"Careful with that axe," Ciprian implored Ofraham, the new Paullus.
"I am very good with weapons, my sword is just a distraction," he retorted.
"Are we going directly into the Gendarmes territory? Or should we stay on the edges trying to set up a trap?" Gavril queried.
"I think we should march right in and attack the first patrol we run into. Maybe they will then parlay," Erevel countered in her usual fashion.
"We really should not antagonize them too much," Ciprian said implying caution.
The party headed down to the river and then moved along the river north of the Notre Dame cathedral. Once in a more residential neighborhood they noticed that the city was quieter and less chaotic. Fewer cries were heard in the distance. Many businesses were still looted but there was less vandalism and fewer burned-out buildings.
Soon after passing into the gendarmes territory, the party met a woman on the street.
"Sou, Sou. Sou." she repeated holding out her hand.
Down another side street they saw a man duck into an alley between two streets. The party continued on their way ignoring the begging woman. Ofraham sent Barnabas to scout the area and when he returned he indicated that a unit of four Gendarmes were headed toward the intersection from the west. The party moved a rickety wagon into the middle of the street and Ursina stood behind it looking forlorn. Gavril and Ofraham, who kept pestering Gavril, hid around the corner to the north. Armania and Erevel were to the south and Ciprian was inside the nearest empty residence.
One Gendarme moved forward to ask Ursina what her issue was as she tried to hail him.
"I need my wagon set back on its wheels," she implored.
"We will confiscate any magic items or weapons you have, to aid in the defense of the city," he replied.
"I have no magic," Ursina replied.
The other Gendarmes began firing and the closest to Ursina merely tried to bite and claw her. One of the Gendarmes was heard grumbling to his compatriot, "Why do we use this violence. I would prefer to see order throughout the city without extremism or unnecessary behavior toward this limited resource."
The battle continued as the party managed to avoid and paralysis or disease and mostly avoided the revolvers. Ciprian was hit by a bullet, which burned as it made its way into his torso. The battle was mercifully short as two of the Gendarmes fell to the parties attacks. The other two then begged for mercy saying they would tell the party anything they wished to know.
Ciprian and Gavril were suspicious of one of the Gendarmes and asked him about his feelings toward Erich Zann and the less violent approach. Ursina noted that his answer was not truthful as he professed admiration for Erich. They then killed him on the spot.
"So what do you know of Captain Armel?" Ciprian began.
"He organized the ghouls into units of Gendarmes. Mostly this was done to satisfy his own needs. He is a brutal nasty ghoul, and also huge, with a terrible temper. His authority stems from his physical prowess," the ghoul responded.
"Do you know where he spends his time?" Ciprian followed up.
"He spends most of each day in the Cabaret Du Oubli. He is usually drinking with his personal guard, he doesn't really care about the show," the ghoul responded.
"Will we find him there today?" Gavril asked.
"I would suppose he would be there," the ghoul answered.
"Can you tell us how to get to this Cabaret?" Ursina queried.
The ghoul gave directions to the area north of the Invalides, a former medical facility. The party was then going to leave him on the street but he was unsure of staying alone now that he had broken the code.
"We could take him to Zann's house. Maybe he will know what to do with him." Erevel added in.
“The old man is alive, yes? Best damn news I heard in days.” the ghoul said with expressive joy.
"We will take you there and let them decide what to do with you," Ciprian said with finality.
The party headed to Zann's place on the Rue d'Auseil where the "civilized" ghouls were glad to accept another member back to the fraternity. The party told them of the Cabaret Du Oubli and then headed for the area.
The exterior of the establishment was a gruesome facade featuring thousands of bones and skulls surrounding a monstrous open mouth that framed the front door to the cabaret. The door began to open and the party hid around a corner and watched as three ghouls exited and began smoking cigarettes. They were quietly talking among themselves.
The building was around sixteen feet high with a set of low peaked roofs. The group circumnavigated the area and found a door in the rear and another on the east side. The large main door was now "guarded" by two of the smoking ghouls.
Now the long discussion began about what to do next. Wait for Armel to leave, what if he didn't. Charge in? Just walk in? Go in the back doors? As they discussed this they saw ghouls and humans entering and exiting the main door. The ghouls did not really stop them for any reason. Ciprian determined he would go invisible and wait to sneak in through the main doors and case the place.
He chance came quickly and he entered into the Cabaret. The walls and doors of the spacious room were painted black and were decorated with skeletons and skulls, horrific battle scenes, and paintings of guillotines in use. Tables were arranged throughout the room in a tavern like setting, save that the tables were coffins that rested on wooden biers. Drinks were served in small skulls that cradled a glass inside. Dim light was provided by fat, dripping candles set in two chandeliers fashioned from human bones, each topped with a skull. A black upright piano sat in the northeast corner of the establishment with a swivel piano stool before it. Festive music, laughter, and conversation filled the chamber. Opposite the piano in the northwest corner was a bar area with racks of bottles and kegs behind the counter. Two individual black doors exited to the north, a third door stood behind the bar.
A number of other Leng ghouls, and even a few humans, occupied the tavern. Waiters, most of them human, threaded through the room dressed in undertaker costumes and delivered drinks on silver platters. A fearsomely jovial Leng ghoul tended the bar.
Pushing himself along the ceiling Ciprian made his way to the door behind the bar but no one entered or exited the door. The easternmost door to the north opened and a human dressed as an black robed monk led two humans into the bar and took a couple others with him into the chamber beyond the door. When the door opened the music became much louder as it blasted from that chamber.
Ciprian followed surreptitiously into the chamber. The walls of the chamber were decorated to look like black stone. Round tables filled the main floor and surrounded a catwalk that extended from a curtained stage to the south. A single door exited to the east. The stage was filled with a few dancing girls and a cabaret master sat on the edge talking to the crowd of ghouls and humans.
After seeing no further exits from the theater, Ciprian waited for his chance to leave once again. In the main chamber drinks were continued to be delivered but no one entered the other two doors. Eventually Ciprian left back out the front door. He reunited with the party and gave his report. The plan ended up being invisibility ten-foot radius on Gavril, so he could get behind Armel without being seen. The others would shuffle in together with Gavril. Ciprian as invisible on his own and just as the smoking ghouls moved back to the door, Armania, invisible herself, opened the doors and cast Sunburst into the room.
The humans and some ghouls ended up blind from the light. Armel seemed unaffected but his two guards had taken damage and moved to defend Armel. A ghoul at the door spoke into the air.
"That fat pig has a couple of his guards with him, so you take care now. I would not try to call out the captain unprepared.”
As the ghouls and humans headed for the floor and corners, Ofraham moved into the chamber and ducked behind a coffin table after firing arrows. Ciprian floated in and identified Armel, just a Leng Ghoul, and began a performance even though he was still invisible. Armania cast Starfall, which again did no damage to Armel. The rest of the party shuffled into the tavern. Gavril and Erevel trying to get close enough invisibly to surprise Armel. The guards began firing their revolvers and Armel stared down Ofraham and let loose a mighty Battle Roar which caused sonic damage to Ofraham. Ofraham attacked himself, Armania dimension stepped and cast Lightning Bolt on the three enemies.
Ciprian cast a Deafening Sound Bolt and Gavril and Erevel finally got into position to attack. Armania cast another Starfall and Armel kept picking out heroes to gaze at and harm with his Battle Roar. The battle started for good with Gavril and Erevel now striking Armel who hit back with the greataxe. The gendarmes continued firing their revolvers at the heroes. Armania cast another Starfall which dropped one of the gendarmes. Offraham made his way to Gavril's side and began to ask if he should use his sword.
The battle continued with Ciprian casting Deafening Sound Bolt once again. Armel was taking two turns every round to attack Erevel and Gavril who both began to look ragged. The remaining gendarme attacked Gavril with a bite which filled him with its poison. Armania began casting magic missiles as Ursina moved quickly to heal Gavril. Armel kept up his attacks against Erevel and Gavril who returned the favor while Ciprian used his final Deafening Sound Bolt which dropped Armel to the floor.
The remaining gendarme immediately raised his hands and yelled, "I surrender. Armel is gone, I feel no need to fight for him any longer."
"Everyone to your knees!" Ciprian commanded.
All the ghouls hit the floor with their hands over their heads. The barkeep thrust out a ring of keys. "Here are the keys to all the rooms. Take whatever you want."
Gavril ran over directly to grab the key ring while Ciprian interrogated the remaining gendarme. He indicated that all the gendarmes followed Armel because of his strength but they have to loyalty to him. If Zann were still around this would be very different. He said they liked Zann much better.
Gavril used the keys to open the left most northern door behind which was a hallway with three doors to the west and another at the far northern end. The group then opened the eastern door but the cabaret was completely silent and empty. Apparently the patrons and dancers left during the battle. The dressing rooms were also empty.
The party then began exploring the doors in the hall. The first door had a sign, which the barkeep told the party said "Staff Only". The door was unlocked so Gavril just opened it revealing a room that contained dozens of crates of wine, liquor, and beer that have been scavenged from throughout the Paris nexus since it formed. Cartons of cigarettes sit stacked on a shelf near the drinks.
The next door was locked, the barkeep warned that the room held human captives who were crazy in cells. He explained that on Sunday afternoons, Armel insisted on a “Sunday Buffet” that consisted of a live prisoner served to him in a coffin table. Gavril opened the door with the keys and found 9 cells, three of which held humans who were clearly deranged.
"We expect these humans to still be here when we send associates to take them home or wherever they can get help." Ciprian explained clearly to the barkeep.
The final western door was also locked but a key opened it also. A dirty and smelly pallet stood in the northwest corner of this room. Directly across from it was an iron chest. A table sat against the north wall with cups and dirty plates on it.
Gavril examined the chest for traps and finding none used the keys to open it. Inside were a magic ring and a steel scroll case with three scrolls inside. Also there were gold pieces and a stack of paper with pictures and numbers on them.
"We will leave the coin, as we do not have much need of it." Ciprian said.
The final door led to the bar store room full of kegs. The group decided to head back to Erich Zann's house and deliver the last gendarme. On the way they saw some celebration in the streets. It seemed that the word of Armel's demise and Erich Zann's return had spread. By the time the heroes returned to Erich’s house, a small crowd of Leng ghouls and humans had gathered in the street out front and met the heroes with cheers. The gendarmes then formally surrendered to Erich’s authority.
Inside the house the heroes gave a report of the battle and its aftermath at the Cabaret. They informed them of the captives humans that needed help. Erich sent a house ghoul to retrieve the magic items and when he returned the heroes were presented with a gem of seeing, an orb of pure law and a horn of blasting. After a meal and a day's rest the party settled down for the night intending to head to the ruined tower and the stela in the morning. Erich sent a unit of four ghouls with the party, just for assurance, he said.
DM's Notes: The party earned 73,600XP for the Paris adventures so far.
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