Sapphire:Sessions:20150314
Change Time 26, Deerhome 'not a valley yet' Meadows. Taking the morning's events in stride, Baron Browning invites Chalker, Shawna, and Cliff Tran in for brunch. The guests are escorted to a sitting room, and bread and cheese are brought.
Chalker (to the Baron): "Are you part of the Talisman Group?"
Browning: "No, but I knew of them. They paid a lot of taxes."
Chalker: "You were in the way of what they had in mind."
Browning (staring at Cliff): "He passes through here every so often... gadfly, always meddling... saying things like 'building a house in the wrong place'... 'disturbing the animals...'"
Chalker: "But is he right?"
Browning: "About half the time. I just don't like you, Cliff Tran."
Chalker: "The die is cast. We can't rewind the day."
Browning: "The history between my family and the Trans... is a long story."
Chalker: "The past is the past. You shouldn't let petty things from the past affect today. The sins of the father should not reflect on the son."
Browning: "You know who 'his lord' is, then. I met Jax once."
Chalker (to Cliff): "Next time you talk to your lord, tell him I'm still waiting."
Cliff: "Do what you're inclined to do -- see who was associated with the ones who ran. That will answer your questions regarding the Talisman Group."
Chalker: "I'm going to talk to Kevin Boyd about the Talisman Group. I'm curious as to why they're holding those properties."
Shawna: "Oh, it seems obvious to me. Run-down places in the slums... they pay their low taxes, and the Empire never looks into either the properties or their secret activities there."
Baron Browning's heir is his fifteen-year-old son. He has six children in all.
Chalker: "Do you know why they would try to take you out?"
Browning: "Not yet. Two of my children are away at court."
Chalker: "But wiping you out would not benefit Blankenship."
Browning: "The Duke and the Count would determine who inherited my title and lands."
Shawna: "Does your family have any heirlooms considered 'holy' or such?"
Browning: "No."
Chalker: "Would you give us a tour of your manor?"
Chalker checks the Baron's Aura: He has a connection to the land that not all nobles have. He is a decent man who tries to do right. He metes out justice as he sees fit, but he is not rigid. He is loyal to the Calventine Empire. He is somewhere between 35 and 45 years of age.
The tour begins in the newer part of the manor. The Baron does not keep a mage on his household staff, but he does bring out an object that detects magic.
Not long after, the tour reaches the library, which is in an older part of the manor. The door is locked, but it opens at the Baron's touch. There are no windows, and servants quickly move in to light the lamps. On display are the Brownings' original writ of nobility and their original family crest.
Shawna draws Chalker's attention to an old bronze sword displayed in a locked case. Chalker can tell that it is mostly copper, somehow tempered to be stronger than normal, and is laced with a hint of another metal (the metals are separate, not alloyed).
Shawna asks the Baron, "May I examine it?" After thinking it over for several seconds, Browning takes a key, unlocks the case, and with a flourish presents the sword to her. Shawna raises the sword in front of her, infuses it with a touch of mana, and it begins to glow. She relates that the sword was crafted by a highly-respected Elven smith some 1300 years ago. "Your family must have been more illustrious than you let on. How did this sword come into your family?" Before Browning can answer, Cliff says, "The sword would have been a coup to the conspirators."
Cliff goes on, pointing out a jeweled cuff, "This bracelet over here carries a slice of Twilight. Part of the essence of Jax enlivens this twilight crystal set within it. Whoever it was given to was high in the favor of my lord." The Baron looks perplexed and somewhat embarrassed as he tells them that the bracelet had belonged to his six-times-great-grandmother, given to her by a wealthy merchant who she had taken as a lover. Their relationship had evidently scandalized the rest of the family. Shawna smiles. "She must have been an outstanding beauty. I suspect the 'merchant' was Jax himself."
Chalker senses immense power in the bracelet, and Shawna nudges him, "You keep telling Cliff to take Jax a message. Well, now you could tell him yourself!" Addressing the bracelet, Chalker asks, "Where are my communication devices?" Suddenly Jax, god of Twilight, steps into the room.
Chalker: "You've been ignoring me!"
Jax: "I've been busy. You should have your devices in a couple of months. ... It was a phenomenal woman who received that bracelet."
Chalker: "That must be why you sent Cliff to fetch us."
Jax: "I put things in motion; I don't micromanage." With a bow to Shawna, Jax departs.
The man in the 10x10 mana-drained cell is staring vacantly, beads of sweat on his brow. Chalker checks his Aura; this man is not a mage, nor is he particularly religious. Browning assures Chalker that the man has been searched. Chalker enters the cell, which is dimly lit by a single lamp above the door.
Chalker: "Hi, Dwight. My name is Chalker Jackson." Chalker steps up to him and lays the chain over his shoulder.
Dwight: "I've done nothing --"
Chalker: "Let's not start with lies. I want you to tell the truth."
The Baron's counsellor gives his name as Dwight Odom (second cousin once removed to Katrina Odom). He has worked for the Baron for twelve years, and for Mr Blankenship for the past seven years. Chalker asks, "What was Jewel's plan for the Baron?" Dwight tenses but does not answer. Chalker moves the chain to his neck and Dwight stammers, "I think he wanted to rob him -- ancient family heirlooms, could be sold for a lot of money. The Baroness has worn some pieces of the heirloom jewelry to social events. And the sword has been spoken of in local tales and such."
Chalker: "You're telling the truth, but there's something you're not telling me. I don't like playing that game -- it's like talking to demons, making me ask a direct question."
Dwight: "Well, sometimes the old documents are brought out in order to settle legal disputes. And sometimes the heirlooms are put on display for all to see. Jewel brought a woman to one such showing; now that I think on it, she was probably a mage."
Chalker: (in response to a murmured prompt from Shawna) "I was remiss before. Jewel and his butler are dead."
At this news, Dwight visibly deflates. "He told me what I needed to get things done... I just gave the merchant an edge, a little inside information."
Chalker: (moving the ends of the chain to the back of Dwight's neck) "Mr Blankenship was wealthy, correct?"
Dwight: "Correct."
Chalker: "The artifacts are valuable, but not worth the price of slaughtering the Baron and his family."
Dwight: "I... believe me, I was not part of those plans. I knew he wanted access to the library, but no, not slaughter..."
Chalker: "If your part in the conspiracy was to supply information --"
Dwight: "Believe me, it was."
Chalker: "-- on valuable artifacts, that's one thing, but I can't believe they didn't know of something worth killing for. Were you their only source in the household?"
Dwight: "Well... not exactly. Could you get the Baron to give me leniency? I am weak and greedy, but loyal to the Empire."
Chalker: "The Baron is reasonable. I am not, but he will judge, not me."
Dwight: "There is a secured box in the Baron's library that contains an inventory of the heirlooms. Tyleen, the maid, was persuaded to let me into the library. Jewel gave me a magical device to unlock the box, and another to copy the inventory. I gave Jewel that copy fifteen months ago. Then a few months back we started planning how to get into the library. But I never looked at the inventory list, and I never knew what Jewel was after. I don't know how he convinced Tyleen to let him in."
Chalker removes the chain from Dwight's neck and leaves the cell, which is closed and secured. He and Shawna are shown into the Baron's working office.
Browning: "I heard what he told you. I do have a complete inventory." (Beckons to his steward) Go and fetch Tyleen."
Chalker studies the inventory list. The treasures listed there would tempt even a rich merchant. The sword alone could fetch tens of thousands of gold pieces. There is nothing on the list that shouts 'gate,' 'Venettian,' or 'occult.' But if someone could see the stuff to appraise it, that could be a game-changer.
The steward returns with Tyleen. She looks to be in her mid-20s, attractive, with skin of a light chocolate color and dark hair. She is nervous and fidgety.
Chalker throws the chain, which stops right in front of her face. "I know you were compromised by Jewel. How did he do it?"
Tyleen begins babbling, "He threatened my family... he told me I only had to do one thing... just let somebody in to look at the room..."
Chalker: "Oh, Jewel is dead."
Tyleen: "Would he still do something to my family?"
Chalker: "I can't kill everyone who works for him; that would mean I'd have to kill you. Do you have to see the body?"
Tyleen: "No... no..."
Chalker addresses Browning: "Baron, unless Jewel had a specific buyer, or maybe the violence Cliff saw had escalated, I don't see killing a baron without some big plan."
Browning: "Maybe there's a mage somewhere that could use a thousand-year-old sword."
Cliff: "I tried to find out what events led up to my vision, but I couldn't."
Chalker: "These are small fish. I don't condone it, but I see what happened. He found her weak point."
Browning: "We've caught three of his five guards."
Chalker: "They were greedy, only in it for their pay."
Browning: "We will continue the investigation. We will delve deeper into this."
Cliff: "Well, Merchant Boyd seems uninvolved."
Chalker: "Balance is vastly overrated. I want my side to win. Their 'balance' will get me killed."
The Baron assures Tyleen that he will see that her family is not harmed, "though your brother is out of my jurisdiction."
Returning to the cell, Chalker asks for Dwight to be brought out of it. Shawna looks hard at him; he is very greedy; there is the darkness of bad deeds, but no demon taint or riders or compulsions; he is unlawful, willing to do almost anything for money. She stares into his eyes until Dwight flinches away. Shawna says, "I've learned everything I need from that one."
Chalker, Shawna, and Cliff take their leave of Baron Browning. On the way back to the city, Shawna asks Chalker, "What did you mean about communication devices?" "There were five of us, and we tend to cause incidents, and we found that in Malprin they communicate with special rings. We have our journey books, but if I needed help and was about to die --" "Jax promised you these things?" "He surely did." "Five of you, eh? But there are only three." "At that time there were five: myself, Runis Silverear, Trey, Aliana, and Rory." Shawna has heard of Runis through his reputation as a dwarven bard.
By 5pm the three have returned to Sapphire and are heading directly to Katrina Odom's manor. They pass through the scanning gate, and the butler meets them at the door. "I have prepared a waiting room; she will be with you shortly." Chalker notices that the Venettian book has been placed on a shelf.
Kristina Odom enters, followed by Keith. "What may I do for you?" She did not know of Jewel's plots in Deerhome Meadow.
Chalker: "Keith, why was your demise involved?"
Keith: "I was suspicious... I was going to take action, tell the Baron. I couldn't have confronted Jewel physically. I asked Cliff first, and then he had the vision...."
Kristina: "Do you still want to buy the properties? Your last offer was for 17 gold? We'll sell for 14 gold. Of course, we still have to meet with the executive council."
Chalker: "Draw up the papers."
Kristina: "You have counseled with the Baron?"
Chalker: "We were intercepted by Jewel and his men. Neither Jewel nor his butler survived."
Kristina: "The Baron will investigate Talisman Group, then. Will he invoke the Count or the Duke?"
Chalker: He will question Keith. Your group's investments will be scrutinized. You have nine other properties in Old Town."
Kristina: "I'm trying to prepare for what level of auditors to expect."
Chalker: I would look at where you have long-term properties with no profitability."
Kristina: "Then I will prepare for an Imperial audit."
Chalker: "The properties I'm buying in Old Town hopefully are unique."
Del Dagon's name is mentioned. Kristina reveals that Dagon's apprentices built her scanning gate, which gives her a 'friend or foe' indication for all who pass through it. She knows nothing of his dealings in Old Town.
Shawna: "You needn't volunteer anything to the auditors, but you must tell the truth." Kristina steps out of the room.
Chalker: (to Keith) "How did you not know Jewel was a gangster?"
Keith: "He was very good at appraisal, hiring, and so on."
Chalker: "Greed blinded you."
Keith: "He was good for the bottom line."
Chalker: "Pressuring people, strongarm tactics -- you'll think back and realize. I would have told the truth."
Keith: "But you can tell the truth in different ways."
Chalker: "I have a merchant friend who will need space for his business. Can your group do property management?"
Keith: "We have done that before."
Chalker: "I am setting up a workforce in Old Town. I have two people employed already."
Kristina returns with a sheaf of papers. She has a slightly puzzled expression. Waving a sheet of paper, she says, "I got something on this, this morning. I was working to be able to sell this building at the next board meeting. There's something going on in that building. Odd noises, big rats fleeing. I'm debating calling the city guard to check it out. There's something going on; I don't know if it's related to that other business."
Chalker: "Is your butler related to Blankenship's?"
Kristina: "We hired them from the same broker. They are mages from Gateway."
In front of the building Kristina mentioned, the building manager and two private guards are having a discussion. The manager, Willie Hicks, wants the guards to go in and investigate; the guards are resisting the idea. Just then a number of giant rats, no less than a yard long, run out of the building.
Chalker remarks, "It's not like there's demons in there, right?"
Chalker experiences intense fear as he steps across the threshold, but he shakes it off. The fear seems to emanate from underneath the structure. Right behind Chalker, Willie turns pale and seems stunned. "Breathe and relax," Chalker tells him, "We haven't encountered anything to actually be afraid of -- so far."
In the entry corridor, three normal-sized rats lie dead. They come to a stairway constructed of wooden planks laid over packed dirt, evidently dug after the building was built. At the first landing are openings to the left and right. Through the left doorway they can see shelves and wine racks. To the right, however, is a large room containing what looks like a casket, its lid slightly ajar.
Chalker walks directly to the casket, and the sensation of fear grows more intense. Atop the casket is a black spider marked with a red hourglass on its back; it suddenly springs at Chalkers's face, and as he swats it aside the casket lid opens. A body wrapped in cloth sits up.
Shawna utters a prayer to Dar. Chalker draws his sword and swings at the thing's neck; its hand rises and pushes the blade aside. The two guards draw their swords and flank the casket. Willie trembles in terror. Cliff's light brightens. The thing stands up, and the casket suddenly falls apart, rotted through.
The thing leans toward Chalker and tries to backhand him. Chalker grabs a heated coin from his lamp and presses it against the wrappings, which start to smolder. The guards try to circle behind the thing. The light from Cliff's stick turns as bright as morning. Shawna throws a fireball at the thing; it dodges, but the fireball sets the room's wooden paneling on fire.
The thing goes corps-a-corps with Chalker, trying to grapple him. The wrappings around the coin catch fire. Chalker steps back and chops deeply into the thing's leg. He is barely able to jerk the sword back out. Guard 1 swings but the thing knocks his sword aside. Guard 2 trips over his own feet. Cliff throws his glowing stick at the thing's eyes; it moves its head aside and the stick bounces off of the wall.
Chalker chops at the leg again. The flame around the coin spreads until the thing's torso is ablaze. Chalker fights off a wave of fear from the thing. Shawna causes the flame to spread up over the thing's shoulders, neck, and face. Cliff draws two fighting knives and steps around Willie.
The thing charges at Chalker; Chalker dodges and the thing slams into a wall. Its damaged leg won't support its weight. Shawna continues spreading the fire over its body. Chalker spins around and practically decapitates the thing. Cliff steps forward and tries to finish the job.
Shawna pushes fire down into the gaping neck wound. Chalker chops at the neck again, finally severing it.
Once the thing is down, Shawna extinguishes the other fires in the room and, with a wave of her hand, clears away the smoke. Chalker kicks the dead spider into the burning thing. Chalker and Shawna both realize that this was not a true mummy; Shawna rips away a piece of its wrappings before it burns. Studying what's left of the casket, Chalker reports that there are markings in Common and mage script in a language that is about 600 years old. This was a failed experiment that someone had buried here, the work of a necromancer wannabe who for some reason had not been able to return. The giant rats, perhaps, had chewed on the rags.
From the racks in the other room, Chalker pulls a couple of bottles of pretty good wine to take with him.
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