[The Amphitheater] Job Thread #2

by **Jorin Ertihan** on August 26th, 2013, 3:41 pm

Season of Summer, Day 83, 513 AV

Ninth Bell

Jorin strode confidently across the Amphitheater stage, arm outstretched.

"It is not that it exists that hate is evil," he cried. "Though that is quite bad enough. No, It is that it spreads, like a plague or a disease. And it poisons all that it touches."

Jorin bowed his head, cape billowing. "Know that if you kill me in hatred, you only spread its reach, until the very sky darkens with its taint. It may not happen today, brother. I may not even happen with armies at our backs, but rest assured it will come to pass."

"Pretty words from a desperate man," sneered the actor opposing Jorin, his face contorted in a mask of hatred. If he hadn't shared drinks with the man mere days ago he would have thought he'd actually hated him. "Look around you, Karik. See the world for what it really is. Filled with lies, and deceit. The answer is obvious and the Valterrian is the proof, men are not worthy of the world in which they inhabit! And I shall be the divine wind that cleanses it."

"And when you have cleansed the world, you shall sit at the throne?" Jorin growled, striding up to the other actor and glowering at him.

"... no," he replied. "I shall not. There will not be a throne, Karik. Nor shall there be a palace, or a kingdom. Sound, then silence. The world will die, and no one will mourn."

Jorin looked at the sky, as though it held a great mystery. His eyes shone with passion. "So because you could not rule the world, you choose to destroy it," he intoned, voice sounding far away. "Mizahar will quickly forget the trials of two pathetic actors upon its mighty stage but here and now, you and I will play our parts. At hazard then! Though I dearly hope there is a special place in Lhex's plan for you."

The other actor grinned, drawing a wooden sword from its scabbard. "I would not know," he jeered. "I plan to live forever."

With a sudden, practiced thrust, the other actor lunged forward, and Jorin leaped back, catching himself on the balls of his feet and drawing his own wooden sword. It was a coreographed routine, of course, one he had practiced many times over the last few days. Nonetheless the routine was not an easy one, and required quite a bit of concentration to pull off.

by **Jorin Ertihan** on August 26th, 2013, 3:43 pm

Jorin always hated these swordfight scenes. As an actor, he had no problem with them in theory, but they were always so difficult to nail down. Right, so first came the thrust, which Jorin parried with an exaggerated sweep of his wooden sword. In theater, all movements had to be exaggerated for effect; subtle movements might be useful in real battle but an audience is usually seated too far away to appreciate them.

Circling around his opponent, Jorin went for the pre-planned overhead swing, the wood making a loud clack as it struck his opponent's weapon. Struggling for a brief period they seperated once more, before the other actor swung low, at Jorin's feet, who oblidgingly jumped to avoid it.

Jorin very nearly fell as he landed, and he realized he'd need a bit more practice with that move, but nonetheless gamely continued the routine, coming in with a diagonal cut. The other actor backpedaled with slightly widened eyes. Wait. Was that wrong? Jorin searched his memory. He'd been sure that was supposed to be the next move!

There was a silent communication of eyes between the two actors. They could not afford to break the coreography by speaking, so they communicated by flashes of emotion. Jorin's eyes spoke of confusion. Was that the wrong move? Conviction. Yes, it was. Questioning. Attack now? Resignation. Might as well.

Mentally shrugging, he decided to go in for what he thought was supposed to be the third move of the set, a hilt strike to the opponent's head. Up until this point the two actors had been circling each other, and when he went for this move, Jorin launched himself off, making a running spinning leap and bringing the hilt down. It was a fanciful maneuver, and if he missed he would land on the ground. He just hoped his partner would recognize that he was essentially skipping the middle of their routine and going straight for the end of the fight.

As expected, the veteran actor took it in stride, appropriately raising his sword for a diagonal upward thrust. Jorin was "skewered" upon the opponent's blade (actually just going through his armpit, as planned), but not before the hilt "struck" his opponent. During the few dramatic moments their eyes locked again, a frantic silent conversation ensued once more.

Confusion. What was that? Apologetic. I didn't think we'd be able to improvise. Amusement. Stage director's gonna be angry. Conviction. The show must go on. Agreement.

Jorin staggered back, cluching his chest as his eyes widened in "pain". He gesticulated wildly, and fell to the ground.

"Oh, merciful gods! I am slain!" he cried as he sank to the floor. "But the last laugh shall be mine," he cried triumphantly. "For with my death, so goes your only chance at obtaining the power you seek."

"NOOOO!" screamed the other actor, throwing his hands up in despair. "Tell me where it is!" he roared. But Jorin just smiled.

"If you want it, come find me in the halls of the dead," he crowed, then "died".

As he lay on the ground, Jorin suppressed a smile. A corpse, after all, could not smile. Nonetheless he was pleased. Besides the one little hiccup with the swordfight scene, that went pretty well. He only hoped the next curtain would go as well as this one.

by **Magpie** on September 22nd, 2013, 10:09 pm

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Jorin :

Notes :

If you have any questions or concerns about what was awarded, please don't hesitate to PM me.
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Solo [The Amphitheater] Job Thread #2