Blurb

Coal, Ringo, Mordechai, and Glenburt orchestrated a daring prison break from Watchman's Hold, freeing Barry and a New Dawn operative Wyatt and escaping through underground tunnels to uncover a mysterious ship-watching conspiracy.

Synopsis

On a rainy autumn day, Barry found himself imprisoned in Watchman’s Hold after wounding a captain. For a week, he endured a small, dingy cell with iron bars and a hard-packed dirt floor. After a bland breakfast, Barry watched guards escort Wyatt, a New Dawn operative, into the neighbouring cell. Wyatt, dishevelled and defeated, had jammed his previous cell's lock while trying to escape. Barry, hardened by army experience, used Wyatt's token and a scrap of metal to work on the lock. Wyatt offered information about ship-watching and a tunnel escape in exchange for his release. Intrigued, Barry freed them both.

Meanwhile in the city, Ringo uncovered prison blueprints, and Coal secured a job repairing cell bars. Coal's abrupt manner and tool cart convinced the guards to let them in, with the captain hinting at needing a prisoner's confession. As Barry and Wyatt escaped towards the rear of the cell block, Coal began his work while the others searched for Barry. They found him, abandoned Coal, and Barry's lockpicking skills got them outside.

To Barry's frustration, Wyatt didn't know the way to the tunnels he had mentioned earlier. In an attempt to find information, Ringo used Mordechai’s suction cups to noisily climb up and peek into a high window, only to find a startled Overseer staring at him. The group rushed in, and despite Glenburt sharing too much information, they negotiated with the black-robed Overseer. He offered to give them the tunnel location and a key in exchange for his safety. As a parting gesture, Barry knocked him out with a vicious blow.

Evading pursuit, they dashed through the rain to the pumphouse. Inside, Wyatt finally proved useful, guiding them through the tunnels despite one wrong turn into a rat-infested chamber. They emerged at a hidden exit into the Docks District, salty air replacing the tunnel's dank smell.

Leaving the others at a nearby tavern, Ringo, in his usual eccentric state, fetched Agnis Moonshaw with tales of prison rats. Over a meal, Wyatt explained his ship-watching mission to Agnis, who allowed him to leave. The group discussed the meaning of the coming ships. Unconvinced, Mordechai and Glenburt followed Wyatt to a house in the artificers district, potentially uncovering more about the mysterious ships and New Dawn's plans.