The Puppet Mistress

Cries

• Puppeteering

  Marionette

  Shadow Puppet

  Ventriloquist

  Equilibristics

  Tightrope Walking

  Slackrope Walking

  Stilt Walking

  Object manipulation

  Juggling

  Risley (feet)

  Plate Spinning

  Side Show

  Chapeaugraphy		Contortion		Fire Eating
  Glass Walking		Hook Suspention		Sword Swallowing

  Other

  Aerial Hoop		Bullwhip		Hand Walking
  Knife Throwing		Stage Combat		Voltige

  Magic

  Eavesdropping

  Seductive Voice

  Intimidating Voice
• While it seems like she has a number of skills, you must keep in mind that this has been her entire life up to this point. She was born in a circus and she will die in one. As she has grown and taken on more and more duties she has kept up with training herself so that she can give the basic training to those under her. She has trained primarily children, but she is more than happy to take on older performers. Perhaps it's for the better she finds those who might be able to train downward and free her from some of her duties. The circus will not run itself.
• The Puppet Mistress
  
  

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  “On the high wire, within months,

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  I'm able to master all the tricks they do in the circus

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  But I am not satisfied.

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  ➣A E R I A L ⚔ H O O P ▪ The use of a suspended hoop for performing aerial acrobatics. Andrea Otxoa is skilled in this and it was once her signature act and it is how she has kept so fit. Over the years her skills have waned with age, but she still prides herself on being excellent. Example

  ➣B U L L W H I P ▪ There is nothing like the crack of a whip; this Circus Mistress has taken command of the bullwhip and she can crack a 12.5 foot whip with ease. She has in the past used this as a way to dance, but now it's simply for fun and a quick performance in between acts if things are going slow. Example

  
  

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  ➣C H A P E A U G R A P H Y ▪ The act of using a piece of circular piece of felt to create different types of hat shapes. This is another quick act, used in between other acts and one that Andrea Otxoa does not particularily enjoy. That said, she will perform it and she is willing to share her skills. Example (contains racist caricatures)

  ➣C O N T O R T I O N ▪ A flexible body is needed for many skills that Andrea Otxoa possesses, but as she has aged it has become harder and harder to continue to perform. She is just as flexible as she once was, but it takes more effort and she cannot hold herself as long. She continues to push her limits, however, and it is beginning to show. She will be able to perform just about any contortionist skill, but it will do damage if she holds it too long. Example

  
  
  
  
  
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  ➣E A V E S D R O P P I N G ▪ One of her gifts is that she is able to listen to any language and understand it. She cannot speak anything but the languages she knows, however. This means that she can listen to any language and understand it. That does not mean she will know the context and she cannot reply. It's simply a thing she can do.

  ➣F I R E ⚔ E A T I N G ▪ This is one of the least favourite skills that the Circus Mistress has had to pick up. She never performs it, only using it as a skill to teach others. It is hard, however, to get her to agree to teach it. If she takes someone on, she will expect them to be an expert dancer and performer, but not invaluable to the circus because of the potential for accidents. Example

  
  

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  ➣G L A S S ⚔ W A L K I N G ▪ While glass walking itself is not a hard skill to learn - it is about learning to trust your body and step just right - it is a hard skill to master. Content to just be able to do it without bloody feet anymore, Andrea Otxoa only does it to demonstrate to potential performers. Example

  ➣H A N D ⚔ W A L K I N G ▪ Balance and strength are the key for hand walking and Andrea Otxoa has both in spades. She is not an adept performer on her hands, but she is able to keep herself upright, moving and balanced. If she takes on someone to learn this skill, she would likely have them be more than just a hand walker and she may ask them to take on other skills as well. Example

  
  
  
  
  

• ➣H O O K ⚔ S U S P E N S I O N ▪ The art of suspending the body from hooks is a skill that every circus needs. It is a power of the body and mind to be able to take the pain and trust the person who is lifting you. Andrea Otxoa has been on both sides and while she is more than willing to teach it, she will expect nothing less than her apprentice to take up both sides. She will refuse to let anyone simply learn the art of piercing the body properly without experiencing suspension themselves. Example (contains needles)

  ➣I N T I M I D A T I N G ⚔ V O I C E ▪ A gift of an intimidating voice can be what saves someone in a dangerous situation, or it can be used to get a free drink at a tavern. There is no telling what she might use the voice for, but it a skill that one does not want to be on the wrong end of.

  
  

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  ➣J U G G L I N G ▪ A common circus skill, but one that Andrea Otxoa has not mastered. She will state that it is because she has no interest, but she has never found a natural skill in it. She has practiced to three balls and some minor tricks, but she will not be center stage with this skill. Example

  ➣K N I F E ⚔ T H R O W I N G ▪ This is a skill that Andrea Otxoa will not allow another to perform without near perfection. This is one of the few skills that she will actively perform herself, with the right partner. If she takes someone on to teach, she will only let them perform if she can feel comfortable standing at the target herself. Example

  
  
  
  
  

• ➣M A R I O N E T T E ▪ There is nothing Andrea Otxoa loves more than her marionettes. With a baker's dozen, the Puppet Mistress treats like they were her own children. Anyone who knows anything will stay away from the marionettes, especially the one named Dotza. She is skilled with the dolls and she will refuse to allow another in her circus to perform with them - if she takes on an apprentice, it will be a strange day. Example

  ➣P L A T E ⚔ S P I N N I N G ▪ A balancing act all on its own, it seems like it would be a simple skill to learn, but there is a lot that goes into it. Having just enough skills to spin a single plate and keep it up, the Circus Mistress wishes to pass this skill on and be done with it. Example

  
  

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  ➣R I S L E Y ▪ The act of laying on one's back and spinning an object or person with one's feet. It's a skill that Andrea Otxoa is long past her prime for, but she will sometimes perform it for friends. She is no longer strong enough to support anyone but a small person, but she would be willing to try. Example

  ➣S E D U C T I V E ⚔ V O I C E ▪ Just as she has an intimidating voice, Andrea Otxoa can have the voice of an angel. She whispers sweet words and honeyed promises to get what she needs. There is no telling what she might promise in that sweet voice of hers.

  
  
  
  
  

• ➣S H A D O W ⚔ P U P P E T ▪ Using puppets behind a hazy curtain to create shadows. This one has been a skill that is best shared and she has been helping all sorts of people learn the different skills involved, including the use of the puppets and the storytelling skills that come with it. Example

  ➣S L A C K R O P E ⚔ W A L K I N G ▪ As the name suggests, Andrea Otxoa has spent a part of her life learning how to walk and dance on a slack wire. She has to be wary of where the slack naturally sits and how her weight will shift the balance. She cannot use any props while she performs. Example

  
  

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  ➣S T A G E ⚔ C O M B A T ▪ the act of fake fighting for the sake of the stage. She is able to act out just about any fight both unarmed and with false weapons. Example

  ➣S T I L T ⚔ W A L K I N G ▪ Dancing, only much taller, Andrea Otxoa loves stilts and all the things that come with it. The height, the danger, and the dancing. She is not extremely skilled, but she manages to keep herself out of most scrapes when performing. Example

  
  
  
  
  

• ➣S W O R D ⚔ S W A L L O W I N G ▪ While a staple of the circus, Andrea Otxoa only has the basics of sword swallowing down and like some other skills, that is fine with her. She is able to get the sword down and up safely, but she does not perform any other daring acts if only to help preserve herself. Example

  ➣T I G H T R O P E ⚔ W A L K I N G▪ Much like slackrope walking, the Circus Mistress has gotten the basic skills down for tightrope walking. She does find it easier that slackrope and she has had more luck with things like flips and has on occasion tried to walk on her hands on the rope. She is not willing to try without a safety net, however. Example

  
  

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  ➣V E N T R I L O Q U I S M ▪ While not her first love in puppeteering, Andrea Otxoa has three dummies she loves nearly as much as her marionettes. There is one with her almost always, though it changes from day to day depending on her mood. Example

  ➣V O L T I G E ▪ A skill that should be long forgotten by Andrea Otxoa, she has continued to keep up with her skills as much as she can. While she was young this was one of the many skills she wanted to specialize in, but she was not able to find a horse who trusted her until much later on in life. She practiced and worked with the horses they had when she was young, but it never felt right. Instead, as an old woman, she is learning to trust a horse and trust a partner at the same time. Example