A Wish Upon a Shattered Star

Game Master Dragoncat

”Generally one or two models on a chair or stool, sometimes a standing pose. Painters or illustrators use this for reference - studies to learn the human body for art. Usually a quick sketch, half-hour or so. It’s considered crass to use it as a pick-up venue, though,” explains Azura with a grin. ”Could pay a small amount for your time.”

Mach blinks. "Oh." He nods. "Glad to hear it."

"Sure, I'll come along. Might be fun."

Ulfr gives a deep, rumbling chuckle. That's proof positive you've never fought in the arena. We had nude inspections for infections and signs of illegal tampering all the time.

He turns back to Azura, Will anyone else be strutting their stuff?

"Yep. I'll be giving it a go. Should definitely be fun." Ryn chimes in.

Saersha had just finished her spell preparations when Embyr approached her and considered the question. "I had expected the others to arrive by now but it seems they are otherwise occupied. I suppose it would be best to get your clothing taken care of first." She gathered what she needed and then said, "Come Pet, let's go see the seamstress."

Saersha led Embyr to the shop of Madame Albina's, a seamstress shop owned by a woman from Taldor. The place was very nice, obviously the kind of place the where the wealthy go for clothing. When she entered the shop, with Embyr in tow, she approached one of the workers and said, "I need to speak with Madame Albina."

Meanwhile, Azura leads the curious group through the streets to Saersha's house, but upon knocking at the door discovers that nobody's home.

"I guess she's out. Oh well, maybe next time."

"All right... according to the letter, the gathering is at 93 Palette Street, in the Bridgeward district. Shouldn't be too hard to find. Um... some of the artists are other followers of Arshea, so that does raise the chances of some kind of sexual encounter, so uh, be open-minded and understand that some of the people there may not have the usual cultural mores about gender roles or sexuality that are commonplace."

Azura leads the group northwest to the Bridgeward District - it's not far, situated as it is between the Irespan and the Capital District. This part of the city is punctuated by all manner of high-class artisans: jewelers, painters, rug-weavers, sculptors, and the like, all with neat and tidy homes situated above or behind shopfronts and workspaces. The roads are reasonably clean (for a city) and the street traffic is light - mostly people coming and going to and from shopping for artistic treasures. (It's likely that Azura will sell off some of the artifacts found in the tunnels to an art collector here.)

Azura occasionally stops to ask for directions, though she seems to have a pretty good handle on the city and has no trouble reaching the district proper.

93 Palette Street is along a lane frequented by a variety of artists and art-suppliers. A small and cramped bodega on the corner sells paintbrushes, specialty paper, oils, paints, and charcoals. "Last chance to pick up some supplies if you need them!" says Azura happily. The homes here are painted in whimsical colors, often with well-maintained gardens in front. 93 Palette Street is elevated from the street on a small grassy hillock with a low cobblestone wall around it, a large green door, and shuttered windows. The house is two stories tall, like many in Magnimar, and a flower-covered arch decorates the stone walkway that leads to the front entrance. The stone wall circles around lazily to encompass some amount of yardage, and a pomegranate tree overhangs the edge of a fence with a gate.

Azura knocks at the green door and after a few moments it's opened by a tall, handsome man with an unmistakable family resemblance. His hair is golden like hers, but more of a burnished metallic color; his eyes almost seem to twinkle like stars. He wears something that would be considered ridiculous even in the disco era, an open-front shirt with long, loose pants and no shoes. But he has an incredible symmetry and physically is a model specimen, so he probably is able to get away with a lot of Elvis-like attire without too much commentary.

"Goldbug!" he says with joy, and Azura matches with "Daddy!" and dives in to hug him, burying her head affectionately against his shoulder.

"I see you did decide to bring friends. They know what they're in for, yes?" he says as he steps back after the comforting hug. He waves the group into the domicile.

"The patron for this event is in back; the artists have been setting up their easels. We have a few hors d'ouvres if you feel the need for a snack. The back yard has a high fence to prevent gawkers, but this way the illustrators get natural light," says the half-celestial man in a rich, ease-inducing voice.

"Thanks, daddy," says Azura. "This is my companion Ryn... and Ada, Ulfr, Zev, and Mach. Some of us will be modeling and some just painting or drawing. Everyone, this is my father Cassariel."

The half-celestial gives an easygoing smile and says, "It's good to see so many people involved in the arts. Today of course we will simply appreciate the body's form in its many guises and use this as a course of study. Welcome, everyone, and I hope you will feel the spirit of love today."

The group is ushered into a well-kept house - someone with some degree of wealth, obviously - not too unlike Sheila Heidmarch's home, but this one has much more artistic decor. Instead of maps and pathfinder documents, the walls are festooned with portraits, landscapes, and color studies.

The team passes through a lush sitting room and out a back door to an enclosed garden area, where a dozen artists of various stripes are setting up easels and preparing paints or charcoals. The entire affair is very Bohemian; the artists range from an older human man with very little hair, to a bushy-browed dwarf with a salt-and-pepper beard, to a pair of young women who whisper and giggle to each other while preparing their palettes. A single stool stands in the center of the circle, wooden with four legs and a circular seat.

Cassariel says, "We can get started in just a few more minutes, everyone. I'll work out the schedule of models." He turns to Azura and asks, "So... who's modeling today?"

Azura says, "I will of course, and a few of my friends were potentially interested... anyone want to take the first shot?"

Chime in team! Who wants to be first on the stool? Azura will go first if everyone's super nervous.

Ulfr doesn't speak as they are ushered in. He communicates mainly through slight bows and unobtrusive glances. He seems Very out of place.
When the question of who goes first comes up, he says, I'll be later, if you don't mind.

"No problem, big guy," says Azura. "This way maybe I can do some charcoal work illustration of you too!"

"Anyone else? I'll go first if you want to see how it's done, but honestly there's not much to it - just sitting very still for several minutes while people sketch or paint."

Taking great comfort in Azura's intuitive understanding of what was going on in her head, Ryn squeezes her hand gently as they walk toward the artist district.

Looking around Ryn takes a deep breath. "I'll go first." the galdiatrix volunteers, flashing Azura a grin. "It's a pleasure to meet you Cassariel, I can see where the inextinguishable spark comes from."

"Pleased to meet you, Daddy Goldbug," Zev greets Cassariel with the others as they enter the building. "This is a lovely home." he adds, immediately getting caught up in all the art.

Then he hears the word snacks. "What are hors d'ouvres, are they yummy?" he stage whispers to everyone. Thinking on it since he wasn't painting he looks down at his hands, the scars curving all over. He then looks over to Azura. "If it's just sitting still I should be able to do it, but uh, this," he holds up his hands, "covers the rest of me as well. Is that okay or would that be too hard?"

Azura puts a hand on Zev's shoulder and gives him a squeeze. "Zev, the whole purpose of the exercise is for artists to become familiar with all kinds of poses and bodies. If an artist needs to draw someone moving a particular way, or with particular features, this helps them learn how to do that. Your marks are as instructive as Ryn's or Ulfr's muscles or the lines of my face - a chance to learn. And it's certainly nothing to be ashamed of."

Cassariel chuckles and says, "Hors d'ouvres are small savory dishes. We have some spiced eggs, a selection of cheeses and some olives - just a few things to take the edge off any hunger."

Azura says to her father, "The robe...?" and Cassariel nods. He points to the corner of the room with a wooden screen guarding it and says, "Right over there."

"C'mon, Ryn, let's get you changed," says Azura. She returns to the gladiatrix and takes her hand and gives it a squeeze. "I'll help and I'll lead you out there so there's no confusion." She takes Ryn behind the screen and aids her in changing out of her armaments and into the simple sheer white robe, then brings the tall, defined warrior out to the back yard. She indicates the stool and says, "Find a pose that will be comfortable, or at least one you can hold for about ten minutes at a stretch - we can take a break if you need to, in order to limber up your joints."

The artists quiet as Ryn approaches and pick up their charcoal sticks or paintbrushes in anticipation. One of the young human women whispers something to the other one, who simply nods. The older balding man perks up and seems quite impressed with the specimen in question.

Azura kisses Ryn's hand and then holds hers out for the robe.

Other participants: While I've detailed four of the artists, there are probably a dozen here, so that would also be a great way to contribute to the narrative if you feel like doing so!

Zev gives Azura a warm smile. ”Okay, thanks. I’ll do it then.”

”They sound yummy.” he tells Cassariel after.

When Azura leads Ryn off he watches and listens them to see what all he would need to do. When the Gladaitrix steps out with just the sheer robe he smiles and gives her a thumbs up. Off the side a gnome woman with glasses furiously readjusts her stool as the two women approach before clambering up to the top and giddly preparing her palette.

Ulfr scans the assembled artists like he would a gaggle of newcomers to the Arena. He takes note of each, measuring them. Then he realizes that he won't be invited to fight any of them and feels even more out of his league. This was an experience completely alien to him and his senses were all dialed up to eleven. He felt like a hawk in a cage.
Outwardly, this manifested through his folded arms and stone-still, rock hard posture.

Slightly nervous, more at the more personal nature of the gathering than anything else....she was used to roaring crowds, after all, Ryn heads back and changes into the sheer robe, grateful or Azura's help.

Stepping out and going to the stool she notes the artists taking in their subject, some with a detached appraisal, like the older bespectacled man in the corner, already considering angles of light and shadow, others giving her a far more appreciative glance like the ones often caught at the public bathhouse.

The kiss of her hand filling her with a warm confidence, she slips off the robe, handing it to the beautiful bard and moves to the stool, leaning against it with one hand in a way that supported her, while giving her the opportunity to naturally flex her body. Holding the position wouldn't be a problem, it was nothing compared to holding a heavy steel shield in position for half an hour against hammer attacks while training.

Taking a moment to take in the honed body of the Gladiatrix, her muscles, her curves, her scars, he smiles as his attention is caught by the sudden chorus of scritching and swishing as the artists went to work. He was absolutely elated watching all the different ways they depicted his friend, which area they focused on, how each one was completely different in depicting the same person.

Cassariel nods to Ulfr and says, "A warrior, eh? You have the stance and the tension. Still, if you're used to the ring, you're used to being on display - this is much the same, without the violence."

The half-celestial gives a wry grin and says, "Try some of the soft brie - it's quite tasty, and the dark wine is an excellent pairing with it. It'll be a few minutes while the artists warm up with your friend there. Marvelous, by the way. Both of you are excellent artistic models, with prime musculature that helps to understand the motion and build of the body."

In the garden, Azura backs away as Ryn takes a pose, and watches quietly with her hands clasped for a few moments. Then she fetches a sketch board and a charcoal stick and starts working on a small, rough sketch.

Cassariel moves out to the yard after giving Ulfr his pep talk, and starts looking at the various works as the painters start. He nods occasionally, tilting his head this way and that. He pauses at the two young ladies who were whispering to each other, and one of them says something to him with a worried expression, but he gives an easy response with a kind smile and the woman immediately grins and goes back to her sketching. He stops by the dwarf and, looking at the bearded man's sketch, he says, "Are... you quite sure that's where you're going with the proportions?"

The dwarf, holding out a thumb for scale as he regards Ryn, replies, "Aye, you all have these gangly legs and skinny shoulders! This is as good an opportunity as any to see what it would be like if'n a right muscular human had real dwarf blood."

Cassariel chuckles and says, "Well, my friend, I suppose you could make drawings or paintings of dwarves all day long that way."

The balding man next to the dwarf speaks up in a slightly-nasally tone and says, "This model is exceptional. The definition - the tone - the combination of taut skin and powerful build. This is the kind of model that I need! A perfect study of how the body is built, where the muscles turn and bend and flex, how the joints move and connect - we've started with the best today."

Cassariel chuckles once more and then continues moving among the artists, giving encouragement or asking simple questions. As he finishes moving around the circle he says to Ryn, "Did you want to do a second pose, or is that enough for now?"

The balding man immediately says, "The forward bend was fantastic, can I get a twist with the torso?"

Cassariel replies, "Now, now, it's her choice. We can ask one of the other models to do that later, if you still want those angles."

As usual, anyone else can feel free to jump in with comments from your own character or one of the artists, and Ryn can decide if she wants to do a second pose or move on to the next person.

The gnome fidgets for a moment before holding up her hand. Then quickly lowering it when she just simply asks ”I’d love to work with your abs, if that’s something you’d like to do.”

Ryn smiles, feeling much more at ease and enjoying the appreciation. "I can do another. Hmmm...a twist...and a focus on my abs?" she says thinking for a moment.

Looking around she moves over to a slightly sloped part of the landscaping, taking up a pose that looked as if she were momentarily frozen in battle, perhaps readying the throw her shield, tensing her muscles as she would while readying to attack.

"How's this?"

Except..y'know, naked.

2nd choice

”Awesome!” the gnome squeaks before she furiously goes back to her paints.

Ulfr finds Cassariel's encouragement to be a catalyst for an integral debate he didn't have the words to express. He's still not sure he can.

Rage. His rage, the state of instinct he sought, couldn't be frozen. It couldn't be held or seized in place like that. Ryn's style was technique and practiced power. His was adaptive, changing. How can he represent it in a way that these people, who know nothing of him or his experiences, can capture?

He had to show them. How? Well, he was, at his core, a storyteller. Or that's what he was trying to become. But they were here for his strength.

He gets an idea and starts to wander about looking for something.

Meanwhile, one of the artists in the circle, a slender elf with rainbow stained fingers, is just staring and staring for the longest time. Suddenly he looks down, his fingers drive into his palette, and he starts furiously but precisely finger-painting!

Ada stops to pick up some parchment and charcoal before following the group to the party.

"So nice to meet you sir. It's very nice of you to let us come to your party." she says shyly. She's in awe of the beautiful art on the walls as she makes her way to the back of the house.

"Did you see that painting along the wall over there? The water looked real. It's beautiful." she whispers to Zev as she tugs on his hand and points out the painting. "The sea is so pretty don't you think."

As Ryn comes out to pose, she sets up, and starts to draw. It's not very good she's a librarian not an artist. She smiles as she hears the dwarf explain his drawing. "You should ask her to pose with her shield. It would be amazing."

She leans a little to the left and looks over at a pencil drawing a styx male is doing. "Nice job. I think her waist is a littler wider than that, and her um chest not so large. Wait until Azura poses. Then your dimensions would be more...um...correct." she quickly goes back to her own drawing.

Ada's sitting next to Rob Liefeld

Would have no feet and pouches everywhere

Cassariel gives what advice he can, then as the artists finish up their work, he gestures for Azura to come over and bring the robe. Azura dutifully drapes the robe over Ryn and hands her the sash to tie it.

"Who's next?" asks the balding man, and Cassariel turns to him. "Shall we have one of the good fellows?" He heads to the kitchen to look for Zev. "Are you willing to take a turn as the model?"

Azura, meanwhile, leads Ryn back to the screen so that she can get changed back.

”Ooo, it is!” Zev tells Ada when she points out the painting of the sea to him.

——

”Oh, sure!” Zev answers when Cassariel comes for him. ”What pose do you think I should do?”

Tying the sash closed, Ryn heads back with Azura to get changed, the smile on her face and light in her eyes making it clear how much she enjoyed the experience.

Mach can't help but stare at Ryn's impressive musculature as she models for the congregation of artists, but soon he finds himself awkwardly looking away, back at the entrance to the courtyard.

Leaning against the wall in the entranceway to the courtyard is a beautiful brown-skinned elven woman, her long black hair neatly braided into several long rows that fall freely down her back. She wears a light cloth top, loose white cloth trousers and sandals, and her golden eyes gleam in the sunlight. She eyes Ryn with a mixture of an aesthetically appreciative eye and a rather lustful one as she poses.

"Mr. Cassariel? When the gentleman there's finished, mind if I step up?" She asks, strutting forward with a confidence that practically radiates from her like burning heat. Her arms are remarkably toned, her movements graceful and purposeful--not a stumble, not a stagger, not a shuffle or a twitch.

"Oh, of course!" The radiant celestial grins and gives her a little bow. "Now, Zev? Choose whatever pose you would feel the most comfortable with--preferably one that doesn't tire you out quickly."

Zev nods, an excited nervousness making him not pay all that much attention to the newcomer. That and the need to concentrate to make sure he didn't give anything away.

Stripping out his clothes Zev, absent a tail, steps up, and then onto the stool. Bracing his legs he crouches and grabs the front of it in a perch. "Is this okay?"

Azura takes the opportunity to scribble a charcoal sketch, though she seems slightly puzzled as she moves back and forth, taking different locations as she tries to get a good angle to draw Zev.

"That's just fine!" she says encouragingly to Zev. "Don't mind me, just trying to get the right angle."

Back in her regular clothing Ryn watches as they draw Zev, looking a nit puzzled herself as the what happened to hit tail.

Kinda waiting on you Oh Great and Mighty GM (TM).

Ada pulls out another parchment, and starts to draw Zev. She keeps her face down toward the paper and just glances in his direction.

If anyone looks over her shoulder at they drawing, they see someone with pointed ears and a wolf like tail. "It's just an interpretation. Nothing to it. The next model may be a lion. I don't know." she replies if asked.

Sorry for the delay! Kinda got swamped with my practicum placement.

Arshean Artistry

The congregated artists get to work sketching Zev in his perched pose, eyeing him with mostly aesthetics in mind. Fifteen minutes pass before Cassariel claps his hands together.

"Time!" He beckons Zev to get down from the stool. "Now, miss...?" He turns to look at the elven woman.

"Nyxra. Nyxra Ilphukiir." She replies, casually stretching her arms back. Her shirt rides up a bit, exposing some well-toned abdominal muscles.

"Of course. I've no objection to you modelling next if no one else does."

Mach seems to relax greatly when the elf introduces herself.
------------

Zev happily hops down. "That was fun, kinda intense too. How was it?" Zev asks as he walks over to the others.

"C'mon over and see," says Azura in response, waving Zev over. Her own charcoal sketchwork is unrefined and simple, but the unmistakable lines of Zev's form are evident - though in some places the lines are smudged or drawn over several times to make a better curve or bend.

She points to Ada's page and says, "She did a much better job of capturing you, I think."

Ulfr notices the elf named Nyxra enter, but doesn't pay her much attention. He is busy thinking about how he could possibly pose in a manner that would challenge these people.
He suddenly gets an idea just as Zev in finishing up and starts looking around for something.

The fingerpainting elf accidentally paints a streak of color across his brow as he wipes away a sheen of sweat. He cleans his hands with a cloth and switches canvass. The picture he just produced in a bout one minute flat can be seen. Zev is pictured in wild, streaking color with no black or white to be seen. The colors blur and mingle in surprising ways, lending a kind of movement to the work, as if Zev was about to leap off the stool and run wild in the vaguely reproduced yard.

Zev eagerly walks over when Azura calls for him. ”Wow! It looks awesome. I look awesome? It looks awesome.” he beams as his eyes race over the piece. When she points out Ada’s his eyes widen before he smiles. ”Your’s is so awesome, you made me look cool.”

As the elf switches canvases Zev easily catches sight of all the colors. ”Oh wow...” Turning back to the others he smiles. ”This is all so wonderful.”

Ada blushes at Zev's enthusiasm for modeling and her drawing. "Thank you. I tried. It's not a very good drawing." she looks like she's about to offer it to him, but tucks it a way carefully instead.

The stryx artist did a cursory drawing of Zev. It's mostly an abstract drawing with more just the idea of a form. He looks up in interest as Nyxra gets ready to pose, and pulls out a fresh sheet of parchment.

”You did great, it’s a great drawing!” he happily continues, smiling at the librarian artist.

The gnome had finally finished drawing extra lines all over her depiction of Zev, just in time for the new model to take the stage.

Arshean Artistry

The elf, Nyxra, looks Zev up and down as he hops down from the stool and licks her lips before sauntering off towards the changing screen.

She comes back wearing the robe Ryn had on before slipping out of it and stepping onto the stool. Her body is exceptionally fit--her legs are sculpted, toned muscle, her poise and bearing focused and ready. When she steps onto the stool, she pivots on her foot and snaps her leg out in a powerful kick; her arms tense up and shift to maintain her balance.

She holds that pose with barely a twitch for a good fifteen minutes while the gathered artists draw her. Mach is looking at her with a great deal of appreciation, his eyes focused mainly on her face.

Ulfr comes back near the end of Nyxra's pose hefting a truly massive chest behind him. The thing is bound in iron and easily weighs several hundred pounds. He brings it in as unobtrusively as he can, but it's hard not to notice. Thankfully, it's pretty easy to ignore once he puts it down.

The finger paining elf waits, again, until the last minute before producing a stunning, frenetic image that captures her initial kick very well. Again, no neutral colors are to be seen. The image commits fully to a color gamut and doesn't shy from using not true to life colors for emphasis.

Ada continues to try drawing. She does her best to capture the movement of the model. However, she gets distracted by Ulfr's movement of the chest. She looks up in confusion.

The Stryx pays close attention to this model. Is that drawing even anatomically correct?

Ulfr catches Ada's eye and just winks, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

Azura switches to a new sheaf of paper and starts working on a sketch of Nyxra, primarily focused on the muscles of the legs, which are taut and defined from holding the kicking position.

She sighs a bit as she finishes the work, looking unsatisfied with it, and then shuffles that paper aside as Ulfr prepares for his stint.

Cassariel raises an eyebrow at Ulfr's box of tricks. "Doing something a little more active?" he says. "Capturing the subject in motion?"

Ulfr smiles. I'm just making it more of a... transaction. I plan to give them something a little more than a defined muscle group to do their art with. He deflects any more questions with a raised hand. Just wait. I think it's gonna be special.