Session 30 Recap

General Summary

Our session begins on the 19th of Hammer, with the dreary morning and brisk air keeping our sleep-deprived Peggers alert. They decide to visit the apartment building of Ginny Roth on East 2nd Street. The building is a six-story brick structure, and they find Ginny's apartment on the third floor. The door, taped off but unlocked, allows our crew to enter. The living room and kitchenette are in disarray, showing signs of someone trying to destroy Ginny's investigative research. They comb each room for leads and anything the police might have missed. Rae discovers a calendar on the wall with notes on the dates leading up to the first killing. The date of Ginny's supposed disappearance is marked with something in Draconic, but it's been smudged. They use charcoal to rub the underside and reveal the hidden writing. Daxiris wildshapes into a rat to converse with the couple in the kitchenette, but they are distrustful of new faces and soon leave. Laylin spends her time lying on the bed. Keira and Spixi find the journal in the nightstand; most pages are torn out, but they manage to decipher a few scraps of information: “How is it that… nobody sees what’s…”, “…all connected, like an invisible thread…”, and “…one more piece before it can…”. They also use charcoal to uncover a sketch of the killer; the only untouched parts are the eyes, as if Ginny feared to look directly at them. Niklaus and Frank inspect the bathroom to find a vial of mirror-like dust and a standing mirror cracked, missing a single shard. Niklaus deduces that the powder closely resembles the components needed to create a Disguise Self potion but is currently ineffective. Frank decides to cast Locate Object on the mirror shard and discovers it's in the bedroom. Rae searches the hall closet, finding stacks of newspapers with articles about the killer highlighted and annotated. She sifts through the coats to find a particularly worn one and discovers a train ticket stub hidden in a sewn-in pocket, stamped the day after her disappearance. The group also uncovers an evidence board behind a picture in the living room, which is completely destroyed and yields no information. However, they notice a compartment hatch on the board that has been broken open and emptied. Eventually, they find the mirror fragment and a locket, which, when opened, reveals a small mirror inside, obscured by dried blood. Frank locates the fire escape, climbs out the window, and heads to the rooftop. The others inquire with the neighbor for any knowledge. On the rooftop, Frank opens a pigeon hut to find a muscular humanoid torso with proportionate pigeon limbs and head. It looks at him and coos. Beneath the creature is a 2-foot-tall egg, emitting steam. Frank shuts the hut and descends the access hatch to regroup. The neighbor, a Wererat, is initially reluctant to share information due to past experiences with novice investigators but eventually reveals that several people would come.
The entrance to the 12th Precinct is distinguished by stone steps ascending to heavy double doors with iron frames and a prominent emblem of the New York Police Department badge. Keira, Sable, and Spixi split from their group to enter the station, while the rest wait outside. At the entrance desk, Keira engages the Sergeant in conversation, inquiring about Ginny Roth's case. Sable hesitates, nearly using magic in front of him, but reconsiders. They are allowed to meet Detective Marlowe, who is found reclining on a couch in her office, sipping bourbon. Marlowe has been on the Whisper case since the initial murder and discloses that there have been 37 murders linked to the Whisper. The group's inquiry into leads sends Marlowe into a depressive state; the suspect could be anyone, ranging from a police officer to a mafia member, a group, or an individual. The Whisper is meticulous, leaving no evidence behind and targeting only virtuous individuals. Marlowe hands over her case file to Keira and Spixi, but they soon realize they have gleaned as much as the police know. As they prepare to leave, Marlowe expresses the anguish of repeatedly informing families that there are no leads and that justice for their loved ones remains elusive. The group then hails a taxi to the Golden Talon Casino. Meanwhile, Captain is cautioned by an officer that riding Wolfe, his summoned steed, is not permitted within city limits without a permit. Wolfe trots beside Frank en route to the casino.
The Golden Talon stands as a colossal structure, its exterior ablaze with vibrant, flashing lights. Gold dragons, the building's motif, are prominently displayed everywhere. As daylight fades, customers crowd into the establishment. Upon entering, Frank and Laylin waste no time in gambling away most of their gold. Larry the Human, intrigued by the games yet unfamiliar with the rules, clumsily gambles away money, vaguely suggesting it originated from his Bag of Holding. Soon, the Peggers are approached by security and invited to speak with the manager. As they are escorted to the back office, Frank spots "The Vault," a heavily fortified room where staff are busy moving carts laden with gold and platinum. Resisting temptation, he decides against any action at this moment. In the office, they are welcomed by Don Calo Falcone, the head of the Falcone Mafia, with premium alcohol. He informs them that his sources have reported their involvement in the Whisper affair. Contrary to the beliefs of the other mafia families, Don Calo suspects that the Whisper is not instigating a turf war. He enlists the Peggers to investigate the other families, to understand their eagerness to cast blame and uncover their secrets. Additionally, uncovering the Whisper's identity would earn them a substantial reward. After the meeting, the group opts to test their fortune at the Velvet Veil Nightclub.
En route to the nightclub, the Peggers observe the stark contrast between the day and night of New York. The heavy snowfall, the biting cold, and the dark sky serve as a reminder of their mission: to find Mr. Moonshine. It appears that the killer may hold clues to his disappearance or may even be involved. The club's entrance, with its velvet curtains beneath a sign of a veiled face, beckons them inside. The nightclub's interior boasts rich dark hues—deep purples, dark blues, and gold accents—creating an atmosphere of mystery and luxury. Plush carpeting covers the floors, and velvet drapes hang on the walls, with enchanted lights that change color and intensity, providing a captivating scene. Candlelit tables skirt the main floor, and a raised platform in the center serves as a stage for performances. A woman's voice fills the air, singing to the tune of jazz music. Keira feels drawn to the stage, moved by the music, while Rae gravitates towards the bar, where a Lizardfolk bartender shows an interest in her, attempting to delve into her emotions as she seeks solace in her drink. Spixi joins her, offering companionship.Laylin is trying to determine whom she should approach to secure a chance to perform on stage. Meanwhile, Niklaus overhears that "The Bear" is present upstairs tonight. When they ask the bartender how Laylin could perform, he informs them that all entertainers must get approval from the manager, Vaerra Blackthorne, a drow woman who has been vigilantly watching the group. Laylin decides to introduce herself to Vaerra and asks for an opportunity to perform. Vaerra consents, allowing Laylin a trial performance during the band's break. At the bar, Spixi discovers that the club's owner is Luciano "The Bear" Volante, a formidable man with connections to the Falcone family, known for scouting new talent in the VIP area upstairs. They also find out that more than half of the murders attributed to the Whisper occurred to individuals last seen at this nightclub.The bartender discloses that the latest murder, which happened just over a week ago, involved a dwarven man. Vaerra found his body in the alley, lying face down as if he had been running towards the door, while she was closing up after the last call. Keira asks Vaerra what she knows about the incident, and Vaerra mentions that the man was heavily intoxicated. She requested the bartender to call a taxi for him as she finished up for the night. The bartender confirms that he called the taxi but did not see the man leave as he was busy shutting down the bar. Laylin performs and receives modest applause from the patrons. Vaerra informs Laylin that Luciano is interested in her and invites her upstairs. Accompanied by some of the crew, Laylin heads to the VIP area. Luciano welcomes them cordially, offering Laylin the opportunity to perform more frequently if she wishes. He admits his limited knowledge about the Whisper business, entrusting all club operations to Vaerra. However, he does reveal that he is an old friend of Don Calo, who advised him that the Peggers would visit and instructed him to assist them as necessary. While the others head downstairs to gather a plan to draw out the killer, Laylin seduces Luciano and spends some intimate time with him. 
Our next session begins at the very late night of the 19th of Hammer, the Peggers are still inside the Velvet Veil Nightclub.

Notes

"I didn't give you any marriage advice, cus I'm divorced." - Misty
"I'm gonna have to disasociate if we are going to have family dinner." - Misty
"The problem there is we are all emotionally stunted so.." - Jack
"I'm gonna have to return home and I don't get to soak at all." - Chris
"wha? AAAAAAAAHHHHHH" - Jack
"I'm like - okaaayyy fuck-shit-bitch huehuehue." - Hannah
"I'm ready to fuck up this casino and burn everything to the ground." - Frank
"You can still use your boobs." - Spixi
"I don't want to get shot." - Niklaus
"Well there is no fish here." - Frank
"Ya know them hoosiers, they ain't too forgivin." - Sarah
"I'm sorry, that fly went INSIDE my ear." - Misty
"Dude, bro, it's fucked up, it shouldn't be alive." - Frank
"Fuckin nibble on my cheese..." - Rae
"I can hear the whore in her voice." - Frank
"He got recircumsized because of Tyr HAHAHA." - Rae
"I mean, my mouth is very skilled. It's one of my best trained features." - Laylin
"Sussy bacca?" - Chris

Report Date

26 Oct 2024