Hard to Bard - The Phantom of the Opera

Arrival at the Opera Tonight

L1: Main Hall

Guests and audience members gather in this hall during intermissions and to socialize before shows begin. 

The wood floors are slick from constant cleaning and polishing, and slope down toward the back hall. 

The walls are lined with posters from the most recent productions and propaganda pieces that glorify the crown.

In the midst of them is a Poster for Arcane Fire, performing here tomorrow night!

There are two doors that lead to area L6 Back Hall and one double door that leads to area L2 Performance Hall.

When the band arrive at the theatre where Quintiles Hairyleg, having heard of them from Madeline, greets and asks them to stay and watch the performance. 

The house lights, made with driftglobes, are partially dimmed, but haven’t gone out entirely. 

They are allowed to explore the theatre but are told to stay off the stage.

A Ekam and Sister notice that Quint frequently has his hands in his pockets. 

The band feel that Quint is genuine and honest except when he is asked about the theatre’s finances, he is evasive and answers in half-truths.

The star diva of the theatre, Cadence Delaroux (human female (she/her), Bard) is spotted carousing with fans, but heads over to the rest of the band where in serious hushed tones and answers their questions (The Theatre is almost bankrupt with Quint's gambling and stealing) and admits that she may know where the Bard Tale is, but would have to escort them after the show.

The rest of the band head backstage, while Sister is distracting Quint.

Sister stays and speaks emphatically with Quint and preaches the importance of having Her Gods guiding hand in his life, to the point of almost converting him.

Theatre Properties

• Each room in the Theatre strongly smells of wood polish, the theater luvvie band members know that the polish used is for polishing stage floors.
• Each room in the theatre is lit with dim light by one or more driftglobes. These globes are attached to specially designed light fixtures and cannot be removed without damaging the globes beyond repair.

L6. Back Hall

A dimly lit hall with a stairwell that leads up to area L4 Backstage and several doors that lead to areas L7 to L12.

Rugs cover the entire floor and bits of costumes and cosmetics are scattered about the area.

L4. Backstage

Strewn about this area are several props and costumes. A curtain is set up to act as a quick-change station for the performers during the show.

L12: Quintiles’ Office

The Band head straight to Quint's office, but it is locked.

After much fumbling, Lemmog breaks the lock and Ekam casts mending on the lock.

The room is more of a storage space than an office.

Containers of wood polish are pressed into all corners of the room. A large, wooden desk that reeks of the polish takes up most of the space in this room.

Along the far wall is a collection of pinned news clippings of the theatre’s various performances and reviews. 

There is also a framed letter from Queen Madaline, praising Quintiles for performing his duty to the Crown by reporting subversive material and praise at his ability to run the theatre singlehandedly.
The note also specifically compliments Quints’ taste in productions for putting on plays that aren’t anything like the garbage that King Henry enjoyed when Julian was in charge.

Searching the room, set in the eastern wall behind a stack of boxes there is a locked trapdoor reinforced with steel bars, that the band fail to open.

Hydrica searches through the desk for a key, to no avail, but does pull out loads of paperwork 

• a work-in-progress copy of the song “You Think You’re So Clever” from Nobility Elevates which is a scathing critique of nobility and the class system, and is an illegal piece to possess in Richester. 
• other copies of banned plays, 
• several documents and letters that further prove Quint’s terrible spending habits, immense debt, and inevitable bankruptcy. 

The band realise that if these items are presented to Queen Madeline, she will have Quint arrested and the Theater remitted to the care of Cadence.

So the band steal the incriminating evidence.

Lemmog frustrated with the ineptitude of Ekam lockpicking ability, wrenches the trapdoor off of its hinges, covering himself in a layer of dust.

Revealing a small cubby in the floor which contains 100pp, 500gp, and a composer’s pitch pipe that was stashed by one of the original owners of the Theatre, hundreds of years ago.

Lemmog plays the Pitch Pipe for just over a minute because it started to glow as he was playing it and becomes attuned to the instrument - much to the horror and anticipation of the rest of the band (its almost as if the GM constantly was giving cursed items out).

Composer’s Pitch Pipe

Wondrous Item, Very Rare (Requires Attunement)
Harmonious. Attuning to this item takes only 1 minute.
A pitch pipe in the shape of a metal pocket watch that was worn by King Richmond. On the face of the pitch pipe are fourteen tones for a musical scale, starting at C and ending at B. When in use, the tones on the face of the pipe glow with magical light.
The pitch pipe has 4 charges and regains 1d4 charges at dawn. You can expend a charge to use one of the following properties:

• Key of Strength. A deep, fortifying note emanates from the pitch pipe. As an action, up to three target creatures that you can see within 30ft. become suffused with strength, granting them +1 to AC and 4 temporary Hit Points.
• Key of Glory. A winding, melodious note emanates from the pitch pipe. As an action, one target you can see within 30ft makes a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or becomes Charmed for 8 hours. While charmed this creature regards you as an honored guest and is willing to offer you shelter, food, or minor financial assistance. On a successful save, the target is aware that you tried to affect them with magic.
• Key of Contemplation. A long, low note emanates from the pitch pipe. As an action, you benefit from the effects of See Invisibility for one minute.
• Key of Bravery. A loud, brassy note emanates from the pitch pipe. As a reaction when an ally is attacked with a melee attack within 15ft. of you, the attacking creature rolls with disadvantage. Additionally, the next attack roll against that creature is made at advantage.
• Key of Benediction. A sweet, soothing note emanates from the pitch pipe. As an action, you cast Unseen Servant from the pitch pipe.
• Key of Grace. A hopeful, calming note emanates from the pitch pipe. As an action, up to two target creatures you touch regain 2d8 hit points. If the targets were frightened, that condition ends.

The band exit the office and explore some other rooms

L11: Performer’s Quarters

This room is set up to house the performers and employees that work in the Theatre. There are two double bunk beds and a locked footlocker in front of each, with 2 performers and a staff member resting in this area.

They are polite and just relaxing before the show, the band exchange pleasantries and leave them alone to their rest.

L8: Vacant Dressing Room

This room is used by many of the lesser performers for costuming and makeup, on each wall with a chair and table in front of them. 

There are seveal performers putting the final touches to their make up.

I forget why but the band become obsessive about wigs

Ekam seeing himself in the three mirrors, cannot help but admire himself and strike some poses and flourishes.

The band then leave and head up to their opera box as the opera is about to begin.

L5. Opera Box

A small set of stairs from the corridors in the main hall lead up to each of these boxes. It is open to the entire performance hall and typically contains two reclining, silk seats and a table for drinks, but smaller seats have been put in to accommodate the band.

L2: Performance Hall

Dozens of rows of fine silk seats are bound to the floor and staggered on the slope of this chamber. The acoustics of the room are incredible.

The Opera

The house lights go out and the driftglobe stage lights turn on. 

Cadence Delaroux appears on stage and begins singing an aria. 

The band are moved by this beautiful performance. Ekam and Lemmog compare it to being almost as beautiful as the performance they heard in Richmond Tomb.

The Phantom Strikes

Midway through the performance, the driftglobes on the chandelier will go awry before bursting, leaving the stage dark. Cadence’s scream echoes eerily through the performance hall, when the backup lighting is finally turned on, Cadence is nowhere to be found.

With blasted Darkvision!

The band spot a being pulling Cadence backstage, then she is out of sight.

The Band leap heroically from the Opera Box balcony to the Performance Hall, falling in slow motion which the band make the most of to strike heroic poses and safe landings.

They heroically charge the stage

They heroically leap up onto the stage, well all but sister manages that feat, sister heroically sissor splits the stage and lands back on the floor.

But because of that Sister avoids heroically landing on the weakened stage area and causing it to collapse.

Lemmog's Wolf picks up the sent, and they follow it backstage and down some steps where it disappears

L13: The Understage

This room is used to store the various set pieces for the productions. 

The band notices a torn piece of cloth from the dress that Cadence was wearing when she was taken.

As the band try to wonder what is going on, just as Ekam and Sister perceive the illusory wall, the wolf pokes its head through it dispelling it.

The Caverns

L14. Rough Passageway

This passage was recently dug out, the walls are made of raw stone and of dirt and is in darkness.. 

Some of the Band members realise this passageway was formed by some sort of burrowing fey.

At the end of the passage, there are two lion statues facing toward the entrance, mouths open.

As the band enter the Passageway a trip wire is triggered sending several buckets of wood polish over the band, all but Sister and Hydrica avoid the polish.

The polish smells awful and can only be removed by becoming fully immersed in water or by taking time to clean up during a long rest. A creature covered in wood polish is vulnerable to fire damage. 

As the band head towards with other end of the passage, Lemmog triggers the Statues to "breathe" jets of fire that encompasses the entrance and the passage out to 20ft

Hydrica tries to rush into the room, but triggers the trap again dousing all but Lemmog again in Fire.

Ekam spots the trigger pressure plate, and the remaining member leap over the plate avoiding the trap.

Sister is a Kentucky Fried Goblin atm and is healed up

L15. Wandering Korred

The passageway opens up into a naturally formed cavern. 

Ekam casts dancing lights to illuminate the cavern

Directly to the north, the cavern expands into area L19. The remains of ancient explorers can be found strewn across the ground.

To the East is a narrow passageway made of white bricks (common throughout Richester)

As the Band enter the cavern they hear an ominous 

"Hey Creature, leave our spoils alone, all we want is for you to leave the treasure alone."

The band agree and Leave the Korreds alone and head north (due to Sisters Locate Object spell).

L18. Underground Lake

The cavern opens up into a shore that is divided by a large expanse of water. A sloped pier is built directly into the shore that connects seamlessly to a 10-foot long gondola made of brambles and roots. 

The band spot that there is a hairbrush with the initials “C.D.” engraved into it.

On the eastern end of the lake is a smaller shore that leads to area L19, on the northern end there is an opening that leads outside to Lake Tomunga.

Wild Gondola. The gondola is a relic created by King Richmond and given as a gift to the original owner of the theatre. It is marked on the prow with a circular medal bearing the symbol of the Bard’s Tale and is naturally imbued with fey magic. 

The gondola only moves when someone riding succeeds on a Performance of the song found in the first chapter of the Bards’ Tale.

The performer must maintain concentration and use their action each turn to move the gondola 20ft.

Ekam flys ahead, and Hydrica performs the song, but the band is ambushed by Four Merrow

The Band quickly despatch and send realing the Merrow, with those that survived fleeing back into Lake Tomunga.

The band arrive at the shore where they can hear a melancholy tune being played on an organ.