• Event • Freedom of Expression: Outside

[Gennadiya Lyosha]

“I have been and still am
a seeker, but I have ceased to
question stars and books;
I have begun to listen to
the teaching my blood
whispers to me.”

― Hermann Hesse

. . . . Gennadiya Lyosha . . . .

No Likes What They Hear

Gennadiya focused on the different parts of the events going around them. The dogs frankly were beyond Genna’s experiences and knowledge. The dog did seem built for very certain activities, but Genna frankly just didn’t know enough to know if this was how all of that species were or if it was something specifically altered in that animal. She did notice the handler nod at her apologetically. She smiled at Gladius trying to indicate for not to worry.

Genna listened as Nayeli told her what it was that she had heard. The sapphire eyed woman tilted her head at the comment. That was an interesting tide bit. Changing the play at the last minutes. ‘Excellent job. See what else you can hear, I would like to know more about these changes to the story.’ She said by way of encouragement to the dirri to continue to see what it was that she could hear. ‘It would also be good to get a description or a name of the people your are listening to.’

Genna came back to the conversation around them. She looked at Tristan as he asked about Ilaren’s daughter. “Yes she had a daughter who died. I know that Rhaum was part of the original attack on Rharne, but Faldrun. His failure in that attack drove him to try and make better flameborn.” What she didn’t mention was the stack of information she had one the subject at home. “As for his involvement in the actual death, I don’t know much, but Ilaren was, and still is, very affected by the event.” She said. She listened again as who the playwrite was asked about. “Nayeli has let me know that there is a conversation going on about making changes to the script even as it is going. I am seeing what else she can gather about that.” Her eyes were thoughtful. “Though finding out who wrote it and if these changes are occurring what was originally in the play would be good. Since if they are willing to make a change even at this late date they might have made some earlier.”

[Vivian Shiryu]

In the theater, Fins just rolled his eyes at Chester's tirade against dogs, but didn't bother to respond to the Communication Spirit. He had a job to do, and unlike the self-absorbed Melrathian Diri, Fins took his duties seriously. He would not be getting distracted from his responsibilities by a flighty hairball with an overinflated ego. That said, if Chester was indicative of how Melrathian Spirits behaved, then it explained a lot about the worst of the Immortals. Apparently, being worshipped turned you into a self-absorbed cretin no matter what species you are. He did notice that he was possibly being watched however, by the woman that may have poisoned The Angler during the tournament. She looked away, but Fins and Vivian hadn't survived Storm's Edge or the War of Death and Souls by being relaxed about possible threats. "Watch yourselves. The woman from the tournament infirmary is here, and she might be able to see us." he said, moving into an area that gave him more cover just in case.

Meanwhile, outside, Vivian watched the Boozehound bolt into the alley with a slight frown. She turned to Gladis when she explained what the dog was trained to sense, then got a report back from Fins about what he saw. There was a momentary pause, and then Vivian's general attitude shifted slightly. There was an eagerness now, a sense of mounting energy. She wasn't in a combat mindset yet, but she was getting ready for a fight. "Thankfully, Rhaum and Faldrun are both dead. So's Rhaum's monster maker. But someone might be interested in picking up where they left off. For now, we have cause for concern. The woman that was heading the infirmary, where The Angler was poisoned during the tournament, is part of the show. We had tainted drinks last time she showed up as well." she said, her tone direct.

"Sam, pass the leashes to another knight so they can hang onto the dogs, you and two others go follow that Boozehound, see if he's found something important. Gladis, take two more knights and see if that Magnahowl gets any better readings around the building." she said, her tone a direct order, before the turned to some of her other knights. "Three more of you, find me another way into this theater. Everyone stays in groups and call for backup if you find trouble." she said, her tone direct. Then she looked at Genna and Tristan. "You two might want to be as ready as you can be to treat poison victims. If it's the same as last time, it's a drug that causes the victim to hallucinate and will try to kill through sheer panic. Fins also says the woman might be able to see Spirits, so warn your Diris, if they didn't listen to Fins' warning."

Then she turned her attention back to Fins. "Keep an eye on her. Right now she's our most likely culprit, but be careful. If you can hear what she's saying without getting attacked, do so. If starts to attack you, get out of there." she said, her voice calm.

[Pig Boy]

Freedom of Expression: Outside

Chester sighed heavily through the sharing of communication among the diris, and Tristan. Vivian and Gennadiya could also hear him, as he made a point of including them as part of his audience. "Very well. I shall endeavor to cajole the soggy dog. But first, I must insist upon investigating this trinket..."

There was a pause as Chester sat upon the bannister of the skybox, and looked at the couple. It was Perdita and Elijah, if Tristan knew either of them he'd be able to identify them easily. THey were holding a shell, which appeared to have a message scrawled onto it. "Strange writing." Chester said to Tristan and the others. "I wonder if their ears will pop if they hold the shell to their ears."

Chester chuckled at his own joke, but then furroweed his brow as Perdita and Elijah did just that. Then, as Elijah spoke something, Chester disappeared entirely from the vicinity, he was dragged into the shell. From then on, Tristan lost contact with him, although he still felt the bond, it was as if the diri had sunken into the Beneath.

They were down one communication diri, so it would seem. Chester didn't have a chance to evade getting sucked into the device as Elijah spoke into it.

Gladis was the first to speak up when Vivian asked if there might be a way into the theater. "My cousin helped move in the prior resident in the townhouse at the top of the theater... Something about sky acceess, landing pad for flying mounts, everything. There were supposedly ways through there into the theater. Wouldn't be hard to call in a troop of fliers to infiltrate the theater from that point, if you think it is warranted Commander?"

Outside, Gladis appeared overloaded with dogs as it was, so Sam handed the dogs to another knight. Then he went off to stalk after the Boozehound.

Gladis meanwhile attempted to carry out Vivian's orders, to show the magnahowl around the building to find a read on any potential substances or poisons in the area.

Fins kept his eyes peeled on the woman portraying Syroa, the platinum-haired false healer. She was currently sauntering down during intermission, down to the dressing rooms presumably. She didn't appear to pay a mind to Fins, however.

There was a sense of some energy about her, not spiritual. Perhaps divine or domain. It was hard for the spirit to identify. And seemed to emanate from a vanity mirror she was holding.

As for Genna's insights and thoughts into finding the playwright, Nayeli reported that she was overhearing one of the people in the common seating speaking to a strange, tattooed person next to him, claiming to be the playwright. Although what she intended to do about this from the outside, was in her hands.

He looked dapper, and well-to-do.

The

Azrael

with him was very chatty and amiable, and seemed harmless enough.

As for the rest, before intermission commence Nayeli delivered a description of all the players on the stage, including the false healer from the All-Tavern's tournament, as she appeared to be. Or at least fit the basic description of that woman.

She certainly had the same look, although looking different without her plain robes.

[Tristan Venora]

"Does anybody know if the playwright is attending the premiere?" Tristan wanted to know when Gennadiya answered Koral's question and nodded at his Tunawa companion. They made become quite a good team since he had saved her life back in Melrath in his opinion. "He'll probably be able to shed some light on what is going on here, especially if the changes were not his idea. I always attended the premiere of my plays", he added in order to make it clear why he had asked that particular question.

The king of Rynmere had attended one of his premieres. There had been an assassination attempt on the king, and Zanik had shown up and marked him, but that was something that he decided not to talk about. First of all, it was hardly relevant right now. Secondly, this was not the right time to brag about his accomplishments, and besides doing so wasn't good manners. And thirdly, there was hardly enough time for a lengthy story!

"Chester", he contacted his wonderful familiar, following a sudden moment of inspiration. "Can you find out if the playwright is inside? I'd really like to talk to him, if it’s at all possible. This is your opportunity to meet another famous person", he added in case the diri turned out to be reluctant. Chester was quite interested in meeting celebrities, at least if his previous experiences with his friend were anything to go by!

When Vivian pointed out that the woman that had been heading the infirmary during the tournament was part of the show, Tristan didn’t look happy at all. “So, the Mistress is back”, he murmured and made a face. “Which means that we might see some of our other acquaintances as well. In my opinion, it’s unlikely that she’s alone”, he continued. He would always be grateful for the fact that Syroa had given him Ayla, but he'd had enough of Sessfiends and Syroan cultists to last him for a lifetime. Hopefully, there’d be no monsters this time!

Unfortunately, he didn’t know Perdita or Elijah and wasn’t able to identify them. He played close attention regardless, the frown on his face deepening with every passing moment, until he mentally called out, “Chester, get out of there RIGHT NOW!” Something wasn’t right at all, and he wanted his friend to be near him when chaos broke out.

It was too late though.

Tristan let out a very ungentlemanly and uncharacteristic (for him) curse before he told Vivian, having calmed down again, “My diri just disappeared. Chester was watching two members of the audience. They were inspecting a shell with weird writing on it. I think Chester got sucked into it. I think the shell ate Chester. Vivian, make sure that the same doesn’t happen to Fins. I’m not sure how much longer we should just watch”, he then murmured, mostly to himself because he knew that he had no authority here. If there were diri-eating shells, there was no guessing what else was inside the theatre though!

When Vivian told Gennadiya and him to be ready to treat poison victims, he nodded and quickly prepared his healer’s kit. Koral, his Tunawa companion, on the other hand looked a bit miffed because Vivian seemed to have forgotten all about her. Koral was a healer as well!

“I’ll see if I can still contact Chester somehow”, Tristan said and tried to mentally reach out to his friend. “I’m still capable of feeling our bond, so he hasn’t been killed, but I’ve lost all contact with him. I’m not sure how to get him out of the shell. I’m worried that the audience and other spirits might be manipulated in a similar way”, he added and waited, healer’s kit ready, relatively calm despite his growing unease.

[Pig Boy]

Freedom of Expression: Outside

When Tristan asked about the playwright, he was returned with a answer. "Some dandy, Francis or some other posh sounding name." One of the knights chimed in. Then he blushed, as he wasn't supposed to know about banned theater groups. "My uhh, cousin went to the shows."

Same still hadn't returned with the Boozehound. What's worse, a crash could be heard in the alleyway where he ran after the beast. There was the sound of snarling and baying of hounds, and then nothing. Sam didn't speak afterward, or shout out. But there was a scratching noise that persisted for a few moments and then ceased. Meanwhile, Gennadiya and Vivian were preoccupied with their diri, presumably, and not fully engaged as Gladis told them that there was an access on the roof.

When Tristan tried to reach out to his friend, he found that he was quite able to sense his presence afterall. In fact, when he called his name, his voice came through the shell that the couple on the skybox were handling. He'd find that he could hear them as well as they could him. Chester could still be felt, but returned no speech to Tristan. Yet the Rynmerish noble could certainly feel his presence.

Suddenly, as all of the people outside were occupied with plotting to get in and planning and spying on the interior, there was a loud crash that could be heard from inside the Theater.

(See the other thread for what happens, as you'll all have eyes and ears in there in the form of your diri, and Tristan in the form of the shell.)

[Pig Boy]

Gennadiya Lyosha

Rewards

• Points Bank: +20 - Finish Collaborative Thread with 5+ PCs (not including your PC)
• Renown: 10
• XP: 20

Loot

• Precious Dousing Rod: Gennadiya is given a stick or rod that resembles a walking stick. She can choose up to three individuals she is acquainted with, and thinking of them the rod will point the way toward whatever path she has to travel to reach them, should they occupy the same physical reality.
  
  The people that are attuned to the rod may be changed once a trial.

Tristan Venora

Rewards

• Points Bank: +20 - Finish Collaborative Thread with 5+ PCs (not including your PC)
• Renown: 10
• XP: 20

Loot

• When Chester returns to Tristan later, he will also be carrying a small shell. Tristan can speak into this shell to create an echo. However the echo returns with a choice piece of advice that might or might not have occurred to him otherwise, in direct reference to whatever he said to it. This enchantment can be used at will.

Vivian Shiryu

Rewards

• Points Bank: +20 - Finish Collaborative Thread with 5+ PCs (not including your PC)
• Renown: 10
• XP: 20

Loot

• In the current season, Vivian is approached by a strange Barghest. It appears to want a home. The barghest has a special ability that she will have to find out about. It can mimic any one sentence that is said to it, at will by its owner. It may carry this as a message, or just be a fun parlor trick for friends to enjoy.
  
  The barghest is in good condition, with excellent level of training.

Sorry guys, this didn't pick up quite as well as I would've hoped, but I thank you all for taking part nonetheless. You all were a marvelous addition to the thread and plot that nevertheless didn't really get off the ground. Thanks for playing!