MANIERASL VOL 1 ISSUE 4 HAPPILY EVER? | Page 53

LEXIE LUKAS The fantasy Torgan Empire took its name from the city of Torg, named for the large dark birds, the famed Black Crows called Torgs. The mysterious Dark Empress, Lexie of Dragonmount rules from the Empire’s capital on the Island of Shadows. THE DARK EMPRESS OF DRAGONMOUNT IN THE TORGAN EMPIRE our role-play, I have the great fortune to play the character my dad created for me in my childhood, a magical templar.” Of the benefits of being a woman in role play, Lukas contends, “I am wired as a woman; therefore, that part is second nature. My character Lexie Lukas reflected on her own has the opportunity to role play situchildhood and the roots of her pas- ations, and study reactions, which sion for role play, “My father was my allow me to more fully understand best friend as I was growing up. He the limitations and gifts of femininand my mother raised me to beity. She acknowledged that there are lieve I could do or be anything, and negatives as well, “Just as in real life, shared their time with me willingly. there are some who have prejudices Our family has a rich history which which we cannot change. We can was carried along as oral tradition. through our actions though show My father told me the stories as I we are not commodities and will not grew up, and practiced through be bullied. Unfortunately with the example how a knight might have anonymity of SL, bullies do become lived in the best of all scenarios. In bolder in their attacks.” high school I studied classical music and Shakespeare. Our school had Lukas further shared,” I am a a medieval group, complete with sensitive introvert, much like many costumes, dance, instruments, and of the really happy avatars in SL. We feasts. My first role plays were perthrive in an environment where we forming madrigal music and dance can find our counterparts and a real with our troupe.” peer group which may elude us in RL. I have met so many wonderProviding some insight into ful people in this space; it makes women of power in role play, Lukas me feel humbled by the experience. offered, “In both medieval role play I wouldn’t have missed it for the and behind role play, power is a very world! fluid thing, and carries with it a very steep price. One cannot gain power In closing, Lukas spoke of the by a title. Although they may gain miracle of SL, “The miracle of Secsome ability to control the actions ond Life can translate into real life of others, those actions will