"Yes, you speak to Robahl Nonon. Keegan, you say, of the Keegan Company?" He thinks for a bit, then lights up. "Ah yes, now I remember. Your scoundrel father ran away, didn't he? Nearly bankrupted your grandfather, yes?" The man's grin reveals that he would relish any emotion Derek might show on his face.
"The six Trials of Larazod, yes. As a matter of fact, I have yet to cast Larazod himself, his lover Ilsandra, and his companions." He perks up at the mention of the lack of formal training of Derek's friends. "Ah, but that is perfect! These so-called actors that come in have no backbone. Some of them can't even hold a sword up for fifty heartbeats! Insufferable, silver-spooned fools, the lot of them! Someone should take a plank to their backside and knock some sense into them!" The director's face and neck begin turning crimson and his voice rises as he continues berating those unnamed actors for a while longer.
Remembering that Derek is still there, he pauses to catch his breath. "Auditions, yes. Come by tomorrow around noon. If your friends really have the strength and endurance you mention, they should be just what I need. If they suffice, we will start practice immediately. They will have to remember their lines! I will not be embarrassed in front of the mayor!"
The Six Trials of Larazod is a play detailing the interrogation of Larazod, who is accused of betraying the teachings of Asmodeus, by the Magistrate Haanderthan. Along with his companions, Larazod faces several trials designed to break him and cause him to confess, which he never does. At the play's end, Asmodeus himself appears and reveals the guilty party to be Haanderthan rather than Larazod.
Most productions of plays in Cheliax employ an illusionist to aid in making the costumes as realistic as possible, so the proper gender is not a requirement for filling a particular role.
Yahirma determines that the following roles still need to be filled:
The accused Larazod is a tiefling, and is one of the two starring roles of the play (the other being Haanderthan). This is the role with the most and longest lines.
Dentris is a sharp-tongued wizard with a knack for biting insults, who acts as a sort of father-figure for Larazod.
Tybain is comic relif, a bumbling paladin whose devotion to Aroden is even more comical now that Aroden is dead. Traditionally, Tybain is one of the characters who dies first, but the longer the character survives, the better the play is usually received.
Drovalid is the torturer who ends up having a change of heart and becomes one of Larazod's protectors. This is the toughest-looking character, and Drovalid often is the star combatant of the play.
Farus is a self-styled gypsy king; a dancing clown who speaks in riddles.
The beautiful and sultry erinyes Ilsandra is a member of the Council that will judge Larazod. As Larazod's love interest, she is the only one who speaks against Haanderthan's initial judgment of death by flames, instead suggesting to put Larazod and his companions through Asmodeus's trials.
While Derek does not much appreciate the relish the director seems to take in dragging the black sheep of the Keegan family into the light, he fails to really hit the sore spot and as such Derek is able to keep any emotions in check.
"Very good, between us we have healing magic, offensive magic, swordsmanship and more. And your reputation makes me believe that...ah...you will have little trouble making them remember their lines in full."
Derek takes his leave after that, confident that whatever happens, it will be a fun time had by all.
Since there is little time left to return to the safe house and report, Derek instead heads to the Keegan Company. He has decided to read about the trials, to see if he can find some idea of what kind of danger they will face.
If we are going to battle demons or devils, a few weapons of the right kind might be useful.
Assuming Granor finds him there, Derek turns and smiles.
"What about master Goldenbeard?"
After breaking his fast, Appario will get out his scales and begin to weigh his gold coins, putting the heavier coins in one purse, the lighter coins in yet another.
Where is everyone?
Yahirma returns not long after Appario. She sits down, noting his long face and inquires "The sun seems to strike with slanted rays this day, Appario Lind; your face is scoured with shade instead of basking in light. Is there something the matter with your family or the Gardeners?"
Listening to his report on the paperwork, she nods sympathetically. "I am beginning to notice that this city, for all it is corrupted at times, is very efficient. Take heart in this fact."
She stands and pulls out a few out a few kernels of corn, which she places next to one of the table's legs. She then places a few more in the corner of the room before picking up her chicken's cage. Oriented towards the corner's corn, the cage's door opens with a few movements of her fingers, and the chicken peeks out cautiously before making a break for the corner's corn. Yahirma easily stomps a foot down in front of it before it reaches the prize, flustering the chicken and causing it to recoil with a worried "bwaah" before turning several circles and trying again. Yahirma continues to interpose herself between the chicken and the corn as she explains "Sister Liiza once wandered the fields seeking forage, but the monsoon had just arrived; there was never a clear break in the weather to reap the fields' grain. Day after day she would try for the same thing in the same way, but the rain would start the very moment she stepped out of the cover of the trees."
Yahirma spares a glance towards the chicken, still trying in vain to reach the corner corn, then looks back to Appario. "Sister Liiza is virtuous and honest, but her focus tends to make her miss other options. The rains continued for days, and she could not eat a single mouthful, for she had only thought to eat the grains of the fields. Each day Adamde Baaka called from the trees saying 'Partake in the fruits of the forest; they are just as sweet and they reside beneath the cover of the trees.' Sister Liiza listened, but her downcast eyes could only see the rain-washed grain. Eventually, starved and pitiful, she sat down and wept in frustration. Omoro, the one both mighty and strong, heard her crying and asked what the matter could be. She replied 'Every time I try to eat the fields' grains, the rains come to stop me. The heavens themselves conspire to keep me thin and unhappy!' Omoro simply shook his head and brought her a fallen fruit from the forest, observing 'See this fruit. It is all about the forest and here for the eating. The grain shall grow and ripen in the rain, and you will feast when the monsoon leaves. For now, try a new food.'"
Yahirma stops stomping in front of the chicken and instead grabs it. With it hanging calmly from her hands, she walks a few steps towards the table and places the chicken down in front of the other pile of kernels. It immediately starts eating, emitting a chirping coo as it does so. Taking a seat, Yahirma sits down at the table again. "Do not be distraught that your grain lies out of reach. Our Adamde Baaka has offered another way to eat, even if it is in the dark forest. I recently learned what would be involved in the murderplay, and it seems we must weather a vile-smelling fruit to get at the nutritious seeds within."
She then explains what she learned about the characters and how she suspects they will end up a bit type-cast (though she stumbles in trying to explain the word until Appario can provide her with the right one). Her suspicions involve Derek playing Larazod, Appario playing Tybain, and Maddok playing Drovalid. She isn't sure where the others will end up.
The door opens and Appario's head whips around to see who it is.
Seeing the maker of the charm at his neck, Appario welcomes Yahirma back and listens to her words.
"Yes, it is the merchants that keep things efficient...for that is how they make their money. Tis a sign of worship to Abadar, and one that I encourage."
Appario stops the weighing of his coins to listen to the parable of the chicken and the corn, watching as Yahirma explains that Appario may need to focus on something else before he can get to his main task.
Appario bristles at the idea of not taking it directly to the beasts in the streets, and will spend time mulling over all the options.
Appario would prefer fighting against the rain itself than standing astage.
Acting? A folly even before it becomes a farce.
Maddok opens the door to the safehouse with force. He enters the room without his usual quiet stoic demeanor willingly calling attention to himself. The big Shoanti is wearing his armor, seemingly not concerned with the trouble that could bring on the street. His eyes are wild and his body vibrates with barely restrained emotion.
He slams a meaty fist on one of the tables leaving the crumpled blood-stained note behind for others to view.
"They have taken her", he growls, his deep voice is low and gravely. "If there is even a chance that she still lives I have to find her. I tried looking for her but I do not even know where to begin. Please, help me in this and I will owe you all a debt I can never repay".
Appario rises from his chair at the table.
"Who is gone? Semenya? Where have they taken her?"
Appario reaches for his cloak and shield...then pauses to read the bloody note.
"Ah....Vahnwynne." Appario is less concerned, but still worried...and understands the demeanor of Maddok.
"This is not good." Appario's mind shifts and begins to churn as he begins to plan how to find her. And then what to be done with her onc she is found.
"We begin by asking our friends and contacts for information. I begin by hitting the markets and the Church to see if I can turn up leads."
Appario puts his shield to his back, over this bastard sword.
"Yahirma, will you aid in this?" Appario keeps in the mind the rain and the corn parable and briefly wonders how it would fit this situation.
Semenya has been taking notes as people have come in and out of the safehouse.
"So Derek wants us to play at being actors...Yahirma has found the roles. I suspect Yahirma will end up playing Farus, and I the love interest. Or the other way around, I am not certain."
"Vahnwynne has been captured by the things she hunted, and possibly turned."
"And there information tying the shadowbeasts to the vault of the Delvehaven complex, which we need to get the Mayor's approval on, which is why we're considering Derek's mad play."
"Plus, there's a bounty on the hides of Shadowbeasts."
"Is there aught I've missed?"
Yahirma stands, glancing between Semenya and Appario while fascinated by their calm reactions in the face of Maddok's heart-wrenched rage. She invokes Lo Lulu, muttering a concerned oath about vampires (Guidance). After pacing for a moment to think and leaning over to the chicken to ask it "Vampires? What do we know of vampires?", she halts and turns back to the group.
"Maddok, I believe Appario has the right of this. Vampires are canny and elusive, and charging through the streets will merely give them a chance to escape or ambush us as they desire. If we are to corner one or more vampires, then we have to know where they roost. What has Vahnwynne believes to have happened is bad, but some vampires maintain their mortal skills alongside their powers of darkness. If she was a match for you before, it is likely she could overpower you - and the rest of us - without trouble."
Multiple vampires? This is not something we can handle...
Yahirma gives Maddok a sad look. "Unlike lycanthropy, I do not believe that vampirism can be cured if you reach the victim in time. I am not trying to be discouraging, but we must understand the risks that will come from this and the potentially broad timetable we have to work with alongside the shadowbeast threat."
She pauses and looks off into space for just a moment. "I think there was something about vampires and creatures of the night...Perhaps by striking at the shadowbeasts we can undermine the vampires' power here."
As Yahirma walks over to Appario to join him in his hunt for information, she tries to get some idea of his feelings on the matter.
"It is said, Appario Lind, that vampires fear running water. Perhaps this once there is cause to reap the grain in the rain." She will aid his attempts with charisma and magic to gather information.
While Appario agrees that Semenya has the most it, he appreciates that Yahirma understands so much more and has much to add.
"Semenya, maybe you should stay here and speak with Derek and Granor when they arrive. Maddock, Yahirm, let's go on a vampyre hunt."
Appario grimaces at the thought...he has heard that they are deadly enemies and already he wishes he had his new sword.
* * *
Know (Religion) on Vampyres
On the streets, Appario will try to discretely look for information on weird (which is going to be hard with the shadowbeasts happening) stuff that might be vampyre trial or Vahnwynne.
Know (local)
Diplomacy to Gather Information
In addition, Appario will swing by his Church and be willing to pay any of his hierarchical elders for information if they have it.
"Don't worry Maddok, we'll find her. By the way, I've heard of magics that can be used to find or locate people...especially if they are nearby. It is possible to buy magic scrolls or services, is it not? Would you like to pursue that?"
Granor slowly rises from the table, and picks up the crumpled note. He reads it, drops it back on the table and looks at the Shoanti with worried eyes.
"I do not know how much do i remeber about vampires, my friend, but i will try to. However, Yahirma is right. A single vampire could prove too much for us, let alone a cabal of the monsters. However, undead they are, and as such I find their very existence an affront to life. They must be destroyed."
He looks at others and frowns.
"I also believe that vampirism cannot be cured, but, if the creature turned into a vampire would be subject to a spell that brings back the dead, it might work. Although, i cannot cast magic of that power, and do not know of anyone who can in this city. Maybe, you, master Keegan, can think of someone who could?
Knowledge(religion) to remember something about vampires
"And i wanted to talk to you about lady Drovenge, master Keegan, what are we to do with the girl?"
The director seems disappointed that his insult apparently didn't affect Derek, and Derek can virtually see the gears in his brain start devising a more effective insult.
The play consists of seven Acts. The first and the last Acts are safe, with no combat or other dangers. The five Acts in-between contain the first five Trials.
The first trial is a Trial by Torture. Larazod is strapped into a torture-device manned by Drovalid.
The second trial is a Trial by Pleasure. Larazod and his compansions are each given a vial containing a Fluke of Asmodeus, a vermin which burrows into the body and attempts to reach the skull. Each is also given a knife, to be used to cut the Fluke out before it reaches its goal.
The third trial is a Trial in the Belly of the Beast. Larazod and his companions are swallowed by a hideous beast with an acid-filled stomach.
The fourth trial is The Birthing Trial. Larazod and his companions each swallow an egg, then must battle their hideous devil children when they emerge.
The fifth Trial is a Trial by Combat and Love, where Larazod and his companions must fight off the legions of Hell.
The sixth and final Trial is the Trial by His Own Dark Hand, where Asmodeus himself comes to pass judgment.
Vampires are a type of undead. They are stronger, both physically and mentally, in undeath than they were in life. Their skin hardens and their wounds heal remarkably quickly.
Vampires are resistant to a cleric's or paladin's channeled energy, as well as to cold and electricity. The most efficient weapons against them are those which are both enchanted with magic and created from silver.
They have the ability to change form, becoming a bat or a wolf, and can also summon other nightly creatures such as rats, bats, or wolves to their side.
If a vampire is defeated in combat, it turns to mist and attempts to find its coffin home. Once there, it will begin to regenerate unless destroyed by driving a wooden stake through its heart. The vampire can return to life if the stake is removed, but severing its head and anointing it with holy water prevents this.
Exposure to direct sunlight staggers a vampire, and kills it if it can't get away from the light. Immersion in running water can also destroy a vampire if it can't escape.
A vampire can't enter a private home unless invited. Vampires can't tolerate the odor of garlic, and won't enter an area laced with that odor. They recoil from a strongly presented mirror or holy symbol, and must gather all their willpower to approach someone holding them at bay with such an object.
Vampires can drain the blood of a victim by sucking it out with their fanged teeth, and can drain the life-energy of an opponent by striking with their fists. When a foe is slain by either method, the vampire can choose to have the foe rise as a full-fledged vampire or a vampire spawn. If it does, the foe rises from the dead within a few days.
Vampires also have the ability to crush an opponent's will, causing him or her to follow the vampire's orders. Vampires cast no shadows and show no reflections, and can climb as well as a spider.
Appario determines that large amounts of rats or bats can occasionally be seen near the old Pathfinder lodge. Noone he meets has any specific information regarding either Vahnwynne or vampires. Most people seem worried at the mere suggestion of powerful undead creatures lairing in the city.
After much time in the city, searching and asking around, Appario finally turns to Maddok.
With a steely look in his eyes, Appario addresses the pain in the big man's heart.
::man hug::
"Maddok, I know that your heart is heavy with the pain of your loss. Sadly, it appears, for lack of any better evidence, that the vampyres are connected to the shadowbeasts. All paths lead back to those monsters that hunt in the night. It appears, though I still wish to find a better way, that we must pretend to be actors to find our way to the center of all this."
Appario releases his man hug.
"I vow to you as long as the shadowbeasts and vampyres still threaten this city that I will be with you. AND. WE. WILL. FIND. VAHNWYNNE."
Appario realizes the size of the loss...like a man who had just lost his fortune. A pain that knows no end...and only time can heal.
I felt such pain when my parents sold me. Never again.
Maddok follows Appario on his fact-finding mission across the city. While seeing the Taldan's various contacts the smith alternates between being sullen and restless. In either case the Shoanti's presence is hardly helpful and, on occasion, makes information gathering more complicated.
At the end of the day Maddok returns with Appario to the safehouse. When the merchant-priest embraces the big man he looks down at first in disbelief and then, as if snapping out of his frantic grief, returns the affection.
"Among my people couplings occur but we must always maintain some independence. Our lives are simply too fragile and short to risk growing too attached to each other. Living here, away from other Shoanti, has made me forget that. Vahnwynne makes me feel alive in a way I have never felt but this loss, this crippling fear, it's almost unbearable. Is love worth this pain?", the smith asks more to himself than anything.
"Thank you friend. Thanks to all of you. You are better allies than I deserve", Maddok says.
"It appears that Appario is right. The vampires and the shadowbeasts are linked more than we thought and this farce is the only way to get us close to where we need to be. If there is even a chance that the mayor's vault has information about the creatures that have Vahnwynne I will perform whatever fool's song and dance is needed to get us there".
"Well, what exactly are you suggesting master Goldenbeard? If it was up to me, we would do our best to keep her away from us as much as possible. If we are lucky, she might think better than associating with our kind anyway. "
"Nobility is hard to understand, getting in league with them is...at best a thorny bed of roses."
"It seems like we will have to take part in the play, I've made some research. It seems like we may be in for a fight against devils and acid...we should take steps to protect us against both."
Appario awaits the return of the Derek and Granor in the safehouse.
In his mind, he weighs how much payment it will take to get him onstage...and what he would buy with such things when the performance is over.
Do they do tumbling still? Do all plays require dance? Mayhaps I should buy a lighter shield.
"Devils and acid we can prepare for. Is there any training we can undergo to ready us for the acting part of this task?"
Granor nods to Derek.
"Well, we could return the lady to her grandfather, and maybe even collect the prize. Unless we could somehow inform the man that she is all right and then "arrange for her safe return for a ransom", and then spread rumors about the place of the exchange and time when it will occur, and then set a trap for people coming to take the lady?"
Appario continues to watch the door, awaiting Derek and Granor.
They have been gone too long. What is keeping them? Why aren't they here?
Appario looks at Maddok and Yahirma with a worried look on his face.
"They should be here, right? We await on them for too long...there are citizens in danger. Should we go out looking for them as well?"
Yahirma glances at Appario with a wry grin. "Knowing Derek, he tried to learn about one opera only to be drawn into another that needed a last-minute replacement for a sick lead. Perhaps we should investigate their whereabouts once dusk approaches. With talk of even darker things at night, I think it is all the more important to stay indoors unless business calls."
She goes back to tinkering with the goggles, having scraped together the resources to attune the foci properly.
Janiven comes in just after Appario and Maddok return from their trek through the city. "Ailyn sends her apologies, but she won't be able to join us tonight after all. She felt it would be best if she wasn't seen too much with us, since she would be in trouble with the Society if they found out she had been instigating a mission to the lodge."
Seeing Vahnwynne's note and reading it, her demeanor changes. She comes over to Maddok, looking sorrowful. "I'm sorry, Maddok. This is terrible news. Have you discovered where she is?"
The next morning, bright and early, Derek returns to the safe house.
"Hey there, I've returned, done some research on the play, it kept me busy last night."
Derek looks around.
"Say...I feel a certain negative vibe here, has something happened?"
Maddok maintains his resolve as Janiven offers her condolences.
"No, but we believe that the creatures that have her are working out of or are somehow related to the old pathfinder lodge. This makes getting into the murderplay doubly important", the big Shoanti says as he offers the note to Derek.
"What did you learn little brother?"
Appario is thankful that Derek has returned.
Everyone is here. Good.
"Let's get caught up...all of us."
At an appropriate time, he will go into detail about his failure with Master Ockerton and what he learned about Vahnwynne's 'captors'.
"Well...I would say that we will have bigger problems with the director than any monster we may face."
Derek sighs and runs a hand down his face.
"The venerable director is of the "demon director" school of inspiration. Rather than give praise for good work he will beret you mercilessly for failure, thinking to make failure so humiliating that you won't ALLOW yourself to fail and suffer another one of his rants."
Shrugging a little and taking a sip of ale to clear his parched throat, Derek continues.
"His first move was to try to insult me, and that was after I saw a woman leave in tears after being rejected."
"We will need to be ready for that, if we can survive his taunting I believe we shall do well, because he is famous for a reason."
"Also, I've learned a little about what we will face, it is likely we will face acid and devils...possibly demons...not sure to be honest."
"This will not be the first time I have had to swallow the words of a fool", Maddok says. "When do we meet this director? Is there anything we should know to earn his favor?"
We must earn his favor? He can earn mine with good coin.
Appario's face quizzles at Maddok's question, but Appario says nothing.
A slight quiver dances over the corner of Dereks lips, like he was fighting to suppress a smile or even a grin.
"Good question big brother. I think you can earn his favour by not slipping up. And you will probably notice you have earned his favour by him not shouting at you. Something tells me that the people he ignores the most will be the ones he favours the most."
Derek takes a moment to consider before moving on.
"Listen, he is a windbag, he is rude and more, but don't think of him as a fool. A man who gets a commission from the mayor knows what he is doing, if he talks to you, try to block out the needless arguing and focus on what he is saying UNDERNEATH it."
Derek then turns to Amaya.
"Now I shall reveal the answer to the question I asked you before. The most valuable person to get along with on stage is the ones in charge of the little things. The prop master, the maestro and so on. They are the cogs in the machinery, and they can make or break you by paving your path or putting stones in it."
Derek turns back to the others.
"Do you see what I'm saying? Try to make friends with your fellow actors and with the workers, if they smooth your path, the director will follow."
"By any chance did you ask him about the parts we might play? I happened to hear a bit about the roles, and some of them fit a bit too fortuitously."
Yahirma shares what she learned about the murderplay's characters (see post #1852 above) and how she thinks each will be type cast. She is clearly chagrined about how they play out, but it's hard to deny that this is a necessary step to getting into the Pathfinder lodge.
"My guess is that he intends to place us in the parts he feel we would do best in, so I would not be surprised if some of us gets the most suitable parts, but there may be some surprises yet."
"We will have to go for an audition today, I doubt he would appreciate tardiness.
"Audition? Today? NOW?!" Appario suppresses a bit of panic.
"What do I bring? What should I wear? Can someone help me get this off?" Appario begins to remove his breastplate.
"Remember Appario, you are auditioning as ADVENTURERS, not actors. So bring your equipment and let him sort it out. Besides, it is a MURDERPLAY, we are meant to fight, so you will need your armour anyway."
Appario looks even more confused now.
"Adventurers?! How do they act?! I'm a merchant! Or maybe a soldier...but an adventurer?! They're crazy! Going off into dungeons and exploring places. They. Are. Nuts. I don't know how to play one of those! I stay in the city because I like civilization."
Appario frets, but slowly begins to re-buckle his armor.
"What do adventurers carry? Should I bring a tent? Do I need a dragonspear? Will I need to carry a lantern? Will there be props I can borrow?"
I don't want to be an adventurer, much less play one. Besides, I don't like dungeons or dragons.
"You will do fine Appario. You are clever and strong, traits known to be common among the sorts of people our director seems to be looking for. I am certain little brother, and perhaps the other actors, can help us make sense of the rest."
"Hahahahaha! Say Appario, here is Cheliax weekly news. YOU-ARE-AN...wait for it...ADVENTURER! At least that is how most people would classify someone going hunting for shadowbeasts in a dark city, going up against bandits to save caravans, plotting to break into a building to get information about vampires."
"But seriously, what I meant is that he looking for people who can fight and survive on stage rather than people who can act. You bring the weapons; he whips you into shape see? Besides, as big brother says, I'll be there, leading you by the hand."
Granor buckles on his armor and starts sharpening his axe, and then, he stops and turns to Derek.
"We are going to fight for real master Keegan, or just mock fight?"
"For real and for keeps, Granor. Some of the antagonists - as best I understand it - are incapable of pulling their punches. Unless we are careful to subdue only, something will die on that stage. I suspect a lack of death would make us unpopular, which might make it harder for us to befriend and bamboozle the mayor later."
"To the death, eh? We'll see. When are our 'tryouts' again? And what would be paid for this?"
"Well, I doubt we need to worry about pulling punches, the play does not dictates us fighting people, only monsters. The legions of hell does not make me want to hold back."
The tryouts are this afternoon, as for the pay, well, I believe that we will get an even share of the takes, so the better we do, the more we get paid,"
Appario makes his way to his gear.
"Well, might as well get this farce over with. You say our tryouts are now? This afternoon? Let's get going."
Appario grabs his back, shield, and miscellanea and goes out the door.
A moment later, he sticks his head back in.
"Uhm...where are we going again? Which theater where? You guys coming or what?"
If I get paid by the quality of my performance, I'll give the audience something to cheer.
Maddok shrugs his broad shoulders.
"It could not hurt our cause to be early. Little brother, care to lead the way?"
"All who are hungry, follow me!"
Derek leads the way...
When you arrive at the Limehouse Theater nearly half an hour late, you see a fidgeting director Robahl Nonon standing just inside the door. "Ah, there you are. Congratulations! You made it here before the play was over." He rolls his eyes, obviously pleased with his own sarcasm. "Well, time is money. Let's get moving!"
The director leads you into the theater, and briefly introduces a hunchbacked, white-haired man. "This is Millech. The Hump to his friends. If he had any, that is!" Patting the man on the back, the director smiles and goes on. "Millech is in charge of most of the backstage work. Illusions and special effects and such."
A tremendously fat woman wearing extravagant clothing is just finishing trimming her vocal chords on the stage, while a bored-looking handsome man several among you recognize is standing backstage. "The woman you hear is the wonderful diva; Visbaronetess Delour Aulamaxa. She'll be the narrator of the play. This here is our Haanderthan; the talented Thesing Umbero Ulvauno." Neither Thesing nor the visbaronetess pay any attention to you as you make your way onto the stage.
Maddok follows along in silence taking in the surroundings and trying to make sense of it all. He nods in greeting to the various personalities the group is introduced to. The big Shoanti stands tall and proud and does his best to not look as out of place as he feels among the garishly dressed, painted, and perfumed actors.
Leaning in and bending over a bit he mutters a low bass whisper to Derek, "Neither the giant woman nor the boy look the part of warriors. Are not all the roles in this murderplay dangerous?".
Appario will force himself to politeness when being introduced to each of the members of the theater, pushing himself to smile and make proper acquaintances.
"Appario...Appario Lind. Nice to meet you." Appario says through gritted smile.
Staring at the stage, Appario keeps moving lest his knees knock and tremble.
I am no actor, no puppet on a stage.
Speaking to the director, Robahl Nonon, Appario will inquire, "Where do you want me? What do you want to see from me?"
"No big brother, I imagine that the narrators role is to further the plot between scenes, as such she will not be on the stage during the actual fracas. As for Haanderthan, most likely neither will that role require any fighting."
Derek takes note of Millech, not only because he is that valuable backstage worker that it is good to befriend, but also because he is spell caster, perhaps another teacher in the making.
"My friend Appario has the right of it, since we are already late; let us see what we can do. This is Appario lind as he already said, he is a soldier of Abbadar.
This is my Big brother Maddok, I believe his stature speaks for itself.
The fiery beauty is milady Carbachon, a spell caster specializing in fire.
The other beauty is Yahrima, she speaks to the spirits.
Last but not least is master Goldenbeard, a holy man."
"Shall we begin the audition master Nonon?"
Derek knows that most of his friends have the charisma and personal magnetism to pull this off, but he decides to focus on building up their performances as much as possible.