Sapphire:Sessions:20201031
The group has been assured that all the dark halflings in Gu-Win are "disposed of." The elves are tracking the 14 "missing" DH who have fled Gu-Win. Shawna dispels the last traces of DH influence.
Intrinsius and Shawna agree to accompany Chalker to the DH world when he goes to deliver his message. They go to an inn where most of the group goes to sleep. Intrinsius spends a few hours drinking and chatting up the sparse crowd.
Shawna communicates with the leader of the elves stationed near Cliff Hollow, who describes "a fervor of activity." The DH have lit a beacon fire on top of the cliffs. Elven scouts picked off a lone DH heading for the city. The portal is still up but blocked; the DH cannot use it. "They are deceivers and tricksters," Shawna tells the elf leader; "We have no use for them alive. Begin attacking them at dawn... small groups, hit hard and at random, then withdraw."
Around 9:00am most of the group is awake and having a late breakfast. Intrinsius "makes an affirmation" to keep his pet flame. Chalker shows Shawna the DH jumpsuits; she says they are not magic, but magic was used in their creation. "Interesting, as I had initially thought they had psionics but not magery." Chalker: "I might give this jumpsuit to Jax or Mensep to see if they can learn more about the dark halflings. I don't think the ones we've encountered were elite fighters."
Intrinsius finds an open area, strips down to his loincloth, and commences his workout. He quickly draws an admiring crowd.
Shawna goes through the town, finding a few DH artifacts, including a holy amulet that has been stripped of power. She calls for animal wranglers among the elves to go with her below the admin building.
Chalker goes to Temple Row. Some person is sitting on the steps of Mensep's temple. Chalker: "Is the priest in?" "Yes, he's straightening up, preparing for a 'virgil' [sic]." Are you his boss?" "I am not. Are you the response?" "Response to what?" The person makes a "nonsensical" sound as he gestures with his left hand, then says "Are you one of us?" Chalker leans closer: "No, I am not a thief. I am a courier of messages." "Oh, I'm sure he will have messages." "I hope you find your response. Do I know you?" "I hope not." "You didn't answer my question, but I'll take your word; he usually doesn't lie to me."
Mensep's priest smiles "huge" at Chalker. "Greetings, esteemed messenger! I awoke this morning invigorated! Will you join me at the altar?" Chalker: "I want you to join me in prayer. I prefer to move." Chalker takes the priest's hand. After one circuit of the sanctuary, as they are crossing in front of the altar, Chalker announces, "Okay, I am here now." Suddenly between them is a street kid holding hands with each. "Yes, Chalker Jackson? You have a question?" "I have a weakness in my head and heart for Roo." The kid explains to Chalker, "As soon as Cliff Hollow is encircled by the elven warrior with sanctified power points, the dark halfling leader will be drawn out to speak to her. ... The Traveler will take you to the dark halflings' realm, 'surrounded and protected by the reality of Erethel,' to speak to the highest in their hierarchy. ... Dar will draw back all the dark halflings that are not on this island. All the dark halflings on this island are fleeing to Cliff Hollow. They lost a lot last night and are trying to figure out what happened. ... This is really appreciated." Chalker feels his agreement to deliver this message has "raised him in the hierarchy of Mensep's messengers."
Chalker makes one more circuit, then says, "Goodbye. I will speak with you in Cliff Hollow." The "kid" vanishes; the priest looks awed. Chalker tells him, "Don't you feel that something has been moved forward? I feel this town will prosper. You're lucky it wasn't Aaoo -- she tries to eat me and anyone nearby."
Chalker feels as though he had spent only a few minutes in the temple, but when he emerges it seems that about an hour had passed. He figures that Mensep had "messed with time" and also given the priest a separate message.
Chalker finds Shawna and tells her, "He gave me an answer I could understand!" He thinks the Traveler might be an avatar of Dar. Shawna: "How are things on Temple Row?" Chalker: "Asseraah, Aaoo, and Aup's weren't as energetic as the others, the rest had joyful crowds." Shawna: "So who's following you?" Cal speaks up, "Nobody has followed us."
Shawna asks Chalker to examine the DH amulet. He determines it is iron or steel wrapped around stone with a hollow center. With his metal powers he pulls open the amulet and shows Shawna the "disquieting" symbols within -- earth, chaos/disorder. Chalker asks Tara, "How good are you at destroying magic?"
Intrinsius is being followed by four large men, probably guards, perhaps among those he fought last night. Hesitantly, one of them asks, "Sir Paladin, may I speak with you?" Intrinsius replies, "I don't think I'm a paladin, but I can talk with you." "You displayed immense fighting power. Would you train us? Is it okay to strap on weapons now? We haven't heard from the town leaders." "Yes, put on your weapons and armor, and go back on patrol."
Shawna gives Intrinsius the once-over twice. Intrinsius strolls up, asking her, "Is this guy bothering you?" Chalker to the guard that had talked with Intrinsius; his name is Eli and he is a sergeant of the town guard. "Go get your lieutentant or captain and meet me at the inn. Then they can take me to the town leaders."
In the cages in the DH warren below the town are five lions, two leonine alien creatures, two alien porcupines, the size of ponies, with poisoned quills, and a number of "food animals" (chickens, etc) native to Erethel. She sends the lions away with the wranglers; the native lions will be returned to the wild, while the alien lions will be neutered and trained with elven rangers that use service beasts. With regret she puts the porcupines to sleep and kills them humanely.
Captain Trevor Hale (competent, connected to Santash and Gauder) and Sgt Douglas escort Chalker to the home of the mayor, Alex Briggs. "It's like I've been in a haze. The dark halflings told me what to do. The Count and his people have not been around for several months. I'm trying to organize my thoughts." Chalker: "You go do mayor stuff. Leave the house and get to work." Cpt Hale will gather up the town administrators to meet with the mayor on the second floor of the admin building (Chalker warned them to avoid the first floor as much as possible, and stay out of the lower levels).
Chalker wants to check the marks at the front gate. When he and Intrinsius get there, two men holding buckets and scrub brushes are just looking blankly at the gates. Intrinsius gets a "weird DH feeling" from the marks. He prays to Santash, then takes out his flame and burns the symbol of Phor over one set of marks and the symbol of Santash [crit] over the other. As they go around to the other gates Intrinsius burns into them the symbol of Santash.
On their own initiative, laborers at the docks are clearing the wreckage from the DH ship. Chalker asks to inspect anything pulled from the wreckage. The work leader says that a large DH ship sailed north two days ago.
Chalker and Intrinsius go to the admin building. The guards call Intrinsius "Sir Knight" and Chalker laughs when they refer to Shawna as "Queen Elf," but he tells Intrinsius "I don't think you should call me 'Prince' in public." They are seated with the mayor and council. Chalker: "Ask your Count to send an invitation to trade to Dolyena of the Coastal Kingdoms... Check whether the Count is still under dark halfling influence, and if so, send a message to the elves." Intrinsius: "The messengers you send should be cleansed first." Chalker: "Send them to the temple of Yasseph, or Zeph." Mayor Briggs: "We are deeply in your debt." Chalker: "We are just glad to get rid of the dark halflings, and that the loss of life was as small as it was."
Intrinsius works with the guards the rest of the afternoon, then invites them to drink.
By late afternoon seven of the "escaped" 14 DH have been caught and killed. Shawna has the group's horses brought down from the overlook. Chalker examines debris from the shipwreck, finding two amulets (one damaged), several dark copper swords, some tough leather armor, and some packs.
The next day the group rides away from Gu-Win to the nearest Venettian gate. Rory and Trace have already prepared the sites. The six elves who rode with the group will take their horses on to Cliff Hollow. The group spends the night in the chambers below the gate.
Intrinsius dreams of Santash, who is exceedingly pleased with his accomplishments. She offers him something but when he wakes up he can't remember it. He hasn't had to make any effort to keep his flame going.
Shawna contacts the elven leader at Cliff Hollow. The DH beacon still burns. The elves have been intercepting DHs as they try to get to the city; no DHs are trying to leave. "We are fortunate. Yasseph is with us."
Next morning (BT 15) the group sets out on foot toward Cedar Grove, a village with a livery. On the way, Shawna asks Chalker where Hillford is, reminding him that the mercenaries in Ashley were hired by "Nathaniel Hess of Hillford." He says it's on an island south of the Peninsular Kingdoms.
At Cedar Grove the group buys two riding horses, four mules, and a wagon. By sundown they are only two miles from Cliff Hollow. They are met by some of the elves near the road. Shawna is urged by Yasseph to plant the first "sanctity point" in this spot, then every three miles in a circle around Cliff Hollow. "Excellently done, my daughter." Shawna tells Intrinsius and Chalker, then takes Tara and the two riding horses on her errand.
That night, Intrinsius again dreams of Santash, in her Justice aspect, smiling. "Do you wish to become a paladin of mine, or continue with your personal quest?" "What does being a paladin entail?" "You will draw power directly from me. I will send you on quests for justice. You will be an example for others. In any case, your connection to me remains strong. Phor is pleased, and that is difficult at times. Congratulations on dealing with my bro-- my fellow Chosen." "Is he your brother?" But Santash acts as though she didn't hear the question. She names two priests and a university researcher in Sapphire and a holy hermit (and two solders he can asks for directions to the hermit) to learn what being a paladin means. As her image fades away, Santash touches Intrinsius in the middle of his forehead; he feels a tingle up and down his body, and his night passes in peaceful, restful sleep.
Chalker dreams he is in Sapphire, in a grubby alleyway lit by algae. Seated 15' in front of him is a street kid who calls him "Mister Jackson." "Delsa's Own is setting up the sanctity points. The leader of the dark halflings will then be drawn to your group. The message is that they will not be going home. She can then activate the sanctity points, and Dar can deal with the remaining dark halflings. Chalker: "When will the Traveler be here?" "He will be among you at sundown." "Who is the Traveler?" "An avatar of Dar, of gates, of travel between realities; he is a child of Erethel and an aspect of Damarot. You will have no doubt of who he is. You three are deeply attuned to three of the First Chosen." "Will he intervene if we initiate violence?" "He is there to ensure your safety. Violence is not ruled out. If they try to return to Erethel they will be punished. Their travel to other realms will be monitored, and if they go to another realm they will be warned. If they try, they will lose whatever resources they use. These are the messages from the Chosen of Erethel."
Chalker: "Why were they let in in the first place?" "To allow growth, and to set the stage for the next phase of Erethel." "What's to keep us from going back to the dark halflings' reality?" "Lack of knowledge of how to create a gate to their realm. Under the right circumstances, a return could be achieved." "If I figure out how to get there on my own, would the First Chosen stop me? For example, if I learn how to actually work the Venettian gates and I open one to the dark halflings' realm, could you stop me, would you stop me?" "Dar could stop you. Would we? It depends. You are a worth courier and thief. The delivery of the third message is close. Once the Traveler deems you have delivered all the messages, he will bring you back. He will prevent cosmic and elemental danger."
The street kid extends a hand to help Chalker up. Chalker feels a tingle. His sleep is peaceful and invigorating.
Around 10am the next morning Shawna and Tara arrive in camp. Despite working all night, Shawna feels rested. She eats a hearty breakfast.
Chalker wants a private word. "I had a talk with Mensep. The dark halfling leader will come. Mensep let on something he didn't mean to... if I used the gate, Dar would stop me. There might be gates to other realms. I am close to putting a big puzzle together. I'll have to show you the control panel in the Virtual Keep. We hardly know anything about the Xanthyppians." Shawna: "Is your Xanthyppian blood the reason you know about 'cars' and 'guns' and the like? Remember, in that zombie realm, you immediately knew what a 'car' is and how to operate it. When you first saw a 'gun' you knew how to aim and fire it."
Chalker and Shawna start to return to the group. They take three steps and their ears pop like there has been a pressure change. Chalker [crit] observes an extra glow, making the air seem brigher and "more full." The glow fades over the next minute. Intrinsius senses that something of a spiritual nature just occurred; he gives Chalker and Shawna a funny look.
Exactly at noon, a dark halfling suddenly comes striding confidently toward the camp. He is dressed in "striking" chainmail, his helm tucked beneath one arm, a broadsword strapped to his back, a fighting knife at each hip. Above his belt buckle is a three-foot-long metal tube. There is a "dark copper sheen" about him. He stops 15' away and bows toward Shawna, Chalker, and Intrinsius. Intrinsius casts Heat on the tube, and his pet flame grows hotter as well.
The DH speaks. "I know you contest our attempt to integrate into your world. I felt the pull." Chalker: "You brought your deity with you. What is your deity's name?" DH cannot say it.
Intrinsius makes his flame grow. DH steps forward and reaches up for his sword. Shawna raises her hands and activates the sanctity points. DH stumbles, falls to his knees, struggles to stand.
Eyes flashing, Shawna intones, "Farewell forever."
The metal tube (wand) melts. There come the terrified screams of all the dark halflings being pulled forcibly from Erethel into the realm of Dar... all of them, including two that were on the island of Myretrius.
The beacon is still burning but it is dim and no longer has a spiritual component. Shawna turns and says to Intrinsius, "Take away their flame." Intrinsius "pet flame" spikes to six feet and an arc of blue fire forms as the flame from the beacon is absorbed by Phor's fire. Intrinsius finds he has access to "immense" power, and uses it to imbue his katana with flame. His katana becomes magical.