RP:Play For Me
This is a Bard's Guild RP.
Summary: Brennia stops off in Chartsend in order to put on a little show with a troupe of Bard’s Guild members and ends up gaining another within their ranks.
The Slippery Eel
If you want to meet local people this is the place to be. Everyone from the lowest field hand to the e Tenebris themselves frequent the inn. Smoked eels hang from the ceiling, their preparation a closely guarded local secret, something to do with the dark, warm places they are cured. You are most likely to find friendly wenches serving drinks, keen to earn the extra gold. There's a jovial air to the inn apart from the darkest corner where a group of men, who look like smugglers, talk quietly, heads together. Two off-duty guardsmen occasionally glance at them from their seats at the bar. A door lies at the back of the inn. This leads to a large square with buildings running off it and a sandy track winding South. A battered board gives some messages posted about the local area.
Pilar sat in the corner of the tavern, playing serene background music on her guitar. Nothing noteworthy, really, just a nice backing track for the sailors and pearl farmers and other denizens of Chartsend as they drank their ale and ate their fish. She wasn't “performing” really, not tonight. She was just sort of relaxing, distracting herself from the things weighing on her mind.
Brennia gently pushed her way into the tavern with a couple of other guild members and the other two are college students. Other than her one class she teaches over summer holiday and the weekly open houses she reserves a few days for traveling with some Bards to garner recognition throughout Lithrydel. They decided to take the flying tour carriage today to sort of test it out for Professor Alex to use for his lessons. One guild member busies herself at the public board to check on their message and make sure it wasn't posted over while the other three took Brennia's suggestion to grab a drink and some food in order to get themselves better acquainted with the locals, sort of feel them out. Brennia only did this so Pilar and her could be alone for those elongated pointed ears picked up the idle strumming. She saunters her way over and folds her onyx wings close to her curvaceous figure in order to take a seat and wait for Pilar to rest her music before saying anything. “Merry meet Madame Pilar.” Her plump shapely lips curve into a smirk which pokes a dimple in her cheek.
Pilar slowed to a stop. Some people glanced over, curious as to why the music was silenced, but no one did or said anything. “Hello, Miss Brennia,” Pilar replied. “What brings you here?” The bags under her eyes were no longer as prominent as they had been, but they were still there. They were always there. She was wearing a plain white peasant blouse and green skirt today, her tattoos hidden from view, though the scar on her neck was visible.
Brennia allowed her eyes to wander over Pilar as if assessing her exhaustion and the trail pauses at her neck, but her smirk never falls. “I bring a troupe along with me once a week to play a little around the taverns. A mixture of college students and Bard’s guild members, but I also like to roam around for new talent, so I kill two birds with one stone.” Those large liberty blue eyes glance down at the guitar, “that is such a lovely instrument… Don't let me stop you from playing.”
Pilar nodded and picked up her tune again. “Thanks.” Her mind went to the person who gave it to her, a person who she no longer spoke to, and felt a pang in her heart. She pushed the thoughts away, only asking, “So... What does being in the Bard's Guild entail?”
Brennia couldn't help put to allow her fingertips to tap on her knee which was crossed over the other in her enjoyment of Pilar’s playing. She was lost for just a moment and comes back down when she's asked a question, “the Bard’s Guild. To enter is simple for I just need to know of someone's interest and then witness their talent. As far as participation, it is more work for me than the members. Whatever they wish to do, like putting on a concert or a play, I arrange with the given establishment to make sure my members are fed and taken care of. This past summer we went on a traveling acting tour across Lithrydel to the theatres for the play King Leer. Eventually I want to put together a competition concert where the winner wins a special item or gold.”
Pilar said to you, "That all sounds... like a pretty good deal.” Pilar looked at her fingers as she played. “Do you think... Maybe... I could join?"
Brennia felt her smile grow and now two dimples were poking into dewy caramel cheeks. “Of course. And even so you would have a home away from home at the college. I have a private wing for guild members, the rooms are bigger with more privacy and larger wash rooms. So, all you have to do is show me what you got and you are in.” A subtle shrug, “it isn't hard and there are no climbing ranks so there is no cutthroat business.” She relaxes into her chair to wait for Pilar to play for her, “would you feel comfortable playing for me now?”
Pilar liked the sound of that. Not that she needed the place to stay, but the lack of competition would be good for her. “I... Sure. I suppose.” Pilar stopped playing, readjusted herself, then began anew. It was a spirited song this time, one quite unlike any she usually played. Though anyone familiar with her illusions would recognize it immediately; she crafted it often with her magic. This, however, wasn't a product of her magic, but of her own hands. She didn't sing the lyrics, as she didn't have the power in her voice to do it justice, not like her sister did. But she had practiced this song over and over since she started learning how to properly play guitar, this song from her past, this song of her family, and of her people.
Brennia felt how the vibrations of patrons had ceased and her eyes closed to listen, to feel it. Inaudible to the normal her she was sending out a note, but nothing disruptive in its purposes. Brennia was feeling and seeking out the Bardic talent within Pilar or at least something she could build on. It took a moment into the beautiful song, but there it was like a small candlelight in the wind ready to be sniffed out at any moment. Through this she can feel the heartache and share in the feeling for just a moment as she metaphorically reached out with her own spirit ribbon to caress against it. Unless she was adequate at her music talents and it was in tune with her emotions Pilar would barely notice, but this was not meant to be an intrusive act and only supportive one. She allows the song to end naturally before her blue eyes open and her kind smile returns, “that was lovely Pilar. Thank you.” One of the guild members wanders over to remark his adoration for her performance and hands Brennia a few interesting items. She lays these on the table between herself and Pilar, “this lyre will get you into our headquarters. This key will grant you access to the restricted wing within the college and this offers pitch pipe protection. Do you accept?”
Pilar noticed nothing during her performance, such was her concentration on her craft. She blushed under the compliments and murmured, “Yes, I do. Th-thank you, Miss Brennia.”
Brennia smiled up at the other Bards as she announced, “if you guys will welcome Madame Pilar into the fold.” They cheer and clap before taking places near her or beside her all the while asking for her to play a song with them. Immediately she would be able to feel the supportive and accepting atmosphere that is the Bard’s guild. “And let us have a drink on me.” This got more cheers from the group.