Continuing with our Dusk City Outlaws adventure. See Part 1 and Part 2.
Day 3: Legwork Scene
Violet sets out to intercept Naomi Lee as she heads out to Lady Malindra’s to clean the panels. Coincidentally, the City Watch are out in significant numbers in the neighborhood to show law-abiding citizens that they are being protected. Violet meets the alchemist right in the foyer of her own home and convinces her that one way or another, she will not do the job for Lady Malindra today. With a mix of threat and coaxing, Violet stages robbery and vandalism then Naomi runs out the front door, yelling “Thieves! I’ve been robbed!” while Violet hightails it.
From her spot at a nearby cafe, Emilia sees a plainclothes individual flash a badge to the City Watch sergeant and take over the investigation.
Emilia had already arranged (spends one Influence) for one of Naomi’s legitimate clients, Bishop Milo Opus, to need to visit her this morning for special incense, so the Bishop shows up just in time to witness the robbery and to distract the agent of the Crown from questioning Naomi too closely. Mother Teresa (Pandora) is at the bishop’s side, demure. Emilia is eavesdropping on conversations.
Despite Emilia signalling Naomi to stretch things out, the alchemist assures Bishop Opus that it will take her very little time to prepare some incense. Charles Montesque, the Crown investigator simply observes the events without intervening.
After Naomi has finished and the City Watch leaves, however, the investigator approaches Naomi to ask her some questions. They sit at the same cafe where Emilia is observing, but Montesque’s questions turn out to be more about the Silver Chamber than the theft until he mentions how “convenient” it was that the specific reagents were stolen or destroyed. Soon, Naomi rolls over and gives up Violet.
Pandora, as Mother Teresa, stays with Bishop Opus and tries to gauge his opinion of Lysa of Rotwood and her blessing of the Silver Chamber. Once again, “Mother Teresa” stresses the agitation of her flock over the events, portraying them as ready to take forceful action. The bishop sighs, agreeing with her objections; he says he already spoke to Lysa of Rotwood about this and she resisted his gentle pressure; beyond this, he doesn’t really have the authority to forbid a blessing. He promises to try again.
A bit later after the bishop has moved on to other work, his aide tells Pandora in confidence that Lysa received a large bribe from Lady Malindra to conduct the blessing.
Night 3: Legwork Scene
Emilia gets a carpenter and stagecrafter to build a cart with the exact dimensions of the Silver Chamber panels which can be rapidly taken apart and reassembled. She intends for the panels to be disguised as the cart itself rather than in a cart.
Violet prepares a disguise and spreads a rumour in Oakheart, where the Van Der Greaves estate is located, that a new player (Gabriel Vega, the Bandit King) is in town and planning to assassinate Lady Malindra. She learns about secret tunnels under the manor; they are no longer used and have been boarded up but they connect with oversized sewers.
Pandora meets Lady Florimel and Charlotte Van Der Greaves under the pretense of attending a piano recital to warn her about another rumour, that commoners who are faithful of the Church are planning a demonstration to protest Lady Malindra’s unveiling of the SIlver Chamber panels. Emilia organises a small group of protestors in Oakhurst to provide verisimilitude. Pandora puts the fear of the unruly mob into Charlotte, who now plans to talk to her aunt about endangering the family.
Then Charles Montesque, the Crown investigator, shows up to check on the small protest, but doesn’t seem to spot Emilia though he studies the group as they eventually disperse peacefully.
To be continued…
The Reef 