Gilded Sands 02 — Marginalia

MARGINALIA was the second session of Gilded Sands, played on 3rd September 2020. It was Dodeka Graft's first downtime.

Cast

 * Iskra Garomedon, a soldier seeking purpose. (she/her)
 * Nandi Tin, a self-destructive scout. (she/her)
 * Skoryy Feldspar, a regretful ace. (she/her)
 * Zoya Gabbro, a downtrodden infiltrator. (she/her)
 * Kladi Demos, an apologetic commander. (they/them)
 * Beryl Mask, an abdicated noble. (they/them)
 * Apate Midnight, a cold interrogator. (she/her)
 * Atreus Falx, a malevolent surgeon. (he/him)
 * TT, a concerned mechanic. (she/her)
 * Oko Glass, a private eye. (ne/nem)
 * Egon Shale, a sympathetic logistics officer. (he/him)

Iskra
After spending a while teaching herself how to use computers better, Iskra is eventually visited by a space falcon carrying a beryl earring and some coordinates to a location in the Boneyard. She travels there on her own, and meets with Beryl Mask, a figure with a golden prosthetic arm and a beryl-encrusted mask who claims to be of Terrenon noble lineage, and who pilots a mech with a sophisticated cloaking system. They convince her to cooperate against the Terrenon establishment.

Later, Iskra sneaks out on her own again, this time to try and make contact with The Broken Crown, a cell of rebellious Terrenon peasants located somewhere in Vow City.

Nandi
Nandi visits Atreus Falx in the infirmary to discuss the neural link technology employed in the Kappadokkios-class mech, and whether she could acquire it for herself. She convinces Falx to assist her with this, but unbeknownst to her, he takes the chance to implant her with a remote-activated neurotoxin in the subsequent surgical procedure.

Nandi and Zoya, after delaying a planned workout to accommodate Zoya's hangover and interrogation, play stun-gun laser tag ("If I can see you, you get shot") in the scrapyard, allowing Nandi to train herself in moving skilfully.

Afterwards, Nandi sits down with Kladi Demos to chat about her Dodonan military records—and, specifically, making her previous records disappear, as she feels like the Nandi who worked with Dipsos Root is dead (and she'd rather not be remembered much at all). Over a bottle of ouzo from Egon Shale's supply package, the two share their experiences with Dipsos; Kladi agrees to help Nandi remove her records, and shows her a photo of recent damage to the squad following an entanglement with The Broken Throne hoping it might cheer her up. Nandi replies that it didn't because she isn't a sadist, but she sees fit to give Kladi the somewhat more acceptable nickname "Phobos", and leaves feeling like she has a little more respect for her superior.

Skoryy
After a stressful mission, Skoryy takes to a bar in Pesok Station to recuperate. Zoya comes along, and the two have a night of intense conversation, glitchy holographic pool, incredibly rowdy dancing, and hooking up in a coffin hotel.

When Skoryy wakes up, Zoya's already taken off to do some investigation. Skoryy goes off to do some sleuthing on her own—or rather, enlists Oko Glass of Glass Investigations to track down Kaleidos Green, in an effort to make amends with him.

Afterwards, she heads back to base to work off her awful hangover by drilling mech maneuvers by herself all day.

Zoya
Zoya is welcomed back to base by TT, who seems incredibly concerned for her. It's a strained interaction, almost a hug, but not quite. She joins Skoryy for a trip to Pesok Station later that day, before setting off to hunt down Pasha Marble—her former CO at Peschinka Logistics—with a vicious hangover. Strangely, everyone seems to make themselves scarce as soon as she mentions looking for someone from the Marble family.

Later that day, back at base, Zoya is pulled into an room by Apate Midnight and interrogated about her past, her foreign ties, and her possible interactions with Green and Tromara. Zoya is barely conscious enough to listen at all, but Apate Midnight lets it slip that Vathos Root has gotten in severe trouble with The Iris for "illegal religion".

Another day—after having played stun-gun laser tag with Nandi—Zoya decides to call in a number of favours to dig up some more supplies for Dodeka Graft; they're going to need them, as trying to repair the Mimic's severe damage exhausts far too much materiel. Zoya's chain of favours leads her to a Dodonan logistics office where she meets Egon Shale, who once held a similar position in Peschinka. Their reuinion is suprisingly amicable, and she learns that Osvald—Egon's brother—was killed a few years ago, after they'd tried to take the operation solo. He hooks Dodeka up with a staggering bunch of supplies, and at Zoya's request, is even able to send her a hint about Pasha's whereabouts.

Among all the crates they receive back at base, one has a letter for Zoya in it. It contains the 10 of Hatchets: Pasha is running with the Toporik Syndicate.