Sapphire:Sessions:20150103
On the morning of Change Time 21, Shawna awakens at dawn and meditates for a time. Chalker prepares his finest garments.
Rory checks the horses and hears that rumors of last night's events are spreading. He notices groups of kids hanging around the inn, seemingly busy with various small tasks, but also watching the inn. He flags down a boy of about eight whose name is Jim. Rory tells Jim what happened to waitress Kate Barlow. "Her funeral is at 11:00am at the Temple of Dara. We need a good showing. I'll pay you two coppers for each kid you bring, and whatever you give to them is fine. That [indicating his war dog] is Striker; it was his idea." Jim rushes up the street and whistles sharply. Several other kids quickly cluster around him.
After breakfast, someone hands Shawna an envelope with the address where Kate's sister, Elaine, is staying. Shawna changes into all-black clothing, her black hair in a single long braid down her back, and a scarlet-red scarf tied around her head. She goes to the address, which is the home of a merchant family of modest means. Elaine immediately gravitates toward Shawna. Shawna takes Elaine and her new foster family to a private viewing of Kate's body.
A dozen fresh-scrubbed kids, led by a thirteen-year-old named Jimmy, approach Rory. Rory slips some money into little Jim's pocket to see if the boy notices (he doesn't). Eventually, at least 75 kids appear; Jim tells Rory that Kate was well-liked by the local children. Bajeeter and other employees from the tavern join Chalker as the growing crowd converges on the Temple. A number of the cityfolk comment upon the number of people at the funeral.
The funeral service itself is simple and brief. Elaine's foster parents assure Shawna that they will legally adopt Elaine and raise her as one of their own.
Rory pays Jim; the older boy Jimmy had left immediately after the service. Rory has Jim lead him to the Merchant's Guild; Rory already knows where it is, but Jim leads him along a shortcut route.
Chalker strolls into the Temple of Asseraah, approaches the altar, and pays his respects. A priest is watching him; Chalker beckons. "How's your boss doing?" "His High Priest is in good health and in our lord's pleasure." "How's your lord doing?" "Chaos allows growth and change." The priest murmurs a prayer, "Show me this one's nature." Chalker: "You'll be sorry. My concern is for Asseraah personally. Tell him I'll be back to talk to him tomorrow. I'm not talking to Aaoo; we were getting too close. He'll know what I'm talking about."
Trace wonders aloud to which temple he should go to talk about the portal. Shawna: "I have serious bad news for you. You need to talk to Cor."
Rory reaches the Merchant's Guildhall, a huge building, larger than some villages. He invites Jim (and the other kids who have trailed behind them) in, but admonishes them, "Everything in there *stays* in there." He addresses an official-looking man, saying, "I would like to register a guild." First he pays for a full guild membership for Elaine's new family. Then he registers Copper King, "and add my liaison, Jim Bore." The registrar recommends Thomas Trivett as a mentor. "Welcome to Sapphire," he adds, shaking hands with Rory and Jim. Rory and the kids are given a tour of the guildhall, the young crowd raising many eyebrows.
Chalker is being followed by two separate groups; he figures one group consists of acolytes of Asseraah, the others are probably thieves. Thinking back, he might have seen some thieves following him before Kate's funeral. The number of Winged Folk patrolling the air has doubled, and trained falcons are circling the docks.
Shawna has a yen for seafood, so she and Trace go to a dockside restaurant, the Mast Head. There's excitement in the harbor over the two Imperial warships flanking a Moedian merchant vessel, the Far Quest.
Jim: "What's a... lazy... lizzy... liaison, and what do I do?" Rory: "You handle our guild's transactions, since I might be somewhere else. Meet me tomorrow at their shop [i.e., Elaine's new family]."
Rory joins Chalker for lunch at the Boar's Head. A woman enters, sits down at their table, and helps herself to part of their meal. She says, "You've got the kids in a tizzy." Rory: "Just wanted a good showing for the funeral." Chalker: "Who are you?" "Molly." "Are you the representative of the ones who are following me? You seem to know everything about our movements." Molly: "You're the diplomat, he's a merchant, then there's the mage and the avatar." Chalker: "That explains a lot."
Molly: "Don is the main leader of the group Jim runs with." Rory: "Any money he has is in partnership with me." Molly: "You registered a nine-year-old with the Merchant's Guild." Rory: "He has their protection if he needs it."
Molly: "I expected to see a 'procurement specialist.'" Chalker: "She left us."
Chalker: "Is the Pandemonium Dagger Guild involved?" Molly, her voice hardening: "They have meddled. Are you hunted by them?" Chalker: "We've crossed paths." Molly: "They've tried to take advantage of the situation with the guild." Chalker: "They're on their way."
Shawna and Trace enter the Boar's Head and notice the attractive (and disguised) woman seated with Rory and Chalker. As they exchange pleasantries, Chalker looks at Molly's aura -- strong-willed, methodical, loyal, not a 'classic' thief in that she has a motivation other than greed. After Molly leaves, Shawna recalls that she has seen her at various royal functions, dancing. Shawna tells the others about the Moedian ship, adding that in Moedia, "You're either a mage or you're nobody, a slave or worse."
The group goes to the palace ahead of Chalker's scheduled audience with the King. They are taken to a waiting room, where they figure out that they are being watched by two observers and a Wizard Eye.
A herald leads the group to the doors of the audience chamber. Captain Harlock steps out and greets them. Shawna: "With the injuries you sustained last night, you should be at home resting." Harlock claims he is well, thanks to Shawna's healing, and he has duties he must perform. Harlock looks over the group, then says, "I must request that the dog stay outside." Rory: "Then I'm staying with him." Shawna objects, pointing out that Harlock should be well aware of the heroism Rory and Striker displayed last night. Harlock withdraws his request.
Rory hands the herald a beautifully calligraphed list of the group's names, and the herald announces them. Within the audience chamber, Baron Melroy sits to the left of the King, and counselor Fritz Simmons to the right. The group is offered seats, but Chalker says, "I prefer to stand." Harlock closes the doors, then puts his back to them. Baron Melroy takes Chalker's diplomatic credentials and looks them over.
Chalker: On Harvest Time 10, Mensep gave me a message to deliver. 'Moedia is moving in on the Empire within three months.' This won't be a surprise to you, but he wanted you to know that a First Chosen is aware of this.
King: This is not a rogue action, then. Another incident had led us to raid the warehouse district. During this action several Moedia mages were slain, and other artifacts recovered. It is clear from your timely message what we must do.
Chalker: Mensep had a heavy hand on the timing.
King: As did Roo. And do I understand that the envoy from Dolyena that previously visited our court was an impostor?
Chalker: I talked to my grandfather; the person described was in Dolyena at that time.
King: We are reappraising all of our diplomatic contacts.
Chalker: Was Malprin one of them?
King: The only way a Malprin noble would be brought into my presence is in chains, until they change their policies.
Chalker: We freed some slaves and paid passage for them aboard a Calventine ship.
Rory: If I may... [He names a ship and its captain, while handing Melroy a paper with the captain's name on it.] He has some of my wares on board. [Rory presents a letter of lien against the ship and the warehouse for damages, including an innocent person's death.] All liens collected shall go to the sole survivor [Elaine].
Chalker: We also encountered a ship posing as a Calventine Empire vessel, but it was operated by the Pandemonium Dagger Guild. This was in Brasson in the northern Peninsular Kingdoms.
King: We will probably close all our ports to Moedia. Now that I know they are actively working against us, I may take further steps.
Chalker: Could they take over the Calventine Empire?
King: No. But they conspire with our enemies.
Chalker: If you believe Mensep's warning, why would you set yourself up to lose?
King: They might have allied with the Pandemonium Dagger Guild and with Derakor, perhaps with Malprin and other slave nations. It was only through actions like yours that we have become aware that they are a city of mages, not merchants.
[The King will allow an ambassadorial residence for Dolyena within Sapphire. Chalker's eyes gleam when he learns that it will be placed near that for Greater Bicarn.]
Chalker: Our band turned around a much larger army of marauding orcs. Bicarn should be grateful that we stopped the orcs, while a Temple of Asseraah fell down.
King: Asseraah, Aaoo, and Aup have been especially active since the Godwalk, though we had not found a link with Moedia. If you have proof of such, we would like to see it.
Chalker: I gave it to Mensep.
The King asks Shawna to serve the lien. Shawna: Are you sure you want me to do this in the name of the Empire?
The King will be closing down trade with Moedia but not declaring war. Chalker: Gauder will be displeased.
Rory: Has Solash sent you any message lately? King: I'm told the Diamond of Sapphire has returned to the city.
As the group is shown out, Trace uses his box to check for portals. He gets five hits: one in the palace, and four beneath the palace grounds at various distances. A court mage approaches; he had detected Trace's use of the box. He conducts the group on a brief tour of the palace and shows us into a trophy room. Here is a Venettian gate, twelve-sided, with a green film blocking each of its gem slots. The inscription on the gate reads "Entrance to the Common Area of the World Keep." The mage invites Trace to return for further study. Trace: You know there are four other gates? Mage: Really? Trace: We took this box from Pandemonium. It can be tuned. The other gates are buried, but with this one you could reach the others. Mage: We definitely must talk further. Trace: I wish I knew how they work. Mage: I will strengthen the transport shields.
Outside the palace grounds, Trace gets eight more readings -- two at ground level, the others at various depths. One of the gates at ground level is in the area of Sapphire called Old Town; the other is in a wealthy section of the merchants area.
Chalker notices the group is being followed across the rooftops by a blurred figure. He rides close to Shawna and whispers into her ear.
Back at the Boar's Head, Rory grabs a dark-haired waitress, sits her down at the group's table, and takes her tray. A man approaches the group and introduces himself as Chris Burgess, half-owner of the Boar's Head. Burgess: Why do you have a waitress sitting at your table? Rory: That's not a waitress, that's the lady who came in with us. Burgess: My bartender told me about last night. Rory pulls out a copy of the lien and hands it to Burgess; "This has been filed with the Merchants Guild." Burgess: A lien to pay damages? Rory: It has also been filed with Baron Melroy. You need to give me a better estimate of the total amount. Burgess: I'll get right on that.
Shawna, up on the roof, sees a man with a Blur spell on him and guesses he was sent by Melroy to shadow them. When Shawna makes her presence known, the man says, "Call me Neil."
Chalker asks the waitress for directions to the Merchants Guild and rides there alone. He tells the guard that he wants to pay for another year's membership for Elaine's new family. He then asks where he can buy an elven bow, and the guard provides a list of merchants.
Chalker rides to the nearest shop, which belongs to a human merchant, and finds it closed for the night. He knocks on the door and calls out, and is finally answered by an ill-tempered man who shouts at him from a second-floor window. Suddenly a cheerful feminine voice says to Chalker, "Don't bother with this place. I can take you to a real bowyer." Chalker looks around, then down, and looking back is a pixie-like face with sparkling dark eyes. He extends a hand to her, and when she takes it and pulls herself up to sit on the saddle in front of him, he asks, "Are you a... faun?" "Yes, I am!" She goes by the name Dash, and mentions that there are only two other fauns in all of Sapphire city.
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