Culuril's Strixhaven Adventure

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Myala does not seem all that relaxed with the dancing.  She moves generally to the rhythm of the music but does not seem comfortable. <snip> Eventually Myala leans in toward Chierhy. "This seems odd. I'm more used to having a dance partner and not just this..." She motions with her hand, seeming unsure of what to really call this. "Well, this moving around with the group."  

“Dance… partner?,” Chierhy echoes, her brow rising slightly in curious attention. “We have a dance style … it’s very formal, Kizomba. Like this.” Chierhy, without drama, demonstrates a close partner box step much like a waltz.

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Having already made it back to the table and readied to go, Aurora gives Malvyn a long kiss in return to his before she parts. And with the previous group wrapping up, she is soon taking her place on the center of the stage.  She wastes little time in getting started, beginning to play her hurdy gurdy with a long low drone as she starts to play a slow melody which gradually accelerates into more of a jig. It has a darker tone to it, seeming appropriate for the black-haired, pale skinned woman.  

When Aurora takes the stage, Chierhy with great interest, returns to her seat and gives her her full attention. At first, the young knight’s daughter claps, but politely, for in the courts of Wagadu, she has witnessed more polished musical acts. And the particular choice of instruments… a more foreign sound would be hard to imagine–foreign to the singing drums and pipes of Koumba Saleh, that is. Chierhy studies Arinchu and Malvyn, obvious fans of the performer, wondering if something will show in their faces. Disappointment or empathy for a bad night? Still, there is a certain glow to sitting with the featured star, and it has been a fun evening so far. ‘Even if Aurora does not quite hit the mark of excellence, I am enjoying myself,’ she thinks.

"Yes, dance partners," Myala says. She grins a little bit. "I see that look. It was nothing like that! Generally, for a formal dance, you would line up a number of gentlemen to dance with. Most of the time it would be some of the boys from the guard unit. Not that there was anything wrong with them."  She lowers her voice a little bit conspiratorially. "And sure, one or two might have been extremely strong and handsome. But it was certainly never something serious with me." 

She finds herself nodding along as Chierhy demonstrates the box step. "Yes, very much like that! We had a number of dances similar to that. You learn the steps, and it was easy to know what to do. Plus, usually the man would lead. So much better than whatever this is."  She looks around at the various people just kind of randomly moving to the music. "I probably look the fool here. I've no idea if I'm doing any of this right!" 

Myala is more than ready to sit down once Aurora takes the stage. She takes in the beginning of her performance, the instrument clearly foreign to her as well. It is possible to notice a bit of a shift in the atmosphere of the Bow's End. It's hard to call it a hush, as there is certainly still a background murmur of conversation going on. But Aurora has seemed to capture far more of the attention of the crowd compared to groups up to now. More eyes are focused on the stage. 

The purple-skinned tiefling would savour the dark music, even closing his eyes to have his full focus on it, although the end of his tapered tail still sways and moves to the rythm of the dark jig. 

Arinchu seems eager to remain dancing, moving freely to the music. When the music is more upbeat, she would move quite energetically. And with the slower pieces she moves with a fluid grace. She also seems to keep an eye on Aspen, not wanting to wear her out and deferring to her if she wants a break. 

When Aurora takes the stage though the Half-Orc would immediately be back out to the dance area, weaving her way towards the front. She is clearly excited, applauding enthusiastically when she begins her first piece. Despite the darker tones of the music, the jig is fairly upbeat. She seems to know a simple pattern of hops and foot changes that matches the meter of the piece. 

As the first piece comes to an end, Aurora moves directly into a second. This one also has a dark tone but a slower melody but is still clearly a dance tune. But at the end of that pair a new song is introduced, a ballad rather than a dance. Arinchu seems inclined to remain standing, although it does give her a moment to catch her breath a little. 

After a bit of a respite, the music continues to intersperse dance pieces with various tales and even a tragic love song. Aurora seems to cover a diverse range of styles. 

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"Yes, dance partners," Myala says. She grins a little bit. "I see that look. It was nothing like that! Generally, for a formal dance, you would line up a number of gentlemen to dance with. Most of the time it would be some of the boys from the guard unit. Not that there was anything wrong with them."  She lowers her voice a little bit conspiratorially. "And sure, one or two might have been extremely strong and handsome. But it was certainly never something serious with me." 

She finds herself nodding along as Chierhy demonstrates the box step. "Yes, very much like that! We had a number of dances similar to that. You learn the steps, and it was easy to know what to do. Plus, usually the man would lead. So much better than whatever this is."  She looks around at the various people just kind of randomly moving to the music. "I probably look the fool here. I've no idea if I'm doing any of this right!" 

 

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After a bit of a respite, the music continues to intersperse dance pieces with various tales and even a tragic love song. Aurora seems to cover a diverse range of styles. 

Chierhy is surprised by Myala’s insecurity. “You don’t look like a fool,” Chierhy protests, “and who cares anyhow. You’re here to enjoy yourself. If anyone else has an issue with what you look like while you’re doing that, it’s their problem.” Her mother’s words. But not the first time she’d shared them with others. Indeed, in the viper’s nest of Koumba Saleh’s teenage politics, Chierhy had only barely survived by invoking this mantra repeatedly.

“Ah, the man… leads?? Well that would work perfectly dancing in circles!,” she says with a smirk. 

++++

When Aurora’s music turns to story songs, Chierhy’s opinion about the bard's talents begins to shift. The droning hurry-gurdy lends a surprising and almost hypnotic subtext to the ballads that is reminiscent of exotic Ikaki throat-singing from the underwater Gilled Folk, and Chierhy loses herself in Aurora's telling of the tales. Chierhy had always been quick to learn song lyrics — despite her being, according to Remi, “beautifully tone deaf." She supposed it to be true -- the tone deaf part -- since she had no idea what he was talking about. It would explain why when she sang Wagaduan songs at home, she would usually notice her older brother and parents had gone out by the time she stopped. Yet whatever her deficiencies in making music herself, her appreciation for song dwindled not a fraction -- especially narrative songs. And so as the evening passes, she observes Aurora's developing performance with increasing interest. 

Myala is at first perhaps surprised by Chierhy's comment. 'Easy for her to say,' she thinks, although she does try to adopt her suggested philosophy. "You are so right," she says with a bit of conviction. "Who cares what others think?" She is still far more comfortable with navigating social situations when she knows exactly what the rules are so she can simply lean on them to stay in line. 

She smiles a bit at the joke about dancing in circles. Though she seems to think it must truly be a jest. "Does the man not lead for your dances?" she asks. Of course, most the dances she is familiar with have highly prescribed moves. So, it isn't like one partner or the other is truly directing things. Both know exactly the steps that need to be taken. Though she certainly knows some men are better at paying attention than others.

As Aurora's performance moves along, Myala watches with close attention. In a pause between songs, she whispers to Chierhy. "The music seemed odd at first. I've never seen an instrument like that one. But the songs have some appeal. I can see where Arinchu might have developed a taste for her music." 

“Wagadu is a very male-centric culture. The paternal line is everything. At least, on its face, Wagaduan culture is paternalistic. But to say that woman have no power is false. They grasp and wield it. But our best bet – as young noblewoman are told by their mothers – is to marry a man with wealth but who is weaker than you are. So that you lead him while society follows him. But this seems ridiculous to me.” She studies Myala’s face for a moment gauging how much she is safe to reveal. “In my case, Remi is a townsperson of Koumba Saleh, not a noble at all. Not even a knight’s son. So you see… I mean what I say. I simply can’t think like that. Marrying for power…” Chierhy catches herself. “But you asked about dancing. No, mostly, men don’t lead. We all – men and women – participate freely, independently. Other than the Kizomba, which… yes. I guess the man chooses a dance partner and leads himself and his partner around the dance floor. But he may only choose a partner who has communicated to him a desire to be chosen.”  

When Myala later whispers to Chierhy about the music, Chierhy nods in complete agreement. “The sound her instrument makes is not what I ever would have called music. But Aurora makes it sing.” She assesses for a moment, then with hushed finality, says, “Aurora really is talented.” Then she turns to Myala and flashes a white-toothed smile, as if to say, 'aren’t we lucky to be here, in the very center of the excitement,' before turning back to the music.

Myala listens to Chierhy's remarks and for a moment it seems she is going to say something, but she ends up keeping quiet through most of it. Only after she comes back to talk of dancing does she reply. "It sounds like my home is both similar to yours and has differences. For us also, the paternal line is everything. Even in dance, tradition still holds rather universally that the man leads."  She pauses, "I suppose there might be informal gatherings, like here tonight, where things might be different. But I'm not really familiar." 

As the conversations moves to Aurora, she joins in with a smile. "She is indeed quite talented. Both the music and the stories draw you in." 

Even as they turn back to the performance, it is starting to wrap up. The finale is more of a dance piece, starting quiet and slowly building to a wild, raucous finish.  The crowd applauds loudly as Aurora heads from the stage. A burly, muscle-bound orc, nearly seven feet tall, takes to the stage. "Thank you everyone! And let's hear it one more time for Aurora Luna Wynterstarr!"  After a roar from the crowd, he speaks up again. "That's our performers for tonight. We will be closing up in a bit more than an hour, so there's time for one last round if you wish and then it's off with the lot of you!"  Though imposing, the orc's warm, gleaming smile and kind tone quickly overcome any initial impressions. You would have heard his name is Tulk, the manager of the Bow's End Tavern. But most of the students refer to him as "The Bulk" due to his size. 

Even before the performance had ended, Kadyr had come back to sit down to listen to the rest of the music. Naevyn had kind of disappeared, but after the show was over, he returns. "That was a lot of fun! You guys all have a good time tonight?" He seems genuinely upbeat about the outing. 

With the show over, many of the students start to head out. You realize that by the end of the night, the place had become rather packed. All the tables were filled, there were the people filling the dance area, and many just standing wherever else they could find space. It was a fairly large crowd, which fortunately now is starting to slowly thin out. 

Aurora makes her way back over to the table, a full glass of a very dark red wine in her hand. She first comes over to where Malvyn is seated, though she seems to speak to everyone. "Well, certainly a boisterous crowd tonight!" she says. Rubina gives her a smile, "A fabulous performance as always. Congratulation. I think though I should be off. I will see you soon I'm sure."  She turns to the others at the table as well. "Great to meet you. Welcome to Strixhaven for you new folks!"  And with that she starts to head out. 

Malvyn would welcome Aurora back to the table, getting up to pull out her chair for her, giving her a quick kiss and a warm embrace. "That was lovely as always dearest." He says as they get seated again, giving Rubina a smile and small wave as she leaves. "Another drink?" He asks her, still having her entrancing music on his mind.

“You were amazing!,” Chierhy beams to Aurora, still clapping, when the performer returns to the table. “Your music is not like ours in Wagadu, and I was not sure at first whether I would like it. Your hurry-gurdy takes getting used to.” Chierhy eyes the instrument guardedly, like one would regard a pet said to be friendly but that shows its fangs. “But your voice is exquisite and your story songs, new to me and compelling. Eku ise, as we say in Koumba Saleh. Beautiful.”

She smiles brightly and then turns to Malvyn, speaking with good humor. “And I hope you treat her like a queen. She carries all of our hearts when she is onstage!” She turns back briefly to Aurora after Malvyn responds, giving her another confident smile, then returns to her seat and Myala.

“This was so much fun. I am glad I came! I don’t want the evening to end, but I’ve had my fill of wine. Do you want to return to Cloudblower Hall?” Chierhy is ready to go but will stay longer if Myala wants to.

Aurora is quite appreciative of Chierhy's compliments. And those from others as well. "I am glad you enjoyed it. I really perform because I hope others will get something from it."  She glances at Malvyn a moment with a slight grin at her words.  

Sitting back with Myala, she nods. "I am very glad I came as well. But it does feel like time to go."  She had slowly sipped at her drink, and it had been empty for some time when the performance ended. "Best to go rest and be ready for this Orientation tomorrow." Even as she rises to get going, Kadyr and Naevyn indicate they are ready to go as well. "We can accompany you if you don't mind," the Cleric says.  

Assuming they all head out together, it is not long before they are back to Cloudblower Hall. 

As others leave, there are few left at the table with Aurora and Malvyn.  She sits back down, speaking to him. "I still have most of this one," she says, indicating the wine glass she has in her hand. "We can just relax and I'll finish this one up and we can go." She sighs, "I kind of wished Mae would have stayed to play with me. But she obviously wasn't comfortable here."

As she sips at her wine, Aurora chats a bit with the Tiefling. She gets his thoughts on the performance and even the near end of the school year. But it isn't long before she's finished her drink. "Well, shall we get going?" 

"Not sure she would want me to treat her like a queen exactly, but I do my very best to be a good and supportive companion, treating her with all the love she deserves." The purple-skinned tiefling explains to Chierhy with a freindly smile, then giving the raven-haired beauty at his side a quick affectionate kiss on the cheek.

"Yes, will you try and talk to her again soon, I really do worry about her." Malvyn says with a concerned look as Aurora brings up Mae again.

Later the purple-skinned tiefling would nod and finish his own drink, getting Aurora's chair, taking her hand to escort her back through the commons to her dorms.

Chierhy’s expression freezes for a moment with Melvyn’s response. Almost exactly what Remi would have said. The Wagaduan recovers quickly however, and nods to the tiefling, though she watches with a slight pang of longing when Malvyn kisses Aurora. You’ve only been away for a day, this won’t do, she tells herself. But Chierhy knows that this day is different from others she has spent apart from Remi. The first day of many, many days. She takes a breath, plasters a smile on her face, and turns back to Myala, Kadyr and Naevyn.

“It’s decided then. Let’s go.”

Malvyn and Aurora make their way out, and the group of Chierhy, Myala, Kadyr, and Naevyn are soon to follow.  Each find their way back to their dorms.  A fair number of students are still up and about, but the atmosphere is fairly quiet at this late hour. 

Assuming nobody has anything else to do, they are soon to sleep. 

The new residents of Cloudblower Hall have plenty of time to get up, get breakfast, and prepare to head to the Biblioplex. Shin returns to grab breakfast, and even has time to head back up to the 9th Floor before it's time to go. Shuvadri is in the floor's lounge waiting for everyone to show up. 

(The next morning)

Shin arrives at Cloudblower Hall at a jog, Pinky-toe circling down from overhead to alight on his shoulder just as the goblin enters.  A genuinely excited smile decorates the goblins face, as broad as it is crooked, though tinged with a bit of concern.

As he slows to a walk upon entering the cafeteria for a quick bite, the goblin greets anyone he sees and knows (especially his roommate Naevyn if present, but really anyone).  Panting slightly but otherwise clearly in good spirits, Shin opens up to anyone who might listen.

"I hope that a statistically significant majority of you enjoyed the atmosphere and Aurora's music at Bow's End last night.  I am regretful to not have been physically present during the performance.  However I do have some information of interest to relay!"

The goblin pauses a moment, considering.  "Less interesting may be that Guardok is a tremendously gracious and sturdy sparring partner, and we met a third sparring enthusiast.  A female Tabaxi named Rain in Summer who fights using her hands, as I think you do, Arinchu!"

"Yet more interesting is how I came to know she fights using her hands, as she did not join our sparring this time, merely watching.  At the end, there was rustling in nearby bushes and Pinky-toe spotted a very strange cat-like creature watching us.  If ever you are in a similar situation, I recommend avoiding the use of magic in proximity, as my casting of Minor Illusion set off an incredibly aggressive response wherein the creature subdivided itself into a legion of smaller copies and attacked.  Guardok, Rain and I were able to defeat this swarm in tandem, though we certainly risked injury."

At a flat look from his owl familiar, Shin quickly adds, "Pinky helped too.  Quite bravely I might add, since the swarm seemed intent on eating her."

"I recalled hearing such a magic-sensitive, and in fact magic-seeking creature native to Arcavios, though it seems disproportionately risky for one to be located in a place dedicated to magic as Strixhaven is!  The four of us were able to follow its trail back to where it converged with the signs of at least two other such beasts, but were unable to tell where the other trails led.  When Pinky and I left just now, Guardok and Rain were planning to report it."

When Shin arrives, Chierhy is already in the lounge, wearing the outfit Uchechi had laid out for her, a yellow and brown bateau neck blouse and palazzo pants to match. She carries a small leather-bound book and nothing else. Her braids are pulled back into a bun, as they had been the prior night.

Her back had been turned when Shin entered the lounge, and when he began to speak, her relaxed posture stiffened instantly, as if a trickle of ice-cold water had run like a frozen spider down her spine. But she catches herself and trains her features, grateful that Shin’s verbose speaking style allowed her ample time to prepare for the inevitable viewing of his nightmarish features. She gulps, inhales, plasters a welcoming expression across her face, and turns to face Shin. Her revulsion, however, is no less than the prior day although she is confident she at least covers it better.

But as the goblin’s story continues, Chierhy’s face loses the forced expression and gains curiosity and excitement in its place. When he finishes, her response tilts toward breathlessness rather than horror. 

“What a tale! And all this before breakfast?! This morning while we slept?,” she manages to squeak.

Earlier at Bow's End

Shin's DC15 Insight at disadvantage (due to her initially facing the other way) to notice Chierhy's disgust:  2 (Nat. 1, straight roll would have been 16)

There appear to be minor scuffs and bruises on the goblin's shoulder, but clearly from non-lethal sparring blows rather than laceration from the teeth and claws of beasts.  (Shin is at 6/8 hp).  He seems ebullient and acts as if he is completely fine, oblivious to Chierhy's revulsion.

“What a tale! And all this before breakfast?! This morning while we slept?,” she manages to squeak.

"Yes, this was the only reason I missed the fun and Aurora's performance last night after all - to wake up at quarter past six and meet Guardok at seven for our planned jog and sparring session.  He really is quite good, and I was impressed by Rain in Summer as well..."

He smiles, recalling the sparring and fight, then shakes his head.  "But please take heed of my account of this strange creature which transformed into a swarm.  There are more of them about!  If ever you hear rustling in the bushes or foliage, use caution and refrain from magic if you can."

At Bow's End the Previous Evening

Any discussion before seemed likely lost on Arinchu as she and Aspen began to dance. While at first the Half-Orc might have been just lost in the music and her own movement, she clearly caught on to what Aspen was doing and seemed quite pleased. Her response was expressed though not in words but rather in adapting her steps, providing new patterns as she sees the mimicry from the cat-eared woman.  After she asks about joining the others and Aspen playfully pulls her into a spin to lead her over, she gives a happy woop of joy as she goes along with the move. The grounded and reserved Arinchu seems to have disappeared here. 

As Aurora began her set of music, Arinchu had a beaming smile on her face, as well as an expression of intense focus. Some of this first music it seemed clear she was familiar with. And she was entranced. Since Aspen had given her a moment alone, her dance steps also were much more her own. For a bit it was just her and the music and her dancing and it seemed very much as though she was oblivious to everything else. But when Aspen came back to offer her hand to dance together, she shifted seamlessly into re-joining her. If anything, she seemed to beam even more radiantly at that. 

When Aurora's set of music had concluded and the evening seemed to be starting to wind down, Arinchu did accompany Aspen over to the table with Aurora, Malvyn, and the others. Arinchu was very quick to offer praise of the music in a rush of words. "Thank you so much! I just loved the music tonight. You give such a variety and I love the dark tones of so much of it. And I just really connect with it."  Aurora takes the compliments in stride, adding, "Having met you earlier today, I did notice you tonight in your dancing. You are quite talented. And you and your dance partner were quite the pair out there."  She gives them a smile and invites them to sit as long as they like. 

Throughout the night, Arinchu had danced to most of the music, unless it was a performer that just simply wasn't danceable music. But even then she tended to be on her feet, at least moving a little to the beats of the songs. The Half-Orc had tremendous energy.  Only now, with the music ended did she really sit.  When the others headed back to Cloudblower Hall, she was happy to accompany them with Aspen.  Once back, in her quiet voice, she told Aspen, "Thanks for dancing with me tonight. I loved it." And she and Myala retreated to their room to sleep. 

In the morning, Naevyn was also in the lounge when Shin had returned to deliver his tale.  "You say this creature sub-divided? Like right before your eyes? That's so interesting." He seems very intrigued. 

Shuvadri is also there to hear of this adventure. "This sounds very dangerous. Are you sure you are alright? We should probably get you checked out. Are you sure it didn't touch you at all?  The others also?"  She had stepped closer, even as Chierhy was reacting to the information. 

It isn't long before Myala and Arinchu arrive, both dressed in their Strixhaven uniforms. They seem to catch on that something had happened but had missed what had been said before. "What is happening?" Myala asks. "Who touched what?" 

Daxle is the next to show up, and Kadyr is not far behind him. The Gnome is speaking even as they arrive. "... very solid construction. Bretira came up with the design. Very clever." 

"Good morning," Kadyr says to the others. "I'm getting a rundown on the construction projects from last night. It seems Daxle managed to transform our beds into elevated structures while we were out last night." 

"With Bretira's help, of course. She's very handy with the tools," Daxle adds.