Idea- with the concept of imbued items that need to pierce the skin (like piercings) to confer their benefit, the Conduit City folk have a powerful fighter covered head to toe in imbued armor that has been fastened directly onto his skin. Not only is he armored, but receives the benefit of all the imbuing. He is incredibly powerful, but every time he moves it is painful. Tiny rivulets of blood run out of his armored feet when he fights from all the piercings. This doesn't really effect him however because his Earth modifier is 10 and he is essentially infused with Earth. Oh my god, he is a Penitent Engine. This warrior failed somehow and the Census Office gave him (her?) the option of exile or service in this capacity. Malvern was somehow involved in his creation, but only he knows that, and Iron Man's tongue has been cut out.
What if Sweep Team members had rank studs grafted into their heads that are imbued? That would be a sweet reward for rising up the ranks as they fight the Monk.
Write a basic primer for them: tralaticon, Conduit Plants, the Ergon, basic history, how tralaticon items work, powerful tech but not mini yet.
The Lava Man episode in Samurai Jack would be a great quest for Shamwow. Kadmin the Seer was overcome by the Shadow (think John Brown- a little too early) and turned into a menacing beast that cannot pass into the next world and has a soul hunger that cannot be quenched. The Apocalypse cracked its cage and it is loose now, stalking the spirit realm and the party. They do not discover this until far into the murder mystery when the beast finds them. They are certain to be destroyed, but the book opens in a flash of light, Kadmin's finals manipulation, which drives the beast away. After that it "activates" and writing and instrucitons begin to appear. "If you are reading this, then my worst fears are realized."
Have the party discover a strange pile of dust above the wolverine den untouched by anything else. The solider's gear was dumped in the wolverine den. It is recent. The wizards all sense something is amiss here in the spirit world, like a skin crawl feeling. Going into the spirit world allows for an interrogation of the spirit. Set it up so that it looks like Kadmin is doing this when they encounter him. The party can deduce that this is impossible by understanding that the beast is pure spirit and cannot enter the physical plane, while the victims are being killed in the physical plane.
After a certain point, McFlickens is attacked by a strange assailant completely covered in Air imbued armor and wrapped in specialty clothing designed for assassins. He withdraws when help arrives, but only utters the words, "The Coin." The only way to stop these beings is to track them to the Scar and close the portal from the other side.