As the sun sets and the first hour comes to a close, a minor incident takes place at the entrance to the Kintargo Opera House. The artists all flock to the foyer, where you see a filthy woman in ragged clothes waving an invitation in the faces of the attendants at the front door, arguing with them.
Both Cerulean and Esirelle see through the woman's clever disguise. This is Delmonia Crape, arriving fashionably late! The attendants have mistaken her for an actual vagabond who stole the invitation she's presenting.
Kharya crinkles her nose. "Where did a vagrant like her get the invitation in the first place?"
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Upon seeing the disheveled form of Delmonia being excluded from the event despite holding a perfectly good invitation, Cerulean slips past the guards and leans in close to the woman speaking low and with genuine worry.
"Dearest Delmonia, are you hurt dear? Come you must be dreadfully cold in the streets, I'll fetch you a snug, a tonic, and tend to you in an off-room while you tell us what befell you."
Looking at those who might hope to bar the way they order them, "Out of the way now do none of you recognize such a famous individual just because their outfit may be a bit torn. Move I say, make way!"
Esirelle nods. "Cerulean's right. Open your eyes, everyone. She belongs here as much as anyone does!"
Delmonia scoffs. "Hurt? Merely my pride, darling. These hoity-toity servants seem to be under the impression that only the rich and fancy are allowed to be artists. Hence, the outfit, to point out one should not hew too closely to one's preconceived notions."
The servants trip all over themselves to apologize to Delmonia. The other guests give some light applause, while Zachrin nods in appreciation of the stunt.
With Delmonia’s arrival settled, Zachrin ushers the partygoers back into the main hall, where the servants have taken the displayed artwork away so the stage can serve as a dance floor. Musicians are preparing in the orchestra pit as Zachrin announces the next event, a Dance of Masked Devils. Several in the crowd clap and cheer in delight.
A Dance of Masked Devils is a celebration of the unmasking of devils within Ravounelian society, consisting of an eclectic mix of line dancing, whirling dervish, musical chairs, tag, and even chess-like strategies and moves. Each participant dons a wooden devil mask (supplied by Zachrin). As they’re defeated, contestants add their masks to a growing pile in a large cauldron set in the center of the stage. The final dancer standing gets the honor of removing their mask, lighting it on fire, and tossing their burning mask into the cauldron to “send the devils back to the fires of Hell.”
For a half hour, guests are invited to mingle and dance on the stage or to gather in the auditorium to watch and chat. The competition takes up the second half hour, with anyone wishing to participate in the competition being assigned a mask and then joining the other competitors on stage.
A PC spends a half hour dancing. If they do so with another PC, or if the PC decides to dance by themselves, no checks are attempted, but no Fete Points can be earned. If a PC chooses to dance with one of the notable NPCs, the PC should attempt a Performance check against their partner’s Will DC to earn Fete Points.
This Fete Activity can only be attempted once during the second half hour. A PC who wishes to compete in the Dance of the Masked Devils attempts three DC 28 Performance checks to accrue Fete Points. Any PC who achieves at least 2 Victory Points places in the final round, while a PC who achieves 4 or more Victory Points wins the competition; if multiple PCs potentially win, the PC with the most Victory Points is the winner. In the event of a tie, the PCs should choose which of them wins. If no PC wins, Elleste Gudgeon wins, and her increased confidence grants her a +2 circumstance bonus to Perception and Will for the rest of the evening.
"Ah, a spot of dancing? How pleasant." Timdok tries to engage Delmonia in an energetic spot of dancing.
He enthusiastically participates in the Dance of the Masked Devils.
Kharya doesn't trust in her ability to charm someone solely through the power of dance, but there's no sense in forgoing the dance entirely, and she returns to where Almidia Decaruffis hugging the wall.
"My pardons for breaking off our conversation. Should we continue it on the dance floor? If nothing else, it will keep you even farther from the exits," she teases with a lopsided grin.
Almidia giggles nervously. "Yeah, sure, I guess. But I have to warn you, I've got two left feet. And they're on backwards." She offers Kharya her hand.
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After the event at the entrance Cerulean shuffles off to the powder room to swap into the second segemnt of their outfit. Removing sections of the outfit to swap out the simple powdered gray-white gown. Underneath the removed segments is a more frilled layered dress composed of muddy reds, barky-browns, black accents, and a bright red breast courtesy of the blazing gown Cerulean often sports in the groups ventures.
Returning to the floor Cerulean seeks out Abagail Tottlescloff. "Abagail, would you do me the kindness of sharing a dance before the competition, one could always use a ravishing partner such as yourself?"
After dancing for the half-hour with Abagail, Cerulean joins up in the demon dance contest. Though there is a part of them that wonders what would happen if for a flourish they dropped their guise or put on a different face for the finale, what a shock that would be.
"Not to worry, Ms. Decaruff." Kharya holds her in hands that are strong and steady, if roughened with the callouses of her forgework. "We'll begin slowly."
Esirelle fades back, away from the dancing. She prefers not to be in the spotlight, which thanks to her small size is easier to accomplish. Let others get the attention.
She sidles up Zachrin Vhast to see what he thinks of the dancing, before making her way to Motman Primm to engage him in conversation. The poor gnome may be a bit of a walking disaster, but she's always had a soft spot for such types. If just one person is nice to them, maybe more will be. "Are you enjoying the party so far?"
Delmonia accepts Timdok's dance invitation, whirling around the dance floor and keeping pace with him. "Not bad. You intrigue me, my friend. You have an air of... danger about you. A dark past? A tragic upbringing? Do tell."
***
"Okay. Slow and steady." Almidia's hands are soft and delicate. Kharya can feel her heart beating quickly as the painter follows the inventor's lead on the dance floor. Gradually, though, Almidia's heartbeat starts to stabilize as she takes comfort from Kharya's warm and reassuring presence.
***
Abigail looks Cerulean up and down and smiles. The hellspawn's orange-hued skin, sharp horns, and good looks certainly help her to stand out in a crowd, and her scandalous outfit might've been better suited for a private occasion rather than a public one. Still, the artist seems to get a kick out of the distraction she's causing the other guests, and she happily accepts Cerulean's invitation. "Let's dance. The two of us, together? They won't be able to take their eyes off of us, darling!"
As the two dance together, Abigail holds Cerulean closer than propriety would dictate, her hands roaming idly over the alchemist's body. The shocked looks of some of the other guests seem to bring her nothing but joy.
***
Esirelle has trouble getting close enough to Zachrin to learn more aobut him, so she approaches Motman Primm. The gnome has wild but short hair, half-moon spectacles, and permanent paint stains on his fingers and face; he dresses in fine clothes that are only two generations out of style.
"Oh! Oh, yes, yes, a very fine fete, indeed," he says to Esirelle. "Zachrin always hosts such lovely parties." He raises his wine glass to drink, but accidentally spills most of it onto the floor. "Whoops! Terribly sorry, I've got a bit of a clumsy streak!"
Esirelle is able to put the bumbling gnome at ease and get on his good side.
***
Soon, the casual dancing turns to competition, as the Dance of Masked Devils reaches its zenith. One by one, the other dancers are eliminated, adding their masks to the pile in the cauldron. In the final round, only Timdok and Cerulean remain. The two dance for all their worth, but in the end, there can be only one: Cerulean! The crowd applauds their victory, and as the kitsune lights the masks on fire, Abigail comes up to them and pulls them into a passionate embrace! Lips meet and tongues clash as the scandalized guests gasp and murmur. Some continue applauding to hide their embarrassment at the public display of affection.
At length, Abigail pulls away with a satisfied smile. "You deserve all the accolades, and so much more," she says with a wink before strutting away.
***
Once the dance ends, Zachrin invites the attendees to relocate upstairs to the balcony, where he’s had the seats temporarily rearranged around tables and turned the area into a feast hall. During this first half hour, the feast consists of appetizers and drinks (a combination of fruits, slices of cheese, olives, pickles, and a selection of fruit juices and ciders), while the second half hour consists of the main course: silver salmon with dill, garlic-roasted boar, and various grilled vegetable dishes. Dessert—a collection of sugary pastries and small glasses of sweet wine—is served at the end of the hour with the guests expected to relocate with their treats and drinks back to the main auditorium for the fourth hour’s auction.
Frequency Each PC can attempt to Offer a Toast only once during the feast.
A PC can spend time during the half hour coming up with a toast to offer, then stand up during the meal to deliver it. When they do so, they must offer the toast toward Zachrin or to one of the noteworthy guests, complimenting their target before drinking to their good health and success. The PC can either attempt a humorous toast by attempting a Deception check against the target’s Perception DC or an honest toast against the target’s Will DC, earning Fete Points with the check’s result.
The PC focuses on proper etiquette during the feast in an attempt to impress the other guests by attempting a DC 25 Lore check about any type of food or drink or a DC 30 Society check to earn Fete Points.
"Ah, but if I told you, you might be disappointed in me, my dear Delmonia," Timdok smirks. "I prefer to remain intriguing!"
After indulging thoroughly in the feast, Tim is full of festive cheer, and offers a humorous toast to Estelle Gudgeon, their playwrighting competition: "To Mistress Gudgeon, who's work inspires us all to fly a little higher. A true Mistress of Pheasants!"
Again preferring her role out of the spotlight, Esirelle studies Zachrin, hoping to get a better sense of his interests. She has much more luck keeping an eye on him as they're all sitting down to the festive meal.
Kharya doesn't attempt Timdok's wordplay, but instead sticks to a toast of simplicity. "To Zachrin our host. May Shelyn continue to guide you, as you guide us all in this city to greater understanding and beauty."
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Cerulean leaned into the flaunting performance of the warm-up dance with Abigail. "Oh we shall give them quite the show won't we? They'll lose themselves even attempting to tear their eyes from us."
They are taken a bit by surprise at the 'congraulatory' kiss at the end of the competitive part of the dance. Usually they're the one offering such promises and flattery, so it was a strange bit of change to be the one on the recieving end, at least in this situation. "Mayhaps, we'll see where the night takes us all."
Moving over to Tim, Cerulean gives the man a soft hand on the shoulder, "Thought I'd lose out to you if I'm being honest. All those days dodging blades and traps make your footwork fire."
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Learning so much about various recipes, how to make them, and more over how to serve them had taught Cerulean about the necessary etiquette at the table. Sampling the wine they began making small talk about the vintage based on the smell and taste.
Raising a filled wine glass and standing Cerulean continues Kharya's toast.
"I'll toast to that, and might I add such a lovely evening wouldn't be possible if not for the lovely contributions and excellent keeping of this fine house of artistic innovation thanks to our gracious host. A second hurrah for Benevolent Zachrin."
Ellesste is far from amused by Timdok's toast, but Zachrin appreciates both toasts made in his honor. Cerulean and Kharya manage to display very fine etiquette, while Esirelle and Timdok falter slightly.
Esirelle learns some more about Zachrin.
***
After the feast, the party relocates down into the main auditorium hall while Zachrin and his acolytes and servants prepare for the auction. During the first half hour, the guests are given a chance to relax and further socialize.
Timdok spends some time chatting with Elleste Gudgeon:
"I hope you didn't take my toast to heart. We all really admire your work."
Esirelle makes her way to Zachrin in hopes of making a good impression on the man. "The art on display is a true honor to Shelyn. I thought I made a nice quilt, but ... I think some of the other pieces may even be as good!"
Suddenly realizing Zachrin isn't available, Esirelle decides to mingle and relax as she waits for the auction.
Buoyed by her earlier success, Kharya continues to make her rounds. Her boasts are nearly too brazen, even for her, but her precise technical analysis is too compelling to chalk up entirely as bravado.
Elleste snubs Timdok's overtures, the halfling failing to impress her in the slightest. The rest of you make some headway with the guests by bragging about your artwork.
At last, the time has come for the art auction. The guests all sit as Zachrin prepares to accept bids on the pieces on display.
The PC takes part in the bidding for a piece of art, attempting a DC 26 Mercantile Lore check or a DC 28 Society check. The result indicates not only if the PC has the opportunity to win the auction, but also if their attempt increases the artwork’s cost beyond its opening bid. If multiple PCs bid, their rolls can cumulatively increase the final price, and if multiple PCs achieve a success or critical success, then those players should decide among themselves which character wins the auction.
Critical Success: The PC can choose to win the auction for the artwork, and their attempt to bid didn’t increase the final cost.
Success: The PC can choose to win the auction for the artwork, and their attempt to bid increased the final cost by 100 gp.
Failure: The PC fails to win the auction, and their attempt to bid increases the final cost by 100 gp.
Critical Failure: The PC fails to win the auction, and their attempt to bid increases the final cost by 300 gp.
Almidia Decarruf’s oil painting, Obligation, depicts a sobbing woman in a shadowy landscape surrounded by mocking and jeering aristocrats; a closer inspection reveals that one of the aristocrats who looks identical to the sobbing woman has turned her back on the scene. This painting grows more haunting and disturbing the longer one looks at it.
Mulberry Hymp’s sculpture, Abrogail II in Her Pomp, is made of partially melted wax, carved driftwood, and moldy cloth and depicts Queen Abrogail II as a doddering old woman with a silver chain around her ankle.
Motman Primm’s oil painting, To the Victor, is a fanciful depiction of a legion of mice who have built a sprawling castle out of a discarded aristocrat’s boot in a flower garden. It looks pretty, but its commentary on commonfolk building homes out of castoffs from higher society feels cliched.
Abigail Tottlescloff’s sculpture, Passion in Purple, is carved from a block of porphyry the size of a cat and depicts two succubi entwined in passion. The work shows skill, but those in the know note that it merely apes the more elegant and subtle work of Magnimarian sculptor Ayavah.
Esirelle smiles broadly -- but graciously -- as her quilt sells for a tidy profit. In a good mood, she decides to bid 100 gp on both Mulberry Hymp’s sculpture and Motman Primm’s oil painting.
While clearly one of her lesser works, Kharya's expertise is such that her sculpture still stirs up some bids, but her own focus is on Almidia's Obligation, suspecting that its hidden depths might allow her to acquire a truly memorable painting while others still overlook it.
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Cerulean tries to drive up the price on Esirelle's piece, but doesn't have much success. While also somehow managing to keep others from buying the piece they wanted for themselves. It may be a piece similar to Ayavah's work, but the attempt at mimicry does speak to Cerulean's nature as a shapeshifter after all.
Esirelle loses out on her bid for Mulberry's artwork, which sells for 400 gp. She is in contention for Motman's piece, though, which plateaus out at 200 gp. Kharya is able to secure Almidia's painting for 200 gp and Cerulean wins Abigail's knockoff for 100 gp. Delmonia's sculpture is the most hotly contested piece, finally selling for 900 gp.
The fete drifts to an end after the auction, and the revelers slowly leave the opera house over the course of the next half hour. Your group was the undeniable star of the night, and by the end of the evening, it seems like everyone wants to bid you good night; some even ask for autographs!
Almidia smiles shyly at Kharya following the auction. "Thanks for convincing me not to run off. I... I had fun tonight, thanks to you."
Meanwhile, Abigail pulls Cerulean aside with a wicked smirk. "Shall we keep the party going, darling? Say, at my place?"
***
Following the fete, Fallenta suggests setting up an appointment to meet with Zachrin Vest as soon as possible. Now that he can put faces to your names, it should be easier to accomplish.
Indeed, Zachrin is eager to talk to you, and shortly after picking up the art you won at the auction, the acolytes at Songbird Hall escort you to Zachrin's office. Zachrin’s office is elegantly appointed, decorated with paintings, tapestries, small sculptures, and more—exquisite art created by many of the temple’s previous high priests.
"Ah, welcome, friends," Zachrin says with a smile. He invites you to join him around a low table on which has been set out plates of cheeses and fruits to snack on while you talk. "I understand you have a business proposal for me?" he asks curiously.