The Gala Begins

The Governor’s mansion was lit with candles and heavy with music, the gala in full swing. Upstairs, the Morgrave Six were briefly ushered into Governor Fireborn’s chamber. He lay pale but sharp-eyed, trading war stories with Kal over pastries and wine. His distaste for the press was plain. With little more to glean, the Six returned downstairs as the gala proper began.

Overhaul set his constructs, Midas, to watch the doors while Atlas circulated with drinks. Happy, ever cautious, slipped into a bathroom and began chanting the words for Detect Evil and Good, confusing passing guests who mistook her divine muttering for a fit.

M drifted into the entertainment, blending into the laughter and candlelight. Roto and Kal found themselves at the side of Jillian Perimeter, a merchant of no small influence. The conversation soured quickly, Roto pricking the man’s pride before Kal smoothed things over.

Happy fared worse. She crossed paths with Eliza Thornwell, the Marshlight Journal’s keen-eyed investigative reporter. Thornwell’s questions came sharp, and Happy’s blunt honesty gave her more than enough damaging quotes for the presses.

Fortunes Told

M sat across from Magda the Fortune Teller, who laid her cards in the cruciform spread:

• Centre: The Horseman

• Top: The Executioner

• Bottom: The Tempter (reversed)

• Left: The Seer (reversed)

• Right: The Missionary (Two of Orbs)

Magda’s voice was low and certain: “Judgment is coming. Death waits in its shadow. What you seek is not what it seems. The truth is already hidden, working against you. But your truth — you must carry it into the darkness to come.”

Whether prophecy or theatre, none could say — but the words lingered.

Press and Pipes

Elsewhere, Roto sought out Eliza Thornwell, challenging her pointed questions. When the exchange turned against him, tempers flared. Words became shoves — the assault on the free press already noted by sharp eyes in the crowd.

Then, with a clash of pipes and drums, the entourage from the University of Wynarn arrived. They were every bit as condescending as expected, laced with silk and arrogance. Their disdain for the Morgrave Six was open, and the Six took the opportunity to slip away into the night.

The Wynarn Camp Raid

Their destination: the Wynarn expedition’s base camp.

Roto moved like a ghost, unseen. The others, less so — spotted quickly by sharp-eyed guards. Kal ducked aside, vanishing and leaving only a half-eaten pastry behind.

Four Wynarn figures began ascending the lift toward the waiting airship. Roto slipped into the most luxurious tent and, with cold efficiency, began destroying everything inside. Books, notes, furniture — nothing was spared.

Happy, blade in hand, cut into another tent — only to find two expedition members in flagrante. After a beat of steel-clad awkwardness, she bound and questioned them, learning the real secrets of the expedition were stored in the neighbouring tent.

Roto murdered a pet pseudodragon and piled the camp’s books and notes high, setting them alight. Smoke roared upward. Happy emerged from her tent just in time to see Roto’s blaze consuming what might have been crucial evidence.

M hesitated between helping Kal or Overhaul. She turned toward Overhaul, who was already at work — locking down the airship’s bay doors with Arcane Lock. Overhaul then turned his tongue on two guards (“Reg” and “Not-Reg”), convincing them he was there to help put out the spreading fire.

Kal secured a sniper’s perch, ready for chaos.

Happy cut into yet another tent — this one occupied by a sleeping woman… and Roto, still at work.

Skyfall

The lift reached its peak. Three of the Wynarn figures leapt free, drifting toward the jungle floor under Feather Fall. The fourth extended a hand — with an imperious gesture, the bay doors of the airship yawned open.

And he stepped inside.