Swordfell/Spring Opener/The First Act
The First Act
Roleplay from Bowie Ironsides
To Abbigal he said, "Thank you, thank you, and I bet what you didn't know is that I came up with that whole thing on the spot!" He chuckled out, visibly the drink was starting to make him silly. "Oh yes, if my eyes to do not deceive it seems our short stacked friends are just about to begin! Here be deeds to bellow your belly!"
He shook Sir Enoch's hand and gave him a compliment, "If only more young nobles had your spirit we'd all be in safer hands. You are the future, Sir Enoch, so remember the days of we old men because you will become the old man in a blink of an eye. You have just described the very path one takes to become great - effort!"
A servant came over to once again interrupt Bowie's social time, whispering in his ear Bowie nodded and had to excuse himself from the group.
Once again getting the crowd's attention, Bowie led them to the main hall to crowd around the stage set in the centre.
"They've told me they are ready to go! So, Fellish, fix your eyes upon the mesmerizing skills of Jingo and Cyrus!" Bowie stepped to the side into the crowd. Bright candles were lit all around the stage to make it visible. The light could be visible from the city if one were to look over to the shore, there were that many candles.
Roleplay from Bowie Ironsides
After the Demon directed the crowd's attention a rhythmic drum began from off stage somewhere. Exiting the back room we see a short man, perhaps three and half to four feet high maximum, with a pouty face and furred eyebrows. He stomps his way as he angrily marches to the centre of the stage, paying no attention to the people around him. When he finds his mark on stage, he stands with crossed arms, same facial expression, and slants his posture in waiting for his partner. He shouts out the announcement of his own name to nobody in particular, "JINGOOOOooooohhhh!" After a high beat of the drum to signal, from the back room we see a short monkey, roughly three feet if he stands straight, doing the exact same angry march as the little man. Except instead of pouting, the monkey pulls his lips back into an exaggerated monkey smile. The monkey's tail is dragging along a chest behind him. Arriving on stage and in parallel cue to the little man, the monkey crosses his arms and stands in similar posture to Jingo. Jingo, still pouting, opens his arms to introduce the monkey, "CYROOOOoooseeee," he says with an unfamiliar accent.
Then, without further words, they begin their act. Cyrus the monkey opens the chest and reaches in. As he finds an item he throws it over his shoulder for Jingo to catch and toss in the air. Cyrus throws five round objects to Jingo who has caught them and entered them into his juggling circuit. Cyrus turns and leans on the chest as he watches Jingo juggle. Up and down, the five round objects hurl and fall while Jingo holds his concentration, and the same pouty face and furred brows. Cyrus makes an unimpressed expression from his throat and steps forward, about five feet from Jingo. As soon as the monkey stops, Jingo begins to throw the objects at Cyrus who catches them and throws them back. Once all five objects are tossed out, the two create a horizontal juggling circuit between them. It is like a fast game of hot potato for two players and with five potatoes. Back and forth they throw and catch the objects. After a short time of this, when Jingo catches an object he throws it over Cyrus' back into the chest. When all five are returned they bow and wait for the applause. Then Jingo stands on top of the stool set behind him. Cyrus reaches back into the chest and pulls out five torches. Jingo reaches his hands straight out and then claps to show he is ready. Cyrus starts throwing the unlit torches at Jingo on the stool to begin juggling. When four torches have been tossed out Cyrus leans back on the chest to watch Jingo juggling the torches on the stool. Jingo maintains concentration and his pout. After a few minutes, Cyrus makes the same unimpressed sound as earlier and grabs one of the candles. Standing beside the stool and reaching the flame up, as each torch is juggled by Jingo they hit the candle and ignite! Now the real act has begun, no more warm ups. Cyrus steps back satisfied that he has tormented his friend. Standing on the stool, juggling a vertical circuit, Jingo maintains his balance. He juggles the four torches for a short time until Cyrus gets bored again and monkeys his way behind Jingo. Jingo's facial expression changes and that's when you know it is about to get real good. Jingo kneels just a bit to catch the weight as Cyrus crawls up onto Jingo's shoulders. Jingo maintains his flaming juggling circuit as Cyrus reaches his hands straight out and then claps them together just as Jingo did earlier to show that he is ready. Jingo now throws the torches higher for Cyrus to catch and continue down. The torches are flung very high, caught by Cyrus, and then dropped down to be caught and rethrown by Jingo. It looks as if a six foot, four armed man is juggling flaming torches! OOooo, aaaaa, the crowd goes. Slowly, Cyrus slows down the height of the torches to return the circuit back to Jingo only. Once Jingo has retrieved all four torches in his own solo circuit Cyrus stands straight up and takes a deep bow. Before anyone knows it the monkey dives forward through the torches, as if he jumped through a flaming hoop, and front rolls back in front of the chest! He stands up straight and bows again. Cyrus pulls out of the chest a metal helmet filled with water. Jingo begins to throw the torches at Cyrus, who throws them back as if he doesn't want them, and the two create another horizontal circuit just like the one earlier. Except now they are juggling flaming torches between them! After a short while, as Cyrus starts to catch them he dips them into the helmet and chucks them back into the chest. When all four torches are extinguished and returned both performers bow.
The team learn they are pressed for time and bow one more time for the audience.
Roleplay from Sevastian Guile
Almost immediately after his letter is sent and has arrived to the realm, Duke Guile is sitting in his black and silver Ducal Throne at the head of the Court. One leg cocked up on the arm of his comfy seat, The Hat jauntily upon his strangely black hair with it's trauma streak of white above his temple. His strange eyes, rarely seen behind the strange red coloured lenses of his spectacles, glitter platinum from brim to brim...pupils having long disappeared to the wonders of that other land.
Musing of this and that, Sevastian notices two men being brought forward under heavy guard wearing the insignias and colours of that damnable Ironsides. Having no patience for the man's silliness and lack of propriety, the Duke makes a motion to his nearest aide...
"Have them Drawn, Quartered, and Hung. Burn the remains. Save the skulls for my new tea-table."
Roleplay from Kiyth Ilyrians
Lord Kiyth had been waiting for nearly 10 minutes when his steward finally showed up bearing the gifts that he had brought with him for Demon Bowie and Lady Abbigal.
"Finally Justus! I missed the opening ceremonies because of your untimely nature!"
"I apologize sir I got waylaid by two monsters so I had to kill them first."
Kiyth looked him over hard now noticing more visible signs of gore on him
"Kill them faster next time. Anyways I trust you kept the gifts safe?"
"Of course M'Lord they are here just as you requested"
Kiyth took them out of Justus' arms and turned and strode back inside the crowd parting as he walked through them up to the stage right as Jingo and Cyrus got off.
"Greetings friends and fellow noblemen and women alike! If you do not know me I am the Ice King Kiyth Ilyrians, Margrave of Flow. Upon my travels I have come across many a great artifact which I have kept for special occasions and special gifts. I present one of these now. To our host the Demon of Dwilight Bowie Ironsides. I also present a gift to the Lady Abbigal that I have made with my own hands.
Kiyth unwrapped the first gift meant for Bowie. Inside the wrapping was a quill and no ink bottle.
"Bowie Ironsides, I gift you the quill of an ice phoenix; however, that is not the unique thing about this, this quill will never run out of ink, nor does it require ink. It has been blessed by the blind sage Dhurmus from the ancient lands of the South East Island in the realm of Sandalak. I found it fitting for you as you have never known rest, and you seem to write a lot of letters."
Kiyth walked off the stage and presented it to Bowie then got back up and started unwrapping Lady Abbigal's gift, which was considerably larger than Bowie's. Inside the wrapping was a breastplate of the finest quality forged by Kiyth himself and fit to Lady Abbigal's figure as perfectly as if she had been there when he forged it. On the front were three blood-red rubies which when looked upon closer one could see a tiny diamond in the middle of the ruby itself, and on the back the word Swordfell was carved into it.
"Lady Abbigal, to you I present the work of my own hands. From the moment you were elected to rule I started working on your inauguration gift. Laboring late into the night I knew I had to finish it by Bowie's party. The rubies are as you might expect them to be called bloodstar rubies, and the breastplate is made out of a metal as hard as steel but as light as silk. I believe my bastard called it Wootz metal. May it protect you for many years to come." With that he stepped down and presented the gift to Lady Abbigal.
Roleplay from Claude Onyxis
Claude sat through the performance, laughing heartily. It was certainly living up to his expectations in hilarity. Earlier, when Lady Abbigal had engaged in some word play, asking if his work as Overseer was taxing, he had not even registered the joke until the Ice King had pointed it out, at which he had awkwardly laughed loudly in an attempt to cover up his obliviousness. He sometimes had trouble keeping up with the humour of other nobles; his mind for such things was not what it had been in his youth. Although he was a noble of 44 years of age, he did not look it, and often had trouble convincing other people that he was any older than 30.
"What I wouldn't give for a grey hair..." he muttered to himself. Although he supposed he should count his blessings; appearing young was far from a curse most times.
Roleplay from Abbigal Pike
Abbigal watched half interested when the Dwarf came out. She was wondering where the suposed entertainment was. She was almost interested when the monkey came out and said his name. Abbigal finnially became interested and began to smile when they started their act. Abbigal wondered if they could do the act with daggers. Now there would be something. Abbigal mouth opened slightly and eyes open wide when they juggled the torches. You could see a reflection of the fire in her eyes as the torches danced in circles. She entranced in though of their skill that she did not notice them leave. It was not until Enoch spoke that she was brought back to the party.
"My daemon you did produce entertainment like you promised. I hope there will be more to come. I do not suppose you have any drink from your brewery in Ashrack do you? Or perhaps you have produced something better here?"
Abbigal watched as the Ice King returned and mentioned that he brought gifts. She smiled as Bowie got his gift. She was certain that the man would put it to good use. As the Ice King unwrapped her gift everyone could see the look of surprise on Abbigal's face. As the Ice King went on to explain the gift you could see the face turn to one of astonishment. It took Abbigal a moment to gather her thoughts.
"Lord Kityh, I do not know what to say. I am honoured that you took the time to make such a gift for me. I can tell that you chose the material very carefully. Your skill is excellent as well."
Abbigal summoned one of Bowie's servants and ordered that he send word to her estate in the city and have her servants gather up some suitable clothing to go along with the breastplate.
Roleplay from Kiyth Ilyrians
Kiyth smiles at Lady Abbigal's comments
"It hardly holds any ground next to your beauty M'lady."
Roleplay from Deorwulf Barras
"I did so enjoy that entertainment Bowie. I hope you have something more planned. I need something to accompany all these drinks I have."
Roleplay from Bowie Ironsides
It was a complete surprise that Duke Deorwulf happened behind the Demon. Such a surprise that Bowie flew back in a leap until he recognized what had happened.
"Duke! What a startle you gave me!" And he buckled over laughing, tears streaming out of his eyes. He recomposed himself and gave Lord Deorwulf a hearty slap on the back. "My good friend, I regret to inform you that I intend to scar your city by the festivities we are going to have tonight! You will be forced to hold courts for the next two weeks to sort out all the mess. Don't worry, I'll do civil work with you as a courtier. I'm not that bad of a knight!" He said, still trying to keep down his laughter. "Come with me, we're getting another drink! I don't care if both your hands are full, grow another arm."
As Bowie was leading Deorwulf the moment became even better when the Ice King presented the Demon a very special gift. Bowing in gratitude and deep respect, Bowie said, "And now the Republic has you to blame for all of my subsequent letters. How can I possibly deny myself the pleasure of writing with such a miraculous instrument! Truly, my friend, I shall cherish and boast of this gift until my eyes shut and never open again." He marveled at his prize as much as the Lady Imperatrice marveled at hers.
Shouting aloud to the whole company of nobles, Bowie yelled, "Alright, it is about that hour! Felix bring out the hard stuff! I want everyone to have loose tongues when the stage is ready for the Roast. You know what they say, fast drinks fierce words!" Typical of Bowie's soiree's, things elevated gradually - like a symphony - and then crashed very hard. He could tell you stories of some of the parties he's thrown.
Another table was set up in the main hall followed by bottle after bottle after keg after keg after bowl after bowl. The bar was now open. Wine, whiskey, ale, mead, and of course, in popular demand, the Demon's very own Ashrathe. Watch out for that stuff.
Still using a very loud voice, Bowie shouted across the hall to Lady Abbigal, "Abbigal, this is your night to forget," he chuckled, "get over here and finish a bottle with me!" Without any politeness, he threw his pointing finger toward Lord Claude and the Ice King, "You too!" And then glared at Sir Enoch as if the young man should already have been at the bar.
Whether or not the nobles were prepared to indulge the poison was no matter to the Demon. He was already well sauced by this point.
