Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

Heran spends much time by the witches? bedside, humming along with the music box, a smile on his face as he watches her sleep, hopefully, peacefully.

He would daub a cloth in water now and again to wipe her face and dampen her lips, so she does not dehydrate.

paw wrote:Heran spends much time by the witches? bedside, humming along with the music box, a smile on his face as he watches her sleep, hopefully, peacefully.

He would daub a cloth in water now and again to wipe her face and dampen her lips, so she does not dehydrate.

The fire-haired bardess visits often to sing softly and ensure the hygiene of the witch is kept to the best standards she can, changing her clothes and bedsheets while the men are made to leave the room. She tries to do so in regular intervals, so that she does not soil herself and rest in it too often, a soft look in her eyes as she hopes for a quick recovery of the then-witch.

After hearing about a theft from the White Mask Theatre, Priestess Aeili graced the place with her presence. Any within earshot of the backstage area would have overheard her discussion with Herran and Telia about the theft, and its satisfactory rectification.

Upon hearing of the witch being kept within the theatre, Aeili was invited by Herran to examine her for any signs of enchantment or other causes of her seemingly endless sleeping. She would do so, starting first with non-magical means (Sense Motive; Spellcraft; Heal) and if she ascertained it safe to do so, moving on to magical means (Detect Magic; Analyse Dweomer).

Herran smiles to himself watching how the elf takes such great care in her work. He cannot help but to lean over and kiss her cheek, then laugh lightly as she reflexively jumps away.

I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you. I only meant that as a thank you, for what you are doing now and for what you obviously must have done for me outside your village. He bows his head to her respectively to emphasis his words.

Kana Goodheart wanders into the Theatre and asks the custodian, Karl, to let people know she is interested in taking music and acting lessons. She promises good coin to an experienced teacher who has an excess of patience.

When Telia is at the Theater, she expresses curiosity as Karl tells her that Kana had been around. She asks if Kana mentioned where she could be contacted.

Kana walks in and talks to the janitor again. Upon hearing of Telia's interest, Kana is overjoyed. She informs the man that she will be back tomorrow afternoon in hopes of catch Telia.


///I will be on Wednesday at around 20:00 GMT at the White Theater.

Hearing Kana's reply from the custodian, Telia would be waiting at the Theater for the woman.

A woman in white padded armor and a gray cloak can be heard making inquiries about the next open stage performance date.

Herran would greet her with a smile and replies that it should be soon and that posters will be displayed up and down the coast.


///// hard to schedule them with all the Ddosing going on these days hopefully next weekend though *crosses fingers*

After many delightful, and other less so, performances by a variety of folks, the time came for Aeili to present the magic show she had been working so hard on for the last month!

Narrator (Nea): Once upon a time in a dark, distant forest, two twin witches lived in a dark old house with a dark, old cauldron that always bubbled, bubbled, bubbled with a dark, old potion.

Red Witch (Aeili): “Three toes of newt, four camel eyelashes and a spoon of quicksilver!” says the red witch as she throws the objects into the bubbling cauldron.

Blue Witch (Telia): “A spoon of quicksilver? Do you not know it is poisonous, sister?” *she gives the red witch a surprised look*

“Not when I add a trickle of treacle and a dash of eyelash!” the red witch replies with an evil grin.

“Well trust is a must, will you taste or just fuss?” *she gives the red witch a challenging look with an eviller grin*

“Why, I am proud of my mix, or do you think I play tricks?” she replies with a boastful glare.

“Try, by all means, your delectable brew it seems.” *she snorts, with clear disbelief and gestures at the cauldron*

So the Red Witch added the ingredients to the bubbling cauldron, chanted the magic phrase, took the ladle to her mouth and sipped...

“Bubble bubble, cauldron of trouble! Ah, like fine wine while one did dine!” she remarks while waving her hands around.

[Aeili drinks Potion: Barkskin]

“Sister, a misadventure? Your hair is not quite there!” *her eyes widen and she then holds back a laugh as she points at Aeili's hair*

“Like leaves of a vine! This hair is not mine!” she replies with a frown and a pout!

“A dollop of scallop, and the effect shall gallop.” *she nods, as if she can fix this*

“You gave me a jinx! It’s still poison, methinks.” she replies with a dubious expression.

“Really? You doubt my alchemical clout?” *she rolls her eyes, as clearly she must be the better witch*

So the blue witch added the slimy, grimy scallop to the bubbling cauldron, chanted the magic phrase, took the ladle to her mouth and sipped...

“Bubble bubble, cauldron of trouble! Like the sound of a round, ground pound of hound!” *she exclaims and swallows the brew*

[Telia drinks Potion: Enlarge Person]

“Oh my, so high! Will you sprout wings, and fly?” she remarks amidst cackles of laughter!

“The dread to my head! Oh, to lay down on my bed!” *she looks down at herself and then looks dizzy, lying down on the floor*

“Sister, your height will cause fright! Oh the pangs of delight!” she says, continuing to laugh exuberantly the blue witch's misfortune!

“Oh no, the woe! I sink below. . .” *she moans, not appearing to feel too well!*

“Quick, the tongue of an adder! This will make me no madder.” she boasts and waves her arms around as if -she- knows what she is doing.

So the red witch added the split snake tongue to the bubbling cauldron, chanted the magic phrase, took the ladle to her mouth and sipped. . .

“Bubble bubble, cauldron of trouble! Like a dance with no pants, enhance!” she chants and incants a spell.

[Aeili casts Spell: Reduce Person]

“Ha, with a snort! Look at how short you are caught!” *she grins, jumping up and looks happy at how the brew now backfired on her witch-sister*

“By the gods! Two more sods from swampy bogs!” she retorts in horror, looking herself over very carefully.

“Sods of swampy bogs? Do you mean frogs, or logs?” *she looks at the red witch and then cackles*

“It matters not! It’s just a blot! Give what you’ve got!” she replies angrily, clearly not impressed with her sister's suggestion.

“Within time this will be mine! Just add lime and all will shine!” *she sounds confident that she knows exactly what this witch brew needs *

So the blue witch added the fine lime to the bubbling cauldron, chanted the magic phrase, took the ladle to her mouth and sipped. . .

“Bubble bubble, cauldron of trouble! I said no red or I’ll be dead!” *she exclaims and then swallows the witch brew*

[Telia drinks Potion: Elemental Shield]

“Ha, and look! The flame came all the same!” she cackles once more ias the blue witch erupts in a burst of fire!

“A bee’s knees, if you please! This has quite become a tease!” *she jumps back, looking a little frightened for a moment before collecting herself*

“No more the bore, sister, if I add four?” she taunts her with a malicious grin upon her face.

“Yes yes, for the best. Another test for the rest.” *she nods several times; this obviously requires a large amount of bee knees*

So the red witch added the four wee knees of the bees to the bubbling cauldron, chanted the magic phrase, took the ladle to her mouth and sipped. . .

“Bubble bubble, cauldron of trouble! No more glow, its not a show!” the red witch cries out, lifting her hands to incant another devious spell!

[Aeili casts Spell: Lesser Visage of the Deity]

“Ahhh! The light! It’s so bright! Why do you fight?” *she raises an arm up, to shield her eyes from the brightness Aeili emits*

“A gnome’s nose and a rose! That’s how it goes. . .” she replies in self-inflicted horror.

“Three ears of deers and a couple of beers? Will this not quell our fears?” *in a tone that suggests that it usually works!

“Sister, you are mean! Do it since you’re so keen!” she scoffs at her suggestion, placing her hands on her hips and looking unimpressed.

So the blue witch added the deers’ ears and beers to the bubbling cauldron, chanted the magic phrase, took the ladle to her mouth and sipped. . .

“Bubble bubble, cauldron of trouble! The last is past, what a farce!” *she seems self-certain and she swallows the brew, what could possibly go wrong?*

[Telia drinks Potion: Shapechange - Frost Giant]

“How gross, more than most! Uglier than I could boast!” she gloats with glee, mocking her sister!

“Oh the sight, filled with might! What a ghastly fright!” *show looks down at herself, surprised, clearly this was not how it was supposed to go*

“A touch of moss, just a toss. Mayhap enough to relieve your loss?” the red witch suggests in a snyde, taunting manner.

“Fine fine, I will not whine. This surely is the final sign.” *she looks at the brew, as if surely things cannot get any worse...*

So the red witch added the meagre moss to the bubbling cauldron, chanted the magic phrase, took the ladle to her mouth and sipped. . .

“Bubble bubble, cauldron of trouble! All is done, now for the fun!” she declares proudly with a wave of her hand and a flash of magic!

[Aeili casts Spell: Shapechange – Fire Giant]

“Oh ho, the rage! What a mage! Now who will ascend the stage?” *a wicked grin spreads on the frost giant's lips as she regards her witch-sister*

"Curse this brew, too! Forever am I stuck with you!" she remarks with extreme disappointment and a final dark brooding glare at her accomplice in witchery.

And so the two, twin witches lived the rest of their lives as giants in the dark old forest, in their dark old house, never again able to brew their bubbling, bubbling, bubbling, dark old potion.

After the play, all the participants in the Bardic contest were invited onto the stage to announce the winners of the prizes. The presentation was interrupted by an elf wearing pink who began to throw fruit at the two Red Wizards who had performed. Aeili had to rush down from the stage and defuse the situation quickly, ushering the maddened Celestia outside for a stern talking to.

//OOC: Picture album: http://imgur.com/a/Xjbhv/layout/horizontal#0

Theater Trip.

On one of the days after breakfast in Pathfinder Hall, a tired sorceress who is still getting adjusted to the change in her day & night rhythm, addresses a dozen of the children.

DM Arrakeen wrote:Heads turn and children look up at Telia, listening to what she has to say.

"I would like for us to visit the Theater today and play there. I know that some of you have more of an interest in the performing arts, song and music... but I think we can all have some fun there. It is a place of joy, smiles and laughter." She smiles at the children and then waits for them to get ready.

DM Arrakeen wrote:Sylvi and Richard help the kids get ready. There are shoelaces that need to be tied up. Coats to be buttoned and scarfs to be wrapped.

Once the children are all ready, Telia leads them along with a guard on duty towards the White Mask Theater in the Palace District. Likely, the children would be quite awed at the large area. Some who have been at the orphanage for some time, may have seen a few shows in the Theater - especially the plays.

DM Arrakeen wrote:And indeed, veterans of the Orphanage seem less amazed than the children that happen to be in the Theater for the first time.

Telia bids all the children to look at the statues then to follow her to the stage. Standing on stage with hundred or so empty seats, can be quite daunting even if they are not filled. She herself has her back towards the seats and asks everyone to sit down in front of her, so that they can get more used to the mass of seats behind her.

DM Arrakeen wrote:From the caretakers staff only Richar is present. He seats himself at the end of the row of children keeping an eye on those most troublesome elements of the group but otherwise remaining silent, letting Telia do her thing.
The interest in children differs from kid to kid but on average they all pay more or less attention looking between the surroundings and the sorceress.

"The Theater has been called a Temple to the gods of creativity. It is not an actual Temple of course but we like to honour the gods which allow us to share works of art with others. Did anyone recognize any of the three statues of the gods?"

DM Arrakeen wrote:Dannic would list all of the gods, his eyes, however, barely even turn to Telia.

The names would have been readable on the base of the statues and she waits for the children to think. When Dannic lists the names of the gods, she would ask him what he knew about Lliira the goddess of joy, Oghma the god of knowledge and Milil the god of songs.

DM Arrakeen wrote:Dannic would rub his chin in thought "Not much more than what you already said mrs Santraeger. Oghma is the god of all knowledge, Lliira is the god of joy and happiness and Milil is a patron of songs and art. Patron of bards and other artists maybe?"

Telia nods and tells Dannic that he is right. She would then tell a little bit more about each god and what they stand for and in what ways they should be thankful to the three.

There would also be a statue of Finder Wyvernspur but Telia does not talk much about this bard, not being able to recall his works and not even quite sure why his statue is there.

Once the short lesson is over, she brings the children backstage where masks have been placed on the tables and small sized costumes (originally likely meant for halflings or gnomes) have been prepared. There would be all kinds of roles the masks and costumes are suited for, from monsters to ordinary people like an innkeep.

To dress the children, Telia has enlisted the aid of Peter, Paul and Mary who often give a hand at larger performances with backdrop music.

DM Arrakeen wrote:Most of the kids squeal, giggle happily. A rather joyous, enthusiastic atmosphere fills the backstage compartments of the Theater while the children change into their costumes. All squabbles over who is going to wear the wolf, princess, frog, knight costume are quickly defused by skilled caretaker.

Only Amanda refrains from taking any part in the activities. She finds herself a good spot from which she doesn't move, glancing around here and there with slightly concerned, nervous gaze.

Theater paints are also applied and when everyone are more or less ready, they head back for the stage where Telia plans an impromptu play where she encourages the children to act out their roles. When she notices that Amanda freezes in place, she leads the girl to backstage, where there are some levers which control the light and other things, such as props. She would ask Amanda to play around with these. Silvyr, the cat, would of course have come along.

DM Arrakeen wrote:Amanda follows Telia silently, keeping close to Silvyr. Once Telia turns her attention towards other children the shy girl would carefully try out the levers observing cautiously the effect of her actions.

When Amanda tries out the levers, a light would flicker on and off above the stage and above the audience area respectively. A light just at the front of the stage would also flicker on and off.

It would likely be chaotic but Telia's storytelling abilities come well in use here and she can twist the unlikeliest roles to somehow make sense to be together on the stage. She also tries to coax the more shy children to step forward and at least say a few words. Her keen eyes would try to pick out the children who look like they want to be able to step forward but do not dare, as opposed to those truly shy and who do not want to be on the stage.

DM Arrakeen wrote:Andrew, Dannic, Timmy and two other kids seem to be in the center of things, clearly enjoying the entertainment.
Other children participate more passively so their shy smiles are the only indicator of the enjoyment they seem to feel.
Few of the charges refrain from speaking on stage but still take part in playing their little roles.

When the children begin to tire, they all return backstage to get out of costume and sit in the lounge to enjoy some sandwiches prepared by Custodian Karl. The lounge would be a very fine area, with paintings of exotic places.

DM Arrakeen wrote:Sanwitches and juice turn out to be a great hit and are quickly devoured by the hungry group.

Before they leave, Telia would take out a mandolin with suns on it and begin to play and sing. She would repeat the song twice, encouraging the children to learn it and sing along.

The Music of Life

Music has the power,
to help and to heal,
It's truly amazing,
how it makes us feel.

It brings us hope,
and a positive mind.
Motivates us,
to be friendly and kind.

Music offers messages,
about others and earth,
Guides us with purpose,
assures that we're worth.

A single song,
countless hearts it may touch,
Will help us love others,
so very much.

Music is here,
to entertain and inspire,
Has the potential,
to ignite our inner fire.

Together with music,
we can create good,
We have what it takes,
we definitely should.

DM Arrakeen wrote:The younger of kids try to sing along while the older ones, especially those in their teens take more time to warm up to singing. In the end, however, almost every child attempts to sing along with the sorceress and the others. their voices fill the Theater with more or less enjoyable cacophony.

They then head back to Pathfinder Hall. Every tenday, Telia would try to bring another dozen of children to the Theater, including the ones in the Orphanage. She would follow more or less the same plan and sing the same song. For those in Pathfinder Hall, she would every now and then rehearse the song with and also teach the song about kindness she sang once.

The new Director of the White Mask Theater can be seen frequently walking there and spending time among songpapers, instruments and the dreaded pile of administrative papers which her predecessor left behind.

In time, a few notices are put up by the door near the Theater, on the bulletin board and other various places which are likely to catch people's eyes.

THE WHITE MASK THEATER IS RECRUITING

The White Mask Theater is looking for able men and women who can serve as security during Theater lead events. Confidence of self is of important, as making quick decisions during ongoing performances can lessen any disturbance. A gentle approach is much preferred when dealing with trouble makers. Armor is not be worn at Theater events but a blade is permitted. A position as Head of Security is available.

The White Mask Theater is further looking for any performers in the city who wish to be part of something greater. Being part of the performing troupe gives opportunity to stand on stage before many high standing people and a chance of making an impact. It also gives opportunity to cheer those who need a dose of enjoyment in their lives, in the spirit of the Joybringer.


Security and performers will be offered a free bed, free meals and access to backstage areas. Wages are set but fair. Letters can be sent to the White Mask Theater or Pathfinder Hall.


Signed,
Telia Santraeger
Director of the White Mask Theater