Sapphire:Sessions:20180127
While sleeping, Shawna is given to know that the final bloodstone is 150 miles away. The bloodstone she holds has gained power, but is not a threat to her. The final bloodstone, though, is at least twice as powerful.
Chalker dreams of another consciousness with jumbled feelings of pain, power, exhilaration, eagerness, and the urge "to be doing things again." He realizes these impressions are from the magic emerald he had bought from Harmon Brandt.
In the morning Chalker writes in the journey book to Rory asking for the crystal coordinates to a gate in Westerpine. This would put the group within a reasonable distance of the final bloodstone. However, when Shawna plugs the crystals into the Ridell gate, it does not function. The final bloodstone has somehow suppressed the gate connection. She closes her hand and disintegrates the bloodstone she holds, since she no longer needs it to trace the final one. Chalker obtains new coordinates from Rory which will move the group 50 miles.
The gate opens into a bedroom with attached bathroom. Lying on the bed is the desiccated corpse of a man clad in leathers. Splashes of dried blood are everywhere. Using his penetrating vision, Chalker determines that the man had died from a sword thrust to the heart. However, the corpse's heart, liver, and kidneys are not as decayed as the rest of the organs. In the bathroom there is dried dirt in the washbasin and dirty towels bearing the crest of Vetruvian, Grand Duke of Ordin. Chalker's emerald is vibrating with agitation/excitement. Shawna reports that a gatemaster had repeatedly forced open the gate without the use of crystals, and had done so three times in the past four weeks, most recently about a week ago. This gatemaster is human with some orcish blood.
Chalker looks through the floor, walls, and ceiling. In the ceiling over the bed is a cavity containing a 7' diameter hollow stone sphere. A crack in the sphere aligns with a crack in the ceiling. Shawna says the sphere is magical.
Chalker writes to Trace, who comes and creates a pluggable tunnel to the surface. This emerges into a bright, sunny winter's day in a pasture at the edge of the small town of Windhollow. The group walks to Windhollow and buys horses and supplies. Shawna speaks with some elven rangers who report minor bandit activity in the area.
After riding 25 miles, the group spends the night at a "way station", a cluster of huts intended as shelter for travelers. Again Chalker dreams of the emerald. He asks, "What's your purpose?" There is a mental gasp of astonishment, and a juvenile voice babbles, "It's a wizard!" ("A lucky person," replies Chalker.) The emerald's purpose is "to help, to do what needs to be done!" It urges Chalker, "Link with me and become one with my aura!" "What do you get out of the bonding?" "Fulfill my purpose! Learn stuff!" "Have you ever harmed the person you bonded with?" "Not intentionally! Not lately!" "What are you called?" "What do you want to call me?" "What were you called before?" The emerald gives a few names including 'Esmeralda' and eventually admits its first name was "Emmy, you know, for emerald." "Who was your first master?" Reflexively the emerald replies "Can't talk about it," then immediately does a 180 and says "Shelly Avar created me."
Chalker has heard legends of the Avar clan dating back to the beginning of the previous age; they were pivotal in the creation of several ancient kingdoms. Avar was known as 'elf-friend' at the time the elves were helping the humans emerge from the Dark Ages. The clan was blessed by Cor and granted extended lifespans.
The group rides to a small, pleasant city called Rosemill, named for its prize roses (there is even one plot of bushes in full bloom even though it is winter) and its impressive watermill. Rosemill is in the duchy of Amadon. Ahn-Lee is the first to spot a man dressed in leathers and wearing a shortsword, who glances over at Chalker and does a double-take. Chalker in turn recognizes the man as Ty Pinton, who he had last seen in another part of the world almost five months ago.
After a moment's hesitation Chalker beckons Ty over, then introduces him to Ahn-Lee and Shawna. Ty mentions that he's "doing scout work for my employer." At Shawna's prompting, he admits that his employer is the Baron in charge of the Dark Guard.
Twilight has fallen, and Chalker gets out his specially-made lantern, inserts six copper coins, lights the lantern, and sets it in the middle of the road. While the others conceal themselves, he stands waiting. Mentally he asks Emmy, "Can you hear me?" There is a faint "Yes" in reply.
Before long a mule-drawn cart comes into view, with six lizardmen arrayed around it. The cart contains a large crate. The lizardmen stop and stare at Chalker. Shawna is given to know that the bloodstone is in the backpack of one of the lizardmen, and inside the crate under restraint is an ancient, very powerful bale.
Chalker announces, "This is a robbery. Give me your jewels, gold, and silver, and you can go." The leader steps forward and hisses, "I, Gressik, will be the one that kills you." A Sense Foes spell is cast from somewhere. Shawna concentrates on the bloodstone. Chalker taunts Gressik, who readies his halberd. Chalker strides forward, raising his hand and calling out "Flame on!" From a ring on his hand sprouts a fiery sword.
(The six lizardmen are Gressik (GR), Prass (PR), Kezzid (KE), Blizzik (BL), Narum (NA), and Yissik (YI).)
Chalker strikes GR's right knee, crippling and burning the leg. GR keeps himself from falling by planting the halberd like a staff. Shawna's prayers grant a bonus to her allies. Ahn-Lee fires his crossbow at PR but the bolt goes wide, drawing the attention of YI. GR tries swinging at Chalker, who taunts, "Change your mind yet?" KE charges at Chalker, swinging his great axe; Chalker dodges. NA pulls out a hatchet and hurls it at Ahn-Lee, who acrobatically dodges. YI, a priest, utters a prayer and GR is healed.
Ahn-Lee, running toward NA, draws and throws two knives, striking with one. Ty, running toward BL, hurls a lightning bolt which strikes the wagon. Shawna focuses her will upon the bloodstone and it begins to fracture (-10). GR, who Chalker judges to be an especially strong, expert fighter, swings and misses. KE swings his axe and Chalker is obliged to dodge the "perfect blow." BL charges Ty and misses with his halberd. NA charges Ahn-Lee and misses. Chalker steps forward and chops at GR's left wrist, which GR pulls out of the way.
Shawna persists (-6). YI hisses in his native language (which Chalker understands due to his white amulet), "Cursed holy one!" PR turns, runs at Ty, swings and misses. GR, readying his halberd, steps toward Chalker. KE steps around GR, swings at Chalker and misses. BL swings at Ty and misses. NA readies his halberd, which is glowing. Ahn-Lee showily fast-draws two knives, then lashes out with his foot and kicks at NA, who nevertheless dodges. Ty throws a fireball which strikes PR. Chalker hooks one of the heated coppers from his lantern and pushes toward YI's chest; YI moves and the coin singes his robes. Chalker shouts in lizardman language, "She's not cursed!"
Ahn-Lee stabs at NA's eyes; NA avoids being blinded, but Ahn-Lee's right-hand knife scrapes his browbone. Shawna pours her will into destroying the bloodstone (-15). The top of the crate explodes upward. Ty dodges back from BL. GR swings and Chalker dodges. KE swings, Chalker dodges. BL swings wildly at Ty, misses. NA swings; Ahn-Lee dodges. Chalker
PR swings wildly, Ty dodges. GR swings and misses Chalker. NA, hissing at Ahn-Lee, readies his halberd. BL swings, Ty dodges. Ahn-Lee lets go of the knife in his right hand, pulls out a poisoned needle, and attempts to jab it into the gash; NA dodges, but Ahn-Lee adroitly catches the knife he just dropped (so he has two knives in his left hand). The bale stands up in the crate. Chalker pulls the coin against YI's skin and sets YI's robes smoldering, feints an attack on GR, then slashes KE; the blow stuns KE. Shawna persists (-13). Ty throws a fireball at BL who dodges; the fireball hits the wagon.
Chalker slashes GR's throat, stunning the lizardman. Shawna persists (-6). Ahn-Lee tells his opponent "You're not bad!" then tries the needle again; NA dodges that, but then Ahn-Lee slams his two daggers into NA's head. YI detects Shawna; at the same time, the flames on his clothing die out. PR attacks Ty, who dodges. GR and KE recover their senses. BL strikes Ty.
Shawna persists (-15). YI stares at the bale and commands "Kill her!" as he turns his eyes in Shawna's direction. The coin moves away from YI and into the wagon. PR attacks and Ty retreats toward the trees. Ahn-Lee leaves one knife in NA's head, shifts his grip on the other, and stabs NA again, simultaneously jabbing the poisoned needle into an open wound. "You did well," Ahn-Lee commends his opponent as NA falls. GR, with a throat wound that should already have been lethal, roars and attacks Chalker, who dodges so as to place GR between himself and KE. KE swings his axe and Chalker parries. BL charges at Ty and swings wildly, missing. Chalker jabs GR in the stomach, but his blow skids off of the lizardman's hide.
Shawna persists (-20), feeling that one more attack ought to do it. The bale leaps off the wagon and swings wildly, striking Shawna. Ahn-Lee rushes at YI, fast-draws a knife, then grapples the lizardman and pins YI's arms, knocking him face-first to the ground. Ahn-Lee can tell there is a large stone in YI's backpack. Chalker hooks Magekiller and hurls it toward the bale's back, uttering the activation words, "RIP Wizard!" Somehow the bale senses the weapon and turns his body to avoid it. Ty's fireball burns his own hand. PR attacks, Ty retreats. Chalker dodges attacks from GR and KE. Some force suddenly throws Ahn-Lee several yards into the air.
Still airborne, Ahn-Lee throws two knives downward, both striking YI. Shawna invokes her luck and the bloodstone finally shatters (-15). The bale strikes Shawna again but she makes no move to avoid him; she gazes deep into the bale's blood-red eyes and smiles. Ty throws a fireball which BL dodges. GR, at last, falls unconscious. KE swings and Chalker parries. Ty dodges blows from PR and BL. YI exerts his will to keep the bale focused on Shawna. Chalker tries to bury Magekiller in the bale's back, but the bale miraculously dodges.
Ahn-Lee turns a flip in midair and lands with both hands jabbing knives into YI's back and Ahn-Lee's feet balanced perfectly on the two other knives, driving them in further. Screaming a warcry, Shawna draws her sword and attacks the bale, who dodges. Stepping back, the bale raises one hand and a longsword appears in it. YI hisses "Lord heal me" and Ahn-Lee sees the lizardman's wounds close. KE attempts one last axe swing, but collapses. Ty runs between PR and BL back toward the wagon. Chalker drives Magekiller into the bale and again says "RIP Wizard!" The dagger's magic blazes forth, blasting away the bale's clothing and charring his flesh. The bale turns toward Chalker and curses.
After a last wild swing at Shawna, the bale rushes toward Chalker. Chalker feints to distract the bale with the flame sword, at the same time pulling Magekiller out slightly and jabbing the dagger back in. Ahn-Lee draws two knives, jumps, flips forward, throws the knives into YI's back, and lands once again on his first two knives. Shawna hits the bale with a lightning bolt. PR and BL pursue Ty. In the lizardman tongue YI cries forlornly, "I failed!" Chalker replies, "Yes, you did."
Chalker slides one leg behind the bale's and slams him onto his back, driving Magekiller deeper. Ahn-Lee drops to his knees straddling YI, fast-draws a knife and a needle, opens another wound with the knife and jabs the needle in. Shawna casts Tanglefoot, tripping PR and slowing BL. The bale casts some spell that Chalker resists with his will. BL yanks PR to his feet. Ty reaches the blazing wagon and, grinning, turns to face PR and BL. YI screams, "Lord take me!"
Chalker stabs the bale in the throat with his flame sword. The bale throws black lightning which Chalker dodges with alacrity, exclaiming "Holy sh*t!" YI screams again, wordlessly.
Shawna strikes the bale with a Sunbolt. PR and BL manage to pull their feet free. Ty's fireball fells BL. Using both hands Ahn-Lee drives his knife into YI's head; the lizardman priest finally expires.
Black fire flares in the bale's hand; he throws it at Chalker's feet. Chalker acrobatically flips toward the bale, avoiding the explosion that burns a circle into the ground. Chalker drops to his knees and stabs the bale in the mouth. Ahn-Lee stands up, yanking two of his knives out of YI's corpse. Ty's fireball misses PR. In turn, PR charges at Ty, swings and misses.
Ahn-Lee gets a running start, leaps over the wagon, slams his heels into PR's chest; PR ends up on his back with Ahn-Lee standing on his chest. Shawna runs toward the bale. The bale throws lightning at Chalker who dodges, pulling his sword out of the bale's mouth. Chalker slams his sword hard into the bale's forehead, and the bale falls.
Ahn-Lee finishes off PR by stomping on the lizardman's throat. Chalker beheads the bale. Ahn-Lee and Chalker go around and make sure all the lizardmen are dead. Shawna rips open the backpack and crushes the bloodstone's shards to dust. Ahn-Lee loots the lizardmen, collecting over 9g (mainly from YI). One of the scrolls found in the remains of the crate give the bale's name, Pilando, and Chalker knows he was not from Yavalin; he had been living with the lizardmen in the duchy of Drakwick.
A scroll scrawled with bad handwriting thanks Lord Gasa for providing the Stone of Blood for the rise of the Lizardmen. Gasa, according to Chalker, is the Second Chosen of Savagery under Aakbarath, Goddess of Vengeance. Gasa has not been actively worshipped for a thousand years. The bloodstone had been found in lizardman territory and was being taken to Ridell. They would claim the other bloodstones, "teach Ridell a lesson," then return in triumph to rule over the other lizardmen. The bale was controlled "through the will of Gasa" and the use of the bloodstone. Yissik, having stripped the bale of all other sustenance, was feeding the bale energy.
Ty's assignment here was to investigate the lizardman rumors and report to the local dukes. Chalker orders Ty to incinerate the bale's corpse.
Taking the wagon and mule (which has been standing calmly throughout the entire ordeal) the group returns to Rosemill to rest and relax. Shawna and Chalker agree that the mule would be good company for Trace's donkey, Nancy.