Breathtaking Ballads, Tantalising Tarots and Carousing with the Caracuzza

## Discussing the Diary

* Reunited, there was a debate over the plan for the next few days
* At the crucible, the party split into two teams to sign up for the Gold and Platinum tiers, with Scribbulus as a voluntary medic — the event was at 2pm in two days time
* Agreed to make their way to the Mother’s Luck tavern, the HQ of the Caracuzza — searching for information on the Phoenix Armada, deciphering the letter, and finding out more info about the condemned Lawmaster
* The route passed by the Judicial hall and Dread Bastillion as well as poorer districts where the tavern lay

## A Fortunate Momma

* Everyone looked smooth going in to make a good first impression, Tamsin putting on a fabulous hair flick (and Scribbulus failing to imitate)
* Inside was a 3-sided bar at which many working folk were having evening drinks, a large door into a casino, and a smaller door flanked by two black-haired minotaurs
* Elyan developed a good rapport with the barman, Andreas, while Kunai scoped out a shadowy booth seating two well-dressed humans and an elf drinking from nice glassware
* Elyan put on an impressive crowd-pleasing performance of shanties and power ballads, offering the tavern a cut of the profits, while Tamsin did the same with a series of tarot readings, culminating in her performing for and impressing the ‘Cousin’
* Before bed, Elyan and Scribbulus scoped out the city as a swift and flying snake, noting the enormous amphitheatre with executioners block already assembled

## What’s the Story Morning Gore-y?

* The room door was opened directly into the face of a minotaur, clearing waiting for everyone to rise
* This entire subsection is for the title. That’s the whole thing.

## Gab with Gabz

* The minotaur led them downstairs and into chambers below the bar, where they met a large wizened turtle female sat behind a desk, who introduced herself as the ‘Auntie’, Gabrielle Caracuzza — ‘Well I hear you wish to speak with me’. The group put several questions to her:
* Information about the encampment of Yuan-ti and slavery:
	+ She made clear that she thought that slavery was abhorrent, but that t’d been on the rise recently — other events include a slavery ring busted in ramsdale, almost certainly linked to Krennick, plus cases in Merchendale and in Orrinshires. The culprit in ramsdale was a toymaker, but his current whereabouts was unknown to her.
	+ Kunai passed her the letter and asked if she could decipher it with the only clue being a female elven pirate (of the orange variety) known as ‘R’ — she agreed that deciphering this would be of benefit to all of Iysgarth and that the clues they had at least narrowed down the possible solutions

* Information on Krennick, which neither the Orders of Jazirian and Platinum Dragon knew anything of:
	+ She told them that the case was being kept incredibly private, even her ears in the judiciary had heard little, they just peddled the populist line that it was to defend the empire

* Information relating to Werri, Archmage Draxias and the Phoenix Armada:
	+ She agreed to check the Caracuzza records and make enquiries
	+ Draxias ink to Mephistopheles

* Then, Gabrielle proposed a bargain — in return for information and deciphering the letter, the group must do a job for the Caracuzza.
	+ Lord Billingham Cosby (Westgate) is a real asshole employer, with factories of slave-like conditions in which dozens have died - they wanted to turn these over to the workers
	+ To keep them on the right side of the law, he needed to sell his factories legitimately, which involved him being indicted and charged
	+ The group’s task was to place in his home a tax ledger that showed he’d been swindling the government, so that a tip-off would prove his guilt
	+ She also knew that his home would be empty (at least of him and his wife) in 2 and a half days time
	+ The group took the assignment and as part of this arrangement, Tamsin persuaded Gabrielle to write up a document that supported the group in purchasing magic items in the city