Io's Labyrinth

[Nephrite]

Moore stays politely quiet until the performance is through!

[Corwin]

Despite sitting on a stretch of air, Seira doesn't allow the music to move her much. Interesting, is that sort of effect on the world similar to Words of Creation?

[Anastasia]

The song winds down in due time, sung and done. When it's done, the dragon says, "How was it?"

The firre claps, "Freedom, a concept I adore."

The coautl is quieter, "But hope is more important, and the pixie's voice was remarkable."

"So it was," The firre banters back, "But I vote the dragon." He crosses his arms, firm.

"And I vote the pixie." The rainbow serpent declares, a flare of his colors.

Seira would know it's not the Words - though Moore did show an advanced usage of it against the shadows incidentally - but more garden variety bardic magic/music.

Dragon takes 10 for 101, incidentally.

[Corwin]

"So it seems mine is the tie-breaking vote!" Seira declares happily, bouncing to her feet. "First, the matter of presentation. I preferred Bredanalundalum's delivery. It was an innocent delivery that engaged the very elements around us in an organic way, rather than the obvious magic of Moore's accompaniment. On the matter of topics, however, Moore is the winner for while the state of freedom is quite dear to my heart hope is the mechanism towards creating the world where freedom for all is a reality."

She pauses, tapping her chin in thought. "Moore did use an unusual structure compared to Bredanalundalum's classical approach, and I believe that worked against him here. While elven poets do make use of this style, the very juxtaposition of verses often exists to enhance the message and I felt no such thing here. And yet... the performance itself, overall, must go to Moore." Seira turns towards the pixie with a smile. "The rules set out by your challenger stipulated that the topic was up to the performer's choice, and that all means of presentation were on the table. And the one who picked the stronger subject and enhanced it the most through every skill and magical power available to them was, without denial, you. Congratulations, Moore!"

[Anastasia]

"Ah, congratulations," Bredanalundalum declares, bringing his claws together to clap - a surprisingly accurate sound, like the real thing. "It seems your performance has won the day, Sir Moore, so I must reward all of you. Hm. How many of you are close to bards such as ourselves? Or talented eladrin?"

[Ebiris]

Alicia claps politely as the judgement is rendered. Privately she found Bredanalundalum's song appealed more to her artistic sensibilities but she can't deny the technical merit of Moore's performance.

"One of my proxies is a bard and the other is an eladrin, since you ask," she says to the dragon.

[Corwin]

"My friend Sanzha's a marid bard," Seira muses. "She plays the piano exceptionally well, in fact. Does that work?"

[Nephrite]

Moore nods his head slightly to Seira and takes a bow.

"Your criticism is wholly accepted and noted for future performances at The Cauldron." Moore says with a smile. He turns to Bredanalundalum. "I'd offer a hand in a friendly handshake, but that feels hard to accomplish, so I hope you'll accept my congratulations and praise on your pure-hearted composition nonetheless."

Moore considers the question for a moment. "I know one other than myself who has the knack for bardic inspiration, for whatever it's worth." He says.

[Anastasia]

Four thick sheafs of papers appear, "These took a long time to make," he says, "But you'll find that a skilled bard can learn how to bring everyone to the skies with but a song."

Loot.

[Nephrite]

"Oh, wow!" Moore says. "This is wonderful. Thank you."

[Corwin]

"Thank you!" Seira respond gratefully, as she accepts the one Bredanalundalum is gifting Sanzha.

[Anastasia]

"Marie will appreciate it. Thank you," Antenora bows towards the dragon.

Amaryl smiles at this, "It's most generous of you. It'll strength us ahead."

"We're going to need it," Jetina agrees, "There's still a long way to go, I think."

[Ebiris]

"That is a most considerate gift," Alicia says, carefully taking the sheafs. "I'll put these in my portable hole for the moment, since they're for after all this," she explains to the others as she stows the items. "Also before you go, thank you for being impartial judges," she thanks her summons before they vanish.

Once they do, "Do you have any requests you wish us to bring to Io when we find him, Bredanalundalum?"

[Anastasia]

"Freedom," he says immediately, "Long has Io kept us here for his reasons and I accept that, but my heart yearns to fly free. I accepted his terms, yet nothing is beyond renegotiating."

[Ebiris]

Alicia nods. "I expected as much. We will plead your case, then. For now, farewell," she steps back and turns, heading back out of this room.