Interrogation of the Mayor

Summary

The Interrogation of the Mayor took place in Session 11 of the campaign, when the Thunderhog Leader privately questioned the Mayor of New Smoke in The Dressing Room. Safia intercepted the conversation using the stolen Ear Cuff Communication Device, learning that the Thunderhogs sought information about The Casket's location. The interrogation revealed the mayor as the "illustrious guest" the Thunderhogs had mentioned and confirmed the gang's desperation—despite the leader's public confidence about a deadline of "tomorrow's sunset," the mayor genuinely lacked the information they demanded. Safia relayed the conversation to Kat and Vasso through improvised hand-puppet charades, establishing both the urgency of a rescue mission and the Thunderhogs' bluster.

Details

During Session 11, Safia used the Ear Cuff Communication Device—part of the Communion of Whispers network—to eavesdrop on a tense exchange between the Thunderhog Leader and the Mayor of New Smoke. The leader pressured the mayor directly:

"We'll be gone as soon as we get what we want, this place won't matter anymore."

"just tell us where this thing is and we'll let you go."

The mayor's response showed neither cooperation nor knowledge:

"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know where it is. I don't even know what it is. Just. This is all pointless. Just leave."

The mayor insisted that if the information existed, cooperation would follow—but the leader dismissed the denial.

Unable to speak aloud without alerting nearby Thunderhogs, Safia used hand puppets to silently communicate the interrogation to Kat and Vasso. One hand gestured appealing motions while the other expressed ignorance, miming the interrogation dynamic. Safia summarized the situation:

"The mayor's in the dressing room with this guy and I think he's all bluster because he's telling everybody that tomorrow's the day, but it seems like he's no closer to knowing what he needs."

Participants

• Thunderhog Leader — interrogator, seeking The Casket's location
• Mayor of New Smoke — captive, claimed no knowledge of the casket
• Safia — eavesdropped via Ear Cuff Communication Device, relayed information to the party
• Kat — received information from Safia's hand-puppet communication
• Vasso — received information from Safia's hand-puppet communication
• Erin — present with the party during the revelation

Consequences

• The party confirmed the Mayor of New Smoke as the "illustrious guest" held by the Thunderhogs.
• The deadline of "tomorrow's sunset" established urgency for a rescue mission.
• Safia's assessment revealed the Thunderhog Leader's public confidence masked a lack of progress—the gang remained no closer to locating The Casket.
• The mayor's genuine ignorance about The Casket ruled out extracting that information through rescue or negotiation.
• The party gained actionable intelligence about the Thunderhogs' position and the mayor's predicament without alerting the gang to their surveillance.