Chapter 1 - Session 12

A Captain's Offer and a Captive's Secret

Events and Actions

(Note: The video and transcript for the session immediately preceding this one, which detailed the initial confrontation with Stick Stab and his gang, have unfortunately been lost. This summary begins with the events following that confrontation, filled out where possible by a recap the party gave partway through this session for a player who had missed the fight.)

The session began with the player characters comparing the level 1 abilities they had just gained. Cosimo demonstrated his growing command of illusion — stationary images and sounds solid enough to hide the party behind a false wall or disguise a stretch of terrain — along with a new knack for sensing illusions others couldn't and a minor ranged strike of his own to fall back on in a pinch. Riu described his lay healer training: stopping bleeding, mending broken bones, easing fatigue, diagnosing what ailed a patient, and the beginnings of study into prosthetics. Riu also mentioned investing further in his family's trade, taking skill with hoofed mammals as a nod to the Mona family's long history of horse breeding on the Plains.

Recapping the fight for their returning companion, the party reconstructed some of what had happened before the transcript was lost. Brief argument over whether Stick Stab should live or die collapsed almost immediately into fighting. The party barred the tavern door with a boarding harpoon while Stick Stab's companions tried to force their way in from outside. Knick Nab's opening blow swept Stick Stab's legs out from under him, leaving him stunned enough to surrender on the spot. The gang outside then opened fire through the window, forcing the party to board it up; the only casualty was a graze from flying glass. Listening past the barred door, the party made out that a separate group had arrived down the street and opened fire on the attackers in three volleys. In the confusion, Knick Nab slipped outside and recovered two pistols from the fallen before Stick Stab was dragged down into the cellar.

The main part of the session picked up in the aftermath of that confrontation. Stick Stab was taken down into the cellar, where Noddy shoved him against the wall and drove a blow into his kidneys before he and Mani searched him thoroughly: boots, socks, pockets, coat, and shirt all turned out, yielding two proper fighting knives and a coin purse, but no papers or anything else that might identify who he answered to. It was Mani who found something more — an invisible weight resting against Stick Stab's throat — and worked it free: a second Medallion, just as unyielding to remove as their own had been. Stick Stab seemed relieved to be rid of it, calling it nothing but pain and thanking Mani for taking it off him. Under further questioning, dagger drawn, a battered Stick Stab admitted he had found the Medallion weeks earlier while sneaking into the cellar looking for food — the same cellar where the party had found their own. Noddy then tried a bluff, claiming to know of another kid who'd once had a similar invisible necklace, and pressed Stick Stab on whether that kid had long red hair; Stick Stab took the bait, confirming the kid had red hair, though he couldn't say for certain whether it was long — it may have been tucked under a cap or wrap. Before handing him over to Captain Barrows, Knick Nab pulled Stick Stab aside for one last try at getting a name, but Stick Stab would say only that they were all dead regardless of what happened to him, and he never gave one up.

Soon after, Lieutenant Barrows arrived with a contingent of Marines — leaning on a cane, visibly favouring an injury, but composed and properly turned out. Knick Nab greeted him warmly, the two having history from an earlier rescue, and Werner was recognised alongside him. Stick Stab was brought up from the cellar and presented to Barrows for formal questioning. Mani, seemingly eager to impress the officer, kept up the rough treatment — striking Stick Stab hard enough to leave him stunned — until the boy broke down sobbing without giving up anything further; Mani then softened, fetching water and a rag and offering a gentler hand once the harder approach had run its course.

Barrows explained he had come looking for Knick Nab and Werner personally, and asked the party to recount what had happened. Knick Nab laid it out for him: they had traced the stolen documents to a cavern beneath a bakery and chandlery in Grunge Lane — the former hideout of the very gang Knick Nab himself had once run with before leaving it behind, which was how he'd known where to look. Alongside Barrows's papers, they had also turned up an unrelated parcel of documents, apparently by chance. Knick Nab admitted he had once told Stick Stab he'd be welcome at the Crow's Nest if he ever wanted out of the gang — an offer that, in hindsight, had only pointed Stick Stab and his armed companions toward where the party was staying. As Stick Stab was led away, Knick Nab pulled Barrows aside for one last urgent word: whoever had sent the boy might well be watching them even now. Barrows ordered Stick Stab and the recovered papers taken to Vice Admiral Codemar for further questioning, and thanked the party for their trouble. Stepping outside afterward, they found four of the attackers' bodies laid out where the Marines had collected them, a fifth having apparently fallen from the cliff while fleeing; a separate contingent of city guards could be seen approaching from down the street to help secure the scene.

He then turned to the party itself, asking what skills they could bring to bear. Werner stepped forward first, formally introducing himself and explaining his family's seafaring history and his hope of securing a Navy commission, his letters of introduction having been lost along the way. Cosimo followed, describing himself as a rigger and rope operator, well used to cranes and cargo work. When Barrows asked whether the party wished to join the Navy, Knick Nab pushed back — he wanted the personal satisfaction of hunting down whoever was really behind Stick Stab, not simply escaping the city. Barrows argued that the party wasn't yet equipped for that fight, and that leaving for a time — training, gaining experience, letting their trail go cold — would put them in a far better position to return and finish it later; he promised that if the mastermind were ever caught, the party would be informed and invited to witness the trial or execution. Mani spoke next, describing his family of sailors and merchants, his knowledge of keeping a ship quiet on a smuggling run (down to wrapping oars in cloth so they wouldn't splash), and his ongoing study of swordsmanship. At that, Randolph the Chronicler, who had been quietly taking notes throughout, stepped forward to vouch for the real martial skill beginning to show in him.

Captain Barrows then drew Randolph aside for a private word. Riu strained to catch what was said but made out only talk of dates and times, with Randolph repeatedly emphasising "one week" — a span that seemed to line up with how long the party had actually been in the Capitol. Returning to the group, Barrows asked after the two he hadn't yet heard from: Noddy offered little beyond knowing which way was north and admitting he could dance a little and cook a bit, while Riu introduced himself as a scholar who had lately picked up medicine, healing, and woodworking — including a claim he could build exoskeletons — and named his family, the Monas, the horse-breeding Plains nobility Barrows recognised at once for their loyalty to the Crown.

Satisfied, Barrows made his offer: passage out of the city and positions aboard his new command, the "Advance," for anyone willing to join the King's Navy. He admitted plainly that he currently had no crew of any kind, having lost his previous one to a mutiny, and that he felt he could trust this group after what he'd seen of them. He singled out Knick Nab for something more — a personal position as his steward — in gratitude for once having saved his life. Mani answered first, saying he was interested but would need to check with his current master — an unmistakable nod to Randolph, standing right there — before giving a firm answer. Knick Nab answered carefully in turn, saying he'd need time to settle a few small obligations in the city first, including with Burlyman, who had given the party room and board in exchange for labour; Barrows could spare him no more than until the tide turned the following evening. Knick Nab also asked about bringing personal possessions — permitted, and he was promised a footlocker — while Werner pressed about formalising his commission despite his lost papers; Barrows agreed to make inquiries on his behalf. As he took his leave, Barrows warned the party plainly that neither the tavern nor the city was safe for them any longer — whoever wanted them dead clearly knew where to find them.

With the Marines gone, the party turned to practicalities. They agreed it was worth telling Burlyman about the Navy's offer, and discussed slipping out of the city the next day through the smugglers' tunnels rather than risking the streets, reasoning that leaving a presence behind at the tavern would keep any watchers looking in the wrong place. Cosimo, familiar with the tunnels from his construction work, favoured that route and offered his skill at disguise if it came to that. Knick Nab was tempted to spend one last night out in the city but was talked out of it given the danger. They also sent Noddy's familiar, the seagull Pocket, to fly down and check on the gang member who had fallen from the cliff during the fight; Pocket found the body wedged halfway down the rock face but couldn't confirm whether a pistol — worth some two gold — had gone down with him. Searching Stick Stab's purse turned up eight silver, split among the party with two shares set aside for the group's shared fund, now standing at forty-four. With a little time and money left before the deadline, they discussed shopping for gear — weighing whether to venture into the city themselves or have goods brought to them at double the price. Knick Nab asked for a custom leather coat doubling as light armour, meant to be worn only when trouble threatened rather than as everyday wear, with concealed pockets sized for tools like throwing knives.

NPCs & Creatures

Stick Stab: Captured and interrogated. Roughly the same age as the party and more street urchin than mastermind despite his authority over the gang, he wore a second Medallion — found weeks earlier while scavenging for food in the same cellar the party knew, and one he seemed relieved to have taken from him, calling it nothing but pain. He confirmed the "red-haired kid" had red hair, though its length was uncertain. Broke down under pressure but never named his handler, and no papers or other identifying items were found on him. Taken into custody by Marines to be seen by the Vice Admiral.
Captain Barrows: Formerly Lieutenant Barrows, now visibly injured but composed. Arrived with Marines, took charge of Stick Stab, and offered the party positions on his ship, the "Advance" — admitting he currently has no crew at all, having lost his last one to a mutiny. Made a personal offer of stewardship to Knick Nab in gratitude for a past rescue, and agreed to look into Werner's Navy commission.
Marines: Accompanied Captain Barrows, secured the area around the Crow's Nest, and took Stick Stab into custody.
City Guards: A separate contingent seen approaching down the street as the scene wound down, distinct from Barrows's Marines.
Randolph the Chronicler: Present in The Crow's Nest, quietly taking notes throughout. Vouched for Mani's emerging martial skills to Captain Barrows and had a private conversation with him about "one week," partially overheard by Riu.
"Red-haired kid with long hair": Mentioned by Stick Stab as someone who might also have a Medallion. Confirmed to have red hair; whether it is truly "long" is unconfirmed, since Stick Stab only ever saw it possibly tucked under a cap or wrap.
Burlyman: The Crow's Nest's proprietor, who has given the party room and board in exchange for labour. The party resolved to tell him about the Navy's offer before deciding.
Pocket: Noddy's familiar spirit, inhabiting a seagull. Sent to fly down the cliff face and check on the gang member who fell during the earlier fight.
Vice Admiral Codemar: Mentioned as the person Stick Stab would be taken to. (The party heard his name during the trial.)

Locations

The Crow's Nest: The primary location for the session's events, including the interrogation of Stick Stab and the meeting with Captain Barrows.
The cellars beneath the Crow's Nest: Where both the party's own Medallions and Stick Stab's were found.
Grunge Lane: The cavern beneath a bakery and chandlery, the former hideout of the gang Knick Nab once belonged to and where the party first recovered Barrows's stolen documents.
The "Advance" (ship): Captain Barrows' new command. The PCs were invited to join its crew and report there before the tide turns.
The Capitol: The city where all events took place, including its network of smugglers' tunnels the party considered using to leave unseen.

Conflicts

Knick Nab's attempt to talk Stick Stab into naming his handler failed, forcing the party into intimidation instead.
Stick Stab was roughed up during the cellar search — Noddy shoved him against the wall and struck his kidneys before the search began — and again in front of Captain Barrows, mostly at Mani's hand, until he broke down sobbing without ever giving up a name.
The aftermath of the previous session's fight was evident, with Stick Stab's gang members confirmed deceased outside The Crow's Nest (four bodies seen, one reportedly fell off the cliff).
Recapping the fight, the party recalled that a separate group had opened fire on Stick Stab's gang from down the street in three volleys before Captain Barrows and the Marines ever reached the door — presumably connected, though the party never confirmed whether it was the same force.
Captain Barrows warned the party as he left that the tavern, and the city more broadly, was no longer safe for them.

Learnings and Discussions

PCs shared details of their new level 1 abilities: Cosimo's illusions, Riu's healing (and a new interest in hoofed mammals, echoing his family's horse-breeding background).
Another Medallion was discovered, worn by Stick Stab. He claimed to have found it weeks earlier while scavenging for food in the same cellar the party found theirs, and seemed relieved to have it removed, calling it nothing but pain to wear.
Aside from two knives and a coin purse, no papers or documents were found on Stick Stab that might identify who he answered to.
Stick Stab confirmed the "red-haired kid with long hair" has red hair, though its length couldn't be confirmed.
Knick Nab revealed to Captain Barrows that he had once belonged to the same gang that operated out of the Grunge Lane cavern, and that his own past offer to Stick Stab of a way out had inadvertently led the gang to the Crow's Nest.
Captain Barrows was promoted and given command of the ship "Advance," which he currently has no crew for after losing his previous crew to a mutiny.
Captain Barrows offered the party a way to leave the city by joining the Navy, citing the danger they were in and his own need for crew.
Captain Barrows made a separate, personal offer to Knick Nab: a position as his steward.
Mani said he was interested in the Navy offer but wanted to check first with his current master — Randolph, standing right there — before committing.
Captain Barrows promised that if Stick Stab's handler is ever captured, the party will be informed and invited to witness the trial or execution.
The party discussed the pros and cons of accepting Barrows' offer; Knick Nab wanted to stay and hunt down the people responsible rather than leave.
The deadline to join is before the tide turns on the next day.
Randolph the Chronicler vouched for Mani to Captain Barrows.
Riu overheard parts of a private conversation between Captain Barrows and Randolph the Chronicler, where the phrase "one week" was repeatedly mentioned by the Chronicler, seemingly tied to how long the party has been in the Capitol.
Werner asked about formalising a Navy commission despite having lost his papers; Barrows agreed to make inquiries.
The party discussed leaving the city the next day via the smugglers' tunnels rather than the streets, with Cosimo offering his familiarity with the tunnels and his skill at disguise.
The party discussed purchasing equipment before leaving, including whether goods could be brought to them at the tavern (at double the price) rather than risking a trip into the city; Knick Nab requested a custom leather coat doubling as light armour, for wear only when trouble threatened, with concealed pockets for tools.

Items Gained

Two pistols, recovered by Knick Nab from fallen attackers outside during the fight (no powder or shot for them yet).
One Medallion (found on Stick Stab and worked free by Mani; for now kept in his pocket).
Two fighting knives, taken from Stick Stab during the search.
8 silver pieces (found in Stick Stab's purse and divided amongst the party, with two shares set aside for the group's shared fund, now at 44).

Items Lost

None explicitly lost by the PCs during this session.