Sapphire:Sessions:20190126
So far in Malprin, Alastor the merchant has made 12gp profit. He is pleased, especially knowing there is even more gold to be had.
Ahn-Lee is having his hired assassin, Rolf Vernay, track a certain guard.
Shawna obtains from Azzhik an antidote to the drug used to keep Malprin slaves docile. She gives some to Ahn-Lee to take to Chun.
Late afternoon on the 24th, Chalker leaves Quin Hicks, looking for high-end taverns. One person follows him all the way from Hicks' place to the Golden Palm, but doesn't follow him inside. Chalker goes to the bar, orders ale, and chats up the bartender. "I haven't been here in awhile." Bartender: "It's been rough, but it will turn around. The king and the merchants are looking for new venues." Chalker: "You have more than just the slave trade. Who works the farms and mines?" The bartender shrugs.
Alastor is making his rounds, accepting requests from herbalists for specific plants. In one tavern he overhears the buzz about "the new trader in town" -- meaning himself. "I don't know how he stands with the authorities yet." One person recognizes him and praises him for "the new product in town -- it's a good sign." Alastor writes an inquiry in his journey book and Chalker responds, "I'm going to talk to some mercs or a servant girl -- come visit!"
Chalker approaches a woman who greets him enthusiastically. "I'm Rice, who are you?" "I'm Cheryl." She is into "fine arts" and trying to break into a singing career. Her aura: greedy, likes material things, touched by Eupho, Magery 0, has empathy and a low-level psionic Broadcast ability. She has lived in Colvin all her life and wants to move to Zondell for a fresh start, but still needs several gold. Chalker, suggestively: "You look like you have 'other talents.'" Cheryl: "I'll be glad to give you a private performance." Chalker: "I want to hire you on retainer to accompany me to some places. Here's a silver. When I find you again, we'll walk around Colvin and you'll tell me about things you see."
Alastor walks into the Golden Palm just as Chalker is leaving Cheryl and approaching a table of mercs. Chalker nods in acknowledgement and Alastor heads to the bar. Alastor has no trouble lipreading the mercs' conversation; they are talking about Chalker.
One merc offers Chalker a seat. Aura: fighter, devout to Gauder and Bar, will do anything for money. Each of the men leads a company of mercenaries. Chalker: "Are you gentlemen from Colvin?" No, one claims to be from Vendoza, another from Salitow, one from Yolinda, and the one identified as a lieutenant was born in the Troubled Lands. "Are y'all working?" The man from Yolinda is working, the others are between jobs. "You two, how big are your forces?" One has 50, the other 100. One of them says that a coalition of merchants may be hiring them to go to the "conflicted countries" to "teach the border barons a lesson." The third group is under contract through the end of the next month, working for some barons outside of Colvin.
Chalker: "How much to hire both your companies for a month?" After their initial astonishment, the leader of 50 wants 15sp per month plus food, so the leader of 100 says he'd want 30sp plus food. The latter also asks to see paperwork authorizing Chalker to hire mercenaries, else "we could get in trouble."
Chalker: "What if I paid you just to leave -- just to ride to the other side of Carlsbad. I don't want you to get in trouble, I just want you not to be here." The mercs hem and haw. "It's a 500 mile trip... Can we take other jobs on the way?" Chalker: "Yes." Both of the mercs nod and say, "It's a deal!"
The third merc repeats that he and his 70 men have a solid contract, "And I don't walk out on contracts." They are supplementing the guards at a merchant house in Colvin. It's light duty and they return to their stations tomorrow.
Chalker writes: I hired 150 mercs to leave Colvin. What do you think of my purchase? Shawna: Splendid.
Chalker explains to the two mercs, "I will give you each one gold now. Get up, get your men, and meet me at the northern gates outside the caravan grounds in four hours. I'll give you the rest of your money, you leave. When you come back, you'll thank me." He gets the third merc to repeat the words, "I've seen nothing illegal."
As Chalker leaves, a furious discussion erupts behind him. Alastor 'hears' the merc with 50 say, "Why don't we just kill him?" Chalker comes up to Alastor muttering, "I might have to kill those guys." Alastor: "They're discussing killing you." Chalker: "Mercenary captains can be so fickle. Let me go make a few points."
Chalker returns to the mercs. "When I meet you, I'm bringing my fifteen friends, and you two are gonna die. Some of my friends have pointy ears. Understand? I'll cut your head off if you look at me wrong. If you don't show, my friend will hunt you down. I'm seen a lot of dead mercs."
Chalker leaves the subdued mercs and says to Alastor, "I'm done. I've hired a call girl for later, and there's one guy following me."
Chalker and Alastor look across the harbor. There is movement on the nearer of the dark ships, three halfling-sized (or child-sized) humanoids wearing dark clothes. A dim light shows through portholes below the main deck. The only metal Chalker detects is at a halfling's waist, possibly a dagger made of silver alloyed with another metal.
Ahn-Lee climbs up into the slave pens. Chun is just as Ahn-Lee had left him, lying prone on his cot, eyes closed. "Evening, Chun." "I was sold, and the buyer had arranged transportation, but they were unable to transfer my allegiance. I can't do much, but..." Chun doesn't finish the sentence, but he smiles. Ahn-Lee: "Want a drink?" Chun: "A fine ale would be good." Ahn-Lee slips away, locates the guards' hidden stash, fills the biggest mug he can find, and dumps the antidote into it. Chun accepts the mug, saying "You're a true friend." One swallow, though, and he screws up his face and says "This is atrocious! But (shrug) it's ale" and he takes another gulp. He shakes his head, then sits down on his cot. "Strong stuff... head's swirling..."
After several moments, Ahn-Lee asks, "Think you'll go with them?" Chun: "Yes. And I'll wait until we're five miles outside of the city. And I'll break my buyer's arm and take his knife and slit all their throats." Ahn-Lee: "Well, what if your cell door were unlocked?" Chun: "I'll kill everyone." Ahn-Lee: "If I asked you nicely, would you not?" Chun: "If you ask, I will quietly leave." Ahn-Lee: "We'll get you far away from Colvin."
While Chun scratches up the cell door to make it look like he somehow broke out, Ahn-Lee pickpockets the keys from a sleeping guard (leaving his money pouch alone), unlocks Chun's cell, then puts the keys back. "Follow me." Ahn-Lee leads Chun, who with his stocky, powerful frame moves very quietly, through the window and down the wall.
Ahn-Lee writes to Shawna: Antidote worked. Sending Chun to Wicera to tell you what he knows.
Ahn-Lee leads Chun near the hidden gate, then pops out a sleep needle, intending to give Chun a dose. Instead, he fumbles badly and accidentally sticks himself! Fighting the drowsiness, he mutters to Chun, "Think I'm feeling the ale." Chun helps him to a place of concealment and for the next hour tends to Ahn-Lee and stands guard until Ahn-Lee recovers.
Ahn-Lee tries the needle again and this time it goes perfectly. The drug puts Chun to sleep. Ahn-Lee takes a deep breath, slings Chun over his shoulder, and when Shawna opens the gate he carries Chun through it. Ahn-Lee summarizes events for Shawna, indicating Chun and saying, "I'll want to recruit him."
Chalker writes: I'm going to meet 150 mercs. Want to come? He tells Ahn-Lee, "I want you to set up far away with a crossbow." Alastor pulls up his hood and lights a torch.
Behind the two merc captains, their 150 men are arrayed in ranks. The men stare as Chalker and Alastor walk toward them. A naked sword floats beside Chalker. Chalker addresses the captains, "Gentlemen, this (indicating the sword) is my sister Coco. I owe you five silver, and you, three and a half, correct? Here you are. Go ahead." The capatins issue orders to move out quietly. Their troops mount up and ride out, their horses' hooves muffled. The gate guards simply watch as they pass through.
Chalker writes: Thanks, Ahn-Lee. To Alastor he remarks, "That's 150 people we don't have to kill. If we did, we'd probably have to use fire." Alastor: "That's why I have a torch."
A city guardsman approaches. "Good evening. I'm Sgt Harold. What was going on there?" Chalker: "I had those gentlemen run me an errand, since they had to leave town anyway. They said they had a job somewhere else." Sgt: I'll have to check with the guild, make sure they didn't renege on a contract. That was very peculiar. I've never seen a merc group leave at midnight."
On the 26th, Ahn-Lee explains to Kimtri that she and anyone they recruit will have to be blindfolded and their ears muffled before being transported to Malprin. Kimtri plans to hire a master illusionist named Wade, a member of the Thieves Guild. "He can handle several illusions at once."
Alastor discreetly asks around about the black ships. He's told they've been sitting in the harbor for nine days (meaning they arrived three days before the group did). Neither had ever been brought to the pier. Longboats have delivered crates painted black. Mages have been seen going out. Someone says the crew looked normal, but there were a lot of children. They had been escorted in by warships flying Malprin colors that had departed directly afterward.
Chalker meets up with Cheryl and gives her 5cp. Chalker is on the lookout for PDG. He requests, "Tell me when you see something funny, like this (holding up one of his magic rings)." Chalker has learned that one of the PDG ships is preparing to leave Colvin. "I don't want them to leave," he mutters. He hooks a copper piece, heats it in a flame, and floats it through the air to light the wick of a lantern on the ship. He and Cheryl go bar-hopping. He spots a number of PDG sailors having a last fling before leaving port, but not their captain.
Ahn-Lee transports Kimtri to Colvin and shows her around. He picks Kimtri's brain for organizational and planning strategies for their strike team. Their targets are King Kolton and his heir. Ahn-Lee and Kimtri will each lead a squad of 6. Kimtri says matter-of-factly, "I expect to lose half our force." Ahn-Lee: "Their fault for not being good enough!"
Ahn-Lee goes to Branamin's house and pounds loudly on the door, calling "Branamin, open up!" He looks the mage up and down. "When was the last time you got out? Colvin, Malprin -- assassinate a king -- put your studies to good use -- these are bad people! You can go tiger on them!"
Chalker learns there are twelve Protectors in Colvin and finds out where three of them are staying, but they move every week. Occasionally they meet on the palace grounds.
Shawna calls for two ships carrying 250 troops to sail from Saxony to a point near Colvin just over the horizon, and to arrive before the 1st. A wind mage and some whales harnessed by merfolk will speed them along.
On the 27th, one of the PDG ships leaves Colvin.
Ahn-Lee picks up some special throwing knives from Tron Ironsinger. The dwarf says he has crafted these knives so they can be readily enchanted. Regretfully, he has not found a source for spidersilk armor, and notes that its crafting may be a lost art.
By the 28th, Kimtri and Ahn-Lee have completed their team, twelve in all, including Branamin, Chun, and Rolf Vernay.
Chalker designates Alastor as the keeper of the safe house, a refuge for freed slaves and fleeing citizens. Alastor begins stockpiling kerosene.
On the 29th, Rory provides Shawna five copies of his detailed map of Colvin. Shawna gives copies to Ahn-Lee and Chalker.
Chalker walks the thirteen points where the artifact pieces will have to be placed in order to free the dragon, plotting out the fastest route as well as several alternative and escape routes. At one point his neck hairs rise, and he figures it's because he's within a half-mile of the temple of Asseraah.
Shawna explains to Chalker that as she places each artifact piece, she will perform a ritual that should stop the dragon spirit from warning the Protectors. According to her research, the dragon spirit is imprisoned partly because of the destructive aspects of its nature - fire, ruination, greed. It sees Colvin as its hoard it must protect. She will call to its positive aspects and restore to the dragon its free will.
On the 30th, Shawna collects the rest of the potions and other items from Azzhik.
Chalker rents two horses, the sturdiest and swiftest he can find.
Alastor's storehouse is the group's meeting/staging location. Ahn-Lee goes over his and Kimtri's plans; they will infiltrate the palace together, then Ahn-Lee's team will go after the king and Kimtri's, the heir. Alastor has selected a cluster of buildings that he will set on fire as a distraction.
From the shadows Ahn-Lee bumps past a palace guard, growling "Get the hell out of the way" while injecting him with a delayed-action poison. Rolf does the same.
At 11:45, Alastor sets some curtains in the first building on fire, then tosses an accellerant on them. The flames soon reach the kerosene he had placed previously. Back at his storehouse, he changes into "less sketchy" clothing.
Chalker guides Shawna to the first of the thirteen points. Invoking Delsa and Cor, mentally reaching out to the dragon spirit, she successfully performs the first ritual.
Just before midnight, the poisoned guards collapse. Ahn-Lee orders the charge onto the palace grounds.
By the third point, Shawna senses the dragon spirit stirring, confused. At the fourth, she can tell it can dimly sense the fire. At the fifth, Chalker can detect a presence; at the sixth, it is awakening, looking around, confused. At the seventh, Shawna silently projects to it, "You are safe here." The ritual succeeds, but it is a close call; the dragon is starting to "feel its majesty" but its hoarder aspect is resentful. Chalker senses Mensep close by, appraising the situation.
Ahn-Lee's team encounters six guards; his bowman shoots one. Ahn-Lee gets one with a sleep needle. Branamin creates an illusion, then attacks the guard that turns to fight it. Chun strikes and kills a guard. Ahn-Lee stabs another guard in the vitals. Two of his team members are injured before they eliminate the guards and move on.
Alastor moves to the door of the storehouse and sees people on the street outside looking toward the fire.
The eighth ritual is another close call; Shawna becomes aware that half of the Protectors are awakened.
Ahn-Lee's team turns the corner to the royal suite. At either side of the door is a guard armored in scale mail. Ahn-Lee starts to raise Tiny Crossbow, but immediately gets a gut feeling that he shouldn't "waste" his bear-poisoned bolt here. His crossbowman's bolt pierces one guard's brain, and his longbowman and Branamin's Sunbolt kill the other. From the royal suite a deep bass voice booms, "Go for cover, my liege!"
Alastor admires his handiwork as the fire goes boom and the gawkers on the street cry out. As Shawna performs the ninth ritual, she feels the dragon spirit is upset but curious. Alastor feels a power stirring, and a few bystanders faint.
With the tenth ritual both Chalker and Shawna sense (through the dragon spirit) one of the Protectors speaking a word that makes him move faster; another Protector in the palace running for his horse; another is in the presence of the king.
Guards and water mages are moving to deal with the fire.
Ahn-Lee throws a sleep bomb down a hallway that will not be used when they evacuate. He says, "Chun, the king is yours," then kicks open the door. Confronting him is an imposing, well-armored Protector with a bastard sword in one hand and energy swirling around the other. Five other guards are in the room, and Ahn-Lee glimpses the king behind them. Ahn-Lee fires Tiny Crossbow and the bear-poisoned bolt 'luckily' punctures the Protector's shoulder. The Protector gasps and falls to one knee, then struggles to stand. Branamin transforms into a snarling tiger. Chun, disregarding the guards, weaves his way toward the king. The bowmen fire. Ahn-Lee acrobatically dodges the Protector's attack, fast-draws two daggers, and drives both of them through the Protector's eyeslits. The swirling energy fades away.
At the eleventh point Shawna urges the dragon spirit, "You were the last; you are now the first. Listen, there is hope."
Two city guards come around the side of the warehouse. Seeing Alastor they do a double-take, then draw weapons and start toward him. Calmly, Alastor lights a special cigarette and takes a puff. One of the guards exclaims, "You look wrong! You look wrong!" Alastor gazes back, unperturbed, as the guard babbles, "I thought you did it somehow!" Alastor looks at the guard quizzically until he winds down, mumbling "Fire... I thought you had something to do with the fire... but you couldn't have..."
At the twelfth point Chalker sees a Protector approaching from 200 yards away, running 20mph. Reaching out with his metal TK, Chalker first tries to twist his helm around, then pulls it to one side. The Protector slams hard into a building, bounces off the building and falls to the ground, coming up limping and attempting to draw his sword. Chalker grasps the boot on the Protector's lame leg and jerks it to the right, making him fall down again. As Chalker and Shawna mount up and ride away, Chalker pulls the same leg straight back and the Protector face-plants.
"What is he talking about?" Alastor asks the babbling guard's buddy, who replies, "He gets these, I don't know... he's located people before... but this time he's gone crazy." Alastor: "You should get him out of here before he makes a scene."
Although severely wounded, Chun fights his way through to the king and strikes several times, killing him. The blinded Protector is groping slowly toward the snarling tiger. Ahn-Lee kicks hard at the Protector's knee and the Protector falls down. Ahn-Lee jams a poisoned needle through a joint in the Protector's armor. "Time to go!" He quickly takes stock: two of his team members (the crossbowman and one of his guild mates) are dead and Chun has passed out. Ahn-Lee asks Branamin, "Can you heal Chun?" Branamin transforms back and casts a healing spell, and Chun wakes up. Leaving the suite, Ahn-Lee grins as he sees several bodies lying in the hallway where he'd thrown the sleep bomb.
Ahn-Lee's team meets up with Kimtri's. The heir is slain, though she has lost three people; she, Wade, and Rolf made it out.
As Shawna sets the final artifact fragment and completes the thirteenth ritual, a glowing, golden dragon spreads its fifty-foot wings, rising up over the burning buildings. In a high-pitched, squeaky voice it asks, "Where am I? What must I do? May I go home?" Shawna replies simply, "You are free." "They must be waiting for me... May Yasseph become more --" And the liberated dragon blazes up and away through the night skies.