On Chelseanna, the violin was more than just an instrument, it was a lifestyle. Many of the Empire's finest musicians spent some time here to hone their skills and exchange notions, since a variety of styles were practiced here, both at the Conservatorio and on the streets. Variation was encouraged as the embodiment of the Chelseannan creed of wit and surprise as the cultural pinnacle of man. Being able to play the instrument in a novel way or with a personal accent that sounded pleasing to the ear was the mark of the accomplished musician, for wonder and awe were in their eyes the purpose of art itself.
The Conservatorio rested in the Plata, the main residential district of Port Chelseanna and the section of the town farthest away from the sea. Made entirely of light-colored limestone just like the buildings that surrounded it, it was actually made of two circular buildings separated by a well-kept garden featuring a hedgemaze and plants sculpted into represenations of musical instruments. Each of the buildings was two story high, one devoted to the study of the instrument proper and the other focusing on the Arcane aspects of Song. Most interestingly, a strange wall connected the two buildings, with two sudden bends in between. The structure was entirely unnecessary, and left visitors puzzled as to its purpose.
One merely had to climb Mount Tuli and gaze upon the island to find out. Seen from above, the Conservatorio looked like two beamed notes, as per the original project of the legendary architect who had designed most of the spectacular Chelseannan landmarks.
The students could often be seen - and especially heard - practicing in the gardens or engaging in spirited discussion. Some of the students were children of extraordinary talent, a couple of them being no older than five. Competition was intense and the less skilled risked being wittily ridiculed in front of their peers. Rivalry between the musical specialists and the Arcanic Bards was especially merciless, and there had been occasional reports of theatrical suicides following the humiliation of defeat in these unofficial fiddling tournaments.
Much like any other educational facility in the Empire, the reception in the left wing of the Conservatorio was staffed by a polite (and rigorously female and pretty) human clerk. "Serale, how may I help you?" she would ask the newcomer, with a smile growing wider if they happened to be mainlanders.
Physical Description & behavior:
Louis is tall, thin, beardless and always wears a powdered wig. He is albino and ambidexterous. Rarely seen around the Conservatorio outside of class, though his drinking, gambling and womanizing ways are notorious. He is probably the best Bard in Eunesia and knows it. Witty, moody, impatient and unwilling to give a second chance. He has sworn never to pick up a violin again if he is ever bested in Arcana.
History:
Louis is a reknowned musical genius. A Chelseannan native, he was a child prodigy and spent his youth travelling around the Empire and beyond. He then returned to Chelseanna and challenged the current Headmaster to a musical duel, defeating him mercilessly. The man fled the island and was never to be seen again, thus offering Louis the position of Headmaster on a silver platter.
Skills:
Song (Level 4)
Violin (Level 3)
Items or Property Of Note:
He would be moderately wealthy but tends to live the good life.
Can this NPC be used by players in self-moderation or training situations?:
Yes, with permission
Factoid:
Secrets :
Location: The Plata
Type of Location: Educational facility
Notability of Location: Common Knowledge
Training/Employment Opportunities: Yes (Song, Violin)
Can This Location Be Self Moderated?: Yes, with permission
Credits: Tarot
Timestamp: First Cycle of Cryxatum; Summer of Era II, Era XIV p.f
Dressed in a bright sea blue and emerald green dress, Kairae Bentivegna stood before the Conservatorio. Dark black irises started upwards to the windows of the two storey building, and silently she gulped. Within lay talent that for the time she could only dream of, and a lifestyle and passion she craved with every inch of her body. For a moment she turned away, so unsure, so… for behind her and in the distance was the Piazza del Mare. It was there her famiglia would be peddling their wares. It was the place her duty called her to be, and yet once again she found herself loitering beneath the glory of this building.
The violin that she carried beneath her arm had been a gift from her Nonno. He had taught her what little he could with the skill and memory that he had left. And she could play, oh yes she could play – but to play and instrument, and to master an instrument were two completely different things. It was the latter that Kairae craved. But to truly devote herself to this task, and to the music, was to forsake all else. Or at least, that was how she had been left to feel. She didn’t even feel confident yet that a Master would be willing to take her on as a fully Journeyman. Not yet anyway… and then there was the question of Arcana. That magic made her so curious, so filled with the intangible desire that she could not only evoke feeling with her songs, but magic as well! To the young woman the idea was almost unfathomable. But she wanted it, and she would do anything and everything in her power to get it…
Yet she needed more practise. Right now she was just a jewel-makers daughter who could slide a bow across some strings. That would not be enough to win her a place in this prestigious academy.
However that was not why she was here. She could practise and practise till her fingers grew calloused and her neck sore, but she felt she was missing a gap in her knowledge that her grandfather could not fill. Kairae had always wondered if the beautiful Conservatario held such knowledge and if it was obtainable to her… but she would never know without asking; without stepping through those doors.
With her head held high, and a soft yet nervous smile touching her strikingly dark and bird like features, Kairae walked up to the reception, violin case propped under her arm. “Serale, I am hoping you can help me. I was wondering if the Conservatario has a library which can be accessed by the general public?” she tried to speak with confidence, but the nerves in her stomach made her lilting voice waver. “I have an interest in learning more about the arcane of song, or perhaps any historical musical texts you have that I could perhaps view?”
The clerk recognized Kiarae as someone who was not a tourist, and therefore did not deem excessive politeness to be necessary in her case. Her personal distaste for these amateurs learning from other amateurs learning from people who had taught themselves how to play an instrument. They were a disgrace to the real professionals Celsianna prided itself on. "No, I'm afraid that will not be possible, signorina," the woman remarked dryly, "we are not allowed to make any exceptions whatsoever. You need to be a student in good standing, or part of the staff, in order to peruse any of the material at the Conservatorio."
And with this, the clerk nodded to her own words and decided that the conversation had fulfilled its purpose and further words would not be necessary... but destiny has strange ways of shuffling the deck when one least expects it. The clerk paled suddenly, spotting the arrival of a new visitor over Kiarae's shoulder.
The man was middle-aged and wore round spectacle, olive skin contrasting with the candid powdered wig. To wear one on Chelseanna was extremely bad taste unless one really had the power and importance to do so. And indeed, this man could afford his wig. Dressed in elegant clothes, though darker than the Chelseannan standard, intelligent black eyes peered at Kiarae. "Serale," he smiled, "you must be one of the Bentivegnas, yes, I think so. I've done business with your grandfather a few times. My name is Gianni Verbozza, and I am Vice-Director of the Pro Loco board."
He pointed at the golden pin on his chest, depicting the symbol of the Tourism Board - a cross made from four arrows pointing inward. The Pro Loco pretty much did the job of City Council, except that they had actual decisional power. This was one of the four or five most influential men on Chelseanna. "I could not help but listen to your predicament, and I was wondering if I might be of assistance. You see, I was looking for a few proactive young violin players to serve as Embassadors of Chelseanna in other places. Celsiannan youths advertising our fine Port elsewhere, spreading the word, that kind of things." There was something magnetic about Verbozza's paternal smile. "We could discuss the details if you'd like, but I think I could interest you in a free scholarship here at the Conservatorio?"
For a moment her heart sank with disappointment, but it was not sadness that filled it, but an intense, angry and almost bitter desire to prove this woman wrong. Kiarae could see the disgust in the clerk’s eyes; it was a look she had often seen passing over the faces of the students that called this esteemed place their home. But her pride would not let her be defeated. She was a Celsiannian! Nevertheless, Kiarae turned her head away from the clerk, a sigh escaping from her thin lips. She had expected no less than rejection; and rejection was what she received. Kiarae watched her dreams pass through her fingers like water…
Though like magic, the water seemed to flow back into her hands, as words rang out from behind her, tolling like the bells of fate. She turned. Her black eyes met his, though only for a brief moment, as almost immediately Kiarae cast them down in awe and in respect. Gianni Verbozza was a name known to all of the Celsiannian’s, a name spoken with nothing by esteem. For him to not only speak to her, but to offer her such a gift… it was unbelievable, it was, it was exactly what she needed to take back her defeat.
Kiarae turned back to the clerk for a moment; the smile on her lips smug, malicious, but it lasted only for a second before she returned her gaze to the Vice-President of the Pro Loco Board. “Il mio signore,” she said, her voice still shaking a little from the excitement that had begun to well up in within her. “Sì, I am of the Bentivegna’s…” her eyes danced downward to the pin on his chest. What would her father say, what would her mother say, when they heard of this most generous offer to their youngest daughter. Her duty was here, her duty was to her family, but she also had a duty to Celsianna… and no one in their right mind would turn down a proposition from Gianna Verbozza.
“Grazie, il mio signore,” Kiarae shook her head in disbelief, unable to express the gratitude and the feelings that she had. “I am lost for words… I do not know what to say other than, sì, yes; I would be delighted to act as ambassador not only for you but for this city that is our home. To be offered such a reward in turn is more than generoso, generous. So yes, yes,”
There was nothing else she could say as a bright light danced behind the darkness of her eyes.
Gianni Verbozza had the uncanny gift of making everyone around him feel at ease. Even the clerk, after the first moment of shock, simply bent over her paperwork once more, as if the two of them did not exist anymore. What the Vice-Director had come here for, was anyone's guess - of the six Pro Loco wigs only Alberti visited the Conservatorio on any regular basis, and even he only did so because of his personal business as a Master luthier, maker of the best violins in Eunesia.
Still, Kiarae would get her opportunity. Gianni appeared pleased, beckoning the girl to follow him over to a more private corner of the Conservatorio reception. A white bust of Massimo Morenghini, former Headmaster disappeared under mysterious circumstances after a musical duel with the current Headmaster, stared blankly at the two. "Oh, the idea is that you should have fun doing your job. We think it is the best way - to recruit young, spontaneous people rather than professional musicians. Chelseanna has the highest rate of returning visitors in the Empire for its size, but the problem is drawing people to us the first time. This is where you and the other Embassadors come into play."
He explored his pocket and produced a pin just like his own, except that this was made of silver rather than gold. For the rest, it was identical, a cross made out of four arrows pointing inwards. He offered it on his palm for Kiarae to take and wear on her clothes. "We expect you to spend at least a couple of months each Era among the mainlanders, spreading the word and telling them just how marvelous our island is. Think of it as a referral program; tell people to mention your name to the Porto guards when they arrive. This way we will know how many people you brought to our island. You can go anywhere... just visit the Pro Loco offices with receipts of your travel and lodging expenses and they will be refunded to you. You will also receive 40 Crowns per cycle when you are on your promotional tours. We will review your performance every Era... and as for your scholarship, well, just tell them old Verbozza endorses you and you should be all set."
Ythri walked into the Conservatorio with a smile on her face. For a long time, she had wanted to do this. Singing was a hobby of hers, something she did to pass the long candlemarks of traveling during her quest, but she had always wanted to make something more of it than that. Here, in Chelseanna, she might finally have an opportunity to do it at last.
"Serale," she said cheerfully to the clerk. "My name is Ythri, and I'm hoping to study at the Conservatorio. If there are any openings for Initiate Song, I'd be ever so interested in applying myself to the studies."
Ythri's happy demeanor seemed to have a positive effect on the clerk, for the other woman returned the smile. "We do indeed have an opening, signorina," she replied. "If you come back tomorrow, at the ninth candlemark in the morning, Master Louis Montago will evaluate you, and, if he deems you suitable as a student, begin your lessons. The fee for the lessons is payable up front, naturally," she added, almost apologetically.
"It's no problem," Ythri replied. She produced the 250 crowns and gave the money to the clerk. With a satisfied nod, the transaction was completed, and Ythri returned home to rest and to prepare.
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