Paridon: The Dark Metropolis (Ravenloft)

[Rhun]

Perrin remains quiet, nodding his head in accord with Father Berman's words. The ranger lowers his weapons, trying to appear as unthreatening as possible.

 

[InVinoVeritas]

Calahan keeps his gun trained on the doll. It does nothing.

"Daddy told me to stay here, downstairs, and not to go outside. Daddy said he needed to go fix everything. And the Combledorns cannot hurt me. They can never hurt me ever again."

Ada appears to rise as her legs seem to unfold. Her arms extend, intricate brass armatures ending in blades and large needles. Her head starts twitching, and a low rumbling can be heard. The dolls in the corners rise up to face Fr. Berman and Perrin. Paper cranes and little mechanical birds take flight and flit about Ada's head.

"There are no more Combledorns anywhere. No more bad people. No more repairs. Father, what is the significance of the butterfly? Do you think Daddy is a bad person?"

Upstairs, Calahan, Ru, and Darian can't help but feel watched.

 

[jkason]

Ru Brike, barbaric human monk

Calahan keeps his gun trained on the doll. It does nothing.

"Daddy told me to stay here, downstairs, and not to go outside. Daddy said he needed to go fix everything. And the Combledorns cannot hurt me. They can never hurt me ever again."

Ada appears to rise as her legs seem to unfold. Her arms extend, intricate brass armatures ending in blades and large needles. Her head starts twitching, and a low rumbling can be heard. The dolls in the corners rise up to face Fr. Berman and Perrin. Paper cranes and little mechanical birds take flight and flit about Ada's head.

"There are no more Combledorns anywhere. No more bad people. No more repairs. Father, what is the significance of the butterfly? Do you think Daddy is a bad person?"

Upstairs, Calahan, Ru, and Darian can't help but feel watched.

Ru shudders where he stands, trying to catch sight of the eyes he feels on him.

"What's going on down there, boys?" he says nervously. "I think we need to be off for our other appointment, yes?"

 

[Rhun]

"No," says Perrin, "we don't think your daddy is a bad person. Do you know where he went?"

 

[kinem]

"The butterfly" Father Berman states "is the symbol of Fate and of the Lady Ezra. You see, even a tiny thing, a seemingly minor decision, can alter the chain of events. A small effect can grow with time. It is said that even the flapping of a tiny butterfly's wings can set in motion the air currents that grow into a great storm. That is why no man can predict his own fate.

Consider the fate of Edditomas: He thought that by encasing his mind in strong metal, he could make himself immortal. Because of that decision, which made him arrogant, he is now dead. Don't make the same mistake he did.

But the goddess Ezra knows all, sees all. Only She truly knows the fates of mortals, and knows how to alter them. And she knows what will happen in the great unknown beyond death. That is why we must do our best to try to follow her teachings. I try to do that every day."

 

[Le Noir Faineant]

"Comrades, I all for tearing down this place as it is..."

Calahan does another few steps forward, his gun ready to fire...

"HEY, YOO, DOWNSTAIRS!!! I am coming down now. Is there something I should know...?"

 

[Rhun]

Perrin grimaces as Calahan's words echo down to him. That was all they needed; Calahan would take one look at Ada and torch the place. The ranger turns his head and calls back up to his companion. "Perhaps you should remain above, Calahan. The father and I have the situation well in hand."

 

[Le Noir Faineant]

Calahan gets pale as he hears Perrin call upstairs.

He looks back to Ru and Darian.

"Oh boy... Something must be wrong! They've been taken hostage or something like that!
Fire at anything that moves!"

With that, he cowers a bit, and begins to descend the stairs very cautiously...

 

[industrygothica]

Calahan gets pale as he hears Perrin call upstairs.

He looks back to Ru and Darian.

"Oh boy... Something must be wrong! They've been taken hostage or something like that!
Fire at anything that moves!"

With that, he cowers a bit, and begins to descend the stairs very cautiously...

Darian rushes up behind Calahan and grabs the back of his shirt roughly. "We need you up here, sir!" he says calmly. He holds the Snake's gaze as he turns him around. "Something is... wrong, up here. They've got downstairs covered."

 

[InVinoVeritas]

Ada's head spins around. "The father's answer is incorrect, but only by initial condtions. Edditomas never wanted to encase his mind in strong metal. He did not want immortality. He broke when he started supporting Combledorns. He was replaced with a new cog, much stronger.

You are correct that small changes make large ones. A spring at the incorrect tension can cause the entire clocktower to run incorrectly. An incorrect clock can only lie, can only stop the efficient motions of society. Time is wasted. Opportunity lost. Only by strict adherence to the myriad rules of motion, and how they work in every instance, can a clock perform its function.

That is why daddy is at the clocktower now. He must check the gears, check the springs. A loose spring can result in death."


Upstairs, a single clock responds with a single... Cuckoo.