Sapphire:Sessions:20170909

Ahn-Lee heads for a rendezvous with a 'snitch' who is to give him a lead on Jorel. There is a lot of activity around the docks. The informant indicates that Jorel is hiding aboard a particular trading schooner. Ahn-Lee pays him a silver.

Ahn-Lee boards the schooner. There is no one on deck and no signs of activity, but a terrible stink emanates from belowdecks. Ahn-Lee quickly locates its source: a cabin with a portable alchemy lab set up. The man working there is too busy to notice when Ahn-Lee pushes the door open. Sizing up the man's mustache, eyepatch, and long dark hair, Ahn-Lee figures this must be Jorel. Ahn-Lee pokes Jorel with a sleep needle and watches him collapse. Jorel's purse contains but 3cp. Ahn-Lee ties up Jorel, then writes in his journey book.

Chalker had invited Shawna and Azzhik to dinner at the Boar's Head. "We seem to be pushed toward Gateway. I want to go to Malprin." He relates the story from his time as a courier. A fellow courier had delivered a message to a Malprin merchant, who was so upset at the message that he stabbed the messenger in the chest. Though badly wounded, the courier lived. Chalker, in reprisal, went to Malprin and cut off the merchant's right arm. Chalker believes that Malprin subsequently sicced the PDG on him.

Chalker's journey book buzzes, and Chalker notifies Azzhik that Ahn-Lee had captured Jorel. Azzhik immediately goes to the dock to meet Ahn-Lee. "Where is he?" Azzhik growls, then angrily trudges behind Ahn-Lee. As they approach the schooner, there is a nicely-dressed woman dithering at the end of the boat's flimsy plank. Abruptly she scurries up the plank (almost falling off) and hurries below.

Ahn-Lee leads Azzhik to the lab, where the woman, kneeling, is frantically trying to awaken and untie Jorel. Ahn-Lee: "I don't think you belong here." Woman: "I hired him! He's working for me!" Azzhik, who has recognized the smell: "He is making influence... control." Noticing the lizardman for the first time, the woman screams. To quiet her, Ahn-Lee puts his hand over her mouth; she tries to bite him. Woman: "They eat people!" Ahn-Lee: "Then don't agitate him."

As Azzhik collects about 1gp worth of alchemical ingredients ("He owes me"), the woman stammers out an explanation. Her mistress, the daughter of a well-known merchant, is making deals that will get her trading house in trouble, and won't listen to her. Ahn-Lee: "Wouldn't it have been easier to leave her?" She has no answer, merely repeating her story.

Azzhik notices Jorel on the floor, picks him up and shakes him, then gives him an antidote to the sleep drug. "Where is it? Since when do you make potion?" When Jorel claims he is an alchemist, Azzhik laughs at the notion, then makes Jorel drink some of the smelly potion the latter had been making. The potion makes Jorel sick. Jorel: "I'm trying to make money so I can pay people back." Azzhik gives Jorel one more week to repay him, then tells the woman he will finish making the potion and she should come to his shop in the morning.

Chalker explains to Shawna that the gate to Malprin emerges beneath someone's house. Saying "I have to make an apology," he leaves for Temple Row.

Ahn-Lee follows the woman until she gets to a better part of town. He returns to the Boar's Head and tells Shawna about Jorel and the woman. Shawna asks Ahn-Lee about his family. Reservedly, he tells her his father died young and he never knew his mother. They also discuss the ethics of the Assassins Guild.

In the temple of Yasseph, an elven priestess (who had been part of the dark mithril trial) approaches Chalker. Chalker: "I have come to apologize to the lady. It upset me that Chaos, Crazy, and Pain were closer to me than Light. All the First Chosen have an effect on me. Roo messes with my brain; Asseraah is mad because we're closer than we like. In your presence I feel calm, and I'm seldom calm. You smiled upon me by sending one of your favorites, so I apologize for thinking you had turned against me or abandoned me." The priestess, in the goddess' voice, intones "Apology accepted" and walks away.

Chalker writes in the journey book to Ahn-Lee: "Ever heard of Malprin? Wanna go?" Ahn-Lee: "I charge by the arm." Chalker: "Bring knives -- lots of knives."

Next morning, Azzhik delivers the control potion to the shop. The woman arrives, still quite nervous; Ahn-Lee is close behind her. Azzhik: "Do not use it wrong. It is very strong. When it works, you pay me. It will make you rich."

Ahn-Lee: "Excuse me, miss? You should be more cautious. There were some unsavory characters following you last night. There are many parts where the city guards are... not relevant." The woman warms quickly to the charming rogue. She tells him her name is Brigid Lamood, and she works for Clementina Barons." Ahn-Lee has heard the name.

The group prepares to go to Malprin.