After an unexplained absence, the figure known as Domenico briefly re-appears in the Drain. His garb is now devoid of decoration, skull imagery, or golden accents - being a simple and functional black fighting robe. Rather than returning to his meditations or usual business about the Drain, he kneels upon the floor in the dim lighting of the rest area and appears to work on a painting.
With an array of paints, brushes, and other miscellaneous items strewn out around him, he silently works away. He's not seen speaking to anyone, and his attitude is reserved and perhaps even a bit sullen. He doesn't appear to stop for food or any other kind of refreshment, his entire focus being devoted to his work and nothing else. It as if his world only exists of the small area around himself.
Minutes become hours, and hours become a full day and night. Eventually, he completes his work. He takes the humble painting and hangs it unceremoniously on the wall across from the room used by the Ratters before taking his leave.
- - - - - - - - -
The painting itself is nothing special - simple materials were used to construct it and the frame isn't ornate or decorative. The art, however, is the result of nearly obsessive attention to even the smallest detail. The background of the image is a dimly lit clearing in a forest, a cloudy night sky overlooking the scene. The main focus of the painting is a wererat standing at full height, facing the viewer. The creature itself bears an unmistakably commanding presence. Its intense, bright-green gaze peers directly out at the viewer. At its feet are piled a number of gold rings, necklaces, goblets, coins, and other treasures. It wears the torn remnants of a once-fine suit, but also bears a belt with various knives, pouches, and other "tools of the trade" upon it. Both of the creature's hands are extended outward and bearing items, as if presenting a choice. In the offered left hand rests a pristine apple - deep red and completely flawless. In the right hand, a dagger is grasped, bloodied with the exact shade of red as the apple.
The creature's wrists bear strange, shadowy shackles upon them. The coloring and technique is notably different here, as if the shackles bear some strange property and are not quite as visible and concrete as the rest of the image. Notably, the shackles have been broken in the middle, the chain used to connect them having been severed. They dangle harmlessly from the wrists - still present, but far from being able to restrict the movement of the creature.
In the background to the left, a small pack of sewer rats populate a space in the image. They seem to be motionless, with about half of them looking up in awe at the larger creature, and half peering toward the pile of treasure at its feet. On the opposing right side of the image, also in the background, a shadowy serpent slithers toward the creature. The serpent has the faintest specks of deep red dotted throughout its harsh black eyes, and has leathery grey wings folded across its back.
No signature or artist's identifying mark of any kind is placed upon the painting.
