A Certain Flash of Inspiration [Completed]

[Vanessa LaNore]

Vanessa could feel the eyes on her, drunk sailors with their red-eyed leers, exhausted laborers with dull eyes, and the common folk, simply looking for a place to rest and eat. She'd been to many such places, the poorer taverns and bars around Fellsgard were a frequent haunt of the bard.

She worked at setting up her puppetry booth with quick and practiced motions. Several nervous looking staff looking on, unsure if they should approach the woman with the countenance of a noble lady. The crowd was starting to grow restless, their usual dinner time entertainment showing more flesh or well into their bawdy tunes by now. She set the final wooden pin and stepped back.

With a flourish, she tossed the large brown canvas sheet over the entire structure. Giving the fabric a quick tug, she made her final adjustment and ducked inside. There were murmurings in the crowd. Vanessa clapped her hands, the sound was louder than expected and left only resounding silence in its wake.

A faint flickering light appeared from beneath the booth's miniature stage, peeking under the billowing curtain. There was a cough, and a small puppet man emerged from the curtain. He bowed, his movements exaggerated yet smooth.

"Welcome good gentle folk," he said, his voice not loud but carrying through the dead silent room. "I am Archibald, the storyteller. Today I will regale you with tales of history, fantasy, and wonder." Archibald spoke while sweeping his puppet arms out wide. Shadows appeared behind him, billowing on the closed curtain. There were colors and movement alike. Beneath the puppet stage, hidden from view, Vanessa grinned.

[Raen Silver]

Raen had been returning from the house of of a Mr. Brent. While the man of the house was away, Mrs. Brent was more than welcoming to the handsome young Elf; she had even made him a meal afterwards! 'If he can't satisfy the woman, I'm happy to oblige.'

His way home brought him to quite a spectacle; a crowd had gathered, made up of all manner of people from Fellsguard, all watching as a beautiful young woman was setting up some kind of show.

Raen's sharp eyes noticed the air around the young woman; it was vibrant, and enticing. Perhaps he should stick around to watch!

He moved closer to the front, keeping his hood up (it was hardly inconspicuous; one could still see the outline of his pointed ears, but it usually kept most of the insults from the uncouth at bay). When the woman gave her introduction, Raen clapped enthusiastically, prompting others to do the same. "Velicë, velicë!" He called out, as the show went on, the Elvish for 'great/excellent'. He would like to meet this fellow performer, once she had finished.

[Mila Glade]

Mila's knife slid across the bottom of the man's cotton purse, and a small handful of coins dropped into her hand. The girl, then slipped by him, giving him a pleasant smile as she lightly bumped his shoulder. "Beg pardon, mister." She said, cheerfully, and moved along.

'Stupid enough to have a cotton purse: stupid enough not to to get robbed.' She thought, depositing the coins in her pockets. It was her only real effort at cutting purses that day. She didn't want to get caught and she wasn't amazing at it, so she would stick to easy targets now until she got better. She also had to consider her debt to Artemis. She'd hardly be able to pay it back if she were locked in a cell.

The trick was to get far away from the mark so that when they discovered their loss, the thief would be gone, and so she moved into a small gathering crowd.

At first, she didn't care what they were there for. She just picked the crowd because it didn't seem hostile and she could lose herself in it. 'Safety in numbers, and all that.' But her attention was piqued when the show started. She was young enough to enjoy such things with an almost child-like delight, and clapped along with the rest. Her eyes flicked to the handsome elf calling out in elvish. 'He's bold'. She thought. But had she seen him before? The quick glance she had gotten when he had turned his head in her direction made her think she had. Maybe at the elven pub?

She took a copper out of her pocket and played with it. Once the show was over, she'd happily throw it in the pot. She had stole it, anyway, might as well go to a good cause.

[Vanessa LaNore]

Vanessa heard Elvish shouts from behind her booth. She scanned the crowd, her bright orange eye looking through a minute peephole in the theater frame’s front panel. Unfortunately, there were too many people settled in near to her and all she managed to see were dirty rags and collapsing boots. ‘Need to see if I can catch them after the show. Always need more contacts,’ she thought as she expertly moved Sir Archibald back behind the curtain.

“We begin,” said the puppet, as the curtain opened to reveal a white sheet pulled taut. The color of the sheet shifted to a pale blue as Sir Archibald settled in to the side of the stage, holding a red leather puppet’s book in his lap. “Our tale is set in the deep seas, far past the dangerous mist only the brave explore.” As Sir Archibald spoke a shadow of a ship came in from the left side of the stage, bouncing up and down on shadow waves that rose from beneath the stage.

A shadow lighthouse, its beacon flickering with orange, drifted in from the right side of the stage and moved passed the ship. Faint lilting music began to play. It sounded like bells, played quickly and precisely to imitate a common sea shanties. “These ships, deep into the unknown, will often encounter deadly storms,” Sir Archibald said, turning the page of his book.

The backing blue sky of the scene darkened, turning to a deep grey. White flashes gave a sense of lighting, and a rolling rumble occasionally accompanied the ‘lightning’. “In these dangerous settings, we find the mightiest of beasts,” Sir Archibald said, again turning his page and looking up at the audience for effect.

“The Kraken is a massive and powerful beast from time immemorial.” The music changed to a more haunting melody, slowing to give strength to each lasting note. Large shadow tentacles emerged from the rolling shadow sea. Each one was bigger than the shadow boat’s main mast and tipped with a wicked looking spiked gripper. The arms writhed, moving in thrashing circles. The shadow boat began to drift towards the center stage, as if being drawn into the Kraken’s deadly arms.

“A creature of the deepest seas, it’s arms are thicker than the trees of the elves, each tipped with a dangerous barb,” Sir Archibald’s voice was almost overwhelmed by the roiling thunder and haunting music. “But it’s true danger lies beneath the surface. A body longer than four galleons end to end. Tipped with a horrifying mouth of four deadly beaks.” Sir Archibald turned the page and the tip of the described beak emerged in shadow. It opened and closed like some sort of horrific contraption.

[Mila Glade]

Mila had been in the crowd with the intent to take more coin while everyone was distracted, but it was she who found distraction in the performance going on.

She watched with awe as the display proceeded, a childlike smile on her face. She watched the puppets, expertly played, and clapped along with the audience. She even considered in joining the raucous Elf with his calls, but didn't want to draw too much attention to herself just in case she did decide to go ahead with a little light robbery.

She hadn't seen many puppet shows in her time in Ajteire, and none of them had been as close to this in terms of sheer performance vale. The puppeteer would earn every coin and more that was put their way, she had no doubt.

Mila's eyes flicked from the stage to a man, holding a girl's hand, both clapping along with the rest. 'Must be her pa.' she thought, with a flicker of sadness and envy.

But it was testament to the master behind the display that her attention was swept back up again, and Mila Glade continued to watch with a smile.

[Raen Silver]

Raen had rarely seen such a performance! He had half a mind to grab this person and demand they perform at the Kelbé! But was he ready for such competition? Besides, Elves watching a non-Elf show? He wondered how that might go down?

"Hey, no pushing now." He chided two kids as they tried to get closer. He stepped aside regardless; children should have fun; as much fun as is possible, especially since they were Human and would be dead soon anyway. Raen shrugged.

Along with the rest, he applauded, but he more enthusiastically than most. A good performer can spot an excellent performance. He simply had to meet the master behind the art! And a silver bit for their excellence, too! It would be well earned.

"Amba, amba!" He cried, (more, more!). Then cheered, with the crowd.

[Vanessa LaNore]

There were more shouts, among them Elvish, when she revealed the deadly Kraken’s maw. She finally spotted the man as the children in the front row recoiled back in fear. He was tall, very tall, and clearly an elf. He had a rather distinct set of tattoos on his neck and cheek as well as a shock of blond hair. ‘I wonder if he’d share the story of his markings,’ she thought as she turned her attentions back to the show. She’d certainly want to catch up with him now.

There was a particularly loud crash of thunder and the haunting bells grew silent. The sound of wind wailing took its place. “The great beast uses its arms and mouth to draw ships into a deadly maelstrom,” Sir Archibald said as the shadow ship drifted towards the opening maw of the shadow Kraken. “Its strength is so great, that once a vessel is caught in the Kraken’s power there is no escape.” The shadow ship tilted, sinking closer to the maw before there was a loud snapping of planks. The ship split in half, sinking into the maw.

“Once it has eaten its fill, the beast returns beneath the waves. Leaving only the shattered remains of its victims,” the wind died down and there were several moments of silence as the curtain slowly drew shut. When the curtain fully closed Sir Archibald snapped his puppet’s book shut. “There are many other beasts of myth and legend in the wide world. Perhaps come again some time, and I will tell you of them,” Sir Archibald said as he rose, moved to the center of the stage, and took a bow.

A serving woman, shook herself from the trance the rest of the audience was in and dropped a clean copper pot in front of the puppet stage. “Thank you Miss. Donations are welcome, to expand the wonder and lore of I, Sir Archibald the Scholar,” Sir Archibald said, sweeping his arms out wide and bowing to the crowd. Vanessa peeked over the edge of the puppet stage, just her eyes showing. She watched the people give their donations and made Sir Archibald react to each. Giving thanks to adults and hugs to the brave children who approached.

[Raen Silver]

Raen waited his turn as folk turned in their coppers, his eyes on the woman who had pulled this off.

She certainly wasn't Human; at least not all the way. Those eyes! He hoped she wouldn't get hassled much in the city. It was hard enough for him sometimes, and he was a lot bigger than she! Though no one got that good at their craft without practice, and she would have undouvtedly handled an unpleasant crowd before.

When he approached, he dropped his silver into the bowl with a bow. ""A most wondrous performance, my lady. Perchance we may chat, artist to artist." He felt a nudge behind him as another onlooker urged him onward. "Seek me out after, if you will. Come to The White Hart tavern, as for Raen ... yes!" He said, though he wasn't truly annoyed at the stranger pushing him. "Ask around; you'll find it."

He finally stood aside, gave her a wide grin, and then moved off, heading back to the Kelbé and hoping she would come when she was finished.

[Mila Glade]

When the elf finally moved out of the way, Mila stepped forward, and dropped a few copper bits into the bowl. "Great show. I wanna see it again sometime, or any other if you got em. Good to meet you." She spoke fast, as if she wanted to get away quick, but her smile and words were genuine.

After she got clear of the crowds, she pulled the purse out of her pocket and counted the contents. She had done well. 7 copper and 2 silver! That tall elf had been a good mark for her.

With a click of satisfaction, she moved back away from the crowd, watching as the people made their donations and gave their praise.

What interested Mila, more than the performance, was that this woman was Fae, or half Fae more likely. Mila had grown up among them, and she could spot one a mile off. So she waited; she wanted to see where this one went next!

[Vanessa LaNore]

Vanessa noticed the clink of silver and her eyes widened. She’d already meant to speak to the elf. Now she had to hunt him down. ‘If he is tossing out silver for puppets, what could I get for my research,’ she thought as excitement filled her chest. The woman that followed the elf also had pointed ears. She spoke very quickly, as if desperate to be away from the place. ‘Like the people sent to lie to you while someone robbed the store,’ Vanessa thought, staring at the woman intently to memorize her features. ‘If my silver is missing, I will hunt you,’ she affirmed to herself as she continued to thank and greet the other patrons with Sir Archibald.

When the crowd had finally slowed and began to disperse Vanessa stepped out from her booth. There were several people milling about and she nodded to them as she started to take the stage apart. The wench from earlier came and took the six copper fee from the pot. Vanessa gave the woman a rare smile. The staff at this particular place were always prompt and kind.

Once she had the main portions of the stage disassembled she turned and looked at those who remained. “Can I help you?” she asked, her features back to their cool imperious default.