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And the competition is on...

9/21/2021

As Druzzy, King of the Trolls, sat on his throne only partially listening to a troll speak about about the rising costs of bridge construction, his mind was really focused on his plans for the young Wish Dragon. "I must have it," he muttered silently to himself as the speaker continued, totally unaware that his royal audience's mind was miles away and many years into the past.

Once he would have considered Hir'aeth, now the Gooblin King, a good friend. That was many, many years ago and before that moment. "Ah, if he hadn't dropped it, I would have had it," thought Druzzy. It had been their first search for a collectable. Both had boasted about how they would be the one to find the rare and precious bone sculpture. It was a one-of-a-kind as only one had ever been made by the great Dragon master artist, Di-Zane, but it had been lost when Di-Zane left with the other Dragons. After many years of searching, both the troll and gooblin had finally found the Dragon's lair. Little did they realize that Di-Zane also left clever little devices behind to keep his secrets. As Hir'aeth was the first to put his hands on the sculpture, a rock came crashing down and smashed it to a thousand small pieces. Hir'aeth barely was able to remove his hands before the stone fell but the piece was now lost forever! "If he would have let me take it first, I would have saved it," Druzzy still thought.

It was from this day forth that started the competition on a less than friendly beginning and as the years continued, that desire to one-up the other became even more fierce between the two. Now, it seemed, to be the sole ambition of each of the rulers over all else! Who will win the next competition?

As the speaker went on about the bridge problems, he took heart when he saw the King smiling and nodding his head. "He must like my presentation," he thought and continued on, not once realizing that the King of the Trolls was really smiling at his own thought that he knew something the Gooblin King did not. "I will get this talisman first," he silently told himself, just waiting to see the look of defeat on the Gooblin King's face when he showed him his newest acquisition.

Burnt Out...!!

9/14/2021

Hewy needed to check on Hungry, the little Dragon, especially after being "asked" by the Troll King to find him. As he followed the trail to Cornelia's cottage, (since that is where Hungry was staying) his thoughts were concentrated on what had just happened at the Troll King's court. "Why does the King really want to meet Hungry?" he pondered. He knew that Druzzy was up to no good, but he just could not see what he wanted from the young Wish Dragon. "I need to talk to the others," he mumbled deciding that was his best course and wondering what was causing this smoke in the air? The smoke seemed to be coming from the direction of Cornelia's cottage! He quickened his pace and after realizing that it WAS coming from the cottage he started running towards the smoke.

Smoke was rolling out of the windows and the door. Fearing for his friends he was just about to run into the cottage when he saw Cornelia, Efem, The CAT, and Hungry all standing near the bee hives. As usual, The CAT was just looking at everything and smiling, Efem and Cornelia were both coughing and wiping their watering eyes, and Hungry, if a Dragon can look apologetic and embarrassed, was wringing his front paws together saying that he was really, realllllly sorry.

"Is everyone okay? Where's the water buckets and I will start trying to put the fire out!" asked Hewy as he started towards the well.

"Hewy, It's fine. The fire is out," Efem was finally able to tell him after she had stopped coughing. Cornelia grumbled, since Efem was coughing again, "We have found out that when Hungry gets excited, he spits a little fire and a lot, and I do mean a lot, of smoke."

It took Hewy a minute before he realized what was happening, then since everyone was okay, he started laughing. This is when The CAT joined in as he also thought it was funny. Knowing that he was Hungry's Spite, The CAT was enjoying both being fed by Cornelia and Efem as well as the entertainment of these Wish Dragon's lessons. Hewy, soon realizing that both of the Dryads were not as amused as him, quickly stopped laughing but still could not take the smile from his lips.

"And to what do we owe this visit from you today?" growled Efem as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "You are not scheduled to be Hungry's teacher for another couple of weeks."

Having almost forgotten his reason for the visit, Hewy quickly told them of his meeting with the King of the Trolls and his concerns. "I agree Hewy, he is up to no good," answered Efem. "The question is, what do we do?"

"I have been thinking about that and the best I can come up with is to send Hungry somewhere for a while so Druzzy won't be able to find him until we find out what he is wanting," answered Hewy. "The problem is that I can't think of anyplace safe and where he won't be seen."

It was The CAT that came up with the answer. "Well, since your places aren't fireproof," smiled The CAT, "Why not send him to Dewin's for his lessons a little early? With the shabby way your homes are built, at least the cave won't burn down..." With the withering stares he received from both Efem and Cornelia, for once The CAT did not finish his sentence. Standing up and slinking away, Hewy could hear The CAT muttering something like, "sure, blame the cat..."

Now Dewin, being a wizard, had given the others each a crystal to communicate with him over long distances so they could keep in touch. They decided that would be the best for Hungry and after the smoke cleared, went back inside of the cottage where they told Dewin about their concerns and request. Shortly Sprigg'n, the Spite that had attached herself to the wizard upon his arrival to the Realm, arrived and they (Hungry, The CAT, and Sprigg'n) were off to the safety of Dewin's cave.

As they left and Hewy watched them crest the first hill and disappear from sight, Hewy finally felt that Hungry would soon be safe... ahhh, but will he? There seems to be others who also wish to see the Wish Dragon and not all of them from just curiosity. "Now," wondered Hewy, "in the meantime where I am going to disappear until this blows over?"

Silver or Gold???

9/8/2021

The Gooblin King was poured, cleaned and into the fire he went. Now he is what is called 'bisque', the porcelain before it is painted.

But where do I begin in the painting process? What skin tones do I use? Will he be young or old... which in faery years can be really, reallllllly old. *smiling*

In pondering this dilemma I knew the King of the Trolls, the Gooblin King's rival, was rich looking in his purple and gold when the old saying of
"Make new friends but keep the old, One is Silver and the other is Gold" popped into my head. Now the relationship between these two kings will be an interesting tale to develop but there is still an underlying element of friendship between them I feel. The other saying is keep your friends close and your enemies even closer which might even have some merit. *smiling more*

So silver is what will suit the Gooblin King. And like how easily silver can be melted and fused into other things, so are my china colors. For they are like silver in that they melt and fuse onto the porcelain. Porcelain is glass and can't absorb paint... it can only fused or be sealed (for example) like in a glaze.

It is this relationship of the paint not hiding the porcelain completely and the porcelain allowing the paint it's space that gives the overall glow to this media that continues to still amaze me years later.

So now off for another infusion of color to bring my Gooblin King to life.

Does Art create Romance or does Romance create Art?

8/31/2021

It is no secret that I am a bibliomania when it comes to reading. Bibliomania is an extreme passion for books. Which is funny since my favorite genre is historical romances (passion - romance--get it? *lol) So what does that have to do with my question of does art create romance or does romance create art?

When I was reading one of my romance books by one of my favorite authors, Caroline Linden, the line that defined my Troll King's personality jumped off the page. I was able to play with it with the Dowager and her jousting knights, but it was my romance books that clarified the Troll King's personality... devilish without being truly evil... just a little dangerous (maybe even roguish - *smiling*).

So, was this a one off? No, I have often been inspired by my reading which allows me to escape to another time and place. And again, my romance books came into play. As I mentioned previously, my Gooblin King has been very adamant about showing up before I even finished the Troll King's introduction.

And it is hard to talk about someone when you don't even know their name other than you might recognize the face. I am glad my writers are so well educated and research their characters as much as I do when developing my dolls.

Example: Hiraeth - a bittersweet sense of missing something or someone you love, while still being grateful for their existence. A longing for home or that time that felt like home.
~ To Catch an Earl by Kate Bateman

If you are wondering where this is going, well the Gooblin King received his name, Hir'aeth. It is a Welsh word with no direct English translation, but the definition also has something to do with the Gooblin's King's personality.

How does this name/definition apply to the Gooblin King? That will be revealed when he is ready to show himself. Have I also answered my previous question? Art and Romance go hand in hand... like the chicken and the egg. I don't think one can say they are separate but both enhance the world... for it would be a sad world indeed if we didn't have art for the eyes and romance for the soul.

It came in a dream...

8/25/2021

I do admit I get interesting dreams and from time to time I will get such complete and detailed ones that I receive a full story... like the Story of the Sleeping Sisters. It was that story that inspired the creation of Awena. I felt this tale needed to be told but didn't know how to incorporate it into our Dragon Tale.

Again... little messages or clues inspired the "competition" between two kings.

So what is so important and why is the King of the Trolls trying to find a blue rose? Ahhh, but this is not just any colorful flower. This is a treasure of great mystery and power! The Blue Rose is one of the greatest treasures in all of the Realm of Wymsy but it has been hidden for a very long time by the Sleeping Sisters...

Maybe you will understand more if you knew the tale? It all began a long time ago, not very far from this spot, and it involved four sisters who were just trying to find a way not to get into any more trouble... but let's have Awena tell the tale...

***Click here to read the tale***

Answering a Royal Summons...

8/17/2021

"I wonder what he really wants," thought Hewy as he sat in the receiving room waiting to see the Troll King. "After the last party I played for his Royalty and with the Gooblin King showing up uninvited -- it was pretty well understood by everyone that there would be no more parties at this palace. It hadn't been pretty when the Gooblin King entered and stole the audience by having a bigger gem to show off than King Druzzy," Hewy sat remembering.

The more Hewy thought about it, the more he was convinced that the King must have another reason for summoning him than just to write the music for another party. "I bet it has something to do with Hungry," he guessed. At this time his own stomach rumbled as he had been waiting quiet a long time and was beginning to get hungry before finally Drat, the King's minion, came to invite Hewy into the royal chambers.

"Ah, Hewy, just the Troll I was waiting for," smiled the King with a quick wink to his eye and a small smirk on his lips as he knuckles bumped Hewy's clenched fists. There were very few protocols for Trolls, but the knuckles bump was one that all Trolls did. More of out safety than anything else, just like a salute is to make sure your enemy's hand was empty of a weapon, trolls wanted to make sure both hands were busy. Every troll wanted to live to become an Ancient One so each was taught as a young trolling to make sure that you did not allow anyone to get a hold on you. Thus the knuckles bump was started making it difficult (but not impossible) to be grabbed.

"How may I serve you sire?" Hewy asked as he quickly backed away from the King to be a safe.

"Hewy, I have heard about a young Wish Dragon and that you are to be one of his teachers, is that correct?" Before Hewy could reply though, the King kept talking... "It has been a long time since the Dragons have been in the realm, do you think that you could bring him here to meet with me? I would really like to have a private chat with him," asked the King, again giving him that wink-wink. Now, when a King asks for something of one of his subjects, it really is not a request, it is a nice way of saying that he wants something and it is up to the one being asked to get it. The Troll Kingdom is no exception.

Hewy knew he was going to need to answer this request but he hoped he could delay it for a little while. "I will have to meet with the young Wish Dragon, sire," answered Hewy, "as he is currently with his other teachers."

"That's fine... just fine. Don't be long and let Drat know when you will return," the King idly replied as his mind was already planning the next steps of his scheme. "You may go."

Drat, knowing his cue, started ushering Hewy from the King's presence. As Drat and Hewy left, the King overheard his minion asking where the Wish Dragon was now, how long before Hewy would be returning, and what did a Wish Dragon eat?

"Now, the next step in getting the Blue Rose begins," snickered Druzzy with a smile on his lips and a twinkle in his larcenous eyes.

Sticking his nose in...

8/10/2021

I have been sharing in my latest newsletter how my inspirations come up in the most unusual places. Especially when they are stubborn enough for me to keep stumbling over them time and time again. So... not to be a wet blanket (or in this case - a towel), I knew I needed to heed this character, my Gooblin King, that kept showing up.

But I told the Gooblin King I hadn't even gotten to know the Troll King yet, so why the rush to meet him? The Gooblin King told me "I " wasn't listening. (Which had nothing to do with the fact that HE hadn't any ears yet.) He simply wasn't going to be left behind. There is some type of competition going on between the two kings and I am now in the middle of it!

Normally, I try not to get involved, but after days of his endless terrible puns, bad jokes, and references to why he was better looking, smarter, more congenial, and overall a better king that the King of the Trolls, I had conceded to pulling him together.

I will admit though, the Gooblin King was willing to reveal more about himself to me than any other character I have sculpted so far. And in spite of him sticking his nose into my world.... he hasn't told me his name yet either.

So why does he have that one tooth? He explained it is because that is his "Wisdom Tooth" *smiling*. That is only some of the silly jokes I had to endure which just went to show me his wicked sense of humor.

What a Knight!

8/3/2021

The Dowager, Griselda, had heard that there was going to be an event in the Woods hosted by Hunter, the Shadows' King. Some type of tournament where Hunter's Nytemares would be able to let out some energy. If it was going to be like the tournaments that she had watched as a much younger maid she just had to go. The problem with a tournament though is that proper young ladies did not go alone. "Maybe Efem would enjoy this too," she thought. At first she was going to snail mail the invite, but then decided to send it through the Bee-Gs to see if the Dryad would accompany her to the Festival.

Later, as Efem and the Dowager were walking around the tournament field admiring the beautiful Nytemares competing against each other, the Dowager asked Efem "Have you heard anything in the Mushroom line about Hewy's new commission to the Troll King and what the King is like? I have been gone quite a while and maybe the Baron has met the Troll King, but I have never been introduced to him myself."

"I had not heard about a commission and I don't know anything about the King of the Trolls personally, only gossip of what the Twitter Birds retweet about him. They say that he can be a devil," Efem answered.

"Oh No!" Griselda exclaimed. "Do you mean he is evil? We don't need that here!" "No... No..." smiled Efem. "He not the blackhearted, world destroying evil type. The buzzing I have been hearing is that he is more the minor, mischievous imp, wicked-fun type than dark evil. Just not someone you would trust your family fortune too! Eventually he would find a way to keep it and have you working for him too."

"Oh" the Dowager sighed. "Then he could still be dangerous in his own way," dreamily smiling as she gazed at a knight riding a Nytemare in the jousting arena... "We will have to keep an eye on him - for Hewy's sake of course." Efem, realizing that Griselda was staring at the knight and not the horse, turned startled eyes to the Dowager and smiled, "Griselda, aren't you too old for such nonsense?"

The Dowager, turning her big innocent eyes towards her answered with a laugh, "I'm not dead yet!"

The Game is On...

7/27/2021

"Sire. I know you and 'him' are both collectors, shall we say, of rare objects, but you shouldn't assume that he also is looking for the Token. 'He' may not even be aware of its existence," said Drat.

"Oh, he knows about it my furry little friend. It was one of the first things we fought over when he told me his collection was better than mine," growled Druzzy.

"He has always been poking his pointy little, no, I take that back, his pointy BIG nose in my affairs ever since," said the King as he put his hands in front of his nose and acted like it was long and pointy. "Even your nose is not as big as his," chuckled Druzzy, now in a little better mood.

"Now Drat, how are we going to get that token?"

"The reports indicate that another Troll helped the Wish Dragon Sire. I suggest that you maybe can smooze him. He apparently has a close association to one of the Sleeping Sisters," grinned Drat. "If you can try a little of your knavery..."

"I don't knave" glared Druzzy. "I educate. There is a difference you know. Can I help it if my charm and good naturedness gives me the best of the bargain?"

"So sorry Sire. If you 'convince' this Troll that your best intentions are for the Wish Dragon and building its trust for Trolls, maybe he can help us get closer to the Token."

"What is the Troll's name?" asked Druzzy as he started pondering his scheme (err... I mean plan).

"It is Hewy, Sire. He is the master musician that wrote the music for your last rock party. You know, the one where you showed off the new jewel added to your crown. The one that the Goob..."

"Don't say his name!" roared Druzzy.

Drat, The Rat, did not move nor complete his comments. He silently waited for the King of the Trolls to calm down enough to speak. When he did, it was to tell his minion to find Hewy and bring him to the royal court for a commission.

As Drat was leaving, his sensitive ears picked up the Kings mumblings. "I wonder where did he find that gem bigger than mine and how he crashed my party with it..."

Reporting In Sire...

7/20/2021

Being the King of the Trolls was a little bit of an annoyance to Druzzy especially this time each week. Trolls, being extremely independent, were usually not the greatest subjects to a mon-archy (nor even a mom-archy...), but once every week, Druzzy had to sit in the throne room and hear reports from all of his subjects. Most were minor complaints such as 'so and so won't let me cross the bridge' or 'an annoying billy-goat won't leave me alone'. There was only one highlight on these dull boring days and that was when Drat gave his secret report.

That report was given only after all of the courtiers had been dismissed and the hall cleared of everyone but his only trusted minion.

"Okay Drat, what have you been hearing that I should know?" asked Druzzy. After looking around the room to confirm that others were not there to overhear, Drat (the Rat) unrolled his scroll to give the King his weekly report.

"Well Sire, first there is the letter from the Shadows' King, Hunter, expressing his appreciation about one of your subjects assisting in the Wish Dragon affair. He is hoping that this will be the beginnings of a..."

"Get on with it Drat. I know about all that stuff. Tell me about 'you know'," growled Druzzy. "Jump to the good stuff!"

"Yes your majesty. It appears with the reappearance of the Wish Dragons, that maybe you might finally be able to add to your collection of magical artifacts. It appears that the Wish Dragon, named Hungry, does not seem to be aware of the item and thinks that a Dragon's Token is trust. You might be able to use that when dealing with him."

"Very interesting... Of course I am trust worthy... as long as you read the fine print on the contract. Won't the Dragon's Token make a fine addition to my collection Drat?" said the King, not really waiting for an answer. "The Sleeping Sisters have it hidden away somewhere and now maybe, with the help of this young Dragon, I can get it before another annoying collector beats me to it."

"Do you mean," began the Rat before he was interrupted.

"Don't say that name!" growled Druzzy. "He's irritating enough on his own without you saying his name."