The next few days are peaceful, with nary a call to action. However there is a party to be held at the estate of Lady Eurabella, and both Maximillian and Melina are invited (and welcome to bring plus ones).
It IS a costume party, but it is perhaps recommended you don't wear your usual outfits.
Thomas will hang out with anyone who seems lonely - after all, nobody should have to be lonely all the time - in between helping out orphans and the elderly.
Well, with a costume party there was really only one choice. Steel. Balamar quickly beats out a set of metal feathers, some claws and an odd looking helmet. With heat and acid she made the metal an almost rainbow of colours.
Some of the feathers went onto the beaker helmet, giving the impression of an angry chicken lizard. More went onto cloth that spread between Balamar's arms, creating wings of a sort. The iron claws were attacthed to some old gauntlets, and the rest of the feathers attatched to a chestplate and pauldrons.
The complete set made her look as much like a cockatrice as a Dwarf was likely to get, she decided with a nod.
If he is asked to attend, Thomas will gladly do so in a gold-dragon costume - a six-foot-five, hunky gold dragon.
Eurabella is a noblewoman who married into her station and outlived her husband. She often throws lavish parties, and rumors suggest she does it to find a suitor.
Eurabella's party has a jungle theme to it tonight, the columns of her grand hall made up to look like tree trunks, and wide leaved plants arranged at the tops to resemble a canopy and scattered around the ground to make a dense, very private feeling party.
The doors are left open so the garden can be enjoyed, it too decorated to look more "wild" than the normally immaculately kept grounds. The foliage also serves as a very effective privacy shield, and among the sounds of music and conversation you also make out the sounds of other pleasures occurring out of sight.
Balamar looked at the greenery in suspicion. It was a hard habit to break. There was greenery below the surface if you knew where to look, but a lot of the time it was carnivorous.
Thomas mingles - gently deflecting various amorous approaches - in his sexy gold dragon costume, which consists of a golden scale-like tight-fitting suit, golden wings (controlled by pectoral movements), and a draconic mask.
Should she seem to want his presence , he will stay near Melina.
He seems to be paying more attention to the other people at the party than the foliage - likely out of a desire to respect the privacy of those inside.
Later in the evening, as Melina and Thomas wander the party, you notice Lady Eurabella watching you. Glaring daggers at Melina, in fact. She seems barely able to contain her rage.
"One moment, Melina. Our hostess seems upset."
Thomas briefly breaks off from Melina and approaches the Lady, smiling his supermodel smile. "Is everything quite already, my lady?" he asked, softly.
She fluffs her hair and straightens her dress as you approach, subtly to anyone without a hero's perception.
"Everything's perfect now that you're here, my dear." should Melina follow, she gives her a nasty look and then turns her smiles back to Thomas.
"I'd not expected a man of such clear pedigree and...discipline to show up at my party tonight."
"Well, thank you, ma'am."
"That's a lovely costume, my lady. It suits you wonderfully."
Lady Eurabella is vain, selfish, and on the prowl.
She twirls to show off her costume, an outfit meant to evoke a "jungle queen" imagery with a grass skirt adorned with male peacock feathers, a
"shirt" that is more of an artfully arranged piece of thin cloth that doesn't cover her midriff, jangling bracelets on her forearms and legs, and a headress made of more peacock feathers and grass, with a beaten gold mask covering the top half of her face. On a different woman it might appear tacky, but she somehow manages to pull it off, and with panache.
She is positively beaming at the compliment, and moves closer, attempting to lay her hand on Thomas' upper arm.
"Thank you for the compliment, Sir Dragon. I do appreciate a man with taste."
Thomas will let her put her hand on his muscular bicep.
"I must say, I'm positively... parched. Shall I fetch us something to drink?"
Assuming she says yes, Thomas goes to fetch a drink for each of them, taking his time so as to be able to focus on her to Detect Evil.
Should he pass any of his teammates naturally, he will greet them and murmur, "I think our hostess may be stricken with me."
Balamar watched the human mating dance with bemusement. It always seemed much more simply with Dwarfdom. Find someone who was interesting, see if they were interested in you, make sure your clans were not involved in a blood fued and enjoy yourselves. Humans made things complicated. It was fun, in a 'I'm glad I'm watching and not participating' kind of way.
Thomasdetects nothing at all on Lady Eurabella.
"Let's find a more...private place, shall we? Would you like to walk the maze with me, Sir Dragon?"
Thomas smiles - a gentle, but reserved expression. "I'd love to stretch my legs."
The lady leads you to a secluded spot, and whispers in your ear an invitation to join her in one of the hidden boudoirs in the garden.
To her dismay and embarrassment, you decline, but Thomas' charm and sincerity keep it from turning ugly.
Still, she bids you to leave, and is not seen for the rest of the evening (though this is not unusual for Lady Eurabella, she usually finds her own amusements partway through the night, after her guests are too buzzed to care).
There are indeed a number of performers, from jugglers to musicians, and a large assortment of different styles of dancers as well.
Should you want to join in, they gladly allow you.
Thomas will be extremely apologetic.
Poor girl... Did I lead her on? I'll have to write an apology note, she must be so embarrassed.
Most are too busy to properly respond, but all are grateful for your encouragement and give you a smile, their efforts redoubling at knowing they are appreciated.
You get the feeling that they are used to fading into the background at these parties.
The evening winds down and you all head home, some more satisfied with the festivities than others.
The next morning is surprisingly uneventful. No robberies or crises to stop, and everything seems peaceful.
That is, until you venture outside of your home. Whether it be for a meal, business, or just wanting to get some fresh air, you notice something disturbing.
Pictures of Thomas plastered everywhere, as well as on the front page of the newspaper. Or, more accurately, a good artist's rendition of Thomas in the costume he was wearing last night.
Each bears the same words.
Wanted
Alive[Picture]
On the suspicion of the murder of Lady Janet Eurabella in a fashion most heinous.
Well...that can't be good. Balamar looked at the picture with a sigh, setting aside her mostly eaten meal. It looked like it was going to be a busy day after all.
Looked like it was time to go an hunt down a killer.
Thomas calmly gathers his costume and marches down to Melina's house.
"Melina, have you seen these posters? Something is very wrong. Will you come with me to the guard's house? I'd rather not use my status as a Paladin to demonstrate my innocence, as it sets a bad precedent."
"Hmm. I guess that's a fair point. Let's find the others."
Thomas searches for Balamar and Maximilian. When he finds them, he will brief them on the situation.
"Melina thinks we should try and find out who did it before going to the guards."
Balamar nodded to the others as they located each other. "So...I'm guessing this is all about our newest newspaper celebrity?"
"Yessss, I can see why." Balamar nodded. "So, I assume we ask around, then go take a look at the scene when things get quieter?"