The Clockwork Tithing

Chapter 1

Lightning flashed across the smog enveloped sky, as detective Dascalu stepped into the autumn rain, and donned his usual top hat. The port of Bosphorus City was abuzz with sailors and merchants alike. Each trying to finish the work day to get home to their families. Ships creaked under the ominous winds, and harbor gulls let out cries of frustration as they struggled against the torrent. An airship groaned under the strain, but held to its course above.
The detective, in his late twenties with dark auburn hair, an immaculately trimmed beard, with light olive hued skin, and warm caramel eyes, strolled leisurely out of his doorway.  Donning a gray frock coat over a rough red vest and black workman's shirt, that was popular in the more industry oriented places like Bosphorus City, after the Great Northen War.
He doused the lantern outside of his office, and turned to head to the market. The sign above his head swung violently in the downpour. It read "Privateer Detective Services," and underneath in smaller print, "Paranormal and Criminal Inquiries Welcome."
"Excuse me sir!" A voice called out through the putrid harbor fog. "Are you the local private detective?"
Augustus struggled to see the stranger in the lamplight as he approached. "These days, I'm anything that pays the bills. What can I do for you, friend?" His smile was nearly unperceivable in the dim moonlight.
"Can we step inside and out of this weather?" The man said, now close enough that his dark, disheveled hair and soaked attire were readily visible in the light.

Augustus hesitated. Something didn't quite feel right. As he stepped into the dimly lit parlor, he clapped his hands, and in flew a small mechanical pseudodragon that blew small puffs of flame at the candles next to the two chairs, casting the room in a modicum of dancing light, and illuminating Augustus' copper and brass clockwork dragon. "Thank you Sunflower." The detective smiled warmly as the dragon flew off.
However, as he took his seat, he glanced at the mirror behind the bar in the center of the room, noticing that the guest was now covered in mud that Augustus hadn't previously seen. As he turned in a panic to help the man, the dirt that seemed to be abnormally packed into his mouth was no longer there, and he was as clean as if he had just washed. Glancing back at the mirror, he no longer saw anything amiss as the man sat down.
"Is everything alright detective?" The man asked. "You look as though you've seen a ghost." The slightest hint of a smile crossed his face, before it immediately faded back into a grim disposition. "With all jokes aside, my name is Bogdan, and I'm sure you've gathered my 'mortal disposition.' You see I am somewhat of a permanent resident at the nearby Lowgate Cemetery, and quite recently someone has been stealing corpses in the night. And as you know, this creates a problem of restless spirits."
At this moment, Augustus' wife Eliza walked into the room. Her radiant smile, and thick, curly brunette hair washed the room with a much needed light. Her brunette hair and light skin tone hinted at an ancestry far to the west, despite being born in Bosphorus City. "What are you doing here love? I thought you had run to the market." Her soft and gentle voice wavered ever so slightly when she saw the guest across the room. "Ah, a customer. Well gods know we need the money. What can we do for you good sir?"
"Well," Augustus began, "this is Bogdan, and he's a restless spirit. It seems someone has been robbing graves in Lowgate Cemetery, and snatching bodies. He wants to know if we can help." He then looked at Bogdan, casually and asked, "I hate to be that man, but I can't accept a contract without some form of payment. During times of good business, I can accept more malleable forms of payment, such as pixie dust or rumors from the other side. But unfortunately times are tough, and rent is due soon. I'm sure you understand."
Bogdan nodded, and presented a gilded brass key seemingly out of thin air. "This key is to a chest in my attic. It was meant for my children, but they have all squandered their money on strumpets and gambling. At least this way you can make better use of it than they would." Augustus nodded and took the key, but not before his wife whispered into his ear, "and how exactly do you plan on sneaking into a dead man's attic, Auggie?"
Bogdan chuckled, "when the time comes to collect, I will take care of that. Until then, I need your word that you can put us to rest again." Auggie nodded.
"I'll gather my gear and I'll head that way." He reached up and kissed Eliza on the forehead, and stepped from the chair. "Dear if you wouldn't mind, could you run to the market and pick up the groceries, and then meet me there? We might be home a bit late tonight." Bogdan nodded his head, and in a vaporous puff, disappeared before their eyes.
"Are you sure you don't want to contact anyone to come with us? Not the monk, the druid, or the witch-doctor? What if this is more than it seems? Wouldn't you want backup?" Eliza looked at him with deep rooted worry in her eyes.
"It's just grave robbers love. I'm bringing the ghost kit, what else could possibly go wrong?"