Part 4: Setting the Stage

That evening, over dinner with Oriole and their odd Grandmama, the singer asks several questions to get to know you better. Their questions are mostly about Fallenta (with whom Oriole has never worked), and about your nemesis, Osoyo the Blackfrost Whale. Even now, Oriole is starting to build up ideas on how they want to portray the villain on stage.

After a few days of travel via teleportation, you return to Kintargo with Oriole in tow. The opera star is eager to spend some time exploring the city after being away for so long. In the meantime, you meet with Fallenta, who is delighted to hear that you've secured Oriole to play Osoyo on stage.

"Splendid! I shall see to Oriole's accommodations at once. But you, my friends, don't have time to sit idle, for your jobs as coproducers now begin in earnest!"

First, Fallenta requests you begin securing funding for the opera. She’s already sunk much of her own money into the production, so you must find sponsors to subsidize the remaining costs. Once you do so, Fallenta will assign you additional production tasks.

Fallenta has done the work of identifying potential sponsors already, and provides you with a list of eight Kintargo locals, all of whom have sponsored theatrical productions in the past. Fallenta happily tells you as much as she knows about each local, though she only has details that are public knowledge. She warns you that some of these sponsors are eccentric and might have their own demands in exchange for their donations, but then notes that it’s tradition in Kintargo for sponsors to prove their intention by providing valuable gifts to those they’re sponsoring as proof of their commitment. The general idea is that these gifts will eventually feature in some way in the production, although such isn’t required.

Aphigenia Jhaltero: Daughter of Baron Canton Jhaltero, a noble on Kintargo’s Silver Court, Lady Aphigenia Jhaltero is a patron of the arts and an avid opera fan. She’s a vivacious woman with a passion for all things musical, eager to entertain proposals of shows to fund. However, she also has a peculiar quirk: she only sponsors a show if its producers win over her "little pet." Unfortunately, Fallenta doesn't know what Aphigenia's current favorite pet is at the moment.

Davlu Bernai: The inexorable Davlu Bernai, head of the Bernai Silver Company, is a notable philanthropist who runs a charity dedicated to "improving the morals of Kintargo’s downtrodden" and often sponsors performances she deems "uplifting." Although her charity does provide aid, her definitions of "appropriate morals" are rather restrictive, and she’s quick to turn her gimlet glare on anyone who suggests she should be more flexible.

Eldonna Aulamaxa: An imperious, stately woman, Lady Eldonna Aulamaxa is head of the Kintargo branch of the Aulamaxa noble family. Though she attempted an opera career—and fancies herself a retired performer—her reviews were decidedly uncomplimentary, and she never achieved the fame of her more acclaimed cousin, Delour. Resentful at her lack of success, Eldonna instead projected her hopes for operatic stardom onto her daughter, Cadenza, and pulls strings to get her daughter cast in roles every chance she gets.

Ivran Xerysis: Born in Westcrown, Lord Ivran Xerysis relocated to Kintargo to look after his family’s holdings in the city shortly after the Silver Ravens’ revolution resulted in Ravounel’s independence. Now a member of the Silver Council, Ivran is wealthy and well-connected, and although Kintargan gossip holds that he has the humor of an undertaker and the charm of a wooden post, he’s known to donate to artistic endeavors that catch his interest.

Mialari Docur: Lady Mialari Docur is a prominent figure in Kintargo, most known for her academy, Lady Docur’s School for Girls. She’s highly influential and has a well-known love of the theater, often sponsoring productions.

Ricovial Cebarinne: Opera divas tend to be outsized personalities, and Ricovial Cebarinne proves no exception. During his career, the mercurial tenor was known for being a perfectionist. His rivalry with Oriole was legendary, and sparks often flew between them—not all of them antagonistic, though the two never fully struck up a romance. When Oriole retired, Ricovial was very publicly scathing about them "giving up," even though he retired shortly thereafter. Theater gossips hold that his heart wasn’t in it anymore without Oriole to clash against. Now, Ricovial runs a voice training school for aspiring singers out of his lavish estate and dedicates some of his personal fortune toward funding operas he deems worthy of his time.

Tevandis Sastrien: Salmon magnate Tevandis Sastrien is a prominent Kintargan merchant and philanthropist who’s branched out into funding the arts. Recently, inspiration struck him to use his donations to promote his products, and so far he’s funded a salmon-themed series of paintings, salmon sculptures, and even—in a venture with somewhat unsettling results—an interpretive dance about the salmon’s epic migratory journey upriver to spawn.

Vaizeth Ilviak: Though they look the part, Vaizeth Ilviak is an atypical Kuthite. They follow a splinter sect of the faith that holds Zon-Kuthon’s current condition is a result of him martyring himself to save his sister Shelyn from an unnamed great evil. As the orthodox faith of Zon-Kuthon views such beliefs as heretical, Vaizeth fled their homeland of Nidal. They resettled in Kintargo, where they’ve become a patron of the arts. They’re very enthusiastic about "showing a friendlier side of the faith" by engaging in such philanthropy.

"From what I've heard, Cadenza is an adequate actress, but not a fabulous one," Fallenta says with a shrug. "Mayhaps a talented director like myself might be able to coax a decent performance out of her?"

Once you are ready, you schedule your first sponsor meeting with Eldonna Aulamaxa. Eldonna meets with you in an elegantly appointed drawing room on the ground floor of the Aulamaxa estate. Her daughter Cadenza is in attendance as well, and both meet you at a breakfast table replete with tea and pastries. Eldonna is in her early fifties, while her daughter is in her early twenties, but they share the same striking shade of red hair. The older woman looks up, smiling brightly as you arrive.

"Welcome! Please have a seat! I understand you wanted to meet with me regarding a production. This is my daughter, Cadenza. Say hello, dear."

The younger woman nods and murmurs a polite greeting, then quickly glances away.

"So, then, tell me what your show is about," Eldonna inquires.

"Ah, yes, Oriole, is it? Quite nice," Eldonna replies, clearly not paying very much attention. She does smile at the interaction between Aurelia and Cadenza. Cadenza gives Aurelia a half-smile that doesn't reach her eyes and opens her mouth to say something before her mother cuts her off.

"Indeed, Cadenza is thrilled for another opportunity to showcase her talent on stage? Aren't you, darling?" Eldonna declares. Cadenza nods weakly and Eldonna chuckles. "Why, in fact, I think she'd be the perfect choice to portray you in the play, Aurelia. If you can promise the role to my daughter, then I will gladly sponsor your production!"

Cadenza turns her head to conceal a slight grimace. It's clear that Cadenza is less than enthused at joining the cast...

Cadenza glances from her mother to Horace. "Oh, um. Well, it seems like an... interesting play," she says quietly. "But there's a lot of action? I don't know if I'm the best suited for this sort of role--"

Eldonna waves off her daughter's concerns. "Oh, nonsense, darling! You would be fantastic as one of the leads! After all, you were born for the stage!"

Eldonna harrumphs but waves her hand. "Very well. Cadenza, darling, go on. You were saying?"

Cadenza clears her throat. "Um, that is, I think perhaps I would do better in a smaller role instead of as one of the lead actors. Maybe, in the chorus?"

"But darling, don't you want the glitz and the glamor of the spotlight?" Eldonna inquires.

Cadenza gives a little shrug.

Cadenza takes a deep breath and faces her mother. "Mother, I know you have your heart set on me becoming an opera star. But I really don't want that. I'd much rather focus on my arcane studies."

Eldonna gasps and puts her hand to her chest. "Cadenza! Darling, why have you never said anything before?"

"I've tried," Cadenza says. "But you know how you get when you set your mind on something. A life on stage was your dream, but it's not mine."

"Oh, my darling," Eldonna sighs. "I am sorry I've been so pushy about this. I never realized that I was making you so miserable! Of course, I want you to be happy, and if that means pursuing a career as an arcanist and not an actress, then so be it."

Cadenza smiles and moves to embrace her mother. Eldonna agrees to sponsor your opera without further fuss! She gifts you with several bottles of fine Chelaxian liqueurs worth 3,000 gp and an entertainer's cincture.

Docur's School for Girls the oldest of the many private schools in the Villegre district of Kintargo, having been founded about 300 years ago by Lady Mialari Docur, who still runs the school. The school has a hundred students or so, but is somewhat overshadowed by the larger, more famous Alabaster Academy. Rumors that the school is actually a front for some sort of shady organization or another have persisted for several years, but none of them have ever been proven true.

At the appointed time, Lady Mialari Docur invites you to meet with her at her academy, Lady Docur's School for Girls. Seated in an armchair with a steaming pot of tea on the table in front of her is an elven woman with long red hair. Upon the door opening, Mialari smiles and gracefully gestures to the other chairs.

"Greetings! I’ve heard about your opera, so I was delighted when you reached out. I understand you convinced Oriole to come back to the stage; that’s quite an achievement. Please, tell me about your show."

Mialari discusses the opera’s plot and themes with you, taking a keen interest in your responses. When you've finished, she asks each of you to demonstrate the talent you're most proud of.

Mialari claps her hands once you have all finished your demonstrations. "Very impressive. I am happy to sponsor your opera, but I do have one request that is out of the ordinary. I'll still give you the customary sponsor's gifts, but I don't expect them to appear on stage—they’re for you to do with as you wish. Instead, I would ask simply to have a few lines of text worked into the opera's dialogue—preferably in the context of an aria. This will be my way of advertising my sponsorship—I feel that adding a few custom lines of text to those productions I help finance represent a less distracting method than awkwardly placing product on the stage for all to gawk at."

Mialari hasn’t yet decided on the exact phrase she wants to include but promises to do so at least a few weeks before the opera’s premiere. She’s willing to work with you so that the meter and flow of her lines work well with that of the aria.

"Splendid!" Mialari says. "I'll be in touch as the writing of the play progresses."

You meet with Aphigenia Jhaltero next at the Jhaltero Estate in northeastern Kintargo; she receives all visitors in a colorfully decorated parlor, the walls of which are covered with dozens of posters and fliers for previous plays and operas she’s helped to produce in the past. Aphigenia is a blond woman clad in a ruffled purple gown. She reclines on an armchair, fanning herself idly.

"My butler tells me you all have a show to produce," the woman says, motioning over a maid bearing a tea tray from the corner. "You absolutely must tell me all about it, my dears. Let’s see if your charming venture will benefit from my guidance."

She listens to your pitch attentively. When you have finished, she smiles. "Well, I must say that your opera sounds positively divine. But it's bad luck for me to sponsor a show without approval from my dear Princess Sweetie—she’s such a little connoisseur."

The noble lady looks to her maid, who ducks into a side room, returning carrying a cage. Within the cage is a strangely adorable monkey-like creature with iridiscent wings. Its big eyes gleam in the light, and it lets out a little cooing sound. However, Horace knows that this creature is no harmless house pet, but a beast called a skull peeler, known for its hunting habits of hiding in trees before severing its prey’s head with its long tongue and cracking it open to eat the contents!

"Hello, my little faerieling! Who's a little cutie? You are! You are!" Aphigenia says to the creature, making little kissing noises at it. She then turns to you. "Go on, my dears. Let's see what Princess Sweetie thinks of you."

Horace is well-versed in skull peeler lore! Skull peelers, despite their ferocious and well-deserved moniker, are considered by many to be downright adorable, especially when viewed from a safe distance. Their soft, dappled brown fur helps them hide in forest canopies, and they have shimmering insectile wings and big eyes that draw in the faintest beams of light. At first glance, a skull peeler looks like a cuddly pet or a wizard's familiar. Any illusions of domesticating such a beast are quickly dismissed upon seeing how a skull peeler eats, however.

Skull peelers have evolved to hang motionlessly in treetop canopies as they wait until appropriate prey appears, usually long-necked dinosaurs but also brachiating primates and large birds. The skull peeler then lashes out with its long tongue, severing the creature's head from its body and pulling the detached cranium back into its hungry paws. It then uses its claws to crack open the cranial cavity—hence its name—before lapping up the tasty insides.

Despite skull peelers' gruesome eating habits, some enterprises and individuals can't resist the urge to add these beasts to their menageries. Fey and other creatures with ties to the First World, such as gnomes, can occasionally coax a skull peeler into a form of domestication. While the adorable beasts can never be fully tamed due to their hyper-evolved hunting instincts, they can be bribed with food and, if kept satiated, displayed on a perch or indoor terrarium as an example of their master's cunning and deadliness.

Aphigenia doesn't seem like the bloodthirsty type, however. It's more likely that she's completely oblivious to her pet's true nature.

Aphigenia's eyes widen. "Oh. Oh, my! I've made a huge mistake!" she says. The skull peeler seems agitated, snarling and extending its long tongue. Fortunately, the maid holding the cage heeds your warning as well, quickly dropping it and stepping away. The monkeylike monstrosity shrieks and hisses as it thrashes in the cage.

"Thank you for the warning! I'll see that the creature is safely returned to its natural habitat without harming anybody. You truly are heroes. Of course, I will gladly sponsor your play."

Davlu Bernai is ready to meet with you next in an austere office on the second floor of the Bernai Silver Company warehouse. This room features wall-to-wall cabinets and very little in the way of personality. Davlu is a severe-looking brunette woman in sober dress, seated behind a large desk strewn with paperwork. The office has no chairs for guests to sit at, for Davlu prefers to handle her meetings quickly and efficiently, and "sitting down only invites lollygagging."

"Ah! You’d be my next appointment. The theater producers? I see you’re prompt, at least. My secretary’s briefed me on your proposal, but I wish to hear more about the show before I commit any funds."

Davlu listen carefully to the description of your opera, asking you questions about the plot to make sure it’s not "encouraging debauchery." Topics Davlu objects to include excessive violence, casual romantic relationships, risque scenes, bawdy jokes, and "strong language." She approves of stories of heroic deeds and "morally upstanding" protagonists, especially those who serve Abadar or Torag.

Davlu taps her chin. "Hmm. You have made a solid argument for the inclusion of some violent material in the show. Despite my reservations, I will agree to sponsor your opera with these themes intact. I trust you to handle the material tastefully and responsibly."

She gives you a standard-grade dawnsilver breastplate emblazoned with the symbol of Abadar and a full set of elegant dawnsilverware worth 2,000 gp.

---

Ivran Xerysis is the next sponsor on your list. He invites you to meet with him at his family manor in the Greens of Kintargo. The building is modestly sized, compared to the sprawling estates of Kintargo’s 14 major aristocratic families, but lovingly and elegantly appointed interior. This meeting takes place in a library and reading room. The shelves on the walls are filled with leather-bound books, and a desk sits near the fireplace at the other side of the room. A taxidermy albino alligator wearing a suit and monocle stands upright in the opposite corner with a tea tray clutched in its scaly claws.

As the butler closes the door and takes up a position in front of it, the dark-haired man at the desk continues writing for a moment before setting down his pen. Though he’s handsome, he wears an aloof expression. "So you’re putting on an opera," the man says, raising an eyebrow, then glances to the alligator. "Mr. Scaley, give our guests their refreshments, would you?" With a lurch, the alligator moves and offers out the tray. (You quickly realize that the taxidermy is little more than a type of animated statue.)

Ivran listens impassively to your pitch, seemingly bored. He asks you some idle questions about the opera's plot and your past deeds. Afterwards, his bored expression turns into a wry smirk. "Tell you what. I'm far more interested in your martial prowess than your stage skills. If one of you can defeat my butler, Vorens, in a duel, then I'll sponsor your opera."

The elderly butler gives Ivran a nod. Despite his advanced age, the man appears to be in fine shape.

"Vorens was an accomplished duelist in his time," Ivran says. "He's retired now, but he still knows his way around a blade. One of you can borrow my own rapier if you don't have an appropriate weapon of your own."

[B]"The rules are simple. No spells or reach weapons are permitted, nor is any outside interference from bystanders allowed, but anything else is fair game. You will battle until one of you falls or yields,"[/b] Ivran says.

He leads you out of the manor to the central courtyard, where a 15-foot-diamter circular clearing serves for combat training, meditation, and in a pinch, duels. Vorens takes his position, raising his rapier in salute before shifting into an en garde stance.

"Ready?" Ivran calls. "Begin!"

Horace's battlecry takes Vorens aback, the older man wincing as the thaumaturge moves in and attacks. Horace's flaming sword leaves a deep slash across Vorens' chest. "Hmm, not bad," Ivran remarks, watching the duel closely.

Grimacing, Vorens strikes back with his rapier, circling around Horace in a dueling dance to keep him on his toes. Horace expertly parries both of Vorens' attacks.

Despite Vorens' best efforts to dodge, Horace lands a critical hit, sending the elderly man stumbling to his knees. Already badly wounded, the butler indicates his concession by dropping his blade. Despite his injuries, he smirks. "Very well done, lad," he says.

Ivran claps his hands. "Yes, indeed! Quite impressive. You performed better than I had anticipated! You shall have my sponsorship."

To celebrate his sponsorship, Ivran gifts you a storm flash rapier that appears to be made of iridescent crystal yet behaves as if made from metal.

Vorens nods to Bekassine, grateful for her healing ministrations.

***

With Ivran's sponsorship secured, you head next to meet with Ricovial Cebarinne. Ricovial agrees to meet with you in the same sitting room he uses to teach his students out of his estate in Villegre, Kintargo’s scholastic center. Instruments and sheet music in glass cases are displayed prominently in this sitting room in an arrangement that might tactfully be described as "cluttered." A flashily dressed aiuvarin man with long dark hair lounges on a divan on the other side of the room. As the door opens, he waves a hand languidly, the ostentatious rings upon it glimmering in the sunlight.

"Yes, yes, you’d be the producers who wanted to meet with me? You know my reputation, if you’re here. All right then. Impress me."

Ricovial listens patiently to your pitch, but when you mention that you've cast Oriole, he scoffs. "Truly, you've cast them in your play? Oriole knew they could never outdo me. If you ask me, that's why they gave up the stage."

He leans forward. "I will provide funding for your production, but on one condition. I want you to cast me in a prominent role in the opera as well. I will admit, I am looking forward to finally showing that so-called virtuoso what a real stage legend can do."

"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."

Vaizeth is pleased by the choice. They ask to stop in on the production sometimes as rehearsals proceed, as they’re interested in the concept of theater that doesn’t involve maiming...

---

You have secured numerous sponsors for your opera, but the show can’t go on without actors! Now, the task falls on you to cast the opera's major roles. Oriole, of course, is already cast to play your nemesis, Osoyo the Blackfrost Whale. You've also agreed to cast Ricovial Cebarinne as Doctor Etvard Ritalson You now have to fill out the cast with actors to play the rest of you!

---

Having decided on the most likely candidates for each of you, you begin the auditions! Ormund comes out on stage first, carrying a large prop tome under his arm. He smiles tightly and regards you with his cool grey eyes. "Good afternoon. I'll be reading for the part of Horace," he says confidently. He adopts a ready stance and opens the tome, flipping through its pages. "Don't worry, friends! I know exactly what sort of creature we are facing! It says here that the beast is weak to fire! Let's light it up!"

Despite some liberties with the dialogue, by the end of the audition it is clear that Ormund would be perfectly suited for the role of Horace!

---

Next up on the docket is Auselia. The tall, willowy elf gracefully takes the stage in a floral dress. "Auselia, reading for Aurelia," she says with a wink. She then launches into a soaring sonata reminiscent of one of Aurelia's inspiring battle songs.

It doesn't take long until it becomes clear that Auselia is also a perfect fit for the role!

---

Next up, Bekassine brings in her first choice to audition for her role. Persechore takes the stage, the matronly woman smiling warmly. "Good day to you all. I shall read for the role of Bekassine." She waves her fingers before her as if casting a spell. "Do you feel a chill in the air? The icy winds of the north heed my call. Frost and snow are mine to command! Come, Fox! Adventure awaits!"

It quickly becomes clear that Bekassine's instincts were correct in thinking that Persechore would be a perfect fit for her character. You seem to have quite the knack for this whole casting thing!

---

Finally, it's time to cast Ramank and Yarth. For this special double audition, both Lisbend and Yarrix take the stage. The fiery gnome assumes a scholarly stance while the monkey goblin assumes a hunched over pose as they affect Yarth's draconic snarl. "I believe these elves will be able to help us find our way back to our home world," Lisbend-as-Ramank says. "Do you think they'll feed us first? I'm starving!" Yarrix-as-Yarth growls!

Once again, both of these actors are perfect for the roles. By the end of the day, you've got your main cast lineup: Ormund as Horace, Auselia as Aurelia, Persechore as Bekassine, and Lisbend and Yarrix as Ramank and Yarth. As word spreads of the perfect casting call, Kintargo’s high priest of Shelyn, Zachrin Vhast, hears and gifts you with three rare librettos from the Chelaxian Civil War era, autographed by the composers and librettists. Each is worth 3,000 gp. Additionally, you gifts you with one of the church's greatest treasures: a thorn brush!

---

Fallenta’s operas typically require very talented composers and conductors to orchestrate. She’s looked into those who are available to work on the timeline this opera requires, and unfortunately, none of the talented composers and conductors based in Kintargo (or even wider Ravounel) are available for or interested in the job.

As a result, Fallenta tasks you with seeking out a composer elsewhere in the Inner Sea region. She has done a bit of the work already and has narrowed the options down to three suggestions, each of whom can serve as a conductor for the orchestra as well as composer. It falls to you to decide which of the three options you wish to recruit for the job.Dramatic Composer: Vaerthilde Listrassa has an unparalleled reputation as a composer of dramatic operas. She rarely travels from her home city of Karcau in Ustalav, where she’s worked at the Karcau Opera for 30 years as a conductor, composer, and instructor. A devout Abadaran, Vaerthilde prizes discipline, rigorousness, and technical perfection, and more than one aspiring starlet has fled the stage after experiencing her harsh tutelage. Though her methods are severe, the operas Vaerthilde composes and conducts are triumphs of elegance and emotion, and her reputation as one of the best composers in the Inner Sea is well-earned.

Vaerthilde disdains those who don’t take their jobs seriously, but she has also always admired Kintargo’s opera traditions.

Comedic Composer: The composer who specializes in comedic operas is Eustaro Seven-Seas Cobblemar, an eccentric gnome with a laid-back attitude—sometimes too laid-back, as he takes a hands-off approach toward his work that’s vexed many producers. He prefers to "let the music naturally find its way" instead of being too firm in his directions. When his technique works, however, the results cause an audience to weep with laughter from the timing of a musical cue alone. Eustaro has ranged all over the Inner Sea, but these days he makes his home in the Varisian city of Magnimar, where he’s just wrapped up a production at the Triodea, Magnimar’s preeminent concert hall.

Eustaro hates controlling behavior, but he also loves food and drink.

Spectacular Composer: Those seeking a composer for spectacular operas can score no greater coup than hiring Kazhiyya Teram, who’s conducted some of the most impressive productions around the Inner Sea. They don’t tend to flaunt their vishkanya ancestry outside their homeland of Jalmeray, as they’re aware some can be prejudiced. After a long period of touring, they have returned to the city of their birth, Niswan, and are currently a guest of Thakur Kharswan. Despite their talent, Kazhiyya experiences bouts of severe insecurity, and every production they conduct inevitably involves a crisis where they descend into despair about their work not being good enough, convinced their "inadequacies" will ruin the show. If reassured, though, Kazhiyya puts on a show like no other, with the most fantastical effects the Inner Sea’s opera houses have ever seen.

Kashiyya tends to panic under pressure, and they prefer those who are not put off by their ancestry.

With the wand of teleport at your disposal, you quickly find yourselves in the city of Karcau, nestled on the banks of Lake Prophyria in Ustalav. Vaerthilde agrees to meet with you at the Karcau Opera House. She's a tall, dark-haired human woman who wears her hair pulled back in a tight bun. When you arrive, she’s standing in the orchestra pit of the Opera House, motioning to musicians seated in the pit. No sooner do they begin to play than she makes an impatient gesture, and they taper off to silence as she snaps at them: "No, no, no! With emotion. This is a death scene, not a wait for one’s overdue meal at a restaurant."

Once you make yourselves known, she glances up at you, frowning. "We’ll try again in a few minutes. It seems we have company," she tells the musicians before turning back to you. "Fallenta's sending spell indicated you're interested in hiring me for an opera in Kintargo?"