Sapphire:Sessions:20171216

Frost Time 25: Shawna experiences a lucid dream. Six reptile men, one leading a mule pulling a small cart bearing a large crate, trudge along a road between the duchies of Drakwick and Amabon. Shawna feels on a spiritual level that there is something bad in the crate. She reaches out to the temple of Delsa in Ridell and warns a priestess about the crate.

Ahn-Lee dines at the Boar's Head with Azzhik. The latter seems worn and agitated, downing a number of Bajeeter Specials while using his portable kit to make potions, and admits he hasn't slept well lately. He gives Ahn-Lee a smoke bomb.

Leaving the black sword at the Mage Guild, Chalker, Sybonne, and Relinda dine at his manor. Sybonne asks about getting herself another place. Chalker: "I'll let you out of your contract, but if you stray back into your lawless ways, I'll have to send Ahn-Lee after you." She will leave the household at the end of the month, and assures Chalker of a discount rate for future services.

Chalker shows Sybonne the ivory figurine he had picked up two days previous in the Troubled Lands. She casts a Divination spell, then her eyes roll up and she faints. Chalker revives her. Sybonne explains that the figurine is ancient, maybe 9000 years old, possibly from the so-called Golden Age. It is linked to a family with two extant lines: Calander [kal-AND-er or KAL-and-er, GM's pronunciation varied] and Belfry. Chalker has heard of the Calanders, a merchant clan centered in the Coastal Kingdoms port of Yolenna. Sybonne describes glimpses of the future. Chalker asks Relinda, "Anybody trapped inside the figurine?" Relinda says no, it is a collector, a link of some sort, "a magic that's beyond me." Chalker, naturally: "Is it collecting me?" Relinda touches the figurine lightly with her left forefinger, then says it is linked to and collecting a certain bloodline. She describes a city she has never been to; Jeeves, overhearing, identifies the city as Ridell. A bit impatient with the vague descriptions, Chalker tells the women, "Look harder, get better." Relinda: "A lot has happened in the last millenia [sic]. In some ways you're ahead of us in magic, in some ways not."

Frost Time 26: Ahn-Lee meets with Cameron Clemens, whom he has retained to figure out how to enter the imperial prison. Clemens says he will be ready for the attempt in four days. At that time Ahn-Lee will tell him the item he's interested in, and requests the right to buy anything else of interest Clemens might find.

Early in the afternoon, Chalker goes to the temple of Phor. Before the temple are six eternal flames; Chalker notices that three of the flames are at half intensity. He gives observance at the altar, then begins to walk. "Fire Lord, I have come to ask you some questions. You don't seem too busy right now." On the third circuit, a priest emerges through a side door and falls in step with Chalker; "I am the intermediary."

Chalker: "I've come into possession of a cursed sword, and I have seen you in it. It sucks the light out of people." The priest looks shocked as he says in a deep voice: "The metal was purified by me as it passed through the skies." "Would you be mad if I broke it?" "No." "Do you know the purpose of the sword?" "Yes, but I will not tell you.... She is still upset with you. She talks about you too much.... Roo says the sword has a special destiny."

Chalker asks about Jax's brother. "He would be dangerous to reality. He is being held alongside the one who hasn't decided if he's dead yet." "Some think there isn't room for your son and me if he returns." "He is his mother's son." "Your plans -- how do they inhibit you? Is there something I can do to help you 'get it up'?" "One of my priests can discuss that with you."

Chalker: "Didn't you help destroy the Venettians?" "You are very well educated. I didn't expect to discuss the sword. I will be watching with anticipation." Chalker catches the priest as he collapses; when other priests gather around, Chalker points out, "I did not touch him until he collapsed." Another priest says, "Your habits are well known. You are always welcome." Chalker mutters, "That's not true." He performs his observance and departs. He is having second thoughts about having Ironsinger try to destroy the sword, feeling it is too much of a risk to the dwarf.

The Green Lantern Tavern is packed tonight due to a popular new bard, Nelson Willie. Ahn-Lee recognizes a couple of high-level thieves from Delta Blue's group. He thinks one of them is the faction head, Sable. Outside Ahn-Lee notes two groups watching the place. At 9pm he stealths into his observation post. At 10pm one of the watchers brings out a hooded lantern and flashes a signal. A similar light flashes from a roof down the street. Part of one group starts following four merchants.

Ahn-Lee sneaks up on the first signalman. The hooded lantern is beside him on the roof; there's a knife on his hip and a blowpipe tucked into his belt. From the darkness Ahn-Lee speaks: "How's it goin'?" "Was going good," replies the signalman, cautiously. Ahn-Lee: "The lantern trick was kind of cool." Man: "It's a way to keep in communication." The man says he's being paid to watch a high-level merchant. Ahn-Lee: "Do you work for Trivett?" Man: "No... Merchant Bellis." Ahn-Lee: "It would have been excessive to send a high-level assassin after you." Ahn-Lee stealths away. After a few minutes the man snuffs out his lamp and departs. Five minutes later, the person he'd signalled packs up and leaves. Ahn-Lee smirks to himself and goes home.

Chalker writes: Have you had much dealing with Phor? I talked to him and we talked about the sword and he said "Good luck trying to break it." He confirmed his other son is crazy and being bound by the First Chosen. When he comes back we, or I, might have a problem. Do you know how they're inhibiting Phor?

Shawna: Some of Phor's icons are missing, and he likes to manifest through his icons. Phor is generally neutral. Delsa is not impeding Phor. It is unclear who is weakening Phor, but it's been going on for 300 years. Phor blamed some human thieves when the icons first came up missing.

Jax knocks at Chalker's door and hands him a journey book. "My brother is in a sore spot with Mother. He's certainly not happy he's locked up." Chalker: "I will talk to Mother next week. Who is 'the one who hasn't decided he's dead'?" Jax: "Father talked too much." Chalker: "Maybe because his son doesn't. I have discussions and I don't ask for anything." Jax: "If you need me..." Chalker: "Hopefully we won't." Jax: "Tell Ahn-Lee I said hello." Chalker: "I'm going to tell Ahn-Lee nothing."

Frost Time 27: Ahn-Lee finds nine or ten people in Azzhik's shop. Azzhik is still bleary-eyed. "Busy, busy. Have several things cooking." Ahn-Lee: "Ever heard the name Gressik?" Azzhik: "Knew him growing up. Been dreaming of, for many days." (Someone from Ordin mentioned a reptile man named Gressik three years ago. He had tried to join the guild but the master would not accept him.)

Shawna is at dinner when an elderly man approaches her. He introduces himself as Joshua Belfry, and humbly requests her help. "Something is going on in Ridell. My grand-nephew Ander has fallen under a bad influence and is being used as a pawn in international politics.... Our family is connected -- we share thoughts across great distances. We have strong magic but are not mages.... He is so far away.... There is more going on -- I sense you can help me."

Belfry explains that Ander is almost 21 and despite his youth is trying to establish a merchant house in Ridell. He has a knack for finding things, including Golden Age artifacts. He has even engaged in trade with Derakor. He takes chances and is afraid of nothing. "However, his mind is not right. He is backed into a corner, in danger. He is involved with a woman...." Ander's third cousin, Ginny Calander, is in the Ridell area, as well as three contacts named Don Mack, Dennis Lamb, and Eileen Grog.

Shawna exchanges journey book messages with Chalker. They agree to meet in Ridell in four hours.

Ahn-Lee talks with someone who offers him 5g per week to work for a "countermeasures" organization.

Chalker contacts Trace (who mentions he's still working on the portal locator device), and at 9pm Chalker and Ahn-Lee meet up with Shawna at a marketplace in Ridell.

After a few inquiries they locate Eileen Grog just leaving the Bloody Bucket. She seems quite drunk and is singing loudly. Chalker examines her Aura: very intelligent, magery 0, strong greed, religious (devoted to Mensep). Ahn-Lee intercepts the thief who is following her. The thief, "Andy", says "Seefus needs to know where she's at." He gives the name Frederick Warren Matt and says his house is at the edge of the city.

Chalker and Shawna accost Eileen. She admits she was supposed to wait for Ander Belfry, but got bored and left. Ander was at the Bloody Bucket yesterday and was supposed to complete a transaction at noon today, then contact Eileen. She mumbles, "He probably got distracted by his girlfriend." She leads them to Donna's house, only to find it's been thoroughly tossed and the guard dog killed. This seems to shake some lucidity back into Eileen's brain, and she says she thinks she has been mentally tampered with.

Chalker lets her touch the ivory figurine. Eileen faints, but Chalker notices that her magery flared briefly. She has been exposed to multiple spells in the past 48 hours. She remembers meeting with Lindsey Gretz, a man in his mid-40s who had a source of artifacts from the Troubled Lands and wanted an "in" with Ander.

The group goes to the boarding house where Ander lives. His room is locked, but inside it's been trashed. The one clue is a discarded broken knife; Shawna casts a few spells and says its former owner is currently with three other men in a room near the docks. The landlady tells them Ander had gone out of town and was due back that day.

At the docks, Chalker tells the outside guard, "Seefus sent me." Ahn-Lee and Chalker walk in on the four men, and Ahn-Lee comments, "Seems like this is becoming a habit for me." Chalker leaps across the table and tackles the broken knife's owner, Dorst, who says, "Seefus paid us to search two places for a box of rubies... the dog bit Timmon, so Pauks killed the dog." Chalker leaves 5cp to heal the guard.