Onyxien Family/Kisharianda/Roleplays/Show
Play of the Monkey King
In the main plaza, down near Ranger's Port, there was set two stages on opposite ends of the yard. One stage sat enclosed in curtains and hidden from view while on the other ranged many chairs of equal height, with two larger chairs placed in the center. A throne fit for a Queen took center stage, while Cenarious sat watching from his smaller, yet no less imposing, seat at the Queen's right hand. On either side of them sat a number of other chairs that had been placed for any other nobles wishing a commanding view of the day's entertainment. Ranged out between the stages the children of Paisly and assorted onlookers awaited the start of the puppet show they had heard so much about.
It began with the opening of the curtain as a deep male voice echoed out through the crowd.
"Though there are certainly many tales of the Monkey King only one seems fit to tell this day. Let us spin you the tale of the Dragon King's Gift!" The resonating voice began. "Our tale begins at the bottom of the Eastern Ocean, at the jade palace of the Dragon King our immortal friend the Monkey King has gone in search of a weapon fit for his hand."
Another curtain on stage was drawn back allowing the back drop of a jade palace to become visible, while a blue curtain waved just behind it mimicking the movements of waves. Entering the stage from the left a puppet appeared, dressed regally this could only be the Dragon King, while from the right side of the stage entered MoMo, much to the acclaim of the children. Despite the robes and small headband he was wearing, it was obvious to all that MoMo was enjoying the attention as he was preening before it.
The storyteller continued the tale while changing his voice for each character that he spoke for, "Have you a weapon worthy of a King such as I?" The Monkey King asked. "Well perhaps I do indeed!" The Dragon King responded most graciously. 'Bring out the Scimitar of the Waning Moon!"
Entering behind the Dragon King another puppet approached MoMo carrying a small scimitar in between his wooden hands. Taking the blade MoMo gave it a few practice swings. Seemingly by accident, and much to his chagrin, MoMo cut more then a few of the servant puppet's strings with his random swipes of the blade, causing the puppet to sag and then fall out of sight. This triggered more then a few laughs from the children as the play continued without interruption.
"Testing its heft the Monkey King exclaimed 'Too light! Too light!" "Brother, you must be joking! That blade weighs a hundred pounds!" The Dragon King answered. 'It just doesn't feel right!' The Monkey King said."
Turning to face off stage the Dragon King's small wooden mouth mimicked the story tellers words. "Bring out the Battle Axe of the Noon Day Sun!" The Dragon King said.
In strode another puppet clutching a small axe, bouncing over to MoMo, it offered up the hatchet in its small wooden hands. Seemingly unsure what to do with the sword now, MoMo tried to stick the blade through his belt. Quite unexpectedly the blade sliced through the fabric on its way to the floor, causing MoMo's pants to fall right along with it. As the crowd roared with laughter MoMo picked up the axe, not even noticing the loss of his pants as he spun the little axe around in a circle.
"Still too light! Way too light!" The Monkey King said. Now looking frightened the Dragon King said, "Brother, that weapon is over a thousand pounds!" "I need more weight!" Declared the Monkey King adamantly. "Don't you have anything heavier?" "I assure you." said the Dragon King "that's the heaviest weapon in the palace my friend!"
Making a grand entrance Dragon Queen Katayanna stepped out from behind a curtain next to the Dragon King. Awed the crowd went silent to hear her words. Stepping closer to the puppet the Queen feigned to whisper in his ear, "This monkey is no ordinary fellow. Perhaps you should give him the giant stamping rod in our treasury."
Answering her the storyteller whispered back in the Dragon King's voice, " 'That old piece of scrap? What ever could he do with that?' With wisdom only surpassed by her beauty the Dragon Queen answered.."
"That's his concern, not ours." said Katayanna, "Just give it to him so he'll take his mischief out of my palace!"
The Queen's move to exit the stage was met with much fan fare, as the children seemed to truly enjoy seeing their monarch take part in a play for their enjoyment. As she slipped off behind the curtain with a heartfelt smile.
((The storyteller then announced a short intermission so they could set up the stage for the second part of the show and all the rambunctious children had a minute to burn off some excess energy.))
Cenarious Stormrage
Duke of Paisly, Marshal of the Queen's Dragon Guard
Sorsha had arrived to witness the play and chose a seat near the edge of the stage. She simply wished to enjoy the smiles and laughter on the children's faces. Upon seeing her Queen, she bowed. She smiled with a small incline of her head in Sir Cenarious' direction, only then taking her seat.
The curtains were pulled back and immediately she smiled upon seeing MoMo on the stage, remembering the first night she had come across the adorable creature. Some of the children pointed and seemed to reach out and she grinned, wishing she was still so little that she could join them in innocent awe and amusement.
Upon receiving the first gift, her eyes twinkled with laughter as MoMo inadvertently cut the strings animating the puppet. Her hand covered her mouth stifling a giggle.
The next part appeared and to the laughter of all, MoMo lost his pants, and Sorsha could no longer contain herself and joined in their laughter. It had been a long time since she had genuinely laughed and it felt wonderful. The children were also one of her weakness; therefore it warmed her heart to see them so happy.
She continued to watch the play, laughing and giggling, momentarily forgetting the troubles outside of the room.
Sorsha McDowell
Dame of Paisly
((After giving the crowd time to get refreshments, and distributing pieces of red candied apple to the children Cenarious asked for everyone to return to the seating area to carry on with the show.))
Returning to his place on stage MoMo stood waiting for the storyteller to begin.
"I remember now that in my treasury is an iron rod once belonging to Yu the Great. He used it to pound down the beds of the rivers and seas in the time of the Great Flood. Perhaps it will meet your needs." The Dragon King said. "Bring it out and we'll have a look" the Monkey King said. "I'm afraid that's impossible" answered the Dragon King. "It weighs ten tons, and not one of us can lift it! We'll have to go ourselves to see it."
The Dragon King puppet seemed to led the still pant less MoMo across the stage as it changed with a swishing of cloth. Now in a treasury the two approached a large black iron staff that seemed too tall to fit on the stage. As MoMo approached, the staff seemed to glow.
"It likes me!" said the Monkey King as he examined the staff. Finding words on the staff he read them aloud, "CELESTIAL STAFF OF THE OBEDIENT IRON"
Setting his hands on the staff MoMo held it aloft while the Dragon King puppet seemed to act surprised.
"The weight seems right" said the Monkey King "If only it were smaller."
Even as the storyteller spoke the words the staff on stage shrank a third of its height.
"Wonderful!" said the Monkey King. "It really is obedient! But even smaller would be nice” Once again the staff shrank a third again. "Almost there" said the Monkey King.
Again it shrank, this time to the perfect size for MoMo's small stature. As MoMo bounced around holding the staff the storyteller continued.
" 'Perfect!' said the Monkey King before he declared, 'It weighs the same as before!' "
As MoMo took a few swings with the staff the Dragon King puppet dodged back.
" 'Brother, please be careful!' the Dragon King said. “I believe this little beauty will do anything I want.' the Monkey King said before calling out, 'Grow!' "
Even as the words left the storyteller's mouth, the staff in MoMo's hands started to grow. Apparently having forgotten this part of the show, MoMo clutched the staff with all four paws as it shot up through the air high above the stage. As the staff began to sway and spin the water background on the stage swirled violently with it, matched by the seemingly startled Dragon King puppet as it clutched at the stage pretending to be holding on for dear life.
"Take this! And that! the Monkey King shouted before he settled down. "Now shrink!"
At the storytellers command MoMo slowly returned to the stage as the staff shrank back to its monkey sized height.
"Smaller!" the Monkey King said.
The staff seemed to shrink again until it was lost from sight and it seemed that MoMo was holding only a toothpick or maybe a needle. Using it to clean his teeth MoMo sat on his haunches and looked out over the crowd of children
"Thank you, brother! You've been a most gracious host!" The Monkey King exclaimed. "Don't mention it" responded the chagrined Dragon King.
And then with a leap and a bound MoMo shot off across the plaza dodging the grabbing hands of his adoring children fans as he made his way to Cenarious's side.
Standing up Cenarious offered his hand to Queen Katayanna, who had snucked back to her seat while the crowd was enthralled watching MoMo. Helping her to her feet Cenarious reached out with his other hand to grasp the upward reaching hand of MoMo where he stood on Cenarious's now vacant seat. Leading the two in a bow to the crowd of smiling and laughing children Cenarious took over for the storyteller and finished the tale.
"And with that the Monkey King was gone!"
Cenarious Stormrage
Duke of Paisly, Marshal of the Queen's Dragon Guard
Kisharianda had just recently got off the boat and made her way through a crowd of people. Usually the port was busy but this was a lot more activity she had seen in Paisly since she had gotten here. Men and women were gathered outside the plaza talking and laughing amongst each other, as their children rushed to the entrance. She smiled as she got closer to the entrance as her eyes witnessed two young boys engaging in a playful wooden sword battle between them.
Walking inside she seen Queen Katayanna seated along side Marshal Cenarious and the familiar nobles she had gotten to know better over the last few weeks. Smiling she made her way in unnoticed just as the event was going to start. Not knowing what to expect her eyes studied her surroundings and the small faces as they got seated.
A loud voice was heard above all the chatters and a tale begun as one of the curtain came up. The children sat attentively, moments after the introduction another curtain came up and out popped a puppet from the left stage and in came little MoMo from the right.
She listened to the story and watched the puppets and MoMo tell the story of the Dragon King's Gift, her lips curled into a smile sending shivers along side her cheeks to the back of her neck as the children laughed while MoMo swung his little sword cutting the strings off the other puppet, and even harder at the lost of his costume.
Looking up to where Cenarious sat, she watched him as he smiled at the children's reaction. It warmed her heart to see her new found love had a weakness for children, and would undoubtedly be an amazing father one day. She wished to go to him and sit, but looking down at her attire she did not wish to present herself in her leathers and armor freshly off a boat.
In the back of her mind she knew Cenarious would feel her presence as he always did, so she withdrew a little further back against the wall to remain unnoticed to the eye. When the play was over, the children started to gather outside as some began to act out little MoMo part as the Monkey King while their little excited bodies made their way out. Trying to make a quick exit out of the plaza, she was forced to wait behind a few peasants.
Lowering her head to remain unnoticed she felt something bump her back, turning around not noticing anything there she quickly realized MoMo had spotted her out and came at her giving her a hug. Grabbing him in her hands to inspect him MoMo eyes starred at hers as she giggled "Did you lose your pants Lord MoMo" she placed him on a nearby table.
Insulted MoMo crossed his arms turning her back to her pouting. Feeling bad at his reaction she knelt in front of him as she peeked her head around his shoulder to watch him turn his back to her once again.
"Lord MoMo" she smiled tugging at his robe "You were FANTASTIC out there!" she titled her head to see if she was going to get a reaction. "Lord MoMo the Monkey King!" she praised him "You deserve a medal my furry little friend" MoMo uncrossed his arms and shyly turned his head over to peak at her. "You are like a star shinning bright" she poked his belly.
MoMo jumped back on her hugging her neck quickly forgiving her for embarrassing him. Straitening out his head he pointed back to Cenarious behind her in the distance and started to get excited.
"Not now MoMo, I need to get back to my quarters first, I don't want Cenarious to see me in all these dirty clothes" she smiled "You go see him I'll catch up with him later" she put him back down on the table and found an opening in the crowd and proceeded out through the doors.
Kisharianda Onyxien
Dame Of Port Raviel
Sir Asriel walked through the darkened streets of eventide Paisly. His men were off somewhere, generally drinking and carousing, leaving him blissfully free of worries for the moment.
Earlier he had watched the puppet show, or rather he had watched its audience. In particular he had noted the reactions to when the Queen herself had appeared on stage. Certainly the city folk resented the loss of their independence but they had all, to a man, been awed by Queen Katayanna. As, if he was honest with himself, was he.
Certainly he'd received orders from her before, espied her from afar on the field of battle and had even corresponded with her, but this was the first time he had had an opportunity to see her closely.
And he had been dumbstruck. Upon seeing the authority that cloaked her and the fierce intelligence and wisdom that shone from her eyes he had instantly understood why so many had sworn themselves to her and followed her far from home to this new realm.
But that was not all, he had seen those qualities in monarchs before and that had not surprised him. Instead he had been left dumbstruck by her beauty and the kindness with which she regarded the audience, even though many of them hated D'Hara and had even fought against the army.
Overall he had been left stupefied and he hoped that no one had noticed. If a peasant had seen his reaction it would not be so bad, since they always gossiped about something, but he had been amongst the other nobles and troop leaders and if one of them had noticed it would be a matter of acute embarrassment. Even worse, he feared that the Queen herself may have noticed for there had been a moment when she had glanced at the balconies surrounding the plaza and her gaze had swept the nobles gathered there. There had been an instant when he could have sworn she was looking right at him but he hoped he was mistaken. After all he had known others, even captains, who had been able to look at a crowd and make each member think they were being looked at directly.
As he walked he tried to put the event out of mind and concentrate on other matters. But again and again Katayana's face kept appearing before him. Perturbed he headed back up to the festivities in hope of finding a strong beverage in large quantities.
Asriel Octavius
Knight of Paisly
