Tammerhawk has been elected speaker of the Order of Cyphers for two consecutive eight-year terms. Even though he is considered the most improbable of Riddleport's crime lords, the fact is he is also one of its most powerful. A skilled wizard in his own right, he also has the resources of dozens of other mages who have flocked to his order drawn by the mystery of the Thassilonian relic.
The Cypher Lodge is a grand structure of stone and timber situated in the affluent Windward District of Riddleport. Its position on a rocky crag overlooking the harbor gives it a dazzling view of the Cyphergate. Members of the Order of Cyphers may rent rooms at the lodge for a monthly fee. Non-members must pay a daily rate of 20 gp, which grants access to the Order's libraries and access to several of its scholars.
Tammerhawk joined the Cyphermages when he was young, sailing into Riddleport from Korvosa. His understanding of the political situation of Riddleport saw him rise to an advisory position with the Order until he was simply running things unofficially before the election made it official. He can be ruthless, but does have a soft spot for Chelish opera from his early life in Korvosa.
Yanmei was intrigued by the information she managed to gather. Chelish Opera huh? I think I remember a good aria. She muses as she steps up to a high-class inn. She requests a room and offers a few coin more to ensure extra privacy for her and her guests. With another coin and a sealed message, she sends a runner off to the Gas Works to inform the others of where Yanmei would like them to meet prior to the execution of their plans. The vishkanya retreats into the large inn room and begins to set out her ceremonial tea set. Yanmei uses the quiet time to recall a particular opera piece in which a young woman sings of her thrill and passion as she peels away the human skin from her husband's body to reveal the devil's form beneath. She practices the harsh Infernal pronunciation while she waits.
Kage is unfazed by the lack of reaction to his bluff. He produces a sketch of a serrated Saber, and he asks, "Do you have anything like this in skymetal? If not how long would a one off commission take?"
He muses, 'Their reaction or lack there of will be most interesting.'
Yamyra pulls Kage aside for a moment to whisper to him, "I want an adamantine gladius, but how are we supposed to pay for this? This s+&% ain't cheap."
Rumors and talk place Tammerhawk in the upper observatory as his favorite spot. There's a large glass dome, complete with astrolabe, and it's where he keeps most of his treasures and conducts most of his research.
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The dwarf studies Kage's drawing impassively. "Only two of these weapons have been made in our forges before. A sawtooth sabre, I believe they are called. We can indeed make one. The serrations are tricky. It would take a week at our standard commission rates. Three days at our expedited rate."
That is the upper observatory of the Cypher Lodge or whatever it is they call their guild house?
Kage pretends complete disinterest at the apparent uniqueness of the request and takes a while to inspect other samples of their work. At a whim he picks up a long sword and tests it's, wight before putting it back, "This starmetal Falchion is very well made, the metal is extremely hard and notoriously difficult to work with. I note the clean lines on the pommel and the precise chiseling of the fuller. I suppose that comes as standard here, but the thing that really impresses is this nioi following the blade's hamon. It must have been folded over two hundred times, even for an ordinary steel sword that would have been remarkable - but from starmetal? Simply incredible!"
He pauses for a moment before adding nonchalantly, "I presume an order, expedited or otherwise, comes with strings attached?"
That is the upper observatory of the Cypher Lodge or whatever it is they call their guild house?
The dwarf looks flatly at Kage and shrugs. "It depends on who's buying. Our best customers have extended lines of credit. It helps for those who need those expedited orders."
Sudden understanding blooms in his mind and Kage replies evenly, "Ah I see. So for example if Master Ormort was buying a matched pair as a gift for Mistress Vespid, that might change matters?"
The dwarf nods sagely. "Certain organizations have standing lines of credit. Like the folks who favor those blades you just described. Just sayin'."
Kage nods once, "So they will be ready in three days? Very good! Your reputation is well deserved."
Kage then glances at Yamyra, wondering if she has anything to add.
"I need a gladius as well, on the same account please," Yamyra adds.
The dwarf smiles and goes into the back. After a few moments he returns with an iron-bound box with arcane sigils inscribed upon it. Most prominent upon the top is the unholy symbol of Achaekek. "Said accounts are very well protected," he explains. "This is one of our ways to verify you have the authority to draw upon it. Please place your hand inside. If the box kills you, you do not have permission." He opens a small hinged panel and waits with a neutral expression.
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Eris infiltrates the Cypher Lodge easily enough in the guise of an initiate and is able to explore a sizeable portion of the building and grounds.
She is able to quickly learn that the observatory is usually closed to all but a few higher-ranking mages, although there are often scheduled sessions when lectures or experiments are conducted there. Furthermore, the observatory can be rented for a period of time at a fee plus an outline of the planned experiments.
Yamyra shrugs and thrusts her hand into the box.
The halfling feels a small pinprick and a drop of blood is drawn. She is then able to take her hand back out. The unflappable dwarf takes her order down on a piece of parchment and hands it off to a runner who disappears with it into the Gas Works.
Yanmei, having set up the room to her liking, begins to work on her alias. She paints a disguise to cover her overt racial qualities and to give her more a more fair skinned, dark haired look of a mixed race Chelaxian.
She's not impressed with the work, but it'll do for now. Now she needed to get word to the Cypher mage that an up-and-coming debutante is in town. Time to play she thought as she hailed a carriage and climbed in. "Tell me, driver...Where do the rich and powerful play in this town?"
"Not seen one of these in a while." says Kage as he too puts a hand inside.
Kage too feels the small pinprick and his order is placed.
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Yanmei is taken to a large, prosperous inn called the Mystery of the Gate. Its walls are covered with frescoes of the Cyphergate and the strange symbols that adorn the ancient structure. The inn itself is frequented by the Cypher Mages as well as adventurous types looking for quests and scholars to identify their discoveries.
Yanmei effortlessly introduces the rumor of the opera star arriving in Riddleport, tying it to the speculation about the Calistrians quietly bringing someone into the city recently. Within a couple of days, the geisha is able to have word spread amongst the Order of Cyphers. A few arias performed at the inn later, she has an invitation from Elias Tammerhawk to perform at the Lodge.
Kage nods to the Dwarf and remarks coolly, "A pleasure doing business with you." He rises and leaves, presumably with Yamyra too. On the way out he whispers to her, "That went better than expected, I wonder how the others are doing? Lets go see."
He makes his way back to a prearranged rendezvous point, a lazy cafetiere towards the north of the town, well away from the docks. He orders a coffee and settles down to wait for the other's arrival.
"Good work rookie. A renowned performer like (Yanmei) would not be traveling without an entourage. I will go in with you."
Yanmei attempts to hide her appreciation for Jon-Wyn's compliment, "Most certainly. The new Opera Diva, Giora Ilvester, will need an escort." she offers her arm to Jon-Wyn as the climb into the coach, "We should report back to our compatriots. Did you have an arranged meeting place?" She passes the location to her driver and they start off through the town to the north, "I should keep my visibility low. I will stay here in the coach unless you need me, m'lord" The woman reminds herself to keep the respect between herself and her superiors.
Jon-Wyn gives her the location of a different place. An inn a fair distance from the cafeteria that would be appropriate for Giora Ilvester to stay at. "We will go to this inn first. There we will remove our disguises or take on different ones and continue on to the actual meeting place."
When Jon-wyn eventually gets there, he notes Kage and Yamyra at a table casually discussing nothing of import.
On their table stands an ornate coffee peculator with a small oil lamp heating it. It's making a slow 'phuut phuut' noise and there is a most agreeable aroma. There are also a number of empty chairs and an equal number of bone china mugs. Kage's eyes never appear to leave Yamyra, but he pours some coffee into a mug and sets it down by an empty seat soon after you arrive.
Eris slips into the cafeteria, from shifting into her more recognisable form. "Well, that wasn't a total bust", she sighs slightly "It looks like you can rent the observatory out if you have a planned experiment ready, otherwise the building is kept closed to all but the most high ranking Mages."
Kage doesn't look at Eris, but he pushes a mug her way. If she chooses to drink, the coffee is very good. Bitter with the most amazing smell and a clean aftertaste.
Eventually he glances her way and notes, "I wonder if a sufficiently unusual experiment might attract certain observers? Something to think about." He drinks some of the scalding hot coffee and adds, "Yamyra and I have had a good day. Credit was better than expected, the merchandise will be ready in three days."
Day 1: Adamantine weapon orders placed, Eris infiltrates Cypher Lodge, Yanmei sets up persona as opera singer, Gafar researches alchemical golems.
Day 2: ???
Day 3:Yanmei receives invitation to perform at the Cypher Lodge.
Day 4: Weapons are ready for pickup, Yanmei's performance is scheduled.
Day 5+: ???
On Day 2 then, Eris will look at some of the high access mages that have exclusive access to the observatory, noting their likes, dislikes etc, and figures out if its plausible to seduce one of them, and use that to either gain entry under his/her say so, or purely to take one of them out of action and steal their identify, and gain access that way.
I was thinking the same as Eris. It would be simpler to get to our target if we have the passwords or passkeys.
If anyone is going somewhere potentially dangerous and needs a shadow, Kage is free.
You are able to take a good look at Tammerhawk's estate. It's a modest, walled villa in the Windward district -- the most upscale part of town on the western side of the river. Interestingly, it looks as though the gate itself hasn't been used in nearly a year, although the grounds look well-tended. You are unable to see any sign of guards or even servants, although after a little bit of study you realize the servants are invisible, or merely unseen servants performing their work.
On Day 3, you receive an invitation to perform at the Cypher Lodge. A bookish-looking Cypher Mage presents you with an embossed letter stating that word had reached Elias Tammerhawk of your performances and he suggests that the acoustics of the observatory would be preferable to that of a tavern. The messenger then informs you that he hopes to start with a private listening session so that you may be introduced, and then if the performance -- and the venue -- is satisfactory, then he would open the observatory to the other elite in Riddleport. The messenger awaits your response.
Eris is starting to feel rather frustrated, gaining access to the Cypher Lodge is hardly easy, even for someone like her. Eris hated passwords, but that didn't mean that they couldn't be bypassed.
Thinking logically, Eris decides to fall back onto what she knows for certain, that firstly, experiments were carried out in the Lodge, and it might be plausible for her to gain access via this way, perhaps as a volunteer. It was either that, or fake being a student and listen to a lecture, although Eris didn't like this option as much, leaving a crowded lecture theatre would be difficult, even for her.
Her second option is finding a high ranking Cypher Mage that could, and would let her through. Eris decided that the best way to achieve this goal, would be to find and be friendly with an existing high rankin Cypher Mage. If the man desired her presence, it was possible that he would open doors for her. Even if he wasn't so inclined to have her following along behind him, Eris believed it was possible to arrive at the Lodge unannounced, bluffing that she needed her friend. Curiosity might make him or any guards open the door for her, which could allow her to progress deeper.
With both option 1 and option 2 looking appealing, Eris attempts to put both of them in action, hoping that even if one option fails, the other option might bear fruit.
Yanmei pens a response to Tammerhawk and gives it to the messanger:
Lord Tammerhawk,
Your invitation to perform for you is most humbling. I am honored that a gentleman of your esteem would request a private performance. My schedule will allow for a visit in 2 days time. If it is of your will, m'lord, I will arrive at the lodge at 7 bells in the evening. My entourage consists of a personal guard and my manager. I ask simply that they be allowed to accompany me into the lodge.
In your service,
Giora Ilvester
After the messenger has left, Yanmei regroups with Jon-Wyn.
"I have received an invitation to perform privately with Tammerhawk. I believe we could get you and Mistress Eris in as my entourage. What should be our plan of attack for this?" She approaches Eris about this as well during their secret counsel.
The ideal mark in this situation will have a habit of writing things down so he doesn't forget them. Is there one like that?
With the others busy, Kage starts pacing in his room. The need for action was physical force, he felt like every step as winding him up further, like a coiled spring ready to snap. Eventually he grunts and mutters, "Can't stand this, got to do something!"
He slips out onto the roofs via a skylight, and takes a view over the city. The distant arch of the cypergate frames the bay in an awesome display of alien weirdness. Who created it? Why? Such things obsessed the cypermages along with the thought of those few in the know: where does it lead? 'Living here day by day, seeing that. Yeah I can see how that could lead to an obsession that would gnaw at you, till you'd kill for such knowledge. Irony is it probably leads someplace inimical. Kill to get there, die for being there.'
He takes a running jump from the hostel roof and lands lightly on a merchants house. He glances through a skylight window and sees a far bag of coins splayed out on a counting desk. He shrugs and carried on, 'Not my style, easy as it might be.'
He jumps onto another roof and another and another. He didn't have any particular destination in mind but after a while he notices the headquarters of the cyphermages in the distance. On a whim he head over to an adjacent building and finds a shady place to watch. 'The comings and goings might be enlightening. Yanmai may have found a way for some of us to enter, but Yamyra and I still need to get in. Perhaps we could pose as servants. I shall watch and see if any opportunity presents itself.'
The ideal mark in this situation will have a habit of writing things down so he doesn't forget them. Is there one like that?
Most likely.
Kage's stakeout allows him ample time to examine the building. He is able to observe a means of climbing up the outside of the building . Furthermore, at different times of the day, certain glass panes are vented to allow the cool ocean air inside. One particular activity appears that a Cypher Mage comes out onto one of the lower balconies and casts a number of spells that seem to keep the windows of the observatory cleaned. Another observation is that on occasion a large sea bird will alight on the eaves, and then suddenly die.
Ok. Jon makes effort to find a mark who has a habit of writing things down to help them remember.
Exhausted but well satisfied, Kage gingerly stretches his limbs to get the blood circulating again. At length, when the pre-dawn shadows are long, he retreats across the roof away from the Cyphermage HQ. Safely on the other side he jumps over to an adjacent roof, and lands in a deep pool of shadow. Jumping from one roof to the next he slowly winds his way back away from the docks.
He drops down to ground level in an alley choked with rubbish and casually walks out towards the cafeteria. He buys breakfast and waits for his colleges to arrive. When several of them are there he tells them in hushed tones, "I went for a walk and I found a few interesting things. Unsurprisingly the place is warded, the roof is no go. But they are human, creatures of habit. One little daily ritual is to magically clean the windows and renew wards from a balcony. Another is open certain windows for cooling.I suspect they feel secure, but their security seems lax. Somebody daring could climb up and ghost in."
Jon-Wyn is able to discreetly ask around and is able to learn that Mizrin Albo, one of the mid-ranking Cypher Mages, is rather notorious for taking notes and leaving them lying about.
Eris tilts her head to one side as she considers the offer that Yanmei has proposed. "That is a very kind offer Yanmei, and its entirely possible that we could still make use of it, but for now, I prefer finding my own point of entry, to limit the possibility that we remain detected".
Armed with her wide array of possible disguises that Eris can switch into, as well as her abilities in mind reading, Eris (I imagine), wouldn't find it particularly difficult to narrow down the field as in who would be attending, and then takes the form that meets the preferences of her target, as she attempts to gain access as a slice of arm candy.
Yanmei bows to Eris, "As you wish, Mistress Eris. Would anyone else like to accompany us?"
"Eris, I hope you will not take offense if I suggest you show an interest in one Mizrin Albo. I believe he has habits that could prove fortunate for us."