2024.12.30 Session Notes

Chinatown

Characters: Daniel, Kevin, London, Sergei

Scene Investigation

• Sleepers went on their way assuming that the chaos was part of the festival show.
• The team spotted a man who was watching them.

Moon Wraith

• Moon Wraith tells them that Silvio was getting out of the illegal artifact trade to create a better and safer life for his daughter, Xian-Gang.
• Angry that after such a short time he’s getting dragged back in because he feels like he has to; it’s obvious they will use his child to get what they want.
• Moon Wraith clearly cares deeply about Silvio and is frustrated with his illegal activities, and worries they will get him hurt/killed. (Definite Romeo/Juliet vibes.)

Noodle Vendor

We halt his attempt at a quick departure when he sees Xian-Gang.

• Reluctant to tell us where he got the drum and who told him to give it to Xian-Gang, claiming there is nothing special about it.
• He is terrified that he’s going to get in trouble —ultimately looks over at the tea shop across the street after some veiled threats and bribery.
• We see the same man who was watching us in the street earlier, now watching us from a window table in the tea shop.
• The noodle vendor finally warns us not to play with the drum.

The Drum

• Looking at the drum metaphysically
  • It is fucked.
• Kevin and London both see brooms spinning out of control around a young man in a magician’s robe.
• The drum is acting like an Artifact with magic attached to it — like an enclave, but this is an object, a Relic.
• Magic is not emanating from the drum, but instead within the drum
• Drum is a “cage” for what’s producing the magic.
• London takes the drum around the corner while the rest of the party goes to the tea shop; leaves Xian-Gang with Sergei and his cat.
  • Slices it open and finds a glass jar inside.
  • The jar is sealed with a clasp-like stopper and contains a thick, black, glowing liquid. The same brooms spin around the jar that we noted when examining the drum.
  • This jar does not resemble anything they recognize.
• Chalchiuhtotolin thinks this is amateurish work that is beneath their notice. (He is so judgy.)

Tea Shop

Characters: Daniel, Kevin, London (late arrival)

Scene Investigation

• Daniel causes a big scene outside that leads to some metaphysical trauma for him, and is ultimately ineffective anyway since everyone can tell he is not really a street preaching type.
• The young man at another table keeps watching the group as they get settled.
• Everyone in the tea shop is clearly wary of him.
• The group does not engage with him initially. He eventually walks over and introduces himself.
• Sergei is outside with Xian-Gang during the conversation.

Michele

• Introduces himself as Michele, a current student and Philosophy major at the University.
• Has been in The City for a year and a half; originally, he’s from a small town in Southern France near the Spanish border. (Catalan)
• Looks to be roughly ~20 years old.
• Has on an odd, second gold-yellow shirt under his dress shirt.
• When asked why he approached the table, he expressed he was concerned for both Daniel’s wellbeing after the street preaching stunt and was worried about the “girl” who seemed to be at the “center of some chaos.”
• [There was a big academic/philosophical discussion about ancient history and their world view. These are my raw notes, since I was having said conversation. Not sure who said what or whether it is attributed to Michele or one of us.]
  • Acadians/Sumerians/Mesopotamians — the ancients maintained an interesting world view, ancient civilizations that fell; world devolves into chaos
  • “Find something good” and adhere to it
  • “Purify,” “Find the Essence”
• Recommends that the group talk to the Philosophy professor — Gregory Clay
  • Note: This is one of the names on our list of “The Great Teacher” resources — the one that Fadi was the most against us approaching.
  • The Philosophy Club — “The Seekers”
  • When asked why he‘d want to talk to us, Michele claimed Clay is an intelligent person who relishes a good discussion Kevin and London are “his kind of people.”
  • When asked about the drum, Michele said he got it from “Trenton,” who he knows from Philosophy club.
  • Trenton “sends his good wishes” to Xian-Gang
  • The Philosophy club meets at the library on campus on Wednesday evenings .

Open Loops

1. Examine weird sketchy bottle of goo.
2. Attend a Wednesday Philosophy Club meeting (library on campus).
3. Follow the Michele > Trenton > Gregory Clay connection.

Still Outstanding

1. Follow up on “The Great Teacher.” (These are Fadi’s initial recommendations, which came with a warning that this is a terrible idea.)
   1. Research ”Alchemy of the Soul” 
   2. Talk to “Ariadne”
   3. Talk to Gregory Clay
2. Visit “The Bowl” and get information about/from Will.
   1. Proprietor - Eddie Dreamtime - we have an introduction from Briana
   2. Wilhelmina (Will) - MMA fighter on the circuit w/Briana
3. “Asian Mafia” who might be involved with Candy production/distribution.
4. Maeve’s socials - can we find the streaming content?