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 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 Bastriss 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 Bastriss 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."