20 July 2021 - You Look Good in a Crown
The party greet their friends at the Theatre of the Gods, ready to take on the Dramatis Personae performance. Kyrah is a welcome face in the crowd and takes time to chat with the group about their achievements and how well they have done. She suggests there are more ways to gain adoration and fame.
Two acts start at the stage, dimming the lights from the sky, and perform a well-staged piece and dance, with a humming accompaniment. Their song is of the frantic and wild mind of the last of dreams and how those who try to understand her also become frantic and wild. The dance casts a hypnotic spell. It is enchanting and Xan finds herself lost in the rhythms. She watches the performances in a trance, unable to tear her eyes away. As she comes round, she hears whispers that those who join Sydon will gain favour from the gods.
Approaching the stage, she looks small and kind, clumsy and relatable. She seems more than a strong and fast whirlwind.
She performs well, only faltering on the last hurdle when she tells the tale of her mother Pandora. The crowd seem to receive her well and react very well to the acts.
Xan pulls a small box from the side of the stage and puts it under her arm, tapping a beat for herself as she nervously sings a sea shanty.
The Saviour - Song
I’m so sad to see
How ye stayed so long from me,
I joyce to see ye
hap’ly arrived on this sea,
You left from our shore,
Please go no moor,
but you should stay,
with me till the end of this day,
and all the days
and here's my hand
Stay on this land
And do not sail
Away
Xan places the box down for her next performance, standing tall to present this as a ship's side. She calls her friend Hippofilius onto the stage, to act like a foe. They both act out a vicious fight on the Saviour of the Seas between Captain Gold and a sea monster.
“The monster rears up and grabs the side of the ship. Captain Gold slashes at the monster, as it grabs a crew member by the leg. He manages to chop at the monster, freeing his crew member.
Captain Gold dives into the water and was under for a few minutes - we didn;t know if he was coming up. The young sailor leapt forward, trying to get into the water to save her captain but was held back by the injured. As she breaks free and reaches the end of the boat a hand shoots up from the seas and grabs the side of the boat.
He is victorious and the sea monster is dead.”
After an energetic performance, she draws back into herself, readying for her final piece - a tale about her mother, and the same words inscribed on her grave. She gently raises a fog cloud around herself for some drama.
Nereid of Mytros Bay - Tale
Full wonder for me mother lies;
Oh her bones were coral;
Those are pearls that was ‘er eyes:
Nothing of ‘er that will fade,
She ran through Mytros
Until they ran through her
But’ll suffer a sea-change
Into summit rich ‘n strange.
Sea-nymphs hourly ring ‘er soul:
And now I ‘ear ‘em
Though the performance went well, as she moved around the stage she caught her foot, stumbling a little. It seemed to distract the crowd from the reading. As she finishes, Xan gathered her blank notes and folded them gently, tucking them into her pocket.
Calliope took the stage and told a beautiful tale of a Nereid and her love, and their tragic love story through life, death and the mortal plane. Every eye in the house dropped a tear, including Xanthia.
The other performances are impressive and draw so many fans shouting and whooping. Xan is still thinking of Calliope’s performances, and the sadness portrayed on the stage as it links deeply into the sadness she hides within her bravado.
The end result is a draw between Falana and Calliope. Kyrah is thanked and tells Xan she did a good job. Kyrah believes that her association with the Oracle's Chosen was a detriment to the end result. Calliope kindly denies this but Xan is sure there was some influence.
Xan suspects that the hooded character who haunted Falana’s performance was a god or a demon of some sort.
Angel of Music
The following day at the Herald and Trumpet, Falana opens with the Estorian national anthem. It is an impressive effort with running and coordinated honour guard. She grasps a tambourine and a wand being used as a microphone - she raises the crowd and shoes to rouse the crowd. Dancers fill the arena, representing the species and settler races of Estoria. It is a huge spectacle and brings enthusiasm to the stadium.
Calliope comes on next and is a glowing angel, flying over the audience, delicately drifting through the crowds. She sings of the end of a war and the desire to have a world free of conflict. Fireflies float all over the stadium, a world of beauty.
The other performances bring different vibes to the audience, from screams and drums to raving, a gentle lullaby/love song about a love that can never be reciprocated.
The third-place goes to Palopia, the second to Falana and the first palace goes to Calliope; the Angel of Music. Calliope dedicates her win to Ambrosia at the Siren’s Roost and Kyrah, who has supported the party through all their endeavours.
After the Herald and Trumpet, comes the solo chariot race, which Xan is keen to take part in. The evening before she had stayed up late with the cart and Helikaon’s horse, racing up and down the streets to try and get a good handle on the riding technique. She came back late to the Siren’s Roost and rested for a few hours before the sun rose.
Unfortunately, her efforts are in vain, even with Theo’s crutch she comes in the last place. She is not put off, however, as her friend Hippofilius comes in the first place.
Celebrations begin soon after the games and continue throughout the night.
A few days after the games, comes the medal presentations. The crowds gather and jump to their feet. A dragon descends from the skies, Acastus serials around the stadium, waving at the crowds and clutching the medals in his hand. He lands and mounts a small stadium, greeting the audience.
King Acastus moves down the line and steps towards Xan. She receives her medals from the King and asks an audience of him after the medal ceremony. He agrees but sings her praises as he hands medals to her.
Xan is awarded three mythral medals and one bronze, each gaining a welcome reception. Xan is proudly named the Pentathlon of the games and is presented by Vallus with a golden wreath to adorn her hair.
Vallus says he wishes his brother (Pythor) would have placed the crown and says he hopes the item will be one to be proud of. This is the Crown of Laurels.
Acastus presents more medals to the team; Braz for riding, Bullbug for boxing, Corinna for archery, Calliope for Herald and Trumpet, and Hippofilius for solo chariot. Calliope is awarded a Crown of Laurels also.
As Acastus looks to leave, he turns back to her and asks her about her coin. She tells him it was from her mother. He stares at her, shielding his eyes from the sun, and grants her an invitation to the palace that evening. She accepts.
As she turns back to Calliope she is holding a similar coin in her hand. They lock eyes.