Crystal City Players/Logs/Songs of Fire and Ice

Songs of Fire and Ice was the ninth performance by the Crystal City Players, performed at the Shoan a Sidelkuloa theater in Shard. The theme of the show was "Fire & Ice" and included a variety of acts from each performer paying homage to their preferred of the two elements being celebrated.

Introduction

Lady of Elamiri Ayrell came through a thick dark curtain.

Ayrell curtsies gracefully.

Ayrell smiles.

Ayrell says, "Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Shoan a Sidelkuloa - or, for those who have been here before - welcome back."

Ayrell smiles graciously.

Ayrell says, "Tonight, we have planned for you a very special concert involving two elements that are very close to the hearts of our members... well, perhaps I should say that our members may be somewhat split in the debate of which of the two is best, but we managed to set our differences aside for tonight to present to you all our individual homages to our favorite of either fire - or ice."

Ayrell says, "It is also my pleasure to announce that we have a special guest with us this evening. Taking the side of fire, we are excited to share the stage with the incredibly talented Aetheline."

Ayrell smiles.

Ayrell says, "So, without further ado, The Crystal City Players present - Songs of Fire and Ice."

Ayrell curtsies gracefully.

Ayrell smiles at the crowd, waving to everyone in gratitude before gracefully making her way off stage, the lights dimming in dramatic preparation for the first act.

Act One

Nyrhin

(Nyrhin smiles charismatically as he makes his way to center stage, his stride confident, waving to the crowd in greeting.)

Nyrhin says, "Hello, hello! Thank you all for coming. As you may have noticed, I'm the first on the stage, which means I drew the short straw, and therefore, so did you all in having to hear me first."

Nyrhin grins.

Nyrhin says, "Where you are in luck however is in the fact that I didn't write this song entirely by myself. I begged and pleaded with Ayrell to remember that I'm good with gems and pouches and convincing appraisers to pay higher prices - but I'm not so good with rhymes. So, in that, she was gracious enough to spare you all by helping me."

Nyrhin chortles softly at some secret joke.

Nyrhin asks, "So, with that, I give to you - a song about ice - in the best way I know how to sing about anything. And that - is to sing about... love?"

(Nyrhin holds his hand up as if ticking off a list on his fingers, mouthing what looks to be "ice" and "love" with a confused expression.)

Nyrhin shrugs.

Nyrhin exclaims, "Here goes nothing!"

Nyrhin sings in a countertenor voice:

   "Gather 'round, fellas, listen to me,
    I got a tale 'bout a girl, as cold as can be.
    She'll freeze your heart with just a glance,
    So listen up, boys, don't take that chance."

Nyrhin shakes his head.

Nyrhin sings in a countertenor voice:

   "She's cold as ice with a heart of stone,
    She'll leave you lonely, broken, and alone.
    So heed my warning, please take my advice,
    Stay away from that girl with her heart like ice."

(Nyrhin dramatically points his finger at the crowd as if making a very serious point.)

Nyrhin sings in a countertenor voice:

   "Her eyes, they sparkle like diamonds in the night,
    But behind that facade lies a chilling sight.
    Her smile so warm like the summer sun,
    With a heart so glacial - I suggest you run."

(Nyrhin uses his fingers to mimic an image of legs running away.)

Nyrhin sings in a countertenor voice:

   "She's cold as ice with a heart of stone,
    She'll leave you lonely, broken, and alone.
    So heed my warning, please take my advice,l
    Stay away from that girl with her heart like ice."

Nyrhin sings in a countertenor voice:

   "Her smile so sweet, but her eyes betray,
    A frosty demeanor that won't melt away.
    She'll draw you close, then push you aside,
    Leaving you lost in her blizzard with nowhere to hide."

Nyrhin shivers.

(Nyrhin rubs at his arms as if to try and get warm.)

Nyrhin sings in a countertenor voice:

   "She's cold as ice with a heart of stone,
    She'll leave you lonely, broken, and alone.
    So heed my warning, please take my advice,
    Stay away from that girl with her heart like ice."

Nyrhin sings in a countertenor voice:

   "You might think you can melt her, but of that, you're wrong,
    All the frostbite she inflicts, you will only prolong.
    Try as you may, you won't change her frozen heart,
    If you dare to try, she'll only tear you apart."

(Nyrhin makes a dramatic gesture of tearing something invisible in two.)

Nyrhin sings in a countertenor voice:

   "She's cold as ice with a heart of stone,
    She'll leave you lonely, broken, and alone.
    So heed my warning, please take my advice,
    Stay away from that girl with her heart like ice."

Nyrhin grins.

Nyrhin says, "And with that, you're rid of me! Until next time, of course."

Nyrhin winks.

Nyrhin chuckles.

(Nyrhin bows with practiced charm and grace, giving one last wave to the audience, and striding off stage.)

Act Two

Senthic

(Senthic struts onstage, looking only slightly uncomfortable as he pulls ineffectually on his ascot, then abandons the maneuver as he reaches center stage. Sensing eyes upon him, he straightens up and puffs out his chest minutely before crossing his hands behind his back.)

Senthic clears his throat.

Senthic pompously says, "Tonight, I - along with my lovely assistant Siendra, will be performing a poem entitled..." He pauses for dramatic effect, then continues with an unnaturally deep voice, "'Untitled Ice Poem'."

Senthic nods.

(Senthic glances back at Siendra, hidden in the wings, before nodding and taking a deep breath. The lights are extinguished in the theater, and for a moment the stage is completely dark - then a single light appears, centered on Senthic, before it widens to encompass some of the empty area around him.)

Senthic recites:

   "In the silence of dawn, the ice cracks as it breathes,
    Crystalline beauty coats everything in view.
    Threads of light dance through its veins,
    Refracting whispered secrets in ethereal hues."

(Siendra, out of direct sight, places her hands directly on the stage. A chill pierces the once comfortable atmosphere of the theater, accompanied by a soft crackling sound that heralds the formation of an icy tableau. From the edges of an expanding patch of ice, delicately constructed trees rise, their branches limned with hoarfrost and glittering under the stage lights. An ethereal, crystalline forest scene slowly emerges, encircling a pristine, frozen lake.)

(Senthic jolts as the ice spreads under his feet, throwing his arms out wildly before regaining his balance. He throws Siendra a look over his shoulder before returning his attention to the audience.)

Senthic recites:

   "Ice shapes the frozen realm in arrested fluidity,
    Sculpting beauty amid transient turbulence.
    Each flake a testament to nature's fragility,
    Each fragment a reminder of impermanence."

(Siendra, with a smirk that only few can see, turns her attention to a space just above Senthic's head. A strange cloud begins to take shape, growing larger and larger until it encompasses nearly the entire stage. A moment passes, then two, before large, thick snowflakes descend from the clouds, quickly coating everything below in a dusting of snow. Noticing Senthic mouthing, "More! MORE!" at her, she doubles her efforts, and the meandering snowfall evolves into a blizzard.)

(Senthic, violently swiping his arms in front of him in an attempt to remain visible, begins to lose his balance again. For a heart-stopping moment, it seems he might actually fall, but with a determined twist and a careful shift of weight, he manages to steady himself, exhaling in relief as he regains his footing. Glancing at Siendra, he makes a quick slashing motion, and immediately the snow stops falling. Finding a sturdy ice-tree, he leans against it and takes a moment to catch his breath before he rallies himself to start the next verse.)

Senthic recites:

   "Light silently dances upon its glassy face,
    Creating a symphony of colors vivid and glossed,
    Bending reality in its translucent embrace,
    Revealing the world anew through prisms of frost."

(Siendra allows the clouds to slowly dissipate, focusing her attention to a spot just above the arctic tableau. As the scene, now blanketed in snow, glistens and twinkles under the stage lights, new diaphanous shapes of light form in the ether above it. Auroras of purple, green, blue, and pink shimmer in the air, casting a magical glow over the frozen landscape and illuminating the ice with a breathtaking, otherworldly radiance.)

Senthic recites:

   "We find ourselves in its mirrored depths,
    Both transitory and yet in a trance,
    A juxtaposition of both stillness and unrest,
    A symbol of life's ephemeral dance."

(Siendra silently gestures from her semi-hidden spot and the auroras fade. Another movement, and a warm breeze begins to circulate, the snow starts to diminish, and the ice structures begin to thaw and lose their shapes.)

(Senthic watches with a saddened expression, unaware that the ice-sculpted tree he is leaning against has begun to melt. By the time he realizes, it's too late - with a startled yelp, he loses his balance and tumbles to the stage floor.)

Senthic blinks.

Senthic shifts uncomfortably for a moment.

(Senthic leaps to his feet, undeterred.)

Senthic recites:

   "Newly-formed fractures remind, in stark clarity,
    Of the fleeting nature of our stay.
    In its haunting song we hear the cold certainty:
    All things must melt and fade away."

Senthic appears to be trying hard not to grin.

(Siendra gestures, and the warm breeze briefly grows into a desert wind that intensifies in a cyclical pattern around the stage. Beautiful crystalline structures warp and liquify under the quiet assault, and finally evaporate away. After a moment, the gale dies down, leaving nothing but a dry, empty stage in its wake.)

Act Three

Ayrell & Ezerak

You hear a mezzo-soprano voice chanting from the shadows:

   "The lights go down, leaving the stage momentarily dark until two spotlights illuminate opposite sides of the stage."

(Ayrell and Ezerak appear from the wings, each taking their place in one of the spotlights. They begin walking towards each other, across the stage, the spotlights merging into one as the pair reaches center stage.)

Ezerak says, "Lady Ayrell and I are performing a duet this evening."

Ayrell says, "We call it "A Song of Fire & Ice."

Ayrell smiles.

Ayrell sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:

   "In the flames, I find my strength
    Fighting to keep the cold at arm's length.
    A dance of embers in the night,
    In the fire's glow, everything feels right."

Ezerak sings in a baritone voice:

   "In the frost, I find my peace,
    In the icy cold, my worries cease.
    A realm of calm, so quiet and pure,
    In the frosty air, our love will endure."

Ayrell sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:

   "Fire and ice, we stand apart,"

Ezerak sings in a baritone voice:

   "Two worlds collide, yet one heart."

Ayrell sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:

   "In the blaze, amidst the chill,"

Ezerak sings in a baritone voice:

   "Our love persists, unyielding will."

Ayrell sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:

   "Like a phoenix, my spirit soars
    Beyond the sun and the crashing shores.
    With every spark, my heart fills with light
    A conflagration burning bright."

Ezerak sings in a baritone voice:

   "In the chill, I find my grace,
    In the frozen world, I've found my place,
    With every snowflake, I feel at ease,
    In winter's realm, my soul is at peace."

Ayrell sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:

   "Fire and ice, we stand apart,"

Ezerak sings in a baritone voice:

   "Two worlds collide, yet one heart."

Ayrell sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:

   "In the blaze, amidst the chill,"

Ezerak sings in a baritone voice:

   "Our love persists, unyielding will."

Ayrell sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:

   "Opposites attract in a love so true,
    Even through the blaze, I always find you.
    Amidst the flames, we dance together,
    An emotion so strong, any storm we can weather."

Ezerak sings in a baritone voice:

   "In the frost, I'll stand by your side,
    In the icy stillness, our love won't hide.
    With every snowflake, our love will grow,
    In the frozen world, our hearts will know."

Ayrell sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:

   "Fire and ice, we stand apart,"

Ezerak sings in a baritone voice:

   "Two worlds collide, yet one heart."

Ayrell sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:

   "In the blaze, amidst the chill,"

Ezerak sings in a baritone voice:

   "Our love persists, unyielding will."

Ayrell sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:

   "Opposites collide, in a dance of fate's design,"

Ezerak sings in a baritone voice:

   "Yet in each other's arms, we find a love divine."

Ayrell sings in a mezzo-soprano voice:

   "As fire and ice, we'll write our symphony,"

Ezerak sings in a baritone voice:

   "A duet of devotion, for all eternity."

Ayrell smiles.

(Ayrell and Ezerak move in perfect synchronization, Ezerak bowing deeply while Ayrell performs a graceful curtsy. As they rise, they smile out at the audience then at each other before linking arms and walking together off stage.)

Act Four

Aetheline

You hear a voice recite from the shadows:

   "The stage lights dim to almost total darkness. A hush descends on the theater, the last of the applause fading. There is a sudden *CLANG!* of metal striking metal, followed by a frantic "Shhhh!" from an unseen stagehand. Offstage grumbling, then pieces of a conversation can be overheard. "I dunno, seems like Ice is winning this one." A shrieking of metal scraping across the floor, then a hushed "Yeah, did you see how beauti--argg!" An ominous thump, and all conversation stops. Muffled footsteps and the creak of floorboards punctuate the uneasy quiet, until they, too, fade away and only silence remains."

You hear a voice recite from the shadows:

   "Abruptly, a loud *WHOOSH!* is heard as two blindingly bright balls of flame violently burst into being within the braziers on either side of the stage, illuminating a tiny gnomish figure clad in glittering firesilk. Shadows dance across her face, obscuring most of her expression in darkness, while her eyes glint unsettlingly in the firelight. From somewhere backstage, the quiet, steady beat of a drum can be heard."

Aetheline grins wickedly.

Aetheline theatrically says, "I HAVE BEEN SUMMONED."

(Aetheline raises her arms as several other braziers suddenly ignite in a blaze, wreathing her in a semi-circle of scorching light.)

Aetheline casually says, "I could recite a poem, an ode to fire. I could sing you a song." She nonchalantly shrugs. "I could dance, or do any number of things. But, instead... to really showcase the destructiv-- err, the majestic beauty of one of my favorite elements, I think I'll let it speak for itself."

(Aetheline strolls toward the rightmost brazier, her movements in step with the rhythm of the drums.)

(Aetheline, with a crooked finger, coaxes the flickering flame to arch closer to her outstretched palm. The tendrils of the brazier's fire bend and weave and suddenly mimic her gesture, beckoning her closer. She shakes her head and steps backward, her hand still outstretched, and this time the flames obey - curving, arcing, and finally a guttering flare separates from the rest and alights on her palm.)

(Aetheline cradles the tiny flame close to her chest as she returns to center stage. Fully facing the audience once more, she carefully deposits the flame on the shoulder of her ashcloak, and in an instant, she is consumed by a conflagration.)

Aetheline touches a glowing finger to the rhodochrosite clasp of her ashcloak. Translucent lines the color of the gem race down the garment's surface, igniting it in fiery splendor.

Aetheline draws a smoi leather ashcloak blazing with a mantle of chaotically shifting flames tightly around herself, a light rain of soot falling off of it.

(Aetheline outstretches her arms, allowing the flames to coil around her in a scorching spiral. With one hand, she reaches out, palm up, and the fire begins to shape itself into a serpentine form, releasing her as it slithers and twists through the air. The drums grow louder and more intense, their relentless rhythm felt as well as heard, driving toward something imminent.)

Aetheline turns her head and casually blows some flaming ash from the shoulder of her leather ashcloak.

(Aetheline kneels down, seemingly unperturbed by the snaking line of fire that whirls and loops in the air above her, growing impossibly larger and brighter with each rotation. Her eyes close, brow furrowing in concentration, and yet... nothing happens.)

Aetheline grits her teeth.

(Aetheline, eyes now squeezed tightly shut, takes a deep breath... and the blazing serpent grows even larger, flickering as its shape changes once more. It pulses, its core solidifying like hot magma, and four leg-like appendages sprout from its sides. Its body stretches and swells, its neck writhes as its head elongates, and its tail thrashes violently through the air. Two massive wings erupt from its back, sending sparks raining down over the audience, though they fade before ever reaching their target. The drums grow louder still, their rhythm resembling the furious beating of an angry heart.)

Aetheline slowly empties her lungs.

(Aetheline slowly raises her head, her eyes no longer tightly closed. The flaming dragon -- now unmistakably what looms over her -- is too large to float above, and so perches on the stage, crouched in the tight space with the gnome kneeling beneath it. The drums are so deafening that the floor vibrates, and the flames in the braziers lash about in ire, reaching higher and higher.)

Aetheline smiles defiantly as the drums reach their thundering crescendo.

(Aetheline finally opens her eyes, blazing as brightly as the flames that surround her... and as one, she and the towering dragon open their mouths and release a powerful, resounding roar that shakes the entire theater.)

You hear a voice recite from the shadows:

   "The drums come to an abrupt end at the exact moment the braziers are all extinguished, the dragon disappears, and the entire theater is plunged into complete darkness. The ringing of the roar can still be felt in the sudden silence, just as the ghostly green echoes of the dragon lingers in one's vision."

Act Five

Siendra

You hear a voice recite from the shadows:

   "The stage sits in a deep, voidlike darkness after Aetheline finishes her act.  A hush falls upon the air, a stillness settling throughout the theatre.  Suddenly the dozen braziers flare to life once more along the edge of the stage!  The flames crackle dramatically, casting shadows that dance with each other as though performing for the audience themselves."

(Siendra slips from behind the curtain, enveloped completely in a startling firesilk cloak. The firelight catches the flame-shaped ruby clasped at her throat, causing the gem to shimmer. She comes to stand imposingly at the center of the stage.)

Siendra fiercely says, "Fire - a giver of life, and bringer of destruction. It burns in us all."

(Siendra sways from one side to the other, letting the tessellated images of flames across her cloak mimic their counterpart surrounding her in a slow, erratic dance.)

Siendra fiercely says, "Today I will sing of all that fire gives us! Its heat and comfort, its power, its -."

Siendra sneezes.

Siendra uncomfortably says, "Ugh, I can't even finish that. I wonder if I've become allergic after all this time..."

Siendra ponders.

Siendra shrugs.

Siendra wryly asks, "Ah, well, that was fun. But let's get on to the real performance, shall we?"

(Siendra waves her hand dismissively towards the braziers, conjuring small globes of water above each flame. With a smirk she drops her hand, each water ball dropping with it and extinguishing the fires. The stage is thrown into sudden darkness. But a mere moment later the stage lights come up to find Siendra now radiant in an ice-blue velvet gown, the cloak nowhere to be seen. Behind her the braziers curl tendrils of smoke around glittering shards of ice.)

Siendra slowly empties her lungs.

Siendra says, "MUCH better."

Siendra smiles, seeming to relax as a chill fills the air. Now as she sways the small diamond snowflakes of her gown glisten softly in the steady spotlight.

Siendra cheekily says, "I am Siendra Vauns'Arotru, and for those who do not know - I am an *ice* witch. Pure and simple."

Siendra exclaims, "Tonight, I will obviously be fighting on the side of good - er, ice, that is. Or, rather, I have a performance dedicated to my preferred element. Ayrell said it is not a competition, and I think secretly that is because she knows ice is - well, anyway!"

Siendra appears to be trying hard not to grin.

Siendra frowns.

Siendra wearily says, "And besides, we need need a palate cleanser after that showy Gnome's fireshow."

Siendra mutters something into the air about apprentices.

Siendra gazes upward.

Siendra waves her hand distractedly.

Siendra inhales a great swallow of air.

Siendra says, "So I am happy to present my act, "Shard of Ice", as written by myself. Please, enjoy."

Siendra smiles as she bows low, tugging the rather daring skirt of her gown around her in a flash of snowy gems. Straightening, she curls her hands with practiced ease, calling a mist to surround her on the stage. It surges over the edge to mingle with the first few rows of the audience.

Siendra softly sings in a soprano voice:

   "Misty mornings, quiet, brisk,
    Into the fog, the unknown risk.
    Step into the soothing chill,
    Come, experience the thrill."

(Siendra dances to the melody of her song, slow and gentle. Wisps of mist dance along with her, swirling up into the air.)

Siendra softly sings in a soprano voice:

   "Frosted blades of weary grass,
    Crystals coat the world en masse,
    Dazzling, shining in the sun,
    Encased in ice, the fractals are spun."

(Siendra turns suddenly in a sharp circle, pulling the mist close to her. It cloaks her as she spins, turning crystalline until each drop of water freezes fully. They hang suspended in the air like a halo around Siendra.)

(Siendra weaves a hand dreamily through the sprawl of frozen droplets. A gentle tinkling, like a muffled bell, sounds as they drift towards each other and bump gently together. Slowly Siendra steps through them, calling the mass with her.)

(Siendra dances lightly across the stage, the huddle of icy beads following in her steps like a glistening shadow. Her moves are simple, constrained by both experience and the bodice of her gown, but she dips and spins with enough passion that she seems confident with each stride.)

(Siendra continues her solo ballet until she comes back to the center of the stage. Here she stops abruptly, the frozen cloud that had been following her nearly crashing into her back. She grins back at it as though it were a dear friend.)

Siendra fondly sings in a soprano voice:

   "Diamonds, precious, every one,
    Falling softly to a world undone.
    But this is not a bitter end,
    Rather a seasonal extend."

Siendra wryly sings in a soprano voice:

   "Just do not think the snowfall weak,
    For those that do, the future is bleak.
    Ice can cut and frost can burn,
    And snow can suffocate in turn."

(Siendra gestures her hands forward, bringing the awaiting mass of icy crystals in front of her and shaping them together. They coalesce into a jagged shard of ice, reminiscent of a Warrior Mage's rimefang, and Siendra lets it linger near her.)

Siendra proudly sings in a soprano voice:

   "Water, bonded, frozen, strong,
    An entire season can't be wrong.
    Through cozy nights or savage days,
    This is why it is ice I praise."

(Siendra spears the shard outward over the theatre's seats before bringing her hand swiftly up in a fist! The ice shatters, bursting into a twinkling of snowy flakes that drift softly upon the audience.)

Siendra smiles wickedly, sweeping her gown aside once more for a dramatic bow.

You hear a voice recite from the shadows:

   "The stage lights dim, highlighting the last glittering remnants of the diamonds upon the dark velvet of Siendra's dress as she exits in a final portrayal of cold winter's night."

Curtain Call

(Ayrell gracefully makes her way back on stage, the radiant facets of each Gemfire ruby on her gown sparkling in the lights as they rise once again to illuminate the stage, following Ayrell to center where she comes to pause.)

Ayrell smiles graciously out at the audience.

Ayrell says, "I do hope you all enjoyed the show! I would like to bring our performers back out for one last bow, if you will humor me."

Ayrell smiles toward the stage wings where the others stand.

Ayrell exclaims, "Let us give a big round of applause for Nyrhin, Siendra, Ezerak, Senthic, and Aetheline!"

Siendra smiles.

Siendra curtsies.

Nyrhin waves.

Senthic bows.

Aetheline grins, revealing her dimples.

Aetheline curtsies.

Nyrhin bows.

Ayrell applauds.

Senthic shifts uncomfortably for a moment.

Ayrell smiles at each of the performers in turn, applauding them.

Ezerak bows.

Ayrell says, "On behalf of the Crystal City Players, I want to thank you all for joining us this evening! We hope you had as much fun as we did, and we look forward to seeing you all again soon. In the meantime, we will be making our way to lobby soon if anyone would like to join us."

Ayrell curtsies gracefully.

Aetheline waves.

Siendra smiles and waves once last time.

Senthic grins.

Nyrhin waves.

Ayrell smiles.

Ayrell waves.

Lady of Elamiri Ayrell's group went through a thick dark curtain.