Tristram's Center for the Living Arts

Tristram's Center for the Living Arts

Type	Theater for the Performing Arts
Government	Buildigotracy
Location	Seglock, Isonhound
Inhabiting Race	Sides

Tristram's Center for the Performing Arts

General

This large structure is in the City of Seglock on Isonhound and is dedicated to the many different types of performing arts both common and uncommon to the natives of Seglock. There is a main theater and two smaller side stages separate from the main stage. This Building came into creation in a single night. This Theater has become a source of entertainment, education and even a source of good jobs for the refugee population of Seglock.

About

On the nights following the demise of Horatio Chestier in the battle of the shadow forge, the grateful population woke from the celebration of that villain’s demesne to see a new Building had sprung up overnight.  It is said that a Fey being of immense power had caused this to happen as a thank you for the actions of a heroic Bard in single handedly removing the threat of Horatio the Shadow forge master with words instead of violence. This Building is under the ownership of this Bardic legend and is a source of pride for the common folk of Seglock.

Building Tour

The building itself that is known as Tristram's Center for the Performing Arts (TCFTPA) almost seems larger on the inside than out. All locations in use for the public are lit well, with orbs emitting a soft and pleasant light in the common areas. The public areas are always kept at a comfortably cool temperature throughout the year no matter the temperature of the outside world. This is seemingly a magical effect as there are not ventilation ducts visible to the average patron. Ther often seems to be a faint scent in the air, often slightly related to the theme of the night's entertainment.

On the ground level there is a grand entryway that allows access to all the major public spaces within. Within the grand entryway there are a pair of concession stands The one  called ‘The Popcorn Shack’ serves a selection of foods with exotic names if only normal ingredients. Many of the named dishes are based loosely on the various creatures encountered and defeated by the various heroes of the land. The second obsession stand serves a variety of cold or warm beverages.  Many of which have some level of alcoholic content. This Stand is known as the ‘Blagrins Formulation’.  There are a series of doors along the various walls in places that seem to have no discernible purpose.  Some open to blank walls, while others open to a series of hallways that are used by the Staff for various reasons. It is said that one can open a door once to a blank wall, and later open the same door to a Hallway the next, or even a closet. These doors are often locked in some way to keep the idley curious out of the restricted areas. The spaces not taken up by concession stands or random doors often feature painting of heroic events paint by local up and coming artists.

From this entry hall one can go to the Main Theater, left to the Secondary Theater, or right to the Tertiary TheaterThere are a series of doors in places that seem to have no discernible purpose.  Some open to blank walls, while others open to a series of hallways that are used by the Staff for various reasons. It is said that one can open a door once to a blank wall, and later open the same door to a Hallway the next, or even a closet.  There are ample facilities that are clearly marked for use for guests to relieve themselves in matters most privy.

 The Main Theater is set up like a traditional theater with a main stage and removable seating allowing for a variety of set ups depending on the headliner. The theater can hold between 500 and 1000 people with relative comfort depending on the configuration of the seating, with many more being able to be packed in if seating is removed. The acoustics of this hall are superb, with a performer barely having to speak at a normal level to be heard throughout the whole of the theater. There are a few second level private seating areas, many are built in a way that those on the ground level cannot see whom or what occupies these ‘box seats’. These are often reserved for those willing to show their exclusivity and wealth by not having to actually mingle with those who would be very impressed with being able to say they were able to ‘rub shoulders’ with the notables.  There is also the possibility that those in the ‘box seats’ may not want to be seen as they are not from this plane, and their appearance may cause some distress and alarm with the local commoners.

The Secondary Theater is a small venue that would hold about 200 comfortably and more with some finagling.  This Theater is often used for a more exclusive performance by headliners, or a location for starting performers to hone their craft.  There is a small bar in the back portion of this theater that serves various alcoholic beverages, making this an ideal location for a form of entertainment called a ‘ Comedy Club. This form of entertainment from a far off plane and not very common to the world of Quelmar. This form of entertainment is unique to Quelmar and the hosting of ‘open mike nights’ may or may not catch on.

The Tertiary theater is the smallest of the three and is often used for discourses or lectures. There is a slightly raised platform for the speaker and some fixed ‘ Stadium seating’ for the attendees to perch upon. This is often a popular theater for use by those who wish to discuss topics that may not be common or permitted in the local Seglock University. This is often used for classes on various trades and occupations to assist in the refugee population having skills and occupations to assist in their resettlement.

There are various store rooms scattered about on the ground level intermixed with the theaters and their hallways, however many of the support and storage type rooms are on the underground level.

The underground level is not seen by many non performers and even those who have their ‘dressing rooms’ in this level are advised to not wander too far from the ‘Processional Way’.

The Processional Way is a wide hallway that seems to run almost the length of the whole building, bisecting the lower level in half. Along this hall are most of the guest performers' dressing rooms and areas for them to change and prepare for their performance, with some traveling entertainers spending a few nights in town in these quarters.  Besides the dressing room, there is a Green room close to the stair that leads up to the main Theater above. The green room is reputed to have a comfy feel and a almost always full buffet of treats and food for the entertainer to avail themselves of prior to, or after their performance. Also a convenient place for entertainers using the dressing rooms to repast without having to wade through adoring fans outside to get something to eat.

Staff will often escort the performers from their rooms to the green room or stage assignment. This is to ensure the performers do not get sidetracked or wander off the ‘Processional’.  The lower level is the home to the staff as well as various wardrobes, workrooms, storage rooms, food prep rooms, prop rooms, staff living quarters, and other rooms that will be defined later.  The side passages are narrow and twisty with a great chance for those not on staff to get lost in its maze-like layout.  Indeed it is said that the Theater itself changes the layout in efforts to get intruders lost and shepherds them back to the ‘Processional’ over time.  Sometimes this over time could last hours with the twisting passages seeming to change in a play-like  manner.  Other times the play-like manner feels like a cat playing with a mouse, although no fatalities seem to have occurred. It is said that these maze-like passages can be controlled by the owner Tristram in some sort of symbiosis between him and the theater. The Sides only perform the support roles and never take to the stage in any acting capacity, although they will act as stage hands for changing out the props between acts as needed.

There are rumors of various special rooms contained in the underground level.  There are also tales of additional never-seen additional underground levels below the theater. Some of the rumors state there are numerous portals to other planes in the basements. There is some evidence there is at least one portal to the Feywild. There are also reported to be portals to other alternative prime material planes, the elemental planes, as well as wild rumors of other planes both higher and lower. There is reputed to be a library full of poetry, plays, songbooks, art objects, instruments of all types and even the odd artifact or two. There are whispers of a well protected vault deep in the inaccessible basements that hold all sorts of objects and riches that are best not to see the light of day. Of course the contents of those rooms may or may not exist, and the Sides are not often given to confirming the stories, or even denying them.

The Staff that runs the theater in support seem to be a mix of races and sexes, but generally seem nondescript and un noteworthy.  They are commonly referred to as Cast Members or sometimes Sides.  The Sides are always polite and seem to never be ruffled by the actions of guests. These Cast Members are almost never seen outside the confines of the theater.  This has led to many theories regarding the origins of the staff. Some say they are manifestations of the theater itself, sort of a mass unseen servant ( that can be seen).  Others say they are a bodily manifestation of the songs and performances that are performed within.  Others say they are denizens of other planes who come through the various portals mentioned above. There are tales that they are members of the Clan Fey de Caniedydd, which is the clan or family group of Tristram on his native plane of the Feylands. Whatever or whoever they are is not a subject that the Staff talk about to outsiders.

The building itself seems to have a sentience about itself.  Intruders seem to lose their way until security staff can round them up, or they find themselves rushing through a doorway only to find themselves exiting the building through a never before seen door that will often never be seen again. Damage that happens to the fixtures seem to ‘heal’ themselves, although there is a large number of Sides who know the mending cantrip reputed to be running about. The building usually does not have a high level of awareness on a daily basis, but in times of stress or assault can have a much more active level of awareness. The building also seems to follow the directions of the owner Tristram Caniedydd to some greater or lesser extent. The building seems to be almost happy when there is a buzz of activity in the theaters and common areas which lead some to theorize if it uses that happy energy to sustain its awareness. The Theater has a life and mind of its own and seems to generally like people and the chaos of life.

  Tristram Caniedydd of the clan Fey de Caniedydd is discussed elsewhere in greater detail, so his mention here is only that he seems to have a psychic link to the building and a good relation to the building itself.

Overall the building itself is not as important as the functions the Theater performs. This Theater has become a center for the Arts in the physical and metaphysical sense. Some of the monies raised by the various shows goes to help the refugees find a new life or to rebuild their old one. Ideas are shared in the talks and presentations, new skills taught, new professions learned. The synergy of public service and creative arts is causing a surge in the inventiveness and improving the consciousness of the region. This center for Arts, Entertainment, and learning  is joining efforts already in place to make the city of Seglock a beacon of hope and learning for  the whole of Quelmar and beyond.

Notable Groups of non Staff

In addition to the staff known as Sides, there are often locals hired as Day Players, who are local populous hired as performers that work on a daily basis, rather than a long term contract. They usually keep to the areas around the ‘Processional Way’ and do not mingle with the Staff all that much.  They are usually paid well for their participation and often tight lipped about the activities that happen behind the scenes. They have almost started to act a an actors guild and are very selective in who staffs what shows as to protect the theater from unwanted infiltrators.

Local seamstresses often work in the Wardrobe Department which is located adjacent to the Green Room. This department handles all of the costuming for any actors performing in the production. They hold fittings for performers to dress them specifically or give instructions as to what type of clothing and colors are acceptable for the actors to wear. This is a nice steady stream of work and income for many of the displaced Refugees.