Session 04

Downtime

As the AC wait for the day of the secret meeting with the JIRA, they spend some time to rest and regroup. [Long Rest]

Usul and Dayne go on doing their usual rounds and chores, to check that everything is fine as usual. [+1 WATCH each]

Cedric spends some alone time in isolation and prayer, asking the goddess of Charity to guide and protect the AC in their future endeavours. A small ball of light appears in his hands... what could this mean? [Acolyte][+1 WATCH]

Sanmeria meets with Alyce to check on the orphans' situation, which leads to a very serious conversation [Read Someone] about Guild politics and the recent southward events.

Later on Sanmeria brings some butter-beers to Dayne and tries to talk about how it is to have family "on the enemy side", hinting at Dayne's guard brother. He doesn't open up much, only offering some ominous remarks about how lucky she is to not have to know.

Meanwhile Usul seeks Cedric's counsel about some moral qualms regarding the imminent meeting with the JIRA. They fight for a worthy cause, but are their methods acceptable? Or even effective?

The Long Rest ends on a peaceful note, as someone notices how even the harsh and dangerous surface world can be beautiful, focusing on how the morning and evening sunlight plays with the drops of moisture trapped in a big spiderweb sitting in the high branches of the Guild hideout tree.

The JIRA meeting

Back in a deserted Sietch Raha, the AC finally meet with Nour and Shams, the two JIRA representatives. Everyone plays their cards close to the chest, exchanging the least info possible before clear agreements are established.

Dayne keeps a close eye on Nour [Read Someone] while the jerboa "freedom fighters" explain how they intend to kidnap someone close to the Patrician, a close family member, as leverage to demand both money and new laws to improve the jerboa people situation. The two possible targets are either the eldest daughter and designated successor Heleesa (Sanmeria's older sister), or the two youngest children of the Patrician's litter, Tlino and Tlitli. If all goes to plan there won't be need for violence, but it's clear that if anything goes sideways the JIRA are more than willing, maybe even eager, to play rough and be brutal. They also let slip that they have already agents and contacts in place in the Patrician's palace.

All these bits of info upset Sanmeria who tries to press for names and more details. This in turn seems to upset the JIRA, forcing Usul to play diplomat and "professional criminal" [Sway] in order to rein in his comrade. Eventually everybody calms down enough to proceed. The AC get a day to decide whether to accept the job or not.

Lesser Evil

The AC regroup back at their hideout where a short but tense conversation takes place. Dayne is curious to understand [Read Someone] Sanmeria's unprofessional reaction to the JIRA plan, which in turn [he rolls a 1-6 and the World reacts by turning the move back on him] exposes him to Sanmeria's own brand of scrutiny.

In the end they all agree to follow Cedric's advice and accept the mission. Someone will do it anyway, so if we are the ones in charge at least we can stir things our way and be sure that everything runs smoothly. They also agree, on Sanmeria's insistence, to target Heleena rather than the children ... to which Dayn offers a pretty cynical comment that only serves to reassure everyone that kidnapping the eldest daughter is the better choice.
(the children would be better, they are two, if we break one we still can use the other :P )

Legwork

While Dayne and Cedric take care of sending the AC's answer to the JIRA, Sanmeria and Usul try to get ahead of the game by collecting some essential intel on the target.

As Sanmeria recalls [Recall Lore] her sister's secret love for flight, she sends Usul to scout [Intervene on upcoming Legwork] the surface-based providers of such a perilous activity. Riding birds is a sort of extreme sport mostly practised by daredevil nobles... the heir to the ruling power is definitely not supposed to indulge in, especially because her omnipresent bodyguards can't be with her up in the air.

Meanwhile Sanmeria puts her skills and knowledge to good use [Legwork] by going places, asking questions, following people and poking her contacts to learn all she can about the current life and habits of her sister.

As an end result the AC learn that Heleena still rides birds despite her father's disapproval. She does so from the Aviary, the nicest and most noble-oriented place where mice can ride (mostly) domesticated birds.

It also turns out that she got involved in a secret romantic relationship with Dandelion, the young scion of some noble house. He seems to have a fondness for gambling and a certain "pub" that is probably beneath what his status would demand.

This all only takes a few hours to accomplish, and by the time Sanmeria and Usul get back to the AC hideout with their intel, Cedric and Dayne have news too: the JIRA accepted their application and has fixed a meeting between the AC and their inside-mouse.

At midnight, at the old well near the Patrician's residence, they will know the face of the infiltrator.