Sapphire:Sessions:20171118
Shawna casts Trace Teleport followed by See Invisible. Seeing tracks leading away, she shifts into hawk form and follows them.
Feeling hungry, Ahn-Lee (still in his Chalker Jackson guise) and Dain start toward the Boar's Head, a ten-minute walk away. Ahn-Lee observes a number of older Copper Kids hanging around, and a priest of Asseraah who is watching "Chalker" closely.
In the area of the Mercenary Guild hall, Shawna sees a darkened building with a door ajar. She lands, resumes her elf form, draws her sword, and enters. She turns and casts Glue in front of the doorway, just in case. She is in a pottery shop. A faint bacony aroma lingers in the air. There are noises from above, like someone with a hand over their mouth struggling to call out. She casts Invisibility and ascends the stairs. She kicks open a door. Near an open window stands a tall man (TM) with bright eyes, right hand wielding a knife, left hand clamped over a struggling man's face. Shawna strikes TM in the neck and a dark liquid oozes out. TM releases the other man and dives out the window, with Shawna right behind him. TM bounces off an awning, lands on his feet in the street, then stumbles. Shawna knocks TM down. His eyes are shiny, metallic-looking; she concludes that TM is a construct of some sort. It carries coins minted in Gateway. The initials CBL are tattooed behind its left ear, and on its shoulder another tattoo reads H I G H. She says the word "high" aloud and TM opens its eyes as if in response to its name.
Calling some city guards to stand watch over High, Shawna runs back upstairs and heals the injured civilian. When she returns, the guards are standing around staring at a dark puddle. A guard explains, "He -- it -- just melted away." Shawna soaks up the liquid with a strip of cloth, dismisses the guards, and heads for Envoy Manor.
At the Boar's Head, Ahn-Lee observes a "new" mercenary (human, 6'2", 182#) who stares at Dain a little too long. Ahn-Lee orders a Bajeeter Special for Dain, then waves at the merc, saying "Hey, c'mere!" The merc gives the name Stanley Sharp and says he's looking for "a large dwarf man." "I meant no harm. They're going to try to kill you anyway." Ahn-Lee: "Feel free to follow us!" SS: "There's no bounty on you in Sapphire." SS looks around the dining room and it seems everyone is watching him. Intimidated, he takes his leave, saying "I'll go to my room at The Soldier's Friend."
Ahn-Lee to Dain: "Next time you be Chalker." Dain: "I don't know the man." Ahn-Lee: "Even better. He'll think it's hilarious!"
After bathing and putting on fresh clothes, Shawna meets with Sybonne and Relinda and shows them the strip of cloth. Using her Divination skills, Relinda relates the that "High" and its twin, "Lee", are golems owned by CBL. The dark liquid is a magical substance that when poured into a humanoid form turns the form into a golem. The properties of the liquid, which acts as the golem's blood, are such that the longer the golem is "alive" the more it learns and the more human it becomes. "It is an old method. I knew of it back in Idria." Relinda will work on a Seeker-type spell specific to such golems.
Chalker writes in the journey book: I'm on trial. They're trying to take my stuff. Relatives suck. Especially the ones that marry in. It's a power grab. Shawna replies: I can tell you're nervous, Chalker.
Ahn-Lee and Dain arrive at the manor. Jeeves pointedly (though politely) steers Ahn-Lee away from Chalker's room.
At breakfast the next morning, Relinda remarks that she has never seen a racial combination like Dain's. Dain claims to have some Dwarven ancestry.
Jeeves admits Ambassador Frederick's son, Prince Nedwin, and a man named Victor Ward (formerly Baron Ward of Silene). They seem to be asking Shawna (in her capacity as Envoy pro tempore) to allow Ward to transport troops across Dolyenan territory into Bicarn. Shawna explains that they would need to petition the royal court of Dolyena for such permission.
Ahn-Lee, Dain, and Shawna go to the marketplace, where they learn that Stanley Sharp was killed last night by two arrows to the chest, one of which pierced the heart; they had been fired from different directions.
Delta Blue ("Molly") walks up to Ahn-Lee and hands him a purse containing 20gp. "That's your payment for Drogo." Shawna tells Delta "I'm putting out a hit on CBL."
A Copper Kid tells Ahn-Lee that the merchant with a two-masted ship embroidered on his shirt is named Gak Sultan. He has a small shop on the high end of the pier where he sells potions, wands, and charms. Ahn-Lee and Dain go to the shop, which appears to be closed. Ahn-Lee goes in anyway, and as soon as he does Dain's Danger Sense goes off. A big man [BM] steps through an open door behind a counter, a loaded crossbow in his hands. "Good morning!" Ahn-Lee greets him; "We're here to see Gak!" To the left appears a blonde with bright eyes, her crossbow pointed at Dain. She demands, "Where is the elven woman? She killed High! We can't kill her, but we can kill you." Ahn-Lee manages to scribble a quick note to Shawna.
Ahn-Lee spins away from the knife blade he feels at his neck, fast-draws two knives, sees a pretty brunette with brown eyes smiling at him. She ducks away from Ahn-Lee's attacks, and Ahn-Lee parries her thrust toward his midsection. BM fires at Dain, but misses and the bolt flies through the door. The blonde shoots at Ahn-Lee, who dodges. Dain flings an axe at BM, who deflects it with his crossbow.
There is the smell of bacon in the air. Ahn-Lee suddenly feels a liking toward the brunette; Dain definitely likes the blonde and doesn't want to harm her.
Ahn-Lee steps behind the brunette and stabs at her neck; she avoids the attack from behind by backing into him. Dain swings at BM and misses. The brunette grabs at Ahn-Lee, who dodges. The blonde throws a knife at Ahn-Lee's head; he dodges. BM slams his crossbow into Dain, knocking him back.
The smell of bacon grows stronger. Ahn-Lee doesn't want to fight the brunette, so he starts toward BM. The brunette opens a door and steps outside. BM turns and sprints out the back door, with the blonde following. Ahn-Lee pursues the brunette, who is walking quickly away. She looks back at him and smiles, then glances at Dain (for whom the bacon scent is now fading).
Ahn-Lee tells Dain he cannot hurt the brunette. The brunette steps around a passerby and disappears, but Ahn-Lee catches sight of a different woman and feels it's the brunette in a new guise.
Shawna arrives, rapidly sizes up the situation, then turns invisible and moves to intercept BM. She casts Tanglefoot at his feet; he trips and falls. Ahn-Lee hurries over to BM; "Are you okay?" he inquires, stabbing BM with a sleep needle. BM gets to his feet and says slowly, "I - am - fine." BM retreats from Ahn-Lee, but falls backward over Shawna.
Shawna stabs BM in the back. BM grabs at Ahn-Lee who dodges back. The brunette (whose hair is now strawberry blonde) grabs Ahn-Lee from behind and blows in his ear. Dain has sighted the blonde atop a nearby building and is climbing after her. The brunette murmurs to Ahn-Lee, "Relax, this won't hurt long."
Ahn-Lee plants his feet and jumps backward, but the brunette is too strong. BM tries to punch Ahn-Lee, who dodges. The brunette's arms constrict around Ahn-Lee's ribs, but he slips out of her grasp. The blonde fires at Ahn-Lee, who acrobatically dodges it. "Say, this is fun!" Dain looses his grip on the building and falls flat on his back, momentarily stunned. Shawna hamstrings BM.
Shawna now smells bacon. Ahn-Lee draws two knives and closes on the brunette, saying "Let's dance!" She dodges twice. Shawna strikes BM's other leg and BM falls down. The brunette steps back from Ahn-Lee, raises her hands in the air, and says loudly and distinctly, "I surrender." She strokes her hair, turning its color back to brown. The blonde runs away.
Royal guards close in on the scene. Shawna restrains herself from exacting her own justice on the brunette. BM's body has the word "LE" tattooed behind his left ear. His eyes open briefly during the examination, look directly at Shawna, then close again. Shawna beheads BM and collects the black liquid. Shawna instructs the guards to search the brunette thoroughly before imprisoning her in a secured anti-magic cell, warning that she may have access to contraband that will create an area where she can cast spells. The charges against her include murder, attempted murder, assault, unlawful imprisonment, and burglary.
Ahn-Lee asks the guards, "Can I talk to her?" Guard, after some hesitation: "No. Why would you want to talk to her, sir?" Ahn-Lee: "To put an end to all this." Guard: "That doesn't sound like talking." Ahn-Lee: "Well, we'd offer." Shawna: "What do you have in mind, Ahn-Lee?" Ahn-Lee: "There's something about the philosophy of her work that I think is missed on her, but she's still quite skilled. Perhaps she'd be willing to have a raw, no-magic duel, and show she's really as skilled as she thinks she is." Guard: "No, that's not what we do here." Ahn-Lee: "Unfortunate. Because in the meantime she's going to escape, and then I'll have to fight her with a lot more skills as her disposal." Guard: "She's not going to escape. People don't escape from here." Ahn-Lee: "As you say."
As they walk away, Ahn-Lee shrugs, "It was worth a shot." Shawna: "Do you think with all her tricks that you'd actually win? It would not be a fair fight. She dodged everything you threw at her." Ahn-Lee: "That's exactly why I need to keep on swinging until I hit. Of course I'd beat her. Especially if she didn't have all the cheating magic at her disposal. It's only a matter of time." Shawna: "There is one thing: I put out a contract on her, earlier today." Ahn-Lee: "Well, it's within my purview to accept contracts." Shawna: "I might object if you broke her out of prison just to fight her." Ahn-Lee: "Sure, I'm not keen on trying to break into this prison. Don't get me wrong, I can do it, but I'm not interested."
Dain asks for healing and is taken to a nearby clinic run by the temple of Zeph.
The journey books buzz and there's a message from Chalker: I'm back in town.
At Gak Sultan's home, Shawna unlocks the front door. Upstairs Ahn-Lee finds, lying on a bed, a man and a woman looking thin and worn. Shawna confirms they're under a Sleep spell. Ahn-Lee slaps Gak awake. Gak groans, "That was an ugly dream. Where is Cinnamon?" During questioning, Gak says that he last saw Cinnamon (the brunette) three or four days ago. She had come to his shop saying she needed a place to stay. With her were a blonde named Brandy, and two big guys named Le and High who were very aggressive and tended to finish each other's sentences.
Shawna searches the bedroom where Cinnamon had been staying and finds a number of documents, including orders to kill Drogo, Ursula, and Alfred; methods for breaking into and out of the royal prison (noting that the prison had already been broken into and certain items left). Some of the documents contain the name Cinnamon Brandy LeHigh. There are various contracts on Chalker Jackson, Ahn-Lee, Shawna, Yasseph, and Branamin from such persons as Mose Kintoth, J. K. Polk of N. Carolina, and the Janus College.
A diary of sorts explains that seven years ago, sixteen-year-old Cinnamon had come across three inert golems and an instruction book, all dating back to Idria of 2500 years ago. She had studied for some time in Gateway. "Know your target. Always have multiple escape plans. Always have all the aces."
The report from the imperial prison indicates that Cinnamon had been wearing a bodysuit woven from giant spider silk (+7 armor) and a Ring of Persuasion on her pinky finger.
Chalker rejoins the group. Shawna: "Let's go find the blonde, who could be a golem... or a young boy... or anyone you pass in the street. Her purpose now is to get the brunette out of prison, and she'll keep trying and learning different ways until she succeeds." Ahn-Lee: "Cinnamon should be less inclined to come after us, judging by how ineffective it's been so far." Shawna: "No, she's the vengeful type. She'll be even more angry." Ahn-Lee: "I'm thinking she's now less powerful than she was this time yesterday." Shawna: "A teenage girl who takes control of old, powerful magic and goes around using it to kill people... there's something wrong with her mind." Ahn-Lee: "Agreed. She could never defeat me in a true assassin's fight."
Chalker: "Y'all have been inefficient since I've been gone. There's two of them still alive out there." Shawna stares at him coolly, walks off, then turns into an owl and flies away.
Chalker addresses Dain. "You, I understand, are...?" Dain: "Bounty hunter. I'll be glad to help you find the blonde." Dain's Danger Sense goes off. "Speak of the devil," he says, looking around in time to see arrows coming at him and Ahn-Lee from a building a hundred yards away. Dain utters an expletive and he, Ahn-Lee, and Chalker all dive for cover. Dain starts screaming for "Lady Shawna." The two arrows strike two guards at the gate of the prison.
The blonde's next shot misfires off to the side. Ahn-Lee looks around for anyone else out of place. Dain doesn't see anyone exiting the prison. He keeps screaming Shawna's name.
Her own arrow flies back at the blonde and she is forced to dodge away. She darts back and grabs another arrow.
Chalker hooks onto the blonde's belt and yanks her toward the edge of the building. She struggles, teeters, then falls. Ahn-Lee: "Nice." Chalker: "Let's go make sure she's down." The three run to her. She has gotten to her feet and has a knife in her hand, but one of her legs is broken.
Ahn-Lee launches himself at her. Dain steps forward with his throwing axe. The blonde stabs at Ahn-Lee's thigh; he parries. Chalker hooks onto her knife, holding it in place. Ahn-Lee strikes her twice in the vitals; one hit gets through her armor, and black liquid oozes from her chest.
Despite Chalker's hook on her knife, the blonde swings and hits Ahn-Lee in the chest. "Ow!" he comments. Dain throws his axe and she fails to dodge. Ahn-Lee hits her again, shallowly. (she dodges his second hit). Chalker mutters, "Damn you, Ahn-Lee!"
Ahn-Lee strikes a heavy blow, and the blonde falls flat on her back, eyes closed. "Not bad," says Ahn-Lee, wiping the black gunk off his knives onto her clothes. He searches her body and finds 1g 2s 5c and a tattoo, "Brandy." Her eyes open, her head turns, she looks at Chalker, and her eyes close again. Ahn-Lee: "That's weird, right, Chalker?" Chalker: "Yeah! Have you seen this before?" Ahn-Lee: "Oh, yeah!" Chalker: "You must be tired! It took you a while." Ahn-Lee: "Yeah, they're tough enough. It's a good challenge. Healthy." Chalker, noting the bleeding chest wound, "We need to get you healed." Ahn-Lee, jauntily: "It's not that bad. Minor." Chalker bandages the wound.
Dain returns with a couple of buckets, cuts off the blonde's head, and drains the black liquid, all the while calculating the steps he has to take to claim the CBL bounty. Chalker: "Who is this bloodthirsty guy?" Ahn-Lee: "Oh, he's all right. He helped me out when I was in a bit of a bind. His name's Dain. It's a mutually beneficial relationship." Chalker, dubiously: "Okay... I'll trust your judgement. But he looks creepy to me. He looks like a... pretty dwarf." Ahn-Lee shakes his head, then pulls out his journey book and writes: Shawna, killed the blonde.
Dain: "You've got all those kids who run errands for you. They could take those buckets to your place. You've got the three and the fourth's in prison. You need me anymore, or am I off the clock?" Ahn-Lee: "I guess you're good." As Dain goes off to get some official document proving his claim to the bounty, Ahn-Lee calls after him, "Try not to step on the guards." Dain: "They don't know me. Maybe one of you should explain it to them." Ahn-Lee: "Shawna would be best, but maybe Chalker..." Chalker: "No no -- I didn't shoot anybody. You didn't shoot anybody. Why do we have to explain anything? ... Look, I'm going home. I'll have someone pick up the body and the buckets." Dain, reluctantly: "Do you want a cut of the bounty?" Chalker: "NO! (softly) Don't offer him a cut, because he has only one answer to anything that says 'cut'. Now, what do you think the answer is?" Dain: "No. Thank you." Dain leaves to claim his bounty.
Ahn-Lee: "I'm going to disagree with you, Chalker. I believe the answer was 'yes'. But you kinda ruined that for me." Chalker: "No, no. Your answer is 'yes'. He read it right, and answered backwards. ... C'mon, we'll get you to your favorite healer." They take Chalker's carriage to Envoy Manor. [Bill: "We're not fleeing the scene. We're casually leaving."] Ahn-Lee: "I want one of those giant spider silk skin suits made for me."
Also occurring on FrT 10-11, 2436 - The Attempted Robbery of Chalker Jackson