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?