Six From Gate Pass - Chapter 3: Shelter From The Storm

[funkmamagoat]

Kirio continues to laugh out loud during Katrina's little tirade, genuinely amused by her fiery personality... "hahahhahha... you are lovely, truly. I am a brigand only when it suits me, or those who employ me, and other things when it is appropriate. This performance is a rather blunt piece of work I'll grant you" he pauses then winks at her after looking up and down her revealing dress "not unlike your dress, but then it IS theater no? I'm not too saddened at not participating, I was offered a small part in the orchestra, but solo performances in more intimate settings are more to my liking." He winks again and goes back to watching the performance...

 

[Gregor]

Act Two

The lights dim again and Act Two begins.

********

Toteth wakes in fits, light and dark represent many passing months as the woman tends to him. As he heals a romance forms between them, and the healing montage ends with a flamboyant love song and mock battle between Toteth and his love’s in-laws so he can marry her. The battle is interrupted at the funniest moment by a tremor, and people in the audience actually cringe in fear as the stage seems to crack and intense winds blow out of the deep. Toteth realizes the world is still in danger, and he recalls the vision he had of the Eagle. He sets out to find a way to save the woman he loves, leaving her behind, not realizing she is pregnant.

Another montage shows his incredible journey, as he faces riddling fairies, battles giant spiders, and braves a cursed pyre filled with evil spirits to find a gem that can seal the world. Interspersed during the odyssey are images of
his love, growing slowly more pregnant, until finally she gives birth. When she does, she is visited by the other three mages who aided Toteth in Act One, and they bless the child, swearing to go join the geomancer’s quest so he can come home soon.

They travel through the aftermath of the various monsters and challenges Toteth has defeated, the ease of their journey a humorous counterpoint to the geomancers. But then they find him, and see him standing atop a shining
peak, fighting the dragon of bright shadows. Toteth holds the gem high, trying to capture the dragon’s soul so he can take its power to heal the world, but the dragon is stronger. It bites him in half and the stage goes dark, the only thing visible is the gem, which falls and shatters.

********

A hush fills the crowd, followed by raucous applause as another musical intermission begins. The show has gone on for over an hour at this point and according to your programmes there are still three more acts.

Katrina begins to spoil the rest of the plot. "Yes, yes, Toteth trapped his own spirit in the mountain, but the others don’t realize the significance of what they saw, so they try to track down and kill the dragon. The dragon kills them at the end of Act Three, and it seems like the whole thing is a tragedy. But then the geomancer’s daughter, Eshu, grows into womanhood, and she vows to destroy the dragon and complete her father’s work. Blah, blah."

 

[The Bashar]

Hrimr is amazed at the show. He's never seen anything like this before in his life. He sits quietly and attentively during the show, hoping not to miss a moment. As the stage goes dark at the end of act two Hrimr stands up and applauds loudly. He looks over to Bannock:

"Isn't this amazing?! I've never seen a play done like this before."


He heard Katrina complaining about the show earlier with Kirio, but now that she's spoiling the plot he's annoyed.

"Some of us didn't have the privilege of seeing this play before! The exit is over there if you can't stand the play."

 

[Gregor]

A curious development...

Katrina opens her mouth to give a scathing retort to Hrimr, even raising a pointed finger as if to punctuate her words, but her eyes narrow and she remains silent. Her eyes appear to be staring at the space behind your row.

You turn to follow her glance and lock eyes momentarily with Giorgio. He has just emerged from a secret doorway built into the rear theatre wall and is standing almost directly behind you. Given his character was just killed off in the play, he is no longer in his costume. He is startled by being seen and drops something on the ground which lands with a heavy thud. He then bolts out the rear door and up the spiral staircase to the deck.

You quickly notice that the dropped item is a bloody dagger and a single blood-stained hand print is smeared on the door through which Giorgio ran.

 

[funkmamagoat]

Kirio swears under his breath "What in the hells now...," He looks to his companions "As much as I enjoy a good play, I think this is more fun no? Beside's, luscious in red there's gone and ruined the end for everyone... shall we?" Kirio takes off after Giorgio, not really sure why... he looks back at the staircase to make sure his companions are following

 

[Gregor]

Torrent bounds up out of her seat and follows after Kirio, concern on her face and a hand resting on the handle of her axe.

Now trying to avoid a scene, Katrina quietly says: "Hurry after your friends, I'll warn Simeon." She then slips out of her seat and moves down the aisles.

 

[The Bashar]

Hrimr turns around to see what has caught Katrina's attention. He notices Giorgio just as drops the dagger and heads up the stairs. As Kirio begins heading up the stairs Hrimr says:

"Someone may be injured or worse. Torrent see if you can help whomever is hurt. We'll give chase."

But Torrent is already bounding up the stairs after Kirio.

"I guess I'll do it then. Lowduke come with me and let's see if we can find this poor victim. The rest of you help Kirio and Torrent."

 

[Gregor]

"Help them yourself wet nurse," says Lowduke, "I'm heading to where the action is!"

Lowduke follows Torrent and Kirio up the stairs.

 

[Gregor]

Kirio, Torrent, Lowduke and whoever else follows, emerges up on the deck of the Wayfarer Galleon. Winds have picked up considerably since you entered to watch the performance and the cold rain whips down on you. Thunder rumbles and lightning forks across a dark cloud-filled late-afternoon sky.

Shielding your eyes against the rain, you look around the deck, searching for Giorgio. Behind you looms the forecastle which you can see, through the portals on the doors leading into it, that the crew quarters are likely situated here. Two sets of stairs (on the port and starboard sides of the ship) lead up to the fore deck, but you cannot see what is up there. In the middle of the deck rises the huge mainmast which groans in the wind and from which a plethora of lines and rigging hang. On the other side of the deck sits the aftcastle which also has doors leading inside and two sets of stairs that lead up to the aft deck.

Here and there lay the bodies of the Wayfarer sailors that were manning the upper deck. Some have their throats slashed, while others look as if they were cut down. The deck is slick with rain water and their spilled blood.

You see the flamboyantly dressed Giorgio move into the Captain's quarters in the aftcastle and begin to work furiously on a large ornate panel covered in levers and gem-buttons. On either side of the door to the Captain's quarters stand two half-orcs. One is dressed for heavy battle and much of his gear looks like it came from the Ragesian military. He is clad in full plate, grips a battleaxe in one hand and a heavy steel shield in the other. The second half-orc grips a greataxe and strangely wears a robe. You meet eyes and realize that they are familiar to you.

An ominous hum is beginning to fill the air.

 

[The Bashar]

While the rest of the party heads up to the deck Hrimr tries to find the secret door Giorgio emerged from.