Sapphire:Sessions:20200711
Chalker wants Shawna to identify the fourth metal in the "unusual pebble" he cut from the dark halfling's corpse. She touches the pebble; that metal is "not of the world's reality," "created in an astral plane," "feels dirty, impure, not refined," and is "a version of copper." Chalker says such pebbles are "an Asseraah trick" and usually become inert when removed.
The First Chosen are "not prohibited" from the astral planes. They are "pathways to the past and future." Dar pays extra attention to them because they can "lead to different realities." Time there is "malleable." Cor can "augment his artisans" somehow. Asseraah is "stretching" his influence.
The wood of the shack is fire-resistant and Intrinsius detects an "unnatural component" to it. It takes him an hour to completely destroy the shack. The flames take on a rainbow hue, then a metallic sheen. The aroma is that of green wood.
Chalker (on a Will roll) senses "something similar" to the immediate south, in the direction of Ashley. From that direction Shawna senses "astral involvement or overlap" that feels "very wrong." The purpose of the recent fire was to draw Belandrie and his followers into a trap. There is at least one dark halfling there.
The group moves north into the forest. Tara and Solant have been unable to rouse Belandrie. He seems to be in a dream state. His mind is "engaged in intense turmoil with a divine-level being" on the astral plane, keeping the being "subdued." Belandrie should "walk out" of the conflict within 24 hours, but in no less than eight.
Intrinsius prays to Santash to protect Belandrie from outside interference. He feels that his petition is accepted.
Shawna requests an audience with Dar (who deflects her), then Dara, who says "the world will grow... the 'discussion' will be beneficial... there are agreements with the other First Chosen" and that the "salvation of the dark halflings depends on mortals."
Intrinsius communes with Phor, who tells him that the shack fire was "a beautiful sacrifice, a beautiful display." For a long moment Intrinsius is tempted to follow Phor only, but he "comes to his senses" [crit success]. He prays to Santash, "Show me the right direction to bring justice to the dark halflings." The response is "the route to justice lies to the south, then to the east." He is assured that he is "trodding the path... It will not be quick, but it will be sure."
Thinking aloud, Shawna says "We can't take Belandrie to Ashley, but we shouldn't split up." She decides to leave Tara and Solant to watch over Belandrie.
Shawna prays to Phor, "Bless your servant Intrinsius, strengthen him in the Flame." Intrinsius gets the urge to raise his hand and create Essential Flame [crit success].
Chalker hears Mensep say, "Are you sure you don't want to take another message?" "I'm good with the one message. Am I riding into a trap?" "It's a trap, but not fully set." "Is it for Shawna?" "Not specifically. It's a trap for a group. I am going to give you a message at the end of this Ashley endevor that you may deliver as you will."
Chalker senses the four-metal alloy from the exact middle of Ashley. It is three feet long, only a quarter-inch in diameter, and half its length is embedded in the ground. Forty yards away from this "whip" is three pounds of gold. Chalker suddenly knows the location and type of every bit of metal in town, including 60 steel-tipped arrows, 20 longswords, and 10 shortswords; five of the latter are moving in the group's direction.
At least a dozen people, armed with swords and bows, stand at the north gate staring in wonderment at Intrinsius' Essential Flame.
Chalker detects no metal in the crossbows -- not even the fittings or triggers -- and decides that the bolts may be poisoned. He uses his TK to push the bowmen's arrows into the ground.
A team of professional soldiers emerges. They wear no identifying uniform or insignia. They wear thick leather armor.
The group remains mounted as a man and woman approach. The man says, "Greetings and welcome to Ashley." "I am Chalker Jackson." "I am Jadon Wise, mayor of Ashley, and this is Sylvia Riles, the town's Wise One." (Chalker tries to read SR's Aura, but is blocked.) Chalker, indicating the armed men and women: "Is this the way you greet visitors?" JW: "After the fire to the north, of course." SR silently points to the Essential Flame, then at Intrinsius. Chalker: "I don't understand." JW: "Nor do we."
Chalker: "There is an object in the middle of Ashley that I wish to observe, and meet the owner." SR: "I am the one whose care it is in, so I am the owner." Unprompted, she adds, "There is a family of halflings sheltering in town overnight." JW: "Alex [leader of the professional soldiers] has been here over three years, since before I became mayor." Chalker: "Are you sure? Think it through." JW: "There's nothing to think through. Known him and his wife since they got here."
Chalker checks JW's Aura and barely gets a reading. JW is about 30 years old, not a mage, and "touched by chaos and darkness."
Chalker: "Is it okay for me to enter the town and examine the object?" SR: "It is a treasure of Ashley. You may observe but not touch." Chalker: "We have to get closer to it." JW: "No closer than fifteen feet." Chalker: "Well, there's no way to spring the trap if we stay outside." JW, far from being surprised or taken aback, gasps and melodramatically places his hand over his heart. Chalker: "Oh, I apologize." SR: "Apology accepted."
Intrinsius murmurs, "Phor, if you're listening... those bows are made of nice wood and will burn well." His Essential Flame blazes more intensely.
Shawna checks the professional guards. They appear to all be native to an island southwest of Mistral. It is obvious that for their orders they look to a particular man standing to JW's right.
Chalker mentions his concerns about the Auras he can and can't see. Shawna: "There's nothing for us to do but ride into the trap."
Some of the houses they pass are newly built and have "a weird spiritual feeling." Intrinsius notes to Phor, "Those buildings don't like to burn." Phor responds, "A supreme challenge."
In the middle of town near a well is a circle of bare dirt with the "rod" sticking out of it. While still 60' away, JW and SR move to either side of the rod and tell the group to dismount. Chalker's TK gets a firm hold on the rod. Two feet behind the rod he sees the blurred outline of a halfling, from which emanates a "foreboding" feeling. Placing one hand each on Shawna's and Intrinsius' backs, he tells them, "There's an invisible halfling behind the rod, trying Fear. I'm about to pull the rod, so it's about to get hot."
The guards hurry to take places around the circle. From a house to the right six more guards emerge. Intrinsius smiles "psychotically."
From 20' away Chalker pulls the rod upward so that 6" remains in the ground. Resistance to his TK increases. Shawna can now see the "heat image" of the dark halfling. With another effort, Chalker pulls the rod out of the ground and toward him; at 12' away from Chalker something stops the rod. Shawna casts Mental Stun at DH but there is no effect.
Intrinsius shouts "It's time!" and hurls fire at the rod; after setting the rod aflame, the fire returns to his hand. Shawna sees the blurred DH jump toward the rod, then the blur screams loudly. Chalker jerks the wand 12 yards into the air and the scream follows. [The DH somehow has a deathgrip on the thin rod, though Intrinsius' fire is burning his hands.] JW and SR "sprint" toward the center of the circle. Six guards aim crossbows at the group. Shawna fast-draws her sword and stares at six more guards running towards them.
Although the sky is clear, fog moves in to within 30 yards. SR, JW, six guards, and Loop collapse to the ground, convulsing. The DH becomes visible, his whole body burnt (and smelling of cooked flesh), the rod fused to his right hand. Suddenly Chalker, Intrinsius, Shawna, and Cal are "ripped across" into the Astral Plane (what some call the Never-Never). The area bears the "taint" of dark halflings. DH, although being healed, is still screaming. The guards are "enhanced" and both JW and SR have gained Magery.
Chalker tries to pull DH another 12 yards higher; instead, the DH sinks to 9 yards. A longbowman fires at Chalker and misses. Swords appearing in their hands, SR and JW charge at Chawna. A guard's sword strikes Intrinsius but doesn't get through scale armor. A bowman shoots Cal.
Shawna steps and swings at SR's neck, drawing blood. Intrinsius grapples a swordsman with his blazing hand.
Shawna thrusts her sword into SR's vitals; SR tries and fails to cast a spell. JW throws a fireball at Shawna, who blinks. Chalker fast-draws Dink-Dink and parries an attack. The swordsman is barely able to pull away from Intrinsius' grasp. Two bowmen fire at Intrinsius; he forms a fire shield which burns the arrow shafts, and the heads bounce harmlessly off his armor. Chalker pulls DH downward but some force is acting against him. DH has healed visibly. DH has "tailored this astral plane, this part of space-time, to himself" (possibly a psi ability). Cal charges the man who shot him. With his fire shield Intrinsius bashes the swordsman who, although he slips on the gravel and is burned over most of his body, remains upright.
DH gestures "clumsily" and a "fist of gravel" punches upward from the ground; Chalker dodges. Something in the environment "shudders." Intrinsius throws fire at a bowman, the fire returning to his hand. Shawna charges and knocks SR face-first to the ground. Chalker sheathes Dink-Dink and tries to grapple, but his target slips out of his grasp. JW throws a Fireball at Shawna but misses. Chalker dodges a sword. Intrinsius' burning man collapses. Cal's target drops his bow and draws a sword; Cal parries and his wild swing misses. Six more guards enter the area (30 yards from the center).
Intrinsius shapes his flame into a bow and fires, stunning and burning his target. Shawna chops off SR's head, which then smiles up at her. Shawna growls, "For Delsa." Something tries to tear the wand from Chalker's TK grip. DH and the wand are now on the ground 8 yards from Chalker and Shawna. DH's body language conveys discouragement and desperation. DH draws back his fist to punch at Chalker, but Chalker steps into him. Chalker hears DH say "Damn it." In response Chalker fast-draws Dink-Dink, strikes DH solidly in the torso, then shrugs and murmurs, "Who trapped whom?"
DH points at Chalker and Shawna; something ripples through the ground then "rises up like a fence post" but misses both targets. DH says, "I'll spread it." Shouting "How dare you!" Shawna charges and swings at DH, who dodges. Chalker stabs at DH's vitals but is parried. Intrinsius shoots his fiery bow and hits DH. Three bowmen drop their bows, draw swords, and run toward Shawna.
DH screams, "I will succeed!" Cal hits his opponent, opening a major wound. Shawna shouts back, "I forbid you!" DH again dodges her swing. Chalker dodges "something magic" that JW throws at him (with a crit, Chalker realizes that "some spell" had tried to lock onto him). Muttering "I'm gonna have to kill him," Chalker runs toward JW, who dodges his wild swing. Intrinsus runs to intercept the three that are headed for Shawna; Intrinsus splits his fire in two, a blazing flame in each hand.
Snarling "Delsa curse you!" Shawna stabs DH in the vitals. Now DH is "hanging on by will" and is going to "suicide the area." [wtm] Cal strikes his opponent again. Intrinsius waits as the three run up, then he strikes two of them with fire. Chalker strikes JW in the neck, and JW collapses.
From 8 yards away Chalker tugs at the rod and just manages to pull it from DH's grip. Cal finishes off his opponent. The "suicide effect" builds quickly. Shawna strikes DH, saying "You have doomed your race!" Intrinsius strikes his opponents, dealing heavy damage.
Two of Intrinsius' opponents run away. Chalker pulls the rod so it is now beside him. Something tells him "the rod and this area are not your friends" and he senses power gathering "like the center of a volcano on a short fuse." Shawna shouts "Curse you!" and strikes again; DH is definitely dead, and Dar claims DH's soul. A "push of power" delays the "imminent explosion" by a few more seconds. Intrinsius throws flaming katanas at his fleeing opponents. Six more guards who had been charging toward him stop, turn, and flee.
Almost simultaneously, Shawna cries "Take us home!", Chalker commands "Wand, take us home," and Intrinsus prays to Phor, "Please send us home." All feel that their prayers are heard. Something pushes against the area; some other power "twists" the area; the power of the First Chosen "twists" the other way.
Momentarily, Chalker, Intrinsius, Shawna, Cal, and Loop are standing in a sunny meadow. Then they are back in the middle of Ashley, each having taken various bodily injuries. Cal is unconscious and Loop very badly hurt. Several yards away lie the "smashed and pulped" corpses of six guards (who didn't make it out of the collapsing plane). Other mangled, very dead bodies are scattered within the circle. The rod, bent like a pretzel, lies on the ground next to Chalker.
Shawna stands up straight and raises her sword and voice to the sky. "Yasseph, Santash, Solash -- There shall be no mercy for the dark halflings." The response: "That is as it should be."