Rectors:
290.819.M41 - After requisitioning an Aquila Lander from the Ordo Hereticus, they fly it to Gunmetal City. This 4 billion person city is a hive built into the basin of a super volcano. Heat from the lava fuels the foundries and manufactorums at the bottom, with the rest of the hive sitting above.
Landing on the upper hive, they begin investigating the Haddon estate, trying to find a way in. They ask about any upcoming events, hoping to get themselves on the guest list, failed to ask people who knew of any. They discuss the possibility of challenging him to a duel. It would certainly draw Haddon out into the open, but could be fatal for his opponent. They consider getting hired on as servants, but are afraid that may take too long. After some time, they ask around again and discover that Haddon is hosting an event where he will showcase his newest designs. The event is on 231.819.M41.
Afraid to wait that long, they decide instead to try and access the mansion via the factory below. There is a cluster of elevator shafts which connect the two, so that the factory may glean geothermal energy off the planet and the mansion may sit with its peers.
Down in the underhive, humanity is packed, shoulder to shoulder. They swarm about the tunnels, work to home and home to work. After having a brief run-in with the local riff-raff, they move to where Haddon's laborers enter and exit the factory. A door stands locked. They wait until it opens and a mass of humanity exists, followed by a second mass moving inward. They quickly move through the door as it is held open by the laborer before them.
A man picks them out of the crowd and stops them. He is the foreman for the shift. He speaks privately with them, and points them in the direction of the factory adepts who are the record keepers and tabulators. My Burdens decide to bribe Adept Arkio for access to the elevators. He willingly leads them to the shafts and types the passcode.
The elevator ride takes a long, long time. When they reach the top, they are greeted by a servant in livery of House Haddon. My Burdens try to get the servant to bring them to Haddon, but the servant insists they go with him to the parlor and wait. When Cain tries to intimidate the servant, four gun servitors step out into the hall. They all go to the parlor in short order. The servant leaves to speak with Haddon. Sander stretches out his senses and finds that the books are actually down in the manufactorum, not in the mansion.
They get a message from Sage Zarkov, stating that Inquisitor Xanatov has requisitioned shuttles and is bringing them to Gunmetal City. Not wanting to wait for Haddon to make the next move, they show their rosettes to the gun servitors. Then they order them to escort them to the elevators, where they leave the servitors. Finding the elevators locked, Sander disappears and reappears inside the elevator car. Opening the door from the inside, he lets everyone in. They descend back into the manufactorums.
They follow Sander's guidance and descend another level, where they find themselves washed over with heat radiating directly off the lava. The red glow is the primary light source, shining on the steel catwalks dangling above. Some paths lead down to large mysterious objects absorbing and transforming the heat into electricity and large foundries melting down raw materials.
Haddon appears from the elevator shaft, leading a retinue of hanger-ons and four gun servitors. Sander guides them across the network of catwalks, onto one which is quite long and isolated. At the far side of the bridge are two industrial servitors, blocking their path as Haddon comes up from behind. They focus fire on Haddon while Cain uses his rosette to command the industrial servitors, preventing them from cutting the bridge supports. As Haddon realizes he is losing the pitched battle, he retreats to grab an RPG launcher, which he aims at the bridge. Garvel knocks the weapon out of his hand and Sander deals the final blow.
After killing the lord, they loot his jewelry, weapon, one of his hands, and his head. using their rosettes, they order the gun servitors to guard their backs as they cross the bridge. They find a number of draftsmen working on blueprints for various weapons. Cain orders the men on the ground, and they obey. Finding Haddon's office, they go in, unlocking it with the still warm hand. Inside they find the books, one opened up on a diagram of a pistol. As they leave, Cain grabs all the blueprints.
My Burdens tie up a loose end as they drop Haddon's remains into the lava below, just as he had hoped to do to them. They leave through the employee exit cutting it open with a lascutter and welding it shut behind them. Diving into the crowds of the lower hive, they escape.
When they reach the Aquila Lander, they find Haddon's mansion surrounded by Inquisitorial shuttles. Inquisitor Xanatov has locked down the whole place, taking control until Lord Haddon can be found.
My Burdens return to the Tricorn and meet with Sage Zarkov. They debrief on recent events. Sage Zarkov takes possession of the books and blueprints. He and Garvel will look through them, looking for heretical technology.
295.819.M41 - They find three blueprints with heretical mechanisms, and destroy them. My Burdens, ever the resourceful, take the other blueprints to Cybry Victrix. They offer to sell them and Haddon's prized pistol for a fee. They throw in Haddon's Jewelry as well, as a sign of generosity. Victrix rewards them with a credstick and says that they can consider themselves Friends of House Victrix.
When they return from their meeting, they find a note at their private residence:
Dear Current Resident,
You serve your master well, which is unfortunate.
Do not interfere with my work again.
X
Until the next report
I am your eyes,
Oculus
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