Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1997 01:26:33 -0500 From: BARBARA HARRIS Subject: INT:History and Description of the HHR -- [ From: Barbara Harris * EMC.Ver #2.5.1 ] -- It struck me that newcomers might not feel free to join in for the Valentine Gala since they don't know the layout of the Haven... here's a history and description I wrote and posted last May... The Haven for Hopeful Romantics began it's existence as Barbara's ideal Writing Room *if money were no object*, (which it wasn't after Barbara won a multi-million dollar Virtual Lottery and wrote a best- selling novel about a frog-kissing princess) in response to an exercise given to the List by Miko. The Writing Room grew into Frog Haven, home for the Harem of Dr. Alcmaeon Frog. Barbara, aka Bunny, had been assigned the job of Chief Concubine of the Harem just before Dr. Frog left on a vacation to England but, alas, the Frog returned in a state of wedded bliss with his beautiful bride, Ardenn, and the Harem was dissolved. The Haven became the Haven for Hopeless Romantics for a time, as the devastated Harem dealt with their broken hearts, but as a healing began to take place, Barbara decided that a change of attitude was in order, and renamed it The Haven for Hopeful Romantics. There was no need to change the HHR on the front gate or the towels. For a very short while, the Haven was also known as The Haven for Haunted Romantics , but through BT's clever reappearance at his own Wake, Chris Vaughan finally took his ghoulies and ghosties away to the Dysmal Keep, and ever since, there has been a required balance kept between the two kingdoms. The Haven is for the lighter, more hopeful side of fantasy. The Keep for the darker, gloomier, more horrific side. When the Keep gets too cheery, or the Haven gets too dismal... beware!... it has consequences in the other realm as well! Many on WRITERS have been known to take up dual residency in both Haven and Keep, moving from one to the other as suits their current mood. The Haven is an elegant yet informal estate with it's roots in the wooded, hilly Connecticut countryside, a retreat for Writers who need to get away to a quiet place to write. One can enter through the wide cast iron gates at the front entrance, where two foot tall verdigris bronze frogs commemorating the romance of Alcmaeon and Ardenn welcome the newcomer. The huge main house is built of Connecticut fieldstone, but patterned after a Cotswold Cottage. Many of the Writers on the List have written in suites in the main house or on the grounds, and all are welcome to do so. As soon as you describe your suite, Virtual Builders will have it built. The Haven is serviced by transporters. (When you write in a suite, you have one sitting in the corner of your room... just jump in! It leads to the main transporter in the front hall of the Haven.) Other choices of transportation are also available, of course. When needed, the Haven also has a force field for protection, and while I prefer New England's changing seasons, one resident wrote in climate control, so you have a choice. To the East of the house, near the front gate, and opposite the front door, there is a large Frog Pond, looking as beautiful as a Monet painting, covered in lily pads. Beyond the pond is a mud bog where Judy's pair of purple pigs, sent her by Wayne, play. To the West are the beautiful Gardens, filled with flowers, herbs, and fruiting trees and shrubs. Here is a covered Well where Dr. Frog and BT often take up residence. The Haven's Unicorn can often be seen wandering here also. The Unicorn was brought to the Haven from Atlantis by Jim Isbell. To the North is a beautiful mountain range with crystal lake, and caves, in one of which lives Izzy. To the South is a Caribbean beach, with the Island of Atlantis, currently sunk below the surface due to a massive tidal wave, just off the coast. Jim Isbell docks his boat at a pier on the beach. To the Southeast, are the Haven's Stables (run by Cheryl, the only one authorized to care for the Unicorn) and the new Kennels, home of Lady Colleen and Lord Seamus (two purebred Irish Setters), and Shurlock the Punny Puppy (Kathleen). Next to the Haven, Chad has built a giant Redwood Treehouse, with an entry beneath into the Underground Realms, which include the Crystal City of Gothmale and the Blue River, Gothmaur. One reaches the riverside by following the downward sloping tunnel with the blue line. The yellow line leads to Chad's secluded cabin in the woods. What other trails are still undiscovered, and may be found? One can only imagine! Barbara's suite in the main house contains her Writing Room, with an entrance to secret passages and escape routes behind one bookcase, a Holosuite (programmed for frog fantasies, and home of Hagatha, Barbara's HoloClone) behind another. In one corner is a spiral staircase leading up to Barbara's Octagonal Tower, where she has her private bedroom and bath, and an observation deck overlooking the entire Haven. At the other end of the main house, is Raini's Circular Tower, built to also house her Dragon, Egideas in his full size... therefore fireproofed as well. The estate also has Catherine, the librarian by day, to care for the many books everyone brings in. (At night she turns into the mysterious Cathy B, sin twin to Claudia of Circus fame.) Many others have added their own suites throughout the Haven, and Cottages and Cabins on the grounds. Rqy and Xiao have been known to wander the house, sleeping on sofas and sneaking into bedrooms of the female residents to steal undergarments. As one enters the front door of the Haven, one steps onto an Escher Frog tiled floor. The Front Hall is a huge gathering room, tastefully decorated in green and white, where the Valentine's Party was held. Barbara's Writing Room is to the right of the hall, with a doorway to the rear leading into the Frog Sanctuary, a place for quiet repose, with a huge stained glass window depicting the Frog upholding the Universe. There is also a room with a large heated swimming pool, and trampolene, which was the gathering place a while back for a chocolate wrestling match. To the left of the hall are various parlors and lounges for quiet visiting. Graceful staircases curve up to the second floor from the back of the Hall, with the entrances to the Kitchen and the indoor heated Pool behind the stairs. All WRITERS are welcome to design suites or cottages at the Haven, and participate in the goings-on in the Haven itself. On-going stories, such as The Crystal City may be joined by anyone who's willing to stick with the story for a time, and write themselves out when they must, but we request that you read the guidelines for Interactive Stories, get to know the other characters involved, and follow the story for a while before jumping in. You may also start a new story within the setting at any time. Just please title it and use both HHR and the title in your subject line. For further information... you can always ask me! @>->->-------- Love & --------<-<-<@ Light, Barbara Barbara Harris Haven for Hopeful Romantics TCZJ32B@Prodigy.com #%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%# "What is most important is invisible...the eyes are blind. One must look with the heart..." _The Little Prince_ -Antoine de St. Exupery #%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%#%# ------- FORWARD, End of original message ------- -- @>-->-->------ Love & ------<--<--<@ Light, Barbara, wishing Spring would get sprung! @)--,--'-- @>-->-->-- @}~~~~~ @)--,--'-- @>-->-->-- @}~~~~~ @)--,--'-- Population, when unchecked, increases in a geometrical ratio. Subsistence only increases in an arithemetical ratio. -Thomas Robert Malthus (1798!) (He said that without seeing "The Trouble with Tribbles"!) --'--,--(@ --<--<--<@ ~~~~~{@ --'--,--(@ --<--<--<@ ~~~~~{@ --'--,--(@ Barbara Harris ~ TCZJ32B@Prodigy.com "The A-Bomb enables no man." -Bigfoot Heh, and I thought the *Adam* bomb caused the population explosion! -Hagatha, wielding Eternal PUN-ishment.