Sapphire:Sessions:20141220

It is evening at the Boar's Head tavern in the city of Sapphire. Behind the bar are a goblin, Bajeeter, and a human, Bruno. Muriel Mills sits at one end of the bar. Captain Harlock of the city guard and the mercenary known as Rain are sitting at a table. Via the group's waitress, Rory sends a drink to the bard who's performing tonight.

Micah (the "calm brother") leaves the tavern, and two men follow him; one appears to be a young thief, and the other a merchant.

Checking the room to see if the buyer might be present, Chalker notices that one of the waitresses. Kate, is walking with a different gait than before. With his aura sense, he sees that Kate has a false aura over a strong-willed, disciplined, powerful woman. Her attention is on Harlock and Rain; she is nervous about them. Chalker quietly calls his companions' attention to that waitress. Shawna remarks that the waitress has had an illusion shell cast upon her.

Trace gets up and carries his drink over to the bartender, Bajeeter, and asks for "something different." Bajeeter offers one of his own brews. Trace asks about Kate, and Bajeeter replies that she went out back around 45 minutes ago. Glancing at the waitress, Bajeeter murmurs "That's not her" and goes outside, taking one of the bouncers with him. Trace tastes his drink, which is very strong, and leaves double the price on the bar.

Chalker calls Kate over, orders an ale, and asks if she's limping. She replies that she's been on her feet all day. With his penetrating vision, Chalker sees a woman about twenty years old, slim and muscular, clad in supple leather and armed with a hand-and-a-half sword and a brace of daggers. On her belt are six talismans. She appears to have no identifying symbols.

Micah and "nervous brother" Otis enter the tavern and seat themselves at the bar. Micah bears a wood-handled leather carrying case big enough to hold the two artifacts. Otis' expression plainly says, "Why am I doing this?" Chalker strolls by and peers inside the case, but it's empty.

Rory addresses the Sapphire Diamond. "Hey, Rock, you awake? Are those items still within range? Have they moved?" "They are still in the building, in the room, but there is something unusual going on that I can't identify."

An elf enters the tavern, and Muriel Mills moves out. Tension in the room rises. Chalker beckons to Muriel and asks her, "Is trouble about to happen?" "I asked you to leave," she replies. Chalker: "Can I let you in on a secret?" Muriel: "Nothing, in case.... Things are far off script. Now it's a matter of who gets to pull what from the wreckage. There's someone else horning in besides you." Muriel takes leave of Shawna with a nod and "My lady," then quick-steps to the door. Another person leaves at the same time.

Trace sees Bajeeter return to the bar; the bouncer is not with him. The goblin catches Trace's eye and nods 'yes.' He stops their waitress on her way to the group's table and murmurs a few words to her.

The waitress sets the group's orders on the table. "They found her corpse dumped in the alley with the trash. Her wounds were fresh."

Rory asks the Diamond, "Has anything changed?" "They're in the room. That man is wearing baggier clothes."

'That man,' an older merchant, goes up to the brothers and begins conversing with them. Chalker lipreads Micah's and Otis's parts of the conversation; the other merchant has his back to him.

Micah: "Yeah, we understand, this wasn't supposed to be the delivery point." Otis: "Everything went wrong! How do we know you'll have our payment?" The merchant speaks. Micah: "Yeah, he did talk to me about it." The merchant speaks again. Micah: "I'm so sorry." Otis: "Just get it out of here! Why'd you bring it back in here, idiot?" The merchant shows no reaction.

A half-dozen thiefly types armed with daggers scatter themselves between the group's table and the tavern's main door. Five 'toughs' react to a signal from the merchant. Two persons slip into the tavern; though they are invisible, they are noticed by the group. Rory nudges Striker with his foot to make sure the war dog is awake.

Chalker hooks onto "Kate's" throwing knives. Trace touches certain of the runes tattooed on his arms (create + weaken), and asks Shawna, "Where do you want to be?" "Outside," she replies.

Chalker sinks a throwing knife into a thief's butt; the man screams. Shawna dispels the invisibility from the two people, then outlines them with faerie fire. These people are the mage they had seen at the city gate and an elf they don't recognize. Shawna is teleported to a bench outside, where she sees four more thieves on the street, a crossbowman atop a building across the way, and a mercenary man-at-arms watching the front of the tavern.

Chalker hooks another of Kate's knives and throws it into the merchant's butt. The merchant cries out in surprise and pain. The mage steps to one side, subtly casting a spell, and raises a hand to the hilt of his sword. The other elf shoulders a patron aside and cross-draws two throwing knives. Rory stands, drawing his sword, and says to Striker, "Shawna." Chalker's first victim jerks the knife from his behind, causing himself even more pain and bleeding. One thief steps through Trace's weakened floor and broken wood cuts into the thief's ankle. "Kate's" illusion drops; she grabs a talisman from her belt, crushes it, and suddenly appears atop Captain Harlock's table, momentarily disoriented. Two mercenaries charge toward Micah and Otis, and another toward Kate. Trace's staff connects with the head of the thief who broke through the floor. The merchant stands; the woman with him collapses, and Rory sees that the woman is being levitated. One of the elves triggered a stun or sleep spell, which affects everyone within five yards. Shawna, the edge of her sword glinting dangerously, beckons to the merc: come at me!

Chalker hooks one of the elf's belt knives and drives it toward the elf's foot; a fireball explodes, injuring a dozen people, but the elf utters a curse and Blinks three yards away. Striker dashes out the door. Trace stands up. The singed elf raises both arms and cancels out the rest of the spells hung on his belt. The other elf flickers and there is a slight smell of both ozone and brimstone (spell failure). Bajeeter tries to jump atop the bar, but lands on his face instead of his feet. Kate has drawn a weapon and is dueling with Harlock. Rain throws a gnawed turkey leg bone at her but misses. The merchant's woman (hired for the night) floats toward the center of the room. As soon as the merc's hand twitches toward the hilt of a weapon, Shawna skewers him through the vitals and the merc collapses.

Chalker hooks another knife and plants it in the stunned elf's butt. Striker has charged halfway across the street. Bajeeter scrambles to his feet. The merchant with the statues takes a step back. Otis dives behind the bar, while Micah tries to stab the merchant and misses. Rain, his dinner interrupted, draws his sword and faces three opponents. Watching Chalker's back, Trace sees four thieves shift positions, hands on hilts; Trace raises his staff as though to cast a spell.

Rory moves toward the merchant before the thieves can react. Shawna fast-draws a throwing knife and hurls it at the crossbowman; he dodges the knife but drops his crossbow, which clatters to the street. Chalker stabs someone else in the butt. Striker worries at the merc's neck. The elf glances at the stunned elf, and steps behind the merchant (facing him). A swirling mist appears two feet above the stunned elf. The floating woman drifts toward Chalker; she is about six yards away and six feet above the floor. Micah stabs, cutting something open; two cases fall out and Micah catches them both one-handed. Sawdust swirls ominously around the thieves' feet, and two of them lose their nerve and run away. Shawna sprints toward one of the thieves.

. . .

Chalker sidesteps a demon and slams into portal guy, cracking the latter's ribs. Portal guy staggers in pain. The man swings at Rory who dodges the demon such that the man strikes the demon instead. The demon lashes out with its claws; the man drops his swords as he dives behind the bar. Shawna and Striker run toward the woman. Harlock, one hand pressed hard against his gut wound, picks up his sword with his other hand. Rain moves toward the woman. Bajeeter throws a knife at the woman but misses; the goblin fast-draws another knife and jumps off the bar. Rory runs toward the mage. The mage shouts to the demon, "Kill him!" A demonic hand with long claws reaches through the portal.

Chalker steps behind the mage, drops the cases, grabs the mage by the throat and uses him as a human shield against the demon. The demon obligingly grabs for Chalker and its claws sink into the mage's chest; Chalker lets go of the mage and takes a step back. The woman charges at Bajeeter; her sword swing misses the goblin.

Shawna's sword cleanly severs the woman's left arm. Striker catches the arm in his teeth. Trace completes his spell and gains control of the gate; he tilts the portal and extends it over the demon. The clawed hand clutches at the demon, and the gate goes down to the floor. Rory does not pass out.

Shawna stares at the woman with the gaze of judgement. Striker offers the woman's arm to Shawna. Trace sits down. Rory stands up.

Chalker picks up the cases. Trace shuts the gate against the hordes trying to come through it. Rain: "That was fun." Chalker: "I kind of agree." Bajeeter: "A round of ale for everyone!"

Shawna watches the woman die, then goes and casts a healing spell on Harlock.

Chalker looks in the box. The statues depict the so-called "forsaken second chosen," who according to Erethel's theology were rebellious "fallen angels" cast down by the First Chosen. Chalker walks over to Trace and asks, "How're you doin'? You don't look so good." Trace seems punch-drunk with the aftereffects of his spellcasting. "I don't feel so good. I think it was that drink." Chalker explains about the "second chosen" and says he will go to the Temple of Mensep. Chalker retrieves the mage's wand from where it had fallen and brings it to Trace.

Rain asks, "Is it done?" Shawna tells him to stay and watch Harlock, who was badly wounded in the fight.

Rory, who had gone upstairs, returns with his bow and the Sapphire Diamond.

Shawna asks Bajeeter about the slain waitress. Her name was Kate Alice Barlow, and she had a seven-year-old sister she was caring for.

The city guards arrive. Harlock explains to them about the artifacts and the demon portal.

Rory goes to the Temple of Aakbarath.

Chalker goes to the Temple of Mensep and places the cases on the altar. Three high-ranking priests approach quickly; two of them bow their heads in prayer, and the third addresses Chalker, "Yes, messenger." "A word with Mensep. I have need of guidance." The priest begins a prayer that he might become Mensep's avatar. Chalker stops him, then takes the priest by the hand and begins to walk around the altar room as he speaks aloud. "I like your style. I like to be respectful, and --" Another's voice completes the sentence, "-- in control, as much as you can." Chalker: "I don't have that illusion." Mensep explains that the artifacts, hidden away millenia ago and uncovered recently, are very powerful; "Thank you for giving them to me." Chalker: "Why are they powerful? Who do they depict?" Mensep: "You really want to know? For your service, I will not require another message." Chalker: "I'm bringing you these and *you* are not charging *me*?"

The high priest quickly touches Chalker's forehead (granting him Theology: Second Chosen). The second chosen were created to help administer the world. They rebelled. (Chalker is told the names of the two depicted by the artifacts.) Some of the second chosen are trying to re-enter and reclaim Erethel. They were enabled to do this due to this being the end of an Age. Some of the First Chosen, such as Asseraah, are trying to use the second chosen.

Mensep: "I am in the center of this web. I keep the balance." Chalker: "I think 'balance' is highly overrated." Mensep: "You can ferret out the First Chosen they were attached to. The knowledge will stay with you the rest of your life, but there are some who will try to take it from you."

Shawna bears Kate Barlow's body to the Temple of Damarot and gives it to the attendants to be washed and dressed. She takes the woman's arm from Striker, pets him, sprinkles him with Dara's holy water, and sends him back to Rory. She arranges funeral services for Kate for the next day, and hands over the severed arm to be destroyed.

Rory enters the Temple of Aakbarath. A priest inquires, "You wish to take vengeance?" Rory: "I already have. I don't know if it was my place to do so." Rory tells of the five bodies he had found at the farm, a man, a woman, and three teenage children. Priest: "In Aakbarath's name, you gave to them what they had sown. You have glorified Our Lady."

Then Rory proceeds to the Temple of Dar and lays upon the altar the arrows another such temple had given him. "I don't think I'm worthy to carry them yet. It is too tempting. I am not sure the service was done in the right context."

Back at the tavern, a beautiful woman sits down at Trace's table. "I hear you were at the center of what happened here. You're a mage, right?" Trace: "I've been accused of being one." Woman: "My name is Doris. You broke one of the Thieves' Guild's splinter groups, and expanded our territory." She rises and departs, and Trace finds two gold pieces lying atop the table.

Bajeeter asks Trace, "Are things always this exciting around you? I thought it was going to be quiet for awhile."

Rory goes to the Temple of Solash and asks for "the oldest priest" and a private room for "the entity I'm carrying with me." A high priest (in his 50s) appears. "Yes, my son?" "I was requested to bring him here. He wanted to visit; said he needed to be here for awhile." In Rory's mind the Diamond says, "We may journey together again." He feels that the Diamond is "pleased."

As Rory leaves the temple, a richly-dressed merchant falls into step beside him. "You had the Diamond, the high priest told me. I was holding it when it left the city. Are you a merchant?" "As a matter of fact..." The merchant, whose name is Thomas Trivett, will pay Rory's guest dues to the Merchant's Guild in Sapphire. Trivett walks with Rory most of the way back to the inn.

Shawna talks with Bajeeter. He will see that Kate's sister is cared for and that Kate's funeral is well-attended.

Chalker says to Shawna, "Mensep tried to extort me. I'm glad you weren't hurt."

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