and if Leah and George look a little bruised and scratched, my sincere apologies and grateful thanks, also to Ehlana who, though with child herself following an "industrial accident", provided me with kind words and more booze. There was much grunting, shouting, swearing and pushing in the Bacchus tent that afternoon - I wished they'd all just shut up and leave me alone to drink my beer in peace.

Shortly after delivery the camp was attacked by Unseelie Fea. s'Kallion of the Beastmen nobly came to our aid and carried the baby to safety over the back wall, taking him to Albion and the Temple guard while Iggy let me cry on his shoulder. Sincere 'thank yous' to them both for their kindness and to s'Kallion and Her Majesty Queen Elspeth Karlennon for graciously agreeing to be the child's guardians. Let it be known that all followers of Bacchus owe a debt of gratitude to the courageous s'Kallion who twice managed to get Dionysus to safety that day.

At the evening ritual to welcome the child, Bacchus again intervened and the baby was snatched from my arms and replaced with a young man &endash; Dionysus grown &endash; sped through the trials of childhood by ancestral intervention. Before I had time to come to terms with the shock of loss, the ritual circle was invaded by undead and I was struck down. When I was aided to consciousness, there was nothing left. Remy lay silent on the ground behind me and outside Jac was frozen in mid sword blow. All about was silence and frozen bodies, no-one knew where my child had gone. I was flown back to camp by Raven of the Unicorns to whom in gratitude I have also promised my aid should she ever require it. Let it be known that she is also a friend of Bacchus.

Queen Elspeth offered me her hospitality and did much to calm me until Dionysus returned with s'Kallion. Goodness knows, she's had enough problems of her own with Elias, yet her heart still has room to comfort others.

Dionysus seems a fine young man, though it's odd getting to know him as a stranger, and I feel somewhat cheated out of teaching him the usual things, walking, talking, eating without dribbling, potty training... but he calls me Mother, has already saved my life once on the battle field and is a fine companion in the local inn, what more could a woman ask?

Out of concern over the health and well being of s'Ting, s'Pika's adopted daughter, currently on hunger strike, I have offered her my home and my motherly warmth in the hope that I can encourage her to begin eating again. She has refused any and all assistance so far but has agreed, in the light of her recent berevement, to consider the offer.

My heart also goes out at this time to Her Majesty Queen Elspeth who, with the sudden and unexpected demise of s'Pika, has her own son to worry about. After the deaths of two of those contributing to stabilising Elias' pattern, s'Pika's donation became dominant and Elias took on Beastman characteristics, so much so that I hardly recognised him when he greeted me recently. What will happen to him now that S'pika is gone and Elias only has three "patches" left is anyone's guess.