Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
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Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
The walking comedy and tragedy that is Holly Holtz has finally met her end. I know that for many this is rather sudden, but after a lot of consideration of what directions I could take her, I realized I wasn't enjoying her anymore. She took a hard turn into roles that placed severe stress onto her concept and she ceased to be as enjoyable to play as she was when she was in her fresher days. A lot of loose hooks have been left behind due to her sudden and tragic death, but I hope some of them will be tied up favorably one way or another.
When I first made Holly, she was an incompetent, awkward, nervous, and mentally ailing necromancer who just wanted to flee cruelty and find love. She had a list of things she wanted to do before she died, like have a ballroom dance, or become a famous artist. Some of those things did come to pass. She never had ambitions to be a villain, either, she just fell into the role naturally as the story progressed. Her growth has been a treat to watch and I can't help but miss the way things were, but unfortunately, there's no rewind button on character development.
I wanted to take some time to roll the credits, so to speak. We'll start with a few songs I chose for her for your own enjoyment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc0DA3CDfl4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzsCb7ZwlQ0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TqhGxfAwqI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvnLVeqQSvA
There are umpteen names to mention. I'd just say kudos to everyone if I could, but I should at least try to list. As always, not in any particular order.
Agonice and Nella Fryar
If not for Agonice and Nella, Holly never would have spiraled down the path she did.
Theltzuil and Noasheel Xephrates
Guldorand players, Itzal Mayar, Derristan Barley
Lavendra Nightflower and Trouble Brightwood
The Baroness
Isak Kerringar, Mathilde
Ambros
Hanri, Camilla (Lilian Williams), the Cadre Metallicus
Sydney Harrow
The Abyssals, Hlarnoth
Hlarnoth's banquet was one of the most memorable scenes I've ever had.
Odtgankawruh, The Artificer
Johnathan Rigsby
Myzzrin Brightburst
Oa'
Theodor Helbrecht, Varelas
Khael'dar
Schezalle Sfayi
Lavok Xun'viir
Hanah Rias
Lilith Vensurai
Ilphaeryl Xun'viir
Maknold
Providence
Alexey Sova
T'rissolin Xel'vraxa, and in fact the Xel'vraxa house as a whole
Rhavuk
Loki Greystep
Mae
Roselyn Kingsley
Nathaniel Brightburst
Angela Amana
Jack Topholio
Everec Everstraum, Sayuri Ishida, Fujikiyo, and Aisling
Vrolka
John Salamander and Kaaliya
Etmn
Samantha Gibbs
Varrikh Barauglor
Lysanthir and Nylaathria
Scilth Sarcro and Thekt
Jerymee Alabaster
Alan
Gregor Markum and his mysterious accomplice
Sebastian Emberall
Tristan Wilkensen, Coralee Fairbrook? I probably got the name wrong.
Jhaamdath Xun'viir and Gorehound, The Andunor Navy
Tiffa Took / Lucky
Erasmus Havelock, Midnight Myrthe, Caldrun, and the rest of the Improv gang
Cicerro and Lili Blaque
Bhalruk
Emily Peyton
Uri Navarai
Smythe
Meyla Darsk
Nerali
Ciarra Corra
Isabella the Art-Slave
Zirinia
DM Praxis
"You have it all wrong. I was never the villain of this story. I was never the monster. You were. You ALL were. You ALWAYS WERE!"
~Holly Holtz
thank you all
Re: Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
"Understanding is a Three-Edged Sword"
Re: Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
Currently playing:
Thomas Castemont - Active
Liv McDowall - Shelved
Theodor Helbrecht - Rolled
Emma Young - Rolled
Ember Joyleaf-Underfoot - Rolled
Re: Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
Former: Granny Stabbums (Just a Sweet Ol' Granny...)
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Re: Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
I don't think Rose, or I, expected Holly to transform and influence her instead.
I've told you this a number of times now, but it bears repeating: Holly had such a startlingly profound impact on Roselyn and the way that I ended up playing her, and it's because of how impressive and dynamic you are as a writer and as a player.
Thank you for your time and your roleplay. I'll hope to see you soon.
Holly Holtz: [Talk] "And speak of the Queen, she is here!" She bent at the knee.
Roselyn Kingsley: [Talk] Her eyes spent a moment adjusting to the surroundings, before they locked onto Holly.
Holly Holtz: [Talk] "And, unfortunately, I don't have trumpets to signal your arrival, but just pretend I'm making sounds that sound vaguely like a series of high-pitched and auditorially-potent doots."
Holly Holtz: [Talk] "Doot-doot."
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Re: Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
Now though, I'll never thank you enough for what happened later.
Oa' wouldn't exist if it wasn't for you, and I've absolutely enjoyed every second of it.
I can't help, reading what you wrote, to be afraid of the weight I had in breaking the proverbial camel's back, while I'll be ever so grateful for all the laughs, all the tears, the worries.
Being around Holly was a pretty intense experience.
As everyone else stated, you're a great roleplayer, you create events, story hooks, you close stories too.
I wish you to find even more fun in what you'll do next!
Take care!
Oa'
Sokoya'solen Xel'vraxa
Antheia
Re: Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
You're a great roleplayer, and kudos for how you played Holly!
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Re: Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
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Re: Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
I am sad to see Holly go, Ava never did get to reach out to her in the end. Step-mom still loves her though
Re: Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
We didn't even find you!!
Long after that, I got to know Holly much more closely, and it's been a pleasure to do so! A crazy/evil but also misunderstood character, she never fell short when it came to interesting interactions. A few tears were deeefinitely shed with this one! ;-;
Rot in Peace, Holly Holtz~ (And Hilbert)
Juniper Oakley - Totem of the Pun Spirits
Ny'aza 'Peggy' Philor'tyl - Travelling
Tiffa Took Hss'tafi - Happy in Sigil (Rolled)
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Denny Lynndain-Walvish, certified rude boy - Rolled
Lysanthir Ellenocen - Shelved
Reznov Willensbane - Rolled
Vald Machjarak - Rolled
Gaderel Anjou, certified lawful good - Active
Rodolfo Duskvale, certified funny guy - Rolled
Ghug Sord - Extinguished
Re: Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
To this day, and with no offense intended to other wonderful people who made my life on Arelith a joy, I think Holly to be one of the deepest, most enjoyable, and best written characters that I've ever met.
It is hard to run an absolute psycho without running into stereotypes, without just doing the utterly random person who does evil things for the thrill of it, with madness as an easy justification for everything. Holly was nuanced, deep, well characterized and, as all your creations, thrilling to roleplay with.
Her time with "mom" Noasheel marked my deviation from running a saturday morning cartoon villain to make a three dimensional character myself, and turn just "an evil snake" into someone who wanted a surrogate daughter and who was ready to enact a lot of evil in her regard.
You don't only produce exceptional roleplay: you may other roleplayers around you better.
I can't wait to see what the next burst of brilliance you'll come up with!
~ Lladria Sethassiel ~ (Dead!) - ~ Siobhan Gray (Departed!)
~ Elspeth Lynndain (Dead!) - Noasheel Xephrates (Dead!)
~ Yachta - ~ Providence (Dead!)
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Re: Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
Past even some of the more personal scenes, a ton of kudos to you for just how involved Holly was. She gave so much to communities she was involved with. I can't even count the number of events that I went to that Holly had some hand in hosting, and many of those events really got me to step outside of my comfort zone and get creative. It was really rewarding stuff!
I'll finish this off with one of the moments that stands out most in my head from the whole slew of memorable interactions between our characters. I've condensed it a bit which probably doesn't do this amazing scene justice, but it's one that I think about frequently!
I'm sure somewhere beyond the void, Camilla is out there waiting as patiently as ever for her favorite Holly to step through the door. Thanks for everything <3"Camilla": "Take, take, take. That's all they do, Holly. Take away your animating. Take away your freedom. Take away Molly. It isn't enough until they take away your life as a whole."
Holly Holtz: "How do I /Take/?"
Holly Holtz: "/What/... do I /Take/?"
Roselyn Kingsley: "A life; a soul. A precious belonging, or a favored friend. Their future; their freedom..." she lists. "But above the method, Holly, is the ~idea~ - do /not/ let them take from you."
Holly Holtz: "I let them take. I should not have let them take."
Holly Holtz: "Take, take, take."
Holly Holtz: "TAKE, TAKE, TAKE."
Holly Holtz: "ALWAYS TAKING!"
Holly Holtz: "NEVER GIVING!"
Roselyn Kingsley: "Imprint this clause onto their very flesh if you must. Let it be known that no one will ever take from Holly Holtz, ever again."
Re: Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
These kudos threads are bittersweet things. It's so hard to sum up everything that's happened over the course of a PC's lifetime, and their loss - especially for the player - can feel so very real. It seems that if you forget to acknowledge something here, it's lost to the void, but it's really not. There's an expression in music that goes, "felt, not heard." I can't imagine an Arelith that still doesn't feel Holly's presence.
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Re: Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
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