"UP THE RIVER"
Iron and Glass, Part 1

 
Characters
Gier, A Banik Aristocrat
Shar, Gier's Ilanic Yojimbo
Dr. Taladari, A Hynerian Scientist
Feather, A Luxan Dancer
Czubay, A suspicious Nebari Freshman Councilor
Vayna, A lethargic Delvian
Ichar and Chado, Biraen antiquities merchants aboard the Riverking
The Temoi, Spider-Gnomes, Crew of the Riverking
4 Vendekim, Black-furred feline conspirators aboard the Riverking
The Arixians, farming Tannot root
The Isvaan, A subsurface species
Councilor Oran, An Ilanic Diplomat, an old friend of 'Gier'
Officer Kabaal, A bored Peacekeeper
 
Act 1

Feather, Taladari, Ichar, and Chado discover that Gier's ability to dissemble is prodigious when the Banik wins several hundred currency pledges in only a few hands of an unnamed card game. Shar watches closely but observes no cheating. Later that night, in Riverking's cargo net, Taladari discovers crates marked only with a symbol he does not recognize. The crates hold samples of a strange tuber... which he ingests, only to find that this root causes an explosive trip to the head.

Czubay has a gut feeling that Taladari is up to something, and is unable to shake his cop's instinct to watch him closely. He does so, remaining undetected in the shadows. Vayna meditates off-camera.
 
Act 2

Gier and Taladari discuss a possible business partnership. Taladari speaks with what passes for a captain among Riverking's strange Temoi crew. He asks about the crates, and quid pro quo leaves Taladari as the crate's delivery frog. Feather sneaks around the boat, listening for interesting conversation, overhears nothing but the Vendekim continuing to plot against one another.

Czubay continues to surveil the hynerian. Vayna meditates off-camera.
 
Act 3

The Riverking arrives at Mozay City. We see our first glimpse of Downside as Gier, Taladari, Feather, and Shar deliver the crates of strange tubers to a warehouse manned by Officer Kabaal. Taladari and Gier haggle over a price for Taladari's new laboratory, where he plans to examine some samples of the root. Taladari confirms that the refined root produces an oil that could fuel large weapons. Gier speaks with Councilor Oran, and decides to travel to Prendam spaceport to use its scanners, hoping to determine if military vessels are already in the Mosaic system.

Czubay reports to the Council and is assigned to his first commitee. Vayna meditates off-camera.
 
Act 4

Czubay attends his first commitee meeting, and is distressed to find that none of the other councilors assigned to the committee have bothered to show up. Uncertain of what to do, his cop habits set in, and he begins looking for Taladari.

Vayna awakens from her meditation (off-camera) to find her friends, Feather and Taladari are gone.

Gier, Taladari, Feather, and Shar are forced down over the Bal Enclave by 2 PK Prowlers. Their rented air car is wrecked by the landing in a dense, ancient forest. The Prolwers set down nearby and 4 commandos disembark. A chase and a fight follow, leaving the peacekeepers dead and wounded, and the characters unsure who they are and why they attacked.