Paridon: The Dark Metropolis (Ravenloft)

[InVinoVeritas]

Abass, Darian, and Torhan head for the plaza. The festivities seem to dissipate as they approach, and the gnomes part to let the trio walk by unhindered. A child wearing a puppy mask points at the three policemen, but his mother pulls him behind her. Without anyone in their way, they quickly reach the clock tower.

The sausage merchant clutches his apron. "Goodness gracious! Uh... Welcome to my stall, officers! I have a fine selection of meats to keep you going strong... What would you like? Please, look around!"

Torhan senses that although the throng is fearful of the three, it is not entirely because of their station. Darian notes the jester hanging back, still watchful, and looking down Markovstrasse. Abass recognizes that the man in white and his coterie also approach, but hang back with the crowd.

* * *​

Pigglemorth looks back and forth between Ru and Fr. Berman quickly. "By all that is holy, my daughter witnessed a murder? And we are not safe?" He sits down to steady himself, thinking for a moment. "We can leave with you, if that is what you want."

After a moment, he adds, "I know the clock tower very well. I maintain its operation. It is large, and time never stops, yet it is quite amazing how important it is to keep everything in proper repair. You cannot let the smallest gear in the least critical place to get too much wear, or else the entire tower starts losing time. The entire system begins to fail. Everything requires care, and attention to detail..."

He suddenly looks up, and turns to stare down the stairwell Ada passed through moments before. His voice lowers as he spits, "She was with that blackguard Combledorn, wasn't she? That man's a curse on this house, and poor Adalavas doesn't know any better..."

 

[jkason]

Ru Brike, barbaric human monk

He suddenly looks up, and turns to stare down the stairwell Ada passed through moments before. His voice lowers as he spits, "She was with that blackguard Combledorn, wasn't she? That man's a curse on this house, and poor Adalavas doesn't know any better..."

Ru looks to the others a moment, then turns back to the upset father.

"Combledorn?" he says. "Your daughter inisists she was alone, but it might behoove us to question this man. Who is he, and do you know where we might find him?"

The look out of the corner of his eye leaves without saying the fact that Combledorn might well be the name of their victim. Either way, it's a new lead, Ru thinks.

 

[Rhun]

Torhan stares down at the sausage merchant. "Were you here in the square last night, by chance? Perhaps around midnight?

 

[industrygothica]

While the others question the sausage merchant, Darian keeps his eyes on the jester, watching is every movement.

 

[InVinoVeritas]

The crowd grows silent waiting for the answer to Torhan's question.

"Here last midnight? Oh, by the gods, no! That's the witching hour! Only foul demons and devils would be up and about at midnight last night."

The crowd bursts into raucous laughter in response. Even the butcher starts doubling over, grabbing his sides, occasionally oinking.

"Why, we were all here last midnight! It's the New Year! We can't let the witches claim that hour every night! Still, I suppose the naked folk wouldn't understand proper wear! If ye care to join the festivities, I'll tell you all about last night."

The gnome in white steps forward to address the trio amidst the cacophony. "Come, you showed me and my girls mercy when we accidentally startled your horses. Let me help you understand the new year. First, you will need new faces. Taking off your face is like taking off your clothes right now. The butcher will be much more cooperative, I assure you. Also, please allow Sasha to give you all necklaces for the celebration." He gestures to his keyhole-mouthed women, and the one dressed in veils steps forth, with beaded necklaces in her hands.

The jester tries to sneak away in the confusion, but Darian's keen eye remains trained on him as he slinks down Markovstrasse, toward the carriage and shop.

* * *​

At the shop, Pigglemorth explains, "Combledorn is a terrible family among the gnomes, exploiting us and our abilities, and selling us out to you giants. The Combledorns have been quite successful for themselves as thieves, launderers, and dealings with terrible substances. They're selling a stone on the black market, made of boiled down love potions. The stone makes people go crazy, do terrible things...

...and their youngest has taken a fancy to my Adalavas. Poor girl, bless her heart, couldn't tell a knight from a cad, and Combledorn knows it. I've been at wit's end trying to keep the two apart. I can't let her end up with such a monster. We all must strive to live clean lives, not let such filth into our homes. Do any of you have children? Please tell me you understand..."

 

[industrygothica]

The jester tries to sneak away in the confusion, but Darian's keen eye remains trained on him as he slinks down Markovstrasse, toward the carriage and shop.

Darian will stay as far away from the jester as possible while still being able to see him clearly enough to note what he is doing.

 

[Rhun]

Thank you, friend gnome," says Torhan to the gnome in white. "Of course, we mean to respect your customs. I would be honored to learn more of your New Year beliefs."

 

[kinem]

"I am a Father to all" Brian says. "And certainly I understand the problem you face.

If these Combledorns are as criminal as you say, perhaps the Watch will have to deal with them soon. But right now we have to protect your daughter and you, and to solve the murder, which I think amounts to the same thing. We may need Ada's cooperation to find Combledorn, and you may have to be the one to persuade her. By the way, what's the young man's given name?"

 

[jkason]

Ru Brike, barbaric human monk

"I am a Father to all" Brian says. "And certainly I understand the problem you face.

If these Combledorns are as criminal as you say, perhaps the Watch will have to deal with them soon. But right now we have to protect your daughter and you, and to solve the murder, which I think amounts to the same thing. We may need Ada's cooperation to find Combledorn, and you may have to be the one to persuade her. By the way, what's the young man's given name?"

As the priest takes over, Ru fades back, letting someone with more people skills handle the questioning.

 

[InVinoVeritas]

"Templeton," Pigglemorth replies. "I'll see if Adalavas is washed up and presentable." He heads down the stairs.

* * *​

Sasha presents a necklace of wooden beads strung with oiled paper to Torhan, jumps up to climb onto his back (with some surprise), and places the necklace around his neck as she clings to him, resting her head against his shoulder. She is light enough not to be a burden.

The gnome in white twirls his walking stick around and leads the policemen across the plaza to the mask stand. "Thank you, kind sirs, your patience will be well rewarded. The gnomes have named this the beginning of a new year, and with each new year, we dedicate ourselves to our new hopes and new lives. We look to the future, and for the week, we show our dedication with our new faces. They are the faces we show to the world, and no one is supposed to know our faces until the new year strikes. Our old face... that is tired, old, and a sign of the past. In fact, to be seen on the new year without a new face..." and with a flourish, indicates the extensive collection of masks at the merchant's stall, "is like being seen without clothes."

* * *​

"Gnoshallamitagit! Pelkoratingahedimorg!"
"Ja, metricallit. Sochungerimalligechigarnibalbit, cha!"
"Bewas??! Chogallingo..."

A moment later, Ada and her father return from downstairs. She had changed into a gingham skirt and lace-up tunic, and her mask was slightly askew. "Adalavas," her father begins, a slight twinge in his voice, "Please tell the police about Combledorn."

"But I--" Ada begins, but then stops, defeated. "Yes, sir. Temp and I were in the tower together, just getting away from the crowd. We climbed up to the clock face and... that's where we saw the body, hanging from a chain. Please don't tell Temp I told you this." She stops a moment to adjust her mask.

Pigglemorth looks knowingly towards the policemen and back at Ada. Ada catches the look. "That... wasn't what you asked... is it?" You practically can see her blush through the butterfly. She rolls her eyes. "I'm sorry, Temp," she whispers.

* * *​

Darian watches as the jester looks down the street, seems to look for a way around the carriage, and takes off down an alleyway.

As the gnome in white and his partners start showing masks to the three policemen, a woman, somewhat rotund and with greying hair, wearing a cherubic visage, runs up to you all and says, "Oh, policemen! I hear you were around! Have you seen my dear, good son Edditomas? Bright, red hair, and a long proud nose, you couldn't miss him. I haven't heard of him since yesterday, and it's not like him to not wish his mother a happy new year! Please help me find him!"