The next weeks are furiously busy as you conceive of and rehearse your show before taking your traveling troupe out on the byways of Brenton.
Your performance hinges on a central insight you wish the audience to take away from the performance: the Fein do not value life the same way Brentons do.
This message comes through in moment after moment of the varied spectacle you've put together; from macabre-comic scenes where the Empress of the Fein has a series of hairdressers put to death before deciding that her hairstyle is suitable, to patriotic reels like Return For Jenny Jo, which relates how an entire regiment of Brenton's finest refused to yield against devastating odds until a single prisoner of war, Lieutenant Jo, was rescued and restored by a daring band of jail breakers. The Fein are callous and antiquated in their brutality, while Brenton represents a shining example of progress in the world and a more enlightened way of thinking.
You make a naked appeal to this concept in the climax of the show, where you speak directly of the poisoning attempt. "In striking at the heart of our nation—our King—the Fein showed to the world that they would see death and chaos reign not just in their borders, but in ours. Will we allow't?"
"No!" the shout rings out.
Your exhibition is consistently well-received, and your troupe skillful in all respects, which bolsters your confidence. [+Surety] As for your message, there seems to be a rise in patriotic sentiment as you progress through the troupe and your message filters out. [+Fealty] Perhaps a somewhat pithier message would grab the popular attention even further, but you can only work with such wisdom as you have. In reports back from Westfenster, you hear that Lord Bisqueath is pleased by the influential campaign you're working. [+Bisqueath]
You're surprised, however, to be greeted by a small cluster of hecklers at the town in the eastern settlement of Borrin. "Are they for us?" one of your dancers whispers to the others, visibly perturbed.
"Not to worry, not to worry, all," you call out the the company, descending from your cart. "I'll take care of this before we take the stage. Prepare yourselves, now!"
You approach the small knot of rabble-rousers, jaw squared, ready to debate and berate as needed…
Onward