Sapphire:Sessions:20171202
The 12th of each month is a "holy day" and Chalker performs his observances. He notes that attendance at all temples is higher than normal, though he can't tell why.
Frost Time 13: Early in the morning Ahn-Lee goes to Azzhik's alchemy shop. A petite female merchant is the only other patron; she picks up an energy potion. Azzhik assures Ahn-Lee that the sleep gas potion is "almost there." Ahn-Lee places an advance order for five of them.
Ahn-Lee looks up his sometime mentor Kalid, who agrees to do some "tandem work."
Chalker has Jeeves pack up the leftovers from the previous night's feast, then he, Relinda, and Sybonne take the food to an orphanage. Sybonne reminds Chalker that in a few more days she will be ready to attempt divination on the black sword. Chalker: "Don't worry, Relinda should be able to revive you." Chalker eats lunch at the Boar's Head.
Shawna writes: I have left Sapphire. I have other work to accomplish. Good luck.
Ahn-Lee and Kalid take in 2g for their day's efforts. Ahn-Lee asks Kalid to recommend a breaking-and-entering expert. The job he has in mind is very dangerous. Kalid almost volunteers himself, but decides it's too risky.
Rory informs Chalker his ship will sail on the 20th, and mentions that a woman has applied for the position of navigator. Chalker notes that he is looking to buy another ship which is registered out of Lavinia. "Send the False Premise down the Lavinian coast. I need intel about the 'temperature' of the country."
Frost Time 14: Kimtri brings Ahn-Lee to a hidden room piled with books. "These are all the open contracts. You have two hours to read through them all. Here's a potion to help you remember what you read. Remember, you have responsibilities to the guild." Ahn-Lee: "This is what I get for giving you a gift." Kimtri: "Please pass on my apologies for what occurred."
Frost Time 15: Ahn-Lee meets Kalid for dinner at a dockside restaurant. Kalid: "I got a name for you -- Cameron Clemens, one of the best B&E men in the city. Decent fighter, nimble, excellent lockpick, keeps his mouth shut." Ahn-Lee will meet him on the 16th, and intends to offer a 50/50 split if Clemens will also train him. He gives Kalid their day's take as a finder's fee.
Frost Time 16: In a warded room, Sybonne directs Chalker to stand in a specially-protected corner, then pulls the black sword out of a black velvet bag and lays it on a table. Meticulously she performs the vocalizations and gestures of her divination spell. Her whole body stiffens, her nose starts to bleed, then she staggers and goes to one knee. Shaking her head to clear it, she looks wildly around at Chalker. "It's cursed, in a way." The sword feeds upon intelligent life and transfers the energy to its wielder. The sword itself is not sentient, "but perhaps it's working toward sentience." While the sword has existed for several millenia, it has not been used in hundreds of years. Sybonne describes the appearance of the last man who wielded the sword.
Sybonne: "I also see part of the future... the next person to wield it will use it on you, Chalker. Young male, just out of his teens. ... There are dozens of possible futures. But in none of them did any of your companions use it. I didn't recognize any of the users. ... The sword turns its user into an 'eater of life' -- eventually they must use it in order to live. ... The sword is unbreakable; that's been tried many times."
Chalker asks Relinda if the curse can be broken. "There's always a way," she shrugs. Chalker chides her for her lack of concern. He has Sybonne store the sword in the Mages Guild.
Later that afternoon, Chalker visits Tron Ironsinger, the master swordsmith, who is just finishing up a new weapons. The muscular dwarf greets Chalker heartily. Chalker: "I have a cursed black sword, a soul-sucker. Addictive. Breaking the curse is beyond the expertise of my mages. Can you break the sword?" Ironsinger: "If it can be made, it can be broken!" Chalker picks up various pieces of hardware, including an improved Dink-Dink.
That evening, in the back room of a seedy tavern, Ahn-Lee meets with Cameron Clemens. "Have you ever broken into a prison?" "Can't say that I have. Which prison?" "The prison." "What makes this worthwhile?" "There's plenty in it -- hundreds of gold. I need to get into a certain prison cell, and a storage area. There's only one piece I require; the rest is yours." Clemens all but says "it's impossible", but wants a week before he gives his answer.
The Imperials will not sell Chalker the ship, as they intend to use it for espionage. They think they can "turn" the merchant to their side.
Frost Time 17 thru 20: Unspecified.
Frost Time 21: Chalker visits the Imperial Prison and requests a visit with Cinnamon Brandy LeHigh. The guards subject him to a thorough search, then allow him five minutes. Her attitude still projects self-confidence. Chalker: "You have many ways to get out. What are you waiting for?" (He also knows that the tiny diamond is unaccounted for.) Her trial date is ten days away (Dark Days 1).
Frost Time 22: Cameron Clemens says to Ahn-Lee, "There are rumors from people I trust that someone recently broke into the prison several times, so the security has been stepped up, including sniffer dogs." Ahn-Lee: "Can it be done?" Clemens: "It's an interesting challenge." Ahn-Lee wants the job to be done by just the two of them. Clemens: "Our chance of success is only about 40%. ... Are you willing to kill guards?" Ahn-Lee: "I prefer not to. I have ways to incapacitate them." Clemens expresses relief at this. Clemens: "Can you change our appearance?" Ahn-Lee: "I can find something." Clemens: "It will take two weeks of planning, which would bring it up to the 4th." Ahn-Lee: "There's a suit made from spider silk that I figure is stored in the prison. I want it for myself." Clemens: "I want 2g for 'living expenses' for the next two weeks."
Ahn-Lee gives Branamin the rundown. "I think someone's going to break out of prison." Branamin suggests Watchdog spells and some kind of magical tag. Ahn-Lee helps himself to a couple of glasses of Branamin's excellent wine.
Ahn-Lee scouts the prison for possible escape routes and the most likely place for him to wait and observe.
Chalker writes: I'm about to take a trip to the Troubled Lands to see if Rinaldo Canana will come talk to me. Ahn-Lee: When are you leaving and coming back? Chalker: Leaving in the morning; be gone two or three days max. I've never been to the Troubled Lands. Ahn-Lee: What are the chances of gold? Chalker: Good! Ahn-Lee: I'll meet you at the Boar's Head.
Ahn-Lee confides to Chalker, "I'm afraid CBL will try to escape. I'd like to show her that I'm better than she is. She taints her craft. I'd prefer to prevent further encounters with her." Chalker argues that Ahn-Lee won't be able to break out even if he can break in. "Come to the Troubled Lands with me." Ahn-Lee: "Is this the guy that flies around on a griffin and shoots fireballs? I'll get my crossbow!"
Ahn-Lee picks up his five vials of sleep gas and one vial of magic resistance potion, and asks Azzhik to make more of the latter.