54: Weekend at Tobin's

[Ebiris]

[14:12] <@Ebiris> As Drovalid stands defiant over the fallen form of Larazod, surrounded by smashed bone and cartilidge from the fallen monsters, a hush falls over the house, the audience on the edge of their seats! Ilsandra gasps out, belatedly remembering to stay in character this time, "To... Larazod...?" she asks weakly, stumbling forward, her panting and strained voice heard clearly in the silence post battle.
[14:12] <@Ebiris> Even Thesing is startled for a moment, taking a step towards the carnage before he stops himself and draws up proudly. "The traitor has fallen and breathed his last. You fools who stood with him, I offer now a rare mercy - forget Larazod and turn back, that this might all still be forgotten," he offers.
[14:14] <@Lucie> Without taking time for more lines, Lucie kneels down next to the fallen Tobin to ascertain whether he's genuinely dead or still breathing.
[14:14] <@Rudy> "We stood and fought as one. We bear Larazod's will!" exclaims Tybain, turning to the magistrate. "Do not seek to escape your duty, Magistrate! I will hear the proclamation of innocence from your lips!"
[14:14] <@Henrietta> Letting her flail drop to the floor, Henrietta kneels by Tobin's mangled form on the other side from Lucie.
[14:15] <@Ebiris> Tobin's eyes are open but glassy and unseeing, his bruised face oozing blood from cuts and contusions but drawing in weak and stable breath.
[14:16] <@Lucie> "You rejoice too soon, magistrate," Lucie calls out. "Larazod yet draws breath!"
[14:17] <@Ebiris> Off to the sides of the stage there's no sign of the director, but Millech the hunchback is watching keenly from one side, holding a wand in hand, while Vestus stands poised on the other side, seeming amused at the whole spectacle. With Lucie's pronouncement, a sag of relief passes through the audience, and Millech lowers his wand uncertainly.
[14:19] <@Ebiris> "Hmph, yet still a weakling too impotent to rise," Haanderthan mocks with a cutting glance at Ilsandra. For her part the brutalised actress staggers to join the others on shaking legs.
[14:19] <@Ebiris> "Up, my love, even if I must carry you," she shoots beseeching glances at the more healthy cast members, "Fair Larazod will face the final trial on his feet, even after enduring the titanic blows of the Underworld's fiercest guardians!"
[14:20] * @Lucie assists in helping lift Tobin up--surely it'd take more than one person to haul him up in his armored state. "Arise, Larazod! Come back to us and strike down the lies that swarm before us!"
[14:21] <@Ebiris> Ilsandra offers a hand, but her strength is completely gone and its merely for effect, leaving Lucie to shoulder most of the weight for now. Tobin's a big guy to start with, and all that armour is quite unreasonable, but so long as she doesn't have to jump around she can at least lift him. An incoherent moan comes from his lips, head lolling uselessly as he's hoisted.
[14:22] <@Rudy> Rudy does not hesitate to lend assistance, even as he stares definatly towards the Magistrate!
[14:22] * @Henrietta is frozen in indecision at this turn of events, but Lucie makes her choice easy. She can support her in propping Tobin up. That's all they need to do before the curtain comes down again, isn't it?
[14:24] <@Ebiris> With everyone putting some effort in, the comatose Tobin is lifted up vertically almost as if he were standing there as defiant as anyone else! Even Ilsandra reaches around to lift up his chin so his unseeing gaze can look straight ahead instead of drooling down at his feet. A few nervous titters come from the crowd - particularly Lavinia's box - at this spectacle, but the committed actors continue without reservation! "The final trial is at hand," Haanderthan holds his arms to the sides almost as if in benediction, "Your souls shall be quenched at last..."
[14:24] <@Ebiris> With his words comes a dramatic sting from the orchestra, and the narrator announces, "Act the Seventh. Trial by his own dark hand!"
[14:25] <@Lucie> "Somebody's got a potion, right?" Lucie glances around. "He needs to be on his feet for the last act."
[14:26] <@Lucie> OOC: disregard line, Cidfusion in effect.
[14:30] <@Rudy> "We have proven our innocence many times over. Hades may be the deity of death, but he is still bound to release us from this farce. It is his duty!"
[14:31] <@Lucie> "You have done your worst, magistrate. I give you credit for the thoroughness of your wicked imagination in devising these trials, but they are concluded and Larazod remains triumphant! Your time is past. end this farce!"
[14:32] <@Henrietta> Henrietta directs a glare at Haanderthan. There is nothing to do but to continue, now. "Even brought so low, barely able to stand, Larazod is still more of a man than you, Magistrate!" she declares. "His innocence is not in doubt. You have more of your monsters to throw against him? I will slay them all! It is your time that has come to an end."
[14:34] * Joins: Yuth (~Yuthirin@c-71-57-26-119.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
[14:34] * Quits: Fishman (~Yuthirin@c-71-57-26-119.hsd1.il.comcast.net) (Ping timeout)
[14:38] <@Ebiris> "Insolent dogs!" the magistrate scowls, "Hades shall scour your souls as sauce from a pan. Ash for bones and waxen souls melted by the dark lord's flame to puddle 'neath his toes." But as he speaks, the lights dim, shrouding the theatre in gloom and darkness, drawing an excited murmur from the audience. It's almost pitch black when a light appears from the rafters, an eerie charnel corpse-light of otherworldly green that descends from above, shrouding a floating figure in spectral flames.
[14:38] <@Ebiris> The figure is actually your director, Robahl, but he's been made up so that it's almost hard to tell - elaborate fanciful robes of ebony and decorated with grotesquely morbid adornments in tarnished silver gird his corpulent body, and a set of tremendous greathorns protrude from his brow, their harness skillfully hidden under his toupee. As Hades himself descends to the stage, Haanderthan stands in shock, yet Ilsandra bows and pushes Tobin to try and guide his body into doing the same, assuming the others holding him up don't make it too difficult.
[14:38] <@Rudy> "The Lord of Death comes!"
[14:39] * @Henrietta is all to happy to follow an actual actress's lead!
[14:39] <@Lucie> "A more fearsome visage than dreams could've conjured!" Lucie exclaims before bowing in turn.
[14:42] <@Ebiris> Black-clad stagehands now sporting white adornments to their outfits to make them look like skeletons come skittering onto the stage, each one carrying a red scarf and a black scarf, one pair for every cast member present which are presented to the accused and the magistrate both. "Choose," Robahl's bombastic voice is put to good use here, booming powerfully through the theatre, "A true heart shall beat for eternity by my side, a false one burns to cinders in an instant."
[14:42] <@Ebiris> After the declaration, Haanderthan snorts contemptuously and snatches out a black scarf from the outstretched stagehand's grasp, said skeletally dressed assistant scampering off the stage afterwards.
[14:42] <@Ebiris> Ilsandra lifts Tobin's arm as if to take a red one, and the stage-hand helpfully drapes it so it catches on his gauntlet and stays there, before giving one to the seductress herself in the same colour.
[14:43] * @Lucie takes a red scarf and wears it with pride!
[14:43] * @Henrietta only needs one arm to support Tobin. The other reaches out fearlessly towards the scarf-bearing skeletons.
[14:44] <@Rudy> Rudy, too, seizes upon the red scard and wraps it about his neck!
[14:45] <@Ebiris> The stagehands scamper away after giving their gifts, and an expectant silence settles over the theatre... until the black scarf clutched by the magistrate begins to sizzle and smoke, quickly consuming itself in ash and prompting Thesing to flinch and throw it to the stage where it smoulders until naught is left! This unfortunately draws Hades' gaze to him... "Treacherous magistrate who lords false justice over true souls. Your soul shall burn for eternity - an everlasting torment awaits you." The magistrate backs off haltingly, looking panicked and fearful as the Lord of Death bears closer...
[14:47] <@Lucie> "A great one for stern and righteous talk, but no stomach to receive it, magistrate?" Lucie taunts. "Reap what you have sowed!"
[14:49] <@Ebiris> Hades reaches the magistrate and now Haanderthan screams out, "No! I was promised more! It wasn't supposed to be like this!" he cries in terror and frustration as Hades raises his long-sleeved arm as if to wrap Haanderthan up in it, while a trap-door opens beneath their feet and the duo both vanish into the Underworld to a chorus of screams from the now revealed traitor! The lights begin to lift now while the curtain drops at the same time, a deafening applause swiftly building from the crowd!
[14:51] * @Lucie practically wilts with fatigue once the audience's eyes are no longer upon her. "Gods, I feel like some laundress put me through a wringer."
[14:51] <@Rudy> "They tried to kill us. And I wanted to die," notes Rudy, sagging. "Can we get some healing already? Or do we have to go get the dwarf?"
[14:52] <@Ebiris> Calseinica sags brutally as the curtain falls, "Can we be healed now? We have to look good for our curtain call," she asks plaintively as Millech ambles forward, finally revealing a stash of blessed healing potions! Thesing and Robahl appear now, coming up from stairs leading below the stage at the side, the former scowling unhappily. Every one of the heroes plus the temptress is given a vial filled with soothing blue liquid, Calseinica drinking hers greedily right away!
[14:53] <@Ebiris> OOC: they're potions of cure moderate, one each
[14:53] <@Ebiris> roll 2d8+3
[14:53] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 2d8+3 and gets 9." [2d8=1, 5]
[14:53] * @Lucie doesn't need to be told twice before downing her potion!
[14:53] <@Lucie> roll 2d8+3
[14:53] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 2d8+3 and gets 12." [2d8=1, 8]
[14:53] <@Ebiris> It seems to perk her right up, too! Colour returns to her cheeks and she stands up more tall, while Millech force-feeds Tobin his own potion.
[14:53] * @Henrietta ensures that Tobin drinks the one alloted to him, before feeding him her own as well.
[14:53] <@Ebiris> roll 2d8+3
[14:53] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 2d8+3 and gets 13." [2d8=6, 4]
[14:53] <@Henrietta> roll 2d8+3 Tobin~
[14:54] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 2d8+3 Tobin~ and gets 10." [2d8=2, 5]
[14:54] <@Rudy> roll 2d8+3
[14:54] * +Hatbot --> "Rudy rolls 2d8+3 and gets 14." [2d8=8, 3]
[14:55] <@Ebiris> "Whu...?" Tobin swallows instinctively and smacks his lips, coming out of his fugue blearily. Outside the audience are calling excitedly for a curtain call, and Robahl busies himself onto the stage still garbed as Hades.
[14:55] <@Ebiris> "Come, come, everyone line up, the people want to see the Sixfold Survivors!" he insists.
[14:56] <@Lucie> "We made it, get over here for the curtain call," Lucie quickly informs Tobin before stumbling back to the curtain.
[14:57] <@Ebiris> Tobin seems a bit dazed but grins afterwards, "Alright!" he nods, following Lucie and standing between her and Calseinica. Thesing stands apart from everyone else, while Robahl takes Lucie's other side.
[14:58] <@Henrietta> Following Tobin, Henrietta ends up taking a place on Calseinica's other side.
[15:01] <@Ebiris> With everyone lined up, the curtain rises once more on the now fully lit theatre, the ecstatic crowd going wilder to see the bloodied but unbowed actors. Amidst their cheers, objects are thrown onto the stage - flowers, coins, jewellery, gems... some are wrapped in delicate silk handkerchiefs or... perhaps other soft lacy things, others simply tossed bare, a veritable shower of wealth and appreciation for the performance just given. Up in Lavinia's box everyone takes part in the standing ovation, though Trucy almost hangs off the edge as she leans forward and waves wildly, before Lavinia presses something into her hands which the young girl gleefully hurls down onto the stage with everything else, another silk wrapped gem perhaps?
[15:02] * @Rudy sweeps into a bow, no doubt joined by his fellow actors! Faced with such acclaim, not smiling is impossible!
[15:03] <@Henrietta> Her smile is no doubt shyer than Rudy's, or that of any other participant, but Henrietta faces the crowd all the same before taking a bow.
[15:03] <@Ebiris> Tobin waves before taking Lucie and Calseinica's hands, bowing in a motion echoed eagerly by the latter, who after rising immediately sheds professionalism and lunges up to Tobin for a fierce kiss! That draws a few cheers and a few jealous boos from members of both genders.
[15:03] * @Lucie bows deeply, in large part to keep the flush on her face from being readily apparent. This kind of adulation is a new experience! She spends her bow staring at the floor picking out choice rewards to claim later.
[15:05] <@Ebiris> There's a lovely platinum broch with a generously sized sapphire oval set into it that catches Lucie's eye nearby, but there's lots of other goodies scattered all over the stage with more periodically joining the collection.
[15:06] <@Lucie> It's probably rude to claiming anything right now (although Cal has evidently done that, in her own way); surely they can pick through everything later.
[15:07] <@Ebiris> After milking the acclaim for as long as the enthusiastic energy of the audience holds out, Robahl gestures subtly to a stagehand, and the curtain lowers once more, the applause ebbing down as people start to get up and leave, no doubt talking about the performance they've just seen for some time to come. With the curtain dropped, the director takes off his oversized horns and mops his sweaty brow, sighing in relief.
[15:08] <@Lucie> Lucie's immediate goal is to find something to sit on and echo the director's open sigh of relief.
[15:09] <@Ebiris> Thesing storms off pretty quickly, not lingering even for his take but just heading right out of the backstage area without looking back at his fellow actors.
[15:10] <@Ebiris> "So we survived, huh?" Tobin asks after Calseinica finally lets go of his lips, though the pretty starlet remains clinged onto his side, "I miss much while I was out?"
[15:10] <@Henrietta> "Can you, that is, can you tell me if we did worse than you expected?" Henrietta asks Robahl, approaching him hesitantly. "Without profanity, if at all possible?"
[15:11] <@Lucie> "Nah, just the last act. We all went on about how much of a hero you are and then Thesing got dragged to eternal torment." A vindictive grin. "Seems pretty upset none of us got axed instead, huh?"
[15:11] <@Rudy> "What's burning him up?" asks Rudy, glancing at Thesing.
[15:12] <@Ebiris> More than anything else, Robahl just looks *tired*. "Ah, I underestimated the heights real effort and fear could elevate even mediocrity. I am done, my girl, no performance could ever top this one."
[15:12] <@Ebiris> "He really wanted us all to die," Calseinica nods firmly at Rudy's question. "Not a nice man."
[15:12] * @Henrietta thinks there might be a compliment there somewhere, and smiles at him.
[15:14] <@Ebiris> A few of the black clad stagehands, now taking off their masks, start gathering up all of the prizes on the stage, placing them on a table to the side and gathering up quite a heap of loot, though Millech watches them carefully its unlikely they could filch much without showing in their tight pocket-less costumes.
[15:14] <@Rudy> "I'm done, too," replies Rudy, shaking his head. "I've never felt fear like I have today. I don't mind admitting it. And it's not just stage fright- it's..." He shakes his head. "You guys?"
[15:15] <@Henrietta> "May I have that handkerchief?" Henrietta requests of the stagehands, when they reach the one tossed down by Trucy.
[15:16] <@Ebiris> "It was weird," Tobin says for himself, "It could've been a real adventure - I could see myself as Larazod, doing all that for real, not just in a play. But it was fake, too - I knew Haanderthan was just a guy playing a role, not a traitor... although Ilsandra was more convincing," he chuckles down at Calseinica, who beams in response.
[15:16] <@Lucie> "Been in danger before," Lucie says. "Worse to die with people watching though, right? Then it's just embarassing." Lucie scans the pile of prizes for interesting lacy things.
[15:17] <@Ebiris> "I don't want to get whipped!" the young boy laughs in response to Henrietta, handing over the scented handkerchief, a stunningly clear and well cut diamond concealed within.
[15:17] * @Lucie whistles at the gem. "Wonder how much that set her ladyship back."
[15:18] <@Rudy> "It's more the idea that all this stuff is set up to kill us. I mean, kill us, specifically," replies Rudy. "It's not like.. you know, fighting smugglers or anything. There's no reason to what's going on..."
[15:19] * @Henrietta flushes slightly and retrieves the diamond, placing it on the table next to the others. "I only want to return this after washing it," she insists.
[15:19] <@Ebiris> Lucie can see a few lovely garter-belts, one in pristine and innocent white, another more lacy and ruffled in plum and crimson, and a delicately bowed blue one. There's also a wadded up pair of black stockings.
[15:20] <@Ebiris> Robahl nods at Rudy's comment and glances at where Vestus was, but there's no sign of the conjurer now, which draws a relieved breath from the director. "They wanted authenticity, and we gave it to them."
[15:21] <@Lucie> "Sure there's a reason, whoever set it up thought it up thought it'd be good sport to make other folk die for 'em," Lucie responds to Rudy. She briefly wonders how any of the audience members removed said garments without drawing attention, shrugs and pockets them (along with whatever jewelry looks like it might have some resale value, or just look nice on her--well, some of it, it wouldn't do
[15:21] <@Lucie> to grab it all).
[15:21] <@Henrietta> "Quite," Henrietta agrees. "I faced death to undead things before. I know I did it again today."
[15:28] <@Ebiris> Filching up the undergarments, Lucie can see a tiny folded square of paper tucked securely in the inner lining of the red garter belt. But as everyone decompresses and recovers from their ordeal, two new figures arrive backstage. The taller of the two is a man, his stiff aristocratic features offset by a rather thick mass of iron-streaked brown hair and beard, seeming barely cultivated out of wildness, he wears an expensive seeming dark suit and walks with a bejewelled cane that his stance indicates isn't really necessary except as fashion. Along with him is a woman, seeming in her early twenties to the man's sixties and dressed in a royal purple gown that presents rather formidable endowments to the world and highlights a curvy hourglass figure. Her hair is a long silky black, tumbling in curls around her face and down her back, and her features are nothing short of exquisite... if also familiar. If not for lacking in prominent ram's horns, she could pass for Vriskna's twin.
[15:28] <@Ebiris> The man claps boldly, holding his cane inbetween his elbow and body, "A magnificent performance, your reputation was well earned, Robahl, to draw such miracles from unknowns!"
[15:31] <@Rudy> "The true miracle is that we all still live," remarks Rudy. "Hope you don't mind, m'lord! We're a tenacious bunch."
[15:31] <@Ebiris> Drawing himself up, the formidable director still seems a spent force in the face of the other man. "Thank you, Duke Thade. It was fortunate to have such talented performers fall onto my stage," he manages, no insults here.
[15:32] * @Lucie nods to second this compliment. "Felt real enough, can't help but react to it like it was real. Wouldn't have been the same if the setup weren't so convincing."
[15:32] <@Henrietta> "Is that Vriskna's sister?" Henrietta asks Tobin quietly, drawing towards him while eyeing the Duke's date. "She looks, well, very much like her. What do you think?"
[15:33] <@Ebiris> "Not just happenstance though, was it?" the woman asks in a silky voice that indeed matches perfectly with the familiar Hecate worshipper - if anything perhaps even more appealing to the ears. "Lady Vanderboren was most kind to provide such resilient actors. Even without anyone dying, it was a thrilling show from start to end," she smiles brilliantly to everyone at that.
[15:34] <@Ebiris> "Huh?" Tobin looks at her intently a moment. "Nahh. Vriskna's got horns, right?" he whispers back.
[15:34] <@Rudy> "We've yet to meet the thing we can't survive. For a moment, I thought this would be it!"
[15:34] <@Henrietta> "But-- but-- magic?" Henrietta whispers back. "She even sounds like her!"
[15:35] * @Lucie idly wonders how much of the woman's superficial pleasntness masks genuine disappointment that no one died.
[15:35] <@Ebiris> "I guess? She's your friend, ever mention family up this way?" Tobin asks, still whispering and drawing a confused look from his own date, who casts a somewhat jealous look over at the Duke's companion.
[15:35] <@Ebiris> OOC: sense motive, Lucie?
[15:35] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+13 yep
[15:35] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+13 yep and gets 27." [1d20=14]
[15:36] -> *Lucie* She did sound just a bit wistful as she said 'even without anyone dying', well hidden as it was by her overall charm and otherwise sincere compliments
[15:39] <@Henrietta> There seems to be only one way to find out, after all. Henrietta steps closer to the pair, asking the woman, "Excuse me, but do you know Vriskna?"
[15:40] * @Lucie decides to examine the found note while Henri takes the conversation.
[15:42] <@Ebiris> She blinks, and her expression shows a brief flash of surprise - which draws a curiously raised eyebrow from the Duke - before her smile becomes much warmer and she covers her mouth. "Oh? Is that girl still around?" she asks in languid amusement. "I haven't seen her in a while."
[15:42] <@Ebiris> Meanwhile Lucie finds the note to be quite brief, reading 'Merrow Inn, Room 101'.
[15:43] <@Rudy> "She's a friend of ours back home! Are you related, by chance?" asks Rudy, curiously.
[15:44] <@Henrietta> "So you do know her!" Henrietta can't help but smile warmly back. "I thought for a moment you were her when I saw you! Why, you could be identical cousins!"
[15:45] <@Lucie> Well, it's not addressed to anyone in particular, so...maybe the owner isn't very discriminating! Although, is that a good thing? Well, Lucie didn't have other plans for the rest of the evening, and almost dying *does* have a way of heightening the appeal of vibrant, life-affirming exercises.
[15:46] <@Ebiris> She titters softly and holds out her hand towards Henrietta, a silk glove going up to her bicep, "Verandi, charmed to meet you. Yes, we're family, my talented Drovalid. Where is young Vriskna spending her days, now?"
[15:49] <@Henrietta> "It's Henrietta. Henrietta Ul Copt," she responds, taking the offered hand. "We meet her in Salerno sometimes, but cannot say where she is staying. Would you like me to pass something on when we go back, if we see her?"
[15:51] <@Ebiris> "Such a well mannered lady!" Verandi beams brilliant white teeth, daintily shaking Henrietta's hand. "Please, tell my dear sister that I'll be seeing her soon, and that I haven't forgotten what she said."
[15:52] <@Henrietta> "Why, certainly!" Henrietta readily agrees.
[15:54] -> *Lucie* She sounds quite thrilled to hear about her sister.
[15:56] <@Ebiris> After that she steps back alongside her much older companion, the Duke smiling in paternal amusement at the entire affair. "Perhaps we'll visit Salerno sometime, not till the new year at least, though. As for you talented and strong actors, Lady Vanderboren is very lucky to have such people willing to go so far for her. Perhaps we might work together in the future for less theatrical causes, she seems to have a good sense about her."
[15:58] <@Lucie> "We're not always going about her ladyship's business all hours of every day, so could be we'll be available for some extra work," Lucie says.
[16:00] <@Henrietta> About to thank the Duke, Henrietta freezes and glances at Lucie sideways, hesitating.
[16:00] <@Rudy> "Now, Lucie. We're on retainer. But I'm sure Lavinia would have no qualms lending her aid to an ally," remarks Rudy, still cheerful.
[16:00] <@Lucie> "Of course, ask her first and all."
[16:01] <@Henrietta> With a way out so specified, Henrietta happily joins Rudy in smiling at the Duke.
[16:02] <@Ebiris> "Excellent!" he smiles widely at that, reaching into his jacket now, "And since you all saved me the expense of exorbitant donations to Apollo's good works in exchange for resurrections, I thought to add an extra token of my appreciation." Withdrawing his hand, he now clasps an amulet - pausing momentarily for a sharp look at Rudy as he mentions Lavinia, echoed by Tobin stiffening and glaring somewhat. For whatever reason he chooses not to press the issue, instead carrying on, "Dying for the show on the stage is all very well, but this amulet can help keep you from dying in more meaningful engagements." It's held out towards Lucie, a thin golden chain ending in an amber oval that has a dark slit in the centre like a cats eye, three pale flecks surrounding it.
[16:03] * @Lucie takes it and immediately examines it with her arcane senses.
[16:04] <@Lucie> roll 1d20+9 will I ever make a spellcraft check?
[16:04] * +Hatbot --> "Lucie rolls 1d20+9 will I ever make a spellcraft check? and gets 15." [1d20=6]
[16:05] <@Lucie> "I'd avoid dying at all if I could help it," Lucie acknowledges. "Much appreciated."
[16:07] <@Ebiris> He nods at that, his mistress smiling amusedly throughout, "I'm sure you'd all like to rest now after your efforts, so I'll let you all be. Once again, congratulations on surviving and acting so well," the old noble concludes and turns to depart now.
[16:08] <@Rudy> "Shall we go see m'lady?" asks Rudy, once the man's gone.
[16:09] * @Lucie nods respectfully to the duo as they depart, there seeming nothing more to say.
[16:09] <@Lucie> "Might as well."
[16:09] <@Henrietta> "Umm, perhaps we could change first?"
[16:10] <@Ebiris> "Don't leave the theatre yet, at least. We'll have the take split soon for everyone," Robahl mutters, starting to shed his costume.
[16:10] <@Ebiris> Tobin disentangles from Calseinica and catches up with Rudy, "It's *Lady Vanderboren*," he hisses quietly.
[16:11] * @Lucie trundles off to the dressing room to switch back into her normal clothes.
[16:11] <@Rudy> "Hmm? I know that," replies Rudy.
[16:11] * @Henrietta catches up to Lucie rather than stay on stage. First is Prestidigitation to feel clean. Then, her normal, comfortable outfit awaits!
[16:12] <@Ebiris> "Then don't call her by her first name in front of other people! Or ever!" the leader of the Jade Ravens insists strongly.
[16:16] <@Rudy> "Ah, sorry. I forget, people care about that stuff here," notes Rudy. "Still, I'm sure she wouldn't mind too much. And if I hold to that all the time, that'd mean I'd have to start calling Henri 'Lady Ul Copt'-" Rudy shakes his head, and turns to head to the dressing room. "It's just not happening, you know?"
[16:17] <@Ebiris> Tobin does not look the least bit mollified by that reply.
[16:17] <@Rudy> "What's it to you, anyway? Doesn't it make you look good if I act like this, anyway?"
[16:18] <@Ebiris> "It makes her look bad," Tobin retorts, crossing his arms and scowling. "She's kind, but talking like that makes people think she's a soft touch - she deserves our respect."
[16:20] <@Ebiris> "Don't worry about calling me Lady or anything," Calseinica tosses lightly over her shoulder, going off into the dressing room as well to get changed.
[16:22] <@Rudy> "I do respect her! It's just-" Rudy frowns. "You're right. It's that duke who really irritated me," he admits. "For a second, nobility became the same as an insult for me. Tarring her with the same brush didn't seem right. I won't do it again."
[16:22] <@Ebiris> Now he seems somewhat placated, nodding in response. "Good."
[16:23] <@Henrietta> roll 1d20+10
[16:23] * +Hatbot --> "Henrietta rolls 1d20+10 and gets 19." [1d20=9]
[16:28] <@Ebiris> After everyone changes back into their normal clothes, they receive their generous takes which amount to 900gp each in total, counting any of the hastily appraised items showered on the stage at the end should any catch the eye. Leaving out the side door, they find Zani waiting for them, who helpfully leads everyone to the carriage Lavinia had left to take everyone back to Zeus's Folly, having gone ahead with the others. Up to the floor she's rented out, a veritable feast has been laid out (if not quite as elaborate as the banquet had at Castle Teraknian, certainly at least more comfortable seeming), and Lavinia leads Trucy and the other Jade Ravens in rising to applaud the heroes returning from the stage. Even Karus who's been surly about the entire prospect puts on a smile, while Liamae and Trucy are rather more exuberant, the latter even whistling.
[16:29] <@Ebiris> roll 1d20+10 I'll just roll Liamae's spellcraft now
[16:29] * +Hatbot --> "Ebiris rolls 1d20+10 I'll just roll Liamae's spellcraft now and gets 24." [1d20=14]
[16:31] * @Henrietta bows, feeling embarrassed, and offers Lavinia her handkerchief upon straightening out. It is folded and quite clean, now.
[16:32] <@Lucie> "Alright, alright," Lucie calls out over the hubbub, uncharacteristically blushing at the attention. "It was embarassing enough in front of the audience."
[16:33] <@Ebiris> "Oh, no," Lavinia giggles somewhat and presses the handkerchief back into Henrietta's hand, "It's my maidenly token of esteem for your performance, please keep it," she insists lightly as everyone starts to sit back down.
[16:33] <@Ebiris> And Liamae abruptly leans over and swats Tobin in the head, "Geez, I can't believe you milked the crowd while some bug crawled around your insides! No wonder you got knocked out!"
[16:34] <@Henrietta> "Those skeletons were very terrible!" Henrietta rises to Tobin's defense. "I thought my time has come for sure."
[16:35] * @Lucie sits down and sets to getting a good, filling meal into her. Almost dying raises a hunger in a person! And a thirst. Although she doesn't drink *too* much, as she'll need to find her way through unfamiliar streets before long.
[16:35] <@Rudy> "I have felt true fear, and it was on that stage," exclaims Rudy. "I wouldn't mind acting again! M'lady, think we can find a kinder scriptwriter?"
[16:35] <@Lucie> "Or director," Lucie adds.
[16:36] <@Ebiris> "Yes, it got a lot more serious at the end, did it not?" Zani agrees with a cool expression. "The second act was good, and the next ones were at least, ah... mundane? Then there were demons and undead!"
[16:36] <@Henrietta> "The acid was quite painful and smelled bad!" Henrietta assures Zani. "But I suppose it looked safe...."
[16:37] <@Ebiris> "You were all quite impressive on the stage," Lavinia smiles warmly, considering Rudy's words. "If you can double as a performing troupe to entertain me when not serving as bodyguards or agents, it would deserve a pay rise..."
[16:37] <@Lucie> "My feet could tell you otherwise," Lucie objects. "It wasn't safe at all."
[16:37] <@Ebiris> "Yeah, and it smelled horrible!" Tobin seconds.
[16:38] <@Rudy> Rudy laughs. "Ah, were we really? To be honest, I felt the spectacle we put on was not the sort we intended. But as long as the audience approved..."
[16:38] <@Henrietta> "I, well, I think I will need to take a few lessons first," Henrietta demurs. "If nothing else, this showed me how great a difference exists between skilled actors and amateurs."
[16:40] <@Ebiris> "Your rebuttal after the flukes of aphrodite was quite showy, but I'm sure it won you many admirers, Rudy," Lavinia barely keeps down a chuckle, reaching for a glass of wine. "But it was a good performance, nobody died, and I've made good progress in winning support from my fellow nobles. All in all, a night to celebrate!"
[16:40] <@Lucie> "Not a line of work I ever thought I'd have a hand in," Lucie says with a shrug. "But if you're good at it, why turn down the chance to benefit from it?"
[16:41] * @Henrietta sips from a glass herself, before saying, "Liamae, did I ever tell you that the seemstress working for that play is reknown for her avant-garde designs? She made all the costumes, and she works on regular commissions as well. She might be just what you were looking for!"
[16:42] <@Ebiris> "Really?" the dusky sorceress perks up, "Hmmm. In that case I might buy everyone some gifts while we're in the city!" she grins, prompting Zani and Trucy to shrink back.
[16:43] <@Henrietta> "Why yes! I can introduce you, of course!"
[16:43] <@Ebiris> "Your costume was pretty out there, though, wasn't it Henrietta?" Trucy asks, leaning towards her rather than the other sorceress. "Wasn't it uncomfortable?"
[16:44] <@Henrietta> "If you mean in the physical sense, wearing it was quite nice," Henrietta admits. "But it was also very embarrassing and I worried it might tear in a bad place in a fight."
[16:44] <@Lucie> "Oh, it looked great on her," Lucie says. "Don't think I could wear something like that myself, though."
[16:45] <@Rudy> "There's a certain point where embarrassment fades away," muses Rudy. "In fact, embarrassing acts become a sort of a shield! The last one is forgetten in the wake of the latest."
[16:45] <@Ebiris> "It looked like something might happen a few times when you were moving around a lot, yeah," Trucy agrees.
[16:47] <@Henrietta> "But... but nothing did!" Henrietta says quickly.