Sapphire:Sessions:20180811

Chalker picks the lock on the door of the second-floor room at The Hawks where Ahn-Lee had fought the night before. Inside Chalker and Ahn-Lee recoil from the smell of sulfur and burnt wood, though there is no evidence of fire and no fumes. Chalker asks Ahn-Lee, "If there had been a demon in here, you'd have known it, right?" Alastor has no reaction, explaining that he is anosmic. Ahn-Lee and Chalker determine that the smell is coming from four palm-sized drawstring bags, one in each corner of the single room. On each bag is embroidered or woven a different pattern of crisscrossing lines, which seem to shift about; Chalker recognizes them as an obscure symbol used by adherents of Assaraah in uncivilized parts of the world. Other than the bags, the room has been magically cleaned. Ahn-Lee starts to feel dizzy, but walking into the fresh air in the hallway for a few moments relieves the dizziness. Alastor opens one of the bags and finds seeds and leaves from a variety of rare plants, most of which are poisonous or have other physical effects, but nothing to explain the sulfurous smell. He starts to feel dizzy, but when he closes the bag he soon feels better. To Chalker Alastor says, "Good call. Let's examine these someplace with better preparation."

In the hallway on their way out, Ahn-Lee spots near the ceiling a tiny irregularity which, as he watches, resolves into a thumbnail-sized spider which begins to creep away. Ahn-Lee fast-draws a knife and throws it, killing the spider. He points out the spider to the others, then pulls the dagger out and thrusts the impaled spider toward Alastor's face. Alastor identifies it as a very rare spider created by dark elves at least a thousand years ago. He thinks there's a merchant in Sapphire with whom Jules does business who might have such an arachnid in his collection. He seals the dead spider in a specimen jar.

Chalker writes to Shawna in his journey book, then heads for Temple Row. Ahn-Lee and Alastor go to Jules' Apothecary. Alastor shows Jules three of the bags and the dead spider. Jules says the poison produced by the spider is deadly to all races, though less so to elves. Jules names Christopher Norsick, a wealthy merchant, as the "collector of spiders and vermin." "Be diplomatic," Jules warns Alastor; "He's one of our best customers."

When Shawna arrives, Ahn-Lee asks, "You know a lot about spiders, right?" Upon examining the spider, she says that there was a spell on it, a combination of Raise IQ and Soul Rider, cast by an old and powerful female mage who serves one of the First Chosen. The mage is warded but is located somewhere in Sapphire.

Chalker skips up the steps of the Temple of Asseraah. Within, incense burns and several priests kneel at the altar. Chalker performs his observance, and one of the priests stands up, staring at Chalker with a hard smile. Chalker: "I wish to speak with Father." Priest: "He is always present. Chaos is all around us." "I call BS... Let's walk." "Is this an essential part of your ritual?" "It helps me think, and it makes me a moving target." The priest sets off in the opposite direction. Chalker raises his voice: "I was exposed to a magical bag with your symbols upon it." He pulls out the bag and the symbols rearrange themselves. "Are the creators of these things doing your will?" The priest turns and starts walking at Chalker's side and says, "This one is devoted." "Is it expressing your intentions?" "Chaos is expressed and darkness is encouraged." "I'm getting better at darkness." "Yes, you are trying." Chalker says boldly, "Father, you shouldn't take that tone with me. Of your children, am I not the most chaotic?" "Hurt will be expressed."

Chalker hands the bag to the priest, who begins praying in an archaic language: "Lord of Darkness and the chaotic universe, return this to where it will most do your will..." Chalker snatches the bag away. The priest turns toward him, shocked that Chalker understood what he was saying. The priest completes his prayer silently. Chalker hands the bag back. They argue theology for some time, then Chalker performs his concluding observance and departs. Outdoors, he writes in his Journey Book: Asseraah is involved up to his neck.. He takes a carriage to Alastor's workplace.