Whatever the truth, the two passed into our world of darkness in the tumultuous year of '69 with their hatred for one another intact.

The intention of this story is for the players to enter into the fabulous creation of William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet. But do not tell them that is what is happening. This is Romantic Theater. The stage is the wartorn streets of Los Angeles. The characters will not possess names necessarily recognizable to those familiar with the work, but look for the Players of the master's work. Allow the players to believe that they are entering a chronicle of changeling politics and LA gang warfare all tangled together. The story already possesses each of the characters of the play ready to unwittingly fulfill their role, but every one of your players should be given the chance to do so instead. Does one of your players want to be a member of a violent noble family , and do you think you can get them to fall in love with the forbidden member of another family? This player can be your Romeo or Juliet. Does one of your players try for peace between the factions? Here is valiant Benvolio. Also, do not worry if no one seems to quite fit the major roles, for the Play itself is possessed of many Lesser roles and indeed all the world revolves around the Lovers. Remember not to reveal the true nature of the Game, for the Romantic Theater will be more powerful when you are the only one reading from the Playbook.

The trials and tribulations of the world have but further sullied the grim hostility of the two foes. From their mansions in Palos Verdes, the house of Capa and the house of Montgomery vie for drug trade, power, and influence both at Court and amongst mortals. The darkest of their vassals play amongst the mortal gangs, the Pride Bloods sworn to serve House Capa, and the Clubs Crips following House Montgomery. It is into the center of these Feuding Enemies which were born the rakish Raymond Montgomery who is doomed to forbidden love for the sad-eyed Julia Capa. Raymond is but fifteen years old, already occasionally dealing eightballs on the corner. Julia is fourteen and just beginning to shed her childling youth, she still shines with innocence shaded only with deep melancholy. His Grace, Duke Oscar, has forbidden further disturbance from the brawling houses, and for a brief moment everything is at peace. But Fate has spoken and the star-crossed lovers will take their final vows of everlasting union upon the funeral bier.

Honestly, I think that this is an exquisite setting and I am not sure what more I could say to convince one of that. Listen to the song, read the play again, watch the movie (either one), whatever, only please see the ethereal charm of the eternal lovers clash with the grimy horror of gang animosity. And without detracting from the Play, I hope to also introduce you to other elements of Caer Angeles that I think might be a wonderful installment, creating perhaps a twofold drama.

THE SENESCHAL OF AVALON

His Grace, Duke Oscar, gazed fondly out into the mists which always gave Avalon its morning spellbound majesty.