Session 09: A Merchant's Favor
General Summary
The Ratcatchers, seeking a path forward into Lexica’s higher tiers, turned their attention to a name they had heard whispered in the dust-choked streets of Tier 1—Targos Vesh, a merchant who, according to rumor, had the means to sponsor them into Tier 2. Unfortunately, Targos had vanished somewhere in the Verge, a narrow, squalid alleyway pressed between the mountainside and a row of crumbling buildings. The place reeked of rust, steam, and desperation—far from welcoming, but exactly the kind of place where a man could disappear.
Relying not on coin but on conversation, sharp eyes, and a few well-placed questions, the Ratcatchers learned that Targos had last been seen heading toward a decrepit factory known as the Drip. Navigating the Verge’s winding corridors, they located the factory and began descending the narrow, rusted iron stairway within. Partway down, several of the group lost their footing, painfully tumbling to the bottom. As they gathered themselves, Ash Knife gang members sprang from the gloom, their ambush swift and merciless.
Though injured from the fall, the Ratcatchers fought back with grim determination, cutting down their attackers before pressing deeper into the labyrinthine heart of the Drip. There, among a chaotic tangle of pipes and flickering lanterns, they finally found Targos, battered and bloodied but alive. Nearby, they recovered a handful of counterfeit access passes and four much-needed healing potions, tucked away beneath some twisted piping.
Their rescue attempt, however, did not go unnoticed. As they began leading Targos out of the factory, another wave of Ash Knife enforcers intercepted them. The battle that followed was brutal. Both Sakuya and Tamla were struck down during the fight, and the tide threatened to turn against them. But the remaining Ratcatchers held firm, and with grit and desperation, managed to fend off the gang once more. The wounded were quickly revived, and the group made a harried escape into the night.
Still not safe, Targos led them through back alleys and broken streets to a hidden safehouse. There, as he recovered from his injuries, he explained he had been dealing with someone important in Tier 3, possibly a guildmaster, before the Ash Knives made their move. With thanks and a sense of urgency, he drafted a formal letter of sponsorship, enough to grant the Ratcatchers entry into Tier 2.
Wary of further pursuit, the Ratcatchers spent the next few nights in hiding, healing their wounds and waiting for the Ash Knives to ease off their hunt. With new papers in hand and their next destination now within reach, they prepared themselves for the ascent—and whatever lay waiting in Lexica’s upper tiers.
Relying not on coin but on conversation, sharp eyes, and a few well-placed questions, the Ratcatchers learned that Targos had last been seen heading toward a decrepit factory known as the Drip. Navigating the Verge’s winding corridors, they located the factory and began descending the narrow, rusted iron stairway within. Partway down, several of the group lost their footing, painfully tumbling to the bottom. As they gathered themselves, Ash Knife gang members sprang from the gloom, their ambush swift and merciless.
Though injured from the fall, the Ratcatchers fought back with grim determination, cutting down their attackers before pressing deeper into the labyrinthine heart of the Drip. There, among a chaotic tangle of pipes and flickering lanterns, they finally found Targos, battered and bloodied but alive. Nearby, they recovered a handful of counterfeit access passes and four much-needed healing potions, tucked away beneath some twisted piping.
Their rescue attempt, however, did not go unnoticed. As they began leading Targos out of the factory, another wave of Ash Knife enforcers intercepted them. The battle that followed was brutal. Both Sakuya and Tamla were struck down during the fight, and the tide threatened to turn against them. But the remaining Ratcatchers held firm, and with grit and desperation, managed to fend off the gang once more. The wounded were quickly revived, and the group made a harried escape into the night.
Still not safe, Targos led them through back alleys and broken streets to a hidden safehouse. There, as he recovered from his injuries, he explained he had been dealing with someone important in Tier 3, possibly a guildmaster, before the Ash Knives made their move. With thanks and a sense of urgency, he drafted a formal letter of sponsorship, enough to grant the Ratcatchers entry into Tier 2.
Wary of further pursuit, the Ratcatchers spent the next few nights in hiding, healing their wounds and waiting for the Ash Knives to ease off their hunt. With new papers in hand and their next destination now within reach, they prepared themselves for the ascent—and whatever lay waiting in Lexica’s upper tiers.
Report Date
09 Aug 2025
Comments