Great Games Notes (#3)
(To remember everything happening during the games, so that she might write songs about it later, Calliope has taken some notes. Or, at least, she has attempted to.)
[Written after the Dramatis Personae.]
Tonight has definitely been my favourite evening of the Games! The Dramatis Personae at the Theatre of the Gods was such fun - even Braz and Xan performed and they were just wonderful. Xan in particular seemed to have such feeling behind her performance. It was truly lovely!
As for me... honestly, I was a ball of feathery nerves until I stepped onto the stage. But, being up there, everything just kind of came back to me. I felt… a little like the woman I imagine the old Calliope was.
I started with a song, a tragic ballad about a young Nereid that falls in love with a mortal, who then in turn falls in love with her. She tries to take them to her home but, not realising that mortals need air to breathe, she accidentally drowns them.
I followed this with a story that tells the tale of how the Nereid goes to save their love from the claws of death, outsmarting Lutheria to regain their soul before it transitions to the afterlife.
And, finally, I ended my performance with a monologue. This was the bit I was perhaps most worried about - unlike everyone else’s dramatic pieces, there was little action. Instead, the Nereid stands, alone on stage, and speaks to the audience about the wonderful life she and her love shared together; all the beautiful, happy, and bittersweet moments. It is a eulogy. For a lover now dead, taken away by the Fate of old age that comes for all mortals.
I do wonder if perhaps I should have gone with something more upbeat? Siren tend to revel in the extremes of happiness and sorrow - but I am not sure the latter of those is always as cathartic for other races... but it went down well all the same, if you can measure success in tears…
After me was Falana’s act which was…ah, interesting! It wasn’t quite to my taste: but then, I don’t think I am quite accustomed to the modern way of things yet. She was certainly well received by everyone else though! Even a strange hooded figure who is apparently the patron of this place and at least as old as I am, was enamoured with her. I am actually really very curious as to who they are, but no one seems to quite know, not even Kyrah…
In any case, the night was declared a draw between myself and Falana! Although I am thrilled that I won, I have to say, I was just glad to be able to see so many performances, and perform to so many people! Not that I don’t appreciate Versi’s attentions, of course, it is just that this is… nice.
[Written after the Herald and Trumpet.]
Oh, oh, I won! Though it was certainly not by myself - Hippofilius did most of the heavy lifting, creating such a wonderful spectacle. His magic was almost ethereal - spirits of light that flew around with me across the stadium as I sang. It was like being in a dream.
I had decided upon an old song of mine that wishes for the end of the war, so that the singer can spend the rest of their lives living in peace with their lover.
It has always been one of my favourites, though Versi never liked it much. She used to say that a song so focused on war was too morbid for her - though I never really understood before all this because the idea of war was… well, an abstract concept to me. I’d forgotten that I had written it in the middle of a war we had both lived through!
Now, of course, I realise the truth. It didn’t strike me though, not until I reached the last verse of my performance today, and I caught her eye in the judges box, that I had written this song, all that time ago, with someone in mind.
I think I understand the real reason she doesn’t like it.
[Written after the Chariot Racing.]
Hippofilius won the chariot racing! I helped a little but, to be honest, I am not sure he needed it. He was very good, beating out that silly Jorges easily. Though the Praxian did still come second, which is somewhat of a disappointment!
True to form, Hippofilius is being very modest about his win - almost too modest! I can’t help but worry a little… I think his brush with Lutheria’s madness affected him quite heavily and, although he hasn’t exactly changed since then, I worry that he feels the need to deny his emotions and keep hold of his calm demeanour at all times. A sort of conscious and constant rebellion against his prideful Titan father…
[Written after the Awards.]
I am not sure how it happened, but I seem to have won the Modern Pentathlon!
The ceremony was nice. Well… okay, maybe it actually felt just like another chance for Acastus to grandstand: but at least the opportunity to spend it next to Xan was good! Though, in a moment of celebration where we compared golden laurels, I saw that she had a Dragonlord coin, so I flashed her mine as well… but it seemed to unnerve her slightly. I didn’t get to ask why though: I should probably try to catch her later and see that she is alright.