Tornilen has, for many reasons, always had a strong tradition for puppet theaters. The authorities of Tornilen have traditionally been rather heavy handed, though these days discipline is not quite as heavy handed as during the days of King Gavin Tael. The puppet theaters are a form of expression where almost anything is allowed, even criticism against the rulers and enforcers of Tornilen.
One puppet theater takes place at a market held a week after the Night of Fire, a puppet theater in which Duchess Marya, or the Swordmage, is shown in a less than flattering light...
First the Swordmage is shown as a rather sad and pretentious figure, going to enormeous lengths to appear threatening and omnious, always with rather sad results. A scene is shown where the Swordmage is constantly bumping into things - furniture and such - in her tower, as she insists on keeping the light dim to "set the mood".
I another she debates complains at length how difficult and hard is to wear the cloak of swords, as she keeps cutting herself and accidently killing henchmen.
Later she makes the great decision to join in the battle to save all of Anuire, joining with lords of heroes when they storm the pyramid and defeat the dark one. She does not really do anything, except trying to make herself look important and philosophize on whether she appears omnious and "darkly awesome" enough. It culminates after the Prelate's victorious announcement at the top of the pyramid, she steals something behind his back, loudly shouting "yoink!" and then proceeds to stumble down the steps of the pyramid, dropping whatever it was she stole.
Later she is dismayed when she finally reveals herself as a female, but gets very disappointed when no one really cares... and even more angry when Archduke William Osoerde remarks that she always seemed a little girly...
Then there is her redemption, sponsored by the Prelate of the Impregnable Heart of Haelyn, in which she cannot make up her mind. Behind the back of the prelate, who is speaking to the conclave on her behalf, she keeps changing her mind... "Eat babies for the dark one, be light and merry, bathe in my enemies blood, or... wait, cuiraecen also lets me do that, can I wear my cloak of swords as now or is it too much DARK GODS OF DOOM..." and so on. Eventually the prelate finishes, looks at her and sternly tells her that she will either repent, or be beheaded as a witch. Then she meekly goes along, is redeemed and proceeds to secretly go on a rampage, just to show that she has not "lost her touch."
Finally there is the duel against the Green Knight and the Baron's proposal. He is shown as being rather drunk at the time, and was not as much proposing to her as suggesting they rub nasties. She is quick on the uptake though, grabbing him and dragging him to the Temple of Cuiraecen before he has a chance to protest, hurriedly getting them married before he can do anything. Afterwards he is hung over and sad, going "alright, I guess you're right, there is no I Take It Back in marriage. At least you've got a nice ass.".
After the performance there is much laughter and applause. No one really pays much attention to the unasuming figure in a cloak, in the hood of which strands of dark hair and glittering blue eyes can be seen. The glamour enforcing her disguise makes sure no one can recognize her, unless they possess magic, divine blood or great strength of will. She applauds like everyone else, even leaving a sizeable donation to the puppeteer. She gives him a shock though, when she drops the glamour while giving him a gold coin, letting him gaze into the hood unhindered by illusions. She simply smiles, rather like a shark, then melting back into the crowd. The next few days and nights he is constantly drunk, fearing for his life, but nothing happens.
