Sapphire:Sessions:20190420
On Wind Time 2 the "hit squad" heads north.
Alastor learns that Andronius had died from "choking."
On the evening of the 5th the "hit squad" returns with the corpse of Marcus Mays.
Wind Time 6: The "stronghold army" is reported to be moving southward.
Alastor convinces General Bellington to swear allegiance to the king-to-be.
Alastor autopsies a dark halfling. One of its extra organs, he finds, generates adrenaline, and another creates a hormone that toughens the bones and skin. Alastor learns the dark halfling's body structure so well that he gains a bonus to attacks against their vitals, knowledge he later shares with the others.
Wind Time 7: At noon there is a great gathering outside the palace. Banners fly and trumpets sound. Chalker announces the ascension to the Malprin throne of the new king, Lamont Kolton. Lamont delivers an eloquent and forceful speech that leaves many citizens "crying with joy." He also announces his betrothal to Sharon Neely.
Alastor carefully notes among the happy crowd a dozen people who are distinctly not happy. Seven of them are merchants (not slavers, but their businesses were ancillary to the slave trade).
While out carousing, Intrinsius "takes the pulse of the city."
Chalker names his new ship (confiscated from PDG) Three's a Charm.
Wind Time 8: A delegation is sent to the "five mile camp." Four barons and two Protectors are with the camp. Discussion is cordial, and two of the barons are leaning strongly toward supporting Lamont. However, the barons also claim that Mays is on his way south. An invitation is extended to come and view Mays' corpse.
Wind Time 9: Mid-morning, the barons from "five mile camp", one Protector, an advisor, and eight guards are escorted to the palace. Lamont invites them to inspect Marcus Mays' corpse. One of the guards, a mage, verifies that the corpse is indeed that of Mays; there are no illusions on it, and he locates a particular birthmark on Mays' neck.
Each of the barons has a private audience with King Lamont. Later, Lamont tells the group that two of the barons have "come over" and the other two are strongly inclined to do so.
Chalker sends Kimtri and Wade to follow the barons back to "five mile camp". Kimtri reports back that at 1:00pm the "stronghold army" had arrived, and subsequently there was a "big blowup" in camp. Five barons "stomped out" and three Protectors stepped in to allow the barons to depart without violence.
At sundown the five barons and their armies (350 strong) arrive at the city gates. Lamont goes to meet them and demands that the barons swear fealty to him; they all comply. They related that the person in charge of the combined "five mile" and "stronghold" armies is Dora Book, former counsellor to the late King Kolton, who has with her the three mages Cole Wingless, Nolbert, and Hala. They had with them a person who looked like Marcus Mays but that may have been an illusion cast by Nolbert. The five barons think the remaining barons will "come over" within days.
Alastor learns that Dora Book's son and daughter-in-law still live in Colvin. They have freed their slaves, recompensed them, and rehired them. Alastor has them brought into the palace for their protection.
At midnight, an army of "infiltrators" from the camps attempt to enter the city through a little-used gate. Molina intercepts them. Intrinsius throws a Fireball to impress them. From the walls Chalker announces, "Give up, put your weapons down, turn around and walk backward slowly." Eventually all of them comply, the last ones being their commander and sub-commander.
Intrinsius spots two camouflaged scouts in the bushes. "Come out or you get this Fireball." One of them surrenders, but the other one runs. Intrinsius' Fireball engulfs the runner in flames.
Shawna casts Faerie Fire to reveal a blurred mage hovering in the air. Chalker 'hooks' a metal object on the mage's waist and pokes him with it. The mage moves away at Hawk Flight speed. Chalker pulls back the metal object, a bloodied dagger; Shawna determines the blood belonged to the mage Hala.
Wind Time 10: The combined "five mile" and "stronghold army" camp has dissolved and the troops scattered. The remaining barons enter the city under a flag of surrender. Dora Book, the three mages, and 200 troops have fled to the north.
Alastor is waiting at the dock when Dinah's ship arrives. She is quite happy to see him. She and Sonya are among the last of the liberation force to arrive.
Intrinsius is introduced to Sharon Neely's younger sister. Over the next several days Intrinsius forms a partnership with Baron Neely to market and distribute Neely's Ale.
Chalker returns to Sapphire and speaks with the king about Malprin.
By Wind Time 18, "all the wheels are in motion." Lamont's coronation will take place on the 19th, and Sharon and Lamont will wed on Rain Time 1.
Shawna casts Seeker using the two coins Chalker took. The dark halflings are over 1000 miles away to the northwest, still on the open ocean. She gets a report that after five days the dark halflings scuttled their second ship, and after ten days the merfolk were forced to cease their pursuit. A storm came in, then dense fog, then aversion and disorientation.
Intrinsius speaks with Chalker, requesting to go with him and his group when they leave Malprin. Shawna notes to herself that Santash has taken an interest in Intrinsius.
Sa'tire Belandrie contacts Shawna. He begins by congratulating her on the success of the Malprin campaign, then says, "The Lady and Lord of Darkness are active in the Orc Lands, just beyond Omea." Frowning, Shawna corrects him: "If by 'Lady of Darkness' you mean Charesoon, she merits not the title, as she is neither a 'lady' nor the mate of Asseraah. (Granted, she might be his 'consort'.)" Shawna stresses the urgency of pursuing the dark halflings, and Belandrie replies that he will take up that task. "Yasseph and Roo are very concerned" and are urging that Shawna go investigate, although they offer no hard information as to what Asseraah and Charesson are plotting. Shawna places one of the dark halflings' coins in Belandrie's keeping.
The group returns to Sapphire (demonstrating the gate and crystals to Intrinsius) and spends a day taking care of business and preparing for another possibly lengthy sojourn. Alastor receives reports from Valor. Shawna visits her friend Lady Thire, appears in Temple Row (smirking at the acolytes of Asseraah), and enters the temple of Yasseph. In Falconhurst, a town on the northern border of Omea, there is a temple of Yasseph headed by a new human priestess. Some local flocks and herds have gone missing, dogs have been found "torn to pieces," bands of robbers (human) are roaming the orc lands, yet no "taint" has been sensed. Also, "some of the First Chosen" are moving in the area.
Alastor's talisman warms as he approaches the Temple of Delsa. A young female acolyte greets him. He shows her his talisman and his Delsa knife, and asks to learn the observances and prayers.
Chalker sends Intrinsius to the Boar's Head, saying "Try a Bajeeter Special. Tell him Chalker sent you." Intrinsius knocks back two Specials, pronounces them very good, and sells a keg of Neely's ale to Bajeeter for a profitable price.
Chalker visits the Temple of Jarooth. After offering thanks for the sea god's help in the Malprin campaign, he asks, "Why did you help the dark halflings escape?" Right away a young acolyte comes up to him and says, "I have a message... I'm told to open myself and meditate and you won't hurt me." Chalker takes the acolyte's hand, and soon after they resume walking the acolyte grows taller and his voice deepens. They are evil. Were they 'helped to escape', or rather delivered to the place where their retribution will be served? The merfolk have pleased me greatly. Chalker: "You're saying you helped the dark halflings? Are they from this realm?" I will not talk their origins. [sic] Chalker: "Thank you. I always come away feeling that you said something I missed."
The acolyte returns to his normal size as Jarooth's presence departs. Chalker tells him, "He's upset me and I need you to keep walking with me until I calm down." A few minutes pass, and Chalker asks, "Who decides who goes to Dar?" Acolyte: "I haven't learned yet."
As Chalker is heading for the Boar's Head, he notices a team of three taking turns shadowing him. Reaching the tavern, he beckons to one of the three, a young attractive woman. Abigail readily tells him, "We were hired through cut-outs. If I was caught, I was to disengage. I can tell you the cut-out's name." "Come on in," Chalker says. He orders each of them a Bajeeter Special. "Wow, that's good," Abigail exclaims. They join Intrinsius at his table; he immediately starts flirting with her, and she pulls her chair next to his.
Chalker writes: Jarooth was not a lot of help. He only confirmed that the dark halflings are evil.
Alastor flips Danny (the Copper Kid who's been hanging around Jules Apothecary) a silver piece and asks for news. Danny mentions that Neville is teaching the kids how to train dogs, fixing up his house, and working at some blacksmith's shop. Alastor reports to Azzhik that "Otto's First Aid" incapacitates the victim but is not immediately fatal. Alastor buys some Magic Resistance potions, asks for some of the bear poison that Ahn-Lee uses, and asks Azzhik to research a gas base that Alastor could add other ingredients to.
Shawna rides out of the city and spends time in a small grove. She feels the presences of Yasseph and Roo. Shawna is to "find out what they're obscuring and take action." There are "orcs, goblins, and 'elder creatures'" involved. Yasseph says cryptically, "The young human knows more than he thinks."
Shawna suggests, "Let's go to the Green Lantern. Skylar and Alvin are playing." Intrinsius brings Abigail with him and learns (among other things) that she is a "former" member of the Thieves Guild and is "an expert follower and setup person."
The next morning, the group takes the portal to the capital of Albana, where they appear in an alleyway between a blacksmith and a silversmith. They buy four riding horses, a warhorse for Shawna, and a draft horse (to carry supplies or pull Tiny Wagon if needed). The day's ride is uneventful.
The next morning they cross the border into Omea, where they are charged 1cp per person and per horse.
Thirty minutes past the border, they notice a canine trotting through the trees, keeping pace. Chalker and Shawna detect the dog's handler, a human male in his late teens. He has short dark brown hair, is wearing leathers, and bears a shortsword and a sling. Although he is 40' into the woods, he is easily keeping pace with his dog.
Chalker hooks onto the lad's sword and snatches it forward. The boy stumbles and falls, but immediately regains his feet and puts his back to a tree. Shawna and Chalker ride into the trees and confront him. He says his name is Corey Rufus Branch, and his dog's name is Day Rufus Branch. He is working for Huber, a priest (he claims he's not sure of which god) and was told to look for "unexpected things."
Chalker checks Corey's aura: Young, has been in the presence of Asseraah, though he is not linked to or blessed by him; he has been granted certain physical and psionic 'gifts'. The aura of the dog, Day: Sentient, has been in the presence of Asseraah, Aakbarath, Damarot, and Mensep. Both show as "survivors," neither particularly good nor evil.
Corey: "I smell the First Chosen on you." Chalker: "I suggest we get a shovel and dig two holes." Corey: "Is there anything I can do so you won't kill me and my dog?"