Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Official Masquerade Topic - Winter 2020

Torie giggled some, sitting in the snow. He messed with his hair again, between the Arctic fox mask, the white suit he'd chosen and the sliver of his hair he was nearly invisible in the snow. Although his darker grey eyes stood out against the light colors around him. He didn't care that the snow was catching in his hair and getting stuck on his ears, as snow was one of his favorite things.

What appears to be three people hidden under a sheet, carrying a horse's skull on a stick in front of them, come shuffling out of the forest behind Annai, giggling perhaps a little drunkenly. "Ey, what's occurin', my dwtty?" says a deep voice from the front of the sheeted gang, pulling a string to make the horse skull's lower jaw flap as if it is the one doing the speaking. "Well here we come to ask your leave to sing! If yer like run out of rhymes before I do, you must give me like sumthing to drink!"

Startled at the forward way Alfred pulled her onto the dance floor, Cassia gave him an odd glance, but allowed the contact as she was swept out onto the wooden floor laid upon the Meadow grass. The moon shone down on the pair and she soon lost her initial rigid stature. She couldn't deny the song, the light, the excitement of being swept away in a dance. The husky voice of her dance partner tilted her face up to peek at him. She had noticed another person dancing alone beside them now, as if he were trying to find a new partner, but already otherwise engaged she focused on the moment at hand.

"You are very perceptive sir Alfred." She sang to him, her voice almost a coo as she was swept in a circle, her feet easily keeping the steps. Her posture was perfect, and she seemed as though, if it weren't for her horns she could keep a stack of books aloft on her head without sending them tumbling, so fluid were her steps. But the grace was belied by the mischief offering her cheeks their natural rosy complexion and she let her eyes roam the new party goers in hopes of finding a likely one to exchange masks with. "I think you might have been right.. The magic here is heady Indeed, and I feel unable to avoid slipping into song." She murmured, if only to have something to say before awkwardness overcame them. Her own mask had been returned by Elora, yet it seemed the magic would stay, until she exchanged her mask.

A voice sounded above the rest of the murmurs that had filled the area around from the moment she got there, and something told her that it was directed at her, however odd it seemed to be. She opened her previously closed eyes and flitted her brown orbs across the scene to find the source of the voice. A masked man from the looks of it had his concealed face facing her direction. He appeared to be the only one...it would make sense for the louder voice to catch attention of someone far away, such as herself. Thinking back to the request she found it odd at the name of spell was there but it didn't surprise her too much, considering everything else here at the Gala. She couldn't remember the last time she had danced, but it probably wouldn't matter too much in the spell-breaking process...right? Just as she was about to leave her spot and make way to the man to assist, another voice sounded behind her, and she quickly glanced back in surprise this time, having not recalled a person there before. The skull of a horse sent an odd feeling to swarm at her chest and the unplaced accent that reached her ears only added to it. The now second request asked of her this evening was somehow more odd than the first, and she became lightheaded.

"...I am to sing in rhyme?", a small but deep rich voice came from her in the form of a question, genuine confusion rested there well. Her hands that were behind her back now played gently with the layers of her coat. She would still take an occasional step backwards towards the man that had asked of her first, his request still in the back of her mind...and most defiantly not an excuse to put a bit more distance between her and the new...beings in front of her.

Renia walked up. “ im up for a challenge. Im ok at singing rhymes might be a challenge.” She said politely and saw the skull and raised a eyebrow at the strange sight. She smiled sweetly and was happy to see somebody? She was starting to enjoy this more by the hour.

"Nah, nah, you go dance, alright, beaut?" flaps the horse skull at Annai. The three people under the sheet do a rather awkward, shuffled about-face to bring the horse skull to face Renai, instantly launching into a couplet. "Forgive me please if yer ears I do assail, but if yer can't speak in rhyme, we'll gain yer wassal!"

"Singing...? I suppose my land knows me for my talent..." Yuki looked around. There were many people here, all strangers to her. She looked then at the skull. "I've seen things, but this is amazing."

The horse skull stole Alfred's attention, just enough that his light feet stopped and his hands paused while holding Cassia's up. It very much resembled his old keeper's face, though even it was less terrifying. What was that and why? It's boney teeth clattered along with its puppeteer's words and Alfred had to work not to look at it then. His thinned stomach gurgled and growled, and he released Cass and stepped back, tuning back in to what she said. "Most things are not done without reason," he said quietly, just enough to be heard over the music. "Though you do have quite a talent." He just kept surprising himself.

His eyes fell from her face to the rest of her, hunger changing the spark in his eyes. "If you'll excuse me," he started. "I think I'll get something to eat." He sounded uncomfortable and hurried off to the food table, where he first stood, to make a mountain of a plate. Afterward, he would head outside to find a private place to eat and collect his bearings, being sure to steer clear of the 'talking' horse skull.

Torie glanced over at the horse. "The heck...?" He got up, going to investigate. He staid back some, watching the horse with a mixture of curiosity and fear. "I am not going to comment..." He said simply, walking away. So far he'd already been put under one spell, he wasn't getting tangled up with more stuff.

Though she felt a fair bit sorry for whoever who had to face them next, she didn't want to risk them changing mind again, and so she swiftly continued making way to the man still dancing. The light snow beneath her healed footwear made it slightly difficult to do so and a small worry of it seeping into it crept into mind, though she made no move to avoid it if it were to happen. If spells truly were within this Gala then surely there would be one to help with such a misfortune. Once she was within talking distance she stopped and managed to get a better look at him and the situation he seemed to be stuck in. He did indeed appear to be dancing and showed no indication of stopping anytime soon, besides his words to her from before. She blinked once before looking as best as she could into his eyes whilst he moved about and greeting him. "A good late evening to you, sir...you had said something of a spell in need of breaking?", her voice sounded once more, the confusion from before still lingered in her tone, and equally as soft.

Curious indeed. Such mystery there was to be had here at the gala! But the strangeness of it all wasn't lost on her. She stilled when Alfred did and did not miss the strange hungry way be viewed her before rushing off. A slow frown threatened to mar her otherwise cheery face before she brightened and swept herself off the dance floor.

As she sipped some spiced punch, she caught sight of Maw, and moved over toward the colorful being, clearing her throat softly as she dipped in a courtesy of greeting. Her green blue eyes were alite with curiosity behind her mask of blue. "Excuse me.." She sang, for her words were spoken in song, no matter how curious it might seem.

"I have an odd request.. For a new mask I seek. Would you consider a trade for now? Your own mask I wouldn't keep."

Her song continued and she finally fell silent, awaiting the response to her strange introduction.

This was quite the curious event. Strange as it was with the appearance of the horse-skulled arrival(s?) asking for rhymes, the Dragoness was enjoying herself. She changed her course so she might be a little nearer to whatever might happen with those standing by the horse-skull-wearing newcomers, but only close enough that she could hear. She had no wish to get involved or draw more attention to herself than was necessary.

She glanced around once to see if she might spot the Sword, swirling the drink in her gloved hand absently as her gaze instead settled on several of the masquerade's attendees. They all seemed so lovely and colorful, and even those with less prominent plumage looked just as captivating. She took a deep breath and let it out in a soft sigh, the air billowing out before her in a cloud--almost as if the dragon had let out a puff of smoke.

Relieved that Annai considered coming back to him he felt himself breathe a small sigh of relief, "Good evening to you too, and yes, I do." he greeted her, "I accepted a dance from someone and the spell passed onto me, I can't stop my feet even if I wanted to" he chuckled lightly trying to be lighthearted about the situation. Even if he might be risking embarrassing himself in the process, "It seems like passing it is the only way to break it temporarily that is" he explained. Now that he knew that magic was surely going to be used during the gala he'd have to be more cautious, "I can even help you find someone so you don't get stuck under the spell for long" he offered, hoping that it would be enough to interrupt her time for a moment or two.

It seemed her question was lost in the music and the crowd's chatter. She noticed an even stranger creature, wearing some sort of horse skull. That was both creepy and ...oddly endearing.

She stepped closer, and in her intense curiosity, bumped into another one of the guests, also approaching the skulled-horse.

"I'm so sorry!" she quickly said. "Are you alright?"

Sarthelia's vigilant listening cued her in to Cassia's melodic voice and the light crunch of snow beneath Annai's heels. But one sound seemingly caught her attention more than the rest, a single exhale that sounded quite unusual. The sound belonged to a woman standing at the edge of the events, observing silently it seemed. Xefry seemed to express a similar interest, subtly shifting his body weight towards the Dragoness. Sarthelia couldn't hold the urge back and began walking towards the Dragoness slowly, her bare feet making minimal noise in the snow as she approached. She stopped short, looking at the people wearing horse skulls for masks. Clearly they were a different brand of eccentric based on their accents. She continued her strides once more, stopping arms distance from the dragoness.

Maw's red eyes flicked over to Cassia as she got their attention, eyebrows raising under their mask at the sang request. They put down the fork holding some cake and turned to face her properly, face stoic as ever but an effectively soothing voice coming out of their mouth.

"Oh, I see... I'll allow it," they breathed out, removing their own cat-like mask and offering it to her. Though it didn't show as well, Maw was rather amused at the proposition as sleepily lidded eyes watched Cassia.

The feet visible under the sheet begin to jig about, as the puppeteer works their horse skull, issuing a general challenge.

"This tradition of old
says we must battle
in the glade so cold
while my skull's a-rattle

It's not just booze I seek
also honeyed meats and cheeses
so don't let your tongue be meek
speak to me a rhyme that pleases!

Bet you can't, or bet you won't
you'll never beat me, oh no you don't!
The rhyming king am I, so clever
The victor of words I'll be forever!"

A glimpse of relief was given in the brief moment her face was revealed as she turned away from the crowds to exchange her own mask for Maw's. Once she had slipped the mask over her face, she would dip into an even lower courtesy before reaching out a hand to shake. This time when she spoke, her voice was normal and bright but with no song to carry it.

"I thank you for your kindness. For the Masquerade I am simply Cass. And it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." I do hope a few moments with my mask will not send you amiss. There seems to be strange magic at play here. Exciting indeed." Her voice was conspiratorial as she regarded the other being.

She listened carefully to what he said concerning the spell, not wanting to forget a detail in case it may be useful later. The way he explained it made it seem that the whole ordeal didn't bother him too much, but if he wasn't bothered then he would not have asked for help surely. She convinced herself that the chances of this being a trick were very slim based on that. Though she wasn't fond of the idea of not being able to stop dancing for an unknown amount of time, she didn't want to walk away and refuse to help, it would stay on her conscience. The young woman thought thoroughly about the situation and possibilities before responding. "Of course I shall help then...though I wonder if dancing with an object...or maybe with whoever cast the spell, would permanently put it to a stop...", she spoke her thoughts cautiously and a lightly furrowed set of eyebrows in thought, keeping eye contact with him as best she could, so hopefully he would sense her willingness to help, and not excuses for holding off on helping.

The just-audible sound of footsteps coming from the side drew the Dragoness' attention in that direction. The figure approaching her appeared to be another woman--how old she was or where she might hail from was hard to discern, but the scaled creature perched on her shoulder looked like some species of dragons.

As one might expect--or perhaps not expect--the Dragoness was very familiar with dragons, at least the ones she knew. This one however, if it was a dragon, wasn't one she recognized. All the same, it was enough to pull her out of her shell so that she spoke first when the newcomer came to stand nearby.

"Good evening," she greeted, still a little clumsy with what to say but growing steadily more at ease. "Delightful affair, isn't it?"

Her pale eyes peered at the newcomer's smaller companion from under her horned mask, curiously observing the pair.