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City of Masks is a swashbuckling adventure in a setting reminiscent of Shakespeare's Italy (complete with twins). In the city-state of Bonvidaeo, by custom and law everyone must wear a mask and act in character with it, or face civil, social and religious penalties. Gregorius Bass is sent to Bonvidaeo as the Envoy of Calaria, primarily to get him out from underfoot. Masked as the Innocent Man, and in the company of his radical young Bonvidaoan servant, Bass stumbles into mystery, intrigue, h ...
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Offers are made and, for the most part, accepted. Rivers and Sallia reflect on recent events from their own unique and surprising perspectives.
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An unexpected summons to the King.
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Juliana's secret is revealed. We learn further details of the adventures of Corius and the scholars, and how things now stand in the City.
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A chase across the rooftops, and Bass confronts the murderer high above the streets of Bonvidaeo.
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Corius and the scholars invade the Temple and put their impersonation into effect. Tamas preaches a Personalist sermon on being one's true self, and the wasps are suddenly deployed. In the subsequent confusion, Bass spots the murderer and gives chase.
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The scholars, Corius and Bass set out to foil the assassination, using disguise, trickery, and wasps. Bass reveals an unsuspected comedic talent.
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Bass, Tamas and Juliana attend a ceremony in honour of the Moon. Bass compares his background with Juliana's, and the counter-plot advances.
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Corius's reconnaissance turns up disturbing news. Felkior, masked as his younger self, comes up with a plan of preposterous daring.
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Tamas tries to convince Bardo not to proceed with his plot. The Butcher claims a fifth victim, and Corius is determined to spy on Bardo.
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Corius gets word of an assassination plot by Bardo's underground group against the Archpriest of the Sun. Tamas, Corius and their fellow Personalists would suffer reprisals if the plot succeeded, so they, Felkior and Bass look for ways to foil it.
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Lord Rivers at last replies, denying Bass's request for support. Corius suspects his foster-sister's lover Bardo of the murders and wants to search out evidence against him, but Bass discourages him. A young nobleman is murdered by the Butcher.
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Corius's foster-sister Sallia and twin Juliana come to visit. Bass is rather charmed by Juliana. A third murder is committed, this time of a prominent citizen, and the Watch at last take notice.
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The elderly scholars show Bass a play in which their youthful encounters with the Countess are described. We learn how Felkior lost his sight and why they refuse to let Bass ask the Countess for help.
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Bass, troubled by the murder, goes to the old scholars - notable fencers in their youth - to learn to defend himself. Another murder is committed which touches them all closely.
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A Calarian citizen is brutally murdered. Bass writes to his superior and to the City Guard seeking their help to find the murderer.
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Bass is received at Court and meets the beautiful and dangerous Countess.
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Bass meets two elderly scholars, Felkior and his secretary Tamas, who help administer the institution of the masks. Together they decide that Bass shall be masked as the Innocent Man, a harmless persona which is protected by custom from reprisals. A theft is reported of a sinister mask...
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Darion, Lord Rivers, Undersecretary to the Foreign Ministerof Calaria, has a problem – his wife wants him to promote her brother Gregorius Bass, whom Rivers considers a hopeless fool. Fortunately, an envoy's post has just fallen vacant in the conveniently distant and unimportant city of Bonvidaeo. We learn from Bass's journal of the odd customs of …
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