Thread: The Knave of Hearts

When foreigners think of the kingdom of Molatre, they do not think of the many bloody wars in the former empire's ancient past. They do not think of the conquered orcish and dwarven nations that still serve as its vassals. They do not think of the various unsavory rumors regarding the royal family's proclivities. If a foreigner knows anything about Molatre, they know about Sibylla, the City of Gems whether it's men, women, monsters, animals, or anything else its many patrons can name, there is no delight that the city cannot offer. As Knave approached the city he could see the shining Tower of Love, the castle in the center of the city where the Carmeline family holds its seat. Stretching well above the city walls and shimmering with silver and gold, it is a clear and obvious statement of the wealth within the city's walls. Where once the city mined gems and ore, now the mining town is the most famous purveyor of flesh and lust upon the entire continent. His work with the Orphans has brought him through the area before, enough that he has at least a basic knowledge of the city's layout and what it can offer. Around the castle and the Royal Quarter is the Diamond Quarter, where all of the many visiting nobility stay. Most claim they are there to speak politics with the Carmeline, but there is a reason that the quarter also has the finest, largest, and most expensive brothels in the world, all catering strictly to the nobility. Beyond it is the Emerald Quarter there the city's wealthy and influential citizens live and ply their trades. The city's artisans can be found here in the enormous Ruby Market, along with the houses where anyone with enough money can enjoy the city's wonderful charms. Outside the city walls is the Amethyst Quarter, where the city's poor and common masses live and work. Many of the city's visitors stay here as well, at least those without the money to afford the far nicer and more expensive inns within the Emerald. Even here desire is always for sale those unable to find a place in the brothels walk the streets selling themselves, and anyone with a few coins in their pocket can find a room with a bed and someone to fill it. Yet for all the beauty the city holds, there is just as much darkness and filth hidden behind the silk and leather. All of the brothels that can afford it have their own security, and the streetwalkers who don't know how to defend themselves will find themselves being dragged off into the shadows one dark night. The richer quarters are filled with thieves and pickpockets, but the true darkness is mostly found in Amethyst. Far from the city guards and the city's laws, it is quite true when they say that if you know who to ask, anything is for sale. It was this darkness that brought Knave to the city this day. Well into summer, the day's heat has already settled into the air. He had been enjoying the company of the widow whose ecstasy named his blade when the orders came by courier the orphans never wrote anything down. In the past few weeks there had been several murders within the City of Gems. This by itself was not too unusual, but the manner was several working girls and some of their customers had vanished, from a poor streetwalker in Amethyst to a wildly popular escort from Diamond. Days later parts of their bodies would be found, often just enough to identify them, and mutilated badly enough to hide any trace of what may have happened to them before they died. The orders were simple enough. Find the culprit, and ensure that the killings stopped. How Knave stopped them was entirely up to him. Along with the orders had come a suspect, and a starting point. Some years ago, the wife of Lord Geoffrey Ditalis and several of her maids had vanished. More than a week later, their heads had been found. There had never been enough to prove Lord Ditalis was responsible, but that did not stop the suspicions. The lord in question had been in Sibylla for a month now, and it was enough for the Crown to suspect his involvement. The starting point was Succulent Ambrosia , a brothel within the Emerald Quarter. Madame Rivae was part of the orphans' vast network of contacts and local spymasters, and supposedly had been notified of his arrival. There were always many travelers coming to and from Sibylla. As Knave approached the gates he saw that the travelers generally split into two groups the rougher, poorer sort tended to break off the road well before the gates and head into Amethyst, while the more genteel travelers continued along the main road, cutting through the poor quarter towards the guarded, but almost always open main gate.