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The Six Trials of Larazod

Telflamm’s infatuation with the stage predates the death of the nation’s deity, Aroden, but it is only in the past hundred years—with a government increasingly seeking decadence and spectacle and a citizenry growing more and more desperate to do whatever it takes to survive—that a play like The Six Trials of Larazod, banned after its first performance 200 years ago, could return from the obscurity of censorship and oppression to become one of the city’s best-known and most notorious plays. Certainly, since the play’s first performance in Telflamm (which resulted in riots and the eventual disappearance of its creator) 2 centuries ago, the social scene in the city has changed dramatically. Where once a night out on the town might have included fine dining, an overly long opera, and stimulating conversation thereafter at a noble’s manor, Telflamm’s theater patrons today have much different tastes. Indeed, with the constant threat of shadow beasts lurking on streets and alleys after dark, the very concept of a nighttime play has vanished from Telflamm, replaced by matinees or late afternoon performances of an increasingly violent nature. Bloodsports in small-scale fighting pits, public executions, salacious private performances that are little more than orchestrated orgies, and even (it is rumored) the sport of hunting men and women like animals through Telflamm’s ruined northern reaches (known as the Parego Dospera) are the entertainments of the day, while nights are spent at home and off the streets.

NPC Roll-call

• Arael - leader of the Scions

• Ailyn Ghontasavos - a beautiful woman dressed in well-worn armor.

• Mayor Aberian Arvanxi - ruler of the Telflamm under House of Thrune's sponsership

• Niccum - devil binder who last encountered the Scions at Vira Khollarix, where the Scions disrupted his plots. Summoner for the final performance.

• Robahl Nonon - a relatively infamous and prominent director known for his temper and his knack for getting emotional performances out of his actors - at least out of those who don't run in shameful tears from his stage. He will play Asmodeus at the end of the play.
• Visbaronetess Delour Aulamaxa - Aulamaxa is the chorus and narrator for the play.
• Thesing Umbero Ulvauno - Thesing has been given what he (and most of the city) assume will be the starring role in The Six Trials of Larazod - the role of Haanderthan.
• Calseinica Nymmis - Calseinica has been cast as Larazod's love interest, the beautiful Ilsandra.
• Millech the Hump - Millech is in charge of set design, lighting, special effects, and other backstage elements of the play.

Casting Roles

• Speaking Roles
  • Asmodeus is the archdevil at the end of the play. - played by Robahl
  • Montigny Haanderthan is one of the play's two starring roles. - played by Thesing
  • Ilsandra is Larazod's beautiful love interest. - played by Calseinica with Kaelyn as her stand-in. * Larazod is a tiefling and one of the play's two starring roles. - played by Tengu
  • Dentris is a sharp-tongued wizard who has a knack for biting insults and a quick wit, and who acts almost as a father figure to Larazod. - played by Shadow
  • Tybain is the comic relief of the play, a bumbling paladin whose devotion to Aroden is even more comical in this age, due to the deity’s death. Traditionally, Tybain is the character who dies first in the play, but the longer he can survive, often the better the play is received. - played by Isa
  • Drovalid, as the torturer who has a change of heart and joins Larazod’s side to protect him, is the toughest character in the play - he often ends up being the star combatant of the performance. - played by Vrok
• Non-speaking Roles
  • Farus the Traveled - a self-styled gypsy king, Farus is a smiling tower of joy. He is a dancing clown who speaks in riddles. His role is comedic. - played by Ren
  • Monris Blaksward - a fiendish dwarf with blood-red eyes and a shock of ginger hair, Monris appears in many early versions of the play as the strong arm to help Larazod. He sings in a deep voice and carries bagpipes, which he frequently blows tunes from. - played by Elefa

The Script

Locations

• Shrine of Aroden - Scion safehouse
• Limehouse Theater - a small theater owned by Robahl Nonon. The theater itself is rather small, and for larger productions, the Limehouse serves more as a headquarters and a place for dress rehearsals than an actual venue. The locals actually prefer this, as they find the dress rehearsals to be much more entertaining with their more-frequent errors. The Limehouse auditorium seats about 60, and the stage is relatively compact at 20 feet wide and 10 feet deep.
• Nightshade Theater - newly reconstructed theater located in Parego Regicon - the central island where the city’s nobility and the traditional seat of government are located.

Creatures

• Devil, Accuser
• Devil, Bearded
• Devil, Lemure
• Skeletal Ice Troll

Part 1 - 11-04-11 - Casting Call

• David playing Ren. - cast as Farus
• Jason playing Shadow. - cast as Dentris
• Jeremy playing Vrok. - cast as Drovalid
• John playing Elefa. - cast as Monris
• Rachel playing Tengu. - cast as Larazod
• Shauna playing Isa. - cast as Tybian

Unfortunately, one cannot just simply walk into Delvehaven. While the House of Thrune no longer actively guards the site, they transferred that responsibility to Telflamm’s mayoral office. Worse, the fact that the House of Thrune has been engaged in an act of rewriting history (either by destroying existing documents or changing them to suit Thrune’s preferences) means that reliable information about Delvehaven has become incredibly scarce. Ailyn reported that there are several powerful magical locks and wards on the lodge placed there by the House of Thrune to prevent entry, and her research has shown her that keys to the locks and documentation relating to those wards exists in only one place - Aberian's Folly. Further, the House of Thrune’s devotion to order and tradition all but ensures that these keys and documents are kept in a complex, twelve-sided puzzle-box container known as a Thayan Crux, and that if it has been secured anywhere in Aberian's Folly, it is likely to lie within the manor’s vault - a place known as the Asmodean Knot. Unfortunately, her research in the significantly sized libraries at the Grand Lodge in Mulhorandi hit a dead end after that, and so she came to Telflamm to continue her investigations.

As for how the Scions can infiltrate the home of one of Telflamm’s most powerful government officials and have a good excuse to spend a fair amount of time searching it, Isa came up with a bold, unorthodox, and brilliant plan. All the Scions have to do is become actors!

The Infiltration Plan: Mayor Arvanxi is a lover of the theater, and in particular, the Theater Mortrescci - plays where not only the cast’s reputations, but their very lives, are on the line during each performance. A cross between a play and a bloodsport, the Theater Mortrescci - more vulgarly referred to as the “murderplay” - has become one of Telflamm’s fastest-growing forms of entertainment. Mayor Arvanxi’s favorite play in this genre is a notorious work known as The Six Trials of Larazod, and as luck would have it, a prominent director is preparing to cast and direct this play with aims to perform the full and uncut version for the first time in years as part of the celebration of the newly reconstructed Nightshade Theater in Telflamm’s Parego Regicon - the central island where the city’s nobility and the traditional seat of government are located. If tradition holds true, and if the performance of the play pleases the mayor, he’ll invite the cast and crew to his home for a banquet and party - a gala event that would give undercover agents of the Scions a singularly perfect opportunity to explore the manor.

• As guests invited to the mayor’s home, the scions-as-actors don’t need to worry about hiding from his guards or sneaking into the house.
• Mayor Arvanxi’s obsession with and respect for the theatrical world would grant the scions-as-actors a huge advantage in squeezing information from him.
• The mayor’s parties have a well-known reputation for running long - sometimes over the course of days - so the Scions should have an excuse to remain in his home for more than enough time necessary to get the job done.
• The mayor will doubtless require the Scions to come in full costume from their performance, and since they’ll be playing adventurers and the like in the play, that essentially means they’ll be able to walk right in to his manor fully armed and armored, no questions asked.
• The mayor and his staff celebrate hard - it shouldn’t be long before he and the majority of his guards are so drunk and distracted that they’ll be in no condition to ask questions if the Scions slip away for several hours to look around.

The next day (14th of Eleint), the Scions showed up for Robahl Nonon's (the director) casting call at a small theater called the Limehouse. He had made the announcement that he was looking for "authentic adventurers and legitimate risk-takers" over the use of established actors for most of the roles in the play - a move that caused some discord among the performer’s circuit. In fact, apart from using regulars from his own acting troupe, he had made clear his hopes that all of the roles in this production will be filled by experienced "heroes." After successfully interviewing for the play, they were introduced briefly to other cast and crew including Visbaronetess Delour Aulamaxa, Thesing Umbero Ulvauno, Calseinica Nymmis, and Millech the Hump.

After the introductions, the Scions successfully auditioned for the following casting roles: Larazod (reciting the first line from his soliloquy), Dentritis (wittily and cruelly insulting Robahl), Tybain (reciting his first line while dodging rocks and rotten fruit), Drovalid (reciting his first line in the play while striking a blow against a flying creature), Farus (telling a amusing joke), and Monris (singing while playing the bagpipes).

Rehearsal Schedule: the Scions are expected to be available for rehearsals, costume fittings, and the like from sunup to sundown, every day. This essentially means they’ll be spending about 12 hours a day at the Limehouse.

• 15th of Eleint - Day 1 - Parts are handed out and costume fittings take up much of the remainder of the day. A mix of practical makeup, complex material costumes, and magic, these costumes are quite intricate and must be customized to each actor. Fitting time varies and you are encouraged to bring all of your favorite gear, armor, and weapons to these fittings. The bulk of the costume design is handled by Millech - the costumes are all already completed, but adjustments for each actor’s size, gender, and gear must be made by a small army of tailors he contracts to work overnight to make the costumes fit perfectly, and make sure all of the actors’ gear is incorporated tastefully and skillfully.
• 16th of Eleint - Day 2 - Actors learn their lines and the blocking of motions and actions during the play. Robahl will spends most of his time working with Millech to get all of the lighting and effects under control.
• 17th of Eleint - Day 3 - Full dry runs of the entire play are started during the day. Robahl plans to spend much of his time with Calseinica and Tengu (playing Larazod).
• 18th of Eleint - Day 4 - This day goes much like Day Three. Town criers begin to announce the play.
• 19th of Eleint - Day 5 - By this point, the play should be running pretty smoothly.
• 20th of Eleint - Day 6 - This is the last day to iron out problem scenes before the dress rehearsal.
• 21st of Eleint - Day 7 - The first part of this day is spent tightening up any last minute issues with scenes or other logistics - the public dress rehearsal at the Limehouse is scheduled to begin at 4:00 in the afternoon. The dress rehearsal excludes the actual onstage combats and trials, instead being the shorter, “false” version of the play. It’s mostly just a chance to make sure everyone knows his lines and role, and to make sure the actors can handle performing before one of the rowdiest audiences in Telflamm. If they can pull off their roles at the Limehouse, they should have no problem with the Nightshade.
• 22nd of Elient - Day 8 - the performance for the mayor at the Nightshade Theater is scheduled to occur

Popularity: Base 30 +13 (Scion acting skills) = 43 As the Scions continue to rehearse and eventually perform, their Popularity rises and falls - at the end of the performance, assuming the Scions survive, their final Popularity indicates not only how many Fame Points they’ll gain, but how much money they make for their hard work. Robahl informed the Scions that they will be paid a percentage of the house’s take from the performance. Thus, it is in the interest of everyone involved to make the performance as great as possible, and to spend the next several days promoting the production.

Friendship:

• Robahl Nonon: -2 Elefa (hitting Rhoald with a tomato), +1 Vrok (not failing any acting rolls)

The view from Ren A long, very long, time ago, before I met you, I used to be part of this place. The theatre, with its great magic to make men believe that they are an epic hero, favored by the gods and known across all lands, where fantasy prevails over reality and love conquers all. The seelie stage, is not a place for real danger, this bloodsport theatre is probably one of the most terrible things I've heard. Actors are not adventurers, they are weak, and more importantly they foolishly believe their own fantasy that they are strong. The names they call themselves and the glories they ascribe, I remember when I believed in such greatness. The poor fools, I cannot fault them for their fancy but I do see they are in peril-- like a precious blossom before a harsh winter, reality will tear them from their perch and leave them withered and shriveled. Likewise adventurers are not actors, they do not know how to bring to themselves the glory of a hero, they do not shine out over a crowd and evoke their dreams, beliefs or aspirations. They exist in a world of practicality and survival, of hard stone and hunger. Speaking of which I am rather hungry, we should be looking for a meal instead of discussing this idly, wouldn't you agree. In any case, both suffer each other, and maybe I am neither. What do you think? why we move towards this stage, to break into a house, to unlock another mystery. I do want to help the people from those beasts and it does seem a danger that these actors are unprepared for. It is good to help people, but it will be a bother if they recognize me. Ah a big one, it is a tragedy that it has come to its end but nature should understand that it is survival. If our roles were reversed I am sure he'd gladly eat me. This rat here, has also to worry for his name. A rat is named and it conjures images of being unclean, dirty, and otherwise a pest. Likewise here, a name brands me as a pest, unwanted, and worse will make every action of mine appear to be begging, that I am seeking alms or to reclaim my name. They will think what they do about me, we have too much to do right? whatever it is we are supposed to do in this place.

Also, don't you think it is strange that they cast me a non-speaking part, that I only get words between scenes, you know what that feels like more than I but I cannot help but wonder at my role. Then we shall dance joyously my friend, as days of old in this fantasy of the stage, we shall defend it with merriment and glee.

Isa's View - I returned from the forest, from further training with my uncle, with a crisp clarity of purpose. I rejoined the Scions with renewed determination to follow in my sister's footsteps, to join my compatriots in freeing the city from the pervasive evil that has enveloped it. Once I'd settled back in to my job as cook at the Drunken Bishop & caught up on all the local talk, I presented a plan - a way of infiltrating the ranks of the very men controlling the city, maybe those responsible for the dangerous, dark creatures that keep us all from going out after dark. Was it a great & clever plan? I will say it was the best plan put forward that evening, & one with a fairly good likelihood of giving us access to the home of one of the most powerful men in the city. Yes, possibly surrounded by scores of his allies, but just getting there would really be quite something. And, so, I presented my plan... oh, to have a perfect sketch of the look of blank amazement on Vrok's face when I suggested that we all put on our best armor & head... to the theater to audition to be in a play.

Part 2 - 11-18-11 - Dress Rehearsal

• Briana playing Kaelyn. cast as stand-in for Ilsandra
• David playing Ren. - cast as Farus
• Jason playing Shadow. - cast as Dentris
• Jeremy playing Vrok. - cast as Drovalid
• John playing Elefa. - cast as Monris
• Rachel playing Tengu. - cast as Larazod
• Shauna playing Isa. - cast as Tybian

The view from Kaelyn I was given the roll as a stand-in for Calsienica's character, Ilsandra. I hadn't the opportunity yet to meet anyone so I meant to make my rounds introducing myself. Before I was able to, Robahl, the director himself, greeted me with an invitation to the Cockatrice for dinner. I didn't see the problem with it and went along, asking any questions I could come up with on the way. I found him quite friendly despite everything i've heard from the other Scions.

Isa's View - I suppose it is an indication that my skills as an actor are not as atrocious as I might have expected that I, a frightfully young female Gur Elf, have been asked to play a bumbling old man. I shall endeavor to stoop & fumble about with the best of men! It is not out of comfort for me to play a Palladin, of course, or to pretend to worship a long ago fallen god in spite of the law of the land & at the risk of my own safety. In my own studies, I have begun to doubt that Aroden is truly dead & gone. It is worrisome, however, that Tybain is noted, in the script, as the character who usually dies first. I shall also endeavor to avoid coming to that end, although I see that I do not have any lines in the last act.

16th of Eleint:

The view from Kaelyn We received our scripts today and only a couple lines in I am already blushing furiously. The character of Ilsandra is a temptress with no shame! Thesing, one of the lead actor's beside Tengu must have noticed my struggles and volunteered to assist me with my lines. I certainly appreciated the help, but he didn't quite know when to end. Actors take their rolls rather seriously it seems. After 6 hours of practicing and reviewing most of the script myself, I realised that I needed to speak with the Scions over some important matters regarding the play. Thesing barely let me out of our commitment, saying we had a 'connection' and he wanted to review the kissing scenes. I did manage to convince him otherwise, he's now suggesting 12 hours tommorow! I better start thinking of excuses...

Isa's View - I cannot say how pleased I am that Thesing does not recognize me as the avid enthusiast for him that I once was. Of course, my admiration was from afar, a young girl's fancy for a tall, proud man acting with grace & gratitude toward his adoring public. Having met him in a bar, on an excursion with the Scions, I was quickly made to realize that my enthusiasm had been sadly misplaced. Seeing him again in the theater today caused me to wonder if tolerating his insufferable ego will take more strength than any of the six trials we will undoubtedly face. I saw that he latched onto Kaelyn almost immediately &, although I was relieved that I went unnoticed, I decided to keep an eye open to that situation. Beyond glaring at Thesing, I mostly spent my day trying to find people to run lines with, to learn the blocking with, & looking about wondering where Millech keeps all the explosives, just in case.

17th of Eleint:

The view from Kaelyn Robahl saved me! I was once again invited out for the day by the director, but this time Calsienica, the actress I am standing in for, came along as well. I had the opportunity to ask lots of questions and felt this proved to be a more worthwhile practice than yesterday. Calsienica is especially friendly and is truly blooming with talent. I only fear she's unaware of the true dangers this play poses.

18th of Eleint:

The view from Kaelyn Despite an entire day passing, Thesing still hadn't forgotten our 'promised' 12 hours of practice together. Without an excuse, I hoped Isa might be able to save me. She quickly came up with the excuse that we'd made plans earlier to spend the day together doing 'girly things'. Thesing denied every attempt we made to get away and invited himself on our 'errands'. He quickly took control of the situation and led us around to a well known tailor in order to have me fitted for a dress. He said something about looking nice for the galla after the performance. I've never worn such expensive fabrics before... It was really rather embarassing considering the worn and dirty armor I came in with. I should have suggested a fitting for Isa too, but everything happened too quickly. Soon he was handing me tickets to a play later that evening. I needed to speak with the scions, but no excuse I tried was good enough.

We arrived at the 'play house' and I found the dress waiting for me as well as various people to assist in my dressing. I am perfectly capable of dressing myself, but nobody would listen. They pulled and tugged at my hair, cleaned and powdered my face in things I had never seen before. When I finally had an opportunity to see myself in the mirror... I didn't recognise the woman before me. It was a pleasant surprise, I suppose, that I am capable of looking so nice, but something in the pit of my stomach said I shouldn't be comfortable in the situation.

I would have enjoyed the play had Thesing kept his hands to himself. He almost seemed to feel a sort of 'claim' to me because of the favors he'd previously done. A firm squeeze of his hand did stop him for the rest of the evening. Or I had hoped at the time, anyhow. After the play there was a massage... which made me uncomfortable to start with, even more so when the therapist was replaced with Thesing touching my unclothed body! It took all my willpower to refrain from screaming and hitting him with whatever rested beside me. He'd crossed too many lines during the evening and while my parents taught me to be respectful, this man was pushing his luck.

I barely remember what happened next, trying so hard to dress myself as quickly as possible, return my fauchard to my hand and get out of there. The only manner in which to leave was to post pone whatever he had planned, plans I never intended to become fruitful.

Thesing proposed marriage.

Isa's View - I thought to spend the day in conversations with any & everyone in the theater, asking for advice & for help with my lines, then moving on to ask about the set up at the theater where we'll be performing the play & other such tactically useful topics. When I saw that Thesing's advances toward Kaelyn had only grown more aggressive, I spoke up without time to think, claiming a prior plan for me & Kaelyn to spend the day on errands, to the sorts of places a man could not possibly want to attend. This might have worked, had I been able to think of any such errands or places, but I am not a proper young woman. I spend a great deal of my time debating strategy with my friends, fighting or practicing fighting, & blowing things up. Well, I do cook. That's something. But whatever I could suggest he was still fervent to join us. Perhaps he really does enjoy shopping for nice, feminine things. And so we spent the morning unwillingly escorted from shop to shop. I was determined to stay with them but Thesing managed to elude me, taking Kaelyn away in a carriage. I was able to join the others, & get some rehearsing in, & I suspect Elefa tried to follow them when I could not. And to think, Thesing is the least of our worries.

19th of Eleint:

The view from Kaelyn I tried my best to avoid Thesing today, though try as I might the fates would suggest otherwise! We all practiced our lines together so I was forced to see the blonde haired scum, but at least I was kept safe in the company of everyone. Nervous and uncomfortable, I did especially bad on my recital, especially when I noticed a familiar name in my lines. The character of Ilsandra mentions the 'orgy baths' of 'Kalrath'... the very name of the playhouse and massage parlor that Thesing had taken me! My blood boils at the thought that he would take me to such a place. I may not stand at the same social place as Thesing and the other actors, but I demand to be treated with some shrapnel of decency! I was glad when our practice was over, though it was poor luck that Elefa had lost her bag pipes given to her by the Director. Fearing for her roll in the play, she handed me her wand, something I was told can heal the others without using my natural abilities.

As soon as I was given the opportunity, I ran off with Calsienica, asking for any assistance she might have in the play. She didn't have anything new and in the silence my nerves got the best of me and I blurted out some of the prior evenings news. She seemed to think I was partial to Thesing and I am unclear how this could have been her impression. Worse yet, when I went to Vis Baronette, upon Calsienica's direction, the Diva herself seemed to think I was playing some game to rise to stardom. She was rather insulting until I dismissed the subjecy entirely, trying hard to focus on the play and how she might be able to help me. She didn't seem interested in helping me at all until I paid her well with my ivory and jade chess set. I couldn't help but hold onto two of the pieces for sentimental value. That chess set was my very first reward with the Scions.

20th of Eleint:

The view from Kaelyn The dangers of the play became only more and more apparent and as my friendship with Calsienica strengthened I became more fearful for her life. She was a very inspiring actress, but she didn't appear capable and even knowledgable of handling the threats described in the writing. To be honest, I still don't quite know what to expect and can only hope that I can handle it. I managed to get ahold of Elefa and Shadow and we discussed a plan to make Calsienica sick long enough to take over her roll for the play. I wanted to give her the opportunity to play out the first or second acts herself, to give her the stardom she so desperately wanted and earned, but it seemed more of a risk we could take.

For the value of my chess set, the Baroness provided me with various stories of her career and a few tips I think I could use myself. She did say one thing that caught my attention though... one thing I should make a point to discuss with the Scions quickly! She had told Calsienica that the dangers in the threat were not real and she had reason to put my new friend in a dangerous place. Calsienica's rising stardom only came after the Baroness' fall and suffered injury that prevented her from finishing out one of her plays.

I'm afraid there is more to the play than the dangers we have been warned of.

21st of Eleint:

The view from Kaelyn I had planned breakfast with Calsienica the previous evening and as planned Elefa came along. Not as planned, Thesing did as well, though he had the courtesy at least to sit at a different table. It was more of a challenge for Elefa to slip the toxin into Calsienica's food, but by using myself as a distraction, the man's attention was easily swayed. Am I really playing the so called game the Baroness mentioned?

He reminded me again about his intentions with me, words that might have my father arriving in Teflamm from the coast in a single days journey. Had I not left on such poor terms and required assistance so quickly, I might have called to him for help. If not my father, perhaps one of my brothers?

Calsienica arrived back to the dress rehearsal sick and I was able to take her roll at least for now. Any advertising that was done had certainly paid off. There were maybe 100 people there in a building designed for 60. It was enough to set the nerves on edge, but I had other things on my mind. Our rehearsal was nearly perfect, only struggling on our very last scene. The misstep appeared to anger the crowd because they sent a flock of sheep on stage. It might have been amusing had Robahl not been present. Despite the sheep there was wild applause at our conclusion.

I think we've sharpened our acting well enough. Let's only hope we can survive the true challenge.

Part 3 - 12-2-11 - The Sixfold Trial

• Briana playing Kaelyn. - cast as Ilsandra
• David playing Ren. - cast as Farus
• Jason playing Shadow. - cast as Dentris
• Jeremy playing Vrok. - cast as Drovalid
• Rachel playing Tengu. - cast as Larazod
• Shauna playing Isa. - cast as Tybian

Isa's View - As we made our way to the theater for the final performance, crossing the water onto the central island, Parego Regicon, where the Nightshade Theater resides, I began to wonder how the beastly encounters described in the script were to be enacted on the stage. We rehearsed all of our lines & blocking the night before, a full dress rehearsal in front of a rowdy crowd, but we did not see or hear of how the real dangers would present themselves, what form the 6 trials would take. I checked my gear as we swayed gently on the water, making sure my sword, my crossbow, my bomb ingredients & various other items were securely in place, & took a long deep breath as we came alongside the dock...

The curtain opened to a full house - a raucous, armed, fist waving, shouting full house. I hoped the night's violence would not include a rush of the stage by the crowd, or the participation of the many pairs of Hell Knights guarding each entrance, exit & hallway. And so, we began. I actually quite enjoyed playing the character of Tybain. I may not be old & wizened but I do understand loyalty. I was glad I had gone to Robahl, during rehearsals, to be sure he did not believe my enacted dedication to Aroden so that I could play it wholeheartedly in the performance. The first act was all about insults & alignments, establishing who stands on which side. Which is to say, no one died.

In the second act we quickly realized how unfortunate it was for all of us that Vrok had been cast as Drovalid the torturer, since it was we who were to be tortured. What a strange thing to be stripped of our weapons & armor, lashed quite securely to various wooden constructs, & thrashed by our own best & strongest fighter. We survived, but the thought crossed my mind that there must have been a time that we could have said no... whose idea was this? We were able to regroup in the few minutes we had backstage together while Millech reset for the next act... in which we were made to act out ecstasy while experiencing excruciating pain, each trying to remove a burrowing fluke from our own arm. Or neck. Not everyone got out of that act unscathed but we were, again, able to grab a few moments to collect ourselves before we were... swallowed by a giant creature. Which, thankfully, turned out to be a huge glass-steel sort of a cookie jar on its side with a nasty pool of acid inside. It's not every day that I'll volunteer to jump into a jar of acid with my closest comrades but we certainly couldn't risk angering the audience, or blowing our cover. In we went. And out we came again, one after another & much more slowly, with much fuss over a certain rope being quickly consumed by acid. I thought I might escape without being harmed & I was unharmed longer than the others, but all my graceful acrobatics began to fail me & I nearly didn't make it out. Who needs grace when you can be dragged out by brute force across acid soaked shards? At least I stuck the landing.

We must have hit our stride as actors from there... it's all a bit of a blur. A blur of strange devil babies with the faces of my friends, swarms of nasty things, a grotesque flying creature that seemed to be able to disappear from sight if not from space itself, &, as the script says, a legion of devils. Well, maybe not a legion. But a fairly large number. Three, I think. And I think they were not devils but some sort of trolls. But they were shockingly large, & quite aggressive about trying to obliterate us. This seemed like a good time to throw a few bombs. When I was nearly out of bombs, I hoisted myself into the rafters to find the explosives I knew Millech had set for the finale. I knew I'd garner some ire from the audience for my faulty portrayal of a Palladin but these things were about to crush us all, quite literally. I was almost sure we'd lost Tengu! At least I was able to use my last bomb from directly above one of the things. I've always wanted to do that! Then it was suddenly over, before I was able to find anything useful.

We played out the last scene in wonder that we were all alive, even if only just barely. I mean in triumph. We played out the last scene in triumph. And, as the Prince of Darkness hurled Haanderthan, played by our dear Thesing, into the pit I rather hoped it really was a gateway to the abyss. Alas, he was around after the curtain call, complaining about his cut of the ticket sales.

Feel free to add descriptions from your character's point of view or add comments of any kind.

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