The Cogwheel Coda

<p>In the sprawling smoke-shrouded metropolis of Veridia a city powered by colossal steam engines and intricate clockwork mechanisms Callen Vex a reclusive but unparalleled artificer makes his living repairing complex automatons and crafting wondrous bespoke devices. He operates from a hidden workshop beneath the city's poorest district avoiding the watchful eye of the Ministry of Progress a powerful governmental body that controls all technological innovation. Callen lives a quiet life with his only companion Kerro a small highly intelligent automaton he built himself.</p><p>When a series of inexplicable malfunctions plagues the city's vital clockwork systems leading to widespread chaos and accusations against unlicensed inventors Callen finds himself drawn into the mystery. He crosses paths with <strong>Tessera Vale</strong> a sharp-witted airship pilot and smuggler and <strong>Brother Gannon</strong> a grizzled priest who believes the malfunctions are a sign of a deeper spiritual ailment. Together they uncover evidence of sabotage pointing to a shadowy cabal within the Ministry of Progress that seeks to centralize all power and eradicate independent thinkers.</p><p><em>The Cogwheel Coda</em> focuses on their initial investigations daring escapes through steam-filled alleyways and over rooftops and the assembly of their unlikely team. The climax involves Callen using his unique genius to repair a critical city mechanism under pressure exposing the saboteurs but also making them a direct target of the Ministry and its ambitious leader <strong>Minister Halric Dorne</strong>.</p>