Ornithocracy: A Parliament Of Feathers: Birdsong

What is "Birdsong"?

Birdsong is The Winged's way of controling & effecting the Dream. It can be used to attempt to literally achieve anything.
It thrives on two things: Emotion (The Currency) & Performance. A "Song" can be sung, or danced (interpretive or traditional), or performing (or accompanying) on an instrument, or recited as poem, or prose, or given as a moving speech.
Birdsongs are usually performed solo, but joining in on somebody's song can often have empowering effects. As does sacrificing large ammounts of Emotion.
Birdsong comes in three distinct forms: "Songs" (The Spells), "Overtures" (Introduction Performances), and "Duels By Beak" (Alternating Turn Spoken Duels). We'll mostly be talking about Songs here, but will briefly cover the other two.

What can I achieve through Birdsong?

Anything is possible. However, each Song has a specific purpose.
Any Song your Winged knows (As in, is with your Qualities in your Character Brief) automatically succeeds with the minimum Emotion payment.
Any Song your Winged does not know can only ever achieve the minimum effect, even with any Emotion payment. The outcome of any Songs you perform that you do not know are decided entirely by The Ref Team.
The Ref Team is allowed to immiediately decide OC that your song fails, with logical IC repurcussions. Do not tempt the vast sea of metaphysical possibilities.

How does performing a Song work?

Tell a roaming Ref you are about to perform a Song so they can observe you.
If no Refs are available, and you are satisfied with the following, you may perform your Birdsong and report to a Ref immiediately afterwards. You will only be awarded the minimum outcome.
Tell the Ref what the Song is called (On your Character Brief). Do not make up names, OC. If it is something you do not know, tell the Ref.
Perform your Song. Sing, Dance, Speak, whatever. The minimum time is 30 seconds. Take however long you need, but don't be stupid.
Make it clear in your performance what you are sacrificing to empower your Song. Hand these in to the Ref.
If your Song has an immiediate outcome, you will be notified wether this works or not, and any IC strangeness, immiediately by the Ref.
If your song involves statistics or possibilities, we will work on it's outcome immiediately. Feel free to continue roleplaying or sit out as you await your outcome (we can provide feasible IC reasoning for your brief vanishing).

What makes my Song more effective?

Depends on the Song. You will find hints in your Song Entries. These may include any / all / some / none of the following.
Emotion: All Songs have a minimum Emotion Cost. Pumping more emotion into it will almost certainly give it a much greater effect. Most songs also have a "Key" Emotion - sacrificing this Emotion especially will have a massive outcome.
Duration: Drawing out a Song may make the Song more effective, especially if it is a proper, impressive performance.
Impression: Impressing the Ref with roleplay can lead to a small Bonus. This might be as little as additional information to the difference between failure & success.
Stuff: Some Songs require the sacrifice of Stuff to empower them. Additional Stuff can usually insure a different outcome, if not necessarily a better one.
Licensed Weapons / Armour / Fancy Clothing: Some Songs require licensed Weapons to be included. It is a bad idea to forget this.
Relics: It is possible to acquire Relics & other important items in play. Sacrificing these to your Patron is a profitable idea.
Souls: There a re better things to do with Souls, but sacrificing one during a Song is a good replacement fora lot of Emotion. Similarly, certain Songs will require a Soul to be sacrificed (minimum), or giving one to a Patron might be cool.

Can I do anything to stop someone performing a Song?

Well, yes. Kill them, and all the repurcussions that come with it.
Objecting is risky, and generally considred rude, but could be to your benefit.
Attacking someone during a Song is just plain rude. Expect rebuttle.
In simple: No, there is no way any Winged can stop someone Singing, without resorting to crudity or violence. There are Songs that might stop the effects of a previous / future Song, but that's not the same thing as straight up stabbing a guy.

How do I perform an Overture?

An Overture is your entire Coterie's joint introduction to the rest of the Parliament. The previous Conductor (Before the New Conductor's vote) will announce (early) when it is time for the Curtains To Be Raised On The Parliament. Each Cotery will take it's turn to perform...
Your Overture can be whatever you want. From an elaborate song & dance, to a choral rendition, to just a lavish introduction. You can always decline & bow out.
It is a good idea to briefly discuss a group idea before hand. We're not expecting stage-level musical numbers, but feel free to plan choreography. There will be a good hour of OC faff before a game, so feel free to plan OC then.
Your Overture cannot be empowered by sacrificing anything. Sorry.
The Conductor will choose the order of performance. Once everyone has taken their turn, The Conductor will retreat to decide who has won (We strongly suggest coming to one side & discussing your IC & OC impressions with the Ref Team, to understand how "The Parliament" as an entity felt. Keep it all IC, but the Ref Team will tell you was particularly impressive). There may be an oppurtunity for Bribes.
The announced Winner will be rewarded a small prize, and possibly have a Metaphysical effect on the Parliament...

How do I Duel By Beak?

Get into a disagreement with someone. Challenge them to a Duel By Beak. Easy.
The Challenged starts by making a statement, usually of detriment to their oppenent.
The Challenger responds in kind.
Doing the above in a lyrical fashion is allowed. approved, and generally awesome. Do not feel you have to. An argument is still awesome.
As a spectator, feel free to provide appropiate cheers, boos, "ooo!"s and backing beats.
Repeat until someone gives up, or the Conductor announces a Winner (minimum elapsed time: 1 minute).
Give everyone a cheer. Duelling By Beak is Awesome.
The Winner may be rewarded by The Parliament itself.

List of Song Types