Asmodia taps the side of her tankard with her fingertips. "Tomorrow night," she answers. "I should not like to dally on my knees too long while you track," she jests and chuckles softly.
Asmodia laughs heartily and offers you a drink from the tankard. "I meant in meditation to my Lord Cayden. Curious though, that your mind would immediately go there." she coos. "Is there any spell you wish for me to prepare for you?"
[oc]Hrm...my post seems to have disappeared.
Perform (Acting)
Perform (Singing) - ugh...dice roller hates me big time.[/ooc]
LeVash withdraws more and more, responding poorly to the direction...
@Asmodia: It would appear that Thesing is some form of incubus and has managed to suck all the talent out of you. Robahl has many insults among them being;
"Truly in the entire history of acting there has never been a more underwhelming actress then yourself!"
"I'm sorry are you playing Tybain or a bad actress? You're so poor I can't even tell."
Calseinica is somewhat bewildered by the suggestion that you get with Thesing. She laughs and somehow doesn't appear offended. "He's trouble. I mean I don't know him very well but all you ahve to do is jsut look at the way he treats people to understand why he's bad news. I thank you for taking him off of me. It feels like ever since I got here he's been breathing down my neck. Maybe if we stuck together we'd be a lot better off." She holds a hand out to you and smiles brightly her eyes twinkling in that conspiratorial look that suggests that all men are bastards but that's no reason for women not to be friends. "Come on I know this delightful cafe we can go to lunch at. We'll take Aerieth along. It'll be fun! Just the girls!"
@Aerieth: Robahl still insults you but it is to a much leser degree than what others have recieved.
@Bejis: Robahl is displeased. Adn the displeasure spreads to Millech.
Robahl notes:
"Are you a man or a woman!?! BEcause you are doing such a poor job all I can tell is that you're lousy!"
@LeVash: You eat it hard. Robahl is reduced to an incomprehansible rage and at lunchtimehe throws his papers into the air unleashes a storm of colorful insults while shaking his head and slams a door somewhere.
The whole time Thesing watches with barely contained amusement even butting in sometimes with some nasty insults of his own creation.
"Some find it more than passable," Asmodia snarls in response to Robhal's heckling. "If anything being a poor actress will make the audience howl with delight when the tortures begin, no?"
A slow smile spreads across Asmodia's face at the mention of a girl's only lunch with the talented young actress. "The pair of you flanking me?" she hums. "How delightful! Oh how the bards will sing of this prodigious event!"
"Prepare what magic you will need, I can make do with what skills I have" he replies to Asmodia
Bloodless turns his attentions once more to the stage, applying himself as best he can.
Perform
Apparently he is mildly distracted by the rumour of a threesome of ladies.
Apparently he is mildly distracted by the rumour of a threesome of ladies.
Asmodia heartily agrees to meet the young starlet for lunch, and likely wishes she could summon a celestial puppy to make the girl smile. She tries to keep the conversation light, and direct it away from speaking about the play, since she is quite convinced that the girl will not take well to watching people die on stage, while Thesing is enough of a selfish ass to not care.
I head off to lunch with the girls. I am interested in finding out how much Calseinica know about the play and it's bloody history.
Bloodless continues to apply himself, and whilst he labours away learning the craft of acting, he watches how Thesing plays his part...wondering how it is that a man so objectionable on so many levels can transform in such a chameleonlike way into a range of different people.
The trio of girls set off to lunch there combined solidarity warding off Thesing who makes a bee line to Asmodia. The collective cold shoulders earn a dagger like glare from Thesing as they walk off. As you leave Calseinica giggle mischievously.
She takes you to a nice cafe not far down the road.She offers to pay of course this being her treat. She seems friendly and warm until Aerieth starts asking about the play.
"Well, I know as much as anyone else. Delour got me the part. She told me all those cruel stories about people dying on stage was just drama made up to build up its reputation. But I mean they really wouldn't really let us die? Would they?" Calseinica looks at you hopefully.
Well that answers that question. The nice Delour wants to get rid of the competition - one theatrical death at a time.
No, I doubt that anyone will die on stage. We are all professionals and it would not be good for the show if they had to get new actors for each show.
Bluff:
Asmodia blows Thesing a kiss as they exit, and then places a hand, briefly, on Calseinica's lower back and steps closer to her.
When Aerieth begins speaking of the play, Asmodia does her best impression of her recent former lover, wishing that she could summon a dolphin to crush the cold fish where she sits.
"Were this an eating contest, perhaps we would represent competition," Asmodia says. "All that fat around her belly restricts the way her stomach expands - *ahem*" Asmodia clears her throat, leaving the jest straight.
"No, our saucy matron Ilsandra, you are scripted to live and love our S- Lazarod, and so you shall," Asmodia corrects after a pause. "He is, from what I have seen of him, a healthy young man, should you choose. Though I would not argue with him, for parallels could be drawn to the blond one. His arrogance far exceeds his ability to reason things beyond his immediate satisfaction."
Asmodia frowns and looks at her hands, which begin trembling.
Calseinica scratches the back of her head self consciously looking rather uncomfortable. Eventually she stammers. "I suppose you're right."
Quickly she changes the subject. "So tell me about our Larazod. He's such a different man when he's on stage. Full of passion and vigor. The rest of the time he skulks about brooding. What do you think he's hiding?"
"A strong batting arm," Asmodia answers, her voice something of a growl.
"He's a man," she dismisses. "We project our thoughts and feelings upon them, but at their core they are the same simple animal. Any mystery you can pin upon him would likely be more exciting than the truth."
Asmodia flags down a waitress, and puts a few silver towards a glass of their cheapest, most potent alcohol.
Doh!!!
"A strong batting arm," Asmodia answers, her voice something of a growl.
"He's a man," she dismisses. "We project our thoughts and feelings upon them, but at their core they are the same simple animal. Any mystery you can pin upon him would likely be more exciting than the truth."
Asmodia flags down a waitress, and puts a few silver towards a glass of their cheapest, most potent alcohol.
Calseinica's eyes widen slightly."But he's an adventurer! And a competent actor at least when Robahl isn't flaying him. Just imagine the palces he's been." She gets a dreamy look in her eyes and self consciously fingers the rim of her whine glass.
She gets a dreamy look in her eyes and self consciously fingers the rim of her whine glass.
Depends where you travel. I have been through this land and much of the north. Here, you are always looking over your shoulder for a hell knight or devil, not really enjoyable. In other lands where Desna and other good faiths hold sway, travel and adventure can be wonderful.
So what exactly did the behemoth tell you about the show? She must have been very compelling to have gotten one as talented as yourself to join the cast. It is pretty amazing to have a leading actor and two leading ladies, even if the other one is slightly over the hill.
Asmodia frowns at the silly actress, and it grows into a scowl when Aerieth speaks again. Fancy that... She is all but relieved when the waitress returns with her drink, which she takes in two trembling hands like a dehydrated woman might her first mug of water in weeks, and immediately mainlines the contents.
"If you'll excuse me, I believe that I am ready to face the consequences of my rebuff," she says to the ladies, and rises.
"If you understand these words, travel with more caution than I am as of now displaying. Words have consequences, and this one is simple."
Another who speaks the language of angels in this damned land. I shall try, diplomacy has never been by strong suit. [/b]
Calseinica looks between the two of you a bit confused and frowns. "Come now no need for that."
I apologize, I did not even know that Asmodia spoke this beautiful language and it is rare that I hear it in this land and told her so. The simple fact is that we three must stick together. The only way to advance Asmodia and my career is to have a great success with this play. And as for you and your amazing voice, this is the chance to take your career to the stars. To be hired to go to the great cities of the world - Egorian, Absalon, Oppara, Katheer, Almas - these will all be your playground. So, let us all agree to support one another, we are a team, not competitors.
Bloodless once again spends his afternoon thinking of his posture and practicing his lines and their delivery. Whilst he has the skills and diplomacy of a fine Cheliaxian ambassador, he is clearly seeking that little bit more, that 'special something' to mark him as truly memorable.
He sits back down with a pencil and a piece of paper and sketches out a few motifs, abstracted sigils and designs based on Celestial script.
After some time he seeks out Millech.
"An odd request, but perhaps you have some skill at art, or perhaps a costume designer you could recommend I seek? I have a suit of armour in mind, but its more than that, it is a costume as well... I sish to have a suit crafted one day that would befit an Angel of the heavens who hunts in the darkness... stylised as a Celestial, but in tones and colours for a hunter of the night. A colour and appearance that contrasts with my skin tone, and might make my foes gasp with its beauty and sheer theatrical impact... I have inside me the blood of Angels, and I would have a piece of showmanship that left no doubt as to my heritage"
"I listen so earnest to Robahl and aplpy what he teaches as I intend to one day be a great hero and as such I must learn to act like one, to learn not just what to say, but how to say it. I seek to be an aspiration to appreciators of the arts, and hunters of Demonkind everywhere".
"Forgive my impertinence, Lady, I informed your friend that I am missing my appointment to get my insides stuffed by our leading man," Asmodia says and offers the actress a rather crude grin. "I assure you, it is not an office of which I am particularly fond, but it affords me some time to consider how I might advance in this plot. Good day."
Calseinica watches Asmodia get up to leave with no small amount of concern on her face seeming to be genuinely worried for you. As you start to leave the cafe it's only then that you notice the quickly growing crowd that has formed during the course of the conversation. There's excited whispering in the crowd and the snippets you catch make you realize the leaving might be difficult.
"Is that Calseinica! Gods she's pretty!"
"Who's the girl in the armor? Is she supposed to be Tybain? She seems much more suited to Krona if you ask me."
"That's so odd coming to eat at a restaurant in costume."
"Prince of darkness they're so gorgeous~! Can I have an autograph! Or a kiss!"
@Bloodless: As you ask Millech about the armor he ponders the question for a moment before turning to you with a wry grin on his crooked face. "You mean something like this?"
He waves a calloused hand and chants some arcane words and you look down to see your costume has transformed into suit of deep crimson and black. It might look for all appearances to be some armor that Millech had seen on a cleric of asmodeus. However where such armor would be covered in grinning devils and images of eternal torment the images on this armor appear to depict images of vengeful angels and righteous anger being directed at demons (not devils). It appears it might be leather or some combination of leather and chain but of course you can't feel it and it doesn't take long to realize you're still in your costume and that Millech has merely cast an illusion over you.
Bloodless stares at the illusory works for a moment, blinking.
"Something very much like this... very much like this indeed. Perhaps when I have earned a bit more money you could accompany me to an armourer and we could have such a piece commissioned?"
"A kiss?" Asmodia repeats, then smiles slyly and moves up to Calseinica, grabs her by the hair to pull her head down and places one on her lips like a regular lover, but keeps eye contact with one of the spectators. She maintains the kiss until Calseinica begins to protest, but holds her hair a few moments more to hiss "At least with Thesing, there was a prelude to being f*cked. Thank you for the enjoyable meal," she concludes politely, licks her lips and pushes through the gathering.
LeVash is pending most of this time in intense and unrelenting practice, trying to make up for lack of training with experience in this one particular role.
Watching aghast at Asmodia's antics, I turn toward Calseinica and shrug my shoulders.
Quietly: Guess we will have to watch that one. I am not sure if she is entirely stable, but on the other hand, it should make for a great show.
Bejis is planning on practicing his, after what he thought was a good performance finally.
Calseinica struggles briefly as Asmodia snatches her and gives her the makeout session of a lifetime to the sounds of whoops, howls, gasps of shock, and whitling. She blushes furiously and stiffens up an obvious nervous tension running thourought her body. When Asmodia says her piece she looks at Asmodia genuinely frightened and aroused.
When Asmodia is out of sight Calseinica turns to Aerieth still blushing furiously and looking incredibly confused. "What in the nine hells is wrong with her? Did I do something wrong? What did I do to make her so angry?" She fiddles with the jewelry on her wrists suddenly very self conscious.
@Bejis: Actually I read your ppost wrong. Oopsies. 19 is sufficient not to gain Robahl's further ire so your post will be identical to Aerieth's. You still come off as gruff and odd to millech in the worst possible way.
@Bloodless: "Yeah good luck with that." Millech says eith a sarcastic laugh. "Works for costumes but if you want real armor it's going to get the kind of attention I'd rather avoid. Church of Asmodeus 'round here doesn't take kindly to people reminding them of the other side if you take my meaning."
"Well I'm all for hunting down the Demonspawn and gutting them like fish, but I hold a special place in my heart for Tieflings. Asmodians can't complain too much about that though surely? Enemy of my enemy and all that?"
I console Calseinica on the return to the theatre. As surprising and unexpected as her little smooch may have been, In front of that crowd, I bet that it will do wonders for the PR of the film. Perhaps I will bring some of the rings and carvings tomorrow. I can toss a few into the crowd and tell them that if they really want to see how it all will end, they will have to come to the show.
I would like to try to hide in the theatre tonight and investigate what is happening with the scenery and anything else that looks unusual. Also, I want to listen in on any conversations that take place after hours.
Stealth:
Perception:
Asmodia skips work this evening to spend time in contemplation at Aroden's shrine, praying that the dead god does not mind a false paladin kissing ladies in the street.
"You were the Last of Men, and the Father of my Lord, also a bastard," she notes with a wry smile. "How is it you were succeeded by the Inheritor? There are few less appealing females in the world, honestly..."
Asmodia chuckles and casts to fill her tankard with mead, and considers how silly it is for a drunk to be complaining to a dead god in prayer using a language directly opposed to the ruling regime's aims.
As all of you sans Aerieth leaves the Limehouse theatre you noticed that the crowd Asmodia encountered at the cafe has not only followed her...it's tripled in size. Wealthy merchants, beggars, slaves, and others have all gathered around to see what the town criers and constant promotion has been about. They cheer upon sighting you and demand, loudly and insitently, that you give them a sample performance. The other actors have gone home for the night already. Thesing already making it a point not to offer Asmodia a ride to his love shack.
To your shock, amazement and utter horror you find...that the place is incredibly untidy. Costumes are everywhere their are crates upon crates of old uniforms, pieces of cloth or bargain bin clothes. Old set pieces litter everything and you find enough gaudy fake weapons to arm an entire brigade of fake soldiers. Dust covers most of this.
As far as torture implements, hidden monsters, zombies, or other dreadful devices of torment and pain you find none. Even after you go through the trouble of breaking into Robahl's office all you find is boring accounting documents and perfume scented letters from various parts of the world from numerous women. Apparently the legends of Robahl's sexual prowess and way with the ladies has some truth to it.
Perform
Bloodless quickly ducks aside and throws on his hood and black gloves, feeling the character come to life once again in him...
"Is this what you want!" he screams to the crowd, "Do you want to see pain!?" he balls his leather clad fists so hard the creak of the leather gloves is audible, "Do you want to see punishment!?" he jangles some chains forbodingly, "Well how about.... YOU!?" he thrusts his hand out savagely pointing to no one in particular in the crowd... "I thought not!".
Bloodless continues the charade, adlibbing some more material he had been thinking about...
Uncertain how, Asmodia's voice breaks like a hormonal adolescent boy as she delivers several lines from Tybain's temptation, sweating profusely and trembling with something likely stronger than stage fright instead of falsifying an orgasm, which was the scene's intent.
Bloodless's impromptu performance elicits cheers and hurrah's from the crowd and after a few moments his natural charisma has them on edge and satisfied. Attracted by the noise Robahl sticks his head out and disperses the crowd swinging his cane about to clear a path while angrily telling people who get in the way that "Actors need their rest".
The rest of the night makes it difficult to deal in any private business. People stop you asking for autographs, others simply gawk. You are recognized in restraunts. You're getting your first taste of celebrity.
Day 5 starts with an argument. You come into the theatre to find Millech shouting at Delour and Robahl. He seems concerned that the hazards of the play will spread to the backstage staff and upset that Robahl is being so coy about what's in store. Delour is trying to reassure the hunchback explaining.
"Surely dear Millech those stories are merely exaggeration such brutality is left to the gladiator pits don't you think?
As she speaks she gives sidelong glances to Calseinica who is standing off to the side turning a sickly shade of green and shaking nervously. Thesing watches the proceeding with a malicious smile on his face sometimes adding his own gruesome and exaggerated tale of death on stage to watch Calseinica's reaction.
Robahl simply tries to reassure his old friend simply trying to tell him that the safety of the staff and audience has been assured to him by the mayor himself.
This day sees more dry runs as you near the end of the week. Robahl's standards are certainly higher this time and expects much out of all of you.
Thesing act
Calseinica act
Delour sing
Thesing is of course at the top of his game but the rest falter. Delour's voice uncharacteristically cracks very slightly and Calseinica, wretchedly nervous from yesterdays unwanted affection and now with not one but two cast members with harmful intent for her she spends an inordinate amount of time clinging close to LeVash, as if the brooding druid's presence might drive off potential bad touches.
After a long night of searching the theatre, I am back for more abuse.
Perform(act): <-- apparently the no sleep thing works
I tell the others what I found - or didn't find as the case may be. (Read the above spoiler). I also note that I plan on following Robahl this night as there is obviously some other location where the scenery and set for the play are being stored.
Asmodia's fists shake as she contemplates striking Thesing in the testicles for sadistically tormenting the petite actress. Were she without a limiter, she might summon several celestial eagles to scratch out his eyes, if she had prepared the spell. She feels that her plan to embarrass the man on his stalking grounds later is every bit justified, and to do so with Bloodless is even more attractive, though she's spurned his apartment and his bed for several nights now.
Bloodless continues on, spending his time acting, and when not acting he's talking about acting and stagecraft, soaking up the information like a sponge...
Perform
Though Asmodia has been preoccupied he makes no point of it.
Bloodless continues on, spending his time acting, and when not acting he's talking about acting and stagecraft, soaking up the information like a sponge...
Perform 1d20+2
Though Asmodia has been preoccupied he makes no point of it.
All the bonuses mentioned stay with you so long as you are performing your particular role in this particular play.