Sapphire:Sessions:20151024
Feast Time 13: Sten, the twelve-year-old boy to whom Branamin had earlier given a lightstone, joins Chalker, Yasser, and Branamin at the breakfast table. Branamin asks Sten to tell him stories about monsters, darkness, and treasure; Sten relates tales of knights and heroes.
Chalker remarks, "Our work here is done. Where to next?" Yasser wants to go to the Troubled Lands; "There's plenty of stuff to find and take, and we can kill orcs for stress relief." Chalker: "Maybe we can go back to where you found your ring." Yasser: "I killed an orc chieftain for it. But I don't think I could ever find that exact place again."
Branamin suggests that he might be able to magically locate the source of the jasper used in making the figures that Tholadan had spent so much effort and gold to acquire. He borrows the shards of the mithril dagger from Chalker and locates a source of mithril in the capital of Smorshal, but concludes that it is someone's private collection.
Chalker is all for going straight to the Troubled Lands, but Shawna reminds him that he has unfinished business in Sapphire. Eventually it is decided that the ship will be sent to Sapphire while the group goes back through the gate.
At noon the Count and his retinue arrive. The next day the group rides to Pendleton, where their ship and crew await them. The morning after that, the group arrives in Eimoor. Jacinto has not returned, but his man brings out a glass rod crafted for one-time communication with him. Branamin attunes himself to the glass rod. Chalker uses his journey book to update Rory and Trace. Shawna sends a hawk with a message for Sa'tire Belandrie in Kell. Barak, the goblin mage, bids farewell and heads toward Bordertown.
The group rides part of the way to Kervin, sells their fine horses to a trader named Reuben, and continues on foot the rest of the way. Chalker shows Branamin where to pull up the earthen plug; Branamin marvels at the stairway and tunnel, which Chalker explains were shaped by an earth mage named Trace Dreygon.
The group goes through the gate to Sapphire. A lot of progress has been made in repairing and restoring the building. A street kid named Ted runs up to Chalker; he was sent by Rory to make contact with us and see if we needed anything. Chalker tips him a copper. Shawna and Chalker go to the Boar's Head to meet with Rory, while Yasser, Branamin, and Ahn-Lee head for the Green Lantern Tavern.
Yasser warns Branamin, "Don't look at the lantern." Branamin casts Illusion Disguise on himself and goes back into the gaming room. Yasser orders a Bajeeter Special. After a time Branamin staggers outside, drops the illusion, then goes back inside intending to sit with Yasser and Ahn-Lee, but all the seats at their table are taken. Yasser buys two Bajeeter Specials for a "big angry guy" who in turn taps another man on the shoulder who gets up and gives his seat to Branamin. Yasser buys Branamin a Bajeeter Special. Branamin takes a drink; "It burns!" (His Thaumatology tells him that while the drink itself isn't magical, it was made using magic.)
Chalker's signet ring flashes and he is called upon to answer for some of his recent actions.
Feast Time 18 is a temple day. Yasser goes to the Temple of Agar in Temple Row. Chalker visits the Temple of Yasseph, gives observance, then as is his wont, walks around the main sanctuary while addressing the goddess. On his third circuit, two elven priests join him, a male and a female. Chalker: "I feel we left on a bad note. I don't mind that you're neutral, but you seem hostile." The priestess replies, "I am not hostile, but there is a lot going on." Chalker: "I understand, but your only touch seems to be of the one luck side, so I take it I am disfavored." "I am not offended. My Luck walks with you. Sapphire is very important to me. You have done nothing I find fault with." The priests bow and take their leave. Chalker once more gives observance, then exits the temple. He is just barely able to spot the two elves that are following him.
Back at the Boar's Head, Branamin is working on enchanting the new staff he has bought. Chalker tells Shawna about the tribunal. Via the glass rod, Jacinto contacts Branamin (Yasser holds his iron ring to his head) and summarizes his expedition: a powerful lich had control of the King of Smorshal, several royal counsellors, and a small army of undead. The ensuing struggle was difficult and contentious; they almost lost Erlis (the merman mage), who is now recovering in the Temple of Zeph, and Mononel Stonecrusher was injured. The king was slain, the crown prince is absent and presumed dead, and the new king is in the process of calling the nobles to the capital for a conclave.
Molly approaches Shawna. Recently an illicit gladiatorial arena has started up in the village of Bay Ridge, and a man named Dan Renz is involved. Shawna sends for Bajeeter and someone named Dash.
Chalker, Branamin, and Yasser go to Nathaniel, a merchant who sells figurines similar to the jasper talismans. In fact, he tells them, he had sold some figurines made of jasper to Jessie Koranek, a merchant from Mallow Bay (a major seaport in the Troubled Lands). Branamin gives two silvers for a figure of Cor and one silver for a figure of Aaoo. Nathaniel gives a figure of the Goat Lord to Yasser, though the dwarf says the image is "slightly off."