Sapphire:Sessions:20140913

It is early evening on Change Time 7. The group is in the Duchy of Osneer, one day's journey from Perryton.

In a tavern at the inn in which the group is staying, a bard entertains with songs and tales. When the bard takes a break, Shawna brings out a lute and sings a couple of elven ballads and a dwarven drinking song. Chalker watches Shawna. Trace rests in his room.

Rory takes a lantern to a tinsmith and describes the modification he wants: to include holders into which coin-sized objects can be inserted such that they would be heated by the lantern's flame. He offers a gold piece for the rush job.

Next morning, the innkeeper delivers the modified lamp to Rory. The group rides out to the north. Trace checks for gates along the way. They stop at a waystation for the night. Shawna talks with each of the others about their histories before and with the group. The next couple of days pass similarly.

On CT 13 they reach Dethome, a small market town that is nonetheless walled and has a 50-man garrison. They take rooms at an inn/tavern called The Fallen Wand.

Rory buys six small thin vials.

Chalker visits Temple Row and enters Yasseph's shrine, which resembles a forest grove. After giving observance, he walks around in silence, leaving his mind clear. After he leaves the shrine, a falcon launches from the roof and circles the town.

Trace pays his respects at the temple of Erathoe.

Shawna rides out to a grove and spends time in communion with nature. A falcon lands near her and she beckons it to perch on her arm.

Later, they are dining in the tavern when a young human woman rushes in. She is in her teens, dark-haired, good-looking, has light brown skin, and wears well-made clothing. After glancing at two other tables (one with goblins and humans, the other with a merchant and some armsmen), she approaches their group. She drops a quick curtsey to Shawna and addresses Chalker. Her name is Thana [pronounced THAY-na] Bastress, and she is the eldest daughter of Count Len Bastress. Her aura, in Chalker's eye, is "pure and vibrant" with a couple of 'abnormalities,' one of which feels like "like calling to like" to Chalker, the other he can't immediately identify. She begs for the group's help over the Days of the Spirits (CT 14-15) because her family's keep will be under assault. She can see the spirits of her deceased relatives almost all the time; they protect the living family members from evil spirits. In her dreams she has seen flocks of ravens, symbols of Asseraah. The only reason she can think of for evil spirits to be attacking is that six months ago her father had a rogue mage executed; there was evidence this mage had dabbled in necromancy. She admits it will be dangerous, but as she tells Chalker, "Three groups in this tavern have dealt with things like this, and you're the best." The group agrees to help, and Shawna suggests that they present themselves to Bastress as the Ambassador from Dolyena and his entourage. Thana leaves quickly so she can get back home before she is missed.

Rory and Shawna ready the horses, and the group rides out to the keep. Shawna changes her hair color to Dolyena's colors, red and gold. They are escorted inside the keep to await the count.

Count Bastress is a strikingly handsome man in his 40s, his features distinguished by laugh lines around the eyes, a scattering of gray hairs, and a thin scar on the right side of his face. He greets the group rather coldly. He has never heard of Dolyena, and doesn't see any reason to have diplomatic dealings with such a faraway place, especially when his own country is landlocked. Chalker explains that he is on his way to Sapphire and wants to know more about the other lands nearby. "Mensep gave me a message that I must deliver to Sapphire." "Yes, the priests can be very persuasive." "No... Mensep can be very forceful." Chalker asks the count "Why do you have a man peering through a peephole into this room?" "Prudence," responds the Count. Eventually it comes out that the Count has retained an acolyte of Dar "to reassure the servants, and to set up wards."

Eventually, the Count's attitude softens and he welcomes Chalker and his entourage to stay for the next few days. After the group is settled in their suite, Thana leads Rory through the secret passages (of which she has detailed knowledge, having explored them since she was a young girl) of the keep; Rory memorizes them and will commit them to parchment later.

Chalker meets with the acolyte, explaining "I'd like to give my observance to Dar. I just want you to listen." Chalker continues, "My lord, we've met once before, and it was a great honor -- I would like a word with you. I have a question, and a mild request." The acolyte's eyes glaze over, and a gravelly voice issues from his mouth: Speak. "Why have you brought us here? What do you want us to do?" Do what you do. "Are you ever in contact with the lower persona of Jax?" Yes. If he crosses your path, would you remind him that I'm still waiting? Yes. "Thank you, my lord."

The acolyte's eyes refocus, but he is unaware that any time has passed, or that Dar spoke through him.

A mildly puzzled frown briefly creases Shawna's brow. She suddenly feels that she has been very lucky... in some unknown way.

Rory draws a map of the secret passages. The group determines a watch schedule. Trace is unable to sleep, so near the end of Chalker's watch both men hear footsteps outside the suite. Chalker looks through the door and sees the spirit of a guardsman patrolling the hallway. Chalker opens the door. The spirit identifies himself as Edgar Starley; he turned 18 years of age in 2401 (the current year is 2436). "All is well, sir. We're guarding the manor. It is our duty."

Trace checks some other hallways and sees additional translucent guardsmen, of which the living guards seem unaware. One of the guards, thinking that Trace is looking for a late-night snack, shows the mage to the kitchen, where an elderly female ghost critiques his preparations.

On Shawna's watch she ventures into the master suite where she meets Jason Branvold, chief among the ghostly guards. He doesn't know how or by whom, but every year during the Days of the Spirits, the ghosts of former retainers of the house of Bastress are summoned to the keep to stand watch over the family. The only reason he can think of that makes this year especially fraught is that ten years ago a traitor named Elisha Glareson, who had been an advisor to the previous Count Bastress, underwent "severe interrogation" (i.e., torture) and was executed.

Chalker wakes up in a cold sweat, feeling as though someone had tried to yank his heart and lungs out. Trace casts Aura -- someone had perhaps attempted to possess Chalker. Soon, Thana comes knocking at the door; something had tried to possess her, too.

The family is awakened and gathered together. The Countess shows a double aura, as does Thana's little sister, Prewin. Something had attempted to possess the Count and his son Claude as well. Chalker: "We're not the only ones who don't belong here, are we?" The Count slugs his wife in the jaw. Shawna grabs Prewin before the little girl can act, and guards burst in.

The Count grabs up a tray to use as a shield. Chalker snatches a guard's sword and hands it to the Count. Guards swing at Shawna and Chalker and miss. Striker sets himself between Shawna and a guard. Rory throws a tray Frisbee-style at the guards coming in, striking the frontmost guard who tries to dodge, slams into the doorframe, and stuns himself. Trace throws an Acid Ball at a guard, who dodges.

Claude grabs up two kitchen knives and charges. Shawna raises her lyrical voice and in Elven begins invoking a prayer to cast out the spirit possessing Prewin. Chalker drives into a guard, shoving him backward into another guard, whose sword impales the first guard, and who jostles yet a third guard. Striker attacks a guard's sword arm; the guard steps back. Bastress stabs a guard. Rory vaults over the table, drawing his sword, and sets himself between Thana and a guard. With his staff, Trace bops a guard over the head and stuns him.

Chalker spins acrobatically, fast-draws his sword, and strikes a guard. Shawna continues her prayer, and Prewin utters a bloodcurdling scream and goes limp. Claude attacks with both knives, hitting once. Bastress swings at the guard attacking Claude. Trace hits that guard and knocks him out. Striker runs between a guard's legs, knocking the man off his feet.

Chalker takes down the last guard. Trace overcomes a sudden bout of squeamishness. Shawna utters a prayer of thanks, and puts Prewin to sleep. Chalker informs Bastress that his wife is still possessed; the Count sends for the acolyte of Dar. Chalker: If you'd always wanted to do that [i.e., strike his wife], this was your chance.

Chalker sternly addresses Count Bastress. "Thana came and found us. You weren't listening to her." Bastress looks sheepish. "Your daughter has a talent; she is either sensitive or can see the future, and she brought us here to save your family."

Once Prewin is stable, Shawna kneels beside the Countess. Before she can start praying, Trace suggests that they first interrogate the possessing spirit to see what may be learned from it.