Subject: Part 3: Noh Theater!
Author:
Posted on: 2015-08-21 21:08:00 UTC
(Advance apologies to everyone who knows more about Japanese culture than I do.)
*Drums and flute sound, played by the A/V Division. The usual kagami-ita backdrop shows only a generic grey wall, rather than a pine tree. One figure in matching grey sits there, back hunched and facing the wall. A second figure steps onto the stage, clad in a kimono mixed with Ancient Egyptian elements, and bearing a cat’s mask and a black fedora.*
“Greetings, travelers! I am Bast, the Grey Lady, come to tell the tale (continue, really) of two samurai warriors poised to venture into the lands of the wizards’ school.”
*Chanting begins as two samurai in grey armor arrive on stage from either side.*
“These are the warriors, Cris and Myall!”
*Bast glances at Myall.*
“Who has been mysteriously genderbent, once again.”
*Myall is handed a more masculine-looking mask by a kuroko. She turns his face away from the audience to switch them.*
“I mean, seriously, girl. Is it the name? You can get a nickname. Ahem! These warriors of plot will now prepare for their journey. Before they leave, they must seek protection for their mind!”
*Entering from the left side of the stage, one figure whose mask bears the facial hair of Doctor Freedenberg, another holding a fan painted with a riding crop—the symbol of Meir Brin. They dance, waving their fans around the heads of the samurai, shaping barriers around them. Before they leave, they each give one fan to one samurai. They hold the fans before their faces, allowing the audience to read them for the first time. Cris has received “COCOA” from Freedenberg; Myall has received “BLEEP” from Meir Brin.*
“They must gain protection for their bodies!”
*Entering from the right side of the stage, one figure with the helmet of Osbert, another figure dressed all in green, with a green mask, yeah, it’s the Jolly Greenman. Deal with it. They cross to the center of the stage, and enter into a mock battle with their fans. Cris and Myall turn to watch raptly. After the fighting dance is completed, they bow to each other, then to the samurai, awarding each a fan, which they display over their shoulders. Cris has received “TRAIN” from Osbert; Myall has receieved “EQUIP” from the Greenman.*
“They must also gain the gift of stealth from the eyes of the unknown enemy!”
*The hunched figure stands and turns towards the audience. This performer’s kimono is bedecked with fraying wires and loose buttons, and the mask is a reflective black glass. It begins to move erratically, twisting about in a strange, formless dance. The samurai approach cautiously. As they get near, the Console leaps to the side, and pokes at Myall with a fan. The samurai leap back, then try to approach the Console’s new position, only for the same thing to happen to Cris.*
“Our warriors must gain disguises from the Console, but the machine is most fickle!”
*After many attempts to sneak up on the Console, the samurai begin to act more aggressively, brandishing the “TRAIN” and “EQUIP” fans at it, while the chanting lulls. The Console relents, making pacifying gestures towards the samurai. It then directs several kuroko to bring robes on stage and adorn the samurai with them. The chanting begins again. Myall gains the green and silver robes of Slytherin, and Cris gains the yellow and black robes of Hufflepuff.*
“Fully prepared, the samurai Cris and Myall are ready to venture into the lands of the wizard school. The Console reveals the way!”
*Still twisting erratically as it moves, the Console steps to the kagani-ita and parts it down the middle. Blue fog flows across the stage, and a great castle is visible through the mist.*
(I only capitalized the “c” in “console” because it’s a character in this context. Don’t even start on me.
The next prompt is: tabletop role-playing game! Have fun!)
