The Glassblower's Shuttle
From a job
Cargo: Lamp-glass chimneys (fragile)
“Packed in straw for a noble house that already owns ten thousand lamps.”
Possible rewards: Singing Shuttle
6 scenes. Choices with a requirement only appear when you meet it.
The Lamp Steward
At the delivery port1 Deliver the crates of lamp-glass chimneys.
House Ashgrove's steward is counting lamp chimneys when he steps inside for his receipt book. While he's gone, your crew discover that the last crate doesn't hold chimneys at all.
Hidden under the straw is an unlicensed heating-ward shuttle blown from singing glass, with a note from the glassblower: "For Ysolde Brann on the Dark Stair. Her street has no heating wards, and the summit frost is rolling down."
Hidden under the straw is an unlicensed heating-ward shuttle blown from singing glass, with a note from the glassblower: "For Ysolde Brann on the Dark Stair. Her street has no heating wards, and the summit frost is rolling down."
- Keep the hidden crate and pay the breakage fee so you can deliver it to the Dark Stair. (15 silver)You report one crate broken in transit, pay the penalty out of your fee, and keep the glass shuttle aboard.−15 silver
- [Vulpine] Have crewmate talk the steward into waiving the missing crate fee.Crew: Vulpinecrewmate spins a convincing tale about a giant gull smashing the crate in flight. The steward logs it as an uncharged loss, letting you keep the hidden shuttle for free.
- Turn the smuggled ward shuttle over to the House steward for a reward.He holds the glass shuttle up to the light. "Unlicensed work—and finely made." He confiscates it for the House ward room and pays you a bonus for your honesty.+55 silver+1 The Crown standing−1 heatThe questline ends here.
The Glassblower
Right away2A glassblower with burn-scarred arms waits at the bottom of your boarding ramp, twisting his cap in his hands. "I'm Tam Corrie. I blew that ward shuttle using House Ashgrove's kiln and glass—which makes it a crime under the Charter."
He glances up at the thousands of warm lamps on the noble terraces. "My sister Ysolde's street down on the Dark Stair is freezing. Please get that shuttle to her before the summit frost rolls down."
He glances up at the thousands of warm lamps on the noble terraces. "My sister Ysolde's street down on the Dark Stair is freezing. Please get that shuttle to her before the summit frost rolls down."
- Ask him for the safest route down to the Dark Stair.He sketches the route on your slate—dropping below the noble lamp line and slipping past the Excise heat meters where the frost settles thickest.Reveal 2 waypoints
- Ask how he will cover up the missing glass at the workshop."I'll log it as shattered in the kiln," he says, handing you a pristine spare lamp chimney worth twenty silver. "Take this to cover the breakage fee you paid."+20 silver
- [Fire mage] Have crewmate ask him how he crafts singing glass.Crew: Fire caster · MageHe demonstrates the technique for crewmate using a piece of scrap glass, holding it just past its melting point without letting it collapse—a heat-control method crewmate practices on the galley stove that night.+1 Casting skill XP
The Dark Stair
Sail to The Dark Stair (2–3 passages away)3 Deliver the singing-glass ward shuttle to Ysolde Brann on the Dark Stair.
The Dark Stair is a poor cliffside street below the noble lamp line, coated in white frost rolling down from the peak. In a cellar, Ysolde Brann operates a cloth loom.
When she threads her brother's glass shuttle into the loom, a heating ward spreads out and warms the freezing street. "I have an older bone ward shuttle that belonged to our mother," she says. "It's slower, but it will fit your ship's Ward Loom."
When she threads her brother's glass shuttle into the loom, a heating ward spreads out and warms the freezing street. "I have an older bone ward shuttle that belonged to our mother," she says. "It's slower, but it will fit your ship's Ward Loom."
- Accept the bone ward shuttle and supplies from the grateful residents.She hands you the humming bone shuttle while the neighbors bring a basket of provisions for your galley. Before you can cast off, however, trouble spots the new warmth.+3 provisions
- [Warden] Have crewmate help her weave the street's heating ward so Excise sensors won't detect it.Crew: Wardencrewmate helps her weave the heating ward so tightly that it leaves no stray signature for Excise meters to detect. She gives you the bone shuttle and teaches crewmate an unlisted warding technique.Relic: Singing Shuttle+1 Wards skill XPThe questline ends here.
- Ask the residents to pay you in coin for the delivery instead.The residents pass a hat down the freezing street, collecting every copper coin they can spare.
- Leave it for now.You pull away for now as the frost creeps another step down the cliffside street.
The Excise Heat Meter
Right away4Before you can leave, a brass heat meter on the terrace above swings toward the newly warmed street. An Excise patrol cutter descends through the frost with its searchlight sweeping the steps.
Ysolde Brann keeps weaving. "They fine poor streets by the hour for unlicensed heat—unless they find a ship to blame instead."
Ysolde Brann keeps weaving. "They fine poor streets by the hour for unlicensed heat—unless they find a ship to blame instead."
- Block the cutter's path and fight to protect the street.You swing your hull between the cutter and the cliffside street. Frost rimes her gun ports as she opens fire!+1 heatBattle: Excise cutter · Close range, Hard frostIf you win:+20 silver
- Claim the heat came from your ship's Ward Loom and pay the fine yourself. (30 silver)Costs 30 silverThe inspector fines your ship thirty silver and returns up the terraces. You mount the bone shuttle in your Ward Loom, leaving the street below warm and unbothered.Relic: Singing Shuttle+1 heatThe questline ends here.
- [Noble] Have crewmate point out that the noble house above hasn't paid its own meter tax.Crew: Noblecrewmate recognizes the terrace above and reminds the inspector that its noble owner is months behind on meter dues. Embarrassed, the inspector drops the matter; you keep the bone shuttle and the street stays warm.Relic: Singing Shuttle+1 The Undertow standingThe questline ends here.
- Keep the bone shuttle and fly away, leaving the street to face the Excise fine.You cast off with the bone shuttle humming in your Ward Loom. Behind you, the Excise cutter halts over the Dark Stair and shuts down the street's warmth.Relic: Singing Shuttle−1 The Undertow standingThe questline ends here.
The Street's Collection
Right away5The hat comes back heavy with copper coins, a jar of pickled eggs, a child's mitten holding a silver piece, and a spare glass chimney from a House kitchen.
Ysolde Brann holds the hat out to you with both hands as frost coats the top step.
Ysolde Brann holds the hat out to you with both hands as frost coats the top step.
- Take all the coin in the hat.You empty their collection into your pouch—thirty-five silver in small change—and hand the empty hat back before casting off.+35 silver+1 The Undertow standingThe questline ends here.
- Return their coin and accept only the food.You pour the coins back into Ysolde's hands. Relieved, the neighbors load four jars of preserved food into your galley and help cast off your lines.+4 provisions+2 The Undertow standing+1 The Free Captains standingThe questline ends here.
The Patrol Schedule
Right away6As the Excise cutter retreated, a meter-inspection logbook fell from her deck onto the steps. It lists the exact day each poor street below the lamp line is inspected for unlicensed heat.
Ysolde Brann looks at the book on your deck. "With that schedule, every street on this cliff could run heating wards safely and shut them off only on inspection days."
Ysolde Brann looks at the book on your deck. "With that schedule, every street on this cliff could run heating wards safely and shut them off only on inspection days."
- Give the inspection schedule to Ysolde so the cliffside streets can stay warm.She copies the dates onto her cellar wall and passes the book down the cliff. By spring, every cellar along the Dark Stair will have safe heat, and the bone shuttle hums in your Ward Loom.The questline ends here.
- Keep the inspection logbook on your chart table to track Excise patrol routes.Because meter-reading days match Excise patrol schedules, the book lets your helm chart every cutter patrol on this side of Crownpeak. You keep the bone shuttle and the logbook for yourself.The questline ends here.
- [Warden] Have crewmate mask the street's ward permanently, give her the book, and learn her warding technique.Crew: Wardencrewmate works alongside Ysolde until dawn, weaving the street's ward so tightly that no terrace meter will ever detect it again. She keeps the schedule book, gives you the bone shuttle, and teaches crewmate her craft.The questline ends here.
Data from Magehold Fairwinds v1.9.26. Spotted something out of date? Discord