© Cari Buziak

January 1998:

• A threesome of some of the earliest newbie questors start looking for a clan that supports questing. Finding none, they begin to design their own. Their names: Puck, Fenoderee, and DaMan.
  
• Starting with nothing more than the idea of questing, current clan applications are investigated and ideas are tossed around. The initial name: The Knights of Faerie.
  

The Original Idea:

Synopsis: A clan based on the idea of questing for glory, power, and might. These dedicated knights are willing to sacrifice much in order to satisfy the needs of the kingdom. They believe in honor; humility; duty to the gods, clans, and friends, but above all - duty to kingdom. To this end, they fight to preserve the honor and integrity of Aardwolf questing and global questing, gaining glory for the kingdom and meting out punishment against those who would harm it.

Background: Long ago, before Midgaard or any of the great cities now known were built, the great Faerie Court ruled the world. When a darkness fell upon the land and threatened all in the world, the knights of the court were sent out to find a power that would stop the darkness before it was too late. The Knights quested long and far for some hope and found it in the items of Aardwolf. These ancient artifacts, crafted by the gods themselves, had power beyond any mortal conception. The Knights returned to their court, only to find that it was too late. The great Faerie Court had been crushed and scattered across the lands, its great magics dispelled forever. The Knights were now lost in purpose. They were blessed with items from the gods, but the Court they had sworn to protect was gone. Circled around the charred remnants of the Opal Throne, they swore an oath - to quest for the land and all of its people until the Faerie Court rose again. Thus were born the Knights of Faerie.

Clan Activities:

• Questing: as much as possible.
  
• Creating interesting quests for all mudders to run with special items or clan cash as rewards.
  
• Coming up with suggestions for quests and global quests.
  
• Promoting the questing system to all mudders.
  
• Occasionally speaking in Olde English.
  
• Creating their own quests as well.
  
• Collecting quest items and getting trivia points.
  
• Hunting down and collecting bounties on Raiders (but not adding to bounties - see note 1).
  

Note 1: The Faerie duties are not to judge, but to carry out sentences.

Note 2: The Faeries feel that one of the reasons behind questing is also keeping the wonder of their heritage alive - On the Great Quest they saw many incredible things.

Note 3: The Faeries take great stock in simply exploring the many wonders of their world just to experience them - they do not care as much about mapping or recording them. (e.g. As Twinlobes or Seekers do.)

Note 4: We may want to be kind of kender-like, only without the stealing and trouble making (just the curious personality, etc.)

Problems with this idea included:

• The idea of knights was far too overused (Emerald, Light, Crusaders), too many knighthoods were already on the mud - the theme and name would have to be changed.
  
• How would promotion be run?
  
• Would there be a clan tax?
  
• And biggest of all, how would recruitment be decided?
  

Note: Clans that were looked at closely in creating Daoine were: Twinlobe, Bard, Crusader and Hook. All were chosen for their original concepts and activities within the clan.

January 12, 1998:

• The model for the clan takes a huge turn when Puck (while searching for synonyms for faerie) stumbles across some real fae mythology that is amazingly close to the story the group has made up:
  • Tuatha de Danann (pronounced "Tootha day danan") - They once ruled Ireland, but fled underground when Ireland was conquered by the Milesians. When they were driven underground, they became the Daoine Sidhe. Their few remaining descendants are believed to make up the Seelie Court.
    
  • Daoine Sidhe - This is the name assumed by the Tuatha de Danann when the Milesians drove them underground. Their King is Finvarra, who to this day hold court in his palace beneath the faerie hill of Knockma. They are skilled chess players, and no human has ever beaten Finvarra in a game. Finvarra is a womanizer, frequently kidnapping human women. The Daoine Sidhe are also quite fond of hurling. (Hurling is an odd cross between field hockey and lacrosse, as many of you have told me. Thanks!)
    
  • Seelie Court - They are a good-natured aristocracy of faeries. They are fond of riding in long solemn processions called faerie rides. They are believed to be the last of the Tuatha de Danann. Their evil opposite is the Unseelie Court.
    
    Source: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/3351/
    
    
• This theme is so perfect for the clan that it is quickly adopted and more research into Celtic mythology is done.
  
• The group also discovers that clan applications will be due at the end of February, and so they step up their efforts. A draft of the clan application is written and begins to be revised.
  

January 12 - February 15:

• The clan application is edited, reedited and finalized.
  
• During this period, DaMan had to drop from the group for personal reasons.
  
• Some ideas that were dropped from the final application:
  
  1. Asking for speedwalks could get you a demotion. (Too harsh.)
     
  2. A tax rate of 15%. (Taxes are bad.)
     
  3. To join, a player would have to donate to the clan 1/10 of all currently carried money, both on hand and in the bank, or 1000gp per level of experience, whichever is greater; and 1/10 of all currently held quest points. (Just plain mean!)
  4. Raiding with permission of leaders. (There are many other great ways to get revenge!)
     
  5. Ability to "purchase" ranks with money. (Just a touch unfair.)
     
• Names considered (in chronological order):
  
  1. Knights of Faerie
     
  2. Disciples of (BLANK)
     
  3. Gypsies
     
  4. Court of Sidhe
     
  5. Sidhe Order
     
  6. Daoine Sidhe
     

February 27, 1998:

• The completed application is turned in.
  
• Betting begins on clans - Daoine receives very good odds.
  

March 14, 1998:

• Daoine is created as a clan on Aardwolf!