Legendary 033

Thursday, July 7, 1066 SE, continued

Tonight’s penultimate dress rehearsal is about to start. The crew has assembled, the props have 

Lady Voloshyna is in the audience.

Stage is set, props, costumes is a go. Sir Sergei is 1/3 in, with art critic

Mon is part of the chorus. He enhances performances and visual effects. 

Act I: The Capture

The play opens with Masha (traditionally played by the actress Luba) in a forest with her friends collecting mushrooms. During the excursion, she becomes separated from her group and is ambushed by a Bear (played by the actor Vadim). The act concludes with the Bear capturing Masha and taking her back to his secluded lair.

Act II: Life in the Lair

This act focuses on Masha’s time in captivity. She learns to live with the bear while simultaneously plotting her return home. In the original version, this act is characterized by "beautiful songs" that showcase the vocal performances of the leads. In the revised version prepared for the Grand Royal Opera in Konstantina, Masha's time with the bear is reframed as a period of pious labor where she is allowed to pray only when her never-ending work is completed.

Act III: The Great Escape

Masha executes a plan to trick the bear into facilitating her escape:

• The Ruse: She convinces the bear to deliver a basket of pies she has baked to her elderly parents.

• The Hidden Passenger: Masha hides inside the basket herself. Throughout the journey, the bear is frequently tempted to eat the pies, but Masha thwarts him by shouting from inside the basket, pretending she can see him from her lair.

• The Conclusion: Upon reaching the village, the bear is chased away by a pack of hunting dogs (or, in the revised script, struck by the "hand of God" via lightning). Masha emerges from the basket and is happily reunited with her family and friends

The bear steps up and destroys several trees

Marigold turns invisible and begins to put the prop trees back together

Mon also turns invisible and heads to the bear

Branna looks and wonders if someone is in the suit

Mon unzips the suit but becomes visible, standing on the stage. 

Marigold heals Luba

Branna looks for Vadim. She asks the crew for him, and the last time he was seen, he was in his dressing room. She finds him there, passed out. He seems to be having a great dream. She looks for the stage manager. 

Mon uses prestidigitation to completely unzip the bear suit, revealing to the audience that it is empty. He also sends a message to Sir Sergeii that the play has been sabotaged. 

Seeing Mon being attacked by the bear, Luba, starts swinging at the bear suit. 

Marigold grabs a staff, disguises herself as the bear, and intervenes with Luba, hitting the bear. There are now two bears on stage.

Branna notices the bears fighting on stage. She is pushed by a tree, but manages not to stumble. 

Mon sends a message to Marigold and asks her if she can dispel magic. Mon suspects it is someone backstage, since the bear started backstage. 

Branna tells the guards the play has been sabotaged. 

Marigold asks that the curtain be pulled. 

Mon casts hellish rebuke on the bear

Marigold suggests they pick it up with Masha being in the lair. She mends some of the damage. 

Mon, as understudy of the bear, heads back to stage. 

Marigold sends a props person to retrieve Sir Sergeii and bring him backstage. Sir Sergeii investigates where this orignated from. 

The girl Anya has had her voice stolen by the Cardinal. Mon has been teaching her the Message cantrip so she can communicate. She noticed a cloaked figure up the catwalk. Mon sends a message to Marigold reporting the information. 

Orchestra pit stops playing, the lights go dark. Screams come from the audience. Branna struggles to relight the Grand Royal Opera’s magical lights. She casts dancing lights, then light on the ceiling’s chandeliers, returning illumination to the audience and on the stage.

Luba, the second actress, is already bitter because she was left off the promotional posters. Seeing the chaos, Luba refuses to go on, claiming the production is "cursed" and that her "star is fading”. Albina, Luba’s understudy and currently a member of the chorus, is sent to get ready.

Mon gives Luba a motivational speech where she can do it for the honor of the Legendary, for the chance of rising above the hardship, trust in everyone by someone who wants to undermine her acting legacy. 

Marigold dispatches a guard to the catwalk, but he returns, reporting that no one is there anymore. 

The show is a success, the crowd politely applauds, but the show ends an hour and ten minutes later than it should have. 

Mon considers charming the art critic, but then decides not to. Branna speaks with the critic. She gives a generally positive review. 

Sir Sergeii wonders whether they should attend the gala. They agree they should go, at least the actors and a few others.

Marigold examines Vadim and realizes he was bespelled. She finds that Vadim sports a kissing mark on his neck. She suspects that is how the magical sleep was delivered. Branna helps her move the actor to his couch and covers him with a blanket.

Gala

Mon and Luba go to the gala, along with Sir Sergeii, the conductor of the orchestra, the stage director, and a few others. The prop crew will work through the night to fix all broken props, while the costumes spend the night building another bear costume. 

Friday, July 8, 1066 SE, continued

Carriages take them to House Volkov’s estate, the Wolf Landing, which is so named because the family is pretty rigid and "unmoving,” and claims to control the political flow of the area. House Volkov wants everyone to know exactly whose territory they're stepping into.

Duke Volkov welcomes Mon and Luba to his estate, and thanks them ahead of time for performing a wonderful song. 

Sir Sergeii introduces Mon to Ambassador Volodymyr, the Natavian representative to Sezja. 

This offers a chance to make connections and gather information. The characters mingle with Konstantina's elite, including high-ranking nobles, influential merchants, and the visiting Natavian ambassador, Volodymyr. The gala serves as a social battlefield where the players can overhear whispers about the King's failing health, the Cardinal's growing influence, and the political tensions with the Natavian delegation.

Foreshadowing & Hints: The characters might overhear a conversation about a "ghost" that stalks the palace halls or a subtle joke about an "unseen princess." A court official, a known Cardinal supporter named Danylo, is seen repeatedly insulting the Natavian ambassador.

How fitting that the Natavian delegation finds such kinship with the Legendary troupe, Volodymyr. Both spend their lives in borrowed finery, reciting lines written by their betters, and pretending a stage-set is a kingdom. Tell me, when the curtain falls on your King’s health, what role have you rehearsed for the silence that follows?"

Mon talks with the Ambassador. 

At the gala, the Natavian ambassador, Volodymyr, a supporter of the arts, is impressed by Mon and the Legendary troupe. However, the Cardinal's official, Danylo Zhiva, of House Zhiva, openly insults the ambassador, the climax of a series of "accidental" mishaps. The characters are then tasked with protecting the ambassador and uncovering the official's plot. This puts them in the center of a political game, and their success or failure could have significant diplomatic repercussionThe "Black Sun” Allusion

Danylo then says "You bask in the glow of a dying hearth, Ambassador. But even now, the shadows grow long. There are stars—black and cold—that do not care for your 'arts' or your 'refinement.' When the Black Sun rises, I wonder... will your pretty singers be able to drown out the sound of a kingdom being purged of its... excesses?”

Mon tells the Ambassador about the Black Sun project and the cult behind it. They may be ready to coop or overthrow the King. The Cardinal may be behind this. The Ambassador reports that Danylo is a loyal supporter of the Cardinal. 

"You speak of 'unseen princesses' as if they were fairy tales, Volodymyr. Perhaps in Natavia, you are used to chasing ghosts. But here in Konstantina, we prefer our royalty to have... substance. It is a pity your influence is as invisible as the specters you supposedly champion. One might mistake your presence here for an empty chair at a banquet."

Mon and the Ambassador make an appointment lunch time on Saturday at the embassy. 

When Mon returns to the South Gate Hotel, he finds the building in a frenzy. There have been a series of burglaries, and rooms were broken into.

Legendary 032 - The Cardinal’s Fraud

Thursday, July 7, 1066 SE

Today is the day of the dress rehearsal. Sir Sergeii joins the Second Crew for breakfast, an unusual occurrence. He informs them that the entire crew has been invited to a benefit gala hosted by House Volkov tonight, following the dress rehearsal. All of Konstantina’s elites are expected to attend, and Sir Sergeii believes this is a ripe opportunity to further promote Masha and the Bear. House Volkov is an ancient and rich family, whose most prominent historical member was Grand Duke Andriy Volkov. He served as the Regent of Sezja in 989 SE after overthrowing Queen Lyuba, a period remembered for military stability and the cautious rebuilding of the realm following foreign conflicts.

Absorbing the news, Mon questions if the crew will be expected to perform in costumes at the gala. Sir Sergeii replies that costumes should be kept under wraps until tomorrow’s opening-night performance. Instead, he suggests that the actors who perform a song or two wear conservative outfits that do not display wealth but rather the severity of their craft. Mon then suggests they contact Branna’s parents, who own a tailor shop, and request new clothes, at least for the performers. According to Mon, this would be a good advertisement for her parents, and would clothe the most important people. A message requesting outfits for 12 people, along with measurements, is sent via the South Gate Hotel’s pageboy. 

Mon thinks about the King’s upcoming return to Konstantina and wonders how his trip will be seen in light of the Legendary’s crew taking over the Grand Royal Opera and the frictions with local artisans and workers, along with the newspaper reports of "stealing livelihoods" and acting with unearned arrogance.

Branna steals Herald’s copy of the most recent edition of the Shredded Truth, and peruses the news. There are multiple reports of additional military deployments around town, on both sides of the Lavra River. Speculation is rife that these border troops have been brought to Konstantina to crack down on the nascent protests in St. Boris, but so far, no proof has been presented, and troops have remained in their temporary camps. Branna then ponders what events might have triggered the protests in St. Boris. Hennadii, who overhears the conversation, explains that the radicalization of the people in the St. Boris neighborhood is primarily driven by economic hardship, a perceived betrayal by the government, and the influence of a charismatic firebrand preacher at the St. Boris Basilica.

According to Hennadii, the key factors contributing to this situation include a new excise tax, the military buildup, which is perceived as being against the people, and Father Kostiantyn’s call for direct action. The most significant source of anger is a new excise tax that is reportedly "crippling local merchants" and "starving the poor". The working-class congregation, which includes dockworkers and small business owners, feels directly targeted by these financial burdens.

The preacher at the St. Boris Basilica, Father Kostiantyn, acts as a primary catalyst for radicalization. He delivers populist, "firebrand" sermons that serve as a "dramatic confrontation with the city's corrupt powers." He openly rails against the "decadence and indifference" of the Royal court and the wealthy elite. The energy within St. Boris has become highly charged, with the preacher encouraging political resistance and a "devastating boycott" against the city. Observers have noted that the atmosphere during these gatherings feels like the "beginning of a riot," as the community is galvanized to oppose the government.

There is also a widespread feeling among traditionalists and disenfranchised veterans that they have been betrayed by the current established order. This resentment is exacerbated by an "increased military presence" in Konstantina, which many perceive as a sign of looming conflict.

Finally, the St. Boris Basilica itself serves as the physical and ideological center of this movement, its imposing and dark Gothic structure providing a "rallying point" for those who feel marginalized by the crown’s policies.

Looking at a map, Branna and Marigold sketch possible scenarios as to what conspiracy is occurring. The potential for mischief is high, and the city is a powder keg. St. Boris is close enough to the Grand Royal Opera that a riot or a protest could reach them rather quickly, before the guard has a chance to intervene. Branna mentions to Sir Sergeii her concerns about the people in St. Boris and the members of the resident crew who most likely live there. Marigold is brought into the conversation to provide her input. Hearing their concerns, Sir Sergeii agrees to ask his contacts to assemble a small security force to monitor the production, and he will also speak with the city guard to see if a detail is available to protect the building.

Meanwhile, Mon considers a plan to embed Herald in a production at the Dirty Duchess, a small theater in St. Boris, which would mean the cad would be left behind when the Legendary crew returns to Katarina.

Having pondered his options, Mon puts his project aside, and he heads to the Royal Archives. He is greeted by a different archivist, who invites him in Katiana’s office. He hands over a document about the Cardinal’s exile, but the archivist makes a big show of looking for the remaining paperwork. The office is soon joined by two city guards, who are here to escort Mon to the Palace. The actor follows the guards to the Palace and is taken into the basement, where he meets Viktor, head of the King’s secret police. Viktor quickly gets to the point. Mon’s investigations are to stop immediately. Consequences for violating this directive would be … drastic. Mon agrees to end his investigation.

Returning to the South Gate Hotel, Mon reports his encounter to Branna and Marigold. Hennadii notifies Mon he received a fat envelope. Opening the envelope, Mon realizes that Katiana had sent him copies of the documents he requested before she was arrested. The edict against the Cardinal shows that he has been stripped of his office and should no longer hold power or conduct his campaign of moral terror against Katarina. They speculate. Did the Cardinal arrive on Katarina before or after his exile was pronounced? To seek answers, Mon will commune with the Raven Queen and see if he can identify what the Cardinal might have been doing to undermine her authority.

Mon turns the documents over to Marigold. She considers building a small wooden box to safely hide them, and she draws a design.

Mon sends a message to Katiana, thanking her for the documents and inviting her to the premiere tomorrow. She replies that she is in a jail cell in the Palace and will not be able to attend the premiere tomorrow because of her current imprisonment for violating state secrets. Mon sends a message to Pavel asking him to check Katarina’s records to see the exact date of the Cardinal’s arrival on the island, and he also lets him know they found a few antique saws for him. Pavel agrees to look into it, and he thanks the actor for the saws.

Meanwhile, Branna receives a message from her father that he has enough outfits for the performers, but they will require small alterations. Dhuka comes bouncing downstairs, proclaiming to be bored. Branna decides to head to St. Gleb with the child after lunch to help with the alterations to the clothes.

Once across the Lavra River, the two of them have lunch at the Singing Frog Inn. Dhuka buys a strawberry tart. She then spends the afternoon working with Branna and her father. When it comes time to head back across the river, Dhuka asks if she can stay with Branna’s parents. They agree, and Dhuka spends the night in St. Gleb. 

Herald is on time for once.

Back at the Grand Royal Opera, there are lots of people in attendance for the dress rehearsal. Even Herald is on time for once. Mon uses unfailing barding inspiration on the leads, so they do not fail their performance when they start the show. Sir Sergeii advises Branna, Marigold, and Mon that he has secured a four-person security detail, along with ten city guards up front. He also confirmed with the Captain of the Guard that the guards will staff the Upper City gates. If a large party comes from St. Boris to disturb the dress rehearsal or tomorrow’s opening night performance, the gates will be closed.

The dress rehearsal is about to start ...