Difference between revisions of "Vanishers"

They began train robberies in around {{date|340|FA}}-{{date|341|FA}}{{book ref|mb4|3}}. They first stole a shipment of [[aluminum]]{{cite}} from [[House Tekiel]]{{book ref|mb4|3}} before going to ground for four months,{{book ref|mb4|3}} presumably to smelt the aluminum into bullets and guns.{{cite}} Afterwards, they robbed six more trains, including two from [[House Ladrian]].{{book ref|mb4|2}} The first twoand second shipments stolen after resurfacing were [[steel]]. Next they stole food, followed by more metals and food.{{book ref|mb4|3}} The first three were only cargo robberies, but they quickly progressed to also robbing a passenger car for valuables and one or two of their Allomancy-blooded targets. Four women were kidnapped in this manner.{{book ref|mb4|2}}{{book ref|mb4|3}} However, as the high-class Allomancy-blooded targets the Set laid out for them stopped riding trains due to safteysafety concerns,{{cite}} they were forced to rob the [[Coolerim Playhouse]] to get their next target.{{book ref|mb4|2}}

The Vanishers would first stop the target train by obstructing its tracks.{{book ref|mb4|3}} This always occurred at a position where the rail line came close to the canal it was built next to.{{cite}} Earlier robberies accomplished this with a fallen tree, later they employed a ghostly train coming the opposite direction.{{book ref|mb4|3}} That particular illusion relied on a hand-powered train carriage with a false front and a powerful light attached to appear as the headlightsheadlight. This light may have been battery powered. Once the train was stopped, they would use a barge-mounted crane in the neighboring canal to swap the target car for an empty replica.{{book ref|mb4|17}} In this way, they were able to steal the cargo without leaving forced locks or dead guards on the train once it arrived at its destination.{{book ref|mb4|2}}