Sapphire:Sessions:20150523

Evening, Feast Time 5, village of Warton in Smorshaow. The group is in the village's shabby tavern. Chalker is questioning Mose Kintoth, first mate of the ship White Star, which is anchored 400 yards offshore. The captain's name is Loopy Stockbrand.

Chalker: "Still with me, Kintoth? Pandemonium Dagger Guild seems to have a hit out on me. Would you like a drink? Something strong?"

The bartender starts to claim he stocks nothing stronger than cheap ale, but then he pulls a ceramic jug out from behind the counter and pours out a mug of homebrew. Chalker counts the coins in Kintoth's money pouch and lays down a silver piece for the bartender. He puts the mug to Kintoth's lips; the first mate takes a large swallow.

Chalker: "What is the Captain's part in all this?" Kintoth: "He's cutting a deal between a priest, the Baron, and some wizard from up north." "The Tower Wizard? Is that who?" "yeah." "Is the wizard in town?" "No." "Your Captain's probably focused on money. Any idea what it's for? "Some long-term plan. The Captain is a need-to-know sort, very tight-lipped." "Is it on the ship?" "The Captain hasn't had time to bring it together."

Chalker: "You know a lot about me... what about her?" He indicates Shawna. Kintoth stares at Shawna, who is wiping mud and gore off of herself. Shawna: "Shut up, Chalker, I'm tired."

Chalker asks the innkeeper, Margaret, how dead bodies are taken care of in this village. She explains that there is a graveyard, and some traveling priests of Damaroth include Warton on their circuit.

Chalker to Kintoth: "I'm sure your dead will be taken to the ship. Will it be three -- or four?" Kintoth: "I'm waiting for the Captain to come to the tavern."

Chalker addresses the few other patrons. "Want a drink? Mose, here, is buying." They all accept.

Shawna speaks pointedly, "Are we going to break up the meeting?" Chalker asks Kintoth, "Where is the meeting?" Kintoth: "At the shrine of Asseraah south of town."

Chalker leaves a silver piece (from Kintoth's purse) with the bartender to keep Yasser supplied with ale. Chalker warns Kintoth, "If you try to leave, my friend will beat you unconscious." Chalker explains to Ahn-Lee, "You and me and Shawna are going to a shrine, leaving Yasser here. Yasser, make sure the hurt guy and the other sailors don't leave. Use your own discretion."

The shrine is said to be a mile south of the village. While they are still a quarter-mile away, Shawna can feel that the area is 'sanctified' to Asseraah. Shawna: "Thinking of turning back?" Chalker: "No." Shawna: "Didn't think so."

There are creatures moving among the tree branches, following them, their sharp claws scraping the bark. There are four of them, moving in formation.

Lanterns hanging in the trees light the clearing. At the entrance to the shrine stands a tall, thin, grey-haired priest in jet-black robes, a silver dagger at his belt. Leaning against a wall behind him is a stout quarterstaff banded with iron. Chalker greets the priest and inquires about the Captain. "Stockbrand is not exactly a faithful child of Asseraah, though he does give observance. He has been here, but something came up and he had to leave quickly. It seems that Lord Dar has been quite busy tonight. ... Roo has stepped in and made his plans more interesting."

Chalker enters the shrine, approaches the altar, and gives observance. The shrine is dedicated to the Chaos aspect of Asseraah. Shawna enters the shrine, standing a few steps inside, her expression impassive. Chalker addresses the priest (whose name is Adalith), "Tell your lord I came and I prayed. Why is this shrine radiating so much power?" Adalith: "In the past it has housed foundation stones, and this part is very important to my lord." Shawna walks deliberately toward Adalith, her eyes boring directly into his; at first he meets her gaze boldly, but after several moments he lowers his eyes, seeming to shrink into himself.

Shawna turns to leave, stopping in the entrance and staring intently at the quarterstaff. Chalker reaches out and takes hold of the iron bands with his telekinesis -- and can't let go fast enough. He reels and retches, feeling "that staff was going to eat my soul!" He watches Shawna cautiously, ready to jerk her away in case she is overcome. But after three long minutes, she bares her teeth in a mirthless grin, turns her back on the shrine, and strides away. An instant later, Chalker sees the staff vanish and reappear in Adalith's hands.

At the edge of the clearing, the four creatures -- opossums -- are still perched high in the trees, watching the group. Shawna walks up to one tree, looks up and calls, "Come down, little one." Chalker and Ahn-Lee look on as the possum climbs down the tree until it is level with Shawna's head. Shawna reaches out her right hand and places it on the possum's head. (She senses that this is no monster, but a natural creature under Charesoon's illicit control.)

Looking on, Chalker calls out to the Mother of Night, obtaining a portion of her attention. "Don't make me hurt your children, Mother. They're much too small."

After a few moments, Shawna gathers the possum into her arms. The other three skitter away through the trees. Chalker can feel Mother's frustration, regret, and malice. Shawna carries the possum a short way into the woods, setting it down and encouraging it to return to its burrow.

The three return to the tavern. Chalker pays Margaret for four rooms at the inn (still using Kintoth's money). Kintoth repeats that he had "standing orders" regarding Chalker -- "Kill on sight."

Chalker, Shawna, and Ahn-Lee take their horses and ride north. 200 yards out they see a runner start sprinting toward the Baron's hunting lodge. Chalker urges his horse into a run, but the runner screams repeatedly "Riders coming!" and dashes into the dense trees.

The three continue at a trot. Seven men, including two bearing spears, emerge from the building and deploy themselves in an arc. Chalker calls out, "Greetings!" One of the men steps forward, introducing himself as Guard Captain Stevens. Chalker: "Tell Captain Stockbrand that Chalker Jackson has a message for him." Stevens: "He is in a meeting with the Baron. It will be a couple of hours." Chalker: "I'm going to have to insist. Tell them to take a break and let the captain speak to me."

Stevens: "You are confident in your strength." Chalker: "I guess we've gotten past the 'reasonable' part." Chalker snatches a spear out of one of the guards' grasp and sets its point on Stevens's temple; Shawna draws her sword. Stevens: "You're a mage." Chalker: "The mage is back there. We'll need to kill four of you. Will you be one of the three that survives?" Stevens: "Then we will fight and die!"