Behind the Curtain
Behind the Curtain
is the seventh episode of Chapter 1 of Campaign 3.Starring:
- Marisha Ray as Laudna note
- Laura Bailey as Imogen Temultnote
- Ashley Johnson as Fearne Calowaynote
- Travis Willingham as Chetney Poc o'Pea note
- Liam O'Brien as Orymnote
- Taliesin Jaffe as Ashton Greymoore note
- Sam Riegel as Fresh Cut Grass (F.C.G.) note
- And Matthew Mercer as the Dungeon Master
Guest Starring:
- Robbie Daymond as Dorian Stormnote
Our heroes are watching a performance at the Dreamscape Theatre, site of a series of disappearances they are looking into. The show, however, is cut short when a performer is injured. The group makes their way to backstage and Fresh Cut Grass heals the actor, ingratiating themselves to the troupe and the theatre manager, Stuvan Idrio. Talking with Stuvan in private, the group learns that over the past three weeks, three employers and three patrons have vanished.
The group meets with the theatre's stage manager and bookkeeper and learn that two of the disappeared patrons were secret lovers. When they examine a theater box they often reserved, they discover a message scratched on the railing that reads "outside". Figuring answers might lie at the streets around the theatre, Imogen finds a small side alley that is uncharacteristically clean, from which she senses a strange presence. The group advances deeper into the dead end, when suddenly the "wall" reveals itself as a monster and attacks!
The battle against the roper is brutal; its acid spit deals heavy damage, and its tendrils grapple our heroes and drag them to its toothy maw. With several of his companions at the brink of death, Dorian saves the day with a critical Chromatic Orb, which tears the wall monster down. It leaves behind bones and items, confirming it as the culprit behind the string of disappearances.
The city guards arrive too late to be of any use to the battle, but talking to them and the theatre's ticket taker reveals that around the time of the first disappearance, the Treshi House Mason's Guild ostensibly did some repairs in the alley. Oddly enough, no signs of repair are apparent, although Imogen does notice a couple of strange devices attached to the slain creature, taking one for herself.
As everyone prepares to leave the area, they notice a short cloaked figure at the end of the alley watching them. Imogen reaches out to him telepathically and he introduces himself as Chetney Poc o'Pea, Travis' Gnome Rogue. He is new in Marquet and looking for a friend of his. Having seen the group prevailing over the wall monster, he requests their help. Our heroes head to the Spire by Fire inn to have a talk with this new addition to their ranks...
Tropes in this episode:
- Expy: Chetney is a legit take on Chutney Chocolatecane, a character Travis played in the Night Before Critmas one-shot.
