Paridon: The Dark Metropolis (Ravenloft)


log in or register to remove this ad

Torhan nods at his companions again, and begins walking toward the door. Hopefully they would be able to find Alek without too much trouble.
 

Chapter 4: Passing the Time

The coach ride to the Combledorn mansion is uneventful, thankfully.

The mansion sits on a hill at the end of a narrow street in the clocktower district. The party continues in the main square, although partygoers do stop to watch you pass with concern. At the end of the street, a large iron gate stands open, and a courtyard with a central fountain. The clock tower peals out a pair of long, hollow notes--it is the early-to-mid afternoon.

The mansion itself looks wrought in miniature--clearly built for gnomish stature. The front doors are large, comfortable for humans. As the carriage comes to a stop, these doors open, and a lady in scarlet steps out.

459503959_361ad03484.jpg

Bree Combledorn.

"Ah, Officers, you're right on schedule. I am Breechalagandigroot Combledorn. My human name is Bree. Please, do come in! Alek is expecting you!"

[sblock=ooc]Photo by cheeweng [/sblock]
 


Ivid, this adventure is taking place during the gnomish New Year...all of the gnomes are dressing up and wearing masks. It is part of their culture.


"Thanks you, m'lady," says Torhan as he follows Bree into the mansion. "You said we were expected. May I inquire as to how you knew of our coming?"
 

Ru Brike, barbaric human monk

Rhun said:
Ivid, this adventure is taking place during the gnomish New Year...all of the gnomes are dressing up and wearing masks. It is part of their culture.


"Thanks you, m'lady," says Torhan as he follows Bree into the mansion. "You said we were expected. May I inquire as to how you knew of our coming?"

Ru merely grunts and raises an eyebrow to indicate he's ready to be lead to Alek.
 


"Then please follow me. I'm sure Alek can answer questions about his expectations and your interest in him far better than I ever could..."

The door opens wide, and Bree ushers you in. The hallway behind the door is large, spacious. The walls are gilded, and adorned with a multitude of paintings of gnomes, landscapes, and bizarre events in mythology. Numerous doors and stairways snake off from the main hall in all directions, all gnome-sized and too small for a human to easily fit. On consoles at various intervals across the hall, various objets d'art sit. On one, a polished black urn, capped by a natural skull, is displayed. Further down, Calahan notices a violin on a stand. The wood is reddish in tone, and the head of the bridge is carved to look like a wolf. The strings and the bow are black.

"Yes, the violin is Kartakan," a voice calls from above. "It was a gift to the family for services rendered to a pack of musicians. No, band, that is the human word, yes."

Up above, on a balcony, leading back into the small branching hallways behind blue velvet drapes, stands Alek. His outfit remains the form-fitting white shirt and hose, with a white cape, white and brass walking stick, and large, wide-brimmed black hat. His new face remains the grotesque pasty leer from before, like a theatrical mask.

"I'm glad you've come. Although I did expect to see Hieran. Pity, I would have loved to show him our gardens. I hear he likes roses.

In any case, I could go on... but you do have questions you wish to ask of me?"
 

The young paladin nods politely to Alek, tyring to appear as unthreatening as an armored and armed human possibly can to a halfing. "Yes, my friend. There is much to discuss, and some of it is quite urgent. A great many developments have arisen, and we have need of your aid. Please, come down, so we can discuss things somewhat more privately."


Diplomacy +5 to try and convince Alek to come down from the balcony.
 

Ru Brike, barbaric human monk

Ru does his best to swallow the desire to leap at Alek where he is and throttle him for the near-death brush he had with one of this man's masks. He lets the more diplomatic Tohran try his hand first, though his legs tense a bit as if ready to sprint if necessary.
 

Pets & Sidekicks

Remove ads

Top