Session 00 Report: Breaking the Ice

The scene opens on a cold, bright winter day in the middle of New Reet City's Central Market district. It was halfway through the last week of Ahldyn, 1594 MY, and the district's Midwinter Market is in full swing. Stalls with games, goods, food, and drink litter the cobbled and snow-covered plaza. The crisp air is filled with performing carolers, interrupted by the cries of glee from playing children and the shouts of vendors hawking their wares. The distinct scent of a potential snow occasionally drifted into focus amongst mouthwatering smells of roasting nuts, baking pretzels, and mulling wine.

Keeping the the city safe during this busy time, NRPD Officers Ashoka "Shoke" Nakato, Brand, Draylen Ravawynn, & Fulgur "Gyrm" Gyrmrhazzad patrol their assigned posts at the western square of Central Market, overseen by their Corporal, Karl Hendricks. Partway through their day though, the cheer and relaxed atmosphere start to edge in. Officer Ravawyn heads into one of the stalls, where a middle-aged human woman happily plucks at a balaika to the tune of some nearby carolers, amidst her other instrument wares. She picked up and started to play around with one of the hurdy gurdies only to twist its crank a bit too hard, locked for display purposes, and snap it off. She apologized, saying she's from NRPD and the vendor can send a bill to their office for compensation. Anger only partially quelled, the bard continued to shoo her out and send her on her way.

Meanwhile, Officers Brand and Shoke keep on their patrol and smell the distinct stink of cramweed wafting out from one of the nearby alleys. They split up in a pincer maneuver from either side of the alley, discovering some delinquent teens poorly attempting to hide their hand roll. The Officers settle for intimidating the kids into handing over their joint running off, opting for the holiday spirit of letting them off with a warning.

The afternoon rolled on and the sky started to dim, cuing the market's snow-topped mage lamps to blink on and their light to reflect brilliantly off the many silver snowflake and more colorful ornaments decorated about the stalls and trees. The Officers regrouped over some mulled wine as their shift came to a close, only to be greeted by the NRPD Captain from precinct CM-1, aka NRPD HQ, Hyustus Stagette. Captain Stagette noted that he had his eye on this squad and their stand up work of late, and was curious if they'd be interested in performing one last, albeit more casual, job for the evening. An acquaintance of his, Victoro Castelin, was hosting his annual Midwinter Gala at the Castelin estate in the Marble Steps district. This year he had invited a fairly popular operatic bard named Aria Cavatina to come and perform so it was sure to be something not to miss, but he also wanted a bit extra protection and called in a favor from Stagette. The work would be likely be light and come with a show and refreshments. The party agreed and everyone headed off to the Castelin estate to get prepared and post up for the performance.

The officers met with Victoro, his wife Ammalia, and their daughter did some cursory patrolling of the performance hall at the estate before settling into their chosen posts to watch the small crowd and performance. Aria's voice was beautiful and captivating as she broke out into a song in Celestial. She sang without any instrumental accompaniment, though it gave a quality of something akin to light bells or harps somehow spun into the sound. She concluded to a silent hall, breath stolen from the audience, before the silence was interrupted by a standing ovation.

About to begin her next song, an red imp suddenly flew down onto the stage from the folds of the curtain above and started attacking Aria. The officers jumped into action. Gyrm, positioned closest to the stage, swung out with his sword and deftly slew the imp before it could do any serious damage. The imp still screaming angrily as it was impaled on the sword, poofed into rotten egg-smelling smoke. Taking control of the panicked crowd, Captain Stagettes voice boomed out over the chamber calling for an immediate lockdown and investigation before anyone was allowed to leave. The Castelins had their staff check on Aria and tend to her wounds as Stagette commanded the few estate guards to block the doors while he regrouped with the officers. A Midwinter mystery was afoot.