The band arrive at the shore where they can hear a melancholy tune being played on an organ.
The Phantom’s Lair
The area opened up into a large chamber that looks to have been dug out by the Korred.
At the south end of the room is a large pipe organ.
A ramp leads up to the organist’s seat, where The Phantom sits, playing a melancholy tune.
Sister recognise it as a song from The Lovers’ Promise, Julian’s first opera.
Along the northwest side of the room are several sofas where Cadence is lying unconscious on one of them. On the southern side are bookshelves crammed against the walls, their contents damp due to the humidity caused by the underground lake.
When the band enter the room, the Phantom just finished playing the piece.
The Phantom explains that they are Julian and that they were betrayed by Quint and ousted unlawfully from their position by a royal conspiracy to put a stop to productions that criticize the crown.
When the characters enter this room, the Phantom will have just finished playing the piece.
Julian openly discusses their disdain for royalty as a whole, how they believe Henry to be a coward that can’t even keep his own crown on his head.
After questioning Julian describes their plan to burn down the theatre tonight to keep Quint from metaphorically burning down what it once stood for.
They took Cadence so that she could escape. They know that Cadence took control of the Theatre’s funds and that she would start her own establishment that would actually foster the creation of true works of art.
The band convince Julian that they have the blackmail material against Quint, and if Julian helps them create some songs for the bands performance which give the detail of the royal conspiracy and Quint's unlawful endeavours.
Julian shows the band the original deed to the theatre with their signature.
Julian is convinced to hand over the Third Chapter of the Bards Tale .
On the way back the band battle the Korrids and find amongst the corpses
Arcane Fire Live at Theatre of Lake Tomunga
Cadence uses her financial sway to help Julian regain ownership.
The pair put on a new opera within the month that is a smash hit with the local fey.
Afterward, Cadence leaves the theatre to pursue her own passions.
Julian supports the band in any attempts to remove the monarchy and is quite willing to financially support General Warner’s rebellion.
Jullian will also reluctantly support King Henry’s return under the condition that their plays are made legal once again.
The Band head off towards the Jade Metropolis, which will take several days to travel with Bianca's guidance.
While traveling along any road or pathway, the band meet a motley group who seem to be lost: Theodora Squall, a kalashtar; the changeling Mawkin; the Iron Forrester, a warforged soldier; a longtooth shifter, Lionel; and Theodora’s pet cat, Otto.
Their Off to See the Wizard
“I don’t think we’re in Khorvaire anymore!”
Theodora and company greet the band cordially and are interested to learn anything they can tell about the surrounding area, and will specifically inquire how they came to be in the Feywild.
Theodora gladly volunteers her recent history: she and her friends are from a region called Khorvaire whose towerings cities and lightning trains make Nevernever seem like a quaint piece of history. Flying on a diplomatic mission, their airship was caught in a magical windstorm and they crashed in the woods in this strange land. They were able to get their bearings somewhat by talking to local fairies, and now they are searching for a way back to their home.
Theodora Squall a female kalashtar (she/her) - A youthful woman wearing a simple blue travelling dress carrying her pet cat in a basket
“Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly, and the dream that you dare to. Oh why, oh why can’t I?”
The Iron Forester a male warforged soldier (he/him), a stern metallic man with a battleaxe slung casually over one shoulder.
“If I only had a heart...”
Mawkin a nonbinary changeling (they/them), their clothes are an eclectic mix of colors and styles, and when not concentrating their face subtly changes features from second to second.
“If I only had a brain...”
Lionel a male longtooth shifter (he/him), an eight-foot tall humanoid with cat eyes and a shaggy mane of hair.
“If I only had the nerve...”
They’re on the lookout for a powerful archfey named Richmond who they believe can plane shift them back home.
Ekham surmises that the Richmond’s heir could probably help Theodora and her friends, depending on who it is.
Theodora and friends will briefly discuss returning to the Jade Metropolis which they previously passed, before deciding against it, as the recent murder of Primrose after the Dream Tax was enstated was a poor first impression of the city. They will instead decide to head to Richester until they can decide
When asked for directions to the Jade Metropolis, Theodora’s party happily tell them, but they warn the band to be careful of one of Jade’s leader, Gaila, who is not what she seems.
The band identify the things they secretly wanted and that the things they secretly want in life are available for them here in the Feywild, where emotions are more powerful than on the material plane.
Mawkin can feel inspired to have opinions for themselves instead of only offering possibilities.
The Iron Forrester can open his heart and display his deep compassion for his friends.
Lionel can tap into his inner excitement and fearlessness, shedding his cowardly demeanor.
Theodora can have the adventure that she has always yearned for.
In return for their help, Theodora and her friends will wait in Richester and can assist in whatever occurs there.
The Band head off following the Yellow Dirt Road to the Jade metropolis
Jade Metropolis
Approaching the City
The forest opens up to reveal a village of cobbled together huts and hovels built within the trees.
Smoke gently rises from the chimneys and the smell of cooked vegetables fills the air. Beyond the homes of the fey that live here is a massive wall, made of Jade that sparkles fabulously in the sunlight.
Areas of the Lower Ward
The festivities and revels that once filled the woods around the Jade Metropolis have been replaced with fey creatures bumbling about, devoid of color and life or passing out from sheer exhaustion.
When one of the villagers falls asleep without paying the tax, they have a restless and dreamless sleep while simultaneously having their essence drained by the dweomer placed upon the ward by Gaila as part of the implementation of the dream tax.
When the band arrive, some of the more well rested villagers will approach and ask them to speak with Adam Prinze in the Hallowed Log Tavern.
The Tax although does not seem much for the inner wards, is too much for the lower wards.
The Hallowed Log Tavern
This once lively bar built within a hollowed out tree stump is now only patronized by those who choose to drink away their coin rather than to dream.
While the establishment is extremely tiny and only suited for tiny or smaller creatures, any who wish to enter and everything they are wearing and carrying are shrunk into an appropriate size by enchanted runes on the doormat until they choose to leave.
The keeper of the bar has fallen into a deep slumber and cannot be woken up, so the customers have just taken to serving themselves and piling their payment on the snoring myunche’s belly.
Services
The Hallowed Log offers the following services:
- Poor, Modest, and Comfortable meals can be found for the standard prices listed in the Player’s Handbook.
- Ale and Wine are plentiful and can be purchased for the standard prices listed in the Player’s Handbook plus 1 gold piece per item to cover the spirit tax.
- Modest and Comfortable rooms can be rented for 10sp and 16sp respectively, twice the amount listed in the Player’s Handbook.
The Band take some Ale and food, and Hydrica tries to balance the coins on the sleeping barmans stomach.
The folk of the lower ward hear a lot of information as travellers come and go, anyone frequenting the tavern can share the following information:
- Gaila is pushing for the common folk and is working toward repealing the Dream Tax.
- Sebille and Primrose are siblings and became distant when Primrose was promoted to High Treasurer and moved to the Crystalline District.
- Sebille pressured Primrose into passing the Dream Tax and then killed her when she tried to report this to Gaila.
- Gaila plans on attacking Richester with an army of Jade Sentinels if Queen Madeline continues fraternizing with the Queen of Air and Darkness.
The Dream Tax
The tax on dreams is a relatively small amount of money in the Jade Metropolis and hasn’t affected the wealthy denizens of the upper and crystalline wards but has been extremely challenging for those that live in the lower ward.
Those who live outside of the walls find themselves deprived of rest and drained of inspiration and emotion after weeks of being unable to dream.
Many folk from the lower ward seek rest deeper in the enchanted forest but this has led to many being killed by the dangerous creatures that lurk within or becoming lost and unable to return to their homes.
A dweomer is laid over the city, visible as an eerie purple halo that hangs in the sky above the city, marking its boundaries and sapping energy from those that violate the tax to empower Gaila and her army in an attempt to bolster their forces for war with Richester.
Sleepy Harry
Stout and husky, he has a beer belly that rises and falls with every breath.
Dressed only in pajamas, just in case the opportunity to get some sleep presents itself.
But does point out Adam Prinze who is in the bar, before snoozing again.
Adam Prinze a myunche male (he/him), wearing a strange amalgamation of magic armor pieces and jewelry that do not match in the slightest but probably have some major boons. He has a bright red mushroom cap upon his head and a beard.
Adam Prinze is a grizzled adventuring veteran that has seen everything there is to see.
Nothing surprises him and he’s somehow always prepared for coming battles.
He knows everything about the monsters in Nevernever, he spouts off random facts and things that they are vulnerable or resistant to.
He has been able to easily pay the dream tax but holds an intense grudge against the Jade Metropolis for no apparent reason.
He accompanies the band if they agree to help figure out a way to stop the Dream Tax, as he is trying to save coin for the next essential piece of his arsenal.
He does point the band to Sebilles office.
Sebille’s Office
This run down building was once the office of Sebille, the former representative of the lower ward.
The door hangs open and the interior looks as though it was recently ransacked.
The band investigate and search the office, finding a Greater Potion of Healing and a flask of Basilisk’s Blood sitting on a shelf, also a letter from Primrose addressed to Sebille is evidence in favor of Sebille’s innocence. The letter reads:
Sebille,
Stop sending letters to the other council members, the tax has passed and has no chance of being repealed. I strongly urge you to let this go and focus on actually helping those affected in your ward.
Your sister,
Primrose, High Treasurer
The Jade Gates
As the band approach the gates, two Jade Sentinels declare that each band member must pay an entry tax of 100gp.
The Hydrica convinces them to allow for free passage.
Areas of the Upper Ward
The upper ward seems to be functioning as it normally does.
The folk go about their business, seemingly unaware of the plight of the folks in the lower ward.
The band chat and listen into gossip and rumors
- Gaila has led the Jade Metropolis to an economic golden age in the last 1500 years.
- Sebille has caused trouble for Gaila for decades as they always seem to take issue with new laws that are passed.
- Primrose was intent on passing the dream tax and used questionable tactics to do so.
- Sebille is a menace to the Jade Metropolis and it’s about time she’s brought to justice.
The Great Market
The beautiful streets open into a market square where a diverse assortment of merchants peddle off their goods, hundreds of fey crowd around a few dozen stalls all clambering for the best deals.
Different folk from all over the feywild come to the Jade Metropolis to trade their goods, korred, satyrs, centaurs, and even other interplanar beings such as abishai and djinn along with a plethora of others can be found here. Fieri runs a stall in the market as well, disguised as a planeswalking wood elf.
Services
- Magic items Trader
- Common (250 Gold)
- None
- Uncommon Items (400 Gold)
- Eyes of the Eagle (Bought by Ekham)
- Amulet of proof against detection and location
- x2 +1 Weapons
- Sentinel Shield
- Rod of the Pact Keeper (Bought by Ekham)
- Rare (2,200 Gold)
- Giant Slayer Weapon
- +2 Battle Axe (Bought by Lemmog)
- Elven Chain Mail (Bought by Ekham)
- Very Rare (10,000 Gold)
- Ioun stone of agility
- Sold to Trader
- Adamentane Splint Armour (Very Rare)
- The Bezerker Battle Axe (Rare)
- Inns offer aristocratic quality rooms for 7 gp a night.
- Restaurants offer wealthy and aristocratic meals for the standard price listed in the Player’s Handbook.
- Any basic item listed in the Player’s Handbook can be purchased for the standard price listed.
- The Band bought a kit that contained thieves tools
The Crystalline Gates
The gates that lead to the upper ward are constructed entirely out of solid white translucent crystal, they are enchanted so that they cannot be climbed over except for by magical means.
It is manned by an Enchanter and three Jade Sentinels during the day.
When the band approach the gates, the enchanter cries out;
Who art thou that approaches thine crystal gate?
Dost thou desire to travel hither from whence you were thither?
The band realise that the arbiters are mocking the band and the common tongue.
With some persuasive chat from Hydrica they are convinced to open the gates for the band.
Areas in the Crystalline Ward
Only the most ancient and most prominent fey folk are found within this ward of the city, all are extremely wealthy and hold some amount of sway in the Summer Court. As the characters explore the area, passersby make no effort to hide their stares and whispers.
Key areas:
- Primrose’s Apartment
- The Golden Council
- The Gilded Path
- The Jade Palace
Look i am aware of your bands quest to retrieve the Bards’ Tale and well we can together steal the fifth chapter from Gaila if you help her gather the other spoils that are found within the palace.See win win
Magic Items
The Bards’ Tale
Wondrous Item, LegendaryBefore King Richard reached his thousandth year, he knew he must create his magnum opus and ensure that his legacy would be upheld. With all of the resources available to him, he spent the next 30 years leading to his thousandth name day creating the work that would be boldly dubbed “The Bards’ Tale”.
While the contents within are simply an epic account of his many achievements and victories, weaved within the paper itself is a magic that’s connected to the magic of Richester itself. When Richmond built the city, he made sure to weave a bit of himself into every brick, statue, and tile. When the song was sung in its entirety, it’s said the trees dance and sway to the tune and the very architecture of the theatre changes to resemble the tone of what’s being played.
Thus, it has only been performed once on the day before Richmond passed.
Five Chapters. The tale is composed of five chapters that each resemble a chapter of Richmond’s story and each one is a powerful magic item in itself.
Chapter 3 Erecting the Castle
- This chapter is about the legendary feat that Richmond enacted by raising Richester single handedly by channelling Elder Fae Magic.
- The creature that holds this chapter gains a +1 bonus to their spell attack bonus and spell save DC.
To perform the entire arrangement, you must concentrate and use your action to attempt a DC17 Charisma (Performance) check for three consecutive rounds. If at least two of the three checks were successful, the arrangement will have been completed. When this happens, the heir to Richester by blood is revealed to all who can see. While performing, you are granted the following benefits:
- Whenever a friendly creature within 30 feet of you must make a saving throw, the creature gains a bonus to the saving throw equal to your Charisma modifier (with a minimum bonus of +1).
- You have advantage on Constitution saving throws to maintain concentration.
- Hostile Creatures within 30ft. cannot cast the wish spell.
When the motif of the corresponding chapter is performed, the magic of the music will cause a secret to be unlocked, normally in the form of a secret door opening or a room reshaping to a more favorable form.
Eyes of the Eagle
Wondrous Item, uncommon (requires attunement)Rod of the Pact Keeper
Rod, uncommon (requires attunement by a warlock)While holding this rod, you gain a +1 bonus to spell attack rolls and to the saving throw DCs of your warlock spells.
In addition, you can regain one warlock spell slot as an action while holding the rod. You can't use this property again until you finish a long rest.
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