Completed Coils Club Complications (Stefan Teagan)

[Chandray]

Timestamp: Day 5 of Spring 514 AV, evening/night Location: Coils Club The atmosphere in Coils Club near closing time was a haze of smoke, the frenzied multilayered rhythms of drums, sounds of voices, groggy laughs, sudden shouts from somewhere in behind the curtains to the nightclubs inner parts and over all of it the fiddle music, wild and fast and unrestrained. Chandray played. Her fingers pressed down on the strings, moving quicker than they ever had, and the fiddlestick kept flying at a pace she hadn’t known she was capable of. The music streaming out over the room was other than her usual tunes : she had been asked to tune the fiddle differently and play this frenzied way. The result was oddly fascinating, to the audience, but even more so to herself. It was an alien sound, peculiar and strange. Yes, strange, a strange and other sound that seemed to draw her in into the music until all her thought were gone and the would went sound and sound and and sound and sound… The haze of smoke was coiling in the air, fragrant and dimly shimmering. The black haired dancer on the small stage was bending, coiling, moving with the music like it shouldn’t have been possible to move. But she was a viper dhani, unhuman in her human form, a girl and not a girl. There seemed to be no limits to the ways her body could be made to twist and wind, curve and flex and bow and whirl. Her hips were swaying unbelievably and the rapturous expression on her face spoke of something unknown and unhuman, beyond the grasp of human minds. Chandray played. She was absorbed in her music and only half aware of the surroundings. But Laviku she felt good ! Giddy happiness was flooding her and the worlds was dizzy as a dream. Oh and she played like she could play forever…This place. This snake nest, to be blunt, in the midst of the well ordered Riverfall was full of unexpected things. Vaguely she realized there was something in the smoke. This was her job for the evening. She had just walked in and asked if they were interested. After playing a tune to give them a teaser, she had been accepted and offered six gold mizas if she would stay the whole evening and play in the way they wanted it there. Chandray had been quick to say yes. She found the new tuning of the fiddle interesting. It was something entirely new, and made her feel she started over playing like her well known instrument was enigmatic and intriguing and full of fun surprises. Chandray played. Her eyes were shut. The coiling dark haired dancer danced. OOCNow Stefan can come in, get hired too and join in playing.

[Stefan]

As he walked through the streets of the second tier, Stefan couldn’t help but feel proud. For the first time in his stay in Riverfall, he hadn’t gotten lost, and went where he intended to go: to the Arma'Drex smithy to get a new rapier. For 25 gold mizas, he got it: a simple, yet elegant steel cup-hilt rapier, along with its leather sheath, that he now carried on his belt. He couldn’t help but smile at his new blade, and now that required a celebration. So when he found a entrance below an archway carved with snakes, with a little that said “The Coils Club”, it was almost like a calling to him.

The club itself was something different; something that he never thought would appear in Riverfall. He was received by the haze of smoke, and different sounds that assaulted him, and the sight of different persons on the premises. His senses were racing to get used to everything around him, and the first sense was the sight: he could see different kinds of persons, some of them Akalaks and Humans (or appeared to be), but they were but a minority compared to the hybrid of a human and a snake on the club. Dhanis, Stefan remembered as they were called. It was, to say at least, an exotic place. One would never believe that such a place existed, but Stefan didn’t mind... exotic was another word for Dhani women.

And then, there was the music. By the gods, there was the music.

Like an arrow piercing through his skull, the music came to Stefan’s ears, and he couldn’t help but smile. It was something out of the ordinary, different... and he loved it. He loved the way the fiddle accompanied the rhythm of the drums in such a way. It was just glorious.

Stefan turned to see where that sound came from, and was greeted by the sight of a Dhani dancer; he could tell she was Dhani by the way she moved, with flexibility and a style that no Human could show. It was almost hypnotic; coiling, bending, and moving in impossible ways. “By Rhaus’ beard...” was the only thing Stefan could whisper, before he could see the actually source of the music. That just made him smile even more widely.

It was Chandray, and she sounded amazing; playing her fiddle with a fashion that Stefan couldn’t believe was possible. He couldn’t help but close his eyes and enjoy the fast paced, quirky rhythm with a wide smile. He was right: her music was as beautiful as the one playing it.

He wanted to be part of it. He needed to be part of it, so he went directly to the bar and talked with the barmaid in there. It took some honeyed words, some flirting and the fact that he was carrying his mandolin, as always, but he managed to convince her to let him play along the fiddler, and they would pay him only if they liked how he played. Fair enough, he thought.

After the song was finished, he got close to Chandray “By Nikali’s unholy feet, Riverfall’s a compact place” Stefan smiled at her, giving her a hearty hug “By the gods, my dear, what you did there was simply amazing. Mind if I join? I promise to follow you.” He winked at her, taking his mandolin.

[Chandray]

… and through the smoke, the sounds of guests and glass and drums, a friendly voice and then then faint awareness of another aura, just for a fraction of a tick as he closed his arms around her and the sincere feeling for the music emanated from him like an enigmatic presence rippling in the air… Chandray opened her eyes to see who was hugging her and speaking. It was Stefan Tegan. The last time she had spoken with him had been in winter when they had trained fencing in the Kendoka Sasaran and had lunch afterwards. It had been a long time, but she remembered him well. It was him, no doubt, with a mandolin in his hand and asking to join her and play together. Another musician ! Somebody who could understand, truly understand, the special allure of not just listening to music but creating it, giving it life and soul from that invisible and mystic inner source all music came from, in joy or sorrow alike. Chandray looked back at Stefan Tegan and saw in him something that mirrored her own love and fascination for music, that feeling of a nearly magical experience. She had been playing good, she knew it, but it still warmed her to be told so by somebody that could appreciate it fully. She greeted him with a rush of inspiration. The drums beat on while she stopped playing, leaned into him, hugged him back, withdrew, explained her tuning of the fiddle briefly. She didn’t know the mandolin, but counted on Stefan to know what he was doing. He’d be able to join in, she was sure, he’d be able… Chandray laughed and her laugh was maybe a bit wild and groggy, ‘Laviku-may-care’ , when she put the fiddle back in it’s position and resumed her playing with a verve and intensity that rivalled her own previous performance. She took the fiddle music on to screaming, frenzied heights over the beat of drums and heard the mandolin kick in. The sounds of all the instruments were blending together to a heady and intriguing mix of sound, quite unlike anything she’d ever heard before. The darkhaired dhani dancer danced. Chandray’s eyes were shut again. She felt her fingers move and press on the fiddle’s strings, and the fiddlestick felt like it could continue to fly over the instrument forever. She was indifferent to time and didn’t know for how long this went on. But later, the waiters were moving, between tables, through the dancing crowd and announced that closing hour was near. It wasn’t one of the latest nights at the coils, they were closing at midnight this eve. Several guests started to complain loudly and tried to negotiate, but the waiters were unmoved. They continued to call out their message. “Last drinks. Last chance. We’re closing in fifteen chimes. “ The atmosphere changed as some of the guests started leaving, while others went to the bar to get that last glass before the club would close. The drums fell silent. Chandray stopped playing. For the second time she opened her eyes and saw Stefan Tegan. She saw in his face the same sense of wonder she had felt herself, as the music had carried her away, flowing from her through the fiddle. She had been the creator of the performance, and so had the unknown drummer, and Stefan. If felt like this made them a team. She laughed, giddily, and told him they’d better go to the bar and be paid. “Make sure to get your money Stefan.” She also wanted to get her cloak and the rapier she had deposited there while she was playing. And maybe she’d have a drink.

[Stefan]

The song was something Stefan never heard before, let alone played, but as he followed Chandray and the drummer, everything just makes sense, or at least as much sense as the music could make. It was something akin to a tarantella, but with a quicker tempo, and a wild melody. He wanted to see the dancer while she did her job, or better, the pretty face the fellow musician, but he couldn’t help but close his eyes as his fingers danced through the chords of the mandolin. He felt as if his fingers were to melt, but his heart was burning, and he just received that with the pleasure one should feel while listening, or making, music.

Of course, he was just following Chandray, his one-time teacher. One of the few persons to know his last name, as he only shared it with fellow musicians and pretty women. She was both, and he was really glad to share the music with her. It was one of the finest pleasures of life, after all.

That just made it sadder when after the announcement that the tavern was about to close in fifteen chimes... but what could they do in fifteen chimes? Quite a lot, in fact.

He followed Chandray with the mandolin, his fingers and nail scratching the string of the mandolin as if he wanted them to break, at the same time that his teacher played the fiddle as if she wanted to light it on fire; a fire as warm as the one in her heart as she played the music. And with a sudden chord, the three of them stopped.

Stefan opened his eyes... and noticed that his hair had covered his face. He laughed slightly, accommodating his hair back into place; he had been carried away by the music, as well as Chandray did.

And now, it was time to get paid... after all, it was pleasant to get paid to make something you love. Once Stefan went to the bar to get the six golden rimmed mizas, he quickly gave one of them away “One glass of wine for me, and one for my darling here” he said winking at her “After all, it’s only fair, isn’t it?”

Oh, it was pleasant to catch up with a fellow musician and friend with a nice glass of wine. Talking about plots, adventures and more; was just marvellous. “Well, I finally got my rapier early this day... a little something to celebrate this lovely spring” he smiled, showing his new steel cup-hilt rapier to his fellow fencer “what do you think? You're the expert in this matter, after all, and I would like to know your opinion.”

[Chandray]

Chandray put the fiddle and the fiddle stick to the side, leaned on the bar counter, smiled. She felt spent but content. She was handed her six golden miza’s and would have put them in her pocket, but then she got the glass of wine too, so she just put the mizas on the counter, took the glass and sipped on it while Stefan showed her the new rapier. It looked good. She remembered the simplistic high quality rapiers she had been looking at in the Arma’Drex smithy in early winter, when all those had already been sold. This one looked the same way, cleancut, efficient, no joke. A deadly weapon, not a decoration. She looked at Stefan and his tousled hair and merry eyes. The artistic, bohemian man with his easygoing smiles and his apparent love for music could easily have come off as nothing else than a soft and charming dreamer. She guessed he truly was this too, partly, yet she recalled their first meeting and knew the fun and pleasant bard wasn’t all he was, he was also something more. Just like all of us are never just a single simple thing, but always something more, intriguing and concealed. She marveled at her own thoughts, silently mocking herself - going quite the philosopher, was she, eh ? Oh, the air in here was thick with smoke, she felt a wee bit groggy, it would be good to go outdoors. She took the rapier in order to give it a closer look. It was top class craftsmanship. “Is it from the Arma’Drex? I was going to buy a rapier just like this one in winter, but all were sold…” She weighed it in her hand, flexing to get a feel for it. “Well balanced. It’s really good.” She spoke seriously now and there was sincere appreciation in her voice. The smith had offered her another rapier … Chandray’s own rapier, sporting a flamboyant ornate hilt with black leather coating, had been custom made for a man from Kenash, who had never turned up again to fetch it. The smith had finally decided to sell it to somebody else. And here it came now, as the staff handed it to her over the counter together with her cloak- it had been deposited in the bar while she was playing. She showed to Stefan and told him the story about how she had acquired it. “I spent a long time in the Arma’Drex that day. An amazing weapon shop. One of the owners showed me their armor for sale. I’m going to buy a studded leather vest there, once I have earned money enough to afford it. “ She took a sip of wine and laughed a bit. “They are fitting people for armor in the shop, up on a stage that is turning around…it can be fun to watch…anyways, he took my measures and I must remember to go back there soon. “ A new sip of wine. She continued to tell the story about her visit in the smithy and shop. She told him about her own rapier and held it up in the air and showed it to him. “It was made for somebody from Kenash.” She listened to Stefans answer while she fastened the weapon belt around her waist and donned the cloak. Now, she was nearly ready to depart, but had many things to mind, the wine the fiddle and the mizas. While she chatted and laughed with Stefan, she took it for granted they would proceed to a nice ‘walk and talk’ through the safe and calm city of Riverfall at night. Oh wasn’t it a good thing, say, to have a pleasant, merry friend to walk with, talk about music and about swords… This was when the dhani dancer made her last amazing move for this evening. It could only be described as a surprise attack. Slim and fast and incredibly agile, the girl passed by. Her hand shot out with amazing speed and snatched the gold, and then she headed to the door, weaving through the crowd like she was able to see openings that hardly existed and make use of them before they closed again. “Hey! My mizas ! What the … “ Chandray spun around just in time to see the thieving dancer disappear among all the people who were still in the club but on their way out. Her shout went unheeded. There were so many other shouts, people were calling for friends they were waiting for, and a group of guest were also singing loudly. Chandray’s voice was drenched in the general noise. Her reactions were quick. She wasn’t going to put up with being robbed, not after having given one of her best performances ever ! Within ticks she had grabbed Stefans arm. She shook it and told him what was up. Then she deposited the fiddle and it’s stick in the bar to keep it out of harm, and started to make her way between the leaving guests. But the dancer was already at the door and now she went out… OOCOne more post for Stefan here,then we hand this in and start the sequel thread

[Stefan]

He waited, somewhat impatiently, at Chandray’s response. She was the expert, after all, and it would have been really embarrassing if she told him that the rapier was not good enough, even for a beginner like him. But in the end, she seemed pleased; it was indeed a good rapier “Aye, from Arma’Drex; just brought it today. A little celebration for this new season, and it was worth every copper.”

As his one-time teacher told him about the story of her own sword, at the time she showed it to him, he couldn’t help but to feel a little jealous. It was indeed a fine rapier, with a precious hilt and a shiny yet deadly blade... something indeed elegant. Stefan’s own rapier paled in comparison, but it seemed reasonable... perhaps, in the future, he could have his own custom sword when he became better at it. Perhaps, but for now, he just admired it, passing his fingers through his blade carefully “Oh my, lass, this is quite a sword... it shouldn’t surprise me. Every rose has its thorn, after all, and the most gorgeous roses have the most deadly ones.”

Taking himself some sips of his glass of wine, he heard about the armour, and couldn’t help but imagine her in it. Quite pleasant, to say at least, but he shrugged it off. “Nice choice for armour, if you allow me, but I prefer just boiled leather personally. It is not much protection, I must admit, but it’s comfortable, light and practical... besides, I always liked leather, plain and simple.” He couldn’t help but agree with Chandray with that one, though. She was elegant, fit, yet deadly; somebody who wouldn’t flee from a fight, so she would need a good protection.

As Chandray donned her cloak and fastener her weapon, Stefan did the same, but just with his sword and the mandolin, since he didn’t wore his cloak in spring, and in fact, the only reason he was shirtless was that the nights were still chilli. Still, he loved the season; it was full of opportunities, like this one! Especially if it mean expending time with the lovely Chandray; a friend to laugh with, talk, and flirt. Oh, and he did liked the flirting, alright.

Stefan smiled at her, touching her chin softly with his hand “And I thought this night wasn’t going to get interesting...” but almost like a gale, Stefan could feel Chandray grabbing his arm. For a second, he thought she was going to beat him, but she just carried him away; following somebody... was she the Dhani dancer? And then her companion told him what just happened.

“Oh petch no!” he said now completely angry, not only for the fact that the dancer just stole his fellow musician’s money, but for the fact that her technique was awful “By Yshul’s fingers, I’ll teach you something you two-copper thief!” and running along with Chandray, they went off the club, ready to look for the sneaky thief.

[Chandray]

Good thing she wasn't alone, Chandray thought angrily while she and Stefan made their way towards the door. There were too many people in the way for them to be able to move quickly. The chances at catching up with the thief were very small ... but Chandray didn't want to just give up. Finally they reached the entrance and stepped out ... Continues in Snake's Path on the Rock

[Shijara]

Chandray

The Good Stuff :

Experience:

Skill	XP
Instrument: Fiddle	+2
Meditation	+2
Socialization	+1
Observation	+1

Lore(s):
Stefan: Musician
Location: Coils Club
Coils Club: Something In The Smoke?
Fiddle: Playing A Different Style
Getting Robbed

Loot:
N/A

Notes:
Oh, Chandray, I absolutely love your writing style. It's elegant and has such a prose that never tires, only beautifies. This was a fun thread that had a mystical feel in the way you described the scenery. I honestly wish I could have stepped into the world and experienced Chandray's wonderful music. Fantastic job!

Stefan

The Good Stuff :

Uh-Oh
Grade withheld due to character death/retirement/inactivity/ban. Unless I'm wrong, I can't assign anything at this moment. If something in the future changes, please PM me and I'll be happy to correct this!

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and I'll be happy to discuss it with you. Keep writing!