Sapphire:Sessions:20051008
Long Days 20: About an hour before sundown, Rory and Chalker each feel a little drowsy but quickly shake it off. Chalker takes one of the three pieces of wood he found and binds it to the shaft of a crossbow bolt. After all, why not take advantage of a good omen?
An hour after sundown, the men array the cart and horses and themselves atop the Venettian platform. With many mystic phrases and gestures, Jinto casts the activation spell. As before, there is no perception of even an instant’s time between the spell’s activation and its termination – except for Rory. For the mapmaker, time slows to a crawl. He feels as though he rides a runaway horse high above the countryside. A dark bird hangs in the western sky, frozen in mid-flap. The earth unrolls beneath him in a fifty-mile-wide swath, and he tries hard to set in his mind the brief impressions of woods, plains, rivers, roads, distances so that later he may consign them accurately to parchment. He notes Starsinger’s party setting up their evening’s camp along the riverbank. At the edge of the forest he thinks he sees two travelers walking northward, one in light blue robes, the other leading a horse.
Suddenly, dead ahead, a shimmering barrier glistens in the air, and they are racing directly toward it. Rory calls out in alarm “Watch out!” but collision cannot be avoided. The group bounces backward forty or fifty miles, then moves forward again not quite that same distance. Rory can see they are falling toward a stand of trees and a clearing that looks no bigger than his hand.
The wild ride ends abruptly. Rory’s companions re-animate. In the back of the wagon Runis keels over, and Rory grabs at the dwarf hoping to ease his fall a bit. Chalker immediately scans their surroundings, searching for threats. Several of the horses are stunned, and after a few moments clearing his head Josh goes to tend to them. Jinto says dryly, “This isn’t the Venettian platform.” “We hit something up there,” explains Rory. “I saw it coming. There was a shimmery thing.” “How could you see it coming?” exclaims Jinto, “It all happened instantaneously!”
Rory starts checking his clothing. Sure enough, from one of his trouser pockets he pulls out the Sapphire Diamond. He quickly places it around the neck of the unconscious dwarf. Runis, who had been having unpleasant dreams of slogging naked and unarmed through a dark dank forest, suddenly sees the sun come out. Using his power on Runis’ helmet, Chalker starts thumping the dwarf’s head against the wagon’s bed (claiming it was an attempt to revive Runis). Eventually Jinto comes over and casts a spell, and Runis awakens just as his head thumps against the boards one final time. “Hello, rock,” he greets the Diamond, silently thanking it for reviving him. (Rory makes a mental note to take all the pockets out of his clothing.)
Jinto casts another spell, floats upward, and looks around. When he returns he looks exhausted. He describes a clearing near the river about two miles away north-northwest. There appear to be several buildings, a barracks, a corral, and a number of men in a good position to accost anyone traveling via the river. Runis wonders if Starsinger will encounter this garrison, and Rory answers positively, “Oh, yes, in about a week.”
After some discussion, Runis and Rory set up a cold camp while Jinto rests. Chalker and Josh set off to reconnoiter the garrison. The clearing around it is at least 100 yards wide by 100 yards long, creating a large ‘kill zone’. A guardhouse stands right beside the river, near a dock where two or three boats are moored. The corral contains fifteen horses, and a fairly decent road leads northward out of the camp. There is a very similar setup on the other side of the river. Drawing Chalker’s attention to the very center of the camp is a black stone column, only about five feet high and perhaps five feet in circumference. Chalker can’t make out all the runes carved on the column, but he has a good idea that some of them mean “death.” And while he can’t see magic as certain others can, he suspects the column is magical.
Taking a copper coin from his pouch, Chalker floats it away from him, even moving it out across the river, but nothing impedes his control over it. He whispers to Josh, “What do you think happens if I touch a column?” Josh replies, “I don’t know – there’s no way they can see you touch it.” Ever so gently, Chalker sets his coin down, down atop the column… where it begins to sizzle. Immediately orders are shouted and guards start moving toward the column. From the barracks emerges a robed man, probably a mage, who strides up to the column and begins performing some kind of ritual. Chalker recalls his coin, which is hot to the touch, warped, and partially melted. Chalker suddenly recalls tales of many parties that had traveled along this river and never come back. To Josh he murmurs, “Time to go.”
As they hurry into camp, Chalker says breathlessly, “We may want to hitch the horses back up.” Skeptically, Runis responds, “You want to drive at night?” Quickly Chalker describes the columns and the runes. “Sounds like necromantic magic,” says Jinto, “in which case it’s powered by life force.” “I hate to admit this,” mutters Chalker, “but I wish Aliana had been here to do the scouting instead of me. She wouldn’t have been tempted to touch the column.”
The group falls to discussing what to do. They could try to sneak past the garrison under cover of darkness, but there is too great a chance of the wagon’s either getting bogged down in unknown terrain or being discovered by patrols. Finally they decide to stay where they are for the night, reasoning that the garrison’s attention is concentrated on the river, not the woods. Runis takes first watch, followed by Chalker, then Josh.
About an hour before daybreak Josh awakens everyone and hands out breakfast rations. With Josh scouting ahead and Rory driving the wagon, they travel four miles north. As they cross a certain stretch, Jinto looks rather ill. He reports a no-mana swath about 200 feet long. Rory asks if they can go back and cover their tracks, and Josh shows Chalker how to do so.
At last they reach the road. Rory estimates they have eleven or twelve miles to go to reach the city, so they should be there by the end of the day. Chalker suggests they should go to the Venettian platform; if it works like the other one, it will conceal them from enemies. Jinto says he’ll have to get within a mile of the platform to locate it with a spell. Josh reports no one on the road, though there are various farms, holds, and keeps to either side.
The sun is setting as they approach the city. They can see a group of humans standing near the gate, talking. A goblin soldier walks up and addresses the humans, and no one acts as if this is anything out of the ordinary. The wagon is only a few hundred yards from the gate when they are noticed. A goblin wearing a sergeant’s insignia trots toward them, trailed by ten soldiers, five human, five goblin. Three of the soldiers carry crossbows, and two of them have unstrung shortbows. All of them bear swords.
“Greetings, travelers. Welcome to Barshar’s City. Please state your business, then we will need to collect your city tax and issue your permits.” Chalker responds, “Our business is in Alpina; we are going to meet some people there. We will be staying in your fair city just long enough to rest.” When Chalker identifies one of their number as a dwarf, the leader gives a hand signal and the bowmen arm their bows but do not aim them at anyone. The leader announces that the tax levy is eight silver pieces, Chalker protests, “That’s awfully high for a group that’s just passing through the city.” Responds the leader, “It’s also for the kingdom.” As it appears that Chalker is going to continue arguing the tax, Rory puts nine silvers in a small pouch and tosses it to the leader, overstating his rank several levels in saying “Here you go, General.”
The leader requests “No disturbance in the human part of the city,” and says pointedly that “Orcs are not open season around here.” Runis hops down from the wagon and walks up to the leader, making the other soldiers fidgety. “How is it you can live with these orcs?” inquires the dwarf. The leader answers, “Lord Barshar keeps control of them.” Suddenly one of the crossbows fires, but as it wasn’t aimed at anyone the bolt flies away harmlessly. (Chalker had used his power to pull the metal trigger.) Runis immediately raises his shield and drops into a defensive stance. “At ease!” barks the sergeant, then “Kodag, what happened?” “It just went off, sir.” “Now is not the time to provoke our guests. Return to the barracks.” As the goblin trots away, the leader apologizes. “I don’t know why that happened. Kodag is my best crossbowman.” [It was just a Kodag moment.]
Runis asks if he can get an audience with Lord Barshar. The leader looks incredulous. Runis explains, “A human that can control an entire town full of orcs – not to mention goblins – is a good story.” The leader explains that Lord Barshar is not in the city at this time; his second-in-command, Lord Alondo, is in charge. “You said this is a kingdom,” Runis points out, “so why isn’t it King Barshar?” The leader shrugs. “The Barshar line has ruled these lands for many years. They’ve never called themselves kings. Perhaps it’s modesty.”
The sergeant recommends the Rusty Hinge as the best inn in the human quarter (Runis and Chalker joke, “Which one of your brothers runs it?”) and leaves two of his soldiers, Albert and Zed, to direct the group there.
As they enter the gates, Chalker notices orcs being directed away from their route. He sees that the group is being shadowed by goblins and at least one unknown with an Avoidance spell. He beckons to Josh. “We’re riding into a trap, and I’m sure you don’t know that, because you’re not nervous.” Zed, walking beside Chalker, speaks up earnestly, “We’re not leading you into a trap.” Engaging Zed in small talk, Chalker learns that Lord Barshar is a powerful mage; Lord Alondo’s children are twins, a boy and a girl, and the girl is quite beautiful and has exotic tastes; Albert’s brother Andrew runs the Rusty Hinge Inn.
Nearer to the inn Albert starts to run off, and Runis reaches out and trips him with the haft of his axe. “Where are you rushing off to?” he asks. Still one one knee, Albert replies, “I just wanted to let my brother know we’re coming.” Runis points out that no guards have crossed their path. Chalker comes up and says to Albert “No hard feelings.” Albert straightens up. “If you’re a betting man, I’ll bet you a copper that we aren’t leading you into a trap.” “Done.”
At last they come alongside the Rusty Hinge Inn. Rory drives the wagon into the stables, helps unhitch the horses, and asks the blacksmith to check all the horses’ shoes. Chalker checks on prices for the rooms – a copper for the common room, four coppers for a room that sleeps up to four, and a silver for a private room, bath, and two meals. Runis negotiates with the innkeeper, Andrew, offering to perform tonight. Andrew says one of the lords will be reciting poetry and playing the lute, but when he is done Runis can take the stage. He offers the dwarf a “free” room and a meal, but wants twenty percent of Runis’ take. “Twenty percent, eh? And how much do you collect from this lord?” A slight pause, then Andrew admits, “Nothing.” “Done!” says Runis; “You’re an honest man.” Runis carries his things to his room, then returns with his drum, his shield, and two axes. He sets the shield upright at the back of the stage, and crosses the two axes in front of it.
Chalker and Jinto take seats at different tables. Jinto orders a glass of wine and finds it surprisingly quite good. Before long a tall, elegantly dressed man strides into the room, flanked by two goblin guards and trailed by an entourage of humans and one robed, hooded figure. This lord is very handsome, with a narrow, swarthy face and glossy black hair falling to his shoulders. His eyes, however, are cold and reptilian, the pupils vertical slits, and his graceful hands bear an extra finger apiece. These details nag at Chalker’s memory, but at the moment he can’t put a name to what they mean.
The lord mounts the stage and with little preamble begins spouting “poetry.” Much of it sounds like mad gibberish, with occasional violent or pornographic imagery. At the end of each poem the lord pauses briefly for a round of polite applause. The robed one, who Chalker has decided is female, seems fixated on Jinto, who has made a few subtle mystic gestures. Chalker notes that the female is wearing a metal vest and a metal clasp on her cloak, and when she turns her head he glimpses earrings made from human fingerbones.
Standing at the bar, Runis gestures toward the lord. “Is he related to the lord of the keep?” “No,” Andrew answers. “So that’s how they keep the orcs under control?” Runis queries, but he doesn’t wait for an answer.
The bale – for that is what he is – concludes his recitation, then announces “I understand we have another performer tonight.” “Indeed,” booms Runis, approaching the stage. “And I understand you play the lute. Perhaps you and I can play together.” The bale inclines his head in acknowledgement, then steps back, positioning himself directly in front of Runis’s shield and axes.
Runis introduces himself in Common and launches into a traditional Dwarven verse. From the expressions on the patrons’ faces, he figures nobody actually understands the language except for the lord and the robed woman. When he concludes there is a brief silence until the lord nods and first his entourage, then the other patrons, break into applause. Runis names a well-known tune and asks the lord if he knows it. When the lord indicates he does, Runis invites him to break out his lute.
Meanwhile, a goblin has entered the tavern, working his way carefully until he reaches Chalker. “Plan on staying long?” the goblin asks. “No,” replies Chalker, “how long do we have?” “All of our days are numbered,” says the goblin philosophically, giving his name as Tunteki. “I just had to meet the people who just walked into the city the way you did.” The bale “poet” is lord over part of the city. Chalker: “Do you know his race?” Tunteki: “Powerful boss mage.” Chalker: “How many of these ‘boss mages’ are in the city?” Tunteki: “Enough.” The goblin goes on, “My life is nice. I enjoy the city. The fact that you got across the border…” Then wheedlingly, “Give up. Make it easier.” Chalker: “You mean lay down and die?” Tunteki: “I mean meet with Lord Alondo.” Chalker: “Yes, we agree to meet with him.” Tunteki departs.
As Runis beats time with his drum and hammers his foot on the stage, he has judged that the bale isn’t all that good of a lute player (though the lute itself is beautiful and well-crafted). As the song moves into a more complex part, the dwarf subtly increases the tempo of the song. The bale hits several false notes, but gamely (though angrily) plays on. At the end of the song the bale addresses Runis. “It was a pleasure playing with you. I’ll leave the stage to you, unless…” He lets the sentence trail off. Runis replies, “It is your stage.” The lord says, “I will enjoy your performance.” He steps down from the stage and goes and takes a seat… near Jinto.
Runis begins to tell a story about a small group of adventurers fighting fifty orcs at a place called Crossroads. As he recounts the furious battle, he picks up one of his axes and stomps back and forth across the stage, swinging the axe over the nearer patrons’ heads. He notices one woman in the crowd who seems enrapt at the idea of slaughtering one’s enemies.
The robed woman seems intent on Jinto. Chalker believes that she, too, is a bale. He sees someone pass a thieves’ signal to another person, who immediately leaves the bar and departs the tavern.
Outside, Rory finds Josh conversing with a group of five humans; two wear mage robes, and another appears to be an official of some sort. “We don’t care much for Lord Selpran’s poetry,” one of them explains. These men aren’t happy to be under the thumb of the one they call Boss Craven, head man of the human part of the city. They are curious about the Coastal Kingdoms, where perhaps they could start new lives.
Runis bellows, “Now it’s time for a drinking song! Everybody sing along!” The serving wenches, who had been all but invisible since the bale first walked in, begin scurrying about, and Andrew grins as he starts pouring order after order. Even the bale joins in the singing, raising a goblet of wine. Toward the end of the rollicking tune, mellow patrons begin pelting Runis with coins. Runis reaches into his own pouch, pulls out a copper, and tosses it at the bale, who catches it easily in his long-fingered hand. Eyeing the dwarf, he says, “I will cherish this memory of you.” He sweeps out of the tavern, his goblin guards and half his entourage departing with him. (Outside, Rory sees one of the three goblin squadrons follow the lord.)
Runis performs a song in the Dwarven tongue, a song of praise for Santash and Solash. The room goes quiet. Halfway through the song, the robed woman abruptly stands, still staring at Jinto. Chalker undoes her cloak clasp. The woman spins out of her cloak (which remains hanging in midair), revealing her bale features and her form-fitting dark blue velvet gown. Her face resembles that of the bale lord, and Runis recalls that most bales are born as fraternal twins. Pointing at Jinto she snarls, “You presume too much, elf. That is not an insult I will bear.” Runis grasps the Sapphire Diamond and silently asks for protection for Jinto. Immediately an aura of reflected sunlight surrounds the elf, who rises slowly. “Shall we dance?” he asks, then smiles dangerously. (Unseen, unnoticed, a dark figure slips through the window and moves to within a quick lunge of the woman.)
Runis, axe in one hand, Diamond in the other, calls out in Dwarven, “Madam, do you not recognize the protection of the gods?” The woman draws back her hand, then stares back and forth between Jinto and Runis. “We’re not here to fight,” continues Runis, “The elf did nothing to you.” The woman hisses in Common, “Is that what it appears to be? It is not a seeming?” She turns her hate-filled gaze back to Jinto. “If he has that, does he also have the coin? I will let my brother know. At least now I know how you got past the outer wards. You have definitely earned an audience with Lord Alonzo.” Then in Elvish she says, “You have proven your point. Your power is not insignificant. But you don’t realize what you have invoked.”
Runis grumbles, “Enough with the frou-frou languages.” The woman returns her snakelike gaze to him. “I would expect you to carry Santash’s item of power.” Replies Runis, “Who says I’m not?” The woman’s eyes sweep the room and alight on Chalker. “Are you the envoy? Is there to be war?” Chalker answers coolly, “That is not clear.” The woman says as if in recitation, “Elvish mage, dwarven bard. And do you, human, represent the Calventine Empire?” Chalker grins. “I’m the catalyst.” “Ahh,” the woman replies, “the broker.” She takes a step back. “And there are two others of you, humans, one of them wearing a peculiar hat.” She holds up one hand and extends five fingers. “Five is an interesting number.” She unfolds her remaining digit. “That leaves one short.” She lowers her hand. “I will be leaving now.” Keeping Chalker, Runis, and Jinto in her sight all at the same time, the woman backs out of the room. Chalker uses his power to toss her cloak after her; she uses magic to take it. “So,” she hisses at Jinto, “you’re a master mage.” She leaves.
A collective sigh rises from the remaining patrons, who then break into babbling conversation over “the humiliation of a lord.” One man exclaims, “She was going to kill that elf!” “No, she wasn’t,” Runis and Chalker respond in unison. The man says, “She backed down. She will never forgive you for that.” Runis counters, “She got intelligent.” It occurs to Chalker, “It was that sixth unknown that caused her to back off.”
As various patrons leave and the rest settle down to serious conversation and drinking, Chalker feels the light touch of a gloved hand on his shoulder. Turning, he beholds a slender figure clad in black leather armor and a cloak with the hood pulled forward to conceal the face. “Hi!” he greets Aliana.