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I found it surprising that the Chelish agents' theatrics weren't detailed at all. The writer didn't consider any players would want to see what exactly was going on? Sure, it's suggested that they break in at night, but my players wanted to screw with the show itself and publicly humiliate/discredit the troupe for best effect.
How things went down for my players is spoilered below. I'd love to hear how it went for any others who didn't go for the late-night breaking and entering!
Captain Stone (mystic theurge) loudly mocks the performance, casting some sort of courage-inspiring spell(name also forgotten) on the 'admiral'. Admiral begins bravely attacking Gorebeard, though his ineptitude ends up making the scene even more comedic. Gorebeard eventually KOs him with a single punch.
Stone lands a Hold Person on Gorebeard, who shakes it off the following round.
Bard lady on stage has been singing the entire time, and uses her sonic song attack to attempt to end the disruption, doing minor damage to Stone.
Another character, Kasa(Mikaze on these boards!),a sort of tribal elf summoner, sneaks backstage via a side curtain. Sees Nightshade, who is wondering what's going on with the performance onstage and doesn't notice him. He summons a viper each for Nightshade and Gorebeard. She mage armors up as a precaution before even seeing it. Gorebeard kills the viper and starts rubbing his beard with it, making a big show to the crowd who are getting really confused as to what this is all supposed to mean. Bard and Stone toss spells around, each passing saves.
With the vipers Nightshade notices Kasa and casts her quick mirror image along with an acid arrow to his chest.He summons a couple fire beetles and takes a few melee swings, hitting images, as she starts to take him seriously and begins casting Summon Monster VI.
The other two player characters are enjoying the show.
Onstage Gorebeard gets silenced and the bard tries to get out of its radius. He kills the beetle and has more beard fun. Bard then calls for a volunteer from the audience, basically trying to put Gorebeard to use. First Mate Ragnik(ranger) excitedly runs onstage. Gorebeard is totally outclassed, and is blendered over two rounds while landing a single punch in return. He only remains standing due to rage and a heal from the bard.
That Summon VI calls in an Erinyes(I looked at the list and picked what I thought was coolest) who rips into Kasa. He scrambles back out into the audience, tearing the side curtain down with him which partially exposes her to the audience.
Bard exclaims that Arronax has sent his devils to silence dissenters. Erinyes has no idea what's going on now; Nightshade directs her onstage. Bard makes a show of being afraid and Dimension Doors out. Nightshade follows suit, both leaving Gorebeard behind to be finished off by Ragnik.
Captain Stone makes a grand speech about the troupe's trickery and their attempts to pass the Erinyes off as someone else's work. The very confused Erinyes is hit by a Dismissal and vanishes. Stone follows this up by buying drinks for the crowd. Show ends in applause after all.
That's hilarious! I look forward to running this encounter. Probably a couple of years from now at the rate we're playing. I wonder if my troupe will try to usurp the show as well.
Thanks Uri!
I was really hoping to get some more stories of how parties (or rather their GMs) handled it. Or did everyone else actually break in at night?
