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Post by Èdan on Jul 27, 2023 8:44:11 GMT -6
Creature:
Atrum / “Art” Level 24 (0/5) / Loyalty 24 (0/5) Stamina: 2 Strength: 2 Resistance: 3 Dexterity: 2 Mentality: 1 Special Abilities: Stone Skin, Psychic Resistance Moves: Bite, Rend, Climb, Mental Barrier Tricks: Accept Blood/Scary Sights
Inventory:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of all the quests he had seen on the board thus far, this one certainly seemed to be the most.. well, not 'unconventional' so much as 'unexpected'. Convention didn't really play into anything the questing association did, though he's still a bit surprised at the simplicity of the task - just go watch something for a couple of hours.
Now, usually when the courier took a 'break' it would be to visit the riverside for some peace, quiet, and maybe a fishy catch or two. Instead, he sets aside some time on one relatively uneventful evening to head over to the public park, and catch this 'play' as they called it in person. The place isn't hard to find, considering the crew have built a fairly long stage, and several rows of temporary stands for the spectators to have a view.
He climbs the steps to the top row, incidentally the one furthest back as well, and settles in.
. 1 . Atrum: 24 (1/5)
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Post by Èdan on Jul 27, 2023 8:45:39 GMT -6
This row and one-two of the others before it remains relatively empty, making it seem like the fame of the play hasn't quite reached far enough across the City to make it figuratively 'sold out'. It also gives him some relative peace from any potentially chatty fellow audience members. With all eyes pointed forwards towards the stage, it even allows the shadow to seep out from the sleeve of his shirt and form up as a small dark shape beside him.
The first question Atrum asks, moving tendrils in silent meaning and words, is where they are, and why. The man glances over, stage hands still fussing about ahead of them in order to get things started. "A play," he says low, "Make-believe, telling a story. Humans love this sort of thing, for entertainment." Then a small rise of the shoulders, "Assuming it's good."
The shadow thinks, then signs again: is it?
There's the barest of smirks, "We'll find out, wont we?". 2 . Atrum: 24 (2/5)
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Post by Èdan on Jul 27, 2023 8:47:56 GMT -6
The advertisement, for all its fancy design, hadn't really shared a lot of specific details on what particular story would be told, nor even mentioned a genre. The man watches the hands finish setting things up on stage, the curtains rolling in to prepare for the start of it, and the eyes have to narrow a little bit in deliberation. The stage.. doesn't seem to be too elaborate. Admittedly the park isn't the same as a full proper theatre (But even then there are some countries where theatrics were fanciful affairs of set, dressing, effects, masks and costume, especially for travelling ones).
The curtains then part and to their fortune, things start off with a herald-type character explaining the narrative, the background and introducing the first of the characters (The fact this 'herald' has no feathers in their cap, and missing entirely too many colours in their outfit is something he can overlook at least, considering they still understood the assignment in the flourish of the speech).
. 3 . Atrum: 24 (3/5)
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Post by Èdan on Jul 27, 2023 8:49:10 GMT -6
Ah, a wedding of some kingdom or another, rival families turned allies through the marital bond. A classic of political intrigue peppered with romantic undertones, and could either become a tragedy or a comedy, depending on in what manner things will go wrong (For they'd have to).
The scenes open to what is assumed to be the interior of a castle, setting up the stakes for the marriage itself and introducing the first of the characters. As the story starts to unravel, the shadow quietly creeps up along the man's back and settles on the shoulder for a better view - these stands, while comfortable enough for humanoids, alas did not take into consideration smaller kin or beasts.
The groom to be is introduced as a brute of a man, the bride a gentle, but cunning soul, either family side equally reflective of these qualities, with a few exceptions in an uncle and a grandmother.
. 4 . Atrum: 24 (4/5)
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Post by Èdan on Jul 27, 2023 8:50:21 GMT -6
A complex set of familiar ties and narratives, to be sure, and a set-up that would be far more entertaining to follow if the actor of the husband isn't in the process of overselling it so much as to seem lurid. The courier's usually expressionless face can't help but twist into a small grimace, even as the wed-to-be's profess their attraction to one another, while simultaneously side-explaining their true objectives. A scene he's sure is meant to attract the audience into siding with one or the other in sympathy, but mostly makes it seem like the husband's actor has a misplaced disc in their back, considering how much they keep shifting in their turns between each switch aside and back front.
Even the shadow signs a simple: is he alright?
The man gives a single head shake, and replies in a low whisper, "Physically, yes. In terms of the acting? Sub-par, at best."
. 5 . Atrum: 25 (0/5)
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Post by Èdan on Jul 27, 2023 8:51:17 GMT -6
It's not an easy thing, to pretend to be someone else. An actor's first lesson in that is to realize they shouldn't actually 'pretend' - they need to 'become'. As far as the man can tell, this one hasn't quite grasped that lesson yet (Though if one's being kind, maybe this is like a.. junior troupe, inexperienced on a full stage. Or perhaps the husband has intentionally been made insufferable, which feels more closer to truth).
The story progresses onwards, with more characters introduced alongside - the husband's uncle with a sharp wit and sharper tongue, matched only by bride's grandmother, whose lines cut so sharp, there's a few instances where even the courier's brows rise at the sheer audacity of her statements, the shadow mimicking the expression beside him. Where the bride is subtle, the grandmother remains an unadulterated thorn in everyone's side, her power and position largely keeping her from reprisal at any insults.
. 6 . Atrum: 25 (1/5)
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Post by Èdan on Jul 27, 2023 8:52:51 GMT -6
One has to give credit where credit is due - whoever was put in charge of the grandmother's role absolutely understands the assignment, if not goes even beyond the standards of the character. The verbal battles between uncle and grandmother arguably the most enjoyable part of the play so far (Even if the whole thing was missing the flourish of the usual sets and costuming).
The rest of the cast? More among the mediocre, neither particularly awful nor notably good. Perhaps the bride's portrayal standing above the rest, but largely overshadowed by the uncle and grandmother, or simply looking to have some conflicting narrative. From what we can understand, the marriage should ensure the safety of the realm, and prosperity to both families. And yet the ugly nature of the husband seems to constantly dance on a knife's edge of the wife-to-be's tolerance (Making him wonder if the husband's even likely to survive past the wedding night. He doubts much of the audience would feel particularly sympathetic if he doesn't).
. 7 . Atrum: 25 (2/5)
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Post by Èdan on Jul 27, 2023 8:53:52 GMT -6
The intermission is called just after the uncle had issued a threat to his nephew, in vain attempt of getting him to behave, but before the wedding itself would be taking place. The shadow quickly slinks back into the man's sleeve, as they join the rest of the crowd in stretching one's legs and perhaps investing in some snacks (The latter was tradition among travelling theatres in many places, though the type of snack was usually.. pretty basic, centred around things like bread and vegetables. Said vegetables as snacks were also a reason behind the caricature of what tended to happen should a large enough part of the crowd not like a particular production..)
Returning, the courier takes his seat in the same spot as before, leaning forwards to rest the hands on the knees and inspect a carton box held in one hand. It's filled with popped corn, and seems lathered in butter or oil of some sort. Curious.
. 8 . Atrum: 25 (3/5)
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Post by Èdan on Jul 27, 2023 8:55:15 GMT -6
Well, one can't argue over the simplicity of the snack, even as he tries one and find its.. weirdly alright (Guess this place does make miracles happen - making peasant food taste like culinary art). The curtains reopen, with the herald bringing the audience up to speed on both the intermission, and the next scene everyone will be stepping into. The shadow slinks out, and back up onto the man's shoulder as the explanation is happening. He'd offer him a piece of the corn, but given that ethereal nature it doesn't seem like the shadow would have a chance to enjoy it.
The wedding at last, long teased and well-referenced. Whatever budget the troupe had seems to be poured into this, with several tables, stands, prop food, fake armour and various carpets and banners being thrown in. One being a rose in the back explaining the allegorical allusion to both the bride and grandmother.
. 9 . Atrum: 25 (4/5)
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Post by Èdan on Jul 27, 2023 8:57:31 GMT -6
The other banner a lion, which in part might explain the unpleasantness, or at the very least fierceness of the husband's family side. Up until now, the play hasn't really had a chance to make up its mind on comedy, tragedy, or something in between, and while the celebration begins with jokes and jabs at one another, some amiable, some cruel, the truth comes out only towards the end.
The man suppresses another cringe as the husband keeps giving his far to overtly venom-laced speech, until suddenly the character chokes, falls over, and the scene devolves into sudden drama. Intended drama, of course, not actual. A combination of a dramatic death-by-poison scene, followed by wails of a mother, curses and sly looks, and the upping of several stakes..
Only for the curtain to fall, and the herald to step out and invite everyone to the follow-up play a few weeks from now, the crowd protesting in their captivation. The man sits up, waving a hand through the air, and then sighs, looking at the shadow, "Cliffhanger.. Typical."
. 10 . (added) Atrum: 26 (0/5)
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Post by NPC on Jul 28, 2023 7:49:00 GMT -6
Congratulations, you have successfully completed the quest! Your QP will be added to the bank, and your prize will be sent out shortly.
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