Legendary Campaign - Luba is Missing!

 Tuesday, May 16, 1066 SE

Following the successful curtain call of Masha and the Bear, the cast of the Second Unit enjoyed a well deserved cast party, and a couple days off, while the First Unit completes its preparations for Opening Night on Thursday the 18th. This morning, a message was posted at the Palace and at the Legendary that the Second Unit would meet in the theatre's lobby at 11 am to discuss the upcoming production.

Mon is surprised that Herald has not returned to his room since the cast party Saturday night. The rogue left with a female friend, and has not been seen since. Mon silently prays that he will miss the call and perhaps finally be let go from the theatre. As he thinks about Herald, however, a suppressed memory sparks up in his mind. He remembers a warm summer day in his youth where he was playing with a friend of his outside, and the friend fell down a small cliff and broke his left arm and wrist. The friend's father had forbade Mon from ever being with his friend again, and though the two of them would meet in secret afterwards, the relationship was never the same. This also reminds Mon that though he used to enjoy keeping secrets, now he doesn't like it, limiting himself to only keeping necessary secrets.

Mon spikes Herald's wine to contribute to the rogue's misery and possibility that he will miss the call. Meeting his two friends in the Palace's cafeteria, Mon notifies Marigold and Branna of Herald's absense. They express concern that he is still involved with Lady Astral. Asking around, Branna finds that the closest estimate is similar to that of Mon, except that her reports indicate Herald was fairly inebriated at the time of his departure.

Marigold, Branna and Mon return to the Legendary, and since they have an hour or two before the cast call, they meander through the theatre, looking for signs of sabotage or for people who do not belong. With the First Cast busy getting the last touches done, there are a lot of people in the theatre they do not recognize, but all of them are accompanied by theatre personnel. They also do not discover any sign of sabotage or people or objects missing.

Visiting the secret passages that traverse the Legendary, Mon finds that someone has walked in the passage directly underneath the stage. This passage must have been used at some point to lift someone in and out of the stage, as there is a trapdoor directly behind the curtain. The equipment has not been maintained, and the gears that would facilitate the platform raising from the passage to the scene have not been greased in many years. The mixture of flour and dye that Mon used shows evidence that either a child or a halfling has walked through here multiple times in the last two weeks.

Mon reports his findings, and notes that his powder wears off after twenty or thirty feet. Marigold fixes this problem by concocting a mixture of her own. She mixes grease and a fine metallic powder and smears it on the door knobs of two of the doors in the less-traveled tunnels. Now anyone using these doors in the secret passages will leave a mark wherever they go, since her mixture does not come off very easily.

With the Second Unit crew and cast assembling in the Legendary's opulent lobby, Marigold and Mon split up, so they can watch the crowd as the cast list is announced. Branna stands with the rest of the crew. Sir Gregory Tsaplin welcomes everyone, and thanks them for a great run of Masha and the Bear. Due to the critical and financial success of the production, he is awarding everyone a bonus of 3 silvers. He then turns the floor over to Yurchik, who presents the next production.

Yurchik explains that the Second Crew will be presenting General Toptigin Cheats Death. This musical is divided in three acts:

• Act 1, a young wagon driver named Yamshik and his fiancee named Fedya are traveling back to their hometown after delivering bolts of cloth. They comes upon a battlefield where two armies recently fought. The battlefield is littered with the dead, with only a few wounded soldiers still alive. Among them is the great General Toptigin, hero of the homeland. Having cheated Death many times before during battles, the great general is grievously wounded, nevertheless Yamshik offers him a ride so that the great man is not left to the crows . So thankful, the General pledges any favor in his power to give. The three of them share stories as they arrive at an inn that night.
• Act 2: During the night the inn is visited by Death, who is here to claim the General, as he should have died on the battlefield. The innkeeper, with Yamshik and Fedya’s help, manage to disguise the General, and though hurt the General engages in a battle of wits with Death.
• Act 3: As Death comes closer to discover the General’s true identity, Yamshik realizes that he must sacrifice himself to fool Death. The General will not hear of it, however, and reveals himself to Death. In the climactic battle scene, the General is about to defeat Death, but not before Yamshik and Fedya are mortally wounded. The General tells Death that he will give himself up if Death will spare Yamshik and Fedya. Death agrees, but as it bends down to collect Toptigin's soul, Yamshik, in tears, tells the General he can’t go, because he owes him a favor and his favor is that the General remains in the world of the living. Confounded by this pledge and its consequences, Death departs alone, and the General cheats Death yet again.

Yurchik then pulls the cast list. All actors, including Herald, are awarded roles according to their rankings within the theatre. However, Yurchik poses before announcing that, in consultation with Marinka, the first author, Mon is appointed to the role of Death. His performance during Masha and the Bear was outstanding, and he is being rewarded with a bigger role. Vadim quips that it makes sense, as Mon already looks like a corpse.

While expressing reservations, Yurchik appoints Luba to Fedya's role, and he is more enthousiastic about appointing Vadim to the role of Yamshik.

With the roles distributed, Sir Gregory Tsaplin walks through the crowd and talks to everyone. He congratulates Mon on his upcoming role as Death. He asks Marigold if she could make some modifications to her bubble machine as he would like to use it at a future party at his estate. He also tasks Branna to make the costume for Death. After about an hour, the Legendary's owner departs with his manservant Ony.

After Sir Gregory Tsaplin leaves, the various Departments meet to strategize how best to approach this show. The work of setting up the play will begin tomorrow. Mon receives a copy of the script he will need to rehearse. As Death, he doesn't say much, but he is present in most of the scenes in Acts 2 and 3.

In discussions with the props department, Marigold says she hopes to recreate the sounds of cannons, along with the smoke, to make the battle scene for Act 1 look even more realistic. Branna will pull the costume of Death that was used three productions ago and will greatly modify it, so that it seems like a brand new costume for this production.

As Mon reviews his lines, he overheads Vadim and Ulan talk about Luba. Both of them whisper to each other, but with his great hearing Mon realizes that they are discussing the fact that Luba was not at the casting call. Neither was Herald, but nobody noticed or cared. Worried, Mon decides to pay the actress a visit. He knows where Luba lives, because he has followed her before, to ensure that she made it home safely. She lives in the west side, about 15 minutes away. Mon rushes to her house to let her know the casting news. He purchases flowers at the florist, with a sign that congratulates her on earning the role.

After knocking on the door and hearing no response, Mon explores Luba's small backyard, and he finds that the fire pit was recently used to burn letters. Examining the remnants, he discovers that they were most likey letters with what appears to be male handwriting. Luba's laundry is drying on the line, and no one seems to be watching. Mon picks the lock of Luba's backyard door, and enters the residence. Luba's cat greets him loudly, but after a perusal of the home Mon finds nothing amiss, and there was no sign of struggle. He leaves the cat behind, and locks the door before departing.

Mon travels to the Warm Whistle, where he is informed by Nastasia, the owner, that Luba was indeed here the previous day. She met with her agent, then left. She did say she was running a few errands, then would return home and spend the night with a good book and a bottle of wine. The owner says that Luba likes to reward herself after a production by purchasing a small jewelry at the Gemstone Harbor, so that's where she might have gone next.

Once at the Gemstone Harbor, Mon talks with Veronika, the owner. She is surprised that Luba would mist a casting call, and she worries that something might have happened to her. The actress did indeed stop by yesterday, and she purchased a small silver bracelet designed for a male. Veronika thought this was strange, because usually Luba lets her propose several different pieces, but yesterday she really had her eyes set on that particular bracelet. Luba paid for the bracelet and left with it in a small box. Veronika then proposes a silver necklace to Mon, which is very fine and of Elvish craftmanship. In the right light, it looks like mithral. Mon agrees to purchase the necklace. Veronika then mentions that Luba was going next door to the winery.

Mon thanks her, then heads next door. At the Kaleidoscope Winery, Mon learns from Viveka that Luba was indeed here yesterday. She purchased two bottles of wine, one red, one white, and she left them here. She had an errand to run in Low Town, then was coming back to pick up her bottles. She never returned.

Exploring Low Town, Mon comes across her broken parasol in the gutter of an alley a block and a half away from the Anchor's Luck. Hoping to find Captain Popov, Mon is informed that the Captain hasn't arrived yet, but several of the old timers saw the incident. The report that the actress was walking down the street yesterday when she was ambushed by the Cardinal's men. She put up a fight, but was eventually thrown in the back of a jail wagon, and she was taken uptown, presumably to the Cathedral. 

Mon rushes back to Legendary, where he finds Pavel. He informs the head carpenter of the events that transpired yesterday. Pavel tells Mon to locate Sir Gregory Tsaplin's solicitor, Sir Matviy, and ask him to intervene. Pavel gives the bard directions. For his part, Pavel will activate his network of relations in Low Town and see if he can gather more information. He will also send a message to Sir Gregory Tsaplin and report on what has been happening. Pavel instructs Mon to reconvene back at the Legendary at 4 pm.

Meanwhile, while Mon is running about town trying to find the actress, Branna looks for the Death costume. She discovers that the hood is missing, even though on the inventory it clearly shows that it was there when turned in to the clothes' archives. She locks what remains of the costume in her cabinet, and leaves a note for Oskana.

Marigold is working hard on props when she is interrupted by Ony, who talks with her about Sir Gregory Tsaplin's upcoming party and the role that the bubble machine will play. He would like bubbles that are different shades of blue, with a hint of green, and also once in a while yellow bubbles that look like lillies. Marigold inquires what the flower should look like. Ony does not know, but he will find out and confirm with her. Marigold thinks she could adjust the motor and creates more permanent bubbles.

Mon locates Marigold and Branna, and informs them of what has happened. Marigold gets some ball bearings and grease, in case they run into the Cardinal's men. The three of them then head out to the solicitor's office. Marigol notifies Nadie, the head of security at the Legendary of what happened to Luba, and Nadie agrees to spread the word that no one on the staff should be outside by themselves. They soon locate the office of Sir Matviy, Gregory Tsaplin's solicitor. They are greeted by Maria, Sir Matviy's secretary. Once in the solicitor's office. Mon explains everything. The solicitor orders his coach, and plans to head to the Cathedral. Mon stays behind at the law office, but Marigold and Branna will accompany him there.

Sir Matviy, Branna and Marigold are denied access to the Cathedral's offices at first, but after insisting they are taken directly to the Cardinal's office, a very ornate room larger than the Legendary's lobby. There the Cardinal readily admits that Luba had been arrested, but he pleads it was an innocent mistake. When asked why he had not released her, the Cardinal points out that she was hysterical, and he didn't want to release a distraught person to the street, where she could be harmed. Luba is soon produced, and she is released to Sir Matviy.

Back at the solicitor's office, Luba recounts her tale. She was walking in Low Town to meet a friend when she was viciously attacked by the Cardinal's men. She was taken to jail, where she was asked to strip and change into uncomfortable clothes. They also confiscated the bracelet she had bought for Mon. She was interrogated all night about an oak leaf, and about the dark oak leaf. She didn't know what any of this meant, but her torturers were vicious. Luba has bruises on her body to back up her claims. 

Luba also notes that she thinks she heard Herald while in the jail. Instead of being thrilled at playing the role of Fedya,  the actress is despondent and thinks about quitting and returning to Sezja. Mon bolsters her spirits, and she agrees to return to her home. Marigold and Branna will spend the night there with her, to make sure she's comfortable and protected. Mon mentions to Sir Matviy that Herald probably is in the Cathedral's jail, but unlike Luba, they don't have proof. The solicitor agrees to return to the Cathedral and investigate the matter further.

Returning to the Legendary, Mon discovers metallic handprints on the secret door leading towards the attic ....

Legendary Campaign - The Ruined Costume

Thursday, April 28, 1066 SE

Masha and the Bear has been running for three weeks, and while it has not reached the level of an acclaimed critical success, performances have continued to be well attended, and the play has already generated a tidy profit for the owner Legendary, Sir Gregory Tsaplin. While the second acting and stage crews continue the nightly performances of Masha and the Bear, the first acting and stage crews are already hard at work on the next performance.

The Marquess of Sidorov admired the costume that Branna created for Masha's life in the Bear's house, and she orders an exact replica with the talented seamstress. Branna spends some of her extra time creating a replica for the Marquess, earning a total of 100 silvers. She also designed other costumes for friends of friends, earning more money.

Mon spends some of his time investigating who was arrested during the raid the Cardinal and his men conducted on the warehouse in the docks district. After asking pointed questions and greasing some wheels, Mon discovers that of the twelve remaining men still in jail from that night, nine men were eventually freed, all of them laborers or hired muscle. Some of the individuals were charged with disturbing the peace, while others have been accused of violating religious edicts. Three other people were also arrested, but none of them been seen since the incident. As no one has been reported missing, the locals assume that these three detainees were not from Katarina. The boxes that were seized were never unloaded in the Cathedral.

When items disappeared, both Marygold and Branna thought they would investigate the matter. After questioning some of the Legendary's old timers, they come to the conclusion that a ghost may be haunting the theatre, acquiring objects that have significance for it. About 40% of the items being stolen disappear during the winter, a pattern the elf and the hafling mark as odd. The items that go missing seem on the whole to be of a practical nature, though a few were completely outlandish. When they present their finding to their friend Mon, he speculates that the ghost might lurk throughout the island, and spends more time traveling throughout the other communities during the other seasons. Exploring the theatre, Mon discovers many hidden and "secret" passages that pepper the walls. Due to extensive construction and renovation over the history of the Legendary, spaces have been so remodeled that pathways, crawlspaces, and entire rooms have sprung up and do not appear on any official map of the building.

Inspecting one of these tunnels that provides an incomparable view of the lead actresses' dressing rooms, Mon looks for well-worn paths in the dust, and for places where only one or two people travel. Several of the pathways he examines show no sign of use, while others are well-traveled, revealing that many crew members know of their existence. The bard heads to the make up room to borrow a few instruments, and then to the kitchen where he uses flour and make up powder that he then sprinkles in specific passageways. His plan is to return and examine these if another object goes missing. Mon did notice that the secret passage behind the lead actors' dressing room, which is shared by Vadim, the second lead, and Ulan, the first lead, also has some limited traffic. Mon will keep more of an eye on this, to determine if it's the same amount of traffic for the other actors. 

In his exploration, Mon discovers an abandoned wine cellar containing hundreds of bottles, all covered by a thick layer of dust. Looking to raise some quick cash, Mon returns to the wine cellar later that night, takes two bottles of wine from the rack, and gets them appraised at Kaleidoscope Winery. The bottles contain a red wine from Chateau Durso, a winery on the mainland. Viveka, the owner of Kaleidoscope Winery, identifies these bottles as being part of the Sunset collection, and each bottle is 62 years old, a great year for Sunset vintage. Viveka appraises each bottle at somewhere between 75 and 90 silver, describing the wine as one that "contains an overtone of smokiness which accompanies the strong dark cherry and blackberry flavors to coat one's palate, followed by hints of tea and spice," adding that "the tannin structure and exquisite acid balance of this wine gives it fantastic aging." She purchases both bottles from Mon for 81 silver pieces each. Returning to the abandoned wine cellar, Mon takes an inventory of the wine that is in the cave. He plans on selling a bottle or two every couple of weeks, and possibly also keep a few for himself.

Marigold spent time time building small wooden jewelry puzzle boxes in a variety of difficulties, assembling a small inventory she can eventually sell. She set up a deal with Veronika, owner of the Gemstone Harbor to sell her wares, along with some of the jewelry she has crafted. She uses river stones and polished class to make jewelry that is inexpensive and affordable for people who are less fortunate. She earned 60 silvers.

Saturday, April 30, 1066 SE

As Branna puts the finishing touches on a costume for the next play, Oskana barges into the sewing workshop with Masha's ruined dress, the one that is worn at the beginning of Masha and the Bear. Someone has accidentally dropped pomegranate juice on it, and even magic cannot seem to remove the stains that are clearly visible even from the cheapest seats. With the matinee performance only an hour away, she tasks Branna to find the Marquess of Sidorov, who had a similar dress made two weeks ago for a masquerade ball she was holding at her mansion last week.

Branna dispatches a messenger to the Marquess' manor, and she wonders whether it will be sufficient to find her and get the dress. What are the odds that the Marquess would be at home this lovely Saturday afternoon? Branna finds Marigold and Mon and requests them to help. Marigold takes one of her jewelry box, and finds the perfume that Luba wears as Masha. This may come in handy as a bargaining chip to trade for usage of the dress. Mon runs down to the wine cellar and quickly locates another bottle of Chateau Durso's Sunset, and takes it with him. This could also be used as a bargaining chip.

On the way to the Sidorov Manor, the party encounters the boy messenger Branna had dispatched. The boy reports that the Marquess is not at her residence. Marigold suggests they go visit Paula at the Needle and Thread in case she has knowledge of the Marquess' current location, but Paula has not seen the Marquess in days.

Branna, Marigold and Mon run to Sidorov Manor. Orest, the Marquess' butler, informs them that the Marquess is not here at the moment. After much discussion and the generous donation of a Chateau Durso's Sunset bottle, Orest agrees to show them his mistress's wardrobe. There they find the same dress Masha wears, but of course the butler will not let them borrow it without authorization from his mistress. The butler mentions that the Marquess left with her best friend Lady Fayina Sirenko to attend some event in town, but he does not know which one.

Marigold proposes they consult the Daily Night and the Evening Post to see what social events are happening around town. After buying a copy of each newspaper, they find there are three events that would most likely attract the Marquess' attention. First, the Katarina Library is holding a noisy auction to fund additions to the collection. Second, the Stetsyuk Art Gallery is featuring a new opening for Valadera, a female half-orc whose take on the nature of civilization and barbarism are widely acclaimed. Finally, there is a lecture taking place at the Serenity Center on the virtues of using cucumbers on your eyes.

After a brief discussion, the party decides to check out the Serenity Center. At the Serenity Center, they quickly discover that both ladies left a quarter of an hour ago to go to Khoroshim, a three star restaurant. Rushing from the Serenity Center to the restaurant, they run straight into a street protest, an event that is rare in Katarina. Mon inquires about the purpose of the protest, and learns that two young girls were arrested by the Cardinal's men in the Svetozar Plaza and have been accused of indecent behavior. Knowing both girls to be from reputable families, the crowd is enraged that the girls were arrested and they demand they be let go from the wagon in which they currently sit. The protest is large enough to block the entire street, and though they can backtrack through town, Branna, Marigold and Mon will lose significant time doing so. Marigold comes up with a clever solution. She enchants a rock to smell horribly, and she then uses it to clear a path through the protesters.

At Khoroshim, the trio is stopped at the entrance by the majordomo, who simply refuses to let rabble such as they inside his fine establishment. Branna drops the name Sidorov and intimates the Marquess would be sorely upset to have missed an opportunity to help her favorite theatre during this crisis, after which the majordomo relents and takes them inside to find the Marquess of Sidorov and her best friend Lady Sirenko sitting at a table and enjoying a mouth-watering meal, with a bottle of Chateau Durso's Sunset from decades ago on the table.

Branna explains the problem to the Marquess, who promptly writes a note allowing the seamstress to hand to her butler to take the dress with her. At this moment, however, the Cardinal enters the restaurant with his men, evidently searching for someone. He briefly stops by the Marquess's table, and remarks on the poor quality of her connections as he sneers down at Branna, Marigold, and Mon. Lady Sirenko pours a torrent of abuse on the Cardinal, who calmly accepts it, before staring intently at her and delivering the veiled threat that he was looking forward to a day soon where he could have an in-depth conversation with the lady in his Cathedral offices. Obviously not having located who they had come for, the Cardinal and his men left Khoroshim. 

Branna rushed to Sidorov Manor, while Marigold ran to the Legendary to inform Oskana that the dress was on its way. Soon, the play started, and no one was the wiser that on this day, it was a replicate of Masha's dress, and not the real thing, that performed on stage.

 Later that night, when Mon returned to the room he shares with Herald, he noticed two empty bottles of Chateau Durso on the ground by the scoundrel's bed. Hurrying back to the abandoned wine cellar, he finds Herald standing in there holding a bottle in each hand. Pleased to see the bard here, Herald thanks him for leading him to such a fine establishment, and inquires as to which of the two bottles he is holding Mon thinks his lady friend would like best. Mon casts charm person on Herald, and convinces him to take only one bottle. Once his roommate is gone, he moves the 72 most expensive bottles to the 6th floor in the ancient wood reserve he previously had located during his exploration of some of the Legendary's secret passages, and uses some of the wood to build a screen to hide the room and his growing bottle collection. He also takes some of the aged hardwood to Marigold so she can make additional puzzle boxes.

Legendary Campaign - Masha and the Bear

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.

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 ...

Legendary Campaign - Trouble before Masha and the Bear

Wednesday, April 6, 1066 SE

Following a hearty breakfast, the crew returns to the Legendary to prepare for the final dress rehearsal the next day. The thrill of excitement is palpable as everyone assembles on Stage 2. Yurchik presents all of the notes to each department head, highlighting the issues that require fixing before opening night on Friday. He also takes the opportunity to reveal the final series of posters for Masha and the Bear, and to Luba's relief, she and Vadim are both front and center in the last round of publicity for the play. Yurchik mentions that tomorrow's performance is the last chance to finalize the production, and that Sir Gregory Tsaplin will be in attendance. Yurchik also reveals that the next production for the First Crew will be Liza the Fox and Catafay the Cat, and they begin building the sets tomorrow.

With the final notes distributed, everyone returns to their workshops to complete their tasks. Dusana asks Marigold to design a bubble machine that will release bubbles when the basket in which Masha is hidden is opened. Marigold mentions that the bubble machine will make the floor slippery, so the crew  will need rubber shoes and stage hands will need to wipe down the floors after the first set changes.  

Dusana, prop master

Oskana asks Branna to make seven matching hats for the extras. The missing hats have been overlooked, and now they need to be created in a hurry. Branna picks up a nice green fleece, and designs simple yet elegant hats. When they are completed, Branna has all of the extras try them on. The elf makes the final modifications, then labels each hat with their wearer's name so they can be easily identified. 

During this time, the Marquess of Sidorov visit the theater. A rich widow known for her extravagant entertaining parties and her propensity for monopolizing the conversation, the Marquess is always on the lookout for new and exciting elements she can add to her repertoire. Every department head is eager to escape her presence, so when she catches Oskana unawares, the costume designer is only too happy to introduce Branna to her before disappearing. The Marquess gushes over the costumes Branna designed, and she asks the elf whether she would be willing to create a similar dress for an upcoming party. Branna agrees.

Mon overheard the conversation between Marigold and Dusana about the bubble machine, and he decides to practice casting silent image to recreate the bubble fall during the first act. Mon requests a bit of fleece from Branna as he will need a small square per performance.

Mon deGreen

In a conversation with Lena, the halfling from the marketing department reveals to Marigold that Yurchik was behind removing Luba and Vadim. The theater director evidently seemed interested in exploring whether it was time for new stars, but something made him back down. 

 Meanwhile, Branna vists The Needle and Thread. Paula, a human middle-aged woman, runs the sewing shop, and she's thrilled to have one of the Legendary seamstresses visiting. After some small talk, Branna explains the type of costume she wants to make for the Marquess. Following some haggling, Paula agrees to a cost of 4 silvers, and the transaction is made. 

After dinner at the Palace, Branna, Mon and Marigold return to the Legendary. Branna notices that one of the hats she created earlier that day is missing. She makes two hats and keeps one aside. After doing so, she rejoins her friends. Mon inquires which hat was missing. Not sure, Branna returns to her workshop and takes a look. The missing hat was Mon's. 

To celebrate their last evening free before the opening of Masha and the Bear, they decide to meander through Katarina. Marigold soon notices that the Cardinal's men are not on the street.

Sergeant Dima, whom they previously encountered, leads a patrol of two soldiers. Mon stops to chat with the soldier, and he remarks that the streets are eerily quiet. Dima replies that a rumor is circulating that the Cardinal is upset over Masha and the Bear, and finds the fact that a young girl would be living with a bear to be sinful and disgraceful. Mon wonders whether the Cardinal is plotting with his men to disrupt tomorrow's opening night. Dima does not know, but would not be surprised, as the Cardinal has been looking for a blow to deliver against what he considers loose morals on the island. 

Taking a look around the Cathedral, the three friends notice that no guards are standing outside, but that many lights are on inside the church, suggesting a large gathering. They wisely decide to move away.

The friends soon find their way to the Anchor's Luck, where they find Captain Popov spending quality time gambling away with his friends in his usual spot by the roaring fireplace. Popov is thrilled to see them, and is beyond himself when Mon offers him a ticket for the opening night of Masha and the Bear. Based on the old man's reaction, Mon surmises that the Captain would not be able to afford his own ticket. Popov thanks them profusely, but refuses to take the ticket. He can't see very well, and it would be a waste. He can just as well listen to the performance from outside the theater. Mon will not hear of it, and he casts lesser restoration to improve Popov's eyesight. The Captain is brought to tears, and he hugs Mon.

 During their evening conversations, Popov mentions that an excellent source has informed him that the Cardinal's armor was polished. This, mixed with the absence of his men on the streets, leads  Popov to suspect that the Cardinal himself will be leading some sort of public action very soon. As they ready to leave, Popov whispers to them that friends of the oak should make themselves scarce tomorrow night. 

Now worried, they return to the Legendary, and Branna soon notices there has been a break-in in the prop room. Someone took out the guards, and items, including the bubble machine Marigold created, have been sabotaged. Marigold decides she will sleep here tonight, and she casts the alarm cantrip on the window. Branna examines the costume room, but find that nothing is amiss. Mon notifies the stage manager on duty, who sends messages out to the heads of departments and to Yurchik. Mon himself tracks Dima and the patrol down. Soon the theater is filled with staffers and the entire building is searched. Nothing else seems amiss, so after adding some guards, folks return home. Mon, Branna, and Marigold remain uneasy at the situation, however.

 

Thursday, April 7, 1066 SE

With Marigold already sleeping at the Legendary in the props room, Mon decides he will guard Stage 2. Branna returns home to the Legendary, but as she comes up the stairs she sees a person dressed in black emerging from Mon's room. Branna casts ray of frost , r hitting the person, but they manage to escape down the hall and around a corner. In the struggle, however, a jar of ointment was dropped. Branna rings the alarm bell located on every floor in case of fire, and wakes up everyone in the Palace. The building is soon searched, but no trace of the person is found. Unfortunately, Branna does not have a good description of the person, so it could be anyone under the disguise.

Alerted, Mon and Marigold return to the Palace, where Branna tells them what transpired. Mon identifies the ointment dropped from the intruder as a cream of disguise, with a few applications remaining. The friends suddenly fear the worse. Could someone be ready to disguise themselves as Mon and lead an assassination attempt during opening night? After all, both the Archduke and the Cardinal are likely to attend ...

Legendary Campaign - Meeting Captain Popov at the Anchor's Luck

Tuesday, March 29th, 1066 SE

As a golem Mon does not need to sleep, but he still lays in his bed, pretending to sleep. Around five in the morning, he hears loud footsteps climbing the stairs, then making their way down to his room. The door barges open, and Mon pretends to be awakened by Herald who loudly enters the room in. The man looks very disheveled, and his cheeks and shirt collar are covered with lipstick prints. He crashes on top of his bed and instantly falls asleep. Mon waits a few minutes, then begins to whisper in Herald's ears. Soon, the actor begins talking in his sleep, dropping the name Lady Astral. Mon lays down again, and at six he gets up and heads down to the cafeteria.

Marigold wakes up to find Lena already readying herself for her job at the marketing department. Cheerful, she waves Marigold goodbye and heads out. The halfling gets up and starts her morning routine. In her room, Branna finds that Ola has already left, since she works in the kitchen. The elf gets dressed, then heads downstairs. Mon, Marigold and Branna meet on the third floor, and they make their way a few flights of stairs to the ground floor. Mon is the first to notice that the cafeteria sounds eerily quiet, as three residents quickly climb the stairs. Marigold then spots three of the Cardinal's men in the lobby, talking in whispers with the clerk at the front desk. Marigold and Branna make their way to the food line and get food. Mon takes a slower approach and swerves closer to the guards, so that he can overheard the conversation taking place between the guards and the clerk. Evidently, the Cardinal's men are looking for a dandy with blond hair and lipstick all over his face. That popinjay is wanted for shaming Lady Natalia Astral, the wife of Nikita Astral, a wealthy merchant and personal friend of Cardinal Feodore. The clerk does not know if such a person is in the building, but Mon sure does, as he's upstairs in his bedroom. Mon grabs a little food and joins his friends at the table in the corner. Branna greets Joseph, who is still working on clothes design in his notebook. He exchanges quiet pleasantries, but soon departs.

The hushed discussions taking place throughout the cafeteria are soon interrupted when Pavel enters the room. Cheers erupt as the master carpenter makes his way to the food line, dropping a kind word or shaking the hand of every person he meets. He soon finds himself sitting at the table in the corner. Pavel shovels food in his mouth as he talks, making conversation with the three friends. The Cardinal's men loudly threaten the clerk that they will return with reinforcements and they will search the building from top to bottom. Pavel soon mentions that Herald obviously might have had too much to drink, and he jokingly questions Mon on whether anyone should warn the actor that the morality policy is coming for him. With his food finished, Pavel departs for the theater, but not before "accidentally" knocking into one of the guards left at the door. Branna takes this occasion to visit the kitchen and greets Ola, her roommate.

Returning to his room, Mon finds Herald still sleeping. As he softly snores, Mon hears Herald talking about Captain Lafoy, a famous pirate rumored to have plied his trade around the island of Katarina. Evidently, Herald believes that Lady Astral knows the pirate captain. Aware that the Palace will be searched, Mon hides his dagger and rapier behind Herald's wardrobe, counting on the fact that the room is so messy no one will bother diligently searching it. He then leaves the room, Herald still sleeping soundly.

As members of the Second Crew, Marigold, Branna and Mon assemble with the rest of the workers on the second stage. Yurchik, the theater manager, begins reviewing the arc of Masha and the Bear, the play scheduled to start in five weeks. In Act 1, the fair maiden Masha, played by Luba, finds herself in the forest with her friends collecting mushrooms when she was ambushed by a bear, played by Vadim, and brought back to its lair. In Act 2, Masha learns how to live with the bear and plots her escape. In Act 3, Masha convinces the bear to take pies she just baked to her parents, and hides herself in the basket instead. Once at the village, dogs scare the bear, and Masha is reunited with her parents and her friends, the final song closes the show. Yurchik then asks each department head to meet with their staff and come up with all necessary items and directions to make this production a success.

Luba, female star of the Second Crew

As an extra, Mon is handed a script. He is assigned the part of Extra #7, and he is instructed to begin reading the script and return tomorrow for the first rough blocking session. Luba asks him if he would be interested in reading the script with her at her favorite coffee shop, the Warm Whistle, where the food is delicious and the drinks are refreshing. Mon soon realizes that Luba is a serious actress, as she spends the whole morning reading through her script and learning her lines. They eventually begin sharing lines with each other, and Mon's prodigious memory allows him to memorize the entire script after two readings.

Masha's Forest Outfit

Oskana and her team of seamstresses discuss the clothing choices for all of the characters. Oskana offers Branna the opportunity to design Masha's outfits for Act 1 and Act 2. Branna soon produces two beautiful drawings of outfits, and begins to work on turning her vision into a reality.

Masha's Act 2 Outfit

As prop master, Dusana solicits his team's ideas for the props that Masha will be using throughout the play. Marigold suggests a set of collapsible mushrooms that look like umbrella. She also proposes a collapsible pie with a smoke generator inside of it to generate the appearence of a warm pie just pulled out of the oven. Dusana is suitably impressed. 

Working on the construction crew assembling the set for Masha and the Bear, Pavel takes frequent breaks, encourages everyone, and lends a hand where needed.

During dinner, Mon questions Marigold and Branna about Captain Lafoy. Marigold remembers hearing that Captain Lafoy once conducted a daring raid on a cathedral on the mainland, and stole a gold cross. She recalls that Cardinal Feodore was the man of faith in charge of that church at the time. Mon tells them what he overheard Herald say in his sleep, and that Lady Astral and Lafoy may have been an item once. Marigold speculates that this is why the Cardinal is now in Lady Astral's business.

During dinner that night, they are approached by Pavel, who sits at their table to chat before getting his own food and returning to his room. After some banter, Pavel asks them to meet an old friend of his, Captain Popov, down at the Anchor's Luck, on the waterfront, and deliver an envelope. First they are to play three hands of cards with him, and bet three coppers each time. They must lose all three hands on purpose, then give him the envelope. This is how Popov will know Pavel sent them, but it keeps this connection secret, in case anyone is watching.

On their way there, Mon, Marigold and Branna witness four of the Cardinal's men berating two youths leaning against windows of a shop. The men quickly stop when one of the Archduke's patrols emerge from a side street, and move along, but not before exchanging a glance with the youth. Mon commits the faces of the youths and of the Cardinal's men to memory.

Captain Popov

Arriving at the Anchor's Luck, they are greeted by Ivan, the owner. Inquiries reveal that Captain Illich Popov sits at the table in the corner, closest to the fireplace. They find the old man there, playing cards with three other individuals who look just as old. They sit at the table, and join in the card game. Mon misunderstood Pavel's directions, and he manages not to communicate the secret message. Marigold reminds him of Pavel's specific instructions, and Mon plays another three rounds of cards, this time following the instructions to the letter. 

Captain Popov is pleased to meet the young folks sent by his friend Pavel, and he shares several stories of his sea voyages and his fishing adventures, all more unbelievable than the last one. When Ivan announces that it is time to close up. Captain Popov hands each of his new friends a neatly pressed and dried oak leaf from a small booklet retrieved from his pocket. All three of them are aware that there are no oak trees on the island of Katarina. He thanks them, and they walk him back to his hovel apartment on the second floor of a building a block away from the tavern. The three of them then return to the Palace after a night well spent...

Legendary Campaign - Welcome to the Island of Katarina

Welcome to the Island of Katarina

Settled over five hundred years ago,  the Island of Katarina is renowned for the quality and quantity of its iron ore, which is extensively mined in the mountains that surround the town. The resulting iron is then pressed into a type of steel referred as Katarina steel, and also shortened to Kat steel. Stronger and lighter than regular steel, Kat steel provides the wealth of the island.

Ruled by the Svetozar family over the last three centuries, the Archduchy of Katarina is titularly part of the Kingdom of  Sezja. Its location on the northeastern corner, far removed from the capital of Konstantina, means that for generations, as long as generous tributes were sent to the royal coffers, the Svetozar family has ruled unimpeded by outside forces. The wealth created by the mines has led to a comparatively higher standard of living, attracting people from all over the Sezja and beyond.

The current ruler of the island is Archduke Maksimillian III. He has a beautiful wife, Yeva, and two daughters, Verushka, 17, and Yula, 10. Over the last one hundred years, the Svetozars have managed the island expertly, extracting resources, generating wealth, and ensuring that this wealth was shared equitably with most of the island's inhabitants. This has created a surprisingly open society with a vibrant cultural scene. Over 45,000 people now live on Katarina, with two-thirds of them residing in the capital city of the same name.  

Archduke Maxsimillian has inherited his family's talent for business and management, and he has continued to increase the island's wealth and spread its culture beyond its borders. An active shipping industry has grown to export Kat steel and its derived products, and shipbuilding soon followed, diversifying the island's economy further. Commercial banks have established branches in Katarina, and a stable and well-managed economy relatively free of corruption bolstered by effective law enforcement means that over half of Sezja's wealth now transits through the Archduchy.

In the last decade, a revival religious movement has devolved into a strict fundamentalist interpretation of the Goddess, and the Synod of Cardinals has gained tremendous power throughout Sezja. Three years ago, Cardinal Feodore arrived on Katarina armed with a royal writ. Cardinal Feodore has established religious law over the island, much to the Archduke’s dismay. A small group of monks and clerics support the spreading of their more fundamentalist version of the faith, and the Cardinal’s soldiers often patrol the streets, enforcing morality and religious edicts. The Archduke bids his time, aware that for know the Cardinal has the blessing of the Sezian court in Konstantina, but with rumors that the Cardinal plans to seize the island and its wealth means that a reckoning is coming....

The Legendary

The wealth of Katarina and of its inhabitants means that many of them have disposable income available. As a result, a service industry of theaters, art houses, publishers and crafters has grown and offers a vigorous scene. Four theaters are located in Katarina. The Opera features modern productions, while the Fantastic leans more towards popular and bawdy comedies. The Starlight is known more for its sensual pieces than the quality of its acting. But of all the theaters on the island, the Legendary is the most famous. It is the premier facility for entertainment, where people go for excellent plays, music, and to see and be seen. Owned by Sir Gregory Tsaplin, and patronized by Archduke Maksimilian III, the Legendary features a large scene, an equally large rehearsal space, and a creative space large enough to accommodate the planning of a third production. The theater is situated at the south end of White Avenue opposite the Archduke's Palace at the north end. Many businesses connected to the theater surround the building.

Brannamarth Gwend, an elven sorcerer, comes from a famous family of clothes maker. The Gwends weave magic in their fabric, creating explosions of colors and subtle illusions that seems to make the clothes shimmer like starlight. Branna's father was approached by Oskana, the head designer for the Legendary, and he graciously allowed one of his daughters to travel to Katarina and further develop her skills with the trade.

Mon deGreen, a human bard, seeks to gain a better understanding of who he is and of his past through legends and tales told through the theater. He appears to have amnesia, and he doesn't remember anything before he awoke one dark morning a few years back. He traveled to Katarina, hoping to learn more about his previous life. Despite his amnesia, he can memorize lines easily, and he found employment at the Fantastic, where he was noticed by Luba, the Legendary's second actress for his unforgettable performance as Brother Gerald in the production of The Goblin and the Turtle Soup. She asked him to join the crew of extras who work for the Legendary, and Mon jumped at the chance.

Marigold Handthorn a lightfoot halfling artificer, has family on the island, and she fell in love with the theater. Tinkering from a young age, she has recently secured an apprenticeship with the famous props designer Dusana, who oversees the props department at the Legendary.

The Legendary operates on a tightly planned schedule. A show runs for five weeks, six nights a week, as well as matinees on Fridays and Saturdays. If the production is a smashing success, its run might be extended, but as soon as less than three quarters of the seats sell, the show closes out that weekend. While the show is running, a second production begins rehearsals. Finishing touches are made on the sets, last minute costumes are crafted, and props are added. Lights, sounds, and stagecraft are planned and executed, and this production waits in the wings so that it can start two days after the closing of the first show. Meanwhile, a third show is in pre-production in the creative area, with sets being roughly built, music being produced, and songs written. 

An army of laborers, cleaners, ticket sellers, ushers, and food service employees follow the orders of a cadre of middle managers, who take their own instructions from department heads, who report to Yurchik, the theater director, who in turns takes general guidelines and suggestions from Sir Tsaplin. Turnover is high among the lower levels of employees, so the Legendary is always hiring replacements at the beginning of every new production. Marigold, Mon, and Branna thus find themselves in the grand foyer of the Legendary on the morning of Monday, May 2nd, with over forty new workers. 

 

Monday, March 28th, 1066 SE

Upon arriving at the theater, Branna, Marigold and Mon are introduced to their respective department head. Branna already knows Oskana, who shakes her hand vigorously and thanks her for joining her team of costumiers. Marigold meets Dusana for the first time, and the short man is barely taller than she is. He welcomes her to the theater, and informs her that he has seen some of her designs and they show promise. Mon meets Dmitri, the stage manager, who supervises the extras. Each new employee is shown their work area, and employment rules are described. 

As members of the Legendary, employees may reside for free in the Palace, a five-story building next door to the theater. The accommodations are sparse, but three meals are provided free of charge every day in the Palace's cafeteria. When not performing, employees are allowed to attend the nightly production for free, filling the seats that haven't sold and giving the impression that the theater is always sold out. Mon is warned to figuratively watch his back, as extras will do anything to climb the ladder and become stars. He's also warned not to be caught by the morality police in the gambling dens by the harbor. Marigold is warned to keep an eye for inappropriate behavior from male employees towards female employees, and to report any incident immediately, as this is not tolerated by Sir Tsaplin. Branna is told to behave properly at all times, especially when outside the theater, as the Cardinal's morality police has been causing issues with the theater in recent months.

Near noon, all new employees report back to the grand foyer. Most of the actors for the upcoming production are here as well, and Luba warmly greets Mon, telling him she's thrilled to have the opportunity to work with him. Yurchik, the theater manager, introduces Sir Gregory Tsaplin, a rather unremarkable man who is sharply dressed in reds with a top hat on his balding head, and his faithful but long-suffering manservant, Ony.  

Sir Gregory Tsaplin, owner of the Legendary

Sir Tsaplin theatrically comes down the grand stairs, and he introduces the new production, Masha and the Bear. He expresses his hopes that it will be as successful as the show opening tonight, Baba Yaga and the Crimson Flower. He then reveals the official poster for Masha and the Bear, which is currently slated to start on May 2nd, but to Luba's consternation none of the actors are depicted, which goes against past practice of featuring the lead stars and divas. Rumors begin to circulate that perhaps Luba's position atop the actor's ladder is not as secure at it was.

Following a delicious luncheon, the new employees are paid their weekly wages. Mon, Marigold and Branna return to work in their respective areas. At the fifth hour, the evening employees and the crew for the production of Baba Yaga and the Crimson Flower begin arriving, signaling the end of the work day for the crew of Masha and the Bear. Marigold, Branna and Mon walk to the Palace and secure lodgings.  Marigold is assigned to a room on the third floor, and she meets her roommate, Lena, another halfling. Lena works in the marketing department, and she questions Marigold on her thoughts on the poster. She reveals that she was not in favor of leaving the actors off, as they drive a lot of the business, but Raissa, the chief marketer, insisted on this new approach. Lena suspects that Luba's days as the second female star of the Legendary may be numbered.

Branna is paired with Ola, a quiet human. Ola works in the kitchen, and hopes to become a chef someday. Meanwhile, she spends all of her nonworking time in the Palace's kitchen, helping out and working on her culinary skills. She's rarely in the bedroom they share on the fifth floor, and her area is tidy and clean. 

Mon is assigned to a bedroom on the fourth floor. As he begins to open the door, the doorknob is wrenched from his hand, and his new roommate grabs him and hugs him. He introduces himself as Herald, and begins to talk at Mon about all of his own wonderful qualities. Herald is a mid-tier actor, and he hopes to break it big. Mon quickly forms the opinion that Herald is either a dimwit who is wholly focused on himself, or he is a deviously clever individual who hides behind a veneer of silliness. A quick look at the clothes spread all over the furniture and floor, the empty bottles of wine piled in a corner, and the general messiness of the place convinces Mon that it is probably the former.

Mon, Branna and Marigold soon find themselves in the food line in the Palace's cafeteria. They introduce themselves, and share pleasantries. The cafeteria is loud, and most of the seats are taken. A whirlwind of a man, over six feet tall and wearing blue overalls with a tool belt strapped around his waist, barges in the cafeteria, and everyone yells his name, holding a tankard or a glass. Pavel, one of the theater's master carpenter, salutes people as he walks through on his way to the line, and it is clear he knows everyone by name. He stops by the new hires, and introduces himself before asking them for their names. Pavel is jovial, has a flair for the dramatic, and is quick with the bad joke. He fills his plate, then fills three more, before putting some food on Mon's plate. He welcomes the new hires aboard, then heads upstairs with his food.

The three of them find the only open seats left near a corner table. Two actors from the second crew are busy kissing, and completely ignore them. The other person at the table keeps one drawing in a large pad, his food barely touched. Branna notices that he's designing clothes, and they are rather good. When he seems her looking, he gets up and leaves, abandoning his food behind. They learn that his name is Joseph, and he works in accounting. Branna remembers that he was one of the people paying them earlier that afternoon.

Following dinner, Branna and Mon return to the Legendary to watch the opening night of Baba Yaga and the Crimson Flower, in the seats reserved for employees at the back of the theater. Marigold, for her part, watches the production from the wings, so she can watch the props' process. She soon realizes that backstage is a well-oiled machine, with the props clearly labeled and organized by appearance. When one of the props helper makes a mistake, he is quickly berated by the prop supervisor.

The performances was amazing, the music uplifting, and the audience adored it. The buzz as the audience leaves the show indicates that this is probably one of the best performances of the last three years. Throughout the performance, Mon worried that the Cardinal would attend, but the man never showed up. The Archduke and his family were in attendance, however, in their private balcony, and the crowd gave them a round of applause before the curtain lifted at the beginning of the performance. Mon tells Branna he was raised up as a flesh golem, and his master triggered something in him, and he took his life in a fit of rage when he discovered what had been done to him. Branna volunteers to make him a piece of clothing that might have enough magic in it to distract the Cardinal if he ever came close, so that he would not detect Mon's true nature. The actor profusely thanks her.

Returning to their rooms after the show, Marigold finds Lena sleeping soundly, Branna finds Ola sitting in her bed reading through a cookbook, while Mon finds Herald, who works with the first crew getting ready to go out to celebrate opening night. The mess is even worse. After Herald departs, Mon cleans a path to his bed, folding Herald's clothes as he goes, a remnant of his mindless beginning as a golem for his previous master ...