The Hurdy-Gurdy Demonstration

Log Info

• Title: The Hurdy-Gurdy Demonstration

• Emitter: Ravenstongue

• Characters: Eztli, Patch, Ravenstongue, Slixvah

• Place: Theatre District

• Summary: Ravenstongue is in the Theatre District on a rainy afternoon and is trying to take her mind off Pothy's continued absence when she runs into Eztli and Slixvah again--and when she's introduced to Patch, the hurdy-gurdy playing bard. Patch offers to demonstrate her unusual instrument as the ladies chat, and a very quick demo is given. The ladies reassure Ravenstongue that Pothy will come back home soon before the group parts their separate ways.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- Dramatis Personae =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-  
Eztli             4'6"     140 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A two-toned, short sith-makar.                                             
Patch             4'8"     100 Lb     Dawn Elf          Female    A blond sildanyari with a port-wine stained face.                          
Ravenstongue      5'0"     99 Lb      Half-Elf          Female    Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair.                       
Slixvah           5'8"     130 Lb     Eaglefolk         Female    A rust red and white Egalrin covered in veils, ribbons, and shawls.       
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Theatre District, afternoon.

Rain falls down gently from the light-gray sky, a stark contrast to the colorful ribbons that decorate the Theatre District from pole to pole, house to house, building to building. It's also not stopped the theatre-going crowd nor has it stopped the clamor of musicians playing and the Muses of Ceinara from doling out blessings as they make their rounds.

A violet-eyed half-elf woman, familiar to some who attend events of poetry as a common attendee, sometimes performer, leaves one of the Muses handing out blessings, holding a small umbrella to ward the rain off her pale face. She wears an expression that's caught in between emotions--a small smile, but worry in her eyes. Her knee-length black dress is a bit of a standout here in the colorful Theatre District, but it seems comfortable for the summer heat that's warmed Alexandria as of late.

Her eyes go up to the grey sky, raindrops sliding off her umbrella onto the ground below. "I hope he's okay," she murmurs.

Patch walks the district with her hurdy-gurdy's case slung over her shoulder, clothes and hair damp from the duration of being out in the day's lazy downpour. Eyes seek, watch, and take in the surroundings, weaving through the crowds that move up and down the busy streets. It's surprisingly easy for a bard to disappear and mingle without too much notice, feet carrying her near Ravenstongue as her glance can't help but take in the dark dress. "Oh, really cute." Words aloud, but more for herself as the tone is muffled when compared to the noise of the crowd.

A figure is quitting one of theatres, them fussing with a mechanical parasol before it opens with a >twang!<.

It's a half-oruch woman with olive skin and bright blue eyes, donned in a floral sundress. And she's speaking to a tiny little white bird on her shoulder. "Man baby doll, that show was..."

"... lacking-" it tweets back in a tinny voice.

"-dull-" "-predictable-" "-bland-" "-snooze fest-" "-where's the snacker?-" "-.... I was going to say dreary, but... what'cha mean, boo?"

She ceases the back and forth, spying a familiar half-sil woman a ways away. "Yeah, tha's... where's your nemesis?"

The duo approach to investigate, a broad smile on her visage. "Hey hey! What's good darlin'?" she calls out, waving energetically as she does so. A glance to the side comment. "Yeah! She does gots good taste!"

The violet-eyed half-elf finds herself surprised on two counts: one to have a stranger compliment her dress, and another to have a familiar voice coming out of someone who doesn't look familiar. "Thank you, my friend Aryia made me the dress," she says to the bard, although her eyes linger on the bard's case, and she tilts her head as she looks at it longer. "What instrument is in there? I don't recognize that shape."

She looks over to the half-oruch woman and squints. "I... think that might be a friend of mine?" she explains to the bard. "Slixvah, is that you? You look different."

Rain was the perfect excuse for proving that an over engineered umbrella wasn't a bad investment, that was for certain. So, through the street, a small sith-makar was mostly hidden from view from underneath the portable canopy they were holding, that shifted with the wind to always be against the rainfall.

She wandered through the streets for some time after exiting one of the dance halls that was in the district, until she came across a few recognizable faces, and one recognizable disguise. That was assuming at least it wasn't based on a real person.

"Heya Slix, Ravenstongue, right? And you were at the arcanist's guild, weren't you Patch? Nice to meet you again, settling into the city alright?"

The half-elf, identified as Ravenstongue, nods and smiles politely. "Yes," she says, "but you can call me Cor'lana, or Lana for short. Ravenstongue's an alias I used."

As the half-elf and half-oruch speak of friendship and confusion, Patch's brow furrows as there isn't much context to understand that bit of talk. At least she has some mirth about it all. A smile is flashed as her instrument is mentioned, taking it from her shoulder and looking to it as she speaks. "It's a hurdy-gurdy with all the strings, and keys." answering to the two she doesn't know.

At the arrival of Eztli a broader grin takes the place of the on Patch's lips. "Eztli, yes? From the Arcane Society!" glad to recognize at least one person here Patch looks then between the three, offering words for the curious Ravenstongue. "Would you like to see it?" bobbing her instrument case in hand as if to accentuate what she's talking about.

Not-Slixvah grins and pokes her cheek, twisting the finger. "Yuppers! It's me!"

"It's her," the small thrush bird tweets with as much enthusiasm as one could muster for watching paint dry as they extend a wing towards her.

She squints at the bird before chirping, "A little different! Just playin' wit' some mojo some mo' so I can get used ta it. It's a ton of fun!"

She perks up at seeing a familiar short figure. "Heya Ez!" She stoops down a bit. "You lookin' betta, sugar."

The half-oruch's attention shifts to that of the shown instrument case. "I ain't eva heard of that before! Yeah! I wanna see it, shug! Here, lemme make sure the rain don't fuss it." She steps closer, holding her large parasol over both herself and Patch to shield from the rain.

"I didn't know Lana meant short in Sildanyari, unless it's another language." The small makari chuckles good naturedly. "Nice to meet you again! And thanks again for helping me back at the temple district."

"It's some sort of disguise magic, far as I know. Go ahead, guess what Slixvah is if you want Patch. And yeah! Bounced back, sort of. Still a bit less energetic than I'd like, and looking a bit malnourished, but I'll get back into things I'm sure. A hurdy gurdy? I guess it makes sense, you are a bard, and most tend to be musicians.

"It... doesn't?" Cor'lana eeks out, confused--clearly not sure if Eztli is joking or not. "It's Sylvan, actually--an abbreviation of a phrase that roughly means 'raven speaker'. Grandfather shortened it into something a little more like a name when he named me--but anyway, were you sick, Eztli? I'm glad to hear you've recovered."

She turns back to Patch and smiles, although it's an expression that's a little bashful on account of the awkward explanation of her name. "Gosh, where are my manners," she says apologetically. "You may call me Cor'lana Lúpecyll--some call me Ravenstongue, too. It was the name I first used when I came to Alexandria. Slixvah and Eztli here are two friends of mine, although I've not had the opportunity to adventure with them yet."

Most noticeably, she hasn't addressed Slixvah's question of where her 'missing nemesis' happens to be.

"Oh don't get me to guessing." Patch chimes at Eztli, laughing. "It explains some questions I had, but... I really can nae tell."

Slixvah is given an appreciative look next as Patch takes advantage of the cover offered form the rain to unclasp her instrument case. "It's okay if it gets wet. I've marched with her in all weather." her instrument appearing to have a gender. Who knows, maybe even a name. It doesn't take long for the hurdy-gurdy to be free, showing off its keys and crankwheel. "Believe it or not, it's much like a violin." Her glance on Ravenstongue as she both offers her to hold it, and answers her questions. "It's a pleasure. As Eztli mentioned, I'm known as Patch." giving a dipping bow regardless if the instrument is handled or not.

Slixvah snickers at Eztli's choice of words. "Oh hon, Lana. Bless your heart."

She shifts to Patch, sky blue eyes flicking over them before she gives a little curtsey. "Nice ta meet ya, shug! Hard ta guess me, but easy to fetch me, call me Slixvah Unmesi!" she chirps, grinning. " Maybe you'll figure it out sooner or later. I love your getup, by the by!"

The small thrush on her shoulder starts to slowly close their eyes as the half-oruch leans over. Her eyebrows shoot up. "Oooooh! Now that looks faaancy! Tho, What'cha mean, marchin'? Ya did some service somewhere?"

"... That was a joke, Lana." The small makari notes, bursting into laughter for a short moment. "Sorry, couldn't resist. Besides, you're all taller than me, anyways. And yeah, caught a nasty infection or something from some undead that were in the city. They're gone now, though, and I'm feeling a lot better."

Eztli turns to Patch and Slixvah, and she nods to the instrument. "Interesting, kind of like a mechanical violin, like you said. Would make sense if you're marching, it's a lot easier to keep a consistent pace going with one."

Cor'lana gently takes the instrument, but she holds it in a way that suggests she's thoroughly unfamiliar with how it should be held--kind of like someone who's handed a random baby to hold and just isn't quite sure what to do with it. The instruction of "like a violin" doesn't seem to have helped much in that regard, but she does spend a moment looking over the instrument anyway.

"What an odd instrument," she remarks, her violet eyes darting up to Patch. Mirth blooms in her expression. "I've never seen something like it. What does it sound like?" She holds it out for its rightful owner to reclaim.

Meanwhile, she looks back at Eztli and flushes in embarrassment. "Oh, I, err... I guess I'm all out of sorts today," she says apologetically. "I'm waiting for my friend Pothy to... come back." There's a sad note in the last phrase.

"I do march, but not for banners, nor as a soldier." The Dawn Elf answers, taking her instrument back from Cor'lana, and giving a toothy grin at the praise. She holds it right, prepping it before her as it's held at waist level, and a strap she's taken from the case is used to help brace it against her shoulder.

Patch's ears twitch, as she tests the keys and winks to Slixvah. "Thank you. I try to be recognizable... mostly."

At Eztli, Patch flashes a smile once more. "I'm sorry to hear about the undead, and grossness. I would not of liked to have dealt with that either.... how about a happy song? One to banish the thoughts?" offering both a demonstration, but one with purpose. Minor purpose, but purpose all the same.

The little bird on Slixvah's shoulder awakens briefly to share a golden eyed look with their master. There's a bird chirp 'tweet-tweet' that comes from them, and the exuberant half-oruch does a 'nod nod', her giving Cor'lana a hopeful smile.

"He shall return. Knowing his... hunger," the little bird tweets before nestling into Slix's neck to take a nap.

"Yeah, Ez was with me, wasn't a fun time, sucked. Broke my ribs. They got better!"

It clicks in Slix's head. "Oh! Like a marching band!" she grins, snapping a finger. "Yeah! That's sounds great! I'll give you a beat-!"

"Don't," the sleeping bird drones on an exhale.

"Spoilsport."

"Yes, I'm sure they'll come back, give it a bit of time." Eztli does her best to reassure, and resist making a joke about being them flighty, given the response. "What do you march for then, just people that like marching?" She inquires of the elf, before she settles in for any answer to be not forthcoming or delayed, and enjoy the demonstration.

She claps when it was finished.

"Well, he's been gone for three weeks now," Cor'lana replies to Slixvah, worry creasing her brow as she says it. "Granted, I know where he is--it's just not a place I can get to, and the people he's with won't let him go until it's time. I've tried to distract myself as best as I can with my poetry and by signing up to deal with the undead problem, but..."

Then Patch offers the demonstration. That perks her right up, her violet eyes lighting up as she looks back to the bard with a smile. "Yes, a demonstration would be lovely," she says. "It's part of why I come here to the Theatre District--it's easy to lose yourself to art and forget about your own troubles for a while."

GAME: Patch rolls perform/string: (19)+8: 27

"Yes!" Patch's excitement to Slixvah's deduction, giving a wry smirk. "Oh, I miss the days of having a band to walk with." A wisp of remembrance in her tone, looking at the group each in turn, even including that odd bird. It doesn't take long for her right hand to spin the wheel, her left plunging the keys with deft fingers. It has at first a droning constant tone, much like bagpipes until each pluck of key sends out a reverberating tone. It's quick, a few bars of a fair song she's had in the back of her head for a while is played. It's a demonstration, not a concert, and so quickly it is at an end. "So... umm. Did someone die, or did I misread the room?" The talk of things else, and beyond her doesn't daunt. "A friend lost in any ways, to life, or distance is still a cause of hurt. If I can ever offer help, it is openly given." her instrument then being packed away, and returned to rest.

Slixvah quirks her head to the side in a brisk manner, brows rising higher as the wheel begins its droning shifts to different strings and chords. It's just a taste, an appetizer and nothing more. But's clear as day that she was hooked. "... pleasant skies, that's wonderful. You got any shows comin' up, sugar?" she immediately asks once the cords stop thrumming. "I'll buy tickets with coin or drinks, or both."

The question of someone missing or worse isn't prodded more by the oruch touched, but she does afford Path some space under the parasol as she didn't have to cover the instrument as well.

"No, I think Lana here is just missing their companion." Eztli offers. "A lot of people who work with magic have an important connection with their familiars and the like, or you know, people care about them in general. It's nothing to do with your music, which was quite good!"

"Slixvah's right, you should play at some of the taverns here, or hells, maybe even one of the concert halls. That was quite good!"

Cor'lana claps lightly for Patch's demonstration, smiling to hear the unique sound of the instrument. "I'll echo Slixvah and Eztli's opinion," she says. "It's a unique sound. You'd probably be swimming in work in no time if you stick around here. The theatre troupes are always looking for musicians--but be careful who you align yourself with. There are two who are at 'war'--which is to say they jeer at each other and try to outdo each other at every performance."

She looks a little bashful again at Patch's question. "No, nobody died," she says. "I have a raven familiar named Apotheosis, or Pothy for short. He... Well, I really can't discuss the particulars. Not out in the open, anyway. But he agreed to stay with some powerful and dangerous people so someone could have an artifact they needed. He's supposed to be back soon."

"I do play here and there. Some nights a bar, others a corner." Patch's glance now not meeting theirs, the praise taken with a soft smile and flush of cheek. "The words are very kind, and I am sure you'll hear me play in earnest soon enough." her case hoisted back over her shoulder. "Though it'll be some time before I grace the bigger stages, fans are always appreciated. Friends more so." a curt dip of her head given. "For now I have to be going. I promised an autumn hued friend that I would meet him for dinner."

As she had been turning to be on her way, Patch's last words are for Ravenstongue. "I'm glad your friend will be returning then. It's not the sad tale I feared, and that is good enough for me. May you be reunited with them soon." wiggling some fingers from over her shoulder, and soon vanishing into the crowd.

Slixvah gives a double dip of the chin. "I look forward to it, nice ta meet ya, love. Toodles!" she chirps, returning the finger waggles with some of her own.

She dips a hand into her pocket, the parasol resting on her other shoulder. "Well that was cool," she coos, rocking on a back foot. "But yeah, Lana, he'll be back. Don't worry. Fiadh may not admit it, but they need their nemesis around else she gets a big head."

Said bird is making little high pitched snoring noises.

"Well, that's a weird choice, but if they hold up their end of the bargain, then I hope they'll return." Eztli nods. "Especially since Fiadh is so dang adorable, but a big head doesn't look good on anyone. Although, speaking of cute-"

The small makari looks over at The half-oruch and grins in that unintentionally unsettling way. "Gods, that sun dress is still so cute Slix. You know any good tailors in town? I should get myself some nicer things to wear than just a baggy robe everywhere I go. It's not exactly flattering, is it?"

"If you can find her, Aryia makes some wonderful clothes," Cor'lana says with a smile. "She basically made my whole wardrobe--with the exception of some sweaters Grandfather's knitted for me, and a dress he brought me."

She looks up to the sky and sees a shape flying in the air, not far overhead. It looks vaguely corvid-shaped, but rather than Pothy's white plumage, it's a stark black. "Must be Grandfather," she comments, like she can just pick out a specific black raven from any other raven in the city. "Probably waiting to escort me home."

Cor'lana looks to Eztli and Slixvah with a smile. "Hopefully next time we all see each other again, Pothy will be back," she says. "I ought to get going. Have a lovely day."

And so she departs, umbrella continuing to ward off the light rain. Some distance away, the raven smoothly flies onto her shoulder, weaving underneath the umbrella with expert precision.

Slixvah's voice drops to a whisper. "Trust me, Fiadh has been a bit... ornery as of late. While a big head would be hilarious on 'em, it's sadly the metaphorical one applies here."

She blinks, then lightly smiles, her looking aside and rubbing her neck. "Well, ah, naw I don't know any, but Lana seems to know a thing. Thanks tho'! I think it looks great. The robes are nice, but I'd say what the robes are on is more-"

She stops herself. Closes her eyes and shakes her head. "Sorry boo, gettin' too freebie with the sweeties."

Her gaze turns skyward along with Lana, but some rain hits her in the eyes. She doesn't flinch, instead her sighing and wiping at them. "Catch on the flip, Shorty. Speaking of being places, I gotta go to the society to glean some ripe info for stuff and things. Wanna tag?"

"I hope so, it seems like the sort of thing that would have you in good spirits the next time you're around. So, look forward to then!" Eztli grins. "Your grandfather's looking for you? Well, I won't keep you any longer, best to go for that, then. See you around!"

She waves off Ravenstongue, leaving her attention solely with Slixvah now. "I'll have to ask her next time, then. Might as well enjoy the summer and fall, right? Or well, look like I am, since it really doesn't make any difference if it's winter or summer to me." Eztli laughs. "That's okay, but I get it, even if I like the compliments." She nods. "Being a pretty face doesn't mean that you can't wear something flattering once in a while though, you know?"

"You mentioned being with a sith-makar before, I should ask you about that some time. I really don't have any plans for the day, but sure! Always good to stop by the arcanist's society and see what's going on, as long as the place isn't burning down when you go there. Why not?" She agrees.