It's Curtains Act 3 Test Drive

[stagemanagers]

1) CURTAINS UP

You’ve just woken up in some kind of dorm room, which is certainly not where you went to bed last night. Actually, do you even remember going to sleep…? Regardless, this isn't where you last were, and worse still - there's other people waking up in the same room with you, in the same state.

Talk to your roommates! Go out and meet everyone from the other rooms! Most of these people may be strangers, but you’re gonna all have to get used to one another. And who knows? There may actually be a familiar face in the crowd.

2) THIS PETTY PACE

By now, you're acquainted with everybody here and you're slowly growing bored. Bored enough to kill? Hopefully not. You'd better try to find something else to do. You can always go hang out with your castmates, or maybe try and whip something up in the kitchen! There’s even a band room to keep you busy! I sure hope you like music.

3) BREAK A LEG

Comedies are fun and all, but that’s not quite what we’re about here. You’ve all just been handed this week’s motive. What do you make of it? Is it one that might actually tempt you to kill, or did you get off lightly this time? Either way, maybe you’d better look around the room and see who else is having a rough time.

4) I LOVE PLAY REHEARSAL

It's Club Day! What's Club Day, you ask? Come to the classroom on the poster to find out! It looks like this week's club is Bread Club. Be wary, when you enter the classroom you'll face a shower of various bread slices but be rewarded with a surprisingly fancy layout of spreads and jams to go with them. Don't mind the oddly threatening poster on the far wall. He's just here to supervise.

5) CURTAIN

It was bound to happen eventually. Someone is dead, and now it's time to go off and investigate. Were they close to you? Are you, perhaps, feeling guilty? Either way, it's probably best not to leave anyone alone right now.

6) CUE MUSIC

Feelings in a murder-school can get pretty gosh darn intense. Sometimes you’ve just got to let it out. And hey, if you sing a song about whatever’s going on in your head, maybe someone will hear and come help you? Either way, this is a musical – there’s not really any reason not to sing.

[Mod Note: The song mechanic is meant to be fluid and simple. You do not have to produce your own song lyrics, nor are you required to use show tunes (although we do encourage it!). If you want to rewrite existing lyrics to fit the situation, go for it! Anything goes - if Mumford and Sons expresses your character’s current emotions, then break out the banjos. We want to keep the musical mechanic as fun and simple as we can to encourage our players to use it as much as they like.]

6) WILDCARD

Make up your own prompt!

--

Questions, comments, concerned? Reach the mods on plurk at slothbless (Lynny) and lluosogrwydd (Lu) and at our public mod plurk stagemanagers. Our official Act 3 FAQ can also be found here!

Comments

Orpheus | Hadestown

[themuseabandonsyou]

I. I'm a new soul

[ Well this is - unusual. Orpheus takes a moment after waking to realize that this isn't his room above the bar, but when he does he sits upright, looking around with a groggy sort of shock. ]

Oh, um. Hello! [ he says, waving over at the person in the bed across from his. ] Do you know where we are?

[ He looks sort of sheepish about having to ask, like there's a chance he somehow wound up here by accident, or managed to miss the explanation for why he's suddenly waking up in an unfamiliar room with a stranger. ]

II. I came to this strange world

[ In an entirely predictable turn of events, Oprheus immediately finds his way to the music room. He misses his guitar, anxious about where it could've wound up without him, and while other instruments aren't exactly a proper substitute being able to play does help him take his mind off of things. Sitting at the piano, he plays a slow, contemplative piece, singing the words under his breath. ]

Kéklyth’ Helikōna bathýdendron
haì láchete Diòs eribrómou
thýgatres euṓlenoi
mólete sunómaimon hína Phoîbon
ōidaîsi mélpsēte chryseokómān
hòs anà dikórymba Parnassídos
tāsde petérās hédran ham agaklytaîs
Delphísin Kastalídos euýdrou
nā́mat’ epinísetai, Delphòn anà prōna
manteîon ephépōn págon

[ Yeah, that's not in English. The familiar may be able to pin it down as Attic Greek, if they're listening carefully enough. It's a hymn to Apollo that his mother taught him a long, long time ago, and with things as confusing as they are right now he feels like calling for some divine insight is appropriate. ]

V. Hoping I could learn a bit 'bout how to give and take

[ Orpheus is... not taking this whole death thing well. He didn't know the victim, having managed to miss talking to them, but the thought of what happened to them makes something go painfully tight in his chest and throat. Looking pale and alarmed, he hangs back as the others investigate, trying not to stare at the body. ]

Who could do something like this? And why? Just to get out? [ It doesn't make any sense. Everyone had been getting along so well! Anxiously, he runs his hands through his hair and turns away, shaking his head. ]

v

[howtheworldwas]

[ Eurydice, on the other hand, stares at the body -- probably for a beat too long. It's definitely a horrifying sight, but it's also confirmation that there's a killer in this place. It's evidence.

She'll investigate it later. For now, she's worried about Orpheus. Eurydice turns towards him, laying a hand gently -- protectively -- on his back. When she speaks, it's barely above a whisper. ]

I don't know. People do stupid things when they're desperate. What's important now is that we stay safe.

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus just nods, swallowing hard and stepping closer to Eurydice, reaching out to wrap an arm around her shoulders. It's tempting to cling to her more fully, to hide his face in her hair and hold her and wait until someone else solves the problem, but he knows it isn't going to work that way. ]

I just - didn't think anyone would actually do it. [ he says, quietly. ] What should we do?

[ He looks to her expectantly, wide-eyed. She's better in a crisis than he is, sharper and more canny, and while he's aware to an extent that he tends to trust too easily, he knows he can always trust her. ]

[howtheworldwas]

[ Eurydice slides her arm around Orpheus's body as well, pulling him close. Unlike Oprheus, she anticipated this. She's always expected the worst from people, even if the worst means murder. Still, that doesn't mean she's not frightened. She could be next. Orpheus could be next.

Orpheus looks to her, and Eurydice nods once, doing her best to appear steady. ]

We protect ourselves. Even if this killer's caught, who's to say there isn't more than one? [ Wow, Eurydice that's...super reassuring...

Eurydice breaks contact, moving to hold Orpheus's hand instead, leading him away from the body and back towards their rooms. ]

I've got some food saved. We can get it quick, but then we shouldn't stay in our rooms for much longer. We're easy to find there. Better to go someplace more sheltered. [ Since escape isn't an option. ]

[themuseabandonsyou]

Right. [ Orpheus has noticed her sneaking food away from bread club and meals, and honestly given how weird the whole situation is he kind of can't blame her for being worried about supplies drying up here too. He'd done a little bit of it as well out of sheer force of habit, rationing things away for later, though not quite as diligently as her.

He lets go and allows himself to be lead along by the hand, worrying his lip as he follows along. ]

Where will we go? We can't leave the school, and this place isn't that big. [ There don't seem to be that many places to hide, although he hasn't really been looking. ]

v

[tellthestory]

People do things like this for all sorts of reasons. It's usually at least a little personal.

[Not to be judgmental, except he is totally doing that and he's not sorry, actually! The Balladeer seems to have no particular trouble looking at the body; he's solemn, but these things just happen.]

I usually know why. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do, here...

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus shakes his head - not disagreeing, necessarily, but unable to wrap his mind around the idea and struggling with the attempt. ]

What are any of us supposed to do here? [ he asks, glancing back at the body, regretting it immensely, and looking back at the Balladeer instead. ] I mean, find who did this? But, how?

[ They're not detectives, or at least he doesn't think anyone here is. What are they supposed to do about any of this? ]

[tellthestory]

Oh, you are. Everyone else is going to die if you don't.

[The Balladeer is a weird dude, who seems to know a lot of things he shouldn't and also rarely seems to recognize that it's weird! He tilts his head for a moment, then winces a little and adds ruefully:]

That probably wasn't my line. Just play along if the A.D. has a number about it later?

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus flinches a bit at the Everyone else is going to die if you don't, because that's a whole lot of pressure even if it's a general 'you' and not a specific one. He doesn't know what's going on here, but he's pretty sure if anyone is relying on him to figure it out then they're all in trouble. ]

...Your line? What? [ He blinks at the other man, owlishly. He's clearly missing something here. ]

[tellthestory]

Don't worry about it.

[It'll probably be fine. Not his fault, anyway, that he ended up in their show. But now, with no songs to sing about the murderer...hm. Should he help out? Does he even know how?]

Do you know what people usually do, with things like this?

New Soul

[peglegscrown]

[ At least Orpheus doesn't look completely lost, unlike this deathly pale fellow staring at him like a deer in the headlights. ]

... No? [ He holds his hands close to his chest as his eyes shift about in some vain attempt to recognize his surroundings. ]

This isn't my home, or any home I know. [ Here he makes eye contact. ] ... The same must go for you?

[themuseabandonsyou]

Oh, [ says Orpheus. He stands up, stretching, and peers around the room. Mostly it just looks very plain, but it's definitely not anywhere he's been before. ]

Yes. I don't think I've ever been here before? And when I fell asleep I was at home. [ So this is all very strange. He shakes his head, frowning and worrying his lip slightly before turning his attention back to his... new roommate, he guesses? ] I'm Orpheus, by the way? It's nice to meet you.

[peglegscrown]

[ He frowns in turn. Did he fall asleep before he woke up here? He doesn't remember. The last thing he does remember is...

Well, he better introduce himself back. ]

Wilhelm. [ He nods with an award smile and offers his hand to shake. ]

[themuseabandonsyou]

[ Orpheus smiles and shakes Wilhelm's hand, either not noticing or not off-put by the awkwardness. ]

That's a strange name, [ he says. ] Where are you from, Wilhelm?

[ Aside from "not here". ]

[peglegscrown]

[ Thank you for working with him. Allow him to respond with a word that kind of sounds German? Probably the name of his hometown? ]

And you're from?

II

[humanitarianherbalist]

Now that is a language I have not heard in quite some time. [The Griffin is crouched in a position that seems somewhat uncomfortable for his now-humanoid form, head tilted forward to listen intently.] It is a joy to know the classic hymns have not been lost to time.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Lost? [ Orpheus looks up from the piano, blinking at the newcomer in confusion. ]

They still sing the Delphic Hymns all the time, in all the temples to Apollo I've been to. Is that not true for you?

[humanitarianherbalist]

[He puts a taloned finger carefully to his chin.] It has been quite long since I have seen a temple of Apollo used for its proper purpose. Some of them may still stand, but the humans now do their worshipping in far smaller churches, with far less singing.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Really? [ That sounds... well, it's not Orpheus's place to judge how anyone else conducts their worship, but most of the connection to the divine comes in the singing, for him. Getting rid of it just sounds kind of tragic. Maybe that's just how he is, though. ]

If it's okay to ask - where are you from? I don't think there's many parts of the world where you can't find a temple of Apollo if you're looking for one, as far as I know.

[humanitarianherbalist]

[He rarely listens to sermons himself, unless he likes the speaker personally. He scratches his chin a bit at the question, humming slightly.]

Ah, the names change so fast, I'm not sure of the precise name of the place. Though...the continent's been referred to as America for a while. Though I don't believe there's any temples to Apollo there.

II

[wanderlusttitania]

[Huh. She finds herself drawn to the music room, her ear listening to the tune, eyes widening and narrowing as her mind tried to translate. Once it's finished, she speaks.]

That is the nightingale, he sings,
Of love and of love's pain.

Forgive me, monsieur, but may I ask what language you were speaking? It sounded...familiar.

[themuseabandonsyou]

Oh! It's Greek, I think. Or what came before Greek. I don't really speak it, I just know the song because my mom taught it to me.

[ Still, Orpheus looks positively thrilled, either to have someone recognize even a little of what he was singing or just by the company in general. ]

[wanderlusttitania]

Ah! Greek! That's right! I...know a tiny bit, perhaps I shall learn more in the future.

[With luck! Anything is possible as the Empress!

*ugly sob*]

It's a lovely song. It seems so sad, though...!

[themuseabandonsyou]

Oh, it isn't! It's just slow and kind of formal, because that's how a lot of the old hymns are written.

[ It's not his favorite style of music by a long shot, but it is traditional, and he can appreciate it for what it is. Old songs have power, after all. ]

It's a call to Apollo, praising his accomplishments and asking for his aid. It's still common in the really big traditional temples, I think? I wouldn't know, though, I don't live near any of them.

[wanderlusttitania]

Apollo...ah, I'd love to see the ancient temples of the Greeks. The Parthenon, especially...ancient Greece is so fascinating!

[Blink.





Wait.]

I'm sorry, did...you say...people still worship Apollo?