More Plays - Selinae

For this system/dungeon.

Gustave Moreau, The Parca and the Angel of Death

Selinae

A well known and popular tragic Romance - the name Selinae is often given to girls who are thought to have the character of soldiers, romantics, and fools. The name Percival is a virtue name, synonymous with pragmatism and good business sense. The play is here presented with odd flourishes, courtesy of The Playwright - usually Percival survives. 

ACT ONE

Percival meets Selinae; Percival goes to war; Selinae disobeys her father.

You tell me that you need me, but you must know that the needing also changes me. 

• The Beau, The Maiden. Percival, a young soldier, has received her marching orders. On her last night in the city she meets Selinae, and falls in love with her. Selinae tells Percival that she must be prepared to accept the consequences of her professed love, which Percival agrees to. They 'kiss', and in the morning Percival has left for the muster. The Beau tests CHAR, the Maiden test CHAR. 
• The Beau, The General. Percival marches and monologues about her inherent good fortune - nothing will stop her rise to station and glory. The General monologues about the bitter attrition of war, and the tragedy and horror that he has witnessed on the front lines. Neither hears the other. The Beau tests CHAR, The General tests CHAR. 
• The Maiden. Selinae dreams of a great, empty, silent court, inside which she vows to keep Percival safe from all harm. The Maiden tests CHAR (difficult check). Also requires Smoke, Strobe, and Spotlights. 
• The Maiden, The Father. The Father forbids Selinae to march to war and she informs him of her vow. The Father weeps, Selinae dons armour and departs. The Father tests CHAR. Requires Strobe. 

ACT TWO

Percival wins glory; Selinae wins a bloody reputation; the lovers are reunited; the war takes its course. 

What could be more needful than the end of killing? How might one end it, but by the massacre of their enemies?

• The Beau, The General. Percival demonstrates great bravery and a shrewd mind for tactics. The General takes note, and promotes her to captain. Percival monologues about the horrors that she has seen. The Beau tests CHAR. Require red-tinted Spotlights. 
• The Maiden, The General. Selinae proves unstoppable in the bloody melee. She kills a hundred enemies. The General hears of this and transfers her to Percival's unit. Selinae monolgues about the horrors that she has seen. The Maiden tests CHAR. Requires red-tinted Spotlights and Strobe. 
• The Beau, The Maiden. The lovers are reunited in Percival's command tent. They spend the night reminiscing. The Maiden tests CHAR, the Beau tests CHAR.
• The Beau. Percival dreams of the giant, empty court, but makes no vow of her own. No check, but requires Smoke, Strobe, and Spotlights. 
• The General. Monologue. He tells us that the war has destroyed every village for miles around, including that of Percival and Selinae. The end to the war must be sought diplomatically, in the capital, not on the battlefield. The General weeps. The General tests CHAR.

ACT THREE

Percival leaves for the capital; Selinae ends the war; Percival ends the war. 

Your love has changed me, as I told you that it would. You are no longer here, and I cannot see your face, nor hear your voice. My heart has closed like a fist. 

• The Beau. Monologue. Percival tells us that she has been sent to the capital to negotiate with the enemy, and to appeal to the Baron. She cannot bring herself to tell Selinae, who still sleeps in the tent. She departs. The Beau tests CHAR.
• The Maiden, The General. No dialogue, just a montage of deadly combats and bloody battlefields. Selinae hews her way through the Manakin Chorus. The General is killed, Selinae is killed. The enemy forces are routed. The Maiden tests CHAR. Requires Smoke, Strobe, Stage Lift, and red-tinted Spotlights. If the Kingfisher is alive, he will SCREAM during the end of this scene, dealing d6 fear damage to all in the theatre. 
• The Beau, The Baron. Percival negotiates a peace with the intercession of the Baron. As the details are finalised, both are bought news by runner - the war is already ended. The Baron honours Percival. Percival returns in triumph to find her lover. The Beau tests CHAR, the Baron tests CHAR. 

CODA

Percival mourns the death of her lover; Percival dreams.

Hypocrisy, cowardice, stupidity, pettiness. How are we to endure this madness?

• The Beau. Monologue. Percival is older now, and living comfortably in the capital. She asks the Chorus how she could have averted Selinae's death - she asks this in four or five different ways. The Beau tests CHAR.
• The Beau, The Kingfisher. Percival dreams of the silent court. She asks her question again, in six or seven different ways, but she makes no vow. The Kingfisher enters the court and kills her. The Beau tests CHAR. Requires Smoke and Strobe. The Kingfisher makes one attack on the player of the Beau, which autohits. 

FIN

Aftermath: All players involved in a successful rendition of Selinae receive proficiency in the courtly etiquette of the Baronial Capital. If they already had this proficiency, they double their related bonus. They also gain insight into Baronial flirting, and how weird it can be. 

In addition:

• If you played The Beau, you gain +1 INT, +1 CHAR, and +1 WIS. If you played her perfectly, these are instead +2.
• If you played The Maiden, your crit range expands by one, and you roll with disadvantage on the Death and Dismemberment table. This supersedes any class templates that you may possess that modify this roll. If you played her perfectly, you are additionally immune to fear damage. 
• If you played The Father, you receive the benefits of a night's rest. 
• If you played The General, you receive +1 to CON. If you played him perfectly, this is +2. 
• If you played The Baron, you receive nothing. If you played him perfectly, you are awarded the traditional bounty for doing so by the Stage Manager: a single gold piece. If you allow him to, he will use legerdemain to remove it from behind your ear.