The One Where Someone Else Took The Fall

The conflict between the Red Sashes and the Lampblacks has gotten too loud. With the Crows unable to keep the two gangs in check and with violence spilling over to all corners of the district, the Bluecoats have arrived in force.

Leaving their places of pleasure and indulgence, Aitrus, Nor and Kali are picked up by Bluecoats and dragged off to the warehouses of the Docks for questioning. There they meet Kota, a mid-rank Bluecoat who is tracking those behind the attack on the Second Step. The deaths of that first score reached far beyond the district, and with the current problems in Crow's Foot, it's given the Bluecoats more than enough encouragement to go in and start laying down the law.

Now Kota is a practical man. He wants answers, but they don't have to be the honest ones. Sure, if he knew he was speaking to the crew who was actually behind the score he would have you all strung up, but he doesn't. Instead he's looking to pin the blame on a new player that's affecting the Bluecoats on the canal, a small group of smugglers called the Fog Hounds.

Leaving their interrogation, the crew makes a plan to frame the Fog Hounds for the attack. They discover that the Fog Hounds are currently docked in Tangletown and even though it's certain death if they're discovered working on neutral ground, they decide to make the play there where they'll be least expected. The other complication comes from a warning from the demoness Setara that the Crowfather makes his home in Tangletown and to watch out for him.

The crew makes their way by boat from their lair to nearby Tangletown where they easily spot the Fog Hound. Kali climbs up the side of the boat and disappears into the vessel, finding himself surrounded by the snoring, burping, farting forms of a dozen sailors. He makes his way through the vessel until he can plant some evidence in an officer's sea locker. From there he makes his escape.

The crew is almost away when they notice a crow watching them. Nor attunes himself to the crow and finds that it is one of the Crowfather's. More importantly, he finds that the Crowfather does not see through the crows directly but gives a piece of himself over to the crow. It's only when the crow returns to the Crowfather that he'll gain their knowledge. Nor channels arcane power through them and explodes the crow. Aitrus and Kali quickly paddle their way back to the lair.

The next day the Fog Hounds are all arrested and their vessel is impounded to be sold off to a competitor. It's a sure bet that when they're out of prison, they'll be looking for blood. But who isn't, these days?

The One That Didn't Work Out

In the fallout of the crew's score at the Second Step, the Lampblacks push their attack on the Red Sashes. A group of young students from the sword temple are ambushed and immolated by Lampblacks throwing molotov cocktails from the rooftops following an attempt by the Sashes to intimidate local Crow's Foot residents.

In response to all this, the Bluecoats arrive in force. Provisionally here to represent Doskvol as a city, it's an open secret that the Crows have welcomed the support. The Bluecoats search for the culprits behind the Second Stair score. That event hurt a lot of big players in town, and someone needs to hang for it. The Bluecoats don't care who as long as someone fits the noose.

While all of this rages on, Nor and Aitrus decide to look for a way to expand their territory. After consulting with their demon acquaintance, Setarra, they find the right target. Setarra points them towards some turf held by the Red Sashes. A speakeasy at night, a numbers shop by day, this basement under a Skovlan cornerstore is what comes up. Nor and Aitrus survey the area along with the help of their nameless ghost friend who reveals that she doesn't remember her name.

A number of street kids act as runners for the Sashes. They hang around outside the shop. When the nameless ghost scouts the inside of the store, Aitrus and Nor notice the familiar look of shock as one of the children perceives the ghost. A potential future Whisper, if they live that long. When the ghost returns they discover another way in through the sewers. The pair go to investigate.

Unfortunately, their investigation runs afoul of some loading and unloading going on at the back of the operation and both Aitris and Nor are discovered and badly injured. Nor is stabbed in the gut and Aitrus is shot in the chest. Aitrus manages to find a ghost door and escape with Nor. After limping back to their lair, they spend the next few days healing under the eyes of a paid physicker.

The Bluecoats, catching wind of this, investigate and question Setarra. She doesn't give up the crew, but between this and the survivors of the attack at the speakeasy, the Red Sashes are on alert and the heat is rising for the crew.