30 November, 847 IE - Charterhall
The Old Town Echoes were forced to divide their strength as two urgent matters converged: a mysterious midnight meeting at Luminous Park and a hostile incursion by the Reclaimer Circle into crew territory. While Boo and Eidolon moved to stake out the park, Cam led Crow, Freakshow, Nyx, and Watcher to defend the Clerk Street typesetters.
The Rooftop Raid
Cam’s team approached the alley behind the typesetters by sneaking across the rooftops to gain the high ground. There, they encountered a local runner named Tweak, who reported that the encroaching gang had already made their presence felt by roughing up Billy, Lady Sanders’ son. Observing the alley below, the crew identified twelve toughs led by a smuggler named Scratch. Notably, only three of the men were actual Reclaimer Circle members; the rest were merely hired muscle.
The crew struck with overwhelming force. Nyx initiated the chaos with tear gas, and Crow used a vial of ectoplasm to electrocute the fire escape, incapacitating four men at once. During the fray, Cam took a clean shot that killed Scratch, and Freakshow eliminated one of the hired guns in the print shop after taking the time to ensure the residents of the building had found shelter. As the Spirit Wardens’ bells began to toll, the crew made a hasty retreat. In a final parting shot, Nyx killed another tough with a poison dart; the man stumbled and died directly at the feet of a waiting Bluecoat. That officer was identified as Sergeant Bell, a man with a history with Watcher who was potentially paid by the Reclaimers to look the other way during the initial shakedown.
The Luminous Park Stakeout
Meanwhile, at Luminous Park, Boo and Eidolon watched from the shadows as the clock struck ten. At 10:00 p.m., a woman arrived at the designated bench, appearing visibly agitated. Judging by her hands and shoes, she appeared to be domestic staff for someone wealthy. Boo observed her closely and would certainly recognize her if she were ever seen again.
Attempting to retrieve whatever the woman was carrying, Boo sent a shadow to pickpocket her. However, the woman noticed the shadow as it crawled up her coat and screamed, a reaction that dispelled the shadow and sent her bolting toward the canal. Boo and Eidolon followed her across Charterhall all the way to the northern bridge leading into Brightstone, but they did not follow her into that district, as they were not dressed for such a wealthy area and feared drawing attention. They later returned to check the park, but found no clues, secret notes, or additional prints indicating anyone else had arrived for the meeting.
The Aftermath
As the crew regrouped, Boo and Eidolon reported passing a major crime scene at the location of the earlier fight. They observed Spirit Wardens clearing bodies while a tall, handsome Inspector—a rare incorruptible element in the city—was taking a statement from Sergeant Bell. While the crew successfully protected their “hood” and earned a boost to their reputation, the deaths of a Reclaimer lieutenant and a mercenary have ensured that Heat from both the Bluecoats and the Spirit Wardens is rising rapidly. The only remaining leads on Professor Lancaster are the chemical residue Nyx recovered and the abandoned carriage house in Six Towers.
