Kelly "Dame Twenaria" Bonci
Photo by Jesse Gifford |
1. What year were you
awarded your white belt?
I *think* it was 2006, I know
it was at Feast of Folkestone. I associate it with my 10 year anniversary
in the Realms.
2. Who administered
"the punch" and-- be honest!!--did it hurt?
Steve Matulewicz. It did
hurt, and left a pretty bruise. What I loved about it is that Steve
didn't hold back for me. It was a sign of respect. I remember
people gasping when it was done. Including me.
3. Whose belt did you
wear until you got your own, and how was this significant for you?
I'm incredibly lucky to have
been presented with my own belt right then. It still means the world to
me that a few people in the knighthood knew me enough to paint the belt for me
and get it perfect.
4. Please describe your
own belt's heraldry.
The belt shows a red oak leaf
impaled on the down-turned sword. The background is black, with a gold
diagonal stripe above.
5. Why did you chose
that heraldry to represent you?
While I can't promise I know
what Maryanne was thinking, I can guess. At one point we were very close.
The red oak leaf is a simple symbol I have used for Twen for years.
The down-turned sword shows in two heraldries I had a hand in creating
(Elemirre,now Ashenmark; and Tuath Fasach) The down-turned sword means protection
first, but a willingness to fight if need be. The leaf is also a nod to
the flame of the Elemirre/Ashenmark heraldry.
I assume the black background is a nod to the Elemirrian flag, and the gold diagonal stripe is a weird
premonition of Ashenmark.
6. Who did the
artwork on your belt?
My dear friend, Maryanne
Beatie (Shalindra). I'm thrilled she is able to show a little more often.
7. What do
you remember most about your knighting?
At the time, I was working
for an animal shelter. I had a feisty kitten I was bottle-feeding at the
time the KoEF gathered at the front of the room. I half-listened, and was
focused on Simon (now owned by Dave Harvill). Wendy (Makayla) was sitting
to my left. Cheech made a comment about this person having huge tracts of
land, and I know I paid attention to that reference. It was exciting to
see a woman get knighted. Little did I know. When my name was called,
I was flabbergasted. I handed the kitten to Wendy, and the rest is sort
of a blur. I didn't see it coming at all.
8. What does
being a KoEF mean to you?
This is a hard question, and one I still struggle with. It means people I
look up to decided what I was doing was good for the game, that I should help
others do good for the game, as well.
It means I am in service to
this community, and I will not stop what I did because I got a belt. It
only means I need to do more.
Photo by David Harvill |