Sapphire:Sessions:20200627
Having slain mass murderer Brigid Lumodu -- said to be "one with Aup" and wielding a holy weapon of Aakbarath -- and her pet monster (a "gift" from Charesoon), the group heals their wounded. Shawna senses "an informational prayer/spell wash[ing] over the area" to send data about their group elsewhere, but neither she nor Belandrie can determine where the spell came from or where it is going.
As they resume their seemingly aimless journey, there is no trace of the dark halflings, though Belandrie still insists they are either in the direction of Cliff Hollow or Gu-Win, which are on opposite sides of the island and several hundred miles apart. Chalker attempts to draw from Belandrie why, then, he is in the middle of the island; Belandrie either replies evasively or (mostly) not at all.
Despite there being no roads or paths, they come upon a "hunters' campsite" unused for many months. Strangely, for a "hunters' campsite," there is no sign of game or indeed any animals about. Without gathering kindling or firewood, Intrinsius casts Ignite Fire in the firepit, then stares into the resulting flames, smiling. Shawna murmurs to Chalker that Phor has accepted Intrinsius' fire as an offering, and Phor's presence is warding "something else trying to 'pull in'" [whatever that means].
Shawna suggests to Chalker that they walk around the campsite. Chalker takes her hand, and after a few minutes he realizes they are "walking a perfect circle." Chalker calls out, "Who's here?" In response he senses "warmth like a comfortable fire" and hears a crackling whisper, "Yes, my supplicant? You are here to aid the children of the forest, the children of the wind?" "Who are you?" "Lord of the fire, of course."
Shawna steps away, thinking that the "presence" would be more open with Chalker alone. She feels a narrow "wind from Yasseph" linking her to Chalker. She is certain that the "lord of the fire" is not Phor. Phor has had many children, most of whom were "banished" at the end of the previous Age. She thinks of one called "Ash," a powerful fire mage thought to have "passed on" a thousand years ago, and a Second Chosen known as "Intensity" who was obsessed with geometric shapes. Using the wind link, she shares these musings with Chalker.
At the campsite, Intrinsius feels a non-threatening "presence or influence." Belandrie, eyes closed, is humming an elven tune.
Chalker: "You used to be called Ash?" Ash: "I am impressed. I did not expect to be quickly recognized." "You feel like Phor a bit, and you're not mad at me." "My father is often roaring and belligerent. I am more into the controlling of the burn. One of my brothers has helped me. You are here questing, I sense? Many forces are at work on this island. Your party is 'holy'." "What do you want?" "I want to be back in my father's good graces, and there is one I would bring into his realm. (Chalker's Detect Lies skill tells him Ash is "lying by misdirection.") Ash: "He may be a devoted follower, perhaps rise to avatar. I mean no harm; it would be 'counting coup' for my father." Chalker: "Are you gonna kill him?" "There are things here hidden by very ancient powers. I put up the ward. I request your permission to contact [Intrinsius]." "I warn you, the lady and the ancient elf would be displeased."
Chalker breaks off the conversation. Shawna's appraisal is that there is a "Fifth Chosen" involved who might aid the group but whose purpose is counter to theirs. Ash is a "hanger-on" trying to use the group. Somehow the dark halflings are involved.
Back at the campfire, Chalker, Shawna, and Intrinsius converse, Chalker filling in Intrinsius about Ash. Chalker sets four watches: Loop and Cal, Intrinsius and Shawna, Chalker and Belandrie, Tara and Solant.
During the second watch, from 50 yards away come growling and sounds of a large, predatory creature crashing through underbrush. Since no night predator makes that much noise and thinking that it might be injured, Shawna goes to investigate. First she scents blood, then sees a huge black bear with a wound (caused by "a crude iron spear") in its shoulder. She casts Sleep on the bear, cleans the wound, casts Major Healing, then prays. She is told that this was not the work of Charesoon, but a "generic" magician [?]." She murmurs, "Go home, mighty one, and go in peace."
The next day the group covers forty miles. There is no contact from "Ash." Clouds are forming, but they feel the same shielding effect from Intrinsius' fire.
They stop in the village of Patrige. Shawna hires someone to take a message to Duke Jorgenson of Pinehurst (the last name on Lumodu's hit list). Chalker visits Temple Row; the largest shrines are to Mensep, Agar, and Yasseph.
Chalker examines the rings taken from Lumodu. Two are of high-quality metalwork (but otherwise "normal") but the third has a "pinhead ember burned out." It doesn't look magical to Intrinsius, but Chalker suggests this is how Ash is tracking the group. Chalker: "Fire is not my thing." Intrinsius: "So, you want to hand over Flame On!?"
Listening for possible leads, Shawna overhears a merchant and a farmer discussing the town of Ashley (about twelve miles from Patrige) and how it "miraculously" escaped a huge fire that bypassed it to the north.
Shawna senses from "residue" from the "ember ring" that it had been used as a "spiritual tracker, locator beacon, and telepathic communication device." It is warded. The island is "a hotbed of political and spiritual maneuvering" of both secular and Chosen origin. Chalker has "an ear to the door" and Intrinsius is "like a scout deep in enemy territory." Lamoud had been unaware of the ember ring's capabilities.
The group rides toward Ashley, a town of 700 people surrounded by farmland. Intrinsius studies the fire's path and announces that an accelerant was used, perhaps controlled Essential Fire. The fire was most intense directly abreast of the village. He senses "residual magic and spiritual" effects. Following the fire track east to west, Intrinsius senses a "power center" linked to the fire; he has an urge to burn the foliage at the edge of the track but resists his pyromanic impulse. He feels that "a glorious pillar of fire" awaits him.
Intrinsius takes out the ember ring; it feels warm and the burnt part tingles in his hand. Belandrie's, Shawna's, and Chalker's eyes are drawn to the ring; Chalker doesn't look. Shawna sees the ring "fully active spiritually"; it is now magical, a "very strong beacon" for Teleport/Gate; it is magic from a master mage, aspected to chaos with the spirit of fire. Gauder and Aakbarath feature moderately, while Aup is strong. The ring has been "diminished by layers of prayer" but has "several flaws that could be exploited."
Belandrie gestures at the ring, then shakes his head, looking confused.
Chalker's Penetrating Vision shows that the ember is activated, like a red-hot coal.
Intrinsius feels that someone is "misusing fire." A small crackling voice whispers to him, "They abuse... don't deserve... they make fire not beautiful." He prays to Phor to find the source and prevent the destruction of the beauty of fire. After a moment he shouts, "A quarter-mile straight to the source, they're misusing fire!" As the group follows him at speed, two red birds appear and follow the group. (They are not magic but have a "mild" spiritual aspect.)
A burnt shack suddenly appears at the start of the burn path. Shawna knows the shack is an illusion. The red birds climb into the air over the group. Belandrie slumps in his saddle, and Chalker surges toward him. Intrinsius throws an Explosive Fireball at the shack, which explodes into a glorious pyre. Shawna feels "the ignition of a strong fire source." The birds "go backward" a yard.
Chalker grabs Belandrie's waist and pulls him onto his own saddle -- in front of Chalker, to serve as a shield. The red birds triple in size and burst into flame. Shawna throws Lightning at one bird. A stream of fire emerges from the door of the hut right at Belandrie's horse, then "explodes and waves back into the hut;" someone curses in Common. Intrinsius leaps off his horse and rushes into the hut, which is bigger inside than out. In the center is a man (mage) encased in fire. At the back, cursing, is a dark halfling (DH).
Intrinsius casts Extinguish Fire and most of the fire goes out; Intrinsius then slams into the man. Chalker rides around to the rear of the hut. The mage suddenly swings "a sword of flame" at Intrinsius, missing; Intrinsius says, "Hi, Ash." DH raises a hand palm-out and makes a downward motion. Tara and Solant slide off their horses; each fast-draws three arrows and nocks one.
The back of the hut is unburnt. Chalker stops his horse and his Penetrating Vision, though resisted, shows him DH's back. Intrinsius attacks barehanded; the mage blocks him but is slightly injured. The birds rotate and dive at Shawna, who fast-draws her sword at the last moment. DH throws black lightning at Intrinsius, who dodges. One arrow hits the doorframe, the other the mage. Cal and Loop move closer to Shawna, eyeing the birds.
Intrinsius fast-draws his katana and broadsword and attacks the mage, who dodges. Chalker checks for metal and is certain that the only metal in the building is Intrinsius' weapons; he pulls one of Intrinsius' knives out of its sheath and into DH's torso. Cal and Loop hit the birds, knocking them away from Shawna. DM disintegrates the knife using some "black field" (but the wound remains). Shawna strikes each bird, killing one of them.
Chalker pulls Intrinsius' big knife toward DH, intentionally missing, stopping the knife behind DH. Shawna kills the other bird. The mage drops to the floor. Turning away from Intrinsius, DH grabs the knife. Intrinsius drops his swords, casts Flame Jet, and moves to within two yards of DH. Tara and Solant fire, both (fortunately) missing Intrinsius. Cal and Loop hack at the birds.
Shawna rides up to the hut and dismounts; through the darkness she sees a figure lying on the floor. Intrinsius directs the Flame Jet into DH's back. Chalker snatches the knife from DH's hand and stabs him in the throat; DH goes down.
Shawna bursts in and quickly evaluates the situation. The Enlargement spell on the hut is slowly collapsing. The hut is totally empty except for the mage and DH; a baited trap for Belandrie.
Chalker apologizes to Intrinsius for disintegrating his knife, promising to replace it.
On the mage are three large drained powerstones (10 mana apiece) set into expensive rings; on his belt a "flame fetish" (an embroidered silk handkerchief) which stored holy or magic energy (now damaged beyond use, but Intrinsius takes it anyway); pouches containing a total of 10g 4s 3c (the gold coins bear a local seal); a plain gold chain. The mage is dressed well. Chalker identifies his house crest as that of the second son of an important royal house "from the mainland."
Chalker's Penetrating Vision shows an "unusual pebble" at the base of DH's spine (behind a fresh scar), shrinking slowly at a rate where it will vanish within ten minutes. Chalker cuts it out and the shrinkage slows a hundredfold. It is a magic item and emanates "wrongness"; it is an alloy of mithril, dark mithril, steel, and another unknown metal. Shawna figures that as long as DH was alive, his brain's electrical energy kept the pebble from shrinking. Also on DH are a solid gold ring and a few coins (1g 1s 1c). There are no weapons and no papers.