Quick facts
Type: Gnome resistance movement · Base: a hidden compound in Coghaven · Emblem: a metal flower · Motto: “We carry on.” · Status: Victorious but nearly wiped out (C2 Session 80)
The Black Parade is the gnome resistance that fought for decades against the machine ruling Coghaven. With The FAM’s help it finally broke the machine’s hold, at the cost of almost all of its fighters.
Name and emblem
The Black Parade takes its name from the darkest day in Coghaven’s history, the first public executions of gnomes convicted of treason for crimes as small as printing pamphlets. Its emblem is a metal flower, much like the never-dying metallic flowers Wilbur makes and sells. Its motto is “We carry on.”
History
The Black Parade spent decades trying to reach the heart of the machine. Every time it gained ground, the machine adapted and invented new technology. Goric and Otto were part of a team that infiltrated the city five years before the party arrived. The whole team was captured, and Goric died. His sister Gen Way later told Wilbur they had waited years because Goric said it would make a difference, and that if Wilbur was the difference, they were doomed.
When Wilbur gave a metal flower to the city’s liaison, Wiz Tillywig, the Black Parade knew he had all but announced himself as a terrorist. Warned by a spy of their own, gnomes in black rappelled onto the factory balcony behind smoke bombs, darted the party’s automaton guide, and pulled the party out through a secret passage in the factory wall.
At their compound, the Black Parade explained the truth of the city to the party. In a planning huddle, Bram Briar proposed going straight for Chancellor Fenwick Ansible’s office. Wilbur, after feeling a phantom hand on his shoulder and hearing a voice urge him to take back the city, rallied the room, then tried a crowd-surf and landed on the floor.
On the way out, drones ambushed the group, and Gen realized someone had kept a bracelet on. The Black Parade split off to create a distraction, promising the party would know the signal when they saw it. Moments later an explosion tore across the far side of the district. While the party broke into the Rotunda and went down to the forge, the Black Parade held off the city’s security. When the machine went dark, the party found frozen security robots surrounding the dead. Bram Briar, Rya Toran, Mekel Way and Franco Yero were killed. Gen Way was the only survivor of that team.
Wilbur declared Coghaven’s independence day and told the gnomes the Black Parade carries on. Gen told the crowd the party had taken advantage of a distraction that cost the Black Parade nearly all of their lives.
Members and affiliates
- Gen Way: survivor of the final raid; Goric’s sister
- Goric: Wilbur’s father; captured on a raid and found dead in Dr. Wheelo’s vats
- Otto: Goric’s comrade who hid in the catacombs
- Bram Briar, killed in the distraction
- Rya Toran, killed in the distraction
- Mekel Way, killed in the distraction
- Franco Yero, killed in the distraction
- An unnamed spy who warned them about Wilbur