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Kyle sees Millech is very busy with his responsibilities during the day and doesn't get a chance to talk to him. So he finds Thesing and tries to befriend the intolerable man.
"I wonder if we couldn't acquire Louis Cashmello to play the part of Drovalid. I wonder how he would act being devoured by a beast."
And in the meantime Brandon hovers around the fringes of the other actors.
He studies his lines with the same diligence as a formulaec equation. Already doomed to play the fool he is determined not to give the audience another reason to laugh at him by forgetting his lines.
Eventually he plucks up the courage to speak to the other actors. Approaching the beautiful actress Calseinica.
Hello. he says slightly awkwardly. Any tips for a newcomer?
Playing the part of a doting fan, Corellon tries to again fan the flames of ego, this time with Delour.
"However do you get used to all of this excitement? I can barely contain myself. Oh, to imagine the things that you've done and seen ... so what have past performances been like, what has happened?"
[i]'Now that I think about it, why does he need new actors, where are his previous ones? What is this talk of monsters?[/dice]
"I beg pardon, Visbaronetess", Devil says with a proper, gradual, nimble bow. "I had been hoping for a proper introduction, but I gather there is none coming. A very casual place, then, the theatre?", Devil asks. "Oh! You see? It's infectious!", he laments. "I am Devin Horson, called by many, 'Devil'. And with no lines to learn, and master Van Drotske otherwise busied, I had hoped to be aide or observer to yourself, and so benefit from your broad experience of theatrical matters. Whatever burden my presence would bring, I hope to recompense through adroit attentiveness."
Attempting to talk to anyone that is alone. Aemon finds Thesing.
"Hello, Thesing." He then looks around. "I was wondering if you could give me some advice? I'd guess that you've seen this play before? How big is the part of Drovalid?"
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"I wonder if we couldn't acquire Louis Cashmello to play the part of Drovalid. I wonder how he would act being devoured by a beast."
. He chuckles for a minute. I agree. Let's hang out sometime. Maybe we have some things in common!
You are now friends. Thesing’s friendship, as long as it lasts, imparts a +4 bonus on all Diplomacy checks made in Westcrown, but only on days in which Thesing and are you are seen being friendly together in a public place.
Hello. he says slightly awkwardly. Any tips for a newcomer?
She warms up to you very quickly, and shows you some things that she does. Calseinica is a welcoming soul, and you are now friends.. A character who befriends Calseinica finds that her mere presence is inspiring during a performance, and thus gains a +2 bonus on all skill checks made during the performance. The character playing Larazod gains a +4 bonus due to the close relationship between their characters on stage.
"However do you get used to all of this excitement? I can barely contain myself. Oh, to imagine the things that you've done and seen ... so what have past performances been like, what has happened?
"I beg pardon, Visbaronetess", Devil says with a proper, gradual, nimble bow. "I had been hoping for a proper introduction, but I gather there is none coming.
She replies to you both, My dears, can you not see that I'm working on my make up right now? Watch your step. My talent is matched only by my beauty—and possibly my temper.
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Day Three: Robahl starts doing full dry runs of the entire play during the day. Robahl spends much of his time with Calseinica and "Larazod", but the rest of you still have to stand available to jump in to interact from time to time.
Each of you please make a DC 15 Perform (act) check; each success indicates that you are growing more comfortable in your role. You are allowed to relax a bit while Robahl focuses on others, giving you an opportunity to make friends with any of the NPCs.
"I've got to get this right. Feel it man, live the role!"
He stomps off and pushes over a stack of crates to be used as props, trying to embelish his anger at the situation, hoping that his dramatic display gains at least some favor with his thespian counterparts.
'Crap, I don't want to let the team down, not at something like this. Fail this and I'll never have a chance as the face of the party. Idiot.'
Hey diddle diddle, what'chu doin' with that fiddle? Can a dude with a dream get right in the middle?
Devil practices his exaggerated, exaggeratedly dwarven, posturing and expression, while trying not to drag the bagpipes on the ground. This is not made easy by the knee-shoes and dark leggings he's told he's to wear, so that when kneeling, he'll appear to be short-legged. Unclear on whether the knee-shoes or the flaming-colored hairpiece and beard are the most ridiculous bit of the costume, he comforts himself by playing an eight-petal bellflower instrumental on the bagpipes. *
Aemon jumping in at the correct times to perform his lines while also fainting attacks, as if fighting.
"Hello, Calseinica. How are thing's going? i was wondering if you had ever seen the play before and if you had seen how my part was played?"
Tessai sticks to the bodyguard role to a tee - keeping mostly to herself and doing her best to memorize the lines.
Sorry I cant concentrate this codpiece is a bit small.
Corellon summons up the courage, and the strength of stomach to tolerate, and approaches Thesing, hoping to win the man's favor.
"I knew from the first moment that I set eyes on you that there was something very special about you. You radiate it like an aura. And to be working under your instruction ... I don't have the words."
He continues to flatter and hover around the man in a delicate dance of gushing and fawning.
As he does, he tries to keep down the feeling of vomit from creeping up his throat into his mouth.
(Bagpipes: Fanfare)
"Half dozen fools, in noble's train
Mortresci did audition"
(Bagpipes: Warning and fill)
"Genius Robahl, would play revive
And bring it to fruition"
"Delour is, chorus. Just one voice?
A dozen's powers, surely"
"And Thesing, dark judge. Who could play
Such arrogance, so purely?"
"Calseinica, who sheds warm light
And not mere hellion flames..."
"Who will remember, noble's train
Beside such gloried names?"
(Bagpipes: Exeunt)
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Mellich says to Kyle, You ain't half bad. I don't like how this whole thing is going down, but if things look bad, I'll do what I can to help you.
Aemon and Black Devil's performances go well. The Party earns 4 more performance points. 41 Total.
To Corellon, the actor answer. Please, you're not worthy to be on the same stage with me!
Day 4
This day goes much like yesterday, but you start to notice anticipation building in the city. When you leave the theater (perhaps to go get lunch, or to relax later in the evening). You hear town criers announce the “legendary skills” of the actors who have “played to royalty in ten kingdoms” (You can only presume this is something Robahl has told them). Anticipation builds throughout the day, and particularly into the evening when crowds begin to form around the playhouse.
Beppo, Corellon and Kyle, as you guys are working back from dinner, you are flocked by people and asked to give short preview performances.
You could talk the crowd out of it, or you could give them a preview. You must make that decision first. If you agree to give a preview, you may increase or decrease your popularity based on how well you do. To perform a preview, one of you must make a Perform (act) check.
Corellon looks to Beppo ...
"Well, what do you think - you have a bit more of a knack for this than I do? Want to give it a go?"
But in attempting to do so Corellon is gripped by an unusual sense of being self-conscious - and his very mannerisms appear wooden and forced, like he is trying to play the part of a statue or better yet, the background ...
Seeing the others accosted by the crowd, Brandon quickly pulls his collar up and keeps his head down.
He does, however, grab sandwiches and coffees for everyone on the way back.
What did Aemon want again? I think it was a venti caramel frappacino with extra syrup...
Beppo winks to Corellon and steps forward.
Ladies and Gentlemen of Westcrown! Here are the men who will steal the show!
Beppo strikes a pose, his glittering greatsword in hand, and begins to
He takes a deep bow at the end, waiting for rapturous applause...
Corellon nudges Beppo with his elbow and leans into his ear, "nice work man, nicely done."
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The impromptu audience watches the three play out one of the acts that they've been practicing. When Beppo and the others bow, applause explodes out.
The party earns 4 more performance points for a total of 43.
Day 5
By this point, the play seems to be running pretty smoothly.
Each of you now needs to make a performance check for Day 4 and one for Day 5 to show how well you did in front of Robahl. If your Day 5 check is under 20, Robahl gets upset and demands you do it again and again. Failure brings a wave of insults from Robahl, who eventually accepts the performance, muttering how it is a waste of time to expect anything but mediocrity from mediocrity. Each of you can also use a diplomacy on one NPC.
At Robahl's outburst, Tessai feels her head is about to explode - Thoughts she had believed buried for a long time seem to be trying to erupt again - I don't belong here... I will NEVER belong here...
Fighting her rage, as she feels her fangs bearing, and the will to throw herself at the oaf of a man ripping him in two, she does her best to steady herself but cannot avoid a whispered reaction.
"This play will not last forever... There is a life beyond it, and you should do well in thinking where you and I will be, and if our paths will ever cross... I may go as far as deferring to you in whatever concerns acting, but you best ponder your words to me, or they will be coming back to haunt you in the darkness..."
After the string of miserable days, Tessai searches Brandon - "My friend... I feel that I am walking on edge... I count the days for this to be played through, or Robahl will end dangling at the end of my spear..."
Uncorking one of the bottles of fine wine she purchased earlier, and procuring two glasses, she pours some for each of them and offers a toast to her friend with a grim smile - "Here's to the Edmond I guess we all have in us..."
"The sun does not reach to the stage.", Devil said without preamble or warning, having suddenly appeared beside Calseinica. "And the performance will be at night. Good then, we shall at least, have your smile to warm us." In proof of the simplicity and sincerity of his statement, he went as swiftly as he came.
"I'd like to thank you for your patience. But I'm not that good an actor."
Buoyed by his performance in front of an adoring public, Beppo strides confidently into Day 4's rehearsal.
Feeling that he did fairly well on Day 4, he goes for it all on Day 5:
That wasn't bad, you ass! I will do it again, but just to show you, Robahl.
Well you don't expect me to perform with all that yelling do you?!
Feeling more comfortable in his roll he prepares to deliver a good performance.
Aemon visually upset at the constant abuse just walks off.
Having had enough of the disrespect shown to the players, Devil carries a chair to center stage, and holds it, pondering it a long moment, and then another. Lain aside, the haunted bagpipes screech an alarum. And Devil slams the chair down on the stage, over and over, until the crashing is the only sound.
Setting the chair down, he sits nimbly, rises nimbly, and walks around the chair, considering it. "This chair is well made!", he says aloud. "With evident care, and sufficient time taken. There is obvious skill and experience in the handling of the raw materials. This is a good chair."
Another circuit, he walks around the chair, further considering it. "If it were not a good chair... could we blame the wood?"
Tessai's appearance with a bottle of fine wine significantly brightens Brandon's mood. Indeed, with the play continuing a-pace all around him, it is the best thing to happen in days.
Gladly accepting a glass he says;
I know exactly what you mean. This play is intolerable. I mean look at me, I feel a complete fool... which is just as well really because that's what I'm playing!
He takes a long swallow.
We weren't meant for this Tessai. And as for Edmond. Who knows how he's going to react to this. He's been chuckling away to himself in there for near 5 days now. At least that gives me some quiet for a time. His own stage. A thousand pairs of eyes watching. I'm afraid he'll revel in the role and woe betide anything that is asked to 'act' as his opponent. By the looks of you, I'd say the same goes for anyone in your way. Did you ever think you'd end up somewhere like this? I've never been one for religion but someone up there is having a good laugh at this.
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Robahl yells at Black Devil to get off the stage and fall back on line or he will be ejected from the play. After insulting him with lots of rather large words, he yells, I'll FIND an illusionist to play your roll with magic if I have to. Now get off my stage!! And next time, do not enter a battle of wits unarmed!
If a character is ejected from the play, he will not be able to assist the play during the more dangerous parts of it.
Calseinica to Kyle: Sure, I'm happy to help. And your friends are doing pretty well, too. Don't let Robahl bother you too much. He's very demanding, but that's why he's as good as he is.
A character who befriends Calseinica finds that her mere presence is inspiring during a performance, and thus gains a +2 bonus on all skill checks made during the performance. The character playing Larazod gains a +4 bonus due to the close relationship between their characters on stage.
Corellon sees the others struggling in their roles, even the magnificant Beppo. Maybe they have finally bit off more than they can chew with this one.
'Oh well, here goes nothing. Its erie that the thought of battle doesn't conjure up the nerves like this play acting thing does.'{
'Whoa, that's just dumb luck that, wish it were more.'
Seeing his attempts at wooing the grand Thesing a failure, he moves on to Calseinica, trying to gain her favor.
With respect he says, "You know, there is much to this acting thing, more than I would have given it at the start, it does take a special person." and he smiles ate her hoping she takes the compliment well.
Robahl reponded to your little one man act on stage. How do you react, Black Devil?
Devil leaves the stage as directed. It is, after all, Robahl's stage. ... The haunted bagpipes play the bridge from 'Synchronicity'.
[dice=perform day 4]1d20-2
[dice=perform day 5]1d20-2Tessai's appearance with a bottle of fine wine significantly brightens Brandon's mood. Indeed, with the play continuing a-pace all around him, it is the best thing to happen in days.
Gladly accepting a glass he says;
I know exactly what you mean. This play is intolerable. I mean look at me, I feel a complete fool... which is just as well really because that's what I'm playing!
He takes a long swallow.
We weren't meant for this Tessai. And as for Edmond. Who knows how he's going to react to this. He's been chuckling away to himself in there for near 5 days now. At least that gives me some quiet for a time. His own stage. A thousand pairs of eyes watching. I'm afraid he'll revel in the role and woe betide anything that is asked to 'act' as his opponent. By the looks of you, I'd say the same goes for anyone in your way. Did you ever think you'd end up somewhere like this? I've never been one for religion but someone up there is having a good laugh at this.
Tessai smiles at their shared misery while she fills both their glasses - "Never my friend... Never would I picture myself in this situation - I had long ago promised myself I would never accept an insult again, nor would I accept my value to be questioned... Yet here we are..."
As she sips from her drink, she adds - "I think Caylean has decided it was time for a lesson on the facts of life, and indeed a lesson he is administrating - on the other hand maybe he just expects me to lighten up" - she chuckles.
"I am however reaching my limits, and my fiendish blood boils easily as you may have noticed - there is a point when things can get nasty, but I try to keep my mind on our goals - they should make me rise above all this and not simply disembowel Robahl" - Tessai now smiles widely - "If not our goals, then you all have to stop me - I count on you my friend"
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Day 6
This is the last day to iron out problem scenes before the dress rehearsal.
When we started, I thought you all had promise. I can see I was wrong. I’d say you all were mediocre, but I’m not sure you’ve got
that far yet. Corellon, you did struggle yesterday, but I'm happy to say that you are the least inept of the group. I see I made the right decision by casting you in one of the star roles. Aemon ... you're just a bag of hot wind. When the pressure was one, you did an absolute terrible job. It’s unfortunately too late to fire you and find a better actor, or to hire a second illusionist to replace you with an effect. We’re all stuck with you, is what I’m saying, so to soften the blow of your dulcet tones, I think you should wear this during the play.
He walks up to Aemon and hands him a Cirlet of Persuasion (Gives +3 to all CHA based skill checks).
I expect it back at the end of the play. Now, we have a dress rehearsal tomorrow. Let's make this day count.
Perform and Diplo checks for Day 6, please.
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Kyle, determined to make a better impression, rehearses his routine on stage.
'I'm slowly getting there.' He thinks to himself.
Afterwards, Kyle hunts down Visbaronetess Delour Aulamaxa. "You have such a beautiful voice. You must have sang for so many important people. I'd love to know all the different places you've been to."
Devil spends the day entirely in the character of a silent taciturn dwarf, conveying by expression and posture subtle nuances and shades of meaning...
...that no one was going to listen to anyway.