06 The Negotiator

The trio march their prisoner back to Yan's, hoping he'll cooperate with their investigation. The piskie is reluctant at first, but with some threats from Mickyl and some physical "encouragement" from Dette, he tells them what happened. The device he was using at the game "manipulates mortal emotions", and he was instructed to use it at ten different sporting events, eventually hoping to shut down a professional game. When pressed further, Konaz reveals that he was indebted (and Contracted) to a mysterious figure to perform these actions as a way to pay off his debts incurred in a high-stakes poker game. Burble also notices Konaz has a distinctive tattoo: the mark of the Unbroken Circle. Not sure if they can believe Konaz's story, the piskie tells them he was picked up by a limo in front of another Ottawa freehold, Lutte.
Lady Jenwy pops into the Crease for a moment, dressed very dramatically in belts, gloves, and heels (a far cry from her usual attire), and makes it clear that no prisoner should want to get on the bad side of an UnSeelie noble like herself. Burble follows her, wondering if she also has a meeting... but Lady Jenwy tells him she's just "not a very good knight".
Meanwhile, Bo takes Konaz to a room in the freehold where he'll be a "good guest" for 24 hours (Contracted by Mickyl, naturally); Crow is horrified by the notion of having to eat more protein until he discovers Dette's whey powder. The trio head for Lutte, hoping to corroborate Konaz's story. As they arrive, they meet Chul, an enthusiastic Korred -- the exceedingly rare kith delights Burble, and the trio are able to learn that, indeed, a limo has been showing up at the freehold every Saturday to whisk Kithain away, with a gorgeous Satyr inviting them in. 
Lutte, located through a door in the theatre of Canada's War Museum, is a freehold dedicated "not just to making you better... but to advancement", as barked at them by the entrance's guard, Wumbletums. Wumbletums, despite the silly name, is a battle-scarred boggan who offers sugar cookies as the trio go up to the "Commander's" office. "Buzzcut" June Bond, a beautiful, graceful troll, presides over Lutte after having been awarded for, and respected in, the Accordance War. She immediately realizes that the assault on athletics in the city must be part of a larger operation, and agrees to help them, using Chronos to confirm the limo's existence outside the freehold. 
As the trio plan to tail or ride along with the limo when it next arrives, Burble excitedly asks Dette, Mickyl, and Themis if they want to see his Thunder Cannon. The treasure, constructed by the boggan, essentially functions as a weapon using Gimmix, briefly levitating an object before launching it. One ball, and one peanut-butter sandwich, are the casualties of Burble's weapon... although perhaps more combat is not far off in their future.
Category:CRW-Ep