Situation Report Two

General Summary

All paths are leading towards a confrontation with One Thumb and his shady boss. Braern also revealed himself as the petty underworld fence we believed him to be. And we came across a very scary looking magical mirror hidden behind a hidden stairway in The Old Sword.

Investigations

Wave Sprinter After a short jog to The Old Sword, where we pick up a mutual contact called Sylke, we travel to investigate The Wave Sprinter in the North City docks and also close to the warehouse. Captain Cutter is the skipper. We bribe a kid opposite the ship called Mikyn 1 BP to keep an eye on the ship over a 24 hour period.

Intrigue at The Old Sword

Next to The Old Sword – have a bite to eat and ask if Old Mother Cloot is around. She’s retired to her family farm, and not available to meet. I speak with some dockers who advise that no one was able to get any contracts loading or unloading the Wave Sprinter. Laniel Danly – a merchant in need of aid approaches us – kids have stolen a crate. We speak with Devas and find out where Braern’s office is.

Picking through the Warehouse

At the site of the warehouse fire we meet Adressin, a teenage leader of a dozen of the street gang. We strike a deal for 1 SP for information on whatever happened to the missing crates. A few hours before the fire started he saw Olver loading multiple hand carts with four crates en route to Twelve Bridges district. Adressin and the kids head off towards Twelve Bridges – in the pocket of Olver? If Adressin is paid by One Thumb, then we need a plan to avoid an ambush by Olver tonight, since we told Adressin where we are staying.

A Strange Night at The Old Sword

At the Old Sword we plan a defensive position in the common room and await One Thumb. We also plan to speak with Sherl as she frequents the Tavern to meet Thuro of an evening. We book the whole upstairs common room and notice a hidden 15’ x 3’ area at the end of the common room that we can’t get into. When Sherl arrives, Sylke successfully charms her and she believes he is her best friend. Sherl provides some corroboration of our current knowledge: One Thumb doesn’t appear to be affiliated with the Gargoyles; Adressin believes Braern torched the warehouse himself. After questioning Sherl, we explore the hidden area in the common room and notice some weird movement in the colored glass of the windows. When was this building constructed? What was it originally? We also spot a trapdoor in the ceiling, secured by a simple rusty padlock. Sylke descends back to the common room and her charmed friend is asked to pick the lock of the trapdoor. She bypasses the lock very effectively before departing. This allows us to clamber into the roof space. We lever a board off the fake attic wall and uncover stairs down, with a Essænce enhanced mirror at the top. The mirror is covered by a drape, but it shimmers, appearing almost to reach out for Sylke as we manage to hold her back from attempting to walk through it. Sharna had a very poor night sleep in the common room; that mirror (portal?) must be the culprit.

Questions

As the early morning tide is about to turn, Miklyn runs into the common room and tells me the Wave Sprinter is sailing, headed for Lethys, with a crew of perhaps 24 mercenaries – I run over and speak to the Captain. Cutter doesn’t want to talk and ship sets sail. Curses, I should have enquired about the four crates. Miklyn is dispatched to get Adressin and meet us at lunch time in the Old Sword. Back in the tap room we meet Adressin. It transpires that Olver used to work for the Red Dragons (street gang of enforcers), but now has a better paying boss. Adressin also tells us that the body of the night watchman was recently dragged out of a canal in the North District.

Braern’s Office

The afternoon sees us outside Braern’s office where we exchange courtesies with an irate customer, Pavao, a Loar Elf. “I warn you gentlemen, I warn you! That knave is a very weasel when it comes to contracts. Unlife take him! In good faith but against my brother's wishes I leased him one of my best hand carts and how does he return it? Shocking state, absolutely shocking! .. my handcart was covered in wax. Bright green wax! Pfah … you do business with that scoundrel at your own risk gentlemen!” Braern is dressed poorly, with uncharacteristically expensive shoes. Ugnan pulls off a master-stroke as he poses as a merchant with some spoiled ‘specialist crops’ that he needs to disappear to avoid losing out on missed contract. Baern confirms he’s a filthy smuggler. Ugnan enquires about One Thumb, and Braern pales before blurting, Edyrm Crahana is the man responsible for the firing of his warehouse. “That man! That man … he has done his best to drive me out of the North Delta for months now! Not content with stealing some of my best customers he now burns my warehouse! Proof? I don't need any proof! It was him! I know it was!” We pay Edyrm a visit and he denies that he has any involvement with torching the warehouse. Edyrm reckons the warehouse was deliberately burned down and comes across to all of us as genuine. “Burn the place down and get into trouble with some of the big fish in this city? No way … look, it was most likely an accident. The night watchmen that Braern uses are non too bright and like their grog. Besides, you ask anyone about Braern's busness ' and they'll tell you he was in trouble. Risky stuff smuggling, and he'd lost a packet on some timber imports I hear. I reckon he torched the place for the insurance. Who'd you say you work for? Tell him, he'll get his money when the Braern collects the insurance.”

Next steps

To the Twelve Bridges District to try and retrieve the crates and confront Olver. Investigate that weird mirror.

Report Date

27 Apr 2018

Primary Location

Sel-kai