Sapphire:Sessions:20190824
Wind Time 29: The sun dawns on a beautiful morning.
Shawna murmurs to Chalker that "Flit's body has gone to join his spirit."
Though they are five miles away, the group can already see structures rising in the distance. Though they are still under construction, a glamour makes them appear somehow... enviable. Shawna chuckles.
Chalker rides beside Uber and says, "I envy you. I made her mad once, too. Have you met her? She's lovely."
As if in response to his silent prayer, a small flame like that of a candle appears on Intrinsius' saddle. After a few moments, he reaches out and takes the flame onto the tip of his finger. Chalker: "Don't burn our hosts -- yet!"
Chalker estimates he can see at least 200 people working on construction. A grid of streets is already laid out. There is even the dry bed of an artificial river winding under bridges.
Uber stops before where the city walls are intended to rise. "Huber will host you in the City Administrative Center." He claims that all the First Chosen will be represented in the city's Temple Row, though only a few temples are under construction.
Chalker: "Are you fireproof?" Uber, his eyes darting to Intrinsius' flame: "I am not fireproof." Chalker: "Then we will continue." Intrinsius whispers to his flame, "Go sit on Uber's saddle." It does so, doubling in size and causing Uber to flinch.
Intrinsius taps his wrist, reminding Chalker to check for the marks of compulsion. Yes, he sees many of them.
A priestess of Aaoo moves up to walk beside Chalker, who says to her, "Tell Sweetie I'm coming." To his surprise, he recognizes her from the last time he 'walked' a temple of Aaoo.
The parade approaches an ornate, three-story building marked with symbols of Assaraah, Aaoo, and Aup. Chalker notes some Xanthyppian inscriptions. Shawna hands the reins of her warhorse to a ragged older man, threatening death if the horses are harmed. Chalker to Tay: "Whose side are you on? I can't protect you." Tay doesn't answer right away.
Chalker says to Intrinsius, "Call your flame back. We'll need it." Intrinsius walks over to Uber and the flame jumps to the end of his extended staff. Intrinsius: "Do you know how much fire will be needed to burn all this stone?" The flame again doubles in size, and Intrinsius seems to hear a low, crackling voice say, "As long as my chosen vessel doesn't burn up."
Shawna senses the attention of several of the First Chosen upon her group, in particular Yasseph, Santash, Solash, Roo, Mensep, Phor.
The entrance to the building is through two metallic doors, each 9' high and 9' wide. Somehow Uber pushes them open. Inside it is rather dim, as there are no windows and the only light is from oil lamps. On this level there seems to be just one large room with rough stone columns along either side and a slightly raised platform at the far end, upon which stands a tall, robed man. In front of the platform is a pool of "turbulent" water 30' square. Shawna, flanked by Intrinsius and Chalker, proceeds straight toward the robed man -- Huber, high priest of Assaraah, clad in formal priestly robes. Chalker and Intrinsius pass to either side. Chalker looks down into the water and sees a submerged beast at least 9' long and 4' wide with shaggy green hair concealing spikes. It has a huge head like a snake's, and its 3' long tail ends in another snake's head. Chalker warns Shawna, who without hesitation casts Walk on Air, rising three feet and continuing straight over the pool, stopping directly in front of Huber.
Intrinsius sets one foot on the platform and gets a sudden feeling of envy, envy of Chalker and Shawna and their wealth and weaponry and valuable possessions. As he resists the feeling, he senses that something is testing his protection.
Chalker notices a 'closet' in a corner to one side of the platform that he should be able to see into, but his special sight is blocked.
Shawna repeats the words she hears in her mind, "This needs to stop."
Chalker speaks to Huber. "You're my father's representative? We're supposed to take this city away from you. Let's talk 'sharing.' I want you to work for me."
Tay and Sam step to the sides and draw their weapons, obviously throwing in their lot with Huber. Beast starts to move forward. Chalker hooks Dink-Dink. Abruptly, Shawna lunges forward and puts her hands around Huber's throat.
Chalker: "You should have taken the deal." Huber tries futilely to break Shawna's chokehold. Intrinsius, to his flame: "The priests are your revenge!" The flame blazes higher. Alastor fast-draws two poisoned knives and swiftly stabs the two enemies on either side of him, killing both. Jeb and Danal draw their weapons. Cal attacks the treacherous Sam. Shawna starts to twist Huber's neck. Intrinsius parries a blow with his staff, the flame doubling in size again. Men both armed and unarmed emerge from the columns and run toward the group. Beast charges out of the water, knocking one of Huber's men to the ground as Jeb and Uber get out of the way. Chalker grabs at Uber who evades him but stumbles.
Chalker, using his TK, jabs Dink-Dink into Beast's back. Shawna twists Huber around between her and Beast. A fighter grabs Uber and pushes him away from Chalker. Beast runs into Huber and Shawna, shoving them against the wall. Intrinsius swings his staff, inflicting significant physical and fire damage on Tay. Cal hits Sam again.
Suddenly Huber turns to a shadow on the wall. Beast crashes into the wall. Chalker shouts "Flame On!" and then pushes Dink-Dink further into Beast's body. Intrinsius throws an Exploding Fireball and injures three enemies. Shawna throws a Sunbolt but shadow-Huber dodges it. Someone grabs Cal and the goblin fast-draws a knife and stabs his attacker. Alastor kills another.
Chalker withdraws Dink-Dink slightly, then shoves it even deeper into Beast. Shawna throws another Sunbolt and Huber dodges again. Chalker parries Beast's snake tail with Flame On! Huber becomes three-dimensional again, but these efforts have taken a lot out of him. Intrinsius casts another Exploding Fireball which kills one man and sets another on fire while Tay dodges. Tay swings at Intrinsius and misses; Intrinsius growls, "You're dead now." Jeb is slammed into and falls down. Alastor is jostled but remains on his feet.
Yet again, Huber dodges Shawna's Sunbolt. Huber steps away, praying. Chalker yanks Dink-Dink out of Beast and thrusts the sword at Huber, who dodges; Dink-Dink is driven 6" into the wall. Uber forms "a ring of black light" which Chalker avoids. Chalker points Flame On! threateningly at Uber. Jeb is struck and hurt. Beast pushes Shawna back a step; its tail strikes at and misses Chalker. Alastor notches another kill.
Huber, still praying, moves toward the "closet" corner. Chalker hooks Magekiller, pushes it into Huber, and utters the activation words, "One Less Mage." The group hears a "mental scream" as Huber is pushed seemingly into the corner and through solid stone. Uber immediately run into the wall and vanishes. Shawna realizes that Uber's spirit is being displaced by Huber's. Intrinsius parries Tay. Jeb is hit again; he is stunned and bleeding. Intrinsius pokes his staff into Tay's face; critically injured, blinded, and stunned, Tay drops his sword. Shawna swings her sword and strikes Beast in the head; Beast tries to bite her but she jams her mailed forearm between its jaws. Jeb passes out but his attacker continues striking him. Cal hits Sam. Chalker can now see, in a corridor behind the corner wall, Huber's body sprawled on the floor with Magekiller in his back.
Shawna strikes Beast in the neck. Impudently, Chalker tells her, "Quit playing, go through the wall and get Uber!" Beast bites Shawna. Alastor fast-draws two daggers and kills another man. Danal is on the ground.
Chalker steps and strikes Beast with Flame On! Shawna teleports into a well-lit corridor and yanks Magekiller out of Huber's corpse as she starts in the direction she hears Uber running. Beast bites Intrinsius. Intrinsius performs a whirlwind attack and kills two men (somehow Beast dodges).
Intrinsius thrusts his flame-staff down Beast's throat. Shawna prays for "the speed of the wind" as she runs, and her speed is doubled. Chalker strikes Beast in the neck. Alastor kills another man. Danal gets to his feet.
Shawna rushes up to two more priests, "Hu" and "Ube", who are apparently trying to block the door Huber (in Uber's body) ran through. Her wild swing cuts down Ube. Intrinsius throws an Exploding Fireball which sets Beast's fur ablaze. Alastor kills two more men. Beast tries to bite Intrinsius but misses. Chalker strikes Beast again.
Intrinsius shoves an Exploding Fireball down Beast's throat. Shawna strikes Hu. Beast bites Intrinsius but doesn't get through his armor; it tries to hit Chalker with its tail, then finally collapses from its injuries. Chalker hooks an enemy's knife and kills a 'madman' who is attacking Cal.
Shawna kills Hu. Cal kills an enemy. Chalker pulls Dink-Dink out of the wall and follows Shawna.
Shawna thrusts her sword at Huber's heart. Intrinsius begins first-aid on Jeb, who has been badly beaten even after falling unconscious. Chalker, through force of will (and the help of some First Chosen), passes through the wall; he senses that Shawna is 50 yards away from him. Shawna stands in front of a sliding door; she tries to pull it open but it hardly budges. Intrinsius' flame snakes toward the portal (i.e. the spot in the wall that Chalker just passed through); he calls Cal over to continue bandaging Jeb, then takes up his staff and follows the flame.
Shawna casts a spell to triple her strength, and now she can slide the door open. In a bare 12' x 12' room, seated against the far wall in lotus position, Huber (in Uber's body) stares at her. Shawna charges in, attacks, and kills Huber in a single blow.
Immediately Shawna, Chalker, and Intrinsius sense an enormous wave of Chaos and Fear. Shawna raises her arms and shouts, "Yasseph, Santash, Solash, gather this to me!" Chalker puts his arms around Shawna and hugs her, saying, "Okay, I'm with you." [He notes later that at this point his thoughts were only on Shawna, not trying to invoke the First Chosen.] Intrinsius strikes a heroic pose, adding, "Santash, Phor, it's time to go!" Bright flames blaze, outlining and cutting through the ceiling and walls; Intrinsius, suddenly exhausted, is supported by Chalker and Shawna. Shawna prays for the lightness of the wind, and Intrinsius asks Phor to lend him strength.
Charesoon's presence is completely gone.
Chalker and Shawna carry Jeb and Danal. The group gets out of the building. Its exterior is glowing orange. Chalker says softly, "Father, I told you I was coming." Intrinsius: "Tell Father not to piss off Phor." Assaraah's rage is palpable, but Yasseph and several other First Chosen halt his attack on the group.
The priestess of Aaoo once again approaches Chalker. Chalker: "Hey, Sweetie." "My mistress is much displeased." "With me?" "Others of the First Chosen have elements of Chaos, which Assaraah does not acknowledge." "He should embrace his son of Chaos." "You're not quite crazy enough." "Your mistress wasn't always crazy, you know. When I get back to Sapphire I will come talk to her. Go on now, keep running. I don't want Shawna to hurt you."
Instead, the priestess approaches Shawna, removing and dropping her protective gear until she is wearing only a loose shift. She asks, "Will you answer a question?" Shawna stares back in silence. (She senses that this priestess might be a future avatar.)
As Chalker and Intrinsius lead the rest of the group to the outskirts of the city, Shawna encourages civilians to leave and threatens mages and priests and those she deems complicit. Finally she stands once again before the glowing Administration building, raises her arms, and calls out, "Destroy it!"
Intrinsius briefly slumps with fatigue, and when he wipes away his nosebleed, the warm blood stains his glove in the shape of a flame. Chalker, too, feels somewhat drained.
Chalker writes in his journey book, "Rory, is there a gate near us?"