The person who played Aurora.

Sarapis

I come bearing very bad news unfortunately. I'm just going to repost (with her permission) what she posted, as word is going to get around quickly anyway:

Disclaimer: Do not dare feel sorry or sad, that is not the purpose of this little tale. It's more that I would rather friends hear this from me than some random chat and then feel upset I hadn't told them.

A bit of background: after struggling on and off for a while with back issues, and after finally thinking it was sorted, some months ago I began to get shoulder and hip pains. As you do, you trust your healthcare system, and I went through several avenues for advice and treatment. Most gently suggested losing weight and exercising would be beneficial, copious amounts of meds switched hands etc etc and still things went from bad to worse. 2.5 weeks ago I had just received acupuncture, more advice on meds, and bought an exercise bike.

2 weeks ago yesterday I was rushed into hospital with 8 days of vomiting, the latter 2 unable to keep liquids down. Imagine my shock 8 hours later when I was informed I had lesions on my shoulder which was an indication of bone cancer, and would need admitting for more tests...

So here I am, 3 weeks on. I have primary breast cancer which has then spread into bones - both shoulders, several vertebrae and, the worst area, my right hip. The bones are being eaten away by some tiny pacman who seems to like chomping on them. I have so little bone in my right hip that I'm on permanent bed rest until they can work out what the hell they can do.

Answers:
It is Not curable. 
They can treat it (at this point anyway) and hope to manage it to give me more time.
I do not know how much time I have but I plan to feel blessed for every day.
A simple X-ray could have brought this to light months ago.
Don't ever accept brush offs or be made to feel it is in your head and not really bad, from medical personnel.
Don't be as nice as I was, and accept people telling you it's ok when you know it's not.

Anyway, I'm still in hospital, I have my iPhone, pad, and a big smile. Some days are ok and some days, when my calcium levels go sky high, I am ill and don't want to talk.

I don't need sympathy. I need gossip, funny stories, grumbles, anything really apart from people wanting to feel upset at my situation. As a wise friend told me yesterday "people being upset at you are people who make it all about themselves when it should be about you." I just want smiles and laughter!

Go home tonight and hug your family. Don't hold grudges till the end of time. Tell your kids and parents you love them. Time is too short to waste being angry, and I plan on spending my time being happy.

That's all, folks.

#micdrop

Sarapis

I'm in shock and tears, but we're setting up a fund to help Lindsey's daughter's life be a little easier (she's only 13 or so). We put in $3k and will match the next $3k in donations dollar for dollar.

You can find the fund here! https://www.gofundme.com/fund-for-aimee-vaughn

Siduri

@Aurora : You were the best divine player I could have ever hoped for. Just, thank you for every single moment you shared with us.

I'm not sure what gossip to share with you, however, but I'll think of something 

Nicola

We don't have a lot of useful words in the Garden right now, but let's give this amazing lady what she's asked for.

So we're calling on you all, funny stories, Achaean gossip, and grumbles. Go!

Kogan

Thanks so much for having the strength to share this with all of us. I am sure I'm on board with the rest of the community when I say we're appreciative of all you did to make this a fun breathing world. I never got the chance to interact with you but I've read about those who have and I know you made a huge impact on them both here and in their daily lives. I will definitely keep you in my thoughts and prayers. @Sarapis please keep us updated on the fund. I am definitely interested in helping how I can!

Talamond

I heard that one time, @Tesha finally got killed for making a pun in @Aurora's presence at Silverbright Square. Being a fan of Tesha-isms, I am still nervous that @Deucalion will finally get tired of my smart mouth.

Aralaya

After Aralaya got married and was having a party, @Aurora and @Deucalion gave her a favor, helped get me to 78

Kayeil

We also never interacted, but I had fun times with Lady Pandora when she would look up to you as a big sister type and make adorable paper armour with gold glitter to look just like yours that she wore for quite some time. Or the other time she tried to figure out a gift and decided to stuff a toad full of fireflies to give you a "glow toad." Even though you weren't directly involved in the interaction, it only happened because of you and they are some of my favorite memories with her. Thank you for being so strong and sharing your story with everyone when you didn't have to. My mom had aggressive breast cancer several years ago and has a high chance of it coming back in some form and this reminds me of her and is very cautionary in keeping an eye on it because it can be easy to take it for granted that she is okay right now. As Kogan said, you clearly made a great impact on a lot of people here because there have always been so many nice things said about you. Greys is my IC father and I know after the loss of Shallam and Sentaari you and your Order in the game were one of the things that helped keep him going whereas so many had left or just given up and moved to other cities. So thank you for being there for those who needed you in a time of huge uncertainty in Achaea where everything they'd known had been gone. Now it is time for everyone to be there for you.

Prythe

Wow. What everybody else is saying.

Just wow.

Antonius

Talamond said:

I heard that one time, @Tesha finally got killed for making a pun in @Aurora's presence at Silverbright Square. Being a fan of Tesha-isms, I am still nervous that @Deucalion will finally get tired of my smart mouth.

More than once, I think! Tesha used to get zapped all. the. time. for making puns on the Order channel. Not always fatal, but some of them were!

Talamond

When baby Targs get out of line, we tell them that Mommy is still watching.

Edit: I hear @Farrah told Mhaldor the same thing during the war.

Miriew

I don't really ever forum (this'll be my first post actually), but I'd like to take the time here to thank you for being one of the people that took the time to help make such an incredible world to lose yourself in. Really excellent Divine make all the difference, and the commitment to it is a huge thing. Just coming off the tail end of dealing with a similar situation personally, hugest mental hugs possible and a goofy smile for the strength you're showing by continuing to share yourself. Best to you!

Firefox

You weren't the Aurora that I harassed and gave a hard time, so I'm sorry we didn't have that fun. But you were excellent, and even in how little time I had during your reign, you made an impression. My best to you.

E:

And all of Aetolia passes on hugs. Scary vampire hugs are what we have, but we give them.

Oceana

I think you felt bad for stealing Oceana's son Moco as he went to Targossas, and made sure there was a wonderful garden where she could visit him. Thank you for caring so much. 

Torinn

When talking to others like Siduri or Micaelis the one thing I keep hearing consistently is that they miss you.  Siduri in particular told me how you would get to know each person individually and ask for updates on their lives.  It takes a next level person to play a Divine that way.  

Also for my story, it's not strictly about you but something I think would make you smile, Deucalion visited once and was asking about Talamond's pet bats.  Saying that he had to name them or some such since that's what mortals like doing.  Laniara then gave Deucalion a pet bat, much to His amusement.  We're still waiting to see what He names it and if it turns into a Firebat (I'm hoping for Starcraftian description).  

Jerami

I didn't know you as this char, but I remember a former one.

I was just being inducted into the Order, and was on Clockwork.  You spoke to me and I rushed to my ship.  I grabbed a token of Charbydis and said, "Ship rescue me!" ...Only when I said that, you had already summoned me to your temple.  I was half mortified, half terrified, and more than confused.  You simply laughed.

Then, of course, not much later, there was the delightful exchange where Tesha did her, "What was the little pebble's wish?" "To be boulder!" I remember you raising your arms and zapping her.  That was quite funny!

Light protect.

Myna

I never interacted with you but again, to what everyone else is saying, you were part of what made Achaea so rich and textured. I don't have any Achaean funny stories to share with you, so I'm going to tell you about one of the most awkward things that ever happened to me.

I am generally an awkward person. But here I am, clutching my scant groceries to my chest, idly waiting in line. The cashier I am three people away from reaching is a young girl, maybe a few years younger than me, and she has braces. Having recently gotten rid of my own adult braces I thought of commiserating with her while I stood there. But then thinking it would probably be pretty weird to comment on her teeth, especially since I no longer had my own set of teeth-torture devices, I decided to keep quiet.

The next people pass in front of me and then it's my turn and I load my things onto the belt, exchange pleasantries - so much more normal than commenting on her braces!

Disaster strikes.

She asks me "cash or debit".

I respond: "Braces".

She stares at me and I have to explain my weird thought process because I'm a weird person.


- - -

Or the time, in my first year of Uni in a new city, when a family friend had lent me her FRIENDS dvds during a week-long hospital stay of mine. When she called me and asked "Do you have friends?"

I thought she was enquiring into my social-well being, and caught unprepared to answer such a direct question I answered, sadly, "No...."

Only for her to cough and clarify, "...I meant my DVDs"

- -

I hope these things bring a smile to your face at the very least. You'll be in my thoughts.

Voc

It was crazy, the other day I saw a follower of Lady Aurora surrounded by swirling green lights fighting against Dark wizards who had summonded a serpent eating its own tail and trying to turn it into gold.

The only time I've seen an Auroran Auror with an aurora aura aurifying an ouroboros.

An attempt was made, but more importantly, I hope your life is filled with love and joy.

Nicola

I can't share much of the Garden shenanigans, but I remember being a new blue celani and gossiping horribly with Rory because our mortals had text-dated the same guy. Many awful details were shared, other things compared. It was shameless, hilarious, and very inappropriate.

Talamond

Torinn said:

When talking to others like Siduri or Micaelis the one thing I keep hearing consistently is that they miss you. 

Can confirm.

Torinn said:

Deucalion visited once and was asking about Talamond's pet bats.

"Creatures need names."
(Long pause)
"Do not name him Ears, or Batty."

Shayde

Aurora,

I never knew you in real life, but the divine you played left such an impact on my now retired character Jeslyn Vorondil. From my Character’s marriage (which you sent the prettiest letter & favour) to the end of Cyrenian devotion, you were consistently a light. Thank you for all of those special moments you gave us Cyrenian devotionists. Thank you for scaring me when you randomly “yanked” me into your presence. Thank you for placing the responsibility on me to give the last Diasporan Sermon in Cyrene (even though I was scared shitless when a dozen Targossians showed up too). I am so happy to play a game with quality divine.

Much love.

Funny picture for you:

Nylian

I have not interacted with you at any point, but I would like to share this log of my first interaction with a divine: http://theitblog.net/turned_to_toad.html

You asked for funny stories afterall!

Aereidhna

I never got to know you ICly, but my heart is with you and your family.

Taif

SO. This is Kasya/Ephram and a few others and I'm not going to name names. But when Eph was a little baby priest in Cyrene he *may* have been one of the reasons devotion needed to be revamped RP wise because he may or may not have blessed your mortal with all them shields and stuff on your quest to dragon. That may have happened. And then y'know, on Kas, I may have found out you played Rory and that may have strengthened my resolve to get back into Targ and be a good priestess. 

Anyway. Yeah. We can gossip later. I like gossip.

Rohai

Lady A,

Sending so much love and positivity your way. I can't think of any funny anecdotes to share at the moment, which is a bit of a shock given my proclivity for embarrassing myself in hilarious new ways daily. In the mean time, I hope you enjoy these pictures of a tiny corgi I met last week.

It may be cheesy, but you bring so much Light into all of our lives, in game and out. I hope that you'll keep us posted on how you are feeling and how we can support you and your family.

All the best 

Atalkez

I'm sad for her and her daughter. I already have condolences on the initial post.

Aurora was always the person that kept tabs on me, no matter what city I was in at the time. She never gave up hope that I would come back to Targossas, and so when I did I chose Her order instead of Deucalion (which he didn't like I'm sure, after all his work). I'll never forget all of the random conversations at 2am that kept me interested in that side of the game. It takes a lot to remember someone enough to speak to them regularly, when you don't actually see them daily. I'll always appreciate that.

My favorite memories so far were when I hugged her and she smiled instead of killing me. Or when I killed Tesha in front of her, and I got slapped for it (literally slapped) by her. 

I was sad sad when she hung it up, since it took me so long to come back around, but I understood. I know she will keep positive through this, and I'm super happy to see that.

@Sarapis that donation is awesome man, really. You guys aren't perfect, but whether or not you care has never really been questioned. This just reinforced that.

Jurixe

Jurixe will never forgive you for stealing her Mhaldorian serpent BFFs!

But also in other news, I just wanted to share that I used to write stories, even as a child of 4-5, and my school had them laminated. One of my stories went along these lines:

One day I was walking on the sidewalk. Then suddenly I looked down and saw an ant. I went home and got on a plane and flew to Australia.

I remember why I chose Australia, too - it was the only country I knew that started with A and A is for ant so of course it had to make sense like that, you know. It seemed sound to five year old me!

Sending good (and funny) thoughts. Thank you for all you did for Achaea.

Melodie

Shock and sadness is my original reaction, but I expect that to be the norm around here.

Moving past that, I would have to say I have one of the most awkwardly interesting yet hostile relationships with Aurora on a in-character basis. It obviously ended pretty badly, with my last interaction with her killing me the first time I defiled one of her shrines and shouting about hiding behind someone's skirts, but I have to say, I appreciated every moment of the ups and downs we shared. Of course, the particular moment that stands out was the day you granted Melodie her devotion back - while that may have been seemingly fleeting to most people, that exacting moment in Achaea has been, bar none, the absolutely most highest joy I ever felt playing in nearly a dozen years. I was both crying IRL and IG, and absolutely breathless because I couldn't believe it (especially considering what preceded it). Nothing I experienced before compared, and nothing has since. If anything, that was something of a peak for me, so I both love and hate you for it!

A ton of shit happened that you and I never saw eye to eye on, but I will say: You always had your faction's best interests at heart, so I can never fault that, or how hard you worked for it. You made so many people's lives better and more interesting in Achaea, and thus brought a lot of joy to people around the world because of it. For that, I am sure you will always be beloved.

Thanks for changing Mel's story that, while I would have never chosen it for myself, ended up in a place I have come to adore. I'll need to see if I can find some funny gossip to share. Do take care.

P.S. - Also I 110% stole Aodfionn and you can't have him back. Mwhahaha!

Frederich

I never really got to meet you, Rory, but I think I met you in passing once.  You inclined your head politely to me, a random Cyrenian in Targossas.

It was awesome.

Mean girls esque stuff aside, it's really sad to hear about this sort of shit.  I've had to deal with it before, and last you I had to just be away for awhile due to it.  I'm on a bit of a break from the game to really try and recollect myself, but that's besides the point.

We challenged Mhaldor to war and won!  It was really well organized by Farrah and pretty much everyone in the Garden (and everyone else too!)
I got inducted into the Caefir, and have been having a wonderful time with everyone here in Targossas and I just can't begin to fathom how Targossas would be right now without you.  You've done a wonderful job, and I can't wait to see how this all unfolds going further.

I also met my boyfriend through Achaea, and we're still happily going on for almost a year now!  So, I hope you enjoyed hearing, at least a little bit, about what's been going on with us!

Exxia

@Aurora you are by far one of the coolest people ever to play a Divine. Your consistent awesome attitude made it more than a pleasure to work for you.

You got this girl! Love and happiness!

Solnir

I second the thoughts of those who never got the pleasure to really speak with you, but know that you made a positive difference in enough people's lives that .. well, here's hoping you find everything you're looking for. You're missed.