Friday, April 8, 1066 SE
The day for the premiere of Masha and the Bear is finally upon the Legendary, and the entire crew is abuzz with energy. The events of the past night are still fresh in their minds, and rumors and conspiracy theories abound at the breakfast serving. People are talking about the intruder in the Palace, others about the break-in that happened at the theater. Speculations include that the Cardinal was behind the attack, that an art lover sought an item for their collection, or that the ghost of the theater struck again.
Following his morning routine, Pavel enters the dining hall to cheers and claps, and he takes the time to stop by most tables and chat with the residents. When he stops by Mon, Marigold and Branna, he mentions that the Legendary has not yet sold out its opening performance, so Yurchik is likely to have some of the production crew go around Katarina to sell tickets.
Sure enough, at the production meeting, Yurchik notes that some tickets remain, and he asks each department to send out volunteers to sell tickets. After the meeting, Mon heads to marketing and inquires as to how many seats remain. Lena tells the actor that about 120 seats remain unsold at this time.
Meeting at lunch, the three of them brainstorm ideas on what they could do to sell the remaining tickets. Marigold suggests a whisper campaign that people won't believe what will happen during the play. Branna adds that there could be sabotage or other rumors that would suggest a train wreck, as people are more likely to show up if the entertainment is edgy but with a chance it could fail spectacularly. Mon comes up with a plan. He borrows a costume from Branna, and using the ointment of disguise, he dresses up as a resident of Katarina and obtains 8 tickets from Lena, who does not recognize him. On his way out the door, he bumps into Luba, who also does not recognize him. Mon reveals his identity, and the actress is pleased to be a witness to his initiative. Marigold and Branna talk about the possibility of costumes being used to infiltrate the chorus line, and Branna decides she will do a general check of the inventory to see if an extra suit is missing.
Entering the Palace, Yurchik stops by many of the tables. Arriving at their table, he gives them a good look, before giving them 20 tickets to sell. Branna decides to try her luck at the Anchor's Luck, and after several conversations she successfully sells 5 tickets. Captain Popov is not present, as it is too early for the old fisherman. Marigold heads to the barracks and talks to the soldiers. She eventually gives them 10 complimentary tickets, figuring that it would not hurt to have soldiers in the audience.
Branna continues to hawk tickets on the docks, but she witnesses a rat fight in an alley, which is promptly interrupted by the Cardinal's men. Unlike the rest of the crowd, Branna did not react quickly enough, and she is questioned at length by the morality police. Instead of fining her, they confiscate two tickets.
Going through the streets, Mon looks for four individuals and four couples, and, with much convincing, he manage to sell them his tickets.
Marigold is still worried that someone is attempting to sabotage the production, but an exhaustive search does not reveal any more broken sets or missing props. However, Branna does notice that her personal sewing kit is missing. An heirloom from home, she is rather upset that someone stole it. She tells Oskana, and both of them search the sewing workshop but come up empty handed. To keep production going, Oskana lends the elf her own sewing kit, but asks her to take good care of it. Upon hearing a loud voice coming from Stage 2, Oskana promptly disappears, leaving a befuddled Branna alone as the Marquess of Sidorov walks into the room. She greets the seamstress, and inquires on whether Branna has decided on a price for designing a dress similar to that of Masha, as previously discussed. The two of them arrive at a price of 25 silver. Thrilled with her purchase and looking forward to wearing the dress, the Marquess invites Branna to her private booth on the 2nd floor of the Legendary for the premiere of Masha and the Bear, and makes an appointment for her measurements on Sunday at 10.
With a few hours left before the performance, Branna looks over all of the costumes again, but nothing is missing or sabotaged. However, a pair of boots for the next production has disappeared. She notifies Berdy, the stage manager, who says he doesn't know anything about it, but he will take a look and let security know.
With nothing to wear and the curtain rising in less than 15 minutes, Branna puts together a mismatch outfit from the costume rack before joining the Marquess in her private booth. Marigold will spend the performance backstage, and Mon will be performing. Everyone will be keeping an eye for sabotage or assassination attempt.
The Marquess is delighted to see Branna, and admires her outfit. The Marquess introduces her dear friend, Lady Fayina. Old and short, Lady Fayina nonetheless possesses a vitality and a sharpness that Branna finds unsettling. A movement through the crowd indicates the arrival of the Archduke and his family. The Archduke usually attends the premiere of every performance at the Legendary, but it has been quite some time since his young daughters and his wife have also attended. They all waive at the crowd from their private balcony across from the Marquess's own.
A low hiss soon follows, and from the stage both Mon and Marigold witness the arrival of the Cardinal, who also joins his own private balcony next to that of the Marquess. From the stage, Mon notices the Cardinal's shadow, and he casts a spell to shape it like that of a demon that makes rude hand gestures. People in the audience point and laugh, but the Cardinal seems oblivious.
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| Cardinal Feodore |
Mon notices that Luba is softly crying in one of the corners backstage. She confides in him that Yurchik has told her in no uncertain terms that her role as Masha would be her last starring role unless she offered an amazing performance. Mon bolsters her with words of encouragement.
Finally, Sir Gregory Tsaplin takes the stage. Welcoming the audience, he thanks them for attending what is sure to become a classic. After a few words celebrating the craft of the theater, and a nod to the illustrious guests in the audience, Sir Gregory declares that the show may begin, and he steps off the stage as the curtain rises, revealing a pastoral scene where Masha and her friends are hunting for mushrooms. Soon she is separated from the group, and ends up lost in the forest where she is captured by a bear.
During the first act, Branna caught the Archduke whispering to his manservant. Soon, three guards joined his private balcony and stood in the shadows. His daughters, however, seem completely engrossed by the performance on the stage. Meanwhile, during his performance, Mon notices that the way the candles flicker in the Cardinal's private balcony indicate there are others there, even though the Cardinal is the only one who is visible. Mon uses minor illusion to start a rumor among the audience that the Cardinal is in league with demons. Still during his performance, Mon looked for Captain Popov but is not able to see if the old man is indeed there, for the Legendary is successfully sold out for its premiere.
During Act 2, Masha learn how to live with the bear and plots her escape from the bear's lair. Beautiful songs and an amazing performance by Luba as Masha and Vadim as the bear provide several rounds of loud cheering. Mon's artifices and Marigold's bubble machine perform admirably.
Following a short intermission, Act 3 opens with Masha convincing the bear to take pies she has baked to her elderly parents. Masha hides herself in the basket instead, and though the bear attempts to eat the pies several times Masha tricks him, pretending to be able to see him from his lair. Eventually the bear reaches the village, but as he get to Masha's house, a pack of hunting dogs begin to chase him, and he quickly abandons the basket as he flees. Masha emerges, and is reunited with her family and friends.
The audience goes wild, and the actors receive a standing ovation. Marigold sees that the Cardinal is not pleased at the audience's reception of the play, however, and he departs in a huff. Archduke Maksimillian III and his beautiful wife come backstage following the performance, bringing their two daughters, Verushka and Yula, with them. The Archduke has a kind word for each of the staff members he interacts with, and he compliments Branna on her costumes, Marigold on the quality of her props, and Mon for his wonderful singing. Yula, Maksimillian's younger daughter, even asks Mon to sign her autograph book before going over to Luba and Vadim.
Once the public has left the theater, the crew celebrates its opening night performance with drinks, food, and music. Mon returns to the dressing lounge to change, and has he returns to the stage he sees an actress named Kisa push Luba down the stairs. Mon manages to catch the star of Masha and the Bear before she crashes to the ground and breaks a bone. When he asks Luba why Kisa would push her, Luba replies that Kisa starred in Baba Yaga and the Crimson Flower, and she thinks that the first actress feels threatened due to Luba's amazing performance this very night.
Mon starts a rumor that Kisa's performance has reached the King's ear, and that he has expressed interest in attending her next performance. He is hopeful that this attention will distract Kisa from making another attempt to hurt Luba.
In the early hours of the morning, news circulate that the Cardinal and his men conducted a raid following the performance on a warehouse in the dock district. They seized two crates and arrested 17 people who were taken to the Cathedral. Of these, only 5 people were later released.
With the first performance complete and a commercial success, Mon and Marigold are promoted. Mon earns a non-speaking part in the next production, while Marigold moves into the props helper role. Branna bides her time for her own promotion ...
