Scene 2 - The Istanbul Auction

The aged but well maintained Dassault Falcon 50 touches down in Istanbul on schedule. The pilot taxis to a private hangar, and at their prompting, you quickly exit the plane, dumping your equipment into a waiting van before the customs officials arrive - their story is that they flew in empty, here to pick up passengers and cargo - and demand bribes and/or confiscate your finer gear. The van takes off, picking its way through a maze of hangars before making your way through Istanbul to the east.

The streets give way between wonders of antiquity and horrors of modern poverty. Sadly, it is the ladder that is your destination, and after about a half hour of harrowing near misses and almost constant blaring of vehicle horns, you arrive in Dolapdere district.

Right away you can tell that you have made some terrible decisions in this or a past life. Whatever road lead you here was full of missed opportunities. Still, even after dropping hammer on empty barrels of your side arms, the horde of Tony Robbins trained panhandlers gives you a little bit of space, enough that you can keep an eye on your loot. The press of people around you would make anyone but an Asian cringe in despair.

The van hobbles off, only through the liberal use of the horn and ramming more than a few loiterers. You make your way to your waystation, a small hotel / flophouse that undoubtedly would need to bribe a methhead to get even a 1 star rating.

Katyushka can find some information on Syud Sail, including a blurry picture of someone affiliated with the holding company and known to lurk in the flea market maze of Dolapdere. The internet refers to the man as "Black Blaine". As she found before, the locals don't internet well, so research is likely needed to be done old-fashioned like.

Each of you have a photo of the Black Blaine person of interest, and a crowded third world flea market known for crime around you. How about each of you make some kind of investigation montage, doesn't have to be long, with your particular skillset. Add any roll you feel is appropriate, and feel free to create the environment. I'll use your collective efforts to advance the plot.

Micah strolls about, engaging the vendors and riffraff, although often the two are interchangeable. He talks and they talk and he counts himself lucky that he doesn't but a used Fischer Price portable record player that might have been shot, but it was touch and go. He manages to follow half promises and see through outright lies toward the western end of the market.

Vinny adopts a more straightforward, combative approach, and picks the worst place he can go. He gets involved in a shady geese juggling ring and loses a handful of bank notes, acquires a black eye (don't ask, 1 Might damage), and wastes a bunch of time.

From high above the street, Katyushka settles into place trying to keep each of the team in sight. Micah seems to be surrounded perpetually by an angry lynching mob, but it turns out just to be regular Turks. Vinny appears to be in a bind, or having fun, is hard to tell, but Katyu doesn't feel it's necessary to interrupt the party with a high velocity shot. Still, from above, she can coordinate, following Micah's trail, helping Duke focus on the likely spots.

Seth dibs and dabs the debris, dusts the detritus, and disturbs the denizens to gain samples. Setting up his lab, he performs his analysis. Indeed, his instruments register residues of The Strange, focused on the south west side. His commentary assists the search.

Duke follows Micah, until he finds the true power of the flea market, unwashed urchins. With a pittance of cash, Katyushka's directions, and Seth's final confirmation, he finds a tiny doorway into witch he watches a wino with a €5,000 wrist watch duck inside.

Target acquired.