investigate who stole the portrait of The Cult of Her Smile
fight off monsters who have holed up in the Neighborhood after they fled the Tuning
broker a peace between the Commedia and Indie Folks with a grand performance
The Galleries and Halls of Boresham were dug deep and sealed off in the mountains outside a major metropolitan city, perhaps Galik or Jewelspar. Their purpose was to house priceless art, artists, and curators to avoid being lost to draconic flames during the War of Many Names. Somehow they were forgotten to time, and days became years became centuries. Societies and tribes formed around artistic ventures and masterpieces as the veneer of civilization was stripped. The museum became a social experiment: what does happen when you lock a bunch of theatre kids underground for generations? These records are all hearsay, and should be held loosely in one's mind.
The Canvas People. The Canvas People are arguably the most normal of the Halls' residents. While many are painters, they have accepted sculptors, musicians, and dancers defecting from other tribes. The monarch of the Canvas People is usually referred to simply by their chosen title, such as "The Painter," "The Potter," or "The Violinist." This monarch has a strong sway on how "civilized" the Canvas People are.
The Commedia. Once a traveling theatre troupe known for their commedia dell'arte, the original actors have long since passed away. The new members of this tribe now adapt twisted versions of the traditional roles into their very identity, lacking a personality of their own. The Commedia is constantly on the move throughout the halls, and you can always hear the cackling as they approach. They'll put on a show whether you like it or not, and audience participation is highly encouraged.
The Cult of Her Smile. Holding a portrait of a common woman above all else, the cult has dedicated themselves to protect this masterpiece from everything else. The Cult looks different in each of its iterations. Whether wearing black robes and weaving blacker magic or donning shiny armor for their holy orders, the Cult will protect the portrait and Her Smile with their lives.
The Indie Folks. Fordimum and her sons (and daughters) isolated themselves with their mandolins and double basses in an unpopulated corner of the Halls. Some believe their minds cracked and caved under the pressures of darkness and incest. They say if you hear a banjo, there is only one thing to do. "Run boy, run."
A Pas de Chat dancer ready to strike.The Pas de Chat. A coalition of dancers including ballerinas and those who practice contact improvisation, this group can gracefully make their way through the shadows undetected. Rumors say their bodies are well-trained killing machines. The Pas de Chat's motives are unknown to outsiders, but they are almost universally despised for snatching up children to begin training them young.
Notable Places
The Barre. An earthquake opened a gaping chasm through the middle of the Halls. One of the few ways to cross it is the Barre, a 300-foot long ballet barre that only the skilled Pas de Chat use to cross. There is even a sadistic mirror, so you can watch yourself as your fingers slip and you fall to your death.
The Block's Brutalist architecture.The Block. Daunting concrete buildings marking the pinnacle of Brutalist Architecture fill this area with stark angles and minimalist construction. A demented wizard-architect designed some of these with an M.C. Escher-like flair, with stairs that take you up walls and geometry that defies the laws of physics. It can be particularly unnerving in the darkness underground.
The Hidden. Pockets of the Halls are artistically hidden with paint and sculpture. It might take the right angle, the right light, or knocking on the right papier-mache to uncover a small vault. Several pieces of the Hidden have been created by the mysterious Lady in the Black and Blue Dress.
The Impression. The Impression is where paint, color, and light blend to only show the impressions of buildings and furniture. Some of the Canvas People make their home here, having (magically?) painted it to their liking. When you share a demitasse with a friend there, the edges of the cafe table might seem blurry.
The Neighborhood. The Neighborhood is a collection of houses from around the world deemed architecturally significant. It is an eclectic collection of streets and cul-de-sacs where a Victorian mansion might be nestled between an Art Deco home for giants and a halfling-sized ranch house.
Notable Events
The Foot-shake Truce. The bloody and beautiful feud between the dancers of ballet and contact improvisation ended with the Foot-shake Truce. The longstanding war decimated their numbers, but by seeing that they aren't so different after all, the factions combined to become a stealthy powerhouse of The Halls: The Pas de Chat.
247.988x247.988pxKoroth's Coronation. Koroth, the orcish painter that arguably defined abstract expressionism, was crowned King of the Canvas People ("The Painter"). In a savage display of his new power, he had all present who doubted him smashed to a pulp. Their remains colorfully sprayed across the ground became the newest of his masterpieces.
The Tuning. The Halls house some masterfully crafted instruments sized for gargantuan creatures. When the time comes to tune a colossal organ or harpsichord-like contraption, it resounds throughout the Halls and the dozens of monsters living in the instrument flee in all directions.
Behind the Screen
The Halls of Boresham are inspired by the Chateau de Chambord and other locations during the evacuation of the Louvre for World War II. This location also riffs on the Mona Lisa's smile, Mumford & Sons, and Rothko.
