To Act, or Not To Act|Skyheort | Talen'sul

[Kender Bard]

Three priests of Thuoth, judging by their robes, were wandering around the city. Tagging along was a winged woman and her wingless male companion. For a moment, they pause.

"Where should we look?"
"I haven't the foggiest clue."
"Let's ask our bards."

After some consulting, Ceria sent the priests on to the local inn and tavern. The group entered and looked around, one of the priests hesitantly asking around for Amano or Da'cien.

[Deleted]

A waiter was kind enough to direct the priests to one of the smaller tables, where both Da'cien and Amano were enjoying a large repast with Emeli. The horse affinity was munching on a variety of vegetables and fruits, while Amano and Da'cien partook of ale with their more omnivorous meals.

Emeli heard the new arrivals first, and she looked to them. "Good evening."

Da'cien and Amano swiftly straightened up from their conversation, trying to look attentive.

[Kender Bard]

The priests bowed politely to the troupe, pleased to find them in Talen'sul.

"We don't wish to interrupt your meal," one remarks quietly, "but we were interested in seeing if you would like a job. We would pay you well, though you would be working with some unusual conditions."

[Deleted]

Amano smiled charmingly. "Of course we would be interested. Please, pull up some chairs." He moved closer to Da'cien, and Emeli moved herself and her plates over. "I am Amano Yue, owner and founder of Flights Of Fancy Entertainment Troupe. This is my trusted adviser and head choreographer, Emeli Akhal-Teke, and one of my head performers, Da'cien Lyra."

Da'cien momentarily stood to bow to the priests. "A pleasure."

Emeli nodded, offering a hand to anyone who wanted to shake it.

[Kender Bard]

Ceria's hand shot out abruptly, shaking Emeli's hand before she sat down with her companion.

The priests sat as well and smiled politely at the group. "We are going to be bringing about a sense of heritage awareness to Talen'sul. All three of us are now Mentis priests of Thuoth, but we were born in Talen'sul and Maelstrom and wish to give something back to our childhood homes. Therefore, we have hoped to start a festival in honor of the Wind heritage. There shall be song and dance, to which we have more bards lined up from the nearby guild - these two here are from the guild in fact."

Ceria nodded and grinned.

"There will also be an important, historical dramatization," the priest went on. "For that, we were hoping to hire you."

[Deleted]

"Drama!" Da'cien beamed. "That's one of our specialties."

Amano nodded enthusiastically. A cultural play would be an exciting challenge. "Do you happen to have a script we could work with, or advice on how we should rework our sets?"

"And how much would you be willing to pay per night of performances? How many nights will you be expecting?" Emeli asked pragmatically.

[Kender Bard]

The priests pulled a stack of papers out and offered them, reverently, to Amano. "We have something similar to a script, though your people may need to rework it. I was thinking one performance would be all that is necessary, as we do not want to tie things up too much here, but we will pay you thirty coins a head for the performance. However, we also request this..." Here, the priest gestured to Bristle, the male with Ceria. "We have an actor from the bardic guild as well. These two were a package deal, as it were, for a very good rate. Cheaper than what we have quoted to you. Young Bristle here has much talent, and we were hoping you could work him into the play as well."

[Deleted]

Amano started looking through the papers, while Da'cien sized Bristle and Ceria up. "Well, we wouldn't mind," he said slowly to the young man, "but we would appreciate a short audition to measure how well you two sing, act, dance, improvise, and project your voice. It will give us a feel on who to partner you with for the best effects."

"Also, do you have any specialties? Any position you feel you would be the most comfortable with or the best at?" Emeli inquired.

[Kender Bard]

Ceria didn't mind showing off. She'd be happy to audition. "I'm not going to act," she felt compelled to mention. "But I will be amongst those who are playing music for this whole thing. I'm a flutist, and I like to sing. I can dance fair, but not enough to go side by side with a professional."

[tuo]

Bristle smiles and makes a flourishing bow. "Of course, I am capable in many of the arts of the bard, but I am most gifted in dancing and I have a certain fondness for acting as well. If you would permit me, I can demonstrate my dancing with my partner Ceria."

[Deleted]

Emeli nodded. "All right. We're camped right at the eastern edge outside this area, so stop by around seven tonight for your audition. Bring whatever you think you might need."

[Kender Bard]

Ceria nods eagerly. She can't wait to show off her skills!

The priests seem pleased as well. They are confident everything will go off smoothly. "Well, when shall we pay you then?" one inquires of Amano.

[Deleted]

"We should discuss that after the audition," Amano replied after a moment. "It's not wise to conduct business before we are sure of each other. If it turns out we can't work with Mr. Bristle and Ms. Ceria -which I highly doubt, as they seem promising-, you will have fewer people to pay, after all."

"But that price you mentioned -what was it, twenty coin a head?- is probably unwise," Emeli mentioned. "There are forty-three of us in the troupe, and twenty-three of that number is the actors you would be paying."

[Kender Bard]

The priests wince as a collective, and express their great thanks for the counsel.

"Could you give us a rate that would be fair then?" one boldly asks.

[Deleted]

"Tell you what." Emeli sat up a little straighter. "What does your budget say? I'm sure we can work something out; it has been a while since we've performed here, and you are supplying us with two other crew members, should they pass the audition."

"Why don't you stop by at seven as well?" Da'cien offered. "We could put on a small demonstration ourselves, and you can also work your thoughts on our performance into the budget."