Théàtre d'Atroce

Le Théàtre d'Atroce is a travelling company of various entertainers. The company travels all across the Core since it first left its original stomping grounds in Dementlieu in 736 BC, although it has avoided Darkon since 755 BC.

Origins

The company was founded by the Red Widow Richelle de Mauvais in Port-a-Lucine in the year 734 BC. She recruited the original cast from among down-and-out acrobats, comedians, stage magicians, musicians and many other kinds of entertainers of the city. Richelle deliberately selected people who had failed to find noble patronage or achieve widespread fame, earning their loyalty without having to pay exorbitant wages. Richelle remained the leader of le Théàtre until she announced her desire to retire in 760 BC, and allowed her employees to buy her out.

Subtle Services

Although la Théàtre really does offer entertainment wherever it roams, its true purpose under Richelle's leadership was to provide a cover for secret agents to get around Dementlieu unnoticed. Until 736 BC, la Théàtre's main patron was the domain of Borca.

When Dominic D'Honaire subtly blacklisted la Théàtre, cutting it off from noble patronage and reducing the number of paying customers, Richelle correctly interpreted this as a warning shot and took la Théàtre out of Dementlieu and into the wider Core.

In addition to bringing entertainment to such communities as la Théàtre visited during its rambling journey of the lands, it continued to offer transport to spies, assassins and smugglers. It even did some work for the Dementlieuse government during this time, implying that Dominic D'Honaire did not carry too deep a grudge.

In 741 BC, Richelle accepted the patronage of King Azalin of Darkon, and la Théàtre technically became a state-sponsored company. Behind the scenes, the company was put at the disposal of the Kargat and later the Ebon Fold, moving their agents around the Core in the years leading up to the Requiem. In the wake of the Requiem, Richelle broke ties with the Kargat and took her company out of Darkon, a decision which caused Azalin to declare Richelle unwelcome in his nation after his return in 755 BC. The lich-king refrained from other acts of punishment, but the company has studiously avoided his lands ever since.

Current Sketch

La Théàtre is less invested in the moving of secret agents around the Core since Richelle's retirement, and focuses more on providing entertainment. Its current leadership is less sanguine about working for multiple nations with conflicting interests, and has done its best to stay clear of political involvement. Instead, they have increased their involvement in smuggling luxury goods and illegal wares such as Potions and Hands of Power to augment their income, using contacts initially established by their founder.