Urahra
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Posts posted by Urahra
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Anthony Bentarus happens across the advertisement for Penton's new book, published in the local paper. He frowns, thinking back to the party he attended at his new favorite author's house. How he had been embarrassed and shamed in front of Sir Penton...
Anthony felt himself lost and adrift in the labyrinthine streets of Providence. It had been his hope to attend the party and maybe strike up a friendship with the author whom he so admired. Counting out the small amount of pocket change he has, he resolves to head to the bookstore and pick up a copy of Penton's latest. In hopes that, maybe next time they met, Anthony would have something worthwhile to discuss with him...
0 -
Anthony Bentarus fretfully reviewed his lines in front of the mirror in his inn room. Rehearsing in the basement with James and Olaurae was one thing... but soon he'd be standing in front of an audience. What would they think of him? What if they laughed at him? The thought turned his blood icy and made sweat bead up on his brow.
"Of course they'll love me!" Anthony said as he looked at himself in the bathroom mirror. "I'm me!"
The statement did not inspire him with the confidence he'd hoped. The sight of his own face reflected in the glass made him grimace.
How could they love him when he didn't even really love himself?
3 -
14 minutes ago, LithiumSedai said:
Any chance you could age up ol' Percy L. a little bit? Do whatever you like to his hairline, I'll send his dad skin over Discord if you're up for it!
Absolutely! Just send whenever.
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On 4/24/2021 at 11:31 PM, Shorsand said:
always wanted one of those cute shoulder capes those fancy rich people have C:
So I did a version with and without the lil cape
Hope you like!
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10 hours ago, greygre said:
Hello Urara!
As you know, my boy Dilvyn D be gettin up there in years, and so I was wondering if you could modify his hair & beard to reflect this? Basically just make it graying but not like completely gray, also slam some cool lookin scholarly spectacles on him if you can.
Come yell at me on Discord if you need me to send the base skin again or if you need anything!
Thank you!
Did this one real fast since it was a quick edit
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On 4/24/2021 at 7:46 PM, Timer said:
-snip-
hope you like! sent via DM
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On 4/24/2021 at 7:05 PM, BenjiBot_ said:
-snip-
Sent over discord! I realized too late this isn't really an adventuring outfit... but enjoy anyway lol?
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Spoiler
((SHE'S NOT A HIGH ELF.
SHE'S JUST BLONDE.))
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On 4/24/2021 at 4:24 PM, LordCrowe said:
-snip-
All yours!
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On 4/24/2021 at 3:45 PM, Rayna Star said:
-snip-
Chirr Chirr Chirr
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On 4/24/2021 at 3:37 PM, Crevel said:
-snip-
Here ya go! Will send over DMs
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On 4/24/2021 at 3:26 PM, AndrewTech said:
-snip-
And done! Sent over disc
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On 4/24/2021 at 3:16 PM, DahStalker said:
-snip-
hope you enjoy! sent it to you over disc
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4 hours ago, rep2k said:
-snip-
Hope you like him! I'll send the skin file in DMs
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On 4/24/2021 at 3:16 PM, DahStalker said:
I refuse to take a free skin. We are doing a skin trade - I just need a female adventurer skin for my new NGS character. Could be cool if you could do pastel colors and some furs! I'll do a cute skin for Tanith or your new priesty boy. Send me the ref of what you want on this thread.
Mighty gracious of you. I'll whip up something cute for ya. Am I doing the skin from scratch or do you have a base?
Tanith could always use more dresses:
https://namemc.com/profile/Urahra.1
Burgundy, pink, and white are her colors.
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Hey, so
I ran an IC skin shop, but my tailor character unfortunately died. :( I had fun making skins, though, so I figured I'd just continue to do them OOC.
Skins are 100% free. I'm just making them for fun and practice. As a note, this is a "request" thread - not a commission thread. Meaning I might make you a skin or I might not. It just depends how I feel. I'm also not going to offer edits or revisions on the skins I make either. You get what you get!
I do skins at my own pace, which means my turnover rate might be quick or it might be painfully slow. It depends!
If you need a skin ASAP, you might be better off going to a skin artist who will take commissions and deliver them in a timely manner.
Anyway, want a skin? Just give me the info in your reply post.
Free Skins I've made so far:
Spoiler
Elf for @rep2k
Purple adventuring clothes for @DahStalker
Blue outfit for @AndrewTech
Blue suit for @Crevel
Red dress for @Rayna Star
Purple demon girl head for @LordCrowe
Brown coat and green vest for @BenjiBot_
Bishop robes for @Timer
Head Edit for @greygre
Vest for @Shorsand
Head Edit for @LithiumSedai
Green Poncho for @Julio ツ
Blue coat for @Wholesome_Thomas
14 -
Anthony Bentarus notes the name on the poster with interest. It sounded... familiar, somehow. Suddenly, his eyes light up with recognition as he fishes a battered tome out of his messenger bag. There, in embossed gold on the cover! Henry Penton! The author of Anthony's favorite book, Words Cannot Reach!
He presses the tome to his hollow, diminutive chest and wonders to himself... would it be all right to slip into the party? Would the esteemed author take offense? Did Anthony really want to make his debut onto the Orenian social scene as a party crasher?
Well, there was one way to find out.
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[!]
The following flyer is posted around Providence.
17 -
LOTC Best Girl and Best Boy?
You may pick your own characters.
3 -
I'm looking forward to seeing how this stuff is implemented and I think a lot of it sounds like a good idea.
Glad to hear y'all are listening to feedback! :)
13 -
Skin: Red Regency
Bid: 100 minasDiscord: Hads#7587
Previous Bidder: N/A0 -
ON THE SHORES OF PARADISE
A Drama in Four Acts
Penned by Bianca La Fleur
Inspired by the medieval writings of Lorin of Kaedrin.
Part of the Black Rose Quartet
On The Shores of Paradise Lorin + Siegmund Lorin + Augustus Inheritor
Editor's Note:
This previously-unpublished manuscript was discovered among Dame Yuliya Styne's personal affects following her untimely death. With permission from her estate, we have chosen to publish it for the public's enjoyment and enrichment.
This play is a work of fiction meant for entertainment only. Changes have been made for the purposes of simplifying the story for the stage. It is not to be treated as a historically accurate text for purposes of education.
CAST
(In Order of Appearance)
Barkeep - A figure of mystery and whimsy, as barkeeps often are.
Siegmund Carrion - The Exalted Prophet as a young man in his twenties. Dark hair, green eyes, ghostly pale. Long before the gift of auspice was granted to him. A gloomy, black-clad figure weighed down by immense tragedy. Direly searching for some method of preserving his lineage after his family was slaughtered by the Knights of Nzech.
Lorin Chivay - A young woman of roughly 18. Auburn hair, blue eyes, tan and freckled. Recently orphaned, she has come under the protection of her uncle Thomas. Headstrong, fiery, sharp-tongued, and a tad provincial in her manners, the young lady finds herself misunderstood and disliked by those around her. But a chance encounter alters the course of her life in ways unforeseen.
Thomas Chivay - The leader of the White Rose Order. Auburn hair, blue eyes, fair skinned. Roughly forty years old. Beloved by his men, feared by his enemies. Lorin's uncle and guardian following her father's death.
Augustus Flay - The most feared bandit lord of the era. Roughly seventy years old. Grey hair, green eyes, sickly pale. An unequivocally evil man, known chiefly for his gruesome practice of flaying men alive. Vainglorious, prideful, domineering, sadistic, and singularly terrifying. He's aging and seeks a bride to ensure the continuation of his bloodline.
Additional Roles - White Rose Bannermen, Flay Bannermen, Partygoers
SETPIECES
Author's Note on set placement: If the stage is sufficiently large, all three sets could potentially occupy it at once. The suggested arrangement - Sarkozy's Tavern on the stage right. A section representing the beach in the middle. Fort Ardban on stage right. The spotlight might shine on each section in turn, depending on where the current action is taking place.
-Sarkozy's-
A tavern located on the shores of Elysium, with an ocean view. Formerly a brothel run by the infamous Hanrahan Brae, it was later purchased by the legendary merchant Toveah Goldman and became a favorite watering hole for the nearby Order of the White Rose. Must feature a bar with accompanying barstools.
-A Beach-
A beach, located right outside the tavern. Because the seasons and the passage of time are a feature of the play, we offer this suggestion to the set designers - A tree, located on the "beach" portion of the stage, what changes its leaves for each season represented. Pink blossoms for spring, greenery for summer, autumnal colors for fall, and bare branches for winter.
-Fort Ardban-
A White Rose military outpost established on the shores of Elysium, a short distance away from Sarkozy's. Simple and pragmatic in its design and furnishings.
ACT ONE
SPRING
SpoilerCURTAIN RISES on Sarkozy’s, a tavern situated on the shores of Elysium. The BARKEEP idles behind the bar, polishing a glass.
Enter SIEGMUND CARRION, a humble Orenian baron, carrying a CRATE. He ferries the box to the bar counter, where he sets it down.
BARKEEP
Lo and there he comes, the Carrion lord,
With yet another tote of Black in hand.
Lord knows we are grateful for the supply,
Yet I cannot help but wonder at it -
For springtime wreaths the hills in loveliness,
Gently coercing the flowers to bloom.
All Oren’s maidens are blossoming too.
Should not the Baron be seeking to court
‘Stead of spending his hours brewing drink?
Does vodka appeal more than a lady’s touch?
Siegmund CHUCKLES.
SIEGMUND
Perhaps - for vodka sits neat in the glass,
Where it waits agreeably to be drunk.
You needn't woo the goblet before you sip,
Nor can it turn its back and refuse you.
BARKEEP
Does my lord suffer in the ladies' esteem?
The bartender takes a bottle of Black out of the crate. He pops the cap and pours Siegmund a DRINK. Siegmund slips into a seat at the bar counter.
SIEGMUND
Da, the maids of Oren favor me not.
The ladies deem me a frightful specter -
Shrouded am I in the robes of mourning.
They prefer the red-clad knights of the Rose,
All a-glitter in their fine chainmail
To the likes of me.
Yet I swore I would scorn all vivid color
To honor the cruel slaughter of my kin.
BARKEEP
To be so gloomy on such a fair day -
Methinks that is why the women mislike you.
Enter LORIN CHIVAY. Her presence disturbs the bar patrons, who turn to stare at her. She strides boldly toward the bar, ignoring the stares.
LORIN
Ay, barkeep! Pour us a drink if you will.
BARKEEP
What's this? Does a lady speak so roughly?
Get thee gone, for this is a hooligan's haunt -
No place for a woman unattended.
LORIN
(as she takes out her money)
Minas care not whether I'm woman or man.
SIEGMUND
(amused, to the barkeep)
The girl speaks truly.
BARKEEP
I should dislike becoming the person
Responsible for a maid's corruption.
SIEGMUND
Then let me be the one to corrupt her.
Siegmund takes out his money and lays it on the counter. The barkeep collects the money begrudgingly and turns away, continuing to clean his cups.
Siegmund reaches into the crate and hands Lorin a bottle of Carrion Black.
SIEGMUND
Courtesy of the Baron Carrion.
LORIN
(pleased)
The House of Chivay extends its gratitude!
SIEGMUND
Chivay? Be you a servant in their keep?
LORIN
(offended)
Is my appearance so dreadfully plain
That you’d mistake me for a hireling?
SIEGMUND
Niet, I would instead compare your features
To those icons of saintly Julia -
For yours might be the very face of love.
LORIN
(scoffs)
Fine praises, yet clumsily delivered.
You reek of a man who knows not the method
Of properly wooing a lady fair.
SIEGMUND
Woe, you've diagnosed my inexperience.
Might the maiden then offer me practice?
LORIN
'Tis unfortunate that the sole solution
To your problem is that you must inflict
Your ungainly flirtations upon me.
Nevertheless, sir, I shall indulge you.
This bottle for an evening's conversation.
Lorin SITS next to him. Siegmund opens the vodka and pours her a drink.
SIEGMUND
Might I know your name?
LORIN
(taking a drink)
Lorin, they call me.
The lord of Fort Ardban is my uncle.
SIEGMUND
The much-feared Marshal of the White Rose
Permits his niece to carouse in taverns,
Drinking and talking amongst strange menfolk?
LORIN
Strange, perhaps! Though none are so strange as you -
A man robed in the murky cloth of night
With a mien like unto the milk-white moon.
I entreat the Baron to take some sun,
Lest he shrivel into a pallid corpse!
SIEGMUND
The sun would bake me to a ruddy hue
And I should appear even stranger still!
Lorin LAUGHS. Siegmund refills her cup.
SIEGMUND
And yet you’ve avoided my question.
LORIN
(taking a drink)
Determined am I to do as I like
Whether my uncle allows it or no.
Would that I could be a sailing pirate
Or a highwayman astride a black horse -
Why should I sequester myself away,
When the trees and hills summon so sweetly?
SIEGMUND
The taverns too, so it would seem to me.
All at once, the tavern door FLIES OPEN. Lorin PANICS and rushes to HIDE.
Author's note: Depending on the set design, she may hide wherever it is most convenient, whether it is in a cupboard, behind the bar, or elsewhere - so long as she's concealed.
Enter THOMAS CHIVAY, accompanied by his retinue of White Rose soldiers.
THOMAS
Bah! No sign of her in this bar either!
By my troth, that girl is more troublesome
Than e'en the Teutons, our hated enemies!
(noticing Siegmund)
‘Lo there, good Baron. You are Siegmund, ay - ?
The vassal serving Lord Augustus Flay.
Though the peace between our Houses is flimsy,
My aim is to strengthen it shortly.
We both call the Teutons our enemies -
Thus, the foe of my foe shall be called my friend.
Mayhaps you can help?
SIEGMUND
Da, I am at your lordship’s disposal.
Whom do you seek, O Roses of Chivay?
THOMAS
In your ramblings, have you perchance glimpsed
A maiden wandering unescorted?
SIEGMUND
What would bring a girl hence to this tavern?
Methinks ladies tend to avoid such places.
THOMAS
(sighing)
‘Tis Lorin, my niece.
Entrusted am I with her guardianship.
O, but she might be a fine young woman -
Were she not so plain ungovernable!
She scorns my discipline and roams the town,
Chatters with menfolk, and drinks herself sick.
Acting more the part of a common tramp
Than a daughter of highborn lineage!
My task is to temper her vices, yet -
I cannot locate her. She eludes me.
My plan is to commit her swiftly
Unto some marriage with an unlucky man,
So I might no longer be forced to wrangle her.
Siegmund glances casually toward Lorin’s hiding spot, then back at Thomas.
SIEGMUND
Alas, that I could not be of more service.
I have not seen her.
THOMAS
Pity. And so my hunt must continue.
EXIT Thomas and his retinue.
Lorin peeks out of her hiding place.
LORIN
Common tramp! My uncle is too cruel!
He speaks as though he hates me entirely!
SIEGMUND
Not hatred, but rather an uncle’s concern
That you should harm your good reputation.
Come -
The redhead rose has had her fun to-night.
Now comes time to return to the garden.
Lorin grumbles moodily, but complies.
Siegmund offers her a HAND as he helps her out of her hiding spot. Their hands touch briefly. A subtle spark passes between them.
LORIN
(after a beat)
...Will I see you again?
SIEGMUND
O? Then have my ungainly flirtations
Somehow struck their mark?
You should find me here, if it pleases you.
LORIN
(defensive)
Don’t flatter yourself!
She EXITS in a huff. Siegmund LAUGHS as he takes a drink.
CURTAIN FALLS.
END ACT ONE.
ACT TWO
SUMMER
SpoilerSIEGMUND sits beneath the shade of the tree, nursing a bottle of Carrion Black. The BARKEEP emerges from Sarkozy's to SWEEP the front stoop.
BARKEEP
Ay, Lord Carrion! Even in this heat,
You remain clad in those funeral garments?
I bid you, come into the tavern
Before the sun fries you into a crisp!
SIEGMUND
Can a man not spend a serene moment
Enjoying the pure beauty of nature?
BARKEEP
The beauty that Siegmund wishes to glimpse
Dwells in the yonder fortress of the Rose.
Behold how he gladly subjects himself
To summer's cruelty for her sake!
SIEGMUND
Fie, away with you.
Niet taste have I for your japes to-day.
The barkeep returns to the interior of Sarkozy's, leaving Siegmund.
SIEGMUND
(to himself)
Woe, is my desperation apparent?
Such attendance becomes not a suitor.
Ladies tend to favor the gentleman
Who shows them niet token of his liking -
Yet the survival of my lineage
Hangs precariously in the balance.
Even in summer's sweltering fever,
I remain e'er in dark garments wrapped
To remind me of my obligation -
Of that tragedy what befell my kin.
Should I fail my quest to find a bride,
The blood of Joren shall perish with me.
A ready women waits in Fort Ardban -
So near to me and yet out of my reach,
Like a steak dangled 'fore a starving dog!
Would that the fair maiden would show her face.
ENTER a Hooded Figure from the Ardban side of the stage.
SIEGMUND
What, ho? Who comes near?
HOODED FIGURE
Is such knowledge any business of yours?
SIEGMUND
Hours have I watched the gates of Ardban
And seen many soldiers clad in surcoat -
You are the only creature to emerge
With your face concealed 'neath flowing shawls.
(teasing)
I wonder, be you some hideous crone?
HOODED FIGURE
O, you are naughty!
The hooded figure removes her hood, revealing LORIN.
LORIN
Call me hideous again, I dare you!
SIEGMUND
'Tis hideous of you to make me wait.
Did you not request to see me again?
LORIN
See you again? Pah!
Rather, I should curse the sight of your face!
When I returned home after our meeting -
I found my uncle awaiting me there!
He roughly boxed my ears and forbade me
From leaving the fortress to go and play.
I should have expired from sheer boredom
Were it not for the company of my books!
Now look upon my unfortunate self -
At length, desperation drove me to this!
Forced to don these weighty, concealing clothes
In the fierce swelter of the summer's heat
So that I might escape my uncle's notice
And come find you again as I promised!
You've caused me such trouble - I should hate you!
SIEGMUND
Would a merry drink convince Lorin
To extend unto me her forgiveness?
Mayhaps vodka would cool her reddened tempers.
He dangles the bottle of Black in front of her.
Lorin HUFFS indignantly and then removes her cloak and sits with him under the tree. Siegmund hands her the bottle. She drinks.
SIEGMUND
The lady mentioned her fondness for books -
Does she like to read as well as play?
LORIN
She considers reading a type of play -
For books may delight as well as instruct.
If I cannot travel using my feet -
Then may the pages carry me abroad.
SIEGMUND
Ah - on this subject, we are of one mind.
LORIN
Though on the matter of fashion, we are not.
You know my reasons for cloaking myself -
Yet your logic remains a mystery.
Are you not roasting alive in those robes?
SIEGMUND
The dignity of mourning supersedes
The mortal frame's petty needs for comfort.
LORIN
And whomst do you mourn?
SIEGMUND
My mother, father, and brother - all slain
By the pitiless swords of Nzech’s knights.
Were it not for the prompt aid of my liege,
Their brutal crimes would have gone unpunished.
LORIN
What? Am I to know you as an orphan?
SIEGMUND
I'll endure mockery on many counts -
But not on this one. Pray, dear, speak gently.
LORIN
No mockery here. I, too, am orphaned.
Mother and father both sadly deceased -
Which is why my uncle has custody.
SIEGMUND
Are the wounds then fresh?
LORIN
Both are recently passed. 'Tis why I drink.
'Tis easier to be drunk than to weep.
SIEGMUND
There are better ways to ease a heartache.
The same pain - shared - is thus lessened by half.
Two broken people together made whole.
Lorin peers at him curiously.
LORIN
I came to offer an invitation.
SIEGMUND
O! At last, proof of Lorin's affections!
LORIN
(rolling her eyes)
Bah, you overestimate my esteem!
My uncle opts to hold a debutante -
To display me like a prized breeding sow
For I am lately come of age to wed.
Such is custom, though I despise it!
But! Methinks such would be tolerable
Should I have a bottle of Black with me.
SIEGMUND
(teasing)
Alas, my poor heart! She only likes me
For the taste of my brews. Wicked Lorin!
LORIN
(indignant)
Be grateful a woman likes you at all!
But her faux-indignation breaks and she begins to LAUGH. Siegmund laughs along.
A moment of warmth between them.
SIEGMUND
Debutantes feature dancing, do they not?
Shall I glimpse little Lorin a-capering?
LORIN
Only in your dreams!
SIEGMUND
A-ha! She knows not how!
LORIN
O, be silent, you!
I dance with the grace of a loping doe!
SIEGMUND
Then perhaps the lady will demonstrate?
He stands up, swaying slightly with drunkenness, and offers her a hand.
LORIN
(scoffing)
I hardly need to prove myself to you!
A BEAT. Siegmund's hand remains outstretched.
Lorin HARRUMPHs. Puts her hand in his. He pulls her to her feet and into his arms.
SIEGMUND
Come, little doe, let me see you loping
As you might o'er the green hillocks of summer!
They begin to dance, but they're both well drunk by now. A clumsy and ungainly waltz across the uneven sands of the beach.
Lorin TRIPS over the hem of her dress and collides with Siegmund. His balance already knocked off kilter by the drink, he topples and falls on his rear in the sand - taking Lorin down with him!
LORIN
(with genuine concern)
O, Lord Carrion! Pray, are you injured?
SIEGMUND
(laughing)
Da, but only my pride!
Lorin LAUGHS as well. Her defenses lowered by the silliness of the situation.
Until…
VOICE
(off-stage)
Ay, what is this miserable display?
Siegmund Carrion, fallen on his ass?
Siegmund's eyes go wide. He scrambles to his feet.
ENTER AUGUSTUS FLAY and his retinue of masked soldiers.
LORIN
Siegmund, who is that?
SIEGMUND
(pulling her to her feet)
Arise, arise! My liege lord draws near!
AUGUSTUS
Does it befit a bannerman of mine
To wallow like an idiot in the sand?
LORIN
Idiot?! How dare -
Siegmund cuts her off.
SIEGMUND
(quietly, but harshly)
Hush now, Lorin, for your dear safety's sake!
(to Augustus, deferential)
My apologies, lord. 'Tis well beneath
Both my dignity and your own.
AUGUSTUS
Is that alcohol I smell on your breath?
Did I grant you permission to partake?
SIEGMUND
I was not aware that I needed such --
AUGUSTUS
(to his retinue)
What punishment ought we enact on him
For this most outrageous embarrassment?
FLAY SOLDIER
My proposition is that we extract
Both eyne for making you witness his shame!
AUGUSTUS
Ah, but blindness would render him useless.
Lucky that I am a merciful lord.
Let one eye be the price for your sin.
LORIN
What - ?
Augustus draws the KNIFE from his belt and seizes hold of Siegmund's hair - forcing the Raevir man onto his knees.
Lorin RUSHES to intervene and grab hold of Augustus's wrist.
LORIN
I would never permit such a thing!
Augustus BACKHANDS her, sending Lorin SPRAWLING.
He then plunges his dagger into the howling Siegmund's face - popping his eye out of its socket.
Author's note: The illusion of mutilation might be achieved by having Siegmund face away from the audience while it occurs, so that the act is obscured. A colored marble might be used for a false eye.
Augustus examines the eye for a moment before casting it aside casually.
AUGUSTUS
Take care not to embarrass me again.
He turns and strolls off-stage, gesturing for his retinue to follow him.
Siegmund lies doubled over on the sand, clutching his bleeding face.
LORIN
Siegmund…?
She draws closer to him, reaching out a hand to touch his back.
LORIN
O, Siegmund! Your eye!
SIEGMUND
Touch me not, I say! Look not upon me!
Go now and leave me!
LORIN
But you've been wounded!
SIEGMUND
(with agonized anger)
Do the funnels of your ears not reach your brain?
Go!
Lorin stands up and hurries off-stage in tears.
Siegmund slinks off in the opposite direction toward the bar. The Barkeep might appear to assist him.
Curtain falls.
END ACT TWO.
ACT THREE
AUTUMN
SpoilerCURTAINS RISE on a PARTY in full swing at Fort Ardban. Guests include the most prominent of Oren society, all dressed in their finery.
ENTER Thomas, nicely dressed, with Lorin on his arm.
THOMAS
May I present to you, O court of Oren,
Ardban's flower, a rose among Roses -
My sweet niece, Lorin!
APPLAUSE from the guests.
THOMAS
To whom will the lady grant her first dance?
Lorin scans the crowd, frowning.
LORIN
Woe, he is not here.
THOMAS
(whispering to Lorin)
This ball is for you. Be pleasant! Smile!
LORIN
(whispering to Thomas)
I ought be allowed to act how I want
If the party is intended for me!
Thomas growls at her, but then forces a SMILE as he turns to the crowd.
THOMAS
Pray, my friends! Continue your revelries!
A fit of fatigue has taken my niece,
But she shall be up and dancing shortly!
The guests resume their merriments. Thomas leaves Lorin to mingle with the crowd.
Lorin, alone in the crush of people, exits the fortress and strides out onto the beach.
LORIN
The chilly bite of the autumnal air
Cannot compare to the cold solitude
I feel inside my sad and sorry breast!
O, would that the oncoming winter wind
Could carry my pain as it carries the leaves -
Bearing it far from its origins!
Siegmund hates me now, for I caused the loss
Of his eye! What agony he suffered!
He has avoided me ever since then…
I had but a single friend on this island
And it was Siegmund.
Now even in this crowd, I am alone!
ENTER a hooded figure.
LORIN
What, ho? Who comes near?
HOODED FIGURE
Is such knowledge any business of yours?
Lorin's eyes widen… and she starts to SMILE.
LORIN
I wonder, are you a hideous crone?
HOODED FIGURE
A crone? I doubt it.
He lowers the hood, revealing SIEGMUND - now wearing an eyepatch.
SIEGMUND
Though perhaps more hideous than before.
LORIN
Not so! A face is all the more beloved
Seen once more after such a long absence!
SIEGMUND
Beloved now? So all that was needed
To earn Lorin's love was to lose my eye?
LORIN
(defensive)
Tease me not, Siegmund!
(softening)
Though I am indeed most pleased to see you.
SIEGMUND
To see me? Or to see my bottle of Black?
LORIN
(indignant)
Vex me too much and you'll spend my goodwill!
SIEGMUND
(laughing)
Pray, why does the lady linger outside,
Neglecting her guests in the shiv'ring cold?
LORIN
I care not for any guest except you.
SIEGMUND
Absence does indeed make the heart fonder.
LORIN
If you hate me not -
Would you grant me the honor of a dance?
SIEGMUND
Ah - but our last dance went rather poorly.
LORIN
Would you refuse the lady of honor?
She offers him her hand.
SIEGMUND
Niet, I should hate to be so mannerless.
Siegmund takes her hand and slides an arm around her waist.
The music rises. Perhaps, to the side, the BARKEEP might appear with a violin.
LIGHTS FADE on the rest of the stage. A singular spotlight upon the couple.
They begin to dance. Slowly at first. An elegant waltz. They glide in relaxed, easy circles around the stage - detached from reality as they only have eyes for one another. All the rest of the world has fallen away. Autumnal leaves drift past them in a romantic swirl.
A smile comes over Siegmund’s face as he leans down to whisper -
SIEGMUND
Double time!
The music erupts into a lively Ruskan folk dance. Siegmund leads Lorin in a passionate flurry of steps, relentless in their rhythm.
Lorin STRUGGLES to keep up at first, but soon she is matching him step for step - perfectly keeping with his pace and following his lead.
The song concludes and she tumbles - laughing, flushed, breathless - into his arms. And at that moment, he takes her face in hand and does what he has been wanting to do since Act 1.
He KISSES her.
An intense, burning kiss that leaves Lorin speechless. She is rendered, for once, with no quippy response. Her defenses stripped away entirely. The rose without its thorns.
After allowing the kiss to linger for a moment -
SIEGMUND
(gently teasing)
Whose face is this? I fear I know it not.
She looks at me as though I hung the stars.
As though I polished the moon’s silver sphere
And set it shining in the autumn sky.
Where is that prickly girl, so full of vim
And venom, whose sharp tongue lashed like a whip?
Somehow this tender maid, with her soft eyes
Through which I spy a heart o’ertaken by love,
Has stolen in and replaced that harsh girl
Whomst I had originally courted.
Pretty girl, pray tell - where is my Lorin?
LORIN
(huffy)
She stands before you!
SIEGMUND
Aha! And so my prickly dear returns!
Gentle Lorin to Fierce Lorin gives way.
Like the rose, you are both bramble and bud -
But I pledge both sides e’er shall I adore.
Though the sweet look ‘pon your face be gone,
Do you still wear it within your heart?
LORIN
(shyly)
Whether bramble or bud, both are a part
Of the same flower. Dear Siegmund, I am—
TING. TING. TING.
An interruption to Lorin’s confession of love. The sound of silverware striking a goblet.
The lights come up.
THOMAS stands amid the party guests. All eyes on him. Including Lorin’s and Siegmund’s.
A new face has joined the throng of partygoers. A face concealed behind a red bandana. AUGUSTUS.
THOMAS
The House of Chivay extends its thanks
To all who have joined us this evening.
Ne’er was there a fairer gathering.
But now is the time to reveal our truths -
You thought you attended a debutante
When, in fact, it was an engagement ball
To celebrate her upcoming nuptials!
To Augustus Flay, my Lorin is betrothed
And their wedding ushers in a new age
Of alliance betwixt Flay and the Rose!
May our powers combined at last bring an end
To that menace known as the Teutonics!
APPLAUSE from the partygoers.
While Lorin stands stock still in silent, quavering horror.
CURTAIN FALLS.
END ACT 3.
ACT FOUR
WINTER
SpoilerCURTAIN RISES on a desolate Fort Ardban. Empty of guests. Only three remain - LORIN, SIEGMUND, THOMAS.
LORIN
(to Thomas)
Am I but a game piece to maneuver -
A poor pawn strategically sacrificed
To gain an advantage ‘gainst your enemy?
Have you no regard for my desires -
For the hopes and dreams kept inside my heart?
So readily you throw them all away!
Without my knowledge! Without my consent!
THOMAS
I have tolerated your wantonness
Out of love for you, Lorin, but no more.
The duty of a girl is to submit
And do as instructed by her kinsmen.
The alliance produced by your wedding
To Augustus shall prove invaluable.
War with the Teutons draws e’er nearer.
For our family to survive, you must wed!
LORIN
Could I not wed Siegmund? He is vassal
To the House of Flay!
THOMAS
Your pleas reveal naught but your ignorance
In the ways of men and of making war.
Would that you had minded more your uncle
And behaved goodly as a woman ought,
I might have let you marry as you pleased.
Alas, you chose to be a frightful tramp,
A thorn digging e’er into my side
Rather than a sweet bloom to gild my house.
Because I could not hope to control you -
I had no choice but to give you over
To a hand e’en stricter than mine own!
Thomas STORMS OUT.
Lorin hovers in the middle of the floor. Shaken. Tears streak down her face.
LORIN
Siegmund, do you remember what you said
That day so long ago upon the beach?
Created you an image in my mind -
Two broken people together made whole.
‘Twas that moment I felt my brokenness
Might one day be repaired by your hand
And yours in turn would by me be healed.
When your lips met mine, the cracks in my soul
Filled for a moment with adoration’s light.
What we lacked in family, we would create -
Bring forth from the soil of love to fruit.
I see that vision now slipping away.
Are we fated now to remain in this state?
E’er in shards, never to be restored?
Lorin reaches for his hands.
LORIN
This be a fate that I cannot accept!
Run with me, Siegmund. We might still elope!
We’ll live free as pirates or highwaymen,
Beholden to no one but each other!
Siegmund withdraws his hands from hers.
SIEGMUND
Alas, but such a life cannot be ours.
My first oath was pledged to Augustus Flay -
He who sent his men in my hour of need
And exacted vengeance for my family
Against the vicious raiders of Nzech.
I cannot crown him with the cuckold’s horns.
LORIN
Even after he sliced out your eye?!
SIEGMUND
The debt I owe House Flay cannot be paid
With the measly donation of an eye.
LORIN
How could the one who claims to adore me
Condemn me to this most heinous marriage?!
SIEGMUND
To betray my oath or betray my love?
An impossible choice niet man could make!
Lorin begins to weep in earnest.
SIEGMUND
Lorin…
LORIN
Wait for me!
SIEGMUND
What?
LORIN
Should you sincerely mean a single word
That you uttered during our courtship,
Then you will wait until I am widowed
To take you a wife.
Augustus is aged and soon to perish -
Can you not wait to receive my hand?
Can you not wait to call me your bride?
Siegmund hesitates.
LORIN
Siegmund - !
SIEGMUND
I need a wife to continue my line…
LORIN
Is that all I was to you? Naught but a womb?
A means to extend your family name?
SIEGMUND
Niet, I would not diminish you so!
LORIN
Then, I beg you - wait!
If I must endure the sham of marriage
To support my uncle’s wartime alliance,
Then I must know a prize is awaiting!
A true love that is worth my suffering!
SIEGMUND
Upon my honor, I shall be patient -
So long as I can bear it.
Lorin hugs him.
LORIN
If one day I might be with you, I’ll try -
Try to endure whatever comes my way
With the memory of this year we spent.
SIEGMUND
I can promise only this for us two -
One day, on the green shores of Paradise,
We shall stand in holy love united
And watch as the winter of our suff’ring
Gives way unto an eternal springtime.
The fruits of our love will seed and grow
Into trees with branches as infinite
And spreading as the rays of the sun.
This truth is my gift unto you, Lorin.
This truth is promised.
CURTAIN FALLS.
END ACT FOUR.
10 -
MYSTERIES
of
YONG PING
A Brand-New Exhibit
At the Northern Geographical Society Flagship Museum
In Karosgrad!
The NGS is proud to announce the opening of our newest exhibit, entitled 'The Mysteries of Yong Ping!' Our researchers have spent weeks compiling information about this beautiful and unique culture, which we are eager to present to our friends and patrons!
The exhibit is open to the public, free of charge!
Come and educate yourself about the Li-Ren, the Oyashiman, and all the amazing people who call Yong Ping home!
The Northern Geographical Society would like to thank the citizens of Yong Ping for their kindly donations and their thoughtful contributions to our research! We're proud to represent your culture to a wider audience and hopefully spread awareness about all the wonders your city has in store!
Make your trip to the Northern Geographical Society Flagship Museum today!
22 -
Anthony, Age 18
Art by Eneru
Name: Anthony Bentarus
Gender: Male
Race: Human (Farfolk)Birthday: 1800 IST
Nationality: Orenian
Profession: Playwright. Assistant Director at the La Fleur Production Company. Editor-in-Chief of the Providence Post (Retired). Deputy Director of Information under the Ministry of Civil Affairs (Retired).Height: 5'7”
Weight: 145 lbs
Hair: Dark brown
Eyes: Bentarus Blue
Skintone: BrownClothing: Anthony is fashion-conscious and endeavors to dress according to the latest trends.
Identifying Features: Anthony has the famous 'Bentarus Blue' eyes which some may might find striking, especially in contrast with his Farfolk features. Others may find his eyes off-putting or strange due to their very pale blue color.
Overall Demeanor
More than anything, Anthony Bentarus wants to be respected, admired, and praised. Unfortunately for him, he is useless. Or, at least, that is how he perceives himself during his particularly dark nights of the soul. Anthony lies in bed with the perpetual, paralyzing fear that he is an utter disappointment to everyone around him. He hungers violently for recognition and for acclaim - to prove to himself and others that he isn't worthless and that he isn't a disappointment. Yet he is so fearful of rejection and humiliation that he struggles to put himself out there and chase the things that he really wants.
STRENGTHS
Determined & Hard Working
Anthony's biggest redeeming quality is that he sincerely does try his best. Even if he fails, one cannot say that Anthony didn't give it 100%. Anthony wants to become something more and better than what he is. He recognizes himself as a flawed person in need of improvement, so he is eager to work hard and impress others.Educated
Anthony grew up abroad in a wealthy household that afforded him access to a good education. He's decently smart and has a strong basis of general knowledge.Deeply Patriotic
Anthony has finally found his footing in Oren - as both a journalist and a playwright. Oren has instilled in Anthony a deep sense of patriotism. Oren gave him a sense of direction when he had none - so he wants to commit himself to glorifying and upholding its institutions.
WEAKNESSES
Lack of Self-Confidence
Anthony suffers from a serious lack of self-confidence - a fear that he is utterly ineffectual and fundamentally unlovable. He constantly feels like a failure, no matter how well he's actually doing in life. He's prone to self-deprecation and he has a distorted sense of self. He takes no pride in his good qualities but focuses excessively on the bad. He hates himself - and so he believes everyone else must secretly hate him too.Self-Hating
Anthony hates no one more than himself. He would give anything to be someone other than Anthony Bentarus. He wants desperately to be popular, liked, and respected - but his myriad flaws stand in the way of that. Yet he cannot be anything other than what he is, no matter how hard he tries. He's got no choice but to overcome his self hate and improve himself. Will he succeed? Time will tell.Clumsy
Anthony has two left feet and often trips over himself. He might have been a jellyfish in a past life for how ungainly his movements seem to be. It's not uncommon to see Anthony with bandages from all the cuts and scrapes that his clumsy antics have earned him.
Likes
◈ Canonism◈ Oren
◈ The Ministry of Civil Affairs
◈ His big sister, Catherine (She's his idol and everything he wishes he could be)
◈ Art
◈ Writing
◈ Pretty girls (blondes and redheads in specific)
◈ History
◈ Literature◈ Theater
◈ Fancy thingsDislikes
Himself. :( ◈Rejection ◈
Humiliation ◈
Failure ◈
Feeling Unwanted & Unappreciated ◈
SpoilerThe Bentarus Family first came to prominence in the city of New Cairn on the distant continent of Sulis. The family patriarch - an intrepid investor and politician by the name of Thomas Bentarus - saw potential in the small fishing hamlet located at the conjunction of two major rivers. The rivers connected to several major waterways throughout the country. Thomas and his wife, Hyun-Fei Song, settled in the unassuming village. Through a series of clever investments, the couple helped the tiny town grow into a thriving trade hub metropolis. Their fortunes increased until the Bentarus family were the most prosperous, influential, and powerful family in the region. Thomas and Hyun-Fei had two children, Marcus and Meridia, whom they raised in New Cairn.
Thomas and Hyun-Fei were both older when they met, however, and passed away when their children were young adults. The loss of their patriarch and matriarch rocked the Bentarus family. Meridia and Marcus swiftly lost control of the Bentarus trade empire, which was summarily picked apart and divvied up among their rivals. Marcus, a sensitive artist, couldn't handle the stress of seeing his fortunes bleed away. He skipped town and became a wandering musician, leaving Meridia to pick up the pieces.
Meridia found herself in the low position of waitressing at a tavern to survive. Unlike her sensitive brother, the high-strung Meridia had a heart of fierce ambition and a will of iron. She was determined to rebuild the Bentarus fortune at any cost. She struck up an alliance with a local bandit lord by the name of Matios Zabella. Matios, too, had been brought low by foul circumstances. Once upon a time, he had been the warrior king of the distant Sultanate of Iros. However, he was forced to fake his death and flee the country after being convicted of several war crimes. Matios still had a few men who were loyal to him, however, and Meridia saw the advantage in winning him over. With Matios's manpower and Meridia's iron-willed ambition, the two of them began to rebuild the Bentarus trade empire. Along the way, the two fell in love and married. They had five children - Elliot, Catherine, Anthony, Valarie, and Caspian.
Elliot and Catherine were easily the two standouts among the Bentarus clan. Elliot inherited his mother's keen intelligence and mind for strategy. Catherine grew strong like her father with her mother's fierce will and determination. Third in line was Anthony - the unremarkable middle child with little to recommend him. Anthony was the runt of the litter both in terms of stature and skill. While he was decently intelligent, he lacked the sharp, strategical acumen of his mother and older siblings. In terms of size, he had inherited the more petite stature of his grandmother, Hyun-Fei, and lacked his father's muscular build. Anthony did not stand out among the other members of his family and, in fact, suffered by comparison. Elliot and Catherine commanded the lion's share of his parents' attention. Anthony didn't get much attention regardless of whether or not he put in effort, so he largely just stopped trying. Even worse, he suffered relentless bullying at the hands of his older brother, Elliot.
And so, Anthony grew into a directionless young man with few skills, yet brimming with frustrated ambition. He felt as though he would never achieve anything in New Cairn, since he was perpetually stuck in the twin shadows of Catherine and Elliot.
Anthony expressed a desire to travel to his mother, citing his frustration with New Cairn, so she leveraged her influence as a merchant to find him a job overseas. New Cairn had intimate connections with the foreign kingdom of Boran, a small tropical island state. Meridia pulled some strings with her Boranian connections and secured sea-passage abroad for Anthony.
Unfortunately, due to a mishap involving Anthony's two left feet and a rain gutter, Anthony's travel itinerary became smudged with water and rendered illegible - leaving Anthony confused. Rather than boarding a ship to Boran, Anthony ended up booking a journey to Oren by accident.
Some months later, in 1818, Anthony found himself in the Orenian capital of Providence... only to discover that his mother's associates were not there waiting for him. He quickly realized that he'd traveled to the wrong place, but now he was stuck. Anthony had very little money and couldn't hope to afford a ticket back home to New Cairn. Panicked, he wrote a letter to his mother begging for help. The letter took months to reach its destination - and it took even longer to get a reply. Thankfully, Meridia promised to send Catherine, Anthony's older sister, to come and fetch him. In the meantime, however, Anthony would have to scrape out an existence in Providence by himself. He had no choice but to buckle down while he waited for rescue.
Anthony muddled along for some months, getting by on the small allowance that his mother sent him. He ate cheaply and slept in flea-ridden boarding houses around Providence's seedy back alleys. He tried to find a job, but few people were willing to hire a scrawny teenaged boy. Anthony finally found some luck when he, by chance, met James Chapel - a local elf who worked as a director for the La Fleur Theater. James needed someone to fill a role in one of his upcoming productions. Anthony fit the bill.
Anthony performed well in rehearsals and even helped James construct the show's set. As a favor to the young man, James introduced Anthony to Sir Henry Penton. Penton was the rising star of the Providence literary scene. He had been knighted by Emperor John VIII one year prior, in 1817, for his composition entitled Oren Aut Mortem. Anthony had witnessed Sir Penton perform in a talent show at the La Fleur theater. The performance made an enormous impression on Anthony, who resolved that he wanted to meet the famous poet and songwriter more than anything. At James's recommendation, Sir Penton agreed to take Anthony on as an apprentice and even offered him a room in his sumptuous Providence manor (dubbed 'Penton Place').
For many years, Penton had been committed to a massive project - an illuminated copy of the Scroll of Gospel. Anthony's first task as Penton's apprentice was to review the completed volumes for errors. For hours a day, Anthony found himself pouring over the Holy Scrolls, checking and re-checking each page for the most minor of mistakes. Anthony himself wasn't a Canonist, having been born in a foreign land. Despite that, he found himself moved and inspired by the contents of the Scrolls. His dreams swirled with images begotten by the text. While working on the project for Penton, Anthony began drafting what would become his first published play - entitled The Temptation of St. Julia. The final work was published in 1820 and they opened a casting call the same year. Five years later, in 1825, they debuted the play to great acclaim.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs was so impressed by his talent that, in 1822, they tapped him as a new editor for the Providence Post - the city's government sanctioned newspaper. For his great success on the Providence Post, Anthony was made Deputy Director of Information in the year 1824 - a department of Civil Affairs that managed propaganda and information dissemination.
His debut work coincided with the arrival of his sister, Catherine, in the city of Providence. Anthony found himself suddenly forced to make a decision. Would he return home with Catherine? Or would he stay in the city? All at once, Anthony realized how much he liked his new life compared to the old one in New Cairn. He had friends and mentors in the city. He had discovered religion and found a calling in playwrighting and journalism. He admitted to Catherine that he wanted to stay in Providence.
To his surprise, Catherine opted to stay in Oren as well. She had suffered a traumatic injury during Anthony's absence, which resulted in the loss of her arm. The injury - and the circumstances that lead to it - had left Catherine disillusioned and ill-at-ease in New Cairn. Their older brother, Elliot, had fallen in with a bad crowd. He was associating with dark wizards and necromancers. A conflict between Elliot's lover, a necromancer, and another wizard had escalated into all-out turf warfare. Catherine lost her arm while attempting to protect Elliot from an assault. Elliot, for his part, had shown little gratitude toward his sister's sacrifice. Catherine felt suddenly and painfully abandoned by her older brother, with whom she'd always had a close relationship. Being in Oren with her little brother Anthony offered her a chance at recovery - and finding her identity apart from Elliot. She took a security job with the NGS Museum in Providence and moved into Mr. Penton's manor alongside Anthony. She later became a Holy Knight with the Church of the Canon.
Anthony continued his career successfully for a period of ten years before tragedy struck. In 1830, a group of serial killers calling themselves 'The Noble Titans' became active in the city of Providence. One night, the group broke into the La Fleur theater, where they staged a grisly display using mutilated corpses. Anthony discovered the corpses the next morning. He suffered a severe mental breakdown after witnessing the damage done to the theater. He abruptly resigned his job as the Providence Post editor-in-chief as well as the lead director for the theater, since he was so traumatized that he could no longer work.
He spent long, lonely days in his small boarding house room, drinking himself sick to forget the horrors of what he'd seen. Anthony was haunted by guilt for failing to prevent that murders that took place in his theater. He couldn't bear to attend rehearsal since all he could think about was the people who were tortured and killed in his theater. Nightmares tormented him during his sleeping hours, preventing him from rest. In the midst of his painful depression, Anthony found himself sorely wanting to return home. Terrified of admitting his weakness to Catherine, he bought a ticket back to New Cairn in secret - leaving only a letter behind for his sister.
To be continued...?
Bentarus Family Tree
Spoiler
Anthony Art
SpoilerAnthony Memes
Spoiler
10
She Has Left Me, My Golden Rose
in The Kingdom of Oren
Posted
Anthony Bentarus clutched his copy of Natural Wealth close as Henry debuted the gorgeous original song. Even he, a youth who had never yet fallen in love, was moved to tears by the beautiful melody and lyrics.