Sapphire:Sessions:20190126

So far in Malprin Alastor the merchant has made 12gp profit. He is pleased, especially knowing there is even more gold to be had.

Ahn-Lee is having his hired assassin, Rolf Vernay, track a certain guard.

Shawna obtains from Azzhik an antidote to the drug used to keep Malprin slaves docile. She gives some to Ahn-Lee to take to Chun.

Late afternoon on the 24th, Chalker leaves Quin Hicks, looking for high-end taverns. One person follows him all the way from Hicks' place to the Golden Palm, but doesn't follow him inside. Chalker goes to the bar, orders ale, and chats up the bartender. "I haven't been here in awhile." Bartender: "It's been rough, but it will turn around. The king and the merchants are looking for new venues." Chalker: "You have more than just the slave trade. Who works the farms and mines?" The bartender shrugs.

Alastor is making his rounds, accepting requests from herbalists for specific plants. In one tavern he overhears the buzz about "the new trader in town" -- meaning himself. "I don't know how he stands with the authorities yet." One person recognizes him and praises him for "the new product in town -- it's a good sign." Alastor writes an inquiry in his journey book and Chalker responds, "I'm going to talk to some mercs or a servant girl -- come visit!"

Chalker approaches a woman who greets him enthusiastically. "I'm Rice, who are you?" "I'm Cheryl." She is into "fine arts" and trying to break into a singing career. Her aura: greedy, likes material things, touched by Eupho, Magery 0, has empathy and a low-level psionic Broadcast ability. She has lived in Colvin all her life and wants to move to Zondell for a fresh start, but still needs several gold. Chalker, suggestively: "You look like you have 'other talents.'" Cheryl: "I'll be glad to give you a private performance." Chalker: "I want to hire you on retainer to accompany me to some places. Here's a silver. When I find you again, we'll walk around Colvin and you'll tell me about things you see."

Alastor walks into the Golden Palm just as Chalker is leaving Cheryl and approaching a table of mercs. Chalker nods in acknowledgement and Alastor heads to the bar. Alastor has no trouble lipreading the mercs' conversation; they are talking about Chalker.

One merc offers Chalker a seat. Aura: fighter, devout to Gauder and Bar, will do anything for money. Each of the men leads a company of mercenaries. Chalker: "Are you gentlemen from Colvin?" No, one claims to be from Vendoza, another from Salitow, one from Yolinda, and the one identified as a lieutenant was born in the Troubled Lands. "Are y'all working?" The man from Yolinda is working, the others are between jobs. "You two, how big are your forces?" One has 50, the other 100. One of them says that a coalition of merchants may be hiring them to go to the "conflicted countries" to "teach the border barons a lesson." The third group is under contract through the end of the next month, working for some barons outside of Colvin.

Chalker: "How much to hire both your companies for a month?" After their initial astonishment, the leader of 50 wants 15sp per month plus food, so the leader of 100 says he'd want 30sp plus food. The latter also asks to see paperwork authorizing Chalker to hire mercenaries, else "we could get in trouble."

Chalker: "What if I paid you just to leave -- just to ride to the other side of Carlsbad. I don't want you to get in trouble, I just want you not to be here." The mercs hem and haw. "It's a 500 mile trip... Can we take other jobs on the way?" Chalker: "Yes." Both of the mercs nod and say, "It's a deal!"

The third merc repeats that he and his 70 men have a solid contract, "And I don't walk out on contracts." They are supplementing the guards at a merchant house in Colvin. It's light duty and they return to their stations tomorrow.

Chalker writes: I hired 150 mercs to leave Colvin. What do you think of my purchase? Shawna: Splendid.

Chalker explains to the two mercs, "I will give you each one gold now. Get up, get your men, and meet me at the northern gates outside the caravan grounds in four hours. I'll give you the rest of your money, you leave. When you come back, you'll thank me." He gets the third merc to repeat the words, "I've seen nothing illegal."

As Chalker leaves, a furious discussion erupts behind him. Alastor 'hears' the merc with 50 say, "Why don't we just kill him?" Chalker comes up to Alastor muttering, "I might have to kill those guys." Alastor: "They're discussing killing you." Chalker: "Mercenary captains can be so fickle. Let me go make a few points."

Chalker returns to the mercs. "When I meet you, I'm bringing my fifteen friends, and you two are gonna die. Some of my friends have pointy ears. Understand? I'll cut your head off if you look at me wrong. If you don't show, my friend will hunt you down. I'm seen a lot of dead mercs."

Chalker leaves the subdued mercs and says to Alastor, "I'm done. I've hired a call girl for later, and there's one guy following me."

Chalker and Alastor look across the harbor. There is movement on the nearer of the dark ships, three halfling-sized (or child-sized) humanoids wearing dark clothes. A dim light shows through portholes below the main deck. The only metal Chalker detects is at a halfling's waist, possibly a dagger made of silver alloyed with another metal.

Ahn-Lee climbs up into the slave pens. Chun is just as Ahn-Lee had left him, lying prone on his cot, eyes closed. "Evening, Chun." "I was sold, and the buyer had arranged transportation, but they were unable to transfer my allegiance. I can't do much, but..." Chun doesn't finish the sentence, but he smiles. Ahnl-Lee: "Want a drink?" Chun: "A fine ale would be good." Ahn-Lee slips away, locats the guards' hidden stash, fills the biggest mug he can find, and dumps the antidote into it. Chun accepts the mug, saying "You're a true friend." One swallow, though, and he screws up his face and says "This is atrocious! But (shrug) it's ale" and he takes another gulp. He shakes his head, then sits down on his cot. "Strong stuff... head swirling... body tingling..."

After several moments, Ahn-Lee asks, "Think you'll go with them?" Chun: "Yes. And I'll wait until we're five miles outside of the city. And I'll break my buyer's arm and take his knife and slit all their throats." Ahn-Lee: "Well, what if your cell door were unlocked?" Chun: "I'll kill everyone." Ahn-Lee: "If I asked you nicely, would you not?" Chun: "If you ask, I will quietly leave." Ahn-Lee: "We'll get you far away from Colvin."

While Chun scratches up the cell door to make it look like he somehow broke out, Ahn-Lee pickpockets the keys from a sleeping guard (leaving his money pouch alone), unlocks Chun's cell, then puts the keys back. "Follow me." Ahn-Lee leads Chun, who with his stocky, powerful frame moves very quietly, through the window and down the wall.

Ahn-Lee writes to Shawna: Antidote worked. Sending Chun to Wicera to tell you what he knows.

Ahn-Lee leads Chun near the hidden gate, then pops out a sleep needle, intending to give Chun a dose. Instead, he fumbles badly and accidentally sticks himself! Fighting the drowsiness, he mutters to Chun, "Think I'm feeling the ale." Chun helps him to a place of concealment and for the next hour tends to Ahn-Lee and stands guard until Ahn-Lee recovers.

Ahn-Lee tries the needle again and this time it goes perfectly. The drug puts Chun to sleep. Ahn-Lee takes a deep breath, slings Chun over his shoulder, and when Shawna opens the gate he carries Chun through it. Ahn-Lee summarizes events for Shawna, indicating Chun and saying, "I'll want to crecruit him."