Session 7: The Axes' Plot Uncovered
General Summary
In her sitting room, Kina Veslynd introduced herself to the party. After hearing their story and quickly conferring with a superior via magic, she offered them a chance to help further. Kina revealed herself as an agent in Vigilance, showing her Vigilance tattoo on her left thigh, and through her Vigilance contacts, was able to fill in the party on the Ebon Axes' plot.
Kina's golden poker chip was a magical means of teleporting aboard the Windward Serpent, a highly-secretive airship that fronted as a casino, but also boasted Temshai's best black market. Kina, thanks to her expert gambling skills, was assigned to keep watch for Vigilance on the goings-on aboard the ship, helping to identify possible threats to Temshai. The Serpent, however, was a relatively recent source of illicit goods. Formerly, the Ebon Bazaar, located beneath Rasharan in the Subtide Nexus, was Temshai's black market. With the advent of air travel, however, the Windward Serpent became a much more accessible source of goods than the Ebon Bazaar. The gold poker chips provide a means for sanctioned guests, who have passed a background check and have no connection to the Ebon Axes, to teleport directly aboard the Windward Serpent.
Vigilance has heard of a rash of thefts targeting gamblers taking place in the last few days across Temshai. The party's knowledge that the Axes were after her poker chip, and were also responsible for the tram explosions, Vigilance has connected the dots. By restricting travel by tram, the Axes seem to be trying to push travel back into the Subtide Nexus, and no doubt, an attack on the Windward Serpent would soon follow, as disabling it would leave the Bazaar as the primary large-scale black market again.
Kina asked the party for some time to talk to her Vigilance superiors again, as well as to Talienne, the owner of the Windward Serpent. In the meantime, the party was free to spend time in Kina's house or in town while she made arrangements.
After a bit of shopping, the party was magically summoned back to Kina's house. A few blocks away, they heard the sounds of footsteps and heavy sniffing approaching. Ducking into a side street, the party was accosted by four guards in the Hexalian Order with two giant dogs. One of the guards was holding the scarf Rome had given to one of her dwarven fans earlier. Despite Rome and Ogvai being disguised as females, the guards places them and Doug under arrest, letting Tamugar go, escorting the other three back towards the Eternal's Hand, Order headquarters.
Tamugar ran to Kina's for help, both of them running after the party, but at an opportune time, Ogvai dropped some ball bearings as a distraction and the party climbed on top of a nearby house. Some of the guards headed up after them, nearly killing Rome, while two others fired arrows from the streets, but the party managed to kill two of the guards; a third ran for help during the battle, and the fourth, realizing he was defeated, agreed to take the dogs and walk away.
Quickly ushering the party back to her house, Kina quickly teleported above the Serpent, returning with Rydna, a Serpent employee. Rydna gave the party some more information, asking that they use the utmost stealth and discussion, report potential Ebon Axe agents to the bouncers, and not engage in combat. The party was then brought on board the airship, directly into a suite with six bedrooms. Kina gave the party intel on the layout of the Serpent, staying in the suite as her face was too well known. The party was given clothes that would allow them to fit in with the wealthy clientele, and after changing, they headed out into the casino.
Notes
Takes place on YA 2269, The Panther, day 10
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