by Jason "Aeston" Rosa
Anyone who knew Janna was well aware that Realms history and lore were of deep importance to them. So by way of remembering and honoring our parted friend, I thought I would share a small bit of lore that seems particularly poignant given their legacy, so that you all might carry it forward in your memories of them as I do.
In a valley nestled between the hills on the western border of Eagle’s Rook there is a very special and enchanted forest known as the Hallerbos, named for its real world equivalent in Belgium. It’s immediately recognizable because of the carpet of bluebells that spreads amongst the trees every spring and a number of other plants that have an indigo hue throughout the foliage.
In-character, it is a land fully engulfed in the wild magics of Fae, most prevalently the magics of the Insectafae, which as many of you know was a thread that connected Sir Vawn to Janna’s first character, Bouquet D'Amandes.
Janna had invented the species of the Insectafae along with creating Bouquet, who was always adorned in the same striking blue colors that can be found in the Hallerbos. The plot that they created that spawned from that character concept was an important one to Sir Vawn, who himself was transformed into an Insectafae for a time as that story was being told and was undoubtably one of the main characters throughout.
Of course, after Janna retired their first character after ascending to the throne of Fae, they would go on to play Iawen, who perhaps became the better known and more decorated of Janna’s characters. Certainly they added copious amounts of yellow to their outfit, but the blue undoubtably remained. It was as Iawen that Janna received both of their white belts, and as Iawen that they helped to lead and continue the legacy of Eagle’s Rook, a nation with a history dating back into the last century.
And while this is no more than my opinion, having known Janna and Dave both for a very long time, I cannot help but think of the Hallerbos as a place in Eagle’s Rook that they created together as a way of honoring their first connection to each other in the Realms and the many years of friendship and cooperation and teaching and learning that passed between them.
In remembrance of Janna and the immutable azure threads that connect them to Bouquet, Iawen, Eagle's Rook, and the bluebells of the Hallerbos, I would like to dedicate the following
Bluebells
I have seen bluebells in a wood, close blown:
fumed blue - like wood smoke, bluer grown.
And I have watched them move their bells to ring
blue changes in the joyous peals of Spring
Blue changes, with a wistful note as though
the swift, blue Bird of Happiness skimmed low
to whisper in each upturned, listening ear
and then, with upward, curving sweep and dear
quick flash of blue wings, fled into the dim
dissolving azure of the world’s far rim;
his music lingering air-borne in the breeze
in echoes through the blue shadows ‘neith the trees.
We too can glimpse his swiftly passing flight,
we too must watch him sadly out of sight.
- Nan Northam
