Paridon: The Dark Metropolis (Ravenloft)

[InVinoVeritas]

Of course there's another way. There is truth in pain. You have said so yourself. It is why I'm here for you. You didn't want to use Alek's key, anyway.

Suki looks in Darian's eyes, breathing in as their eyes lock. She holds her breath, not daring to look away as he tells her his fears. As he finishes, she looks down, slumps, and sheds tears.

Not enough pain.

Suki then looks up. She looks straight into Darian's eyes, and expels a quick sigh. She reaches out with her cold, iron stumps to grab Darian's hand, and pulls it to her neck. Darian looks. A small chain, a tiny necklace just under her costume lies there. He pulls out the necklace, and find a small silver key.

She continues to stare at Darian as her eyes grow red. Slowly, deliberately, she shakes her head.

WHAM! Calahan rushes in, thankful that you can't lock the cell door from the inside. He sees Darian, hand near Marionette's neck. She startles, looks at Calahan fearfully, but holds her ground.

* * *​

As the rest of the company waits, Gis approaches. "So, you've spoken with Alek? How did that go? And... does Pigglemorth know the bad news yet?"

He notices Calahan rushing into Marionette's cell. "Is everything all right?"

 

[Le Noir Faineant]

Calahan still has one of the guns he took from the police arsenal earlier, no?

Inside the cell, the former forrester draws his gun and points it towards Suki.

"Go on, Darian. I'll watch your back for if she goes does that spontaneous combustion thing."

And the weird you behave lately, I have nothing against my pistol between us if things go really bad...

 

[InVinoVeritas]

OOC: Calahan threw all his requisitioned explosives in the burning room. The Hellsfire gun isn't really a pistol as much as a flamethrower, but the Hellsfire ammo has been destroyed.

 

[Le Noir Faineant]

In that case, Calahan will just point at Suki with his finger.

Might look totally dorky, but I am a bit tired today...

 

[industrygothica]

"Is this the key to your mask then? I've gotten another from Alek," he says, confused. "Quickly, which is it, and will it kill you to take it off like it did the other?"

 

[Rhun]

]As the rest of the company waits, Gis approaches. "So, you've spoken with Alek? How did that go? And... does Pigglemorth know the bad news yet?"

"Everything is fine, I think," answers Perrin, glancing into the cell. "Alek was pretty much as tight lipped as ever, but he did mention a possible lead."

 

[InVinoVeritas]

Suki swats the key on her necklace out of Darian's hand. She grunts and shakes her head. She winces, looks away from Darian a moment, and looks at Darian desperately. She says something, muffled, and points to Darian's belt pouch.

...Fine, you want to do it that way. She said Alek's key.

* * *​

Gis rubs his chin and looks away. "A new lead is good, very good, but we still have to tell a father that his daughter's dead, and decide what we're going to do with Alek and his women. We have enough to arrest Sasha on attempting to magically influence an officer and obstructing an ongoing investigation. We'd need something more concrete to arrest the others. And Pigglemorth needs to know what happened... without the monster around, he shouldn't need protective custody anymore, and it would be cruel to keep him here with affairs to settle. Come to think of it, the same is true of Alek, if we can't arrest him."

 

[industrygothica]

Darian closes his eyes and lets out a nervous sigh. "I'm sorry," he says as he slowly slides the key into the lock and turns it.

 

[kinem]

Father Berman shakes his head. "I must disagree, sir. First, while the monster is gone, it was never the only threat to the gnomes. Remember the thugs, the crazy bird-men, and the wagon driver? It is obvious that the monster was not working alone, and had partners with criminal connections and deep pockets. In fact Alek gave us a name - Brass - and claimed that his girl would know more, which is why she is now being questioned.

As for Alek, he is known as a drug dealer. I think that the behavior of his girls is clear evidence that they are victims of the drug. The monster's journal spoke of artifical life - the monster - and of artificial love - the drug. Which reminds me, we must examine those records again - I think I recall mention of Brass in Hieran's report." (Glancing at Perrin) "Perhaps not coincidentally, the fire likely destroyed Alek's records, but I'm sure there are other ways to ascertain it.

The exploding mask of the bird-man was likely Alek's responsibility as well, making him a murderer. The bird man seemed drug-addled as well. Alek claimed it was a former employee; I suspect that the masks of his girls are similarly rigged. In any case the masks are a known danger and must be removed before releasing anyone.

We should arrest him. We can surely gather more evidence against him, given time. In any case, he was a prime target of the monster, and must also remain in custody for his own protection."

 

[jkason]

Ru Brike, barbaric human monk

"All your suspicions are mine," Ru agrees to the priest, "but we have proof of none of these crimes, and we cannot keep a man imprisoned simply because of something we suspect. If we did, there would be no room in the jails of the city."

Ru turns to Gis and bows.

"Given what has happened to his family, I told Alek I would see about freeing him to see to his affairs. I agree we should not let him far from our sight; it's clear there are violent forces keen on destroying him." Here there is only the slightest of glances in the priest's direction.

"I'd suggest he go nowhere without an escort. If he refuses, I'd suggest a more discreet surveillance team. I'd suggest the same for Pigglemorth."