[ludster]

In upper Aerendale, there rests a home. Extravagant as it may be, within held a family often known as a popular benefactor to the City Watch. A painting was gifted to them by this rising name. A name that no one knew, at the same time everyone whispered about.

Resting upon this family's foyer—past many other paintings of varying sizes and subjects—there it sat, easily drawing the eye of anyone that enters through the lavishly inviting front door. Thirty inches in width, thirty in height. Hues of indigo, blue, and purple all brilliantly arrayed upon the canvas—only rivaled by the piercing yellows. 

Above, a round visage cackles in the darkened background. It's mouth agape open in joy as its eyes squint close, attempting to suppress tears. It's tongue poked out as every aspect of it was as animated and exaggerated as one could imagine. Behind it, the sky was in a plethora of dark shades, all acting as a backdrop to the enlarged figure. Nothing obtruded this round form save for those under it.

Below it, two jesters lock rapiers along each other. Complete with jingling hats and faces of pure white, frowns are found upon their fool-like faces. Their clothes, though already marred red and black much akin to many jesters of yore, has splatterings of pink. Each one posed much like a fencer, with one hand on the blade, the other tucked behind them. With both legs buckled, both figured struggled among each other.

Among the two, a faceless crowd watched over them. No eyes, no noses, no mouths. Not a single visage depicting anything human or human-like. All watching before the two engaged against each other.

The painting had no signature. No forensic methods deem it belonging to another before where it was now. No one truly knew where it came from. Yet it found itself a peculiar audience.