Part 4: Setting the Stage

"What experience do I have?" Ricovial echoes Aurelia's question, eyebrows raised in disbelief. "Good lady, I am a legend of the stage! I have starred in everything from The Barber of Egorian to The Six Trials of Larazod! Granted, it has been some time since I have graced a play with my presence, but I guarantee that once you see me perform, you will be nothing short of amazed!"

"Doctor Ritalson... Yes, that's a role worthy of my talents," Ricovial says with a smirk.

At Bekassine's question, Ricovial scoffs. "Of course. I am nothing if not a consummate professional! Whatever feelings of inadequacy my presence might evoke in Oriole, I will be certain to ignore in lieu of focusing on my craft."

Having reached a consensus, you tell Ricovial that you accept his terms. [B]"Excellent,"[/b] Ricovial says with a smirk. With his sponsorship secured, the aiuvarin gifts you with a platinum fortune's coin and a scroll of missed cue.

---

Two patrons remain to meet with. The penultimate patron you're scheduled to visit is salmon magnate Tevandis Sastrien. Tevandis agrees to meet with you in his second-floor, river-view office in Silver Suppers, his on-the-docks storefront. This wood-paneled office is decorated with multiple silver sculptures of fish in various poses sitting atop small pedestals. Its most eye-catching feature, however, is an enormous portrait of a mustachioed halfling man above the room’s desk, shaking hands with an anthropomorphic cartoon fish and grinning exuberantly at the viewer.

At the desk sits the man depicted, wearing exactly the same expression. "Welcome! I’m told you have a proposal for me. Please do have a seat!"

Tevandis listens attentively your description of your opera, offering snacks of silver salmon jerky and salmon spread on crackers, all while often exclaiming "Brilliant!" and "Capital!"

Tevandis tells you he’s happy to fund the production, but there’s a catch: he wants his salmon to be showcased in the opera, such as showing the stars eating it (with prominently branded packaging, of course) and mentioning every so often that "We wouldn’t have had the strength to fight without our lunch of Sastrien Salmon!" He even eagerly suggests giving the heroes an ally in the form of a bipedal salmon-costumed character and having an aria dedicated to the fish!

Tevandis pushes back at first, but Aurelia's expert negotiating skills eventually convince the halfling to relent. "Very well, I agree to your terms!"

To celebrate his sponsorship, Tevandis gifts you a ring of swimming, four dawnsilver salmon sculptures worth 500 gp each, and a case of fine smoked salmon worth 50 gp.

---

Vaizeth Ilviak is the final potential sponsor. Unlike the others, the follower of Zon-Kuthon does not own a fancy house, nor do they maintain a storefront or business for their philanthropic pursuits. Much of their wealth quickly gets put back into funding new projects. They agree to meet with you at the Long Roads Coffeehouse, one of Kintargo’s most famous cafes, where the priest often spends time discussing theology with other patrons. They wait for you at a corner table—an incongruously dressed person, gaunt, scarred, and clad in all black with spiked metal piercings running all the way up their ears. In spite of their intimidating garb, however, they offer those approaching a friendly smile.

"Have a seat! Fallenta tells me you’re seeking donors for an opera production. I may not have the deep Kintargan traditions or influence of some of your other potential sponsors, but I’m happy to do what I can."

Vaizeth gladly agrees to sponsor the play but stipulates that you must work in a scene with a sympathetic Kuthite priest—they want the world to know not every worshipper of Zon-Kuthon only desires to spread pain.

Vaizeth shrugs. "That's okay. Perhaps you could just invent a character for this purpose? It only need be a minor scene, nothing to distract from the main story. Just something to get people thinking of viewing Kuthites in a different light."