When the Hounds Are Away

When the Hounds Are Away ...

The Command Center was mostly empty at this time. All of the people that normally inhabited it left for the party. A small part of him felt disappointed at the lack of challenge.

He slipped easily through the corridors and rooms, a shadow moving unnoticed across the deserted floors. His feet stepped lightly across the wood, soundless, like a phantom in the night, until he arrived at his destination.

"Lieutenant Dugald," the office door read. He smiled, a smile mirrored by the grinning domino mask that obscured his face. He slipped a lockpick from his cloak and, after casting one more furtive glance around, slipped the pick into the lock. For him, opening the lock proved a simple matter, and he slipped into the darkened room.

His prize lay neatly folded on the desk. With a grin, the intruder slid through the darkness and plucked the folded fabric off the desk. The image of a red hound on a golden background stared at the thief as he tucked the tabard away. Then, he quietly reached into his cloak and pulled out another tabard, a white one with a single red diamond symbol on the front. With loving care, he attached an ornately written note, and then was gone.  "To Lieutenant Dugald of the Crimson Hounds Brigade: My most sincere congratulations to you on your anniversary. You and your Brigade do an impeccable job keeping order in the city, and I applaud your efforts. Please accept this gift as a token of my gratitude for the work you have done for the city this past year.  I remain respectfully yours,  The Ace of Diamonds, King of Masks, Master of Fools" 

Sometime during the night, a report arrived to the city guard that the plaques at the bases of each statue in the Valley of Heroes had been replaced.

General Turaylon

A noble man with flashy armor. His deeds were valiant, but his downfall almost certainly resulted from how noticeable he was on the battlefield. A shame we should lose such a strong, brave soldier.

Alleria Windrunner

Did you ever see such a lovely woman? The hawk adds a very wild touch to her beauty. I should like to have met her in my younger years.

Archmage Khadgar

Ah, now here is a man with a beard to rival a dwarf. A pity he shut himself up over there in Outland. He could've done much better, I'm sure.

Kurdran Wildhammer

I do believe his expression in this statue is one of jealousy. I've read historical documents that state he was angry at Khadgar for having a longer beard.

Danath Trollbane

This man's greatest failing in life was teaching his son how to rule over a dead city. Stromgarde is but a shell of what it could be, and there is no joy in beating a dead horse.

Behind each plaque is a pair of poker cards. The Ace of Diamonds and the Knave of Diamonds.