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Over the past week or so, evidence of destroyed automaton had been found. Due to their complex creation, it was impossible to identify them and made investigating their death next to impossible. Although tragic, many people thought this would eventually happen and tried hard to bring the murderers to justice. Sadly, the cases had yet to be resolved.

Shamse had an air of excitement as the Council of Brass began to convene. All the nobility had come out of the woodwork to attend the even. People from all over came around to witness the event and possibly get a glimpse of Axiama. Hushed whispers filled the air as the proceedings began. The first part of the Council began normally with the automatons declaring their existence and willingness to be free. Next they declared their intentions to compensate their former owners the best way they could.

The Council then took a recess to gather their thoughts and let people deliberate on thing they had just discussed. Unger met up with Fiona and informed he was going to be questioned about the events leading up to the automatons awakening. Nothing criminal, just stating the facts. He then invited Fiona to make out with him in a closet, which she accepted vigorously.

The couple almost did not make it back in time when the Council reconvened and Unger was called ot the stand. At first the questions were merely stating facts, but soon became a bit more of a hostile interrogation. Unger fired back with equal resistance and put the nobels in their place shocking everyone, Unger included. Before he was dismissed, he left the chamber informing them that they would know where he was if they needed him. But, before he could leave the room, there was an attack.

Gregory, the Mechanka Guild automaton walked up to Unger and shouted, “Death to the Eigenvectors and death to the Queen!”. He then began to attack Unger. Two other Automatons broke through the walls and began attacking. During the battles the heroes discovered that the automatons had been killed and their insides scooped out. Driving them were agents of the Eisenreich. During the battle, Axiama protected people from a blast and her avatar body was blown apart. The fight was quick and brutal but the heroes and Unger prevailed. Lazarius was not bothered by Axiama’s destruction because the body that was destroyed was merely a vessel and she would endure.

After a day or so, the group was then approached by Fiona’s Roommate, Savianna. She asked the group to help her with a problem she had. Her family Harrow Deck had been stolen and she wished to hire the group to help her get it back. A rotten fellow had taken it and she needed it back. The group agreed and set off looking for the criminal. After searching around a bit, they tracked him down to the docks.

Acting like a pimp, Atamu bluffed his way into the hideout with Deja and Fiona as his ‘girls’. They were able to get inside but eventually were found out. A huge melee broke out and their quarry escaped through a trap door. They finished the fight as best they could, but the thief was already rowing away. Quickly, they regrouped and tried to find a boat that would help them catch the guy. They found one, but another obstacle presented itself.

A demon that looked like a black goat appeared. This demon yelled at the group for spoiling his plans. He wanted to make the whole town into his murderous slaves, but they thwarted him at every turn. Now it was their time to pay. The demon and his two half-demon thugs attacked. The battle was tough, but as soon as the heroes started to win, the demon teleported away, promising even more of a revenge. Sadly, after all that, they had lost the thief.

Deciding to use their contacts, Fiona went to Marcax to locate where the thief had gone. After paying a considerable sum, he told them he had the guy locked in his room. They could have access, but do not get blood on his new Avanell curtains. They went to the room and saw their thief tied up, and he began begging for his life. They found the box and as Fiona touched it a mist swirled around her body and she began acting different. Apparently, the Harrow Deck was possessed by Savianna’s ancestor, Marmar, and she wanted to get out and stretch a bit.

Marmar was pleased with Fiona’s body and glad to be out of that stuffy old deck. Marmar promised to return Fiona, but was glad to be out. After quickly punishing the thief, the group was on their way to return the property. When they returned and Marmar left Fiona, Savianna cussed out her ancestor and apologized. Amends were made and Savianna promised to pay them all back with a special tattoo.

That night, the group was woken up by loud explosions and anarchy coming from the streets. They hurried out to see what was wrong. Their hearts sank with the most troubling news, Lord Cogwright, mayor of the Shamse, and Queen Elisabeth the Eternal were dead.

News quickly spreads throughout the town that the Eigenvector mansion has disappeared. Overnight, the mansion vanished leaving not much but well groomed grounds behind. When questioned, the guardian constructs simply say that they saw nothing, one moment the mansion was there and the next it was gone. The guild was perturbed that one of the greatest finds in their time has simply vanished.

Nothing seems harmed in the lands around the mansion and there was no signs of anything being there except for the security.

In town, Fiona took Atamu and Deja into the Temple of Axiama so she could find some sort of guidance. As she prayed, the automaton know as Lazarius appeared and knelt in prayer. The avatar of Axiama then animated her statue and came to life. She named him her paladin and walked off, beckoning for Fiona and her friends to follow.

She led them away and went to Unger’s workshop. Axiama gave Fiona some advice and Deja handed Lazarius the ‘Book of Bob’ she had made. The gift was well received and Lazarius began talking with Deja, the two of them becoming fast friends.

Axiama gave wisdom and let them know that she was there to watch over the Council of Brass and see how they proceed. Axiama also told Fiona that she was becoming ‘impossible’ and a creature of brass, blood, and bone.

To prove that they were ready to explore Dr. Eigenvector’s mansion, the group set out to explore a long lost lab of a relative of the good doctor, Advard Aldensmith. After speaking with Unger to determine the location, they set off to discover the lost Skunkworks of Advard Aldensmith.

With skill and luck they found the entrance to the Skunkworks quickly. They set off down into the depths of lab and ran afoul of a few traps. Damaged automatons still protected the halls and there were a few fights with them. Some of the cunning traps caught them by surprise, but they were able to make it deep within the halls of the Skunkworks.

Deep below they found the personal lab of Advard Aldensmith and a peculiar device held within. The device needed powering and the group looked around to find something to help. They found what appeared to be a medical room filled with skeletons surrounded by a strangely hot aura. They fought them off, but were weakened by the ordeal.

After the fight, they powered on the device which seemed to open up a portal, although no one went through to see. They shut off the portal and continued to look around. A section below the lab was vacuumed sealed by 2 air elementals that went crazy after being released.

They eventually cleared out the lab and returned to the town. Upon their arrival they found out that Unger had wandered off to look for them. As they looked for Unger it became apparent they he had gone through the portal at some point and become lost.

Fiona made it her mission to go after him.

A group of automatons are forming a group to help with their transition from construct to sentient beings. They are known as the Council of Brass. This group will help establish the automatons as a living group of beings and the rights that they should have. It will also try to figure out a way to best compensate their previous owners for any loss of property and inconvenience, within reason.

The Council of Brass recognizes that no one saw this coming and that their new found sentience could hamper some people’s lifestyle. The Council will try to find a way to make some kind of amends to their former owners. It is not the owners fault this happened and it would be unfair to just up an walk out on them. But, the Council of Brass will not tolerate any abuse of this sign of goodwill or any system they choose to put in place.

Automatons will need to find new ways of integrating with the world around them, and they will need to find their place in the world. The Council of Brass will help out any automatons and the people that they work with to find common ground and understanding. The Council strongly believes in establishing rights for the automatons by making new laws, or just refining old ones. The Council is not demanding anything new to be added, just equal consideration.

The leader of the Council of Brass is a huge soldier automaton named Lazarius. He has shown himself to be extremely fair in his dealing and very compassionate. Some claim he is blessed by Axiama herself. The diplomatic member of the Council is named Jessamine Leverworth. She has chosen herself to be treated as female. Jessamine is a butler automaton and is very find of humans and other races. She is excited for this opportunity to help many people and build a strong relationship. The final leader of the Council of Brass is Hapsburg, a worker model. Although he seems slow, Hapsburg is a very intelligent automaton that believe strongly in their rights as sentient beings. He is known to be blunt and to the point.

The Council of Brass are recommending a meeting of sorts outside the Eigenvector mansion, the place of their ‘rebirth’, to begin the process of being officially recognized in the world. It is important to them that things are made public and the correct rules and laws are put into place to protect them. Their main desire is to be recognized as living beings, and be left alone to pursue their own destinies.

Marcax approached the group to begin a discussion on duty, loyalty, and patriotism with the group. He was curious about their thoughts and stand on the whole concept. The next day, he came back calling on a favor that was owed to him. A woman named Abby Vivian Sackville has gone missing and he would very much like her brought to him. She is an important person and needs to be returned, regardless of her wishes. It is a very complicated situation and needs to be handled with care. He hoped that their status as ‘good guys’ would help.

As they left to seek her out, they were approached by members of House Durnadin. House Durnadin are a secret service of some sort. They handle matters dealing with nobility and affairs of the state. They inform the party that it would be in everybody’s best interest if they turn over Abby to them if they find her. There could even be a reward in it for them.

The group heads over to the Silk Scabbard, a brothel, where Abby is known to frequent. They met Alphie, a halfling bartender, and try to find Abby. No one seems to know where she is. After getting some information, they decide to go and try other places when they were approached by some thieves from the guild. They threaten to do Abby some harm if they refuse to back off. They name drop some nobles to help with their intimidation.

After their encounter with the thieves, the Watch approaches them and asks to speak with them in an alley. Sgt. Kingsford speaks with them a bit informing them that they are not in trouble, and he just wants the streets to be quiet again. A person named Osgood is in the black market and may be able to find Abby. He gives them a map and wishes them luck.

The part heads to the Black Market and encounters a kobold getting the business from three dark dwarves. They intervene and earn the kobold’s loyalty. The kobold helps them get to Osgood.

Osgood says he can help them find Abby. He mentions that Abby has a black book on her that details nobles deeds, probably not good ones either. He lets them know that they need a plan to deal with all the variable because this is a sticky situation. He gave them potions for emergency situations. He then sent them to the bathhouse, the most likely place that Abby would be.

No one is allowed inside the bath house with anything more than a towel. So, all of the equipment and weapons had to be checked in before entering. It does not take them long to find Abby, any description of her beauty would be an understatement and she did seem to have a face that seems familiar. Her smile and sparkling eyes could melt men and women alike, regardless of their preference. And she immediately began flirting.

From the get go, she was unwilling to entertain any notion of going back. She did listen to people’s reasons, but wanted control of her own life and did not want to be tied down by any one’s rules. But the book might have been too much and she would not mind help in getting rid of it. If they would just come back to her place, they could figure everything out.

On the way out, they were surrounded by a bunch of men demanding that they hand Abby over. Diplomacy went out the window when Fiona’s towel was snatched from her. The fight was on. During the skirmish, Al used his flames to burn one of the men down, forcing two of the guys to flee. The other guys were quickly beaten down and the group ran away to Abby’s hideout.

Back at the hideout, Abby reveals that she hid the book in Alphie’s room. Fenris valiantly volunteered to go get the book, by any means necessary. The group stayed behind and tried to figure out how to get out of the situation with all of their troubles. They discussed many ways but could not reach any sort of agreement, but most of them were pretty sure that Abby should not be forced to go back to Marcax or anyone.

Deciding to deal with the book first, Fiona went to Marcax for assistance and with input from all parties decided on a plan to try and make everyone happy … and sad. In the end, they would give the book to the thieves and also plan for the House Drunadin to show up soon after to take the book from the thieves. Al would do the hand off while Fenris and Fiona watched his back. Atamu would stay with Abby at the hideout.

The plan went off without a hitch. The only strange thing was a watcher that revealed himself to Al. Wormroot was interested in the whole thing, and wanted some excitement. He seemed eager for another game. After the stress of the situation, they were all too eager to get out of there and back to the hideout.

When they returned to the hideout, it was quiet. Searching the place, they found a naked and drugged Atamu in bed, dreaming good dreams. A box was strategically placed. Inside the box was a key and a note.

The note read: Sorry things had to end this way, you guys were pretty sweet. I am not going to be bound by anyone’s rules. I am glad you could get rid of that book for me, it was more trouble than it was worth. I left you guys some payment for your troubles, I won’t need it where I am going.

You seemed like nice people that deserved better, but that’s just not me. Although I must admit, I did not think hiring those guys to attack you in the bath house would have been as fun as it was. I just thought it would be fun watching all those naked bodies fight, but you all took it to a whole new level. Oh Fiona, I did not expect such feistiness from you. I’m impressed. And Al, fire? Very sexy.

You got wrapped up in something that was over your heads. You never really had a chance. But that’s the problem with life in the city. Everybody lies. Hugs and kisses. Abby.

The letter has a deep red kiss mark at the bottom of the page.

The key belongs to a security box at the bank. Feeling a bit duped they check out the box and find that it is a necklace that belongs to House Dunadin. After debating a bit, they decide to return it to Lady Mirren, the matriarch of House Dunadin.

After a very cold reception, they returned the necklace. The lady was then forced by honor and nobility to grant the group a favor. The Lady’s demeanor although cordial, showed that she despised the position she was forced to be in. But, polite society dictates the rules and the Lady would follow them. Unfortunately, the group did not have any immediate needs. They were excused, and they left quickly.

As the last construct made it’s way to the mansion, all of the other Miracle Men began to join them. They crawled up from the ground, exited building, and even manifested through dimensional barriers to join the march towards destiny.

They arrived at the Mansion gardens and were warned to say away, lest the guardians forcibly removes them. Bob approached them and gave them the security code to make sure everyone remained safe. The guardians relaxed and let people move about the gardens to the twin statues of Dr. Eigenvector.

The last key was placed in a lock as a magnificent machine began to show itself. Clockwork mechanism built up around a strange egg shaped device. Finally, a panel revealing a bunch of keyholes appeared. All of the old keys needed to be inserted and turned one final time, only to disappear inside the mechanism. Once unlocked, the panels slid open again revealing strange slots. These slots were meant for Bob to put his hands through, the final connection.

The machine began humming with energy and rise into the air. Deja and Fiona tried sticking with Bob as it rose up, but a pulse of energy flew out hitting Fiona and knocking her and Deja off the platform Bob was on. They tried to get closer, but the ground heated up. They jumped out of the way just as flames erupted from the ground and the device became a rocket launching into the air, pulsing out blue energy along the way. It went higher and higher into the air until it finally erupted in one last blast of brilliant blue energy. And then the rocket and Bob were gone.

No one realized what the energy was supposed to do until a metallic voice from the crowd said that they thought they felt sad. An automaton had said it. And another. And another. One automaton said that they did not feel like serving any more. And another. One by one, the automatons began ‘waking up’ and gaining sentience. They shrugged off their old programming and began to decide for themselves.

The guardian constructs straightened up and informed the public that the mansion was now open to any that felt worthy enough to match wits with Dr. Eigenvector. The mansion was ready to give knowledge, or death to all who entered.

Although there were many miracles that day, and new discoveries to be found, the group still could not help but look back and remember Bob. He was with them for a while and touched their lives. He had a spark inside of him that would live on in all of his brothers and sisters. Bob was always worried he was a death machine, but that was never the case. He was an unknowing protector of that most precious resource, life. Bob was responsible for a new form of life, a new creation. Bob was the most powerful Miracle Man. He was built by a genius, given uniqueness, and inspired a new creation. Bob was a gift to the world.

The Eigenvector Legacy.

The Hall of Records. A place that holds the most official records of the city. A maze of books, scrolls, satchels, notes, wads of paper, and the most inefficient filing system ever. Some claim there are still people wandering the massive halls looking for information from fifty years ago. And now, the group had to find obscure information with the hallowed halls of history.

They walked in and asked for their information. Papa Papyrus, a crude nickname, acts as the catalog for all the records kept within the halls. Somedays he is too busy, or can’t be bothered, to help people out with, while other days he might accidentally give them the wrong directions. No one know if those accidents are on purpose, or just him being passive aggressive. Either way, no one find what they want without his help.

Although it took nearly a week, the group finally got the directions they were looking for. They were sent into one of the basement annexes where they found a room that had been tossed. Papers and books were scattered about. As they were sifting through the mess, a strange creature attacked them that looked like some sort of scroll mummy. It was actually a creature with sticky skin, information tacked onto it’s whole body.

The monster was quickly defeated and it gave them time to look around. They found some old books chained to a wall that led them to the next man and the clue to the next place. They activated the construct and then left, getting ready for the next step of their adventure through the city.

The next Miracle Man key led to a famous alchemist’s shop in the merchant’s quarter. Bob insisted Unger come with them so he could ‘man up’ and ‘grow a spine’. Although Unger resisted, he ultimately caved in and went along. As it turns out, Unger had a long standing rivalry with the alchemists and helped create a diversion. Unfortunately, they could not find anything and had to bring an end to the passive aggressive battle between Unger and his now obvious childhood rivals.

They decide to come back later and check things out at night. Surprisingly, someone was working late at night so they tried to be extra sneaky. So, when that failed, they were detected by a man working over a strange alchemical mixture. He immediately drank his mutagen and tipped over a cauldron filled with strange oozes.

Everyone fought well, even Unger who surprisingly acts cool under pressure, and the man was defeated. His body exploded covering the place with a strange thick tar-like goo. They found a book that obviously did not belong in the shop covering the creation of an old, dangerous practice of incense inhaling. They took it with them as they found the next keyhole.

More dangerous ladders led them to a room downstairs filled with energy. They found the next construct and activated it. The next clue led them to the most bureaucratic danger of them all. The Hall of Records.