To my friends 

Mallow Flower and Two Tails of the Fallen Stones clan

The Scratching Post

Town of Titan’s Reach

I have been learning a great many things. Particularly about entertaining and “stagecraft”. The fighting the performers do is very similar to the practice forms of my people. But my people aim for subtlety and surprise. The “stagecraft” requires that we make all our attacks completely obvious. The ringmaster keeps telling me “they need to see it coming in the back row”. I am having to relearn how to fight.

I can not remember the ring master’s name, but I am too embarrassed to ask him a third time. I know it sounds like some sort of animal or insect. In the meantime I have been saying ‘yes, sir’, ‘no, sir’. He does not seem to have noticed so far, since most people do the same. But that means I never hear anyone else use his name either. What should I do?

While I am on the subject of names, the ringmaster insists I must come up with a “stage name” before I can fight in a match. He says my real name means nothing to our audiences. I have tried to come up with names that evoke awe or fear. But the ringmaster says my “hokey barbarian folk sayings” will not impress our audience. I think “Stone in the Rapids” is a very strong name and something scary to encounter. But I defer to his greater experience.

He suggested The Flaming Bat or The Man Spider. He believes that the stories of the exploits of such a hero would inspire “children of all ages”. Then he started talking about paying an artist to draw the exploits of this hero and sell them as pamphlets. At this point, I think he was no longer talking to me. I am fairly certain he has been creating these stories in his mind for some time.

Do you have any suggestions for good stage names? 

I look forward to seeing you both again. Your friend,

Venayo